Strengthening the Party

A key meeting of the Communist Party of China, which concluded on Thursday in Beijing, adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, highlighting that the significance of strengthening the Party must be understood from the strategic height of consolidating the Party's long-term governance and realizing national rejuvenation.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the four-day fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, at which Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important address, said a communique issued after the meeting.

The CPC Central Committee decided at the plenum that the Party will convene its 21st National Congress in Beijing in the second half of 2027, the communique said.

At the session, participants heard and discussed a report on the work of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presented by Xi. They also considered and adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Certain Major Issues concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance. Xi delivered explanatory remarks on the draft of the resolution.

The CPC Central Committee spoke highly of the great achievements that the Party has made in exercising full and rigorous self-governance in the new era, saying that deep-seated problems that had plagued the Party for years have been remedied, and serious dangers hidden within the Party, the State and the military have been removed.

The Party has found two answers to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall: the people's oversight over government and the Party's self-reform, the communique said, adding that these are the unique discoveries of the CPC, and will forever stand out in the history of Marxist parties.

It was emphasized at the session that many favorable conditions are now in place for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance, while many new circumstances and new issues in this endeavor remain, the communique said.

Profound changes in global, national and Party conditions have made even more arduous the Party'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 maintaining its advanced nature and integrity, according to the communique.

The session emphasized the need to uphold the Party's overall leadership and the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with a focus on enhancing the Party's capacity for long-term governance, preserving its advanced nature and integrity, and maintaining its close bond with the people.

It urged improving the system of full and rigorous Party self-governance to ensure that the Party always remains a vibrant Marxist governing party that stays at the forefront of the times, enjoys the wholehearted support of the people, and is able to withstand all tests, and that it always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the communique said.

At the session, the guiding principles for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance were highlighted: serving the Party's missions and tasks; taking the strengthening of the Party politically as the overarching principle; exercising rigorous governance across the board; adopting a problem-oriented approach; upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground; adhering to a top-down approach; and running the Party according to regulations.

Systematic plans for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance were made at the session, including improving conduct and tightening discipline on an ongoing basis, taking firm and coordinated action against corruption, running the Party with systems and regulations, and refining Party and State oversight systems, according to the communique.

It was noted at the session that strict management of officials is the key to full and rigorous Party self-governance, urging the application of stringent standards to the education, cultivation, selection, appointment, management and oversight of officials, in order to build up the lineup of high-caliber officials with firm political commitment, outstanding professional competence, excellent work conduct and strict discipline, the communique said.

The session highlighted taking integrated steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to commit corruption.

It was also noted that strengthening Party regulations and institutions represents a long-term, fundamental strategy for ensuring full and rigorous Party self-governance. "Stronger measures will be taken to improve the framework of Party regulations and institutions, ensure the enforcement of institutions and eliminate hidden rules," the communique said.

At the session, Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was elected a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The session also decided on the filling of empty seats on the CPC Central Committee by alternate members, 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 Political Bureau's previous decisions to punish those violators.