Resolution provides strategic guidance on full and rigorous Party self-governance: China Daily editorial

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held its fifth plenary session from Monday to Thursday in Beijing, adopting the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPC on Certain Major Issues Concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance.

As the Party endeavors to supervise, govern, develop and strengthen itself in the new era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking and new strategies in response to the major questions of the times — what kind of long-term governing Marxist party the CPC should build and how to build it, thereby giving rise to Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building.

The resolution adopted at the plenary session has been formulated under the guidance of the Thought. It will serve as a key document for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Profound changes in global, national and Party conditions have made the CPC's tasks of uniting and leading the people in safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests; of uniting and leading the people in promoting reform and development and maintaining social harmony and stability; and of sustaining its advanced nature and integrity even more arduous, said a communique issued after the session.

Apart from highlighting the guiding principles for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, the session made systematic plans for the endeavor to build up the ranks of high-caliber officials with firm political commitment, outstanding professional competence, excellent work conduct and strict discipline.

As the communique stressed, strengthening the Party spirit represents a fundamental task in the CPC's efforts to ensure full and rigorous Party self-governance; the implementation of democratic centralism is an inherent requirement for this endeavor; and strict management of officials is the key to it.

In exercising full and rigorous self-governance, Party organizations at all levels should play the principal role. It is therefore essential to systematically advance the development of Party organizations at all levels and in all sectors to strengthen their political and organizational functions. In the process, they should take integrated steps — among which improving conduct and tightening discipline are effective measures — to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to commit corruption.

Strengthening Party regulations and institutions represents a long-term, fundamental strategy for ensuring full and rigorous Party self-governance, which also entails further improvement of the Party and State oversight systems.

Notably, the session deliberated and adopted inspection reports of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Central Military Commission on those committing grave violations of discipline and laws, and confirmed the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau's previous decisions to punish those violators, according to the communique.

That clearly demonstrates the Party's firm determination to exercise full and rigorous self-governance with concrete actions and measurable results. The inspection reports stand as a powerful cautionary lesson for the entire Party.

The CPC Central Committee decided at the session that the Party will convene its 21st National Congress in Beijing in the second half of 2027 and stated that this congress, which is to be held at a critical stage for basically realizing socialist modernization and on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal, will be a highly important meeting and an event of great political importance for both the Party and the country.

As the country enters the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, the just-concluded plenary session holds great significance for consolidating the Party's governing position and fulfilling its mission and tasks. Thus studying and implementing the guiding principles from this plenary session should represent a major political task for the entire Party both at present and in the future so as to continuously enhance its long-term governing capacity through persevering with full and rigorous self-governance.