Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), gave a wide-ranging speech when he addressed the opening ceremony of the Party's 17th National Congress on Monday. In the two-and-half-hour keynote speech, Hu used plenty of new terms to show the great vigor and vitality of the governing party of China.
The system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics
According to the experts who joined in the research work of the report delivered at the 17th CPC National Congress, "the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics" is the most important new term of the landmark report. It indicates that changes are taking place in the guidelines of China's national development.
"The system has greatly enriched and further developed the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, one of the two major Marxist theories that were adapted to the specific conditions of China," remarked Qin Gang, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
Within this theoretical system, "scientific development" and "harmonious society" are the two key points. Qin Gang said that they showed how the CPC was shifting its focus from a simple pursuit of economic growth to fostering harmonious development throughout all of Chinese society.
Compassionate care
In the report, Hu put forth the concepts of "compassionate care" and "psychological counseling". Hu said that efforts should be made to "strengthen and improve our ideological and political work, paying attention to compassionate care and psychological counseling."
According to Qin, the two terms reflected the new emphasis of the Party's ideological and political work. "In the past, ideological and political work was mainly aimed at educating people. Now, the ruling Party is going to devote more attention to the feelings of the people."
"Putting people first" was also mentioned in the report along with "compassionate care" and "psychological counseling". Although the term has been used widely across China, this is the first time it was put into a Party congress report. "We must respect the principal position of the people in the country's political life, give play to their creativity, protect their rights and interests, take the path of prosperity for all and promote their all-round development to ensure that development is for the people, by the people and with the people sharing in its fruits," said Hu in his speech.
The system of voting
The term of "the system of voting" has never been used in Party congress reports before, however, the measure has already been put into practice for a long time.
As early as 10 years ago, the 13th National Congress of the CPC decided that all major issues should be determined by vote. From then on, every Party delegate has enjoyed the right to cast a vote when decisions are made regarding important issues and when cadres are to be appointed to important positions.
In the report of the on-going congress, it is stipulated in explicit terms that the system of voting shall be used by local Party committees when discussing and deciding on major issues and appointing cadres to important positions".
Zhen Xiaoying, a specialist in Party construction theories, said that voting system will be kept as a permanent practice to further promote intra-Party democracy.
"The principal position of Party members" is also a new term in the report. Zhen said the term has three implications: "First, Party members are the masters of the Party. Second, Party members are the source of all intra-Party powers. Third, Party members perform the intra-Party activities." From Zhen's point of view, respecting the principal positions of Party members reflected the Party's strong desire to straighten out intra-Party relations.
Soft power
Unlike the reports at previous national Party congresses, the recent report drew up concrete policies to promote cultural development in China. New terms like "enhance culture as the soft power of our country", "cultural creativity" and "cultural industry bases and clusters" were frequently heard in Hu's report.
According to Professor Dai Yanjun with the Party School of CPC Central Committee, culture is a powerful ideological pillar that supports China's constantly advancing society. By developing cultural industry, the country will further enrich the social life of its people and find a new impetus for national progress in addition to technological innovation and economical growth," Dai Yanjun said.
(China.org.cn by Chen Xia, October 16, 2007)
