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CPC: An Attraction to Young Chinese
A decade after ruling Communist parties lost power in the former Soviet Union and many Eastern European countries, the world is witnessing the fact that more and more young Chinese are joining the Communist Party of China (CPC).
By the end of last year, the number of CPC members had reached 64.52 million, or 5.2 percent of the country's population, with 46 percent of the CPC members aged 45 years or younger, according to the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Meanwhile, 13.95 million people have applied for membership of the CPC, with 70 percent of the applicants aged 35 or younger.
At present, CPC members account for 3.83 percent of university students, compared with 0.81 percent a decade ago, and 28.23 percent of postgraduate students, compared with 22.4 percent a decade ago. Almost one-third of in-school university students have applied for CPC membership.
Lu Hao, the 35 year-old director of the Administration Committee of Zhongguancun, Beijing, dubbed "China's Silicon Valley ", said the younger generation of Chinese Communists have been attracted to Communism by the scientific nature of Deng Xiaoping Theory.
Lu joined the CPC when he was an 18-year-old high school student; became the first directly-elected chairman of the Students' Union of Peking University, the well-known cradle of science and democracy in China, at the age of 20; was the general manager of a large state-owned company at 27; and has been a prefecture-level official for two years. (more) nnnn
"The more I mingle with society, the greater correctness I have found in this theory," he said in an interview with Xinhua.
In China, most universities have opened courses on Deng Xiaoping Theory, while at Peking University, which was also the cradle of China's first student movement, the May 4 Movement of 1919, and the place from where Marxism spread nationwide, Deng Xiaoping Theory is one of the most welcomed subjects by students.
According to historical records, among the first 53 CPC members, 21 had worked or studied at the university, including Mao Zedong.
"Currently, my task is to study hard and gain more knowledge to prepare for my future devotion to the economic drive of the motherland," said Wang Xiuli, a fourth-grader from the university' s International Relations Department, who was awarded the title of "Excellent CPC Member" by the university last year and is known for her good study results, active participation in campus
When the CPC came into being 80 years ago, few could have imagined that the Party would still be a big attraction for youngsters today.
Prof. Wang Zongguang, secretary of the CPC committee of Shanghai-based Jiaotong (Communications) University, said, " Currently, many students want to join the CPC." He attributed this to the instructions on Party building, namely, the well-known " Three Represents" remarks, by CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin.
Jiang said the CPC will remain successful and enjoy the heartfelt support of the people of China and lead them to constantly advance so long as it always earnestly represents the development trend of China's advanced social productive forces, CPC has won even broader and deeper recognition among the Chinese people. "Clever people become even more clever when they grow up," he said, "so that it is a realistic pursuit for me to join the Party."
As an official from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee put it, political and social stability, rapid economic growth and the steady improvement of the Chinese people's living standards are the fundamental factors that have created greater confidence in the Party among young Chinese.
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