The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, called the amendment to the Communist Party constitution the “main highlight of the congress.”

CGTN’s Han Bin explains why.

The next generation of the world’s largest political party has been chosen. The new members will be the ones to carry on Communism in China’s new era.

This new thought carries a vast spectrum of meanings.

It makes clear the party’s overarching strategies and policies for rejuvenation. The goal is to make a strong, modern country by the middle of the century with law-based governance, a strong military, and new types of international relations.

Certain principles are mandatory, like the party’s leadership in all work, a people centered-approach, deepening reforms, and a new vision for growth.

Professor Shen Chuanliang from the Central Party School has been studying the party’s history for nearly 20 years. His current focus is on this new stage.

“To put the party’s latest thoughts on governance into the charter is to consolidate consensus,” Professor Shen said. “To put the breakthrough theoretical achievements and practical experience into the charter, will help promote the whole country’s development in the New Era with the new tasks.”

Nearly every Party Congress has amended the charter. Once these new theoretical thoughts are enshrined, they could lead the country in a new direction.

The CPC charter is a small book, but it contains all the important thoughts and principles leading the world’s largest political party. Each leadership has left its imprint. The thought of President Xi Jinping has been written in, and its implementation means a new chapter for the party, the country, and the people.