If there is no democracy, there will be no socialism, nor socialist modernization. The essence of socialist democracy is that the people are masters of their own country. This most extensive people's democracy is essentially different from bourgeois democracy, and it is also completely different from anarchism which denounces discipline and order. The promotion of inner-Party democracy will definitely stimulate the people's democracy, and this is also an important way to build socialist democracy.

In order to promote inner-Party democracy, it is necessary to safeguard in earnest the democratic rights of Party members and party organizations at various levels. Channels for inner-Party democracy should be smoothed out and widened so as to let Party members know more about, and take a more active part in, inner-Party affairs. The principles, policies, directives and resolutions of the Party should be communicated in time to lower-level Party organizations and to Party members. Some important matters should be discussed first within the Party and made known to Party members at an early date. The rights of Party members which are stipulated in the Party Constitution should not be violated by any organizations or individuals. It is necessary to formulate regulations on protecting the rights of Party members, and to define principles for the correct exercise of the rights by Party members along with measures for guaranteeing their exercise of those rights.

Democracy and centralism complement each other and are inherently unified. There is no correct centralism without democracy. Neither the correct line, principles and policies, nor a unified will of the whole Party can be formed without centralism. Centralism means pooling correct opinions and making them the common understanding of the majority so as to make correct policies and put them into effect resolutely.

The history of the Party has proved that there must be a firm central leading body which is formed through practice and there must be a core in this leading group. Without such a leading group and core, the cause of the Party cannot be victorious. This is a major issue with regard to the upholding of democratic centralism.

To safeguard the authority of the Central Committee, the smooth implementation of the policies and directives of the Central Committee should be guaranteed and the matters on which decisions have been made should be handled in earnest by all quarters. The whole Party should maintain unity with the Central Committee in terms of the Party's basic line and general principles, policies and goals, and on major issues of paramount importance.

To bring into full play the initiative of the localities under the unified leadership of the Central Committee is an important guiding principle we have always adhered to. To give full play to the initiative of the localities means a combination of implementing the spirit of the Central Committee and proceeding from local realities, and a unity of being responsible for both local people and all people in the whole country. Emphasis on upholding the authority of the Central Committee does not mean withdrawing the power that should be vested with the localities, but means giving full play to the initiative of both the central and local authorities on the basis of rationally defining their duties and power.

There is also the issue of upholding and improving the system of combining collective leadership and division of labor with individual responsibility. All major matters relating to principles and policies, all issues concerning overall interests, all issues in connection with recommendation, appointment and removal, and rewards and punishment of cadres in important positions should be determined collectively by central or local Party committees. Decisions on major issues should be made through deliberation, consultation and discussion, and by vote according to the principle of minority being subordinate to majority. No individual has the right to change collectively-made decisions. Individuals or the minority are allowed to reserve their differing opinions but must obey the decisions unconditionally and implement them actively.

Leading Party groups and Party cadres in responsible positions in government departments at central and local levels and in mass organizations should conscientiously accept the leadership of central and local Party committees. Major issues should be submitted to Party committees for discussion before any decisions are made, be consulted with all quarters within the government departments and mass organizations, and be handled according to legal procedure and relevant regulations. The Party should operate within the scope of the Constitution and laws, and be adept in organizing and coordinating efforts from all quarters and bringing into full play the functions of all organizations, so as to exercise correct leadership.

The essence of inner-Party supervision is that proceeding from the interests of the people, the Party practices self-discipline and self-improvement in accordance with the demand of running the Party strictly. This primarily means overseeing that Party organizations and Party members correctly implement the line, principles and policies of the Party, that they correctly wield the power given by the people, and that they strictly observe the rules and regulations of democratic centralism.

Criticism and self-criticism are effective weapons for enforcing inner-Party supervision. It is necessary to persist in and strengthen the system regulating regular activities of Party organizations and the system of meetings to discuss democratic life for leading Party cadres, to encourage face-to-face talks among Party members, and to make earnest criticism and self-criticism out of the wish for unity, so as to distinguish right from wrong, unite all the comrades, overcome shortcomings and improve work.

It is necessary to improve the inner-Party supervision system and formulate corresponding rules and regulations. Discipline inspection organs at all levels should play their roles to the full with regard to inner-Party supervision. Inner-Party supervision should be combined with supervision by the people, supervision by the media and supervision by non-Communist parties and personages without party affiliation. The supervision from the top to grassroots should be combined with the supervision from grassroots to top so as to form gradually a powerful supervision system that will ensure the health of the Party and the smooth fulfillment of all tasks.

The grass-roots organizations of the Party are the basis for carrying out all Party work and for building up the fighting capability of the Party. They undertake the important responsibilities of forging direct links with the masses of the people, spreading the Party's ideas among them, organizing and rallying them, and implementing the line, principles and policies of the Party. The progress of reform, economic development and social stability all depend on the full display of the roles of grassroots Party organizations as towers of strength and the exemplary roles of Party members as the vanguard. Great efforts must be made to build well the grass-roots organizations of the Party. It is wrong and harmful to loosen the grasp on the building of the Party by its grass-roots organizations and weaken their roles.

The guiding principles for building the grass-roots Party organizations are first, it must be centered on the basic line of the Party and serve the purpose of fulfilling the Party's central tasks, and the real results from the fulfillment of the tasks of their respective units should be the criteria for judging the work of the grass-roots Party organizations; second, it is essential to study the new situations and solve new problems in the spirit of reform, carry out renovation and creation by employing the successful available experiences and improve the activities and methods of the work of grassroots Party organizations; third, the inner-Party activities must be carried out strictly and Party discipline be tightened so as to give full scope to the healthy trends and suppress the evil ones, preserve the advanced nature and purity of the ranks of the Party and enhance the capabilities of grass-roots Party organizations to resolve their own contradictions; fourth, the building of grass-roots Party organizations must be carried out on the basis of routine work and with perseverance, with both practicable long-term plans and measures to solve the current pressing and outstanding problems.