This article, written by Chen Fujin, deputy director of the General Office of CPC Central Committee, on what he has gained from the study of the Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session, runs in part as follows:

The Decision comprehensively analyzes the complicated situation and arduous tasks facing State-owned enterprises (SOEs) at the decisive stage of their reform, reaffirms and stresses the need to strengthen the Party's leadership over SOEs. An in-depth comprehension and implementation of this spirit is of extreme importance in actively and steadily pushing forward SOE reform and development.

The main contents of the correct grasp of strengthened and improved Party leadership over the work of SOE reform and development

At present, what are the main aspects included in the effort to strengthen and improve the Party's leadership over SOEs? The Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee lays down specific stipulations in this regard. To my mind, we should mainly grasp the following three aspects:

(1) We should uphold principles. From the high plane of political understanding, the Decision clearly points out: "upholding the Party's leadership and giving play to the role of the SOE Party organization as the political core is a major principle, which at no time should be shaken. "Strengthened Party leadership over the work of SOE reform and development is an embodiment of the Chinese Communist Party's ruling status and political will. According to the general experiences of SOEs; on major issues regarding reform and development, there cannot be without the Party organization safeguarding the interests of the whole and holding to the correct orientation; in the process of legally exercising functions and powers by the board of directors and manager (factory director), the Party organization's vigorous support and its coordination of various aspects of the internal relationship of the enterprise are indispensable; in the appointment and removal, education, training, assessment and supervision of the enterprise's managerial personnel, organizational guarantee provided by the Party organization is indispensable; in the aspects of straightening out relationship, solving contradictions and stimulating people's enthusiasm, painstaking and meticulous ideological-political work is indispensable; at difficult and critical moments as well as in the face of major political and economic events or social problems, there must be the Party organization's command and arrangement in order to stabilize the situation. These roles played by the enterprise's Party organization cannot be replaced by any other organizations in the enterprise. Given this situation, no matter how the enterprise system is reformed and how the enterprise's system of organization and leadership is changed, the fundamental principle of upholding Party leadership over SOEs must not be altered or changed.

(2) We must have clearly set tasks. Upholding Party leadership over SOEs needs to be realized both through implementing the Party's lines, principles and policies, and through strengthening and improving leadership over SOEs by Party committees at various levels and particularly through giving play to the role of the enterprise Party organization as the political core. For this, the Decision focuses on explaining the five-faceted contents of the role of SOE's Party organization as the political core.

1. Guaranteeing and supervising the implementation of the Party and State principles and policies in the enterprise. The guaranteeing and supervision role of the enterprise's Party organization, existing as an organic whole, represents the two sides of an issue, neither side can be dispensed with.

2. Participating in the decision-making of the enterprise's major issues and supporting the board of directors, the council of shareholders and manager (director) in legally exercising their functions and powers. SOE Party organization's participation in the decision-making of the enterprise's major issues, as a kind of organization action, is the basic way to give play to its role as the political core. This mainly means that the Party organization, in accordance with the lines, principles and policies of the Party Central Committee, offers its opinions and suggestions on the major issues concerning the enterprise's reform, development and stability.

3. Wholeheartedly relying on the worker masses, leading and supporting trade unions, the Communist Youth League and other mass organizations as well as Workers Congress in independently carrying out work in accordance with law and their respective statutes.

4. Leading enterprises in their ideological-political work and promoting cultural and ethical progress, and striving to build up a contingent of workers having lofty ideals, sound morals, good education and a strong sense of discipline.

5. Strengthening the building of the Party organization itself, giving play to the role of the Party organization as the combat bastion and Party members' vanguard and exemplary role.

The key to whether or not a Party organization of the enterprise can play the role as political core lies in whether or not its own construction is strong.

(3) We should improve forms. The Decision points out: "The enterprise's Party organization should conscientiously implement the Party's basic line, carry out work around production and operation and serve the effort for the fulfillment of the Party's tasks and the reform and development of SOEs. It should continually improve the form of activities and content of work of the enterprise's Party organization, and further explore ways and means for giving further play to its role as the political core. Any ways and means that conform to the new situation and helps display the role of the enterprise's Party organization as the political core and facilitates the successful operation of the enterprise should be boldly explored and experimented.

Striving to raise the level of leadership of Party committees at various levels over the work relating to the reform and development of State-owned enterprises.

The Decision finally states in clear-cut terms: Party committees and leading cadres at all levels must stand on the forefront of the reform of SOEs. This sets new demands on Party committees at various levels to further raise their level of leadership. To meet this demand, we must put greater efforts in the following aspects:

First, we must adhere to the ideological line featuring emancipation of the mind and seeking truth from facts.

Second, we must strengthen study and earnestly put in efforts to raise our theoretical level. Under the new historical conditions, we must get to know and grasp the objective economic law and consciously apply the objective economic law. To do so, we must study hard Marxist theory, particularly Deng Xiaoping Theory, use Marxist world outlook and methodology to observe and analyze questions, only by doing so can we understand the nature and law of things and can constantly sum up the masses' practical experiences, absorb wisdom and strength from the masses' rich practices, find a good plan for the solution of problems and constantly raise our leading level.

Third, we must conduct thorough investigation and study and conscientiously change our style of leadership.

Fourth, we must inspire enthusiasm and engage in pioneering work to make constant progress.