Q: Are all the leading posts in government organs, public undertakings and enterprises held by Party members?

A: The Chinese Communist Party is the core of leadership of the Chinese revolution and construction. One of our basic principles is adhering to the Party's leadership. But the Chinese Communist Party is not a party seeking its own gains. It unites with as many non-Party people as possible to carry out the revolution and construction. Therefore, not all leading posts are held by Party members. Party committee posts at various levels and posts in charge of the Party affairs are held by Party members. As to posts (including leading posts) in government organs, public undertakings, enterprises and mass organizations, they can be held by Party members and non-Party personages.

Q: Is the Party still emphasizing the mass line?

A: The mass line is the Party's basic line for work. Having faith in the masses, relying on the masses and respecting the masses constitute the basic guarantees for carrying out our revolution and construction and winning success in these fields. Our Party has always adhered to the mass line - during the war years and the period of construction after the founding of New China. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Party Central Committee held in December 1978 decided that there would be no more turbulent political movements. This decision was made for the purpose of shifting the focus of work to the four modernizations. Since construction needs the efforts of the masses the Party continues to emphasize the mass line.

The Party heeds the opinions of the masses through many channels:

1. Party members working in grass-roots organizations of every trade are acquainted with the opinions of the masses and will forward them to the leading organs of the Party.

2. Cadres of the Party at various levels. including high-ranking ones, often go among the masses, exchange views and discuss problems with them and listen to their opinions. The Party's important policy decisions are made after consulting with the masses in accordance with Comrade Mao Zedong's teachings of "from the masses, to the masses" and centralizing the ideas of the masses and persevering and carrying them through among the masses.

3. The Party heeds the opinions and demands of the masses through such mass organizations as the Communist Youth League, trade unions and women's federations and helps solve their problems.

4. The Party obtains opinions and suggestions from the masses through the delegates to Party congresses and people's congresses at various levels.

5. The Party pays attention to the people's letters and visits.

The people have faith in the Party and are concerned with the Party. When they identify problems in the Party's work or in any members of the Party or when they have suggestions which require the attention of the Party's leading organs, they write letters to the Party's leading organs. Letters can be sent to the Party Central Committee or its Chairman. People also visit the Party's leading organs to submit their opinions and demands. The Party's leading organs at various levels must conscientiously study and solve problems identified by the people and notify them of the results. At the same time, the Party maintains close ties with various democratic parties in China and listens to their opinions in consultation sessions.

Q: Are leading organs of the Party also being restructured? Are younger cadres being promoted to leading posts in the Party?

A: Restructuring is necessary to eliminate bureaucratism, raise work efficiency, and strengthen and improve the Party's leadership. At present, apart from the central state organs, the leading organs under the Party Central Committee are being restructured. Organs directly under the Party Central Committee have been working on this since January and much progress had been made by mid-May.

The numbers of bureaus and departments have been cut by 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. The total number of staff members has been reduced by 17.3 per cent. Head and deputy heads of each leading body at the ministerial level have been restricted to 3-5 people. a cut of 15.7 per cent. Their average age has been reduced from 64 to 60. Head and deputy heads at the bureau level are now generally composed of 2-3 people, a cut of 14 per cent. Their average age has been reduced from 58 to 54.

Middle-aged and younger cadres have been promoted to leading bodies. They constitute 13 per cent of the leaders at the ministerial level and 16 per cent at the bureau level. The cultural level of the leading bodies at the ministerial and bureau levels has all been raised. Initial results have been made in lowering the average age of leading comrades. This constitutes a satisfactory step forward towards leading organs composed of revolutionized and better educated cadres with professional knowledge. In the future, we will continue to promote capable middle-aged and younger cadres and do a good job in making arrangements for retired veteran cadres. We will continue the streamlining programme, train cadres in rotation, improve the work methods and efficiency.