To fully grasp the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which concluded recently, we must first comprehend the 13 "adhering tos" as an integrated whole and the most important aspect of the session.

First, the 13 "adhering tos" are inherently a unified system reflecting the whole of socialism with Chinese characteristics as a basic system. Socialism means different things and has different expressions in different countries and different periods. But for New China, socialism with Chinese characteristics is the system of choice.

Opinions vary on how to comprehend socialism with Chinese characteristics. But thanks to its long-term exploration, the Fourth Plenary Session gave the answer to this vital question.

The 13 "adhering tos" include adhering to and improving the Party leadership system and the administrative system, and making the people the masters of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is a well-conceived system, whose every aspect supports, promotes and collaborates with mutual development and prosperity. Together, they correlate to and regulate the whole of China's modern society and the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Second, the 13 "adhering tos" are an orderly, multi-layered system, with the Party leadership system at the top and the other 12 systems following in succession. While the other 12 systems provide the basic rules in 12 aspects, the basic and specific content under each system constitutes the third level.

Third, the 13 "adhering tos" are open and evolving. With the passage of time, adjustment would be made to ensure the whole system develops in accordance with the times. For instance, the comprehensive rule of law, which is an important part of the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, should be adhered to in letter and spirit in the most dynamic way possible.

President Xi Jinping pointed out long time ago that laws and rules have to be modified and improved through practice. Those laws not conforming to the demands of reform should be updated or abolished in time. Notably, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was required to "establish and improve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security". This new expression added to the "one country, two systems" framework is a response to the months-long unrest in Hong Kong. To be sure, such new arrangements are well connected to laws and regulations.

Fourth, the 13 "adhering tos" as an organic whole collaborate and synchronize in practice. The Fourth Plenary Session noted that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a scientific system formed by the Party and the Chinese people on the basis of their long-term exploration and practice. The proposal of the 13 "adhering tos" highlights the positive role and function of these systems in practice.

Besides, these functions are reflected not only in each area, but also in the coordination among those systems. For example, there is an inherent coordination between "adhering to the people as the master of the country and developing people's democracy" and "adhering to the people-centered development idea and constantly protecting and improving the people's welfare and livelihoods". Only with the implementation of the former can the latter be guaranteed in practice. And only with the realization of the latter can the right conditions and platforms for the implementation of the former be created.

More important, the reason why the 13 "adhering tos" can be an integrated whole is not only because of the guiding principle of localized Marxism, but also because each "adhering to" is rooted in the same Chinese land and has inherited the same fine historical and cultural assets. And this is the result of the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.