By Hua Yiwen

The Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms (from herein referred to as the Decision) was released after the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on November 12, sparking discussion around the globe.

Previously, the Third Plenary Session and the resulting communiqué had caught the attention of international media. On the whole, response was positive, but some commented that the communiqué was ambiguously worded and reform measures looked cautious and were far from meeting expectations. As a result, some wondered if China would actually make substantial reform. Some overseas media misunderstood the communiqué, misread sections of the report, interpreting them out of context, or simply guessed the implications.

The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee focuses on major problems and challenges that China presently faces. The communiqué elaborates the emphasis, direction, objectives, ideas and principles of reform within 5,000 words. It would be impossible to talk about every aspect of concrete reform measures within such a small document. Some international media drew partial or hasty conclusions over China's reform plans before they had seen the release of the Decision.

As expected, the 20,000-word Decision covers 60 reform tasks in 15 areas. Many of them are difficult social and economic challenges that need to be tackled swiftly. A number of overseas media outlets began to look at China's reform with new eyes, commenting that the new reform plan went beyond what was anticipated. The outside world has learned that this new round of reform will be implemented on an unprecedented scale, with many describing the agenda as "ambitious."They have said that China's reform, if fully implemented, will bring massive changes to the country. Thus, the new round of reform will be as significant as the Plenum has said it will be.

The Chinese people are paying close attention to the results of the Plenum. This is because the reform blueprint concerns the vital interests of every Chinese citizen in many areas such as education, employment and welfare for the elderly. The international media has paid close attention to the Plenum not only because China's reform concerns the fate of the country, but also for its implications for the rest of the world. As a foreign reporter commented, the world economy largely relies on China, the second largest economy in the world. And any big change of the county will produce important influence on world economy.

In the increasingly globalized information era that we live in, all countries has become a community with shared interests. It is not an exaggeration to say that all countries are bound together in their fates. Like many other countries, China faces a number of prominent problems and challenges. Through the past 35 years of reform and opening up, China has proved that deepening reform is the key to solving these problems. China has made a resolution to deepen reform to aid in tackling these issues. China has an ambition to fulfill its peaceful development. China is willing to benefit its neighboring countries and the international community through its own growth, which also needs cooperation and coordination with other countries.

China's reform is entering a "deep water area" and "critical period." China chooses to dispel the misgivings of the world with a determination to deepen reform. The rest of the world also should remain patient with China's reform. In the next 35 years, China's resolution will bring a splendid achievement to the world.

(The author is an expert in international studies.)