The Academy of Marxism Holds a Seminar on Studying and Implementing the Guiding Principles of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee
The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee was successfully held in Beijing from October 24 to 27, 2016. The session deliberated and adopted the Several Norms Regarding Political Life Within the Party Under New Situations (hereinafter the "Norms") and the Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Internal Supervision (hereinafter the "Regulations"), as well as the Resolution on the Convening of the 19th National Congress of the CPC. The session formally clarified the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping and proposed the formulation of "the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core." At the opening ceremony, General Secretary Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Political Bureau, delivered a work report to the plenary session and provided explanations on the drafting and revision of the Norms and Regulations. At the closing ceremony, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, putting forward clear requirements for implementing the spirit of the plenary session and effectively carrying out current Party and state work.
On the morning of November 24, following mobilization and deployment meetings, the Institute of Marxism Studies (hereinafter the "IMS") held a study and exchange meeting to implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Representatives from various branches delivered exchange speeches. Fan Jianxin, Deputy Director of the IMS, presided over the meeting. Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and Director of the IMS, and Jia Chaoning, Deputy Director, attended the meeting alongside the entire faculty and staff of the IMS. During the exchange session, the following representatives spoke:
1. Implementing the Norms and Regulations: Remaining True to Our Original Aspiration and Continuing to March Forward
Liang Haifeng (Department of Marxist Principles): The "original aspiration" [1] is reflected throughout the Norms and Regulations. The most fundamental aspect of the CPC's "original aspiration" is "to represent the fundamental interests of the broad masses of the people." By relying on this "original aspiration," the CPC won the heartfelt support of the masses and achieved great victories in revolution, construction, and reform. Likewise, we must continue to rely on this "original aspiration" to march forward and constantly open new horizons for the cause of the Party and the state. The Norms and Regulations embody our Party's determination and courage to comprehensively and strictly govern the Party; they represent a historical consciousness born of painful reflection [2] and serve as a manifesto for carrying forward the cause and forging ahead into the future.
The Norms and Regulations standardize and institutionalize the practical achievements of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s efforts since the 18th National Congress to enforce strict discipline, rectify the Four Winds, and punish corruption. They establish the authority and seriousness of intra-Party laws and regulations, sending a strong signal that the "institutional cage" is being tightened and that disciplinary enforcement will only become stricter over time, sounding a new bugle call for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. Compared to the old norms of 35 years ago, the new Norms include entirely new phrasing. One of the five new points is to "maintain the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses." In contrast, the old five points emphasized "speaking the truth and matching words with deeds"—which should be a basic principle of human conduct, but in the social environment of that time, it had to be specifically demanded of Party members. This shows that in the face of the wheels of history, it is necessary to constantly combine ideological Party building with institutional Party governance. The new Norms state: "The people’s position is the fundamental political position of the Party, and the masses are the source of the Party’s strength. Our Party comes from the people; if it loses the support and favor of the people, the Party will lose its foundation." This demonstrates that our Party must always maintain focus on serving the people to preserve the political character of Communists.
The CPC is a whole. As a member, one must earnestly study and practice the Norms and fulfill the right to supervise and the obligation to be supervised. Under the guidance of the Norms and Regulations, the CPC will remain true to its original aspiration and continue to march forward, always maintaining a style of work that is modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness, as well as the style of plain living and hard struggle. The Party will remain brave in reform and innovation, never becoming rigid or stagnant, and will always serve as the strong leadership core for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
2. Placing the Seriousness of Intra-Party Political Life in a More Prominent Position
Liu Haifei (Department of the Sinicization of Marxism): First, placing the seriousness of intra-Party political life in a more prominent position is the inevitable result of the strategic logic of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. For Party governance to ultimately achieve results, logically speaking, it must first start from within the Party. The most fundamental aspect of strict governance is ensuring that Party organizations at all levels and all Party members and cadres act in accordance with the norms of intra-Party political life and various Party regulations. Clearly, the new regulations on intra-Party political life adopted by the Central Committee under the new situation help establish and tighten discipline, making various rules truly become "live high-voltage wires" that prevent the vulgarization of Party life, thereby further advancing Party building.
