The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held its 19th group study session on the morning of Feb. 28, focusing on building a Peaceful China at a higher level. While presiding over the session, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that building a higher-level Peaceful China bears on the full development of our undertakings, the well-being of the people, and the long-term stability of the country. We must unwaveringly implement a holistic approach to national security, and make sustained efforts to enhance national security, social order, governance effectiveness and public satisfaction, thereby advancing the Peaceful China Initiative to a higher level.

Li Yan, vice president and professor of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, lectured on the topic and offered her suggestions on related work. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee listened attentively and had a discussion.

Xi delivered an important speech following the lecture and the discussion. He noted that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has continuously improved the leadership, legal, strategy and policy systems for national security, improved the social governance system, strengthened the holistic approach to ensuring law and order, enhanced public safety governance, and resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security, and development interests. As a result, China has successfully written a new chapter in sustaining the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. In keeping with the evolving situation and tasks, the building of a Peaceful China can only be strengthened, not weakened.

Xi stressed that the holistic approach to national security provides important guidance for building a Peaceful China at a higher level and must be firmly implemented. Party committees and governments at all levels must adhere to systems thinking, further reinforce the concept that both development and security are of paramount importance, and consciously coordinate development and security in their work by pursuing joint planning and unified deployment for mutual reinforcement. They must keep in mind the full picture of national development and make concerted efforts to create conditions for the overall security of the country by ensuring the security of each local region and sector, thus laying a solid foundation for the long-term stability and security of the country by promptly and effectively addressing each security issue.

He noted that the Peaceful China Initiative is for the people and relies on the people. Efforts must be made to continuously improve public well-being, steadily advance common prosperity, effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and uphold social fairness and justice. It is essential to refine the social governance system, enhance the systems and mechanisms for social work, and foster a community of social governance in which everyone fulfills their responsibilities and shares the benefits. We must cultivate self-esteem, self-confidence, rationality, composure and optimism among the people, while promoting an up-to-date ethos of enterprise, dedication, rule of law, and civility.

Xi emphasized that forestalling and defusing all kinds of risks is a major task in advancing the Peaceful China Initiative. It is imperative to prioritize the protection of the country's political security, while resolutely safeguarding the security of state power, systems and ideology. We must improve the public safety system, steer a shift in public safety governance toward a prevention-based model, and strengthen efforts in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, workplace safety, food and drug safety, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence security and other areas. We must also strive to prevent risks in key areas.

Xi noted that building a higher-level Peaceful China requires strengthening the holistic approach to maintaining law and order. We must combine targeted governance practices with systematic, law-based and comprehensive approaches, while addressing issues at the source. Efforts should be made to build a true iron wall for crime prevention and control by boosting public participation. It is essential to apply and further develop the Fengqiao model for promoting community-level governance in the new era, advance the law-based handling of public complaints and proposals, and resolve all kinds of disputes in a timely and effective manner.

Xi stressed that the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for promoting the Peaceful China Initiative. It is a must to always uphold the absolute leadership of the CPC Central Committee over national security work and judicial, procuratorial and public security work. Party committees at all levels must play a leading role in assuming overall responsibility and coordinating the efforts of all sides in advancing the Peaceful China Initiative. It is essential to strengthen positive publicity and guide public opinion, make judicious use of modern scientific and technological means to enhance social governance effectiveness, and develop a team of high-caliber judicial, procuratorial and public security personnel of the new era who are loyal, clean and responsible.