What Is Meant by Chinese Modernisation?

Perhaps the most important theme to emerge from the CPC 20th Congress was Chinese modernisation. The idea of modernisation has been fundamental to China’s reform and opening up strategy ever since Deng Xiaoping. Chinese modernisation marks a major shift. China is now turning its thoughts from catching up with the West to what kind of modernisation does China need. It is a much broader idea at the heart of which is what China calls common prosperity: that China is too unequal and there needs to be a much greater emphasis on fairness and equity.