Second, adhering to a correct orientation in selecting and appointing personnel is the organizational guarantee for serious intra-Party political life. Personnel selection is the wind vane of the political ecosystem; unhealthy tendencies and corruption in appointments cause the most severe harm to this ecosystem. Rectifying the orientation of appointments is the fundamental solution for serious intra-Party political life. Therefore, we must consistently adhere to the "five lakes and four seas" [3] principle in cadre selection, uphold the standard for "good cadres" (firm beliefs, serving the people, diligent and practical, daring to take responsibility, and honest and upright), and maintain a correct orientation in appointments.
Finally, serious intra-Party political life must play a leading exemplary role. This demonstration should be continuously extended in practice to ensure the spirit of serious intra-Party political life is fully implemented. For instance: between central state organs and local departments, central organs should set the example; between Party organs/ideological departments and government/public institutions, the former should lead; between those within the system [4] and those outside, those within should lead; between coastal and central/western regions, coastal regions should lead; between Marxist research units and non-Marxist ones, Marxist units should lead; and between veteran and new Party members, veteran members should lead. In short, seriousness in intra-Party political life depends on consciousness; one must strive to be first rather than "deferring three times." [5] Only in this way can we truly put serious intra-Party political life into practice.
3. The Key to Serious Intra-Party Political Life is Firming Up Ideals and Convictions
Shang Wei (Department of the Development of Marxism): Strict governance of the Party must begin with intra-Party political life, and the key to serious intra-Party political life is taking the firming up of ideals and convictions as the primary task. Shaky ideals and convictions are the most dangerous form of wavering; a slide in ideals and convictions is the most dangerous kind of slide.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union began with General Secretary Gorbachev’s wavering on communism and socialist ideals. At the 19th Conference of the CPSU in 1988, Gorbachev formally proposed "humane, democratic socialism." The 28th Congress of the CPSU adopted the programmatic statement "Toward a Humane, Democratic Socialism," which marked a fundamental change in the essence of the Soviet socialist system and the CPSU. This, combined with the Soviet people's resentment toward bureaucratic corruption and the society's gradual loss of confidence in the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism—alongside Gorbachev’s abandonment of the CPSU’s ruling status—led to public numbness and disorientation during the collapse. The disintegration of the Soviet socialist republics, which possessed a seventy-year socialist system and economic base, offers a profound lesson.
To firm up ideals and convictions, we must strengthen our studies. Firmness and clarity in ideological theory are the prerequisites for political steadfastness; we must unswervingly adhere to Marxism as our guiding ideology and relentlessly grasp theoretical study. We must continuously deepen our understanding of the laws of Communist Party governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. We must constantly enhance our political resolve, consciously becoming firm believers and faithful practitioners of the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strengthening our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Through practical action, we must let Party members and the masses feel the powerful strength of ideals and convictions.
4. Communist Ideals and Convictions are Our Foundation
Niu Zhengke (Department of the International Communist Movement): First, the communist ideal is a scientific faith. Our communist ideal stems from the communist theory established by Marx and Engels, aimed at eliminating exploitation and oppression and achieving the liberation and happiness of all humanity. It represents the revolutionary ideals and scientific pursuits of all mankind. The scientific nature of the communist ideal comes from the scientific nature of communist theory, which is continuously verified by human social practice (especially the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics), showing unparalleled and powerful vitality. As Marxists, we must unswervingly take the basic principles of Marxism as our guide and resolutely practice communist ideals and convictions.
Second, the communist ideal is a guide for success. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the meeting celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPC: "Shaky ideals and convictions are the most dangerous form of wavering; a slide in ideals and convictions is the most dangerous kind of slide." With the lofty ideal of communism, we can ensure that "riches and honors cannot corrupt, poverty and lowly station cannot shift, and power and force cannot bend." [6] Conversely, if we lose firm communist ideals, we may fall into self-degradation and become unknowingly ensnared in a life of carnal pleasures.
Finally, we must cultivate firm communist ideals. The whole Party must unswervingly adhere to Marxism as the guiding ideology, persistently grasp theoretical armament, and consciously improve study and Party spirit cultivation. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, every comrade has the responsibility to transform and improve themselves; sweeping away ideological dust, eliminating bad habits, and correcting erroneous words and deeds is a never-ending process—it is always "in the present continuous tense." There is no "past tense" or "perfect tense" in the improvement of theoretical study and the refinement of Party spirit. To establish firm communist ideals and convictions, we must be diligent in study, achieve the dialectical unity of knowledge and action, and unify ideals and convictions with Party spirit cultivation. If ideals and convictions are the guiding lighthouse for progress, then conscious study is the "perpetual motion machine" that ensures our continuous advancement. Through constant study of Party documents, we can grasp their spirit and connotation, carry out the Party’s line, policies, and principles to the letter, and actively implement the purpose of "serving the people."
