The Report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made by then Party General Secretary Hu Jintao on November 8, 2012, laid out a blueprint for China's future. Comprehensive insight into the key terms in this report will help readers better understand the country's national strategies and its future path. ChinAfrica introduces some of these terms.

Five in One

The term "Five in One" is the expression that appears in the section on "Achieving New Victory for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" in the report. It refers to the overall approach to building socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is "to promote economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress."

These five aspects are tied to the economic, political, cultural, social and ecological rights and interests of the Chinese people. This means that in the coming years, while the country will still emphasize economic and social development, China will focus more on creating a better living environment for its people.

Ecological progress is a new aspect added to China's overall approach to its development. But China already launched a national ecological functional zoning strategy in 2008. Under this strategy, of China's 216 ecological functional zones, 148 play a role in eco-regulation; 46 are set to produce various farm, forest, livestock and aquatic products; and 22 provide space for human settlements.

In its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), China aims to increase the proportion of non-fossil fuels in its overall primary energy use to 11.4 percent, and will push to increase forest stocks by 600 million cubic meters by the end of 2015.

Under the new targets, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will be reduced by 16 percent and 17 percent respectively, and main pollutant emissions will be cut by 8-10 percent.

China's new development strategy, with its greater focus on ecological progress, is set to reserve more space for nature to repair itself, set aside more fertile farmland for agricultural development, and maintain a beautiful home with blue sky, green land and clean water for future generations.

(Source: CCTV News)