Forwarded | Communiqué of the 4th Plenary Session of the 12th Committee of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee

Communique of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Committee of the Communist Party of China in Sichuan Province

(Adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Committee of the Communist Party of China in Sichuan Province on November 20, 2023)

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Committee of the Communist Party of China in Sichuan Province was held in Chengdu on November 20, 2023.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Wang Xiaohui delivered a speech.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Committee of the Communist Party of China in Sichuan Province was held in Chengdu on November 20, 2023.

Attending the plenary session were 85 members of the Provincial Party Committee and 17 alternate members of the Provincial Party Committee. Also in attendance were members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, members of the Provincial Supervisory Commission, and responsible officials from relevant departments. Among the delegates to the 12th Provincial Party Congress were also some grassroots comrades, experts and scholars, and representatives from related sectors. Officials from the 12th Central Guidance Group for the Second Batch of Thematic Education also attended the meeting to provide guidance.

The plenary session was chaired by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech.

The plenary session adhered to the guiding principles of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly studied and implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party as well as the outcomes of the First and Second Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee. It fully carried out the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Sichuan’s work and the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee. The session heard and discussed the work report delivered by Wang Xiaohui on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and adopted the “Decision of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee on Thoroughly Implementing the Important Instructions and Directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Solidly Promoting Integrated Urban-Rural Development with Counties as a Key Entry Point.” Wang Xiaohui provided an explanation of the “Decision (Discussion Draft)” to the plenary session.

The plenary session fully affirmed the work of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. There was unanimous agreement that, since the second plenary session of the 12th Provincial Party Committee, faced with a severe and complex situation and multiple challenges and difficulties, and confronted with the arduous and heavy task of embarking on the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist Sichuan, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Provincial Party Committee has thoroughly studied and implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the important instructions delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Sichuan. It has meticulously organized and carried out thematic education on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, vigorously promoted the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle, deeply implemented the development strategy of “simultaneous advancement of the four modernizations, integrated urban-rural development, and common prosperity of the five regions,” planned and built a modern industrial system with distinctive Sichuan characteristics and advantages, and made every effort to promote an overall improvement in economic performance and high-quality development. With the concerted efforts of the entire province, Sichuan successfully hosted the 31st Summer World University Games in Chengdu. Meanwhile, the province has steadily advanced key areas such as rural revitalization and agricultural and rural modernization, deepened reform and expanded opening-up, strengthened democratic governance and the rule of law, enhanced publicity, ideological and cultural work, ensured and improved people’s livelihoods, fortified the ecological barrier along the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, prevented risks and ensured safety, and comprehensively strengthened Party governance in accordance with strict standards. As a result, all undertakings for governing Sichuan and rejuvenating it in the new era have achieved new progress, presenting a favorable situation characterized by economic recovery and improvement, continuous enhancement of people’s well-being, and overall social stability.

The plenary session pointed out that integrated urban-rural development is a key hallmark of Chinese-style modernization, a crucial lever for breaking down the dualistic urban-rural structure, expanding space for high-quality development, and achieving common prosperity for all people. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has, from the overarching perspective of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation, scientifically assessed the new historical positioning and developmental characteristics of China’s urban and rural areas, put forward the major proposition of promoting integrated urban-rural development, and made new theoretical generalizations, introduced new institutional designs, and embarked on new practical explorations, thereby driving profound changes in China’s urban-rural relationship. The General Secretary has shown great concern for Sichuan’s urban and rural development; each time he has visited Sichuan for inspection, he has given important instructions on this issue, expressing his earnest expectations for Sichuan to advance integrated urban-rural development and achieve shared prosperity between urban and rural areas. As we embark on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country, the Party Central Committee regards upholding integrated urban-rural development and ensuring smooth flows of factors between urban and rural areas as an important task for advancing Chinese-style modernization. It emphasizes that the period up to 2035 represents a critical window for dismantling the dualistic urban-rural structure and perfecting the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development. We must accelerate the establishment and improvement of institutional mechanisms and policy frameworks for integrated urban-rural development, gradually narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas, and promote shared prosperity between them. Promoting integrated urban-rural development is of great and far-reaching significance—it concerns the overall picture of Chinese-style modernization, the implementation of the new development philosophy, the construction of a new development pattern, and the realization of common prosperity for all people. We must grasp and handle the urban-rural relationship from a holistic and strategic perspective, and resolutely ensure that every instruction and decision of the General Secretary and the Party Central Committee is effectively carried out.

