BEIJING -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on December 8 to analyze and study the economic work for 2026 and review regulations on the CPC's leadership over law-based governance in all respects. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

It was noted at the meeting that this year is of great significance in advancing Chinese modernization. With Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in meeting challenges head-on and forging ahead. By keeping in mind both domestic and international imperatives and implementing more proactive and impactful macro policies, China is set to smoothly fulfill the main goals for this year's economic and social development. The country's economy has maintained overall stability while making steady progress, with new quality productive forces advancing steadily. New strides have been taken in reform and opening up, and progress has been achieved in defusing risks in key areas, with people's well-being better safeguarded and social stability ensured. Over the past five years, China has effectively dealt with various challenges; and has significantly enhanced its hard power in economy, science and technology, national defense and other areas, as well as its soft power in culture, institutions, diplomacy and other aspects. The 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) is about to conclude successfully, and the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal is off to a good start.

It was emphasized at the meeting that, to do a good job in economic work next year, we must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; thoroughly implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and all plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee; fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy; move faster to forge a new development paradigm; and focus on promoting high-quality development. We must adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, better coordinate domestic economic work with struggles in the international economic and trade arena, and ensure both development and security. We must implement more proactive and impactful macroeconomic policies; formulate more far-sighted, more targeted and better-coordinated policies; continuously expand domestic demand and optimize supply; promote new growth drivers and revitalize existing ones; and develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions. We will make further efforts to develop a unified national market and continuously prevent and defuse risks in key areas. It is imperative to secure steady development of employment, businesses, markets and expectations, to effectively pursue higher-quality economic growth and appropriately increase economic output while maintaining social harmony and stability, getting the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) off to a good start.

It was pointed out at the meeting that as far as the next year's economic work is concerned, we must adhere to the principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, and boost both quality and performance. We will continue implementing a more proactive fiscal policy and an appropriately accommodative monetary policy, allow full play to the synergies of both existing and newly adopted policies, and bolster counter- and cross-cyclical adjustments so as to tangibly improve the effectiveness of macroeconomic governance. Domestic demand will remain as a focus in building a robust domestic market. It will be essential to enhance innovation-driven development to accelerate the cultivation of new growth drivers. The need was emphasized to deepen reform to boost the momentum and vitality of high-quality development. It will be important to expand high-level opening up for win-win cooperation across multiple sectors. Coordinated development should be advanced for promoting urban and rural integration and integrated regional development. With carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality as the goals, efforts will be made to promote a comprehensive green transformation. Prioritizing people's livelihoods, practical measures will be taken to get things done for the people. Red line must never be crossed when it comes to safety, and active and prudent efforts must be maintained to defuse risks in key areas.

The need was stressed at the meeting to strengthen the Party's leadership, especially the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee. The meeting also called for a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, doing a good job in economic work according to local conditions, and pursuing high-quality and sustainable development. It also urged efforts to well formulate the 15th Five-Year plans at national and local levels and relevant special plans. A good job must be done to ensure adequate supply of major goods related to people's basic needs at the turn of the year, take care of the work and lives of people in need, resolve the issue of payments in arrears to businesses and wages owed to rural migrant workers, and ensure that basic living standards are secured for those in need. It called for efforts on the part of those in charge to ensure workplace safety with a strong sense of responsibility, so as to forestall and defuse risks of major and serious accidents.

It was noted at the meeting that formulating the regulations on the CPC's leadership over law-based governance in all respects is of great significance for boosting sound, institutionalized and standardized Party leadership in this regard, for advancing the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and building a socialist country under the rule of law at a higher level.

The need was emphasized at the meeting to uphold and strengthen the Party's leadership, and to ensure the Party's role in leading legislation, securing law enforcement, supporting administration of justice, and setting a good example in observing the law, so as to enhance the Party's capacity to govern the country and exercise state power in accordance with the law. It is imperative to apply Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law in all respects, firmly follow the correct political direction for law-based governance, strengthen confidence in the rule of law, and unswervingly practice the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. Efforts were called for to boost the awareness of leading officials at all levels about the rule of law and their respect for the law. Coordinated efforts were urged to advance sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and observance of the law by all. Comprehensive efforts will be made to promote law-based governance in all aspects of the government work, so as to make the rule of law a strong guarantee for building China into a great country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.