X. The Communist Party of China Facing The New Century

To hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, fulfill the tasks defined at this congress and advance our cause in an all-round way to the 21st century, it is essential to uphold, strengthen and improve the leadership of the Party and do well in Party building.

The Communist Party of China is the core of the leadership of the people of all nationalities in China. The leading role of the Party is determined by its nature of being the vanguard of the working class and secured after going through ordeals in long years of struggle. Never in China has there been any political organization like our Party that has absorbed so many advanced elements, that is so well organized and broadly based and that has made so many sacrifices for the Chinese nation. The Party maintains close ties with the people, and, in its forward march, is good at reviewing its experience and taking its errors seriously, thereby formulating and upholding correct theories and lines. History has entrusted a colossal responsibility to our Party, and the people place high hopes on it. Having led the people in writing a glorious chapter in the annals of the 20th century, it can certainly write another one in the 21st century.

Party leadership and Party building have always been connected with the historical tasks of the Party and with the theories and lines it has formulated for accomplishing the tasks. Guided by Marxism-Leninism and keeping the political line of the Party in mind, the first generation of collective leadership with Mao Zedong at the core successfully launched the great project of Party building - it established a vanguard of the working class which led the people in winning victory in the new-democratic revolution and establishing the socialist system. The second generation of collective leadership with Deng Xiaoping at the core, creatively applying Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought to present-day China, launched another great project of Party building centering on what kind of party it should be and how to build it under the conditions of reform, opening up and the modernization drive. Facing the new century, the Central Committee is leading the entire Party in advancing this great project. The project is designed to make the Party a Marxist political party that is armed with Deng Xiaoping Theory, that serves the people wholeheartedly, that is completely consolidated ideologically, politically and organizationally, that can withstand all trials and tribulations, that is always at the forefront of the times and that leads the people of the country in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. In light of the general objectives of this great new project, the entire Party should strengthen its building in ideology, organization, style of work and all other aspects, always try to improve its leading and governing ability, and guard against corruption and degeneration so as to show a new look and greater militancy in leading the people in accomplishing the new historical tasks.

To strengthen Party building ideologically, it is essential to unswervingly arm the entire Party with Deng Xiaoping Theory and give full play to the ideological and political strength of the Party. Deng Xiaoping Theory has provided a powerful ideological weapon that will enable our Party to understand the world and to change it. The entire Party should attach great importance to study, be adept at studying and usher in a new upsurge in studying Marxism-Leninism, Mac) Zedong Thought and particularly Deng Xiaoping Theory. Leading cadres at all levels, and especially the several hundred members of the Party Central Committee and the several thousand cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels bear an especially important responsibility for holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory. They should take the lead in studying that theory and comprehensively and accurately master its scientific system. They should grasp both the basic ideas and the essence of the theory in an overall perspective and systematically analyze and understand the relevant aspects of the theory in light of the respective fields of their work. We should continue to educate the cadres at and above the county level in Party spirit and conduct, focusing mainly on the need to study, to be politically minded and to be honest and upright. We shall make it a common practice within the entire Party to study conscientiously, hold democratic discussions, try to explore new ways and be realistic and pragmatic. We should continue to integrate theory with practice, study for the sake of application, acquire a better understanding of the theory of Marxism, learn to better solve practical problems and transform our subjective world while transformling the objective world.