新社会阶层

New Social Stratum

A loosely defined political phrase used in Communist Party of China (CPC) rhetoric. The phrase first appeared in 2001 in a speech by the then President and CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin. It was expounded at the 16th CPC National Congress, and includes managerial and technical personnel at private and foreign-funded companies, private entrepreneurs, workers in intermediate organizations, and independent professionals. This group uses more than half of the country's technological patents, pays almost one-third of the country's tax revenues, and offers more than half of new jobs available. They are designated by the CPC as a new focus of its united front work.