The Fifth Plenum of the 13th CPC Central Committee
The Fifth Plenum of the 13th CPC Central Committee is held in Beijing from November 6 to 9 in 1989.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) endorsed veteran leader Deng Xiaoping's resignation November 9 from his last Party post as chairman of the CPC Central Committee Military Commission. It also approved a decision on furthering economic revamping and reforms in China.
A communique issued by the Fifth Plenum of the 13th CPC Central Committee said that proceeding from the fundamental interests of the Party and state, Deng Xiaoping resigned from his present post while he is still healthy, and thus realized his wish of retiring from the leading posts, showing the broad-mindedness of a great proletarian revolutionary.
The Party's plenary session set a high value on Deng's great contribution to the country.
As early as 1980, Deng proposed the need to reform the leadership system of the Party and state. He suggested they adhere to collective leadership and oppose the over-concentration of power. He advocated the abolition of the life-long tenure of leading posts and the establishment of a retirement system.
In his letter of resignation, Deng said he would also put forward his request to the National People's Congress to resign his last official post as chairman of the State Military Commission.
On November 9, Deng met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with all members who attended the Fifth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee. He expressed his gratitude to his comrades for their understanding and support in accepting his request to resign.
The plenary session also approved a decision to appoint Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin as the new chairnan of the CPC Central Committee Military Commission.
By the same decision, Yang Shangkun is first vice-chairman of the Military Commission, Liu Huaqing, vice-chairman of the commission, and Yang Baibing, secretary-general of the commission.
The plenary session also decided that Yang Baibing becomes a new member of the secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.
The communique also said that the plenary session deliberated and adopted the CPC Central Committee's decision on further improving the economic environment and straightening out the economic order and furthering reforms.
"The session pointed out that in the past 10 years following the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Party Central Committee, we have taken economic construction as the central task, adhered to the Four Cardinal Principles and to the policy of reform and opening to the outside world," the communique said.
"Our national economy has developed in a sustained way, the economic strength of the country has been remarkably improved, the life of the urban and rural residents has been obviously bettered, great achievements have been made in various undertakings and the whole country has undergone profound historical changes," it added.
However, the communique admitted that at present there are also many problems and difficulties in the course of progress of the country's economy. "These problems and difficulties have accumulated over the years," it said. "As far as the nature of our present difficulties are concerned, they are difficulties caused by the pace of our progress and are only temporary ones which we are entirely capable of overcoming."
The communique also said that the current Party's policy on improving and rectifying the national economic environment and straightening out the economic order was correct .
(NO. 47 NOVEMBER 20, 1989, title: Deng Retires, Jiang Appointed Military Chief)
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