Beijing: The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which kicks off Thursday, will be "a crucial event concerning China`s fate", said a state-run daily Tuesday.
An article in the People`s Daily said the congress will "provide a crucial window into the direction of China in the next five years or a longer period".
"In this election year for many countries, the world is paying close attention to the CPC`s latest moves, and is curious to know how it will judge the situation, continue to lead China along the path of peaceful rise, and influence global landscapes," it said.
The daily said the world economy, hit hard by the global financial crisis, is struggling to recover, and "China is entering a new historical stage of transforming its economic growth model, deepening reforms, and building a well-off society in an all-round way after more than 30 years of miraculously rapid economic growth thanks to the Reform and Opening-up".
The 18th National Congress of the CPC will be "a crucial event concerning China`s fate".
"...CPC national congresses have become the crucial links guiding and promoting China`s development and changes," it added.
The article noted that the country was facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
"On the one hand, it aims to build an all-round well-off society by 2020, or the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Party, so the time after the 18th CPC National Congress will be particularly crucial.
"The CPC enjoys a solid foundation for governance and massive public support, and has continued to promote the Reform and Opening-up. China is still in the middle of industrialization, informationization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, and thus has huge potential for steady development and peaceful rise," it said.
On the other hand, "the country is also facing many difficulties and problems, including increased economic downward pressure".
At the 18th national congress, "the Party needs to figure out how it will draw on past invaluable experience, open up a path of innovation, meet the people`s needs, solve problems concerning the people`s vital interests, and introduce more suitable policies at the macro and micro levels for improving the people`s living standards", said the daily.
It went on to say that China is faced with new challenges in handling relations with the big countries, developing countries and its neighbours.
"In the era of economic globalization, China must map out a new strategy to continue the road of peaceful development, meanwhile avoiding risks and seizing opportunities. Now, China occupies such an important status in the world that a slight change will impact the entire world," it said.
"People are looking forward to the convening of the 18th National Congress of the CPC because it may mean the new beginning of a great revolution to China and even the world," the article added.
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