The 5^th Plenary Session of the 19^th CPC Central Committee, which passed the Proposals for Formulating the 14^th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, was closed on October 29, 2020. Upon its release, the Proposalsbecame a hot topic among the students who had taken the training courses for more than one month at SPI(SAI). The trainees, including those from the 121^sttraining course for leading cadres, the 59^th training course for young andmiddle-aged cadres, the 2020training course for young and middle-aged non-CPC-member cadresin Shanghai, the 11^th training course for divisional cadres in Shanghai, the 4^th training course for young cadres, and the 66^th training course for cadres in Shanghai’s discipline inspection and supervision departments,were organized to watch the CCTV Newsthat evening.On October 30,some of the trainees also watched the press conference interpreting the spirit of the 5^th Plenary Session, and the trainees were divided into groups todiscuss and talk about their understanding of the spirit, showing great enthusiasm in studying, propagating, and implementing the spirit.

Firstly, traineesdeeply felt that great thoughts originate from a great era and that innovative theories guide innovative practices. They all agreed that the 5^th Plenary Session was a crucial conference held at a point where amoderately prosperous society in all fieldswas about to be built andthe journey of building amodern socialist country in all respects was about to begin.The Proposals adopted at the conferenceset the tone forChinas development during the 14^th Five-Year Plan period and a period afterwards, and drew a blueprint featuring higher-quality, warmer, and more vigorous development, whichwas of epoch-making and milestone significance for the new chapter of building a modern socialist country in an all-round manner.

The 5^thPlenary Session reflected how the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary XIJinping at its core, reviewed the situation and responded with calm, and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups to forge ahead and break new ground, working hard to advance all undertakings of the Party and the country. TheSession identified the main objectives of economic and social development during the 14^th Five-Year Plan, as well as the guidelines, principles, and policies to be observed. The Proposalsis a landmark programmatic document in reflecting the Party’s firm determination, its purpose of ruling for the people, itspursuit of truth from facts, and more confidence in the "four matters". Trainees from the 121^st training course said that the Session had presenteda spectacular vision, offered insight into the global situation, and responded to the changes, showing how visionary the CPC Central Committee isin planning for the future and how composed it is in facing the ever-changing situation.It demonstrated ourParty’sstrategic determination to hold high the banner and shoulder its responsibility tocontinue opening up for the future.

Through the study and discussion, students of the 59^th training coursefelt that great ideas originate from a great era and that innovative theories guide innovative practices. We owe what we achieved during the 13^th Five-Year Plan period, those shining figures, and the winning of the tough battles, to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. TheSession, which charted the course for Chinas development during the 14^th Five-Year Plan period, reflected the vision and wisdom of our Party to cultivate opportunities in the midst of crisis and start new games in the midst of changes by taking into account the profound and complex changes in the development, looking far ahead and aiming high, tightly following the general trend, forging ahead, and moving steadily toward the future.

Second, they became more confident in drawing up a new blueprint and embarking on a new journey with the momentum of the times. According to theSession,China’s development is still in an important period full of strategic opportunities;and a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all fields will begin during the 14^th Five-Year Plan period. Along with the proposals for the 14^th Five-Year Plan, the Session also laid out the long-range objectives forthe year 2035, and specifiedthe guidelines, targets and tasks, and strategic measures that China should follow in the next period.A practical and effective blueprint is therefore available with the objectives and directionsset forth in view of aninternationalstrategic perspective, which plays a significant role in mobilizing and encouraging the whole Party members and the entire nation toembark on the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.

The Session applauded the decisive achievements made in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Against the backdrop of an ever-changing international landscape and the impact of COVID-19, China has achieved significant strategic results in preventing the epidemic.More attention has been paid to the governance effectiveness of economic, social, and cultural development while making proposalsfor formulating the 14^thFive-Year Plan and the long-rangeobjectivesup to the year 2035. Many trainees were impressed by the superiority of the Communist Party of China and Chinas socialist system and the comprehensive national strength accumulated since the reform and opening up, and wereconvinced that the country will embrace a greater success in the future.

On the afternoon of the same day, the 2020 training course for young and middle-aged cadres outside the CPC in Shanghai were taking an on-site class in Wujing Town, a town featuring scientific and technological development as well as fashionable trends in Minhang District. The trainees studied the Proposalsand engaged in discussion on the bus back to the Party School. They said that as part of the builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics, they would never shirk the responsibility. They were excited and inspired, and at the same time felt obliged, when learning that innovation remains in the core in the modernization of our country, and that it is anational strategy to orient science and technology tothe forefront of world science and technology, the key battleground of economy, the major demand of the country, and the needs of the peoples life and health. After reading the Proposals, trainees of the 66^th training course for cadres in Shanghai’s discipline inspection and supervision departments also thought a lot and were impressed by the pace of Chinas rise and the strength it shows inmoving forward. The decision made at the Session would bring the nation closer to becoming a modern power, a goal that has been pursued by generations of Chinese people.

Third, they found it necessary to strengthen the mission of forging ahead in the new era and creating new miracles for development. The trainees believed that as the 14^th Five-Year Planwas about to start, they should bear in mind the "two big pictures".While moving towards a new journey, they should treat the study of the spirit of the Session as a major political task and top agenda forthe current and future period, quickly combining their thinking and action into the spirit. The traineessaid that they would never forget the national strategic tasks undertaken by Shanghai, and would formulate the14^thFive-Year Plan for eachunit, department, and districtin accordance with the spirit of the Session, therebyto creat new miraclesfor Shanghais development with a higher position, stronger capability, and higher level.

After watching the CCTV News,trainees of the 11^thtraining course said that they felt proud to be a Chinese and a member of the CPC, and that it was an honor for them tobe able to experience and witness the glorious courseof the Chinese nationachieving the great rejuvenation. Trainees of the 4^thtraining course said that as young cadres, theywould keep improvingthe "seven capabilities" to help the ship of socialism with Chinese characteristics brave the wind and waves, and the socialist China standingout in the east.

To study, propagate, and implement the spirit of the Session in a timely, comprehensive, and accurate way, the Party School gave out aquestionnaire called MySuggestion for the 14^th Five-Year Planin October, and required each trainee to submit his or her suggestion whileissuing the admission notice.Trainees forums were also held according to the characteristics of different courses to ensure the implementation of the instructions given by the Central Committee and the CPC Shanghai Committee onpreparing the 14^th Five-Year Plan.By doing that,the school managed to create anatmosphere for studying the spirit of the Session in advance,and also incorporate that spirit into Shanghais14^th Five-Year Planand otheressential work. Apart from organizing the trainees to study the Proposals, the school also developed a variety of teaching activities and carried out special tutoring to create a strong atmosphere of learning the spirit of the Session. The exchange ofthe learning outcomes and the study, propagation, and implementation of the spirit have been promoted by means of thetrainees’ salon, the trainees’ forum, reading activities, theme educational activities, and analysis ofthe Party spirit.