On the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, our correspondent interviewed a leading comrade of the Organization Department of the Party Central Committee about readers' questions concerning the building of the Party. Following is the text of the interview.

Question: How many members does the Chinese Communist Party have? Will it continue to expand its organization?

Answer: The Chinese Communist Party was established in light of the needs of the Chinese people's revolution. During the 61 years of revolutionary wars and construction in China, the Chinese Communist Party has grown in size and strength. It began with some 50 members and now it has more than 39 million. Along with the development of revolution and socialist construction, it is bound to continue growing and developing.

Q: Who are qualified to be Party members? How about the procedures?

A: The Chinese Communist Party is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the faithful representative of the interests of the Chinese people of all nationalities, the core of leadership of China's socialist cause. It uses Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought as the guide for action. This characteristic decides that not anyone can be a Party member. Only those who meet the requirements of the Party can be admitted.

Who can apply for Party membership? Any Chinese worker, peasant, soldier, intellectual or any other revolutionary who has reached the age of 18 and who supports the Party programme and accepts the Party Constitution, is willing to join a Party organization, work actively in it, carry out the Party's decisions and pay membership dues on time, can apply for membership in the Communist Party of China. A Party member should study hard, serve the people wholeheartedly, play an exemplary vanguard role in work, be truthful and honest to the Party, observe Party discipline, put the Party's interests above everything else, be ready to sacrifice everything he or she has and strive all his or her life for the realization of the communist cause.

Applicants for Party membership must go through the procedure for admission, which includes: An applicant must be recommended by two full Party members who should earnestly brief a Party branch on the applicant, and the applicant must be examined by the Party branch which should seek extensive opinions inside and outside the Party. The applicants may become a probationary member after being accepted by the general membership meeting of the Party branch and being approved by the next higher Party committee. Before approving admission for an applicant, the higher Party committee must appoint someone to talk with the applicant and carefully examine his or her case. If he or she is qualified for Party membership, the committee should give its approval.

The Party Constitution stipulates that the probationary period of a probationary member is one year. The purpose is mainly to make further efforts to educate and observe him or her. During this period the Party organization concerned should further observe the member and set right his or her motives to join the Party, so as to exclude those who are not qualified to join the Party and ensure the quality of Party members.

Q: Can a member withdraw from the Party?

A: Yes. The Party Constitution stipulates that Party members have the freedom to withdraw from the Party. If a member does not want to fulfil the duties of Party members, he or she may withdraw from the Party. Moreover, members who seriously violate Party discipline can be punished by Party disciplinary measures, including expulsion from the Party. The Party Constitution states that a member whose revolutionary will has degenerated, who refuses to fulfil the duties of Party members and no longer meets the requirements for a Party member and remains unchanged despite repeated education should be persuaded to withdraw from the Party.

Q: How does the Party play its leading role in the period of socialist construction?

A: The Chinese Communist Party is the ruling party. To uphold and improve the leadership of the Party and to steadily raise the Pary's militancy is the basic guarantee for our socialist modernization drive and for realizing the reunification of the motherland and defending our country's independence and security. The Party does not exercise leadership by issuing orders or using mandatory administrative means, but by using Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and its correct propositions and actions to educate and influence other organizations and people to conscientiously support the Party, have faith in the Party, accept the leadership of the Party and to work hard for the realization of the Party's propositions.

Specifically speaking, the Party's leading role is exercised through different ways. First, leading organs of the Party must formulate and implement a correct line, principles and policies. Second, through the work of its organizations at different levels, the Party co-ordinates relations in various fields and unites all forces under its line and goals. Third, the Party relies on all its members to play backbone and exemplary roles in political and social life.