Since its founding in 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has held fast to strict self-governance. That discipline is precisely why a party of more than 100 million members can mobilize swiftly, even under major risks and challenges, leading the people to stable and rapid social and economic development. 

This year is the Party's 105th anniversary as well as the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). Against that backdrop, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing on October 26-29, centered its discussions on strict self-governance. Convened as political parties in many countries are mired in chaotic struggles, the plenum offered parties worldwide an important window into why the CPC has developed in a healthy manner. The five-yearly CPC National Congress and the Central Committee it elects are the highest leading bodies of China's governing party; plenary sessions, held at least annually, gather all Central Committee members to address major political, economic and social affairs.

International understanding of contemporary China once focused mostly on economic growth, social stability, technological progress, urban landscapes, high-speed rail and mobile payment—achievements that often left observers astonished by the pace of China's development.

Yet beneath all these lies something more fundamental: a strong, disciplined ruling party that sets the direction. Strict self-governance helps the CPC keep its members aligned with the Central Committee in political orientation and action, turning political unity into effective governance. That capacity for self-discipline not only underpins China's remarkable development but also offers a model worth studying for countries and parties seeking to grow quickly while keeping their integrity.

The Fifth Plenary Session signaled that the CPC intends to push self-governance further, with greater resolve and more robust actions. This serves both internal needs, including sustaining the Party's vitality, and external ones: navigating uncertainty and meeting external challenges.

Many countries today face an external environment similar to China's: geopolitical rivalry, unilateralism and a complex, persistent array of risks. With a renewed commitment to strict self-governance, the Fifth Plenary Session offers Chinese experiences and ideas to the wider world of political practice.