The Five-sphere Integrated Plan
At its Sixth Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee in 1986, the CPC introduced an overall scheme of China’s development, that is, taking economic development as the key link, continuing to reform the political structure, and speeding up the country’s cultural and ideological progress. At its 13th National Congress, the Party defined a master plan of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, integrating economic prosperity, political democracy and advanced culture and ideology. Such a three-sphere integrated plan was followed by the Party’s 14th through the 16th national congresses. Addressing a seminar of leading officials at provincial and ministerial levels in February 2005, Hu Jintao spoke of a four-sphere plan that covered economic, political, cultural and social advancement.
The Five-sphere Integrated Plan – the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics encompassing economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development – was proposed in November 2012 at the 18th National Congress of the CPC. While economic development continues to be the central pillar, economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development are to be promoted on all fronts, modernization is to be fostered in all areas, and all elements are to be developed in a coordinated manner. The Five-sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy support each other and interact in a planned manner. Proceeding from economic growth, they help develop a socialist market economy, democratic governance, advanced culture, ecological progress, and a harmonious society. Together, they help make the people more prosperous, the country stronger, and China more beautiful. The enunciation of the Five-sphere Integrated Plan illustrates how the CPC continues to extend its understanding of coordinated development and of the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局
1986年召开的党的十二届六中全会首次提出了以经济建设为中心，坚定不移地进行政治体制改革，坚定不移地加强精神文明建设的总体布局，并在党的十三大上明确提出了经济富强、政治民主、精神文明“三位一体”的中国特色社会主义事业的总体布局，此后党的十四大、十五大、十六大都延续了经济建设、政治建设、文化建设“三位一体”的社会主义现代化建设总体布局。2005年2月，胡锦涛在省部级主要领导干部专题研讨班上提出了社会主义经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设“四位一体”总布局。2012年11月召开的党的十八大，将生态文明建设提升到总体布局中来，从而形成了“五位一体”的建设中国特色社会主义总体布局。要求在坚持以经济建设为中心的同时，全面推进经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设、生态文明建设，促进现代化建设各个环节、各个方面协调发展。“五位一体”和“四个全面”相互促进、统筹联动，在推动经济发展的基础上，建设社会主义市场经济、民主政治、先进文化、生态文明、和谐社会，协同推进人民富裕、国家强盛、中国美丽。“五位一体”总体布局的提出，体现了中国共产党对协调发展认识的不断深化，对中国特色社会主义规律认识的不断深化。