Experts hail CPC's focus on self-governance

China's model of self-governance, as highlighted in the latest plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, offers valuable lessons for ruling parties across the world, experts said.

"From a Southeast Asian political perspective, the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sends a powerful message about the importance of clean governance and political self-renewal," said Bhokin Bhalakula, former deputy prime minister of Thailand.

The 20th CPC Central Committee convened its fifth plenary session in Beijing from Monday to Thursday and adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

The document includes contents on running the Party with systems and regulations, improving Party and State oversight systems, and strictly managing officials.

The session, focused on self-governance and the commitment to fight corruption, and the determination demonstrated with regard to these issues, were both significant and worthy of respect, said Bhokin.

Citing data from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Bhokin noted that more than one million cases were opened in 2025, with 983,000 people disciplined, which showed that the campaign against corruption was permanent.

From the Chinese experience, Bhokin said that there are four lessons that travel across borders — starting self-scrutiny at the top, ensuring that rules govern individuals rather than the opposite, maintaining a permanent fight against corruption and improving transparency through technology and open data.

"A party that aspires to lead a nation into the future must first demonstrate the courage and discipline to reform itself," said Bhokin, noting that the commitment to integrity and self-improvement made at the fifth plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee provides a meaningful reference to strengthening governance and promoting sustainable national development.

Noting that the fifth plenary session emphasized full and rigorous Party self-governance, Kang Ho-gu, director of the Sino-Korea Economy/Society Institute in South Korea, said that high-quality Party building, refined institutional systems, and strict self-supervision provide a solid political foundation for China's high-quality economic development.

"Advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance can further ensure the enhancement of the Party's leadership, implementation effectiveness and public credibility," said Kang, adding that this offers a unique model of governance and the resolve against corruption that is often lacking among political parties globally.

While some capitalist political parties lack overarching goals and are oriented around electoral competition, with interest groups vying for political and economic resources, the CPC has a clear and ultimate goal, which requires constant self-oversight and clean governance, he added.

Institutional competence

Imran Khalid, a strategist and political analyst based in Karachi, Pakistan, said a party that publicly commits to governing itself in accordance with systematic rules and regulations means that it has set a standard to measure against, which is a useful example for other ruling institutions.

Khalid said the plenum also linked discipline to capability, as the emphasis on democratic centralism and strict management of officials reflect a recognition that governing a nation of 1.4 billion people requires institutional competence as much as political conviction.

The country is resting on rules that bind everyone, including those at the top, for lasting governance, said Khalid.

Maarij Farooq, deputy editor-in-chief of Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Network, said the plenary session marks an important step in strengthening the CPC's governance, discipline and institutional accountability.

Farooq said that one of the most encouraging aspects of the plenary session was its emphasis on combating corruption, strengthening institutional oversight and improving the quality of officials at every level.

"The CPC's approach of combining strict disciplinary measures with preventive mechanisms demonstrates an understanding that sustainable development must be supported by strong institutions," said Farooq.

The successful implementation of the plenum's decisions will strengthen China's governance capacity, contributing to both national development and international cooperation, he said.