| 16th
CPC National Congress closes (11/14/2002)
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
closed here Thursday, with the 16th CPC Central Committee and a
new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection elected and three
resolutions approved.
The congress, the first of its kind convened by the Party in the
new century, is of great importance at a time when China enters
the third phase of its modernization program.
The congress, which opened on November 8, called on all Party members
and people of all ethnic groups of the country to rally closely
around the Party Central Committee and work with one heart and one
mind in a joint and unyielding effort to advance the cause of building
socialism with Chinese characteristics and create a happier life
and a better future.
The closing session was presided over by Jiang Zemin.
Among those seated in the front row on the rostrum were members
of the Standing Committee of the presidium of the congress, including
Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing,
Li Lanqing, Ding Guangen, Tian Jiyun, Li Changchun, Li Tieying,
Wu Bangguo, Wu Guanzheng, Chi Haotian, Zhang Wannian, Luo Gan, Jiang
Chunyun, Jia Qinglin, Qian Qichen, Huang Ju, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong,
Wu Yi, Wan Li, Qiao Shi, Song Ping, Liu Huaqing, Bo Yibo, Ye Xuanping,
Song Jian and Cao Qingze.
At 9:00 a.m., Jiang Zemin declared the start of the closing session.
The congress first approved a list of two general scrutineers and
36 scrutineers.
Under the supervision of the general scrutineers and scrutineers,
the 2,132 delegates and specially-invited delegates who were present
at the session cast their secret ballots and elected the 16th CPC
Central Committee composed of 198 members and 158 alternate members.
The delegates also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection comprising 121 members.
The Great Hall of the People burst into applause when the results
of the elections were announced.
The congress endorsed a resolution on the report of the 15th CPC
Central Committee, approving the report which was delivered by Jiang
Zemin on behalf of the 15th Central Committee.
The congress held that the report has expounded in a profound manner
such major questions as what banner to hold, what road to take and
what objectives to attain by the Party in the new century. The report
has made overall arrangements for reform, opening up and the socialist
modernization drive. It is a political declaration and a program
of action for the Party to unite with and lead the people of all
ethnic groups throughout the country in forging ahead at the new
stage in the new century.
The congress held that the theme of the report accords with the
tide of the times and the sentiments of all Party members and the
people. The congress stressed that the Party must stand firm in
the forefront of the times and unite with and lead the Chinese people
of all ethnic groups in accomplishing the three major historical
tasks of propelling the modernization drive, achieving national
reunification and safeguarding world peace and promote common development,
and in bringing about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
on its road to socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The congress highly valued the work of the 15th Central Committee.
The congress approved the summary made by the 15th CPC Central Committee
of the great practice over the past 13 years since the Fourth Plenary
Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee and unanimously agreed
on the basic experience the Party must follow as it leads the people
in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The congress agreed to establish the important thought of Three
Represents as a guiding ideology of the Party together with Marxism-Leninism,
Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.
The congress pointed out that for the country, the first two decades
of the 21st century are a period of important strategic opportunities,
which must be seized tightly and which offers bright prospects.
The congress agreed with the objectives of building a well-off society
in an all-round way put forward in the report and held that the
objectives are of great significance for rallying the forces of
the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups and speeding
up the socialist modernization drive.
The congress agreed on the arrangements for China's economic, political
and cultural development and reform made in the report. The congress
approved the arrangements for building national defense and the
army made in the report. The congress stressed the need to adhere
to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and
"one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal
on developing cross-Straits relations and advancing the process
of peaceful national reunification at the present stage in order
to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland ultimately.
The congress agreed with the report on its analysis of the international
situation and all the principles it puts forth for the external
work.
The congress stressed that no efforts should be spared to strengthen
and improve the Party's leadership and fully advance the great new
undertaking of Party building in building a well-off society in
an all-round way and speeding up the socialist modernization drive.
It is essential to take a clear-cut stand and never waver in carrying
on the fight against corruption in depth.
