Communique of CPC Central Committee PlenumThe Sixth Plenum of the 15th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in Beijing from September 24 to 26, 2001. Present at the plenum were 190 members and 139 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee. Members of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and leading officials of relevant departments also attended the meeting as non-voting participants. The plenum was presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the plenum. The plenum spoke highly of the speech delivered by comrade Jiang Zemin at the grand gathering marking the 80th founding anniversary of the CPC, holding unanimously that Jiang's speech fully reviewed and systematically summed up the 80 years of glorious history and the basic experience of the CPC. Jiang's speech offered an in-depth explanation of the scientific connotation of the important thinking of the "Three Represent's," centering on the basic question of what kind of party will be built and how to build the party under new historical conditions. Jiang's speech, which further clarified the historical tasks and targets of struggle facing the Party in the new century, is a Marxist programmatic document of great and far-reaching significance in terms of better carrying out various jobs of the Party and the state. The plenum fully analyzed the new situation and tasks the Party will face in the new century, saying that it is timely and necessary for the meeting to give top priority to the building of the Party style. The plenum passed the "CPC Central Committee's Decision on Strengthening and Improving the Building of the Party Style." The plenum pointed out that China has entered a new development period during which it will, in a comprehensive way, build a better-off society and speed up the socialist modernization. Great changes have taken place in both the domestic and international environments for the Party, and in the state of the make-up of the Party. To realize its goals of uniting and leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to further promote the modernization construction, fulfill the reunification of the motherland, safeguard world peace and push forward common development, the Party should represent the development requirements of China's advanced social productive forces, the progressive course of China 's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people. It is also imperative for the Party to promote new and great projects related to Party building, focusing on the two basic historical tasks of improving the Party's leadership and governing level, and improving the Party's ability to resist corruption, guard against changes and withstand risks. The building of the Party style is an important component of Party building. The Party has long attached great importance to the improvement of the Party style, and has developed and adhered to a number of fine styles over the long years of revolution and construction, such as integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and offering criticism and self-criticism. Since the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the Party has reestablished the ideological positions of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. As a result, the Party's mental attitude has taken on an entirely new look. Members of the CPC have dedicated themselves to the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have, on the basis of China's actual situation and taking into account that of the world, added new forces for the improvement of the CPC's style by carrying forward the good traditions of the CPC, seeking further development through brave reforms, promoting democracy and acting in line with law. Members of the CPC, who have made selfless efforts and tremendous contributions to the cause of the Party and the people, have played a leading and exemplary role in the eye-catching achievements of China's reform, opening up and modernization drive. It was pointed out at the plenum that the style of the ruling party is directly related to the Party's image, whether or not it will win the support of the people, and the fate of the Party and the state. The CPC has, in general, a good style, though certain problems require immediate attention. All the CPC members should be vigilant in times of peace and be fully aware that to enhance and improve the building of the CPC's style is the urgent need for carrying out the basic theories, lines and guiding principles of the Party and for putting into practice the "Three Represent's" thought; the inevitable need for making new breakthroughs in the reform, opening up and modernization drive; and an important guarantee for the CPC to maintain its invincible position. All the CPC members should therefore persist in the study of theories and politics and uphold justice, and make it a priority to enhance and improve the CPC's style building while speeding up the Party's ideological and organizational advancement. The plenum emphasized that in the new phase of development, the guiding ideology and overall demand for strengthening and improving the CPC's style building should be: to bring the CPC's style building to a new level by carrying forward its good traditions, enhancing ideological education, accelerating system building and tackling outstanding issues. In doing so, the CPC should stick to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory and follow the "Three Represent's" thought by focusing on economic construction, reform, development and stability and performing stringent governance of the Party, with further cementing its relations with the people at the core and with the aim to maintain the CPC's advanced nature and purity while enhancing its creativity, cohesion and fighting capacity. The building of the party's style is a long and arduous task, and a necessary and urgent work. It is a must to combine general requirements with step-by-step goals. For now and the near future, efforts must be centered on the key issues in the Party's styles of thinking, study, working and leadership, as well as the life style of cadres. The main tasks will be as follows: -- sticking to the principle of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, so as to prevent old ways in doing things and the shortage of enterprising spirit; -- sticking to the principle of integrating theory with practice, and fighting against bookishness; -- sticking to the principle of maintaining close links with the masses, so as to prevent formalism and bureaucracy; -- sticking to the principle of democratic centralism, so as to prevent dogmatism and laziness; -- sticking to the disciplines of the Party, so as to prevent liberalism; -- sticking to