General Preface

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The road of China's development is a socialist road with Chinese characteristics. We are taking this road as it is the choice of history and the people.”

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China more than 70 years ago, and especially through the 40-plus years of reform and opening up, Chinese people have made remarkable achievements along this road. China has become the second largest economy in the world. With steadily rising standards of living for its 1.4 billion people, China has created a world miracle in poverty reduction. This has brought about a leap forward whereby the Chinese people have gone from regaining dignity to becoming prosperous and strong.

A look back upon the past is for a better start. The “Modern China's Ingenuity” series aims to provide a full picture of China's achievements in all respects, especially the historic changes and great achievements of the Party and the state since the 18th CPC National Congress. The series sheds light on the struggle of the Party and the people since the founding of the People's Republic of China and the inherent logic of China's historic transformation. Moreover, the series recounts the stories of the CPC, stories about New China, and stories about socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

China has achieved numerous remarkable accomplishments over the past decades. It has built an extensive network of roads and railways, constructed dams that stand high above the landscape, completed the West-to-East Natural Gas Transmission Project and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, launched the Shenzhou spacecraft, landed the Chang’e spacecraft on the moon, plumbed the depths of the ocean with the Jiaolong submersible, and created a nationwide high-speed rail system. Thanks to the success of so many immense and momentous undertakings, China has earned the unwavering confidence of its people.

All Chinese citizens enjoy the rights to education, employment, medical care, elderly care, housing, and aid. Moreover, China has made remarkable achievements in spurring both material and cultural advancements. Such accomplishments demonstrate Chinas strength.

Special economic zones, coastal open cities, pilot free trade zones, ethnic minority areas, featured tourism cities, and colorful Chinese provinces and cities have unleashed the vitality of China.

The achievements of the megaprojects and the industries, and the development of the provinces and cities witness the difficulties and hardships of the Chinese people and the efforts they have made along the Chinese road, and that China becomes what it is today thanks to the efforts of all Chinese people.

Looking ahead is to find the way forward. The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC at the intersection of two “centenary” periods strive to build China into a strong, prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country. It is hoped that this set of books will, in addition to witnessing China's brilliant achievements, stand in a new historic position to illuminate the way forward.

Du Zhanyuan

President China International Publishing Group December 2020