A major agenda of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was to amend the CPC Constitution by including its latest theoretical and strategic achievements in the use of Marxism-Leninism.

The amendments to the Party Constitution are mainly focused on the following: Scientific Outlook on Development, socialism with Chinese characteristics, reform and opening-up, ecological civilization and maintaining the purity of the Party.

According to the 18th CPC Congress report, Scientific Outlook on Development integrates Marxism-Leninism with the reality of contemporary China and with the underlying features of our times. It fully embodies the Marxist-Leninist worldview on and methodology of development and provides new scientific answers to major questions such as what kind of development China should aim for in today's changing environment and how it can achieve it.

Scientific Outlook on Development was written into the Party Constitution at the 17th Party Congress, and now the Party has elevated it to the same position as Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents as an important part of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Ten years of practical experience, both positive and negative, shows that only under the guidance of Scientific Outlook on Development can China march ahead with its socialist modernization drive to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, to thoroughly apply Scientific Outlook on Development to fulfill the country's needs, the entire Party must apply it throughout its modernization drive and to every aspect of Party-building. It must also make promoting economic and social development one of its top priorities, putting people first its core requirement and pursuing comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development its basic requirement, as well as take a holistic approach to attain its goals.

The CPC must especially adhere to the spirit of Scientific Outlook on Development, including emancipation of the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times and staying pragmatic.

Scientific Outlook on Development is closely related to the system to establish socialism with Chinese characteristics. China's basic political system and economic and legal systems, as well as those of culture and society, have been formed during the long endeavor to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The system to build socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental institutional guarantee for the development and progress of China, and Scientific Outlook on Development is the theoretical guidance to action. The two are united in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The amendments to the Party Constitution make it clear that only reform and opening-up can ensure the development of China, socialism and Marxism; it shows the Party's determination to deepen reform and strengthen its governing capacity. The amendments also make it clear that the Party will intensify its fight against corruption, and China will strengthen its cooperation with other countries and regions, and play an increasingly important role on the international stage.

The Party's resolve to build an ecological civilization and maintain its purity are of significant importance. Given the rising resource constraints, serious environmental pollution and ecological damage, we must foster the idea of ecological civilization and strive to build a beautiful China by following the path of sustainable development.

To move toward an era of socialist ecological civilization, we must adhere to the basic State policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment by being thrifty, adhering to a low-carbon development model, reversing the trend of ecological deterioration and contributing to global ecological security.

The inclusion of ecological civilization construction into the Party Constitution reflects the CPC's deepening understanding of the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and will play an important role in maintaining harmony between nature and humans and promoting China's economic and social sustainable development.

No purity, no advancement. Only by maintaining its purity can the CPC represent the basic interests of the Chinese people. So it is very important for the CPC to maintain its purity, which will also help it in its long-term task of building itself.

The CPC has always attached great importance to self-construction and self-improvement. The five-yearly Party congress not only discusses how to manage State affairs, but also works out how to improve the Party-building process. The Party report says it has to maintain its purity and strengthen itself both ideologically and organizationally to combat corruption and uphold its integrity.

The Chinese society has entered an era of multiple thoughts and different interest pursuits. Reform and opening-up now face difficulties in some areas and social contradictions could come to the fore. Some Party members have begun to waver in their ideological beliefs. And the involvement of some high-level Party leaders in corruption has had a bad impact on the people.

The Party can maintain its purity by strengthening its self-purification, self-perfection, self-innovation and self-improvement capabilities. That maintaining the Party's purity is now part of its Constitution shows that the Party accords priority to building itself, remains rooted in the people and continues to work for establishing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In short, the amendments to the Party Constitution highlights the lofty values and ideals of CPC members, and reflects the upgrade of the Party's governing philosophy and strength to march with the changing times.

The author is a senior editor with the Study Times.