 The idea, although not in the exact terms by which it would later become known, was first embraced by the Third Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee, which convened in
Beijing on October 11 to 14, 2003.Guangdong Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang openly embraced the idea at a provincial party session in Guangdong.General secretary Hu Jintao subsequently launched the campaign in full form with a speech to the National People's Congress calling for the building of "a Socialist Harmonious Society".