The plenary session pointed out that Sichuan boasts both large urban centers and vast rural areas, where urban-rural disparities and regional imbalances are intertwined and compounded, making the dualistic urban-rural structure particularly pronounced. Consequently, the task of promoting integrated urban-rural development is especially challenging and urgent. Over the course of reform and opening-up—and especially since the advent of the new era—our province has continuously optimized its urban-rural development pattern. We have now entered a critical phase of upgrading and accelerating efforts to promote integrated urban-rural development and build a new type of urban-rural relationship. In this new era and on this new journey, we possess solid foundations, favorable practical conditions, ample room for growth, and strategic opportunities to advance integrated urban-rural development. We must accurately grasp the provincial party committee’s crucial judgment that “the focus lies in county-level regions, while the toughest challenges remain in rural areas,” and follow the working approach of “focusing on both ends while ensuring smooth connections in the middle.” Taking county-level regions as a key entry point, we should steadily push forward with integrated urban-rural development, and accelerate the formation of a new type of urban-rural relationship characterized by mutual promotion between industry and agriculture, complementary advantages between urban and rural areas, coordinated development, and shared prosperity.

The plenary session pointed out that to promote integrated urban-rural development in Sichuan, we must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guiding principle, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and deeply study and carry out the series of important instructions by General Secretary Xi Jinping on Sichuan’s work. We must comprehensively, accurately, and thoroughly implement the new development philosophy, focusing on serving and integrating into the new development paradigm, promoting high-quality development, and fostering common prosperity. Taking the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle as the overarching driver, we should earnestly implement the development strategy of “simultaneous advancement of the ‘Four Modernizations,’ integrated urban-rural development, and shared prosperity of the five regions.” Using counties as key breakthrough points, we should take coordinated promotion of the rural revitalization strategy and the new urbanization strategy as our main lever, aiming at narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and the gap in living standards among residents. Focusing on perfecting the property rights system and market-based allocation of factors of production, we must seize this critical window of opportunity and make every effort to forge a new path for integrated urban-rural development that meets the requirements of Chinese-style modernization and embodies Sichuan’s distinctive features. We must firmly grasp the correct direction, foster the concept of treating urban and rural areas as a single chessboard, adhere to the priority development of agriculture and rural areas, strengthen the practice of using industry to support agriculture and cities to lead rural areas, and enhance systematicness, overallness, and synergy. We must firmly focus on key priorities, taking counties as the basic units, and, centering on “boosting industries, activating factors, optimizing services, and strengthening governance,” coordinate and promote the integrated and synergistic development of urban and rural planning and layout, factor allocation, industrial development, infrastructure, public services, and ecological protection, thereby accelerating the establishment of a functional, complementary, and interconnected pattern among counties, townships, and villages. We must firmly adopt scientific approaches, reinforce the breakthrough and leading role of reform, fully consider the different stages of development and regional differences across various areas, tailor measures to local conditions, provide categorized guidance, and adopt precise policies. We must maintain historical patience, persistently exert efforts, and strive for long-term success. We must firmly uphold the bottom-line requirements: respect the farmers’ central role, honor the people’s wishes and pioneering spirit, strictly enforce the “three zones and three lines” management, safeguard the nature of land ownership as public, keep within the red line for arable land, and ensure that farmers’ interests are not compromised; protect the ecological red lines, preserve the cultural roots of rural areas, and enhance the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security.

The plenary session, anchored in the overall goal of Sichuan’s modernization, set forth the objective of promoting integrated urban-rural development: By 2027, significant progress will have been made in integrated urban-rural development, with an optimized spatial layout between urban and rural areas, markedly enhanced comprehensive carrying capacity of county towns, and landmark achievements in building livable, work-friendly, and beautiful countryside. The economic circulation between urban and rural areas will become smoother, and institutional and systemic barriers to the flow of production factors will be further removed. Public services in urban and rural areas will be of higher quality, and the level of infrastructure integration and equalization of basic public services will be significantly improved. Income disparities between urban and rural residents will be narrowed, and solid steps will be taken toward common prosperity, accelerating the formation of a new urban-rural model in which thriving rural areas and vibrant cities complement each other, and agricultural civilization and urban civilization mutually illuminate one another. By 2035, the institutional and systemic framework for integrated urban-rural development will be further refined, the quality of life for urban and rural residents will be greatly enhanced, the development gap between urban and rural areas and the income gap among residents will be significantly narrowed, and a community of shared urban-rural development characterized by mutual appreciation and harmonious coexistence will be basically established.