justice and cleanness, so as to prevent the abuse of power; -- sticking to the principle of hard working, and fighting against hedonism; and -- sticking to the principle of promoting officials according to their ability, so as to prevent malpractice in official promotion. The party must work effectively and implement the above- mentioned tasks, so that the style of the Party will attain a new and obvious progress, the relations between the Party and the masses and those between cadres and the masses will have a new and obvious improvement, and the people will see a clear-cut improvement and become more confident. The plenary session pointed out that in strengthening and improving the building of the Party's style, priority must be given to the building of the thinking style. Sticking to the thinking line and style of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts is the fundamental requirement for the party to advance with the progressive tides of the times and always be advanced. The world is changing, our country's reform and construction is advancing, the great practice of the people is developing. The whole party must start from the reality that China's socialism is still in its preliminary stage, take into consideration the changing international situation, stick to the principle that practice is the only standard in testing the truth, judge the gains and losses of any work by the "Three Beneficial's" standard, consciously emancipate the mind from outdated ideas, practices and systems, from the wrong and dogmatic understanding of Marxism and from the shackles of subjectivism and metaphysic, and continuously push for innovations in theories, systems and science and technology, steadfastly explore a new stage in the development of the Marxist theories, and create a new situation in the development of the cause of the Party and our country. The key to improving the building of the Party's work style lies in maintaining a flesh-and-blood tie between the Party and the people. The biggest threat faced by a ruling Marxist Party is that it would deviate from the people. The people are the power source of the Party, as well as the foundation for it to be victorious. Without the support of the people, the Party's cause and its every effort will be in vain. If the Party wants to stand the test of retaining its ruling position for a long time, carrying on the reforms and opening up and developing socialist market economy, it must unswervingly follow the Party's mass line and maintain a close relation with the people. Cadres at various levels must observe the people's living conditions, listen to people's opinions, accumulate people's wisdom, and treasure people's work. They should always take into consideration the dangers and sufferings that the people face, and ensure they have food and clothing, working for their benefit wholeheartedly. They should correctly use the weapon of criticism and self- criticism to fight against any activities that go against people's will and breach people's rights. They must be diligent in their work and love the people, and to do their work practically and earnestly. The should tell the truth and report real information, and guard against haste and boasting. Hard work and perseverance are the Party's fine traditions, and are the great spiritual force for the Party to lead the people to build a strong country and realize the national revitalization. It is also of great significance in combating various decadent thoughts and maintaining the nature of the Party and the state. The Party members should carry forward the revolutionary spirit to defy hardship, work arduously, to be selfless and self- sacrificing. The principles of diligence and thrift should be adhered to always so as to fight against the trend of lavish spending that exceeds means in pursuit of ostentation and extravagance. Party officials must have a revolutionary outlook on life, improve their morale, and cultivate a good living style. They must treat power, position and individual benefits in a correct way. They must be people's servants through correctly performing their duty and using their power. Organizations and leading officials of the Party at various levels must combat corruption with a clear and firm attitude, deal with cases concerning power abusing for personal gains, and punish corrupt elements severely. The plenary session emphasized the need to appoint Party cadres on their merits, so as to provide the organizational guarantee for improving the work style of the Party. The selection of officials for leading posts plays a significant and exemplary role in improving the Party's work style. The principle of making the contingent of cadres more revolutionary, younger, better educated and more competent should be implemented thoroughly, and efforts should be made to quicken the reform of the Party's personnel system, and improve the system and its operation to continue the successful practice of choosing leading Party cadres and selecting only those with good work styles. The plenary session made it clear that improving the Party's work style should serve the overall interests and be carried out in a comprehensive way and in strict accordance with Party rules to achieve both temporary and permanent solutions. Education and system should be stressed, so as to prevent and rectify faulty work styles from the very beginning. Party organizations at all levels should work hard to implement the spirit of "decision," put an immediate end to what is prohibited by explicit order, and mobilize immediately to do what is achievable. And for those problems that require careful consideration and a step-by-step approach, efforts should be made to create the conditions for progress. Leading cadres at all levels should break the habit of calling numerous meetings and issuing numerous documents, so as to immerse themselves fully in the realities of everyday life among the general public, and solve the outstanding problems and difficulties facing the public in their work and life. Leading Party departments and leading cadres at all levels should take the lead in improving the Party's work style. For the requirements to be followed by the whole Party, the Central Committee and leading organs at the central level should take the lead in the implementation; and for the decisions to be implemented by the subordinates, the superiors should take the lead. Efforts should be made to integrate the spirit of "decision" with the spirit of the July 1 speech delivered by Comrade Jiang Zemin, in order to promote the improvement of the work style of the government, various industries and social morale through building a fine Party work style. |
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