The closing session of the congress passed a resolution on the
amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, which
took effect immediately.
The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the
Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of the Chinese working
class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation as well as
the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics
and that it represents the development trend of China's advanced
productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and
the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese
people. The realization of communism is the highest ideal and ultimate
goal of the Party.
The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the
Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought,
Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents
as its guide to action and that the important thought of Three Represents
is a guiding ideology that the Party must uphold for a long time
to come.
The congress agreed that to incorporate into the Constitution the
idea of building a well-off society in an all-round way, which is
an objective set by the current congress, is of great significance
to the work of the Party. It can help mobilize the whole Party to
seize tightly the first two decades of the 21st century, which are
a period of important strategic opportunities, focus on reform,
opening up and the socialist modernization drive and work to bring
about an all-round development of the socialist market economy,
socialist democracy and advanced socialist culture.
The congress maintained that the following are significant achievements
the Party has scored in its practice of building socialism with
Chinese characteristics: to uphold and improve the basic economic
system with public ownership playing a dominant role and diverse
forms of ownership developing side by side; keep and improve the
system of income distribution under which distribution according
to work is dominant and a variety of modes of distribution coexist;
uphold and improve the socialist market economy; implement the strategy
of rejuvenation of the nation through science and education and
that of sustainable development; promote a coordinated development
of the socialist material, political and spiritual civilizations;
rule the country according to law and build a socialist country
under the rule of law; and combine the rule of law with rule of
virtue. To include all this in the Constitution can help all Party
comrades to implement the Party's line, principles and policies
more consciously and more firmly, and better lead the people in
creating a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The congress held that it is conducive to reinforcing the Party's
class foundation and expanding its mass base, and thus enhancing
the Party's rallying power and influence in society at large to
make it clear in the Constitution that any Chinese worker, farmer,
member of the armed forces, intellectual or any advanced element
of other social strata who has reached the age of eighteen and who
accepts the Party's program and Constitution and is willing to join
and work actively in one of the Party organizations, carry out the
Party's decisions and pay membership dues regularly may apply for
membership in the CPC.
The congress believed that it is very important for an all-round
advancement of the great new undertaking of Party building to set
clearer requirements in the Constitution in respect of Party building
and the Party leadership, the duties to be fulfilled by Party members,
the basic rules of procedure and decision-making mechanism within
Party committees, the building of primary Party organizations, the
essential qualifications of Party leading cadres at all levels,
the main tasks of Party discipline inspection organs, and the status
and tasks of leading Party members' groups in light of the new situation
and new tasks of the Party and on the basis of new experience in
Party building in recent years.
The congress also passed a resolution on the work report of the
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, fully approved the
work of the commission.
After the congress completed all its agenda, Jiang Zemin delivered
a speech, noting that the congress is successful and inspiring and
is of great historic significance in the development process of
the Party and state.
The report of the 15th CPC Central Committee is a political declaration
and a program of action for the Party in the new century, he said.
The amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China
establishes the important thought of Three Represents as a guiding
ideology of the Party together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong
Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. This reflects new requirements
for Party-building in the new situation, Jiang said.
The congress elected a new CPC Central Committee, achieving a smooth
succession of the Party's central leadership. The congress also
elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The
election is of great historic significance and will inspire the
whole Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to keep pace
with the times and push forward the great cause of building socialism
with Chinese characteristics, Jiang Zemin said.
During the congress period, many foreign political parties and
organizations, and various non-Communist parties and personages
in China sent congratulations to the congress. The presidium of
the congress felt heartfelt gratitude for their congratulations,
Jiang said.
After the election, a number of non-Communist guests were invited
as observers to attend the closing session of the congress. They
included incumbent and former vice chairpersons of the Standing
Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), former state vice president, leading members of the All-China
Federation of Industry and Commerce and the central committees of
non-Communist parties, and figures without party affiliation.
Also present at the closing session of the congress were leading
officials from relevant departments of the Party.
The closing session ended to the tune of "Internationale."
(xinhua)
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