The Communist Party of China (CPC) first put forward the concept of the "important period of strategic opportunities" at its 16th National Congress in 2002, which spans the first 20 years of the 21st century. Whether this period of strategic opportunities still exists should be asked before development plans are implemented. Li Junru, former Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, believes China's rapid development is still blessed with strategic opportunities. Edited excerpts follow:

China has been rapidly rising in the past 12 years. Along with the country's rise come two kinds of "theories" in the international community: One is the "China threat theory" and the other is the "China collapse theory."

China is often embroiled in disputes with big economies like the United States over trade and the currency exchange rate, and with neighboring countries over border issues. At the same time, China's internal social and economic development has begun to see a widening gap between the rich and poor, an outdated social structure, as well as mass conflicts. As a result, some people think that China's period of strategic opportunities has come to an end ahead of schedule.

China has already moved from the margins to the center of the world stage, with its international status rising to an unprecedented high. Particularly, the Chinese economy is exerting a growing influence on the world economy. There exist conflicts and frictions between China and big powers like the United States, but the mutually beneficial pattern has already taken shape. China's cooperation with other developing countries is also extensive. The common interests between China and its neighboring countries outweigh their conflicts. Major events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, as well as China's effective responses to the massive earthquake in Wenchuan of Sichuan Province, have greatly burnished China's image and encouraged the Chinese people.

All of these prove that despite all of the newly emerged conflicts and problems, China's rapid development is still blessed with strategic opportunities.

In light of the changes happening within China and in the world, the CPC Central Committee has made two judgments following comprehensive, objective and calm analyses: First, China's development is still in an important period of strategic opportunities; thus, there is still extensive space for China's further development. Second, China is faced with a variety of foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and challenges. Based on these two judgments, the CPC proposed to strengthen the sense of opportunity and the sense of crisis. Then we'll be able to remain confident in the face of complex and variable situations.

Given the present economic and social development in China as well as the international environment, we must stay clear-headed. We face huge challenges and tests. In terms of the international situation, the global economy is recovering very slowly while the financial crisis is still ongoing. As for the domestic situation, the task to solve systemic and structural conflicts for more balanced, coordinated and sustainable development is becoming more urgent and difficult. New problems keep cropping up in the country's economic development. For instance, China's economic growth is under the pressure of slowing down. The government's macro-control over the real estate market is at a critical stage. It is difficult for agriculture to realize stable development and for farmers to keep increasing their incomes. Employment is under structural pressure. Some long-term conflicts are getting intertwined with short-term issues, while internal and external problems are getting mixed up.