Chinese Communist Party publishes key policy document on governance capability

China's ruling Communist Party Sunday (Sept. 26) published a major policy document on enhancing the Party's governance capability, stressing it is "a major strategic subject with a bearing on the success of China's socialist cause, the future and destiny of the Chinese nation, the life and death of the Party, as well as the lasting stability and prosperity of the country."

The 36-page CPC Central Committee Decision on the Enhancement of the Party's Governance Capability was adopted at the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing from Sept. 16 to 19.

The document says that China's reform and development has reached a critical stage in which new situations and new problems are mushrooming and "hostile forces are still pursuing their strategic attempts to westernize and separate our country."

It warns that the CPC's ruling status is by no means a natural result of the Party's founding, and will not remain forever if the Party does nothing to safeguard it.

"We must develop a stronger sense of crisis, draw experience and lessons from the success and failure of other ruling parties in the world, and enhance our governance capability in a more earnest and conscientious manner," it says.

CPC stresses importance, urgency to enhance governance capability    

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has conceded that it needs to enhance governance capability to consolidate its ruling status and meet domestic and global challenges.

Vigorously enhancing the Party's governing capabilities is "a major strategic subject with a bearing on the success of China's socialist cause, the future and destiny of the Chinese nation, the life and death of the Party, as well as the lasting stability and prosperity of the country," says a Party document published here Sunday.

The 36-page CPC Central Committee Decision on the Enhancement of the Party's Governance Capability was adopted at the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing from Sept. 16 to 19.

"It was history and the people that chose our Party as the ruling party," says the document. "And it was to meet the requirements of the times and the people that the Party should enhance its governance capability."

The party's governance capability refers to its ability to "put forth correct theories, guidelines, principles, policies and tactics, lead in the formulation and enforcement of the Constitution and laws, adopt a scientific system and mode of leadership, mobilize and organize the people to manage state and social affairs, economic and cultural undertakings according to law, effectively run the Party, the state and the military, and build a modernized socialist country," the document elaborates.

Stating that the CPC has scored remarkable achievements in leading the people in building a new China over the 55 years in power, the document concedes that the Party's mode of governance and leading mechanism are still "not perfect."

"Some leading cadres lack ideological and theoretical attainments, the ability to govern according to law and the competence to deal with complicated problems. Their quality and capability are not compatible with the requirements of implementing the important thought of Three Represents and building a relatively affluent society in an all-round way," says the document.

It adds that some leading Party members don't have a strong sense of responsibility, personal integrity, a down-to-earth style of work or a close connection with the general public; some Party organizations at the grassroots level are weak and slack, while some Party members have failed to play an exemplary role. "The problem of corruption remains quite serious in some areas, departments and units," it says.

"All these problems have affected the effectiveness of the Party's governance. Therefore, the entire Party must pay great attention to them and take concrete measures to resolve them." The document says that China's reform and development has reached a critical stage in which new situations and new problems are mushrooming and "hostile forces are still pursuing their strategic attempts to westernize and separate our country."

"To accomplish the three historical missions of further pushing forward the modernization drive, achieving the reunification of the motherland, and safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, our Party must spare no efforts to enhance its governance capability," it says.

The documents warns that the CPC's ruling status is by no means a natural result of the Party's founding, and will not remain forever if the Party does nothing to safeguard it.

"We must develop a stronger sense of crisis, draw experience and lessons from the success and failure of other ruling parties in the world, and enhance our governance capability in a more earnest and conscientious manner," it says.

Editor: Olivia