On November 24, the Academy of Marxism Held a Seminar to Study and Implement the Spirit 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 Plenum reviewed and adopted the Certain Norms Regarding Intra-Party Political Life Under New Circumstances (hereinafter referred to as the "Norms") and the Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Internal Supervision (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"). It also reviewed and adopted the Resolution on the Convening of the 19th National Congress of the Party. The Plenum formally established the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping and proposed the formulation of "the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core." At the opening ceremony of the Plenum, General Secretary Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, delivered a work report to the session and provided explanations on the drafting and revision of the Norms and the Regulations. At the closing ceremony, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, setting out clear requirements for implementing the spirit of the Plenum and performing the various tasks of the Party and the state effectively.
On the morning of November 24, building upon previous mobilization and deployment meetings, the Institute of Marxism Studies (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) 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 Institute, presided over the meeting. Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and Director of the Institute, and Jia Chaoning, Deputy Director, attended the meeting alongside the entire faculty and staff of the Institute. At the exchange meeting, the representatives spoke in succession.
1. Implementing the Norms and Regulations: Remaining True to Our Original Aspiration and Continuing to March Forward
Liang Haifeng (Department of Marxist Principles): The Norms and Regulations embody the two words "original aspiration" [1] (初心, chuxin) throughout. The most fundamental "original aspiration" of the Communist Party of China is to "represent the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority 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, in the future, we must continue to rely on this "original aspiration" to march forward and continuously open new horizons for the cause of the Party and the state. The Norms and Regulations reflect our Party's determination and courage in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party; they represent a historical awakening born of painful reflection and, moreover, a manifesto for carrying forward the cause and forging 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 severely punish corruption. They establish the authority and seriousness of intra-Party laws and regulations, sending a strong signal that the "cage of institutions" [2] is being tightened ever further and that disciplinary enforcement will become increasingly strict as we move forward, sounding a new bugle call for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. Compared to the old Norms of 35 years ago, the new Norms feature a brand-new formulation: the new fifth article emphasizes "maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses," whereas the old fifth article stated "speak the truth and match words with deeds." While the latter should be a basic principle of personal conduct, the fact that it had to be explicitly required of Party members under the social environment of that time 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, it will lose its foundation." This demonstrates that our Party must always keep the string of "serving the people" taut in order to preserve the political character of Communists forever.
The Communist Party of China is a holistic entity. As a Party member, one must earnestly study and practice the Norms, and seriously 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. It will forever maintain a style of work that is modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness; it will forever maintain the style of plain living and hard struggle, have the courage to reform and innovate, never become rigid or stagnant, and always remain the firm 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 logical development of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. For the strict governance of the Party to ultimately achieve results, from the perspective of logical development, it must first work from within the Party. The most fundamental aspect of strictly governing the Party is to ensure 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 circumstances help to establish and tighten discipline and rules, making them truly "high-voltage wires" [3] that carry a current, preventing the trivialization of intra-party life, and thereby further advancing Party building.
Second, adhering to the correct orientation in selecting and appointing personnel is the organizational guarantee for serious intra-party political life. Recruitment and appointment serve as the barometer of the political ecosystem; unhealthy tendencies and corruption in personnel matters cause the most severe harm to the political ecosystem. Correcting the appointment orientation is the root-seeking strategy for solemnizing intra-party political life. Therefore, we must consistently adhere to the "from all corners of the country" [4] principle of cadre selection, uphold the standard for "good cadres" who are "firm in belief, serve the people, are diligent and pragmatic, dare to take responsibility, and are clean and honest," and maintain a correct orientation in personnel usage.
Finally, solemnizing intra-party political life must involve a demonstrative and leading role, and this demonstration should be continuously extended in practice to ensure the fundamental spirit is fully implemented. For example: between central state organs and various local levels and departments, central state organs should play a model role; between Party organs/ideological departments and government/public institutions, the former should take the lead; between those within the "system" (tizhi) and those outside, those within the system should take the lead; between coastal and central/western regions, coastal regions should demonstrate first; between Marxist research units and non-Marxist research units, Marxist units must play a leading role; between veteran and new Party members, veteran members should play the role of vanguard and model. In short, in solemnizing intra-party political life, the key lies in self-awareness; one must strive to be first rather than "courteously deferring three times." [5] Only in this way can the solemnization of intra-party political life be truly realized.
3. The Key to Solemnizing Intra-Party Political Life is Strengthening Ideals and Convictions
Shang Wei (Department of the Development of Marxism): Strictly governing the Party must begin with the strictness of intra-party political life, and the key to solemnizing this life is to treat the strengthening of ideals and convictions as the primary task. The wavering of ideals and convictions is the most dangerous wavering; the sliding of ideals and convictions is the most dangerous slide.
