Adhere to development as the party’s top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country,

Continuously improve the ability to control the socialist market economy*

（September 19, 2004）

To improve the party’s ability to govern, we must first improve the party’s leadership development capabilities. Developing a market economy under socialist conditions is both a great initiative and a completely new topic. It is necessary to adapt to the development trends of the world economy, science and technology and the new situation of my country's reform and development, grasp the inherent requirements and operating characteristics of the socialist market economy, consciously follow objective laws, give full play to the advantages of the socialist system and the role of the market mechanism, and constantly improve the level of leadership in economic work.

(1) Firmly establish the strategic thinking of seizing opportunities and accelerating development, and unswervingly focus on economic construction. Our country is and will remain in the primary stage of socialism for a long time, and promoting development is the party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country. We must seize the period of important strategic opportunities, concentrate on construction, pursue development wholeheartedly, and continuously enhance comprehensive national strength and improve people's living standards. In accordance with the requirements of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and taking a new industrialization path, with economic structural adjustment as the main line, reform, opening up and scientific and technological progress as the driving force, we will strive to transform the economic growth mode and comprehensively improve the overall quality and competitiveness of the national economy. Vigorously implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, accelerate the construction of the national innovation system, and give full play to the role of science and technology as the primary productive force. Scientifically determine the overall ideas and major strategies for development until 2020, and promptly study and formulate medium- and long-term plans for national economic and social development. We should timely and comprehensively analyze the economic situation, enhance foresight, accurately grasp the main contradictions and outstanding problems in economic operation, timely propose and effectively implement corresponding policies and policies, prevent ups and downs, and promote sustained, rapid, coordinated and healthy economic development.

(2) Adhere to the people-oriented, comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable scientific development concept to better promote economic and social development. We must deeply understand the will of the people, and earnestly embody the maintenance and realization of the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in the major policies and various arrangements for the development of the party's leadership, and implement them into all aspects of economic and social development. Unify the advancement of economic construction with the advancement of political construction and cultural construction to promote all-round social progress and all-round human development. Promote the establishment of effective systems and mechanisms for coordinating urban and rural development, coordinating regional development, coordinating economic and social development, coordinating the harmonious development of man and nature, coordinating domestic development and opening up to the outside world. Establish a comprehensive evaluation system for economic and social development that reflects the requirements of the Scientific Outlook on Development. In terms of guidelines, policies and measures, we should pay attention to strengthening weak links, especially solving the problems of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers; attaching great importance to the implementation of the Western Development Strategy and the strategy of revitalizing old industrial bases such as the Northeast region, promoting the rise of the central region, and supporting the accelerated development of old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and other underdeveloped areas; attaching great importance to expanding employment and reemployment and improving the social security system; attaching great importance to the development of education, science and technology, culture, health, sports and other social undertakings; attaching great importance to family planning, saving resources, protecting the environment, and safe production, vigorously developing the circular economy, and building a conservation-oriented society. To implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must proceed from reality, adapt measures to local conditions, provide classified guidance, and actively promote it.

(3) Adhere to the reform direction of the socialist market economy and always stand at the forefront of the times in leading and planning reforms. my country's economic system reform is still at a critical stage, and the task of building a complete socialist market economic system and a more dynamic and open economic system is still arduous. We must respect the initiative of the masses, focus on the key points and difficulties of reform, encourage bold exploration and practice, and resolutely eliminate all concepts and institutional shortcomings that hinder development. Effectively resolve major issues related to the overall economic system reform. Correctly handle the relationship between adhering to public ownership as the mainstay and promoting the development of the non-public economy, unswervingly consolidate and develop the public economy, give play to the leading role of the state-owned economy, and unswervingly encourage, support and guide the development of individual, private and other non-public economies, so that the two can promote each other and develop together in the process of socialist modernization. Correctly handle the relationship between distribution according to work as the main body and the implementation of multiple distribution methods, encourage some regions and some people to get rich first, pay attention to social fairness, rationally adjust the national income distribution pattern, effectively take effective measures to solve the problem of excessive income gaps between regions and some members of society, and gradually realize the common prosperity of all people. Correctly handle the relationship between market mechanisms and macro-control, insist on acting in accordance with the laws of market economy, give full play to the fundamental role of the market in resource allocation to a greater extent, strengthen and improve national macro-control, and promote the vibrant, efficient and healthy operation of the national economy. Correctly handle the relationship between the central and local governments, rationally divide the authority and responsibilities of economic and social affairs management, and achieve consistency of powers and responsibilities, which not only maintains the unified leadership of the central government but also better unleashes the enthusiasm of local governments. Correctly handle the relationship between economic system reform and other reforms, strengthen overall coordination, and make various reforms promote each other. Correctly handle the relationship between reform, development and stability, pay attention to the timing and rhythm of the introduction of reform measures, unify the intensity of reform, the speed of development and the level of social affordability, promote reform and development amid social stability, and promote social stability through reform and development.

(4) Seize the initiative in opening up to the outside world and comprehensively improve the level of opening up to the outside world. We must adhere to the basic national policy of opening up, pay close attention to changes in the world economic situation, formulate and implement correct foreign-related economic principles and policies, and participate in international economic and technological cooperation and competition on a larger scale, in wider fields, and at a higher level. Adhere to the combination of "bringing in" and "going out", make good use of both international and domestic markets and resources, and focus on giving full play to my country's comparative advantages. It should not only be based on domestic demand but also vigorously explore the international market, make full use of domestic capital and effectively utilize foreign capital, not only rely on and develop domestic human resources but also draw on and introduce foreign intelligence. Improve the quality of foreign investment, insist on combining the introduction of advanced technology with digestion, absorption, and innovation, improve independent development capabilities, protect intellectual property rights, enhance control of key industries and fields, and continuously improve international competitiveness. Promote the establishment and improvement of mechanisms to properly deal with international w88 disputes, and be good at using internationally accepted rules to develop and protect ourselves.

(5) In accordance with the requirements of developing a socialist market economy, improve the institutional mechanisms and methods for the party’s leadership of economic work. The party's leadership in economic work mainly grasps the direction, plans the overall situation, proposes strategies, formulates policies, promotes legislation, and creates a good environment. Local party committees must combine local realities to determine the basic ideas and work priorities for economic and social development, strengthen and improve comprehensive coordination of major economic and social affairs, and ensure the implementation of the central government's policies and deployments. Issues involving national economic and social development plans, major principles and policies, overall work arrangements, and important issues related to the national economy and people's livelihood are collectively discussed and decided by the party committee. Regular work is decided and managed by the government and its departments in accordance with their responsibilities and authority. The party committee must support the government in fully fulfilling its duties in accordance with the law, promote government administration in accordance with the law, accelerate the transformation of functions, deepen the reform of the administrative system, truly realize the separation of government and enterprise, separation of government assets, and separation of political affairs, mainly use economic and legal means to manage economic activities, and concentrate on economic regulation, market supervision, social management, and public services.

﹡This is the fourth part of the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Strengthening the Party's Governing Capacity Building".