The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday, conducted a special study on modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, which is important for improving national governance.

Good governance helps establish harmony and order in, and injects vitality, into society. It also helps strikes a balance between order and vitality, thus maximizing public interests. With the rapid development of economies and societies, good governance has become the common aspiration worldwide. Way back in 2014, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee highlighted the importance of good governance while stressing the rule of law is a prerequisite for good governance.

Since the founding of New China in 1949, the CPC leadership has been taking measures to improve the national governance system in accordance with China's actual condition. The most important of those measures was the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, which played a significant role in helping develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and establish a modern governance system.

To meet the demands of development in the new era, we have to further develop the socialist system so as to make it a more complete, stable and effective governance system. In this regard, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made clear that the arch goal of comprehensively deepening reform is to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, which has been called the "fifth modernization", after the industrial, agricultural, defense and technological modernization.

But the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is not simply the modernization of a specific field, rather it means comprehensive modernization.

To realize the grand objective of modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity, China is expected to go through two phases. In the first phase, that is, up to 2035, China will have achieved the basic modernization of socialism. With the improvement of different systems, the elementary modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity will also have been fulfilled by the middle of next decade.

And in the second phase, which lasts up to the middle of the century, China would become a major, modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful.

By 2050, China would also achieve the goal of comprehensive modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and the advancement of political, spiritual, social and ecological civilization.

The Party's study on the major issues concerning governance is part of the measures to improve the national governance system and governance capacity through comprehensive, systematic and targeted use of resources, ideas and manpower.

Broadly speaking, there are three parts to national governance modernization: making governance scientific, legalized and effective. First, the systemic arrangement for and functions of modernization should be scientific and in accordance with the rules of society and the market, and must reflect the people's will. Modern governance should be an organic whole that fully integrates multiple forces, because governance in China includes governance of the Party and governments at all levels.

Second, the rule of law lays the foundation for national governance, apart from being a basic means of governance. Modern governance practices show that governing according to law is the most reliable and stable kind of governance. In China, improving governance requires the upholding of the rule of law and building a complete inter-Party system of law.

Third, to make governance effective, especially to stimulate the vitality of the market and society, and maintain the social order, China has to use modern governance methods. Under the guidance of the Party, public institutions, governments, social organizations and individuals should participate in governance or become the subjects of governance.

There is also a need to establish channels through which social organizations and other elements could help modernize governance, and to make those channels easy to access and convenient to use. Besides, a platform should be established to enable those engaged in improving governance to communicate and cooperate.

Moreover, the government should upgrade its management methods and means, laying equal emphasis on punishment and incentive. Also, the government should use modern technologies and means to make national governance more efficient.

The author is deputy director of and a professor at the Department of Politics and Law of Party School of the Central Committee of CPC. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.