《簡明中華人民共和國史》全面、簡要地介紹了中華人民共和國自1949年誕生以來至今的偉大發展歷程，共分為十章：（1）中華人民共和國的誕生；（2）新政權的鞏固和國民經濟恢復；（3）社會主義基本制度的建立；（4）社會主義建設道路的探索；（5）撥亂反正與偉大歷史轉折；（6）改革開放與中國特色社會主義的開創；（7）社會主義市場經濟體制的初步建立；（8）“一國兩制”與祖國統一；（9）全面建設小康社會與科學發展；（11）全面建成小康社會與民族復興新征程。

A Brief History of the People’s Republic of China briefly, yet comprehensively, presents the great development course of the People’s Republic of China since its founding in 1949. It consists of 10 chapters, i.e., (1) The Founding of the People’s Republic of China; (2) Consolidation of the New Regime and Recovery of the National Economy; (3) Establishment of the Socialist Basic System; (4) Exploration of the Path of Socialist Construction; (5) Bringing Order Out of Chaos and Great Historical Transition; (6) Reform and Opening-Up and the Creation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; (7) Preliminary Establishment of the Socialist Market Economic System; (8) “One Country, Two Systems” and the Unification of China; (9) Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Scientific Development; (10) Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Embarking on a New Journey of National Rejuvenation.

Chapter One The Founding of the People’s Republic of China 
The Time-Honored Chinese Civilization and History
Chinese Revolution Took on a Brand New Look 
Rise of Agrarian Revolutionary War and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Northward 
Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression 
A Decisive Battle Between the Two Fates of China 
The Founding Ceremony of the PRC
Chapter Two Consolidation of the New Regime and Recovery of the National Economy 
Unification of the Chinese Mainland and Extermination of Bandits 
Stabilization of Market Prices and Unification of the National Finance and Economy 
Agrarian Reform Movement 
Resisting American Aggression, Aiding Korea and Defending the Homeland 
Reasonable Adjustment to Industry and Commerce and National Economic Recovery 
Chapter Three Establishment of the Socialist Basic System 
“First Five-Year Plan” and Preliminary Achievements of Industrialization 
Socialist Transformation of the Private Ownership of the Means of Production 
The Convening of the First National People’s Congress
Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
Chapter Four Exploration of the Path of Socialist Construction 
Preliminary Exploration of the Path of China’s Socialist Construction 
Setbacks from the “Great Leap Forward” and the People’s Commune Movement 
Adjusting the National Economic and Social Relations 
Blueprint for the “Four Modernizations” and Achievements of Socialist Construction 
The Launch, Resistance and Correction of the “Cultural Revolution” 
Adjustment and Breakthrough of Diplomatic Strategy 
Chapter Five Bringing Order Out of Chaos and Great Historical Transition 
“Two Whatevers” and Discussion on the Criterion of Truth
Bringing Order Out of Chaos and Rectifying Misjudged Convictions 
The Decision to Shift Work Focus and Implement Reform and Opening-Up 
Completion of the Task of Correcting Guiding Ideology 
Chapter Six The Policy of Reform and Opening-Up and the Creation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics 
Household Contract Responsibility System and the Sudden Rise of Township and Village Enterprises 
Urban Economic System Reform and Development of Diverse Economic Forms 
Breakthrough of the Planned Economic System 
Pilot Special Economic Zones and Opening-Up 
Proposal and Creation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
Chapter Seven Preliminary Establishment of the Socialist Market Economic System 
Determination of the Objective of Socialist Market Economic System Reform
Deepening Reform, Expanding Opening-Up and Realizing an Economic Soft Landing 
Preliminary Establishment of the Socialist Market Economic System 
Construction of Socialist Democracy and Rule of Law and Strategy of Law-Based Governance 
Basic Realization of the Goal of Building a “Moderately Prosperous Society”
Chapter Eight “One Country, Two Systems” and the Unification of China
“Plan in the Long Term and Take Full Advantage” 
The Great Vision of “One Country, Two Systems” 
Return of Hong Kong and Macao 
Practice of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong and Macao 
“Peaceful Reunification and One Country, Two Systems” 
Chapter Nine Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Scientific Development 
New Deployment for Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects 
Accession to the World Trade Organization and “Going Global” Strategy
Fighting Against SARS and Building a Socialist Harmonious Society 
Construction of a Socialist Legal System with Chinese Characteristics 
Accelerating Great Development and Prosperity of Socialist Culture 
Chapter Ten Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Embarking on a New Journey of National Rejuvenation 
New Requirements for Completing the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects
Comprehensively Deepening Reform 
New Progress in Comprehensively Advancing the Law-Based Governance of China
Strengthening Party Self-Discipline and Fighting Against Corruption 
New Economic Normal and New Development Philosophy
New Era and New Journey for the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

