Xie Chuntao is deputy director of the Teaching and Research Department of CPC History at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Major challenges for the next decade

In the future, the CPC will face the challenge of how to fully implement the Scientific Outlook on Development concept as recognized by the entire Party and its people.

As China's ruling party, the CPC , if it wants to mitigate or solve social contradictions, should exert great efforts to ensure that all people believe they live in a society of justice and equality by balancing the interests of various social strata.

Another challenge for the CPC will be how to ensure a peaceful international environment for China's further development as some countries are unwilling and unhappy to see the nation grow stronger.

In terms of the Taiwan issue, it is far from being resolved despite cross-Strait relations having greatly improved in recent years.

China is a united multi-national state, but instability does exist in some ethnic minority regions. The CPC needs to make more efforts to ensure that all ethnic minorities can live in a harmonious environment.

Related to the Party itself, the CPC should radically address the problem of official corruption if it is to overcome all of its other challenges. What dissatisfies the masses and harm social stability most is probably the injustice embodied by corruption. Therefore, tackling corruption can be seen as the CPC's most rigid challenge yet. Relations between the Party and the masses, and the Party's governance will suffer greatly if corruption cannot be eliminated.

And finally, the CPC needs to continue its efforts to quicken the pace of democracy in the country.

Xie Chuntao is author of "Why and How the CPC Works in China".

The article was originally published in Chinese, and translated by Zhang Junmian.