This book, guided by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the speeches delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping, discusses the approaches to upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the national governance system and capacity in the new era from thirteen aspects. It is of both theoretical and practical values and covers areas such as upholding and improving the systems and institutions for the CP

On October 31,2019,the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee deliberated and adopted The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Some Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of China？s System and Capacity for Governance (referred to as The Decision).This is a program of action and a political declaration made on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People？s Republic of China and at the historic turning point in achieving the Two Centenary Goals.The fundamental questions to be answered by The Decision include what kind of national system the Party should “uphold and consolidate” and which sort of governance China should “improve and develop” in the new era.The national system serves as the basis and result of the national governance,while the latter is the practice and innovation of the former.China？s system,i.e.,the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics,is directly related to the effectiveness of its governance.Then how should we build China？s system? Where do its significant advantages lie? How can the advantages promote China？s governance? And how will China？s governance respond to the changes throughout the world? Seeking proper answers to those questions is an important mission for Chinese Marxist scholars,and an inevitable requirement for upholding the ideals and beliefs of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era as well as the Four Matters of Confidence,which is of great guiding significance for further summarizing the historical experience at the new historic starting point,deeply understanding the major political issues on what kind of national system the Party should “uphold and consolidate” and which sort of governance China should “improve and develop”,fully grasping the essential features and advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics,strengthening the Four Consciousnesses an

Chapter 1. Upholding and improving the system of institutions for Party leadership to improve its capacity to practice scientific, democratic and law-based governance Chapter 2 Upholding and improving the systems and institutions that ensure the people are masters of their own country, with continuous progress in socialist democracy Chapter 3 Upholding and improving the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and building a higher level of rule of law in China Chapter 4 upholding and improving the administrative system of socialism with Chinese characteristics Chapter 5Upholding and improving China's basic socialist economic system and promoting the high-quality development of the economy Chapter 6 Upholding and improving the system to make advanced socialist culture prosperous and developed to consolidate the common ideological foundation upon which all people are united and work together Chapter 7 Upholding and improving the livelihood system for protecting both urban and rural residents and working to meet people's ever-increasing needs for a better life Chapter 8 Upholding and improving the social governance system based on collaboration, participation and common interests and modernizing the state governance system and capacity Chapter 9 Upholding and improving the system for developing an ecological civilization and promoting the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature Chapter 10 Upholding and improving the CPC's absolute leadership over the people's army in the new era Chapter 11 Upholding and improving the system of "One country, Two systems" and advancing the process toward the peaceful reunification of China Chapter 12 Upholding and improving the independent foreign policy of peace and working to build a community with a shared future for humanity Chapter 13 Upholding and improving the Party and state oversight systems