What is the 'new era'?
In the official account, a new period began with the 18th Party Congress in 2012, and the 19th Congress in 2017 declared that socialism with Chinese characteristics had entered a new era. 'New' means China has moved from 'standing up' (1949), to 'becoming prosperous' (after 1978), to 'becoming strong'.
The main contradiction. A contradiction here means the main gap that society must close. Before 2017 the formula (from 1981) was: people's growing material and cultural needs versus backward social production. In 2017 it was restated as: people's ever-growing needs for a better life versus unbalanced and inadequate development. People now want more than food and clothing: good schools, health care, clean air, fair chances and rule of law. 'Unbalanced' means gaps between regions, town and country; 'inadequate' means quality and level are not high enough yet.
New development concepts and high-quality development
To close that gap, the plan stresses high-quality development (quality over speed) guided by five development concepts (announced 2015):
- Innovation: growth should come from science, technology and new ideas.
- Coordination: balance between regions, town and country, economy and society.
- Green: protect nature; clean air, water and low-carbon growth.
- Openness: stay connected with the world in trade, ideas and shared problems.
- Sharing: results of growth should reach everyone.
Compare with the previous lesson, Reform and opening up: the early reforms stressed speed of growth; the new-era plan stresses balance and quality.
The Chinese Dream and national rejuvenation
Chinese Dream is a phrase used by leader Xi Jinping from 2012 for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation: a prosperous, strong, civilised, harmonious country and happy people. The dream is said to link the nation, the country and each person. For a general explanation of national goals and the role of youth in many countries, see National goals, the national dream and youth.
Two centenary goals. They are tied to two 100-year dates:
- 2021: 100 years after the Communist Party was founded (1921). Goal: finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. In 2021 the government announced that extreme poverty under its national standard had been eliminated.
- 2049: 100 years after the People's Republic was founded (1949). Goal: a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious.
The 19th Congress added a middle step: basic socialist modernisation by 2035.
The guiding thought
The official guiding thought is called Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It was written into the Party constitution in 2017 and the preamble of the state constitution in 2018. Its main ideas, as officially described, include:
- Party leadership as the defining feature of the system.
- A people-centred approach: development for the people and by the people.
- Comprehensively deepening reform and ruling by law.
- The new development concepts and high-quality development.
- Ecological protection ('clear waters and green mountains are valuable assets').
- A community with a shared future for humankind in foreign relations.
It continues the chain of theories met earlier: Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook. Different observers may judge such goals and ideas differently; here we learn what the official position says and how it is structured.
Try it: your stair plan
In the free-play step, set effort to 5 and move the year to 2021, 2035 and 2049. For each date, write the goal in your own words. Then plan a small 'centenary-style' goal for your school: choose a year, a goal, and three steps along the way.
Key formulas and definitions
- New era: official account counts it from 2012; declared at the 19th Congress (2017).
- Main contradiction (2017): needs for a better life vs unbalanced and inadequate development.
- Five concepts: innovation, coordination, green, openness, sharing.
- Goals: 2021 moderately prosperous society; 2035 basic modernisation; 2049 great modern socialist country
Worked examples
1. The Communist Party was founded in 1921. In which year is the first centenary goal? Why that year?
1921 + 100 = 2021. The goal is tied to the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding.
2. The People's Republic was founded in 1949. Which year is the second centenary goal?
1949 + 100 = 2049.
3. How many years are there from 2035 to 2049?
2049 − 2035 = 14 years.
4. Match the concept to the problem: 'cities have many schools but villages few'.
Coordination (balanced development between town and country) and also sharing, because the gains should reach everyone.
5. Why was the main contradiction restated in 2017?
Because after decades of growth, basic needs for most people were met, and what people wanted became broader (education, health, environment, fairness). The remaining problem is that development is uneven and not yet high enough in quality.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the two dates: 2021 is the Party anniversary goal; 2049 is the People's Republic anniversary goal.
- Thinking 'unbalanced' only means income. It also means regions, town and country, and economy and environment.
- Believing the new era replaced reform and opening up. In the official account it continues and deepens it.
- Presenting official goals as proven facts. Say 'according to the official account' and compare with outside evidence.