On Oct. 16, Xi Jinping delivered a report to the landmark 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and a political catchphrase less heard before carried noticeable weight in his speech, “Chinese modernization” or “Chinese path to modernization.” (both in Chinese 中国式现代化) He outlined the future CPC’s task as such:

“From this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.”

On the day of the opening session, China’s official news agency Xinhua published a headline article titled CPC Charts Course for Chinese Modernization as Key Congress Opens, and Global Times an editorial Chinese Modernization Will Broaden Horizon of Civilization. One week prior to the meeting, the explanatory articles on Chinese modernization hogged an entire page of the People’s Daily. By the look of it, the idea of “Chinese modernization” is likely to find its way into key policy platforms in the foreseeable future.

In the report to the congress, Xi specified the five features of Chinese modernization: huge population, common prosperity for all, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development.

First, a brief history of the term “Chinese modernization” or “Chinese path to modernization” prior to this meeting:

• The term first surfaced on Oct. 29, 2020, when Xi Jinping made a speech at the 5th plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Xi said that China should “advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization.” 以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴

• On July 1, 2021, Xi Jinping addressed a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC:  “As we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human advancement.” 我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态

• On Nov. 12, 2021, the Communique of the 6th plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was released: “They have produced a profound influence on the course of world history. The Party has led the people in pioneering a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, creating a new model for human advancement, and expanding the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization.” 党的百年奋斗深刻影响了世界历史进程，党领导人民成功走出中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态，拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的途径

• On July 26-27, 2022, Xi Jinping made remarks at a study session of provincial and ministerial-level officials: “The modernization China is pursuing is the socialist modernization led by the CPC. The country should advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization.” 我们推进的现代化，是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，必须坚持以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴

To further expound on the logic behind this new jargon, Sinical China translates an excerpt from the article How Chinese Modernization Helps Solve Eight Problems Facing Human Society’s Development 中国式现代化破解人类发展八大难题. The article, written by Liu Lei with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was originally published in the Outlook Weekly《瞭望》this March. Let’s get it started.