by Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) heralded a new stage in China's efforts to build socialism with Chinese characteristics with a focus on promoting people's well-being, two Cuban journalists said.

Masiel Fernandez, a senior journalist with Cuba's official news agency Prensa Latina, and Karina Marron, deputy director of daily Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba, attended the closing ceremony of the national congress in Beijing last month.

Marron said she was impressed that the congress focused on people's welfare.

"This congress reiterated to the world that China is developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and...this system should be efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people," she told Xinhua.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, outlined at the congress the guidelines that would define socialism with Chinese characteristics in the coming years and the priorities of the country in various sectors, especially in economic development, Fernandez said.

"China wants to continue promoting its economic development to invest those results in the social development for its population," she said. She also noted the emphasis at the congress on the need to harmonize environmental protection policies with economic and infrastructure development.

The two journalists lauded the CPC's resolution and efforts to fight corruption for better governance in China.

"For several years, the Chinese government has attached vital importance to its fight against corruption... (the) congress reaffirmed this policy as one of the guidelines for Chinese development in the coming years," Fernandez said.