Part of the reform leading group's duties, apart from economic reform, is to plan and carry out reform on modernizing China's "governance system" and "governance capability".

改革领导小组除了经济改革方面的职责以外，还将推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化方面的改革。

国家治理体系（governance system）和治理能力（governance capability）这一概念首次在中央文件中出现，其核心内涵是党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国的有机统一（the organic unity of adherence to leadership by the Party, ensuring that the people are masters of the country and governing the country according to law），具体包括强化执政党领导地位（to consolidate the leadership position of the CPC），进一步建设人民民主(people’s democracy)和以法治为基础建立规范的国家治理体系(to build a standardized governance system based on the rule of law)等目标，其中依法执政(law-based governance)、依法行政(carrying out administration in accordance with the law)、依法治国(rule of law)的水平是国家治理体系现代化的重要标志。

现代化的国家治理能力(modern governance capability)，包括对紧急状态(state of emergency)、自然灾害(natural disaster)等突发事件的处理能力，在国际舞台上维护国家主权、安全、利益的能力(capability to uphold national sovereignty, security and interests)，全面建设和谐社会(building a harmonious society in a comprehensive way)、让人民安居乐业(people live and work in peace and contentment)的能力。