A hundred years ago, the salvoes of the October Revolution brought Marxism-Leninism to China. In the scientific truth of Marxism-Leninism, Chinese progressives saw a solution to China’s problems. With the advent of modern times, Chinese society became embroiled in intense upheavals; this was a time of fierce struggle as the Chinese people resisted feudal rule and foreign aggression. It was in the midst of this, in 1921, as Marxism-Leninism was integrated with the Chinese workers’ movement, that the Communist Party of China (CPC) was born. From that moment on, the Chinese people have had in the Party a backbone for their pursuit of national independence and liberation, of a stronger and more prosperous country, and of their own happiness; and the mindset of the Chinese people has changed, from passivity to taking the initiative. 
With a history of more than 5,000 years, China created a splendid civilization, made remarkable contributions to mankind and became one of the world’s great nations. But with the Opium War of 1840, China was plunged into the darkness of domestic turmoil and foreign aggression; its people, ravaged by war, saw their homeland torn apart and lived in poverty and despair. With tenacity and heroism, countless dedicated patriots fought, pressed ahead against the odds and tried every possible means to seek the nation’s salvation. But despite their efforts, they were powerless to change the nature of society in old China and the plight of the Chinese people.
National rejuvenation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people since modern times began. At its founding, the Communist Party of China made realizing Communism its highest ideal and its ultimate goal, and shouldered the historic mission of national rejuvenation. In pursuing this goal, the Party has united the Chinese people and led them through arduous struggles to epic accomplishments.
The CPC was deeply aware that, to achieve national rejuvenation, it was critical to topple the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism that were oppressing the Chinese people, and realize China’s independence, the people’s liberation, national reunification, and social stability. The CPC united the people and led them in embarking on the right revolutionary path, using rural areas to encircle the cities and seizing state power with military force. The Chinese people completed the New Democratic Revolution through 28 years of painful struggle, and founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949, thus marking China’s great transition from a millennia-old feudal autocracy to a people’s democracy. The CPC was deeply aware that, to achieve national rejuvenation, it was essential to establish an advanced social system that fits China’s reality. It united the people and led them in completing socialist revolution, establishing socialism as China’s basic system, and advancing socialist construction. This completed the broadest and most profound social transformation in the history of the Chinese nation. It created the fundamental political conditions and the institutional foundation for achieving all development and progress in China today. Thus was made a great transition: The Chinese nation reversed its fate from the continuous decline of modern times to steady progress toward prosperity and strength. 
The CPC was deeply aware that, to achieve national rejuvenation, it was imperative to follow the tide of the times, respond to the wishes of the people, and have the courage to reform and open up; and this awareness created a powerful force for advancing the cause of the Party and the people. The CPC united the people and led them in launching the great new revolution of reform and opening up, in removing all ideological and institutional barriers to the country and nation’s development, and in embarking on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Thus was China able to stride ahead to catch up with the times. Over the past 98 years, to accomplish the historic mission of national rejuvenation, whether in times of weakness or strength, whether in times of adversity or smooth sailing, the CPC has never forgotten its founding mission, nor wavered in its pursuit. It has united the people and led them in conquering countless challenges, making enormous sacrifices, meeting setbacks squarely and courageously righting wrongs. Thus China has, time and again, overcome the seemingly insurmountable and created miracle upon miracle.
Today, China is closer, more confident, and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality.

(Excerpt from the report delivered to the Nineteenth CPC National Congress in October 2017)