Section Three: Understanding of harmonious socialist society
Ideas about social harmony came into being during both domestic and foreign histories. Since the 21st century, the 16th CPC National Congress, the Third Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee have explicitly put forward a strategic task to build a harmonious socialist society and taken it as an important content to strengthen building of CPC's governing capacity based on the overall situation of building a well-off society in an all-around way and opening up a new situation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Afterwards, "harmonious society" has become an important strategic task in governance by CPC, while the concept of "harmony" has also become a value orientation during building of "socialism with Chinese characteristics".
1. Connotation of harmonious socialist society
CPC put forward a strategic target of social developmentharmonious socialist society in 2004, referring to a peaceful and harmonious social state with concerted efforts from all classes. Report of the 16th National Congress of Communist Party of China put forward the important target of "making more harmonious society" for the first time. On September 19th, 2004, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee formally put forward the concept of "building a harmonious socialist society".
In a harmonious socialist society, CPC leads all the people to jointly build and enjoy a harmonious society with democracy and rule of law, fairness and justice, faith and friendship, full vitality, peace and orderliness as well as harmony between people and nature by adhering to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics.
A harmonious socialist society is a good society pursued by people with assiduous efforts, and also a social ideal pursued unremittingly by Marxism political parties.
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On September 19th, 2004, for the first time the Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee explicitly stated that CPC, as the governing party, should "adhere to mobilizing all positive factors in the widest range to the hilt and continuously strengthen the ability to build a harmonious socialist society".
The Decisions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Some Major Issues about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society reviewed and approved by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee in October, 2006 comprehensively and deeply described natures, orientation, guiding thoughts, working principles and major deployment of target tasks of a harmonious socialist society with Chinese characteristics.
In October, 2007, the 17th CPC National Congress once again emphasized the importance of building a harmonious socialist society and made all-around deployment of social construction which focused on improving people's livelihoods.（Editor-in-chief by Qin Xuan, Collection about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society, China Renmin University Press, 2005.）
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In the morning on February 20th, 2005, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a "Special Seminar for Major Provincial Leaders and Cadres to Improve Ability to Build a Harmonious Socialist Society" in Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Hu Jintao, who served as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, president of the People's Republic of China, chairman of Central Military Commission, made an important speech in the seminar opening ceremony. He pointed out that "our party has put forward a major task to build a harmonious socialist society based on the overall situation of building well-off society in an all-around way and initiating a new situation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Such task is adapted to objective requirements of reform and development in China at a key stage and reflects fundamental interests and common aspirations of the people. It is necessary to complete various work regarding building of a harmonious socialist society in a down-to-earth manner during the historical course of promoting development of socialist material civilization, political civilization and spiritual civilization".
Hu Jintao pointed out that humans, including Marxism political parties like CPC always assiduously and unremittingly pursue for a social ideal to realize social harmony and build a good society. In combination with basic principles of Marxism and practical experience in Chinese socialist construction and according to new requirements for economic and social development in China during the new era and stage as well as new trends and new characteristics in Chinese society, we should build a harmonious socialist society with democracy and rule of law, fairness and justice, faith and friendship, full vitality, peace and orderliness as well as harmony between people and nature which are also basic characteristics of a harmonious society.（Editor-in-chief by Qin Xuan, Collection about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society, China Renmin University Press, 2005.）
2. Explanation of major contents about harmonious socialist society
A harmonious society mainly contains "democracy and rule of law, fairness and justice, faith and friendship, full vitality, peace and orderliness as well as harmony between people and nature".
"Democracy and rule of law" refer to that socialist democracy is widely implemented; the basic strategy of rule of law is effectively carried out; various positive factors are extensively mobilized.
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In 2003, GDP per capita in China exceeded 1,000 dollars for the first time. Such development stage may lead to a "golden period for development" with harmonious development in economy and society;or lead to a "period with prominent contradictions", wherein economic and social development stops, while even social instability and regression may occur.
In the meantime, establishment of a socialist market economy system will inevitably influence the former pattern of interests. As a result, different interest subjects in the society may occur while a pattern of diversified interests will be gradually formed. Respective interests will inevitably cause the consciousness of right which will surely bring about political appeals. As a result, different social groups of interests will raise numerous contradictions.（Editor-in-chief by Qin Xuan, Collection about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society, China Renmin University Press, 2005.）
It follows that construction of socialist democracy and socialist rule of law appears to be crucial in contemporary society, bearing decisive historical missions and important tasks. Construction of democracy and socialist rule of law are essential main contents for building a harmonious socialist society.
"Fairness and justice" refer to that interest relationships among various social parties are coordinated; contradictions among the people and those about other social issues are dealt with properly;social fairness and justice are practically maintained and realized.
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Nowadays, Chinese society is undergoing system conversion, structural adjustment and social transformation, during which various political and social problems occur frequently and easily. In addition, various social problems about employment, corruption, unfair social distribution, public security and so forth turn out to be prominent, becoming current hot topics focused by the public people.
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Achievements obtained through 30-year-plus Reform and Opening Up in China as well as positive or negative experience and lessons presented in global countries show that it is necessary to reduce lowincome groups; increase middle-income groups; realize social integration and adjustment via ways regarding finance, revenue, guarantee, welfare, relief and the like while encouraging people to become rich through legal and rational manners; and deal with various social contradictions in order to consolidate social solidarity and realize social stability.（Editor-in-chief by Qin Xuan, Collection about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society, China Renmin University Press, 2005.）
To building a harmonious socialist society, it is essential to positively set up a just, good, ordered and rational social lifestyle by advocating the idea of "fairness and justice".
"Faith and friendship" refer to that all social members mutually help each other and behave honest and trustful; all the people live an equal and friendly life and get along well with each other.
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As the old Chinese saying goes: nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. Rules of society refer to norms for people's social behaviors. Social codes of behaviors contain extensive fields including customs, morals, laws and disciplines. Basic codes for civic moral construction contain patriotism and abidance by law;civilization, politeness and integrity; unity and friendship; diligence, thriftiness and self-improvement; professional dedication. Specific codes for social morals contain civilization and politeness, care for public properties, environmental protection, observation of disciplines and laws, and helpfulness. Specific codes for professional ethics contain fairness and justice in actions, honesty and trustworthiness, professional dedication, service to people, and contribution to society. Specific codes for family virtues contain equality between men and women, couple harmony, respect for the old and care for the young, diligence and thriftiness in household management, and united neighborhood.（Editor-in-chief by Qin Xuan, Collection about Building a Harmonious Socialist Society, China Renmin University Press, 2005.）
"Full vitality" refers to that all the creations and wishes beneficial for social progress are respected, creative activities are supported; creative talents are shown, and creative achievements are approved.
"Peace and orderliness" refer to that social organizational mechanism is sound, social management is perfect, social order is good, people live and work in peace and contentment, and society is kept stable and united.
"Harmony between people and nature" contain production development, well-off life and good ecology.
With interrelations and interactions, basic characteristics above contain harmony in social relations and harmony between people and nature, reflecting uniformity between democracy and rule of law;fairness and efficiency; vitality and order; science and humanity;people and nature. With abundant concepts, these 6 characteristics are scientific connotations and overall features of a harmonious socialist society, as well as general requirements for us to build a harmonious society.