The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which concluded on Tuesday, approved a decision on "major issues concerning comprehensively deepening reform." The document is widely taken as having set the course for China's future reform.

This Third Plenary Session is as historically significant as the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978. It summed up China's reform in the past 35 years and responded to expectations of society. Although the meetings were closed-door, public participation was unprecedented thanks to the Internet era.

The document expresses the common desire of the whole society. Based on a communiqué issued after the session, it is the joint decision made by CPC and the Chinese people facing up the daunting challenges. Some questioned whether the central government would be determined to "gnaw at a hard bone" while advancing reform before the Third Plenary Session. The public now should shift their attention to how to put the framework into practice.

The document, which is feasible in practice and of high theoretical value, represents the social consensus on reform. Opinion leaders with discourse power should contribute to the implementation of the framework rather than triggering superfluous debates such as "What is real reform?"

With the advancing of reform, we should firmly oppose vested interest groups. The authority of the central government on coordinating reform should be supported. In present-day society, interests have become pluralistic - if we don't seek a consolidation of group interests and whole social interests, reform will be an empty slogan.

We should also oppose equating reform with enhancing social welfare. Welfare standard depends on the ability to create wealth and a sound allocation mechanism. Some advocate that reform needs to quickly establish a generous welfare system in which free medical and education systems are guaranteed, but such misleading thoughts should be cautioned against.

Past 35 years of successful reform have brought profound changes to China and benefited the whole people. That's why reform has won universal support. We encountered ups and downs in the first decade of reform, and even though we have accumulated abundant experiences so far, there are many uncertainties ahead to be dealt with. Reform is not only a test for the leadership but for the rationality and maturity of society.

We should build some models when comprehensively deepening reform. They could be cities, new economic growth patterns, or reformers. We have seen many such examples in the past and look forward to seeing more in the future. The Third Plenary Session offers a good top-level design to instruct reform but it needs cooperation from local officials and the grass-roots. Some local officials lack the courage to take the risks of reform or the wisdom and abilities to innovate. This should be faced up when implementing the framework nationwide.