5. Serving the People is the Fundamental Purpose of the Party
Tang Fangfang (Department of Foreign Marxist Studies): The Norms emphasize that adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly and maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses are fundamental requirements for strengthening and regulating intra-Party political life. Adhering to this fundamental purpose concerns the Party's political destiny and future, and is of great significance for guaranteeing that the people are the masters of the country.
First, the Norms emphasize serving the people and respecting the people's principal status. From the perspective of the Party's nature, its character determines that its fundamental position is the people's position. From the perspective of guiding ideology, the Party's ideology determines that it represents the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. From the perspective of institutional construction, the continuous improvement of various systems in our country is aimed at guaranteeing the people's principal status. From the perspective of concrete practice, throughout its 95-year glorious history, the CPC has always stood on the side of the people and taken the realization of the people as masters of the country as its mission. From the perspective of specific measures, the Norms improve and innovate methods for connecting with the masses and establish a sound system for public opinion polling, providing strong support for formulating policies that benefit all people.
Second, the introduction of the Norms and Regulations is intended for better national governance. Compared with the electoral democracy practiced in the United States—where economic elites and groups representing business interests exercise a significant and independent influence on policy while average citizens and the masses have negligible influence—there is a disparity between the policies preferred by economic elites and the preferences of the broad masses, sometimes even running counter to one another. Elected officials are out of touch with the hardships of the masses, and national governance is controlled by money and wealth. This "unequal democracy" causes U.S. policy-making to favor the wealthy, detaching it from the demands of the masses. This eventually leads to an infinite expansion of the gap between rich and poor and the gap between their respective policy stances, which is a major problem facing U.S. governance, and causes the value of "democracy" to face severe challenges.
Therefore, adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly is determined by the Party's nature and guiding ideology. Only by standing firm on the people's position can we better improve various systems. The inspiration from U.S. governance theory and reality is: first, the American form of democracy is not "democracy"...
...the only form it possesses; second, the reality of an ever-widening gap between rich and poor has cast doubt on the democratic ideal of political equality; third, the governance of the state must guarantee the fundamental interests of the broad masses [7] of the people; and fourth, one must not mechanically copy the models of other countries, but must conduct detailed investigation and analysis of the actual conditions of one’s own nation.
6. Strengthening "Core Consciousness" is a Practical Necessity for Comprehensively Deepening Reform
Zhang Jiangang (Journal and Network Center): The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee formally proposed the "Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core," signifying that General Secretary Xi Jinping has become the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party through the practice of a new "great struggle." This also reflects the common aspiration of the whole Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups nationwide. It is where the fundamental interests of the Party and the state lie, and it serves as the fundamental guarantee for persisting in and strengthening Party leadership. It is an urgent necessity for conducting a great struggle with many new historical characteristics [8], and for persisting in and developing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping’s status as the core is of great and far-reaching significance for maintaining the authority of the Party Central Committee, maintaining the unity and centralized, unified leadership of the Party, and for ensuring the prosperity and long-term stability of the Party and the state.
That Comrade Xi Jinping has become the core of this session of the Party Central Committee was formed in the process of struggling against various erroneous tendencies that oppose or negate Marxism [9], as well as against corrupt elements since the 18th National Congress. The establishment of a leading core is by no means merely the establishment of an organizational line, but rather the establishment of the correct political and ideological lines. This emerged in the process of struggling to respond to challenges and explore a path, having been tested through democratic centralism and the mass line under circumstances where the Party's cause faced major opportunities and challenges. The establishment of the core is also a requirement for anti-corruption. Anti-corruption faces immense resistance; it is a "Long March" under new circumstances [10], where the mission is heavy and the road is long. This requires a strong leading core. Similarly, comprehensively deepening reform also requires a strong leading core. As reform has reached its current stage, the areas where it is relatively easy to reform have largely been addressed; what remains are "hard bones to chew" [11]. Continuing to advance reform will inevitably involve massive adjustments of interests and encounter significant resistance. Without a strong leading core, it would be difficult to implement the comprehensive deepening of reform. Therefore, the proposal made at the Sixth Plenary Session to unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core is a practical necessity for comprehensively deepening reform.
