The Communist Party of China (CPC) will amend the Party Constitution at its
upcoming 17th national congress scheduled for October 15, to
reflect "the scientific concept of development" and other major
theoretical developments, according to a meeting of the Political
Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday.
The Political Bureau decided to submit a draft amendment to the
CPC Constitution to the 7th Plenum of the 16th CPC Central
Committee for further discussion on October 9, before it is tabled
at the national congress.
The amendment should be made "under the guidance of
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the
important thoughts of 'Three Represents', and reflect the major
strategic thoughts the CPC Central Committee has set forth since
2002, when the 16th CPC National Congress was held, such as the
scientific concept of development", the meeting noted.
The concept was formally put forward by the 16th CPC Central
Committee at its 3rd Plenum in October, 2003. It stresses
people-centered development that is comprehensive, coordinated and
sustainable.
It refers to coordinated development between urban and rural
areas, among different regions, between economic and social
development, between man and nature, and between domestic
development and opening up to the outside world.
The amendment to the Party Constitution should also include
important theoretical concepts, strategic thoughts and working
arrangements which are to be included in the report made to the
17th CPC National Congress.
"The proposed amendment, which is in line with the changes and
development of the Party's tasks and situation, will be beneficial
for the whole Party to better study and abide by the Party
Constitution and to further advance the building of socialism with
Chinese characteristics and Party building," according to the
meeting.
Yesterday's meeting, presided over by Hu Jintao, general
secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also discussed a draft
report to the 17th CPC National Congress, and decided to table it
at the 7th Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee for further
review.
All Party members are required to abide by the policies of
reform and opening up, advance scientific development, promote
social harmony and strive for new victories in the process of
building a well-off society in an all-round way, the meeting
noted.
The meeting also called on all Party members to understand the
new requirements of the country's development and the new
expectations of the people to frame guidelines and policies
suitable to the times and the people.
The Party should work out strategies that concern the practical
problems directly relating to the people and the problems they care
most, to further boost the socialistic economic, political,
cultural and social development as well as the overall advancement
of the Party, the meeting said.
The last amendment to the Party Constitution was made at the 16th CPC Congress in November 2002, when the
important thoughts of "Three Represents" were highly appraised and
written into the Constitution.
At the 15th CPC Congress in 1997, Deng Xiaoping Theory was added
into the Party Constitution as the guiding theory for the CPC to
stand next to Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. And the
theory on building socialism with Chinese characteristics was
enshrined in the Party Constitution at the 14th CPC Congress in
1992.
The CPC national congress is held every five years.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)