Socialism is not an illusory system that deviates from the general path of world civilizations, but a crystallization of the outstanding achievements made by human civilizations. To maintain and further develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, we need to learn from all the remarkable achievements of civilizations created by the human society. But to learn does not mean to copy by rote the paths and models of development followed by other countries. Instead, we need to stick to the right directions, steadfastly stay level-headed and stick to our own path.

Fourth, we must adhere to the Party's strong leadership in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said, Party leadership is the most essential feature and greatest advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is also the fundamental guarantee of the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Upholding the leadership by the Party is the foundation and lifeblood of both the Party and the state and affects the interests and well-being of all the people of China. Since the October Revolution, history has proved that without the leadership of the Communist Party, there would be no socialism; only the Communist Party can lead people to carry out socialist revolution, building and reform.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we have improved the Party's methods of leadership and governance, enhanced its capacity to govern in a scientific, democratic and law-based way, strengthened its cohesiveness, capability and leadership, as well as consolidated its core leadership status. Upholding Party leadership requires comprehensively strengthening Party discipline. The Central Committee of the CPC, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has focused on strengthening the Party's governance capacity, advanced nature and purity. The CPC Central Committee has made all-around efforts in strengthening the Party theoretically and organizationally, improving its conduct, more vigorously fighting against corruption and improving Party rules and regulations. The Party has also closely integrated its theoretical, organizational and systematic building, carried out strict and concrete Party discipline and management, and took a clear-cut stand to exercise political awareness. The Party has paid serious attention to intra-Party political life, Party rules and regulations – especially political rules and regulations – rectifying the Party working style, fighting against corruption and ensuring the implementation of the main body's responsibility and supervisory responsibility in the work of Party discipline. The Party has hence markedly improved its capacity for self-purity, self-improvement, self-innovation and self-development.

To advance the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, we should more resolutely and consciously uphold the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the CPC Central Committee and the entire CPC, safeguard the authority and the central, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, become more aware of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, uphold the leadership core and keep in alignment. We should more consciously uphold the Party's ideals, direction and will, and ensure the Party to be the core that oversees the big picture and coordinates all quarters.

Fifth, we must unswervingly advance the noble cause of peace and development of humankind. A country's path of development is essentially determined by its nature. Peace and development are the internal requirements and ineluctable choice of socialism. World history in the wake of the October Revolution has demonstrated that socialist countries are an important force in containing world wars and maintaining world peace.