In 1962, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that “it took Western countries more than three hundred years to develop a great capitalist economy.” He predicted that “it will take China 50 to 100 years to develop a strong socialist economy.”Footnote 1

It now appears that we will achieve our goal to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021, the year the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary. By the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the PRC, we will have achieved our goal of building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

After 2050, China will enter the intermediate stage of socialist development. The development theme will change from “common prosperity” to “common development,” with two main historical missions: (1) to turn China into a highly developed great modern socialist country (i.e. the third centenary goal) by 2078, the centenary of China’s reform and opening up; and (2) to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by the end of the century.

China’s third centenary goal can be described as a shift from “achieving common development” to “becoming highly developed.” The overarching objective is to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful in all respects, so as to lay a solid foundation with higher standards to enable the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Thus, China will become a great modern socialist country that is highly developed, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and eco-friendly, and that makes great contributions to human development.

The Communist Party of China shoulders a historical mission: Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it has developed from implementing industrialization to building an independent and complete industrial system and national economy. The Party has also eliminated absolute poverty and now meets the basic needs of the people. It has moved on from achieving moderate prosperity to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. From now until the end of the century, China will progress from building a society of common prosperity in all areas to realizing socialist modernization. Similarly, it will advance from a situation of common prosperity to one of achieving common development, and from realizing advanced socialist modernization to finally enjoying the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

One outcome of China’s historical mission has been the creation of the Communist Party of China. The past, present, and plans for the future all show that the Party’s historical mission is China’s mission. The historical mission of the Party is its responsibility for China, turning China into a great modern socialist country and achieving common prosperity. Similarly, the Party’s historical mission is the mission of humankind; it has a responsibility to humankind in making great contributions to world peace and human development. These are the “four major responsibilities,” the “four major missions,” and the “four major contributions” of the Communist Party of China.

China’s history and future, its people, and China itself choose the Communist Party of China. Without the Party, there would be no People’s Republic of China, no great China, no common prosperity, no highly modernized China, and no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.