Following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping advanced the Chinese Dream as a guiding thought of governing the country. And the 19th Party Congress last month made "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" a long-term guiding political theory for the Party to follow.

The conclusion that socialism with Chinese characteristics has stepped into a new era comes after a profound analysis of the current situation and tasks, and the evolution of the principal contradiction from one between the rising material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production to that between "unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life". Also, the conclusion is in line with the Chinese Dream, and a more accurate understanding of the Party's historic task. And realizing the Chinese Dream is the political task of the new generation of Party leaders.

The Party leadership, with Xi Jinping as the core, has vowed to continue its struggle to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which is also the main focus of reform and development in the new era.

Achieving national rejuvenation is the greatest dream of the Chinese people. The Chinese Dream is rooted in Chinese society, and its goal is to achieve national prosperity, build national strength, improve people's lives and realize national rejuvenation.

History tells us that socialism as a political system is best suited for China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can help further develop China. In fact, Xi has reiterated that sticking to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is in the spirit of the 18th Party Congress. While realizing the Chinese Dream is the core objective of building and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, sticking to socialism with Chinese characteristics and the socialist path is the only way we can realize the Chinese Dream.

However, the Chinese Dream cannot be realized without the Party's leadership and people's support. The most salient feature of the Chinese Dream is to closely connect the interests of the nation and the people. In this sense, the Chinese Dream is indeed the people's dream. And to garner the support of the people, the Party leadership has to continuously improve and strengthen itself, and wholeheartedly serve the people.

From the Chinese Dream to "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era", the Party's ideology, theoretical system and governance principle have been gradually improving in the new era. And while the "Thought" reflects the Party's profound understanding of the laws of governance and socialist construction, the Chinese Dream harmonizes the Party's historic task and objective of struggle, as well as answers the question: What kind of socialism we should stick to and develop in the new era, and how can we achieve that goal?

That socialism with Chinese characteristics has stepped into a new era indicates the Chinese nation has taken a giant leap from "standing up toward prosperity". It also reflects the Chinese wisdom and philosophy of solving human problems.

"Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" is a modern and creative way of applying Marxism to China's real conditions, which reflects the wisdom of the Party and the people. As well as identifying the concrete tasks for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi's "Thought" also points out the direction the Party and the people should take to realize that goal.

The historic changes in the past five years have created the right situation for taking forward the Party's and the nation's cause. The new generation of Party leaders therefore is in a good position to realize the Chinese Dream through systematic planning and active innovation in the future.

The author is director of the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing.