Zhang Hefu: The CPC is Key to the Comprehensive Building of a Modern Socialist Country [1]

In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The key to building a comprehensively modern socialist country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts lies with the Party.” This statement contains profound connotations and is a crucial thesis for understanding the spirit of the 20th National Congress. I believe we can grasp its meaning from at least the following three aspects.

First, the key to the great achievements created and the momentous changes realized during the decade of the New Era lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

Throughout its century-long journey of struggle, the CPC has tempered itself to become increasingly strong and vigorous, possessing robust capabilities for political leadership, ideological guidance, and mass mobilization and organization. Over the ten years of the New Era, the CPC has withstood the tests of risks and challenges from various fronts, including the political, economic, ideological, and natural spheres. It won the largest poverty alleviation battle in human history as scheduled, realized the Chinese nation’s millennia-old dream of a moderately prosperous society (xiaokang) ^[1], promoted historical achievements and historical changes in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and propelled China onto a new journey of building a comprehensively modern socialist country. The fundamental reason for all these achievements lies in the CPC’s strong leadership in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties; in the "helmsmanship" ^[2] of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party; and in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The most significant result of the 20th National Congress was the election of a new central collective leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. With General Secretary Xi Jinping continuing to steer the course, the great ship of China will follow the correct direction, remain unswerving, brave the wind and waves, and realize the development strategies and goals established by the Congress.

Second, the key to building a comprehensively modern socialist country and a great modern socialist country in all respects lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

The report to the 20th National Congress pointed out: “From this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal ^[3] of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization.” It emphasized: “Chinese-path modernization is the socialist modernization led by the CPC.” When elaborating on the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, the report’s first point was to emphasize “upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” These important theses profoundly expound upon the most essential feature and the greatest advantage of Chinese-path modernization. Because the CPC always represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses of the people, shares their vital interests, and is bound to them in life and death—possessing no special interests of its own and never representing any interest group, power bloc, or privileged stratum—it is able to continuously demonstrate strong advancedness and purity in practice. It can attract and unite the broadest masses of the Chinese people to achieve one great success after another on the path of struggle, successfully forging the path of Chinese-path modernization and creating a new form of human civilization. The environment faced in building a comprehensively modern socialist country and a great modern socialist country is more complex and the requirements are higher; therefore, we must, and can only, persist in the leadership of the CPC.

Third, to build a comprehensively modern socialist country and a great modern socialist country in all respects, we must build a strong and vigorous Party; the key remains in the Party exercising self-supervision and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party.

Centering on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and further advancing the new great project of Party building in the New Era, the report to the 20th National Congress made meticulous arrangements across seven areas, characterized by the sobriety and determination required to solve the unique challenges facing a large party.

1. Uphold and strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, ensuring the effective implementation of the Party's decisions and deployments and guaranteeing the Party's unity and solidarity.
2. Continuously apply Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—the Party’s latest achievement in theoretical innovation—to elevate ideological horizons, cognitive levels, decision-making capabilities, and problem-solving skills. This ensures the conversion of the Party's latest theoretical innovations into a powerful force for strengthening ideals, tempering Party spirit, guiding practice, and promoting work.
3. Improve the system of institutional norms for promoting the Party’s self-revolution, persisting in and implementing institutional Party governance and governance according to internal regulations, thereby enhancing the scientific level of Party building.
4. Build a team of high-quality officials capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation, ensuring the Party’s cause has successors and continues to move forward.
5. Strengthen the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, fully exerting the advantages and unleashing the power of the CPC.
6. Persist in rectifying the Party’s conduct and strictly enforcing Party discipline with a tone of strictness and high requirements. This is an important foundation for the development and progress of the Party's cause, ensuring that all Party members, especially leading officials, remain self-disciplined and take full responsibility.
7. Resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption, removing the greatest "canker" ^[4] threatening the Party, and implementing the most thorough self-revolution in accordance with the Party's nature, purpose, and the requirements for achieving its goals.

These arrangements and requirements were put forward by the CPC starting from the goal of building a modern socialist country, targeting existing internal problems, summarizing history, basing themselves on the present, and facing the future. They are vital for the CPC to maintain its advancedness, purity, and strong governing capacity while leading and promoting the cause of modernization.

(The author is the Deputy Director of the First Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee)

This article is excerpted from the author's speech at the "Red Hall Forum: Understanding the 20th National Congress of the CPC" thematic seminar. Source: Xinhua Research Institute Web Editor: Huihui