The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China began its fourth plenary session in Beijing on Monday. Running till Thursday, the session has far-reaching significance for China and beyond.

As the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) nears its conclusion, China stands at a crucial juncture. It is important to understand the position of the country in the current situation, analyze the profound changes facing its development in the coming five years, and lay out the top-level design and strategic blueprint for the next stage of the country's modernization journey, which features the coexistence of opportunities and challenges.

The strategic foresight of the CPC Central Committee and its ability to unite and lead the nation in writing new chapters in China's national rejuvenation journey will help chart the course of the world's second-largest economy in the period of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30) for national economic and social development.

The blueprint for the next stage of China's modernization is taking shape. It aims to enable the country to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, laying a solid foundation for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century, promising a future of greater vitality and progress.

The scientific formulation and consistent implementation of five-year plans have long been a hallmark of China's governance and a key advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Over the past five years, global turbulence and uncertainty have intensified, and the tasks of promoting reform, development and innovation have remained arduous. Yet China has still managed to make new breakthroughs and achievements.

That the country's gross domestic product grew 5.2 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, as the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Monday, testifies to the Chinese economy's solid fundamentals and resilience. China's economic output is expected to reach about 140 trillion yuan ($19.66 trillion) this year and its average annual contribution to global growth is projected to remain near 30 percent.

The nation has also advanced steadily in the Global Innovation Index, becoming one of the fastest-growing innovation economies over the past decade.

Since the nation's economic fundamentals remain sound — it has a complete industrial base, a vast market, a sizable talent pool and immense potential — the long-term trend of steady development through reform and opening-up remains unchanged.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will unswervingly pursue high-quality development guided by its new development philosophy — innovation, coordination, green growth, openness and inclusiveness. It will continue to accelerate the establishment of its new development paradigm, give greater strategic importance to cultivating new quality productive forces and foster scientific and technological innovation rooted in the real economy.

To that end, more down-to-earth efforts should be made to upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging sectors and plan for future industries to build a robust modern industrial system that sustains long-term prosperity. The aim is to complete the over 300 key reform tasks outlined at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

In the process, the country's high-level opening-up will be expanded by promoting trade facilitation, strengthening international economic cooperation and enhancing its position in the global industry and supply chains. That will bring new opportunities to the world.

But all these endeavors are meaningful only when they ultimately serve the people. Improving livelihoods and enhancing well-being must remain the starting and end points of all development efforts, which depend, as always, on the Party's leadership.

Upholding the CPC Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership is the fundamental guarantee to address pressing public concerns, ensure that the fruits of modernization are shared more equitably, increasing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

From the first five-year plan to the 15th, the consistent goal has been to build China into a modern socialist country. For that, China must coordinate development and security, strengthen risk prevention and maintain the interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.

Development and security are two wings of one body that must be properly coordinated. Only by safeguarding its security can the nation ensure it continues to make progress on the path to modernization.