Jiang Calls for Strengthened Ideological and Political Work

CPC conference on ideological and political work opens

Chinese President Jiang Zemin wants the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) to put more emphasis on socialist ideological and political education to ensure that the country's modernization drive is a success.

Jiang, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made the call at the ideological and political work conference of the CPC Central Committee, which opened in Beijing Wednesday morning.

The Chinese leader noted that the world is in a time of profound change, and China is undertaking massive reforms to improve its socialist system. The party's ideological and political work has become even more arduous under the new complicated circumstances.

Jiang, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, noted that the new situations demand that the party's ideological and political work must be improved in terms of context, method and means.

Li Peng, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference, which was presided over by Hu Jintao.

In his speech, Jiang expounded on the extreme importance of the party's ideological and political work, which, he said, is the lifeblood of the economy and all other undertakings, the key to achieving the tasks of the Party and the state, and the major political advantage of the Party and the socialist country.

Only by giving full play to this political advantage can China ensure its economy and other undertakings to advance smoothly in the right direction, and mobilize the whole nation to work together for development, Jiang said.

New situations and challenges, and the present status quo of the party's ideological and political work call for the Party to make greater efforts to improve this work.

Only by doing so can the Party always promote the productive forces, the advanced Chinese culture and the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, Jiang said.

Jiang noted that to improve the ideological and political work, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the international and domestic situations, review the past experience and analyze the current problems, especially the theoretical and practical problems that have a direct bearing on the mentality of the cadres and ordinary people, and find solutions to these problems.

In his speech, the Chinese leader also touched on how to view the development process of socialism, the evolution of capitalism, the impact of the country's reforms on society, and the current international environment.

To strengthen and improve the party's ideological and political work, Marxism must be studied and promoted, and the role of Marxism as the ideological guidance in China must be upheld, Jiang said.

It is imperative that the Party should educate the people in Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The Chinese leader also stressed the crucial need to strengthen the ideological education and deepen people's faith in socialism, and to continuously work to bring the nation closer together.

Jiang stressed the importance of spreading socialist ethics and raising the moral standards of the Chinese people at a time when the nation is developing the socialist market economy.

Both laws and ethics are necessary for regulating people's behaviors, he said. Therefore, laws and ethics should interact and play a significant role in society.

In developing socialist morality, the state must wisely balance equity with efficiency, and promote China's fine traditions while absorbing fine things of foreign cultures.

In the process of socialist construction, the interests of the nation and the people must be regarded as priority while legitimate rights of individuals are respected and fully protected, Jiang said.

Meanwhile, Jiang urged that new, effective ways should be found to educate the Chinese people in socialist ideology.

Since the adoption of the reform and opening policy, China has witnessed many new developments in its socialist culture.

While advocating the traditional means of promoting people's ideological and political awareness that have proved effective, Jiang urged his fellow Party members to explore innovative ways to teach people about ideology and politics. He urged localities to spread the word when people come up with their own effective educational techniques.

Jiang underscored that the CPC, as well as officials at various levels, must always serve the public while educating them.

Jiang said that strengthening and improving the moral and political education among the people would ultimately benefit China's economic development.

Cultivating higher ethical standards must be combined with economic growth, Jiang emphasized.

The CPC members and officials must seek out the opinions and complaints of the common people and focus on solving their daily problems, Jiang said.

All CPC members and leading officials should devote their efforts to ideological and political education, he pointed out.

Leading party officials in localities must do their utmost to promote the moral and political education, Jiang said, adding that they must gain a comprehensive understanding of the work and learn the basic laws related to it as soon as possible.

All of society should participate in the socialist education campaign, including party organs, governments, trade unions and other public groups, Jiang said.

All enterprises and institutions involved in the production of cultural goods must place social benefits above economic returns, he said.

Leading officials at various levels should study key ideological and political issues and grasp the social trends, Jiang said.

Meanwhile, the examples set by leading officials are extremely important for the success of the education endeavor, Jiang said.

The central authorities of the CPC stress that they should govern themselves well if they are to govern the state well.

All Party members must follow the rules set by the Party's central authorities and earn the respect of the people, Jiang said.

He said he hopes all the Party members would be enthusiastic, confident, and hard-working as they work to reach this important goal.

Hu Jintao said that Jiang offered a thorough analysis of the true situation facing the Communist Party and the issues that have cropped up, and pointed out the major tasks facing the state in ethical and political education.

Jiang's remarks serve as guidelines for improving the work of the Party and building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Hu said.