People's Daily:

Deepening reform on all fronts has been a hallmark of the new era. The third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made the overall plans and mobilizations on deepening reform on all fronts. How well has this progressed? Are there any tough challenges remaining? And, in what areas are stronger efforts required?

Sun Yeli:

Indeed, deepening reform on all fronts has been a defining feature of the new era. In his first trip outside Beijing after the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Guangdong province and made clear that China will not stop its pace of reform and opening up.

In 2013, the epoch-making third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee convened. Overall plans were laid out in reforming economic, political, cultural, social and ecological areas, as well as national defense, the military and Party building. Reforms have since moved from trials and breakthroughs in limited areas toward an integrated endeavor promoted across the board.

The past decade has seen over 2,000 reform plans introduced on multiple fronts of economic and social development, covering people's basic living, education, health and elderly care. The reform tasks set out at the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee have been fulfilled according to plan, followed by new ones set forth at the 19th CPC National Congress.

Breakthroughs have been made in major areas and key sectors. For example, systemic and transformative reforms have been made to the Party and government institutions, national defense and armed forces, and Party building. The reform of state-owned enterprises, the reform to protect the property rights of entities under all forms of ownership, as well as the reform of the judicial system, public cultural services, and household registration system have all delivered tangible results and benefits to the people. We launched unprecedented reforms on the system for protecting ecologies and the environment, and made major progress in building a beautiful China.

Through the reform efforts in the new era, basic institutional frameworks have been set up in all sectors. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has become more mature and well developed, and China's system and capacity for governance has been continuously modernized. All these have injected new vitality into the cause of the Party and the country.

Reform is an ongoing process that will never stop. We are solemnly aware of the difficulties facing the reform efforts, especially when it comes to promoting high-quality sci-tech self-reliance, establishing a high-standard market system, safeguarding food, energy, and resource security, preventing and defusing risks, and boosting comprehensive green transformation in our society and the economy. We are still facing many deep-seated problems.

We will keep to the right direction of reform, stay resolute, and advance reform with greater political courage and wisdom. Thank you.