The collapse of the Soviet Union began with General Secretary Gorbachev’s wavering on communist 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 Soviet socialist system and the CPSU. This, combined with the Soviet people's resentment toward bureaucratic corruption, the society's gradual loss of confidence in the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism, and Gorbachev’s surrender of the CPSU’s governing position, led to the numbness and bewilderment of the people when the Soviet Union collapsed. That the Soviet Socialist Republics—with seventy years of socialist systems and economic bases—disintegrated provides a profound lesson.
To strengthen ideals and convictions, we must enhance our study. Firmness and clarity in ideology and theory are prerequisites for political firmness. We must unswervingly adhere to Marxism as our guiding ideology and persistently 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 strengthen 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 force of ideals and convictions.
4. Communist Ideals and Convictions are the Foundation of Our Standing
Niu Zhengke (Department of the International Communist Movement): First, the communist ideal is a scientific faith. Our communist ideal comes from the communist theory founded by Marx and Engels, which aims to eliminate exploitation and oppression and realize the liberation and happiness of all humanity. It represents the revolutionary ideal and scientific pursuit of all humankind. The scientific nature of the communist ideal stems from the scientific nature of communist theory, which is being continuously verified by the practice of human society (especially the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics), demonstrating an unparalleled and vigorous vitality. As Marxists, we must unswervingly take the basic principles of Marxism as our guide and unhesitatingly practice our 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: "The wavering of ideals and convictions is the most dangerous wavering; the sliding of ideals and convictions is the most dangerous slide." With the lofty ideal of communism, we can achieve the state where "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 descend into self-degradation, becoming unconsciously mired in "sensual pleasures and debauchery." [7]
Finally, we must cultivate firm communist ideals. The whole Party must unswervingly adhere to the guiding ideology of Marxism, persistently grasp the theoretical arming of the Party, 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. Dusting off the "ideological dust," removing bad habits, and correcting erroneous words and deeds have no end; they are always "in the present continuous tense." We will never have a "past tense" or a "perfect tense" in the improvement of theoretical study and the perfection of Party spirit. To establish firm communist ideals, one must be diligent in study, achieving the dialectical unity of knowledge and action and unifying ideals and convictions with Party spirit. If ideals and convictions are the beacon leading the way, then conscious study is the "perpetual motion machine" that ensures our constant progress. Only through continuous study of Party documents can we grasp their spirit and connotation, implement the Party's line, policies, and principles to the letter, and actively fulfill 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 wholeheartedly and maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses are the fundamental requirements for strengthening and standardizing intra-party political life. Adhering to this fundamental purpose concerns the political destiny and future of the Party and is of great significance for ensuring that the people act as masters of the country.
First, the Norms emphasize serving the people and respecting their principal position. From the nature of the Party, its character determines that its fundamental position is the people's position; from the guiding ideology, it determines the Party represents the fundamental interests of the broadest masses; from institutional construction, the continuous improvement of various systems in China is to protect the principal position of the people; from concrete practice, over the glorious 95-year journey, the CPC has always stood on the side of the people, taking the realization of the people as masters of the country as its duty; from 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 for better national governance. Compared to the electoral democracy practiced in the United States—where economic elites and groups representing business interests have a significant and independent influence on policy, while average citizens and the masses have negligible impact—there is a discrepancy between the policies favored by economic elites and the preferences of the general public, sometimes even running in opposite directions. Elected officials are detached from the hardships of the masses, and national governance is controlled by money and wealth. This "unequal democracy" causes U.S. policy-making to lean toward the wealthy while detaching from the demands of the masses. Ultimately, this leads to an infinite expansion of the gap between the rich and the poor, and between their respective policy preferences. This is a major problem facing U.S. governance, where the value of "democracy" faces a severe challenge.
Therefore, adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly 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 enlightenment from U.S. governance theory and reality is: first, the American form of democracy is not "democracy"...
...is the only form that democracy possesses; second, the reality of a widening gap between rich and poor has cast doubt on the democratic ideal of political equality; third, state governance must protect the fundamental interests of the broad masses of the people; and fourth, one must not mechanically copy the models of other countries, but must conduct detailed investigation and analysis of one's own national conditions.
