A proposal crucial to shaping China's development over the next five years has stressed to promote the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and socialist democracy.

Leadership by the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for China to achieve the goals laid out in the economic and social development plan for the next five years, according to the CPC Central Committee's Proposal on Formulating the Twelfth Five-year Program (2011-2015) on National Economic and Social Development, which was made public on Wednesday.

The proposal was adopted at the Fifth Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee which ended on Oct. 18.

The proposal says leadership by the CPC, the socialist democracy and the rule of law should be kept in organic unity, and efforts should be made to protect the people's rights to know, participate, express and supervise.

The system of people's congresses, the system of multi-party cooperation and consultation under the leadership of the CPC, the system of regional autonomy of ethic minorities, and the democracy at grassroots levels should be adhered to and improved, the document says.

The proposal also calls for better work in ethnic and religious affairs to promote unity among ethnic groups in China.

Moreover, rule of law should be fully implemented to uphold the authority of the country's legal system, and administrative work should also be carried out in accordance with the law, the proposal says.

The proposal also pledges intensified protection of human rights in China.

Work in improving the CPC ruling capacity and maintaining the Party's stewardship of the country should be strengthened to promote the Party's competence in leading the country's economic and social development, the proposal says.

The document pledges to deepen the reform in selection of officials and intensify anti-corruption work. Improved supervision is also needed to better regulate the use of power, it says.

The document further urges all CPC members to uphold the idea of scientific development and diligently work towards changing the country's growth model.

Party officials and cadres at all levels should always keep close relations with the general public, and serve the people full-heartedly, the proposal says.