The plenary session pointed out that we must enhance the comprehensive carrying capacity and service functions of county towns, deepen the reform of empowering counties to strengthen their capabilities, expand and optimize the development space of county towns, improve the quality of their functions, bolster their industrial support systems, and effectively enhance their ability to attract and aggregate population and industries. We should promote the construction of livable, work-friendly, and beautiful rural areas, draw on and apply the experience of Zhejiang’s “Ten Million Project,” accelerate the establishment of a modern rural industrial system, continuously improve rural living environments, boost farmers’ incomes in a sustained and stable manner, enhance the radiating and driving capabilities of central towns, and advance the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. We need to facilitate the equal exchange and two-way flow of urban and rural factors, speed up the urbanization of agricultural migrants, unleash the vitality of rural land resources, establish sound diversified investment and financing mechanisms for rural areas, innovate incentive mechanisms to attract talent to rural regions, and improve the efficiency of coordinated allocation of urban and rural factors. We must promote the balanced and efficient allocation of public resources between urban and rural areas, adhere to allocating public resources based on the actual size of the population under management and service, advance the integration of urban and rural infrastructure, promote equal access to basic public services between urban and rural areas, and accelerate the integrated cultural development of urban and rural regions. We should elevate the modernization level of grassroots governance in both urban and rural areas, optimize the three-tier governance system at the county, township, and village levels, enhance the rule-of-law-based approach to grassroots governance, advance the digitalization of county, township, and village governance, and accelerate the formation of a grassroots governance framework for urban and rural areas characterized by coordinated efforts, joint governance, and shared benefits.

The plenary session pointed out that we must focus on addressing key and difficult issues to deepen the integrated development of urban and rural areas in our province, and make concerted efforts to write well the grand narrative of “fourfold integration.” We should focus on resolving bottlenecks in circulation to promote the integration of production factors, firmly grasping the three critical points—people, land, and capital—and systematically guiding talent and capital to rural areas, thereby ensuring that rural land resources are fully developed and utilized. We should also focus on addressing insufficient coordination to foster industrial integration, strengthening economic links between urban and rural areas, smoothing economic cycles between them, and paying special attention to leaving more of the added value from industries with farmers, so as to make agriculture stronger, rural areas more prosperous, and farmers wealthier. Furthermore, we should address uneven supply distribution by promoting infrastructure integration, making every effort to narrow the “hard gap” in infrastructure and accelerating the closing of the “soft gap” in public services, continuously enhancing the completeness of urban and rural infrastructure and the convenience of public services. Finally, we should tackle suboptimal governance by promoting governance integration, strengthening Party leadership, civilized and good governance, and rule-of-law safeguards, using efficient governance to drive high-level integration.

The plenary session pointed out that promoting integrated urban-rural development is a complex, systematic undertaking that involves a wide range of areas, requires strong policy support, and draws high public attention. It is therefore essential to strengthen organizational leadership. We must establish a working framework in which the provincial level assumes overall responsibility, departments collaborate closely, and cities and counties ensure effective implementation. We should reinforce the primary responsibilities of city and county Party committees and governments, adhere to coordinated planning and collaborative advancement, pursue approaches tailored to local conditions and proceed step by step, uphold both upholding fundamentals and fostering innovation, proactively manage risks, and boldly explore new avenues while achieving breakthroughs in key areas. We must focus on pilot demonstrations, intensify assessment and incentive mechanisms, broadly mobilize all sectors of society, and work together wholeheartedly to continuously deepen the integration of urban and rural development.

The plenary session emphasized that studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Provincial Party Committee is a crucial political task for all levels across the province, both now and in the period ahead. Party committees (party leading groups) at all levels must earnestly carry out thorough communication and study, publicity and explanation, and education and training. They should accurately grasp the profound significance, objectives, and key tasks of promoting integrated urban-rural development, and guide all Party members and cadres to align their thinking and actions with the decisions and deployments of the Provincial Party Committee. We must genuinely enhance our sense of initiative and determination in advancing integrated urban-rural development in the new era and on the new journey. With a strong sense of responsibility and mission, we should steadily and step by step ensure that the major policies and guidelines of the Party Central Committee and the arrangements made at the Provincial Party Committee’s plenary session are effectively implemented. Together, we must firmly and effectively tackle this vital issue—crucial to the overall modernization of Sichuan—and achieve tangible results, thereby providing solid support for fully building a modern socialist Sichuan.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Regulations on the Work of Local Party Committees of the Communist Party of China, the plenary session approved the resignation of Comrades Duan Yijun and Li Zhuo from their posts as members of the Provincial Party Committee due to their transfer out of Sichuan.

The plenary session calls on all sectors across the province to unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the series of important instructions by General Secretary Xi Jinping on Sichuan’s work, maintain our composure, forge ahead with determination, and work diligently and pragmatically. We must accelerate progress toward achieving phased breakthroughs and landmark results in the integrated development of urban and rural areas in our province, and make new and greater contributions to energetically writing a new chapter for China’s modernization in Sichuan!

Source: Chuan Guan News