First, strengthening "core consciousness" [12] is not about engaging in a personality cult, nor is it about "one-man rule" [13] or the concentration of power; rather, it is to maintain the authority of the Party Central Committee, to ensure that the whole Party’s "orders are carried out and prohibitions are respected" [14], and to enhance our Party’s combat effectiveness. Second, strengthening core consciousness must be well-integrated with our Party’s democratic centralism. Third, while strengthening core consciousness, we must strengthen intra-Party supervision to prevent individuals from placing themselves above the organization. In short, strengthening core consciousness and maintaining the authority of the Central Committee concerns the success or failure of our Party's cause and the realization of the Chinese Dream. We must maintain alignment with the Party Central Committee in thought, politics, and action, and perform our own duties well.
After the representatives from each department concluded their theoretical exchanges, Vice President Fan Jianxin provided in-depth commentary on the contents of the six comrades' exchanges. He noted that this exchange meeting for studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session achieved its expected effects, and that both the depth of thought and the height of theory fully reflected the high degree of consciousness among all comrades of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS) regarding the study and implementation of the spirit of the plenum.
Finally, Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and President [of the Institute of Marxism Studies], delivered a concluding speech. He pointed out:
First, implement the "Norms" and "Regulations" [15] to purify the political ecosystem. We must clearly recognize the general trend of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. Taking the "Norms" and "Regulations" passed by the Plenum as our principles, we must resolutely implement the overall deployment of strict Party governance and fully carry out every requirement of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. We must ensure that the requirements for studying and implementing the spirit of the Plenum, promoting comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, strengthening and standardizing intra-Party political life, and implementing the responsibility for intra-Party supervision reach every branch and every Party member, collectively creating a clean and upright political ecosystem within the Institute of Marxism Studies. We must focus on issues of non-compliance with political discipline and political rules in daily scientific research work, and focus on solving representative problems of lax conduct among all Party members, cadres, and staff. Starting from small matters and details, we must exert great effort to rectify issues such as absences from daily meetings and the lack of political life. We must continue to implement the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and further overhaul the work style of cadres. Through intra-Party supervision, we will strengthen the precise grasp of the Plenum’s spirit by all Party members, cadres, and staff, extending the study and implementation of the Plenum’s spirit in both breadth and depth.
Second, leverage our advantages in scientific research and actively propagate and interpret [the spirit]. The Sixth Plenary Session is a direct object of research for the scientific work of the Institute of Marxism Studies, and moreover, it is a major research topic. Therefore, we must focus closely on the theme of the Plenum, combine it with the research advantages of the Institute, and effectively publicize and interpret the spirit of the Plenum, strengthening in-depth news publicity and theoretical research interpretation from a higher theoretical starting point. Researchers will integrate the spirit of the Plenum with their own academic missions, research expertise, and actual work, particularly by further profoundly grasping the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "May 17" important speech [16] in the course of studying and implementing the spirit of the Plenum. We should actively write articles explaining the spirit of the Plenum from the perspectives of historical depth, theoretical support, and practical necessity, "clearing the source" [17] of erroneous ideas, and putting effort into the professionalism and accuracy of our research, remaining at the forefront and in the lead of the academic and theoretical circles.
Third, stabilize the political direction and stand firm in our political position. Through studying and implementing the spirit of the Plenum, all Party members, cadres, and staff of the Institute of Marxism Studies will further strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses" [18]—particularly core consciousness and alignment consciousness—and unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core. We must more firmly maintain the authority of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, and more consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core in thought, politics, and action—especially regarding political positions and academic orientation in research work. We must more solidly implement the Central Committee’s line, principles, and policies, as well as the decisions and deployments of the CASS Party Leadership Group, into the research management work of the Institute. We will push the study and implementation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session to new heights from both theoretical and practical dimensions, truly using the spirit of the Plenum to unify the thinking of all cadres and staff, maximizing the liberation of productive forces in scientific research, and promoting the reform, innovation, and development of the Institute with a stronger sense of responsibility, focus, and enterprise.
Institute of Marxism Studies November 25, 2016