The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) marks the start of a new era for China, a Spanish expert on Chinese studies said.

China has been moving forward smoothly towards its modernization targets, no easy task for a country of its size, Xulio Rios, director of Spain's Observatory of Chinese Politics, told Xinhua.

He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the report he delivered at the opening session of the landmark congress on Oct. 18, proposed a much more comprehensive reform agenda to address challenges to national stability and modernization.

China has achieved rapid economic growth in the past decades. The wealth accumulated will be used to promote all-round development, particularly in such domains as social development, science and technology, environment and diplomacy, he said.

Observing that although the Cold War had ended many years ago, the mentality formed in that period is still playing a prominent role in global politics, he lauded Xi's vision to build a global community of shared future.

The world needs new thinking that will ensure peace for all, and that means taking into account not only the preservation of peace and security, but also the improvement of living standards of those at the subsistence level, he said.

"As China knows from its own experience, poverty and underdevelopment are a source of conflict and instability," he said.

China's growing role in the international arena, characterized by concrete actions instead of empty words, will lead to qualitative advances in the coming years, he said.

In the last five years, as China has transformed from a global economic powerhouse into a major global player in many different spheres, he said there has been a qualitative leap in diplomacy as well.

When the world faces uncertainties arising from persistent economic problems and serious disputes, China takes on greater global responsibilities. China's growing role in global affairs means a larger presence of emerging economies and developing countries in global governance, he added.

Over the years, China's proposals, ranging from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, created to complement multilateral financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, to the strengthening of multilateral institutions such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have provided alternative solutions to major issues in global development, he said.

The Belt and Road Initiative envisions developing a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to continue the tradition of trade and people-to-people links established by the ancient Silk Road and connect Asia, Europe and Africa through better infrastructure.

The expert also highlighted China's environment efforts, noting the promotion of environmental awareness and leading role in global efforts in the area.