Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a report to the 19th CPC National Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 18, 2017 (XINHUA）

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), running from October 18-24, 2017, enshrined Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the Party Constitution. 

The 19th CPC National Congress was a meeting of great importance taking place during the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and at a critical moment as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. 

At the closing session on October 24 presided over by Xi, 2,336 delegates and specially invited delegates selected 204 members and 172 alternate members of the 19th CPC Central Committee. 

"We believe that all the decisions and plans the congress has made and all the outcomes it has achieved will play a vital role in guiding and ensuring success in our major endeavors," Xi said in a closing address at the Great Hall of the People. 

The new Central Committee held its first plenary session the following day of the conclusion of the Party congress. Xi was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. 

People take part in a parade in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 2019 (XINHUA)

The closing session also passed a resolution on an amendment to the Party Constitution, which enshrined Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a new component of the Party's guide for action. 

The CPC, which was established in 1921 and took power 28 years later, has routinely amended its Constitution at past national congresses to keep up with the times. 

"Through these many years of struggle with tenacity, our Party has united and led the Chinese people and the Chinese nation in ending once and for all the miserable plight of old China, which had been bullied by foreign aggressors following the Opium War of 1840, and in walking completely out of poverty and weakness," Xi said. 

"In our Party, each and every one of us must always breathe the same breath as the people, share the same future, and stay truly connected to them," he said. "The aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts." 

Singers and dancers perform at a carnival celebrating the diversity of Asian civilizations during the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing on May 15, 2019 (XINHUA)

What New Era Means

With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. This is a new historic juncture in China’s development. 

This is what socialism with Chinese characteristics entering a new era means: 

The Chinese nation, which since modern times began had endured so much for so long, has achieved a tremendous transformation: it has stood up, grown rich, and is becoming strong; it has come to embrace the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation. It means that scientific socialism is full of vitality in 21st century China, and that the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is now flying high and proud for all to see. It means that the path, the theory, the system, and the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics have kept developing, blazing a new trail for other developing countries to achieve modernization. It offers a new option for other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence; and it offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to solving the problems facing mankind.  

From the report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping to the 19th CPC National Congress  

Chinese lawmakers vote to adopt the long-expected Civil Code at the Third Session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing on May 28, 2020 (XINHUA)

A visitor experiences a flight simulator at the Second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 9, 2019 (XINHUA)