6. Strengthening "Core Consciousness" is a Practical Necessity for Comprehensively Deepening Reform Zhang Jiangang (Journal and Internet Center): The formal proposal of the formulation "the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core" at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee indicates that General Secretary Xi Jinping has become the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party through the practice of a new great struggle. This also reflects the common aspiration of the entire Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country. It is where the fundamental interests of the Party and the state lie; it is the fundamental guarantee for persisting in and strengthening the leadership of the Party; and 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 core status is of great and far-reaching significance for maintaining the authority of the Party Central Committee and the Party's unity and centralized, unified leadership, as well as for ensuring the prosperity, development, and long-term peace and stability of the Party and the state.
Comrade Xi Jinping's emergence as the core of this term’s Party Central Committee was formed in the process of struggling against various erroneous tendencies that oppose or negate Marxism, as well as struggling against corrupt elements since the 18th National Congress. The establishment of a leadership 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 during the struggle to respond to challenges and explore a path—under conditions where the Party's cause encountered major opportunities and challenges—having been tested through democratic centralism and the mass line. The establishment of the core is also a necessity for anti-corruption. The anti-corruption struggle faces enormous resistance; it is a "Long March" [9] under new circumstances, and the journey is arduous. This requires a powerful leadership core. Similarly, comprehensively deepening reform also requires a powerful leadership core. As reform reaches its current stage, the areas that were relatively easy to reform have mostly been completed; what remains are "hard bones to chew" [10]. To continue advancing reform will inevitably involve massive readjustments of interests and will encounter enormous resistance. Without a strong leadership core, it would be difficult to carry out comprehensively deepening reform. Therefore, the proposal 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" is not about engaging in a personality cult, nor about "one-man rule" [11], nor about the centralizing of power for its own sake; rather, it is about maintaining the authority of the Party Central Committee, ensuring that the entire Party "executes orders and prohibits what is forbidden" [12], and enhancing 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 ideology, politics, and action, and perform our own duties well.
After the representatives from each department finished their theoretical exchanges, Vice President Fan Jianxin provided in-depth commentary on the content of the six comrades' exchanges. He noted that this exchange meeting achieved its expected results; whether in terms of ideological depth or theoretical height, it fully reflected the high degree of self-awareness among all comrades of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS) in studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session.
Finally, Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and President of the Institute, made a concluding speech. He pointed out:
First, implement the Norms and Regulations and purify the political ecosystem. We must clearly recognize the general trend of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. Taking the Norms [13] and Regulations [14] adopted by the Plenary Session as our principles, we must resolutely implement the overall deployment of strict Party governance and fully realize its various requirements. We must bring the requirements for studying the session’s spirit, promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance, strengthening and standardizing intra-Party political life, and implementing intra-Party supervision responsibilities down to every branch and every Party member, to jointly create a clean and upright political ecosystem within the Institute. We must focus on issues of failing to observe political discipline and political rules in daily scientific research work. We should focus on solving representative problems of "slack discipline" among the cadres and staff, starting from small things and details. We must exert great effort to rectify problems such as absence from regular meetings and the "vacancy" of political life. We will continue to implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and further overhaul issues with cadre conduct. Through intra-Party supervision, we will strengthen the accurate grasp of the Plenary Session’s spirit among all Party members and cadres, extending the study and implementation of the 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 Institute, and more importantly, a major research topic. Therefore, we must closely revolve around the theme of the Plenary Session, combine it with the research strengths of the Institute, and effectively propagate and interpret the session's spirit. We must strengthen in-depth news publicity and theoretical research interpretation from a higher theoretical starting point. Researchers should integrate the session’s spirit with their own academic missions, research expertise, and actual work, particularly in gaining a deeper understanding of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "May 17" important speech [15]. We should actively write articles interpreting the spirit of the Plenary Session from the perspectives of historical depth, theoretical support, and practical necessity, "clearing the source" [16] of erroneous ideas, striving for professionality and accuracy in research, and remaining at the forefront of the academic and theoretical communities.
Third, stabilize the political direction and stand firm in our political position. Through studying and implementing the spirit of the Plenary Session, all Party members, cadres, and staff of the Institute should further enhance the "Four Consciousnesses" [17]—especially core consciousness and alignment consciousness—unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, 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 in ideology, politics, and action—especially regarding political positions and academic orientation in research work. We must more solidly implement the Central Committee’s lines, 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 must push the study of the Sixth Plenary Session to new heights from both theoretical and practical dimensions, truly using the spirit of the session to unify the thinking of all cadres and staff, maximizing the liberation of "research productive forces." With a stronger sense of responsibility, we shall concentrate our energy and forge ahead to promote the reform, innovation, and development of the Institute of Marxism Studies.
Institute of Marxism Studies November 25, 2016