Part of the reform leading group's duties, apart from economic reform, is to plan and carry out reform on modernizing¹ China's "governance system" and "governance capability²".

 

改革领导小组除了经济改革方面的职责以外，还将推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化方面的改革。

 

国家治理体系（governance system）和治理能力（governance capability）这一概念首次在中央文件中出现，其核心内涵是党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国的有机统一（the organic unity³ of adherence⁴ to leadership by the Party, ensuring that the people are masters of the country and governing the country according to law），具体包括强化执政党领导地位（to consolidate⁵ the leadership position of the CPC），进一步建设人民民主(people’s democracy)和以法治为基础建立规范的国家治理体系(to build a standardized⁶ governance system based on the rule of law)等目标，其中依法执政(law-based governance)、依法行政(carrying out administration in accordance with the law)、依法治国(rule of law)的水平是国家治理体系现代化的重要标志。

 

现代化的国家治理能力(modern governance capability)，包括对紧急状态(state of emergency)、自然灾害(natural disaster)等突发事件的处理能力，在国际舞台上维护国家主权、安全、利益的能力(capability to uphold national sovereignty, security and interests)，全面建设和谐社会(building a harmonious⁷ society in a comprehensive way)、让人民安居乐业(people live and work in peace and contentment)的能力。