Editor's note: Party General Secretary Hu Jintao addressed the opening session of a workshop for officials at the ministerial and provincial level on July 23. The following is a People's Daily commentary on the speech:

Party leader Hu Jintao's address at the opening session of a ministerial workshop on July 23 was a political declaration for China to adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, and provides the guidelines for it to get adapted to the requirement of the times and the wishes of the people.

It is an important political task for the 82 million Communist Party of China members to carefully read and understand the spirit of Hu's remarks with a high degree of political consciousness and sense of responsibility to unite thoughts with actions.

Hu penetratingly analyzed the new situation and new tasks facing China, systematically summarized the great practices since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, scientifically stated some important problems pertinent to the Party and the whole nation, and incisively provided solutions to a series of theoretical and practical problems for the development of the Party and the nation.

"We should hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, use Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents as a guidance, thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, unswervingly get along on the socialist road with Chinese characteristics and struggle for the construction of a well-off society in an all-round way," Hu stressed. This is an overall requirement raised by the Party for its own work and the work of the nation based on changed national, Party and world situations as well as people's new expectations.

To fully grasp and implement the overall requirement, we should hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In an era of drastic changes in domestic and overseas situations, the kind of banner we will hold will decide the success or failure of our socialist cause. Practices fully demonstrate that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a banner of progress and development for contemporary China as well as a banner for unity and hard work of the Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

It is under this banner that the Party has led the Chinese people to create one miracle after another over the past 30-odd years since the reform and opening-up began.

To understand and implement the overall requirement, we should consistently stick to our development road and enhance our consciousness and determination to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development.

The achievements China has made over the past decades - from its remarkable economic and social progress to the obvious improvements in people's living conditions, and from the rapid strengthening of its overall national strength to the considerable rise in its influence across the world - testify that the socialist road with Chinese characteristics is the correct path the Party and the people have chosen in their long process of practices.

Scientific development, as a distinctive theme for contemporary China, has shown its enormous power in directing China toward development and progress and thus enjoys a solid theoretical, practical and mass foundation. Only by advancing along this great road, can we strengthen our determination, take more fruitful measures and use better systems to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development and ensure that our economy and society develop well and fast.

To thoroughly comprehend and implement the overall requirement, we should strive to realize the grand objective of building a well-off society in an all-round way. A well-off society is the Party's solemn commitment to the entire nation. It is also the common aspiration of 1.3 billion Chinese people.

We now face opportunities and challenges both, something that we have not done before. Whether or not we can firmly utilize emerging opportunities and better tackle emerging challenges will be decided by our perceptions, our work and the steps we take to carry forward reform and development. Only by maintaining an enterprising spirit, emancipating our minds and carrying forward the reform and opening-up, can we unite forces that can be united, mobilize positive factors that can be mobilized, and overcome all difficulties and risk on the road ahead.

We are now at a decisive stage of the construction of a well-off society in an all-round way. We are also on the way to national rejuvenation. We will certainly continue to find new ways to build socialism with Chinese characteristics and make new, magnificent achievements for the cause of the Party and the people if we can deeply grasp the essence of Hu's July 23 address, emancipate our minds and carry forward the reform and opening-up.

(China Daily 08/01/2012 page8)