The CPC Central Committee Holds a Press Conference to Explain the Guiding Principles of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee

CCTV News (Xinwen Lianbo): This morning (October 30), the CPC Central Committee held a press conference to introduce and explain the guiding principles of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Tang Fangyu, director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, said that the plenum's most important outcome was its review and adoption of the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Several Major Issues Concerning Persistently Advancing Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance (hereinafter, the Decision). General Secretary Xi Jinping served as head of the document's drafting group, personally planned and guided the process throughout, and set its direction, playing a decisive role. The drafting of the Decision was guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, and incorporated and reflected the scientific meaning, spiritual essence and practical requirements of this thought in all aspects of the Decision, including its analysis of the situation, its guiding thought and principles, and its strategic tasks and major measures. The Decision is of major practical significance and long-term guiding significance for further opening up a new situation in governing and developing the Party and making it strong in the new era, and for comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Hu Heping, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee responsible for its routine work, said that the Decision placed “strengthening the Party spirit of Communists” in the first section of its strategic task arrangements. It stated that strengthening Party spirit is a fundamental task of full and rigorous Party self-governance, and set out specific measures in five areas, including strengthening education in loyalty to the Party and persisting in using the Party's innovative theories to unite minds and forge souls. Hu Heping said that education in loyalty to the Party must be strengthened, the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments” deeply understood, the “Four Consciousnesses” strengthened, the “Four Confidences” firmly upheld and the “Two Upholds” achieved, while Party political discipline and political rules must be strictly enforced and the political ecosystem within the Party purified.

Huang Jianfa, vice minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee responsible for its routine work, introduced the Decision's strategic arrangements for Party organizational building. Huang Jianfa said that the Decision stated that officials' education and training, selection and appointment, management and oversight must be strict, and a high-caliber contingent of officials with firm political commitment, strong abilities, excellent conduct and strict discipline must be built. It also set out arrangements for upholding the correct orientation in selecting and appointing officials, selecting and appointing officials precisely and scientifically, encouraging officials to establish and practice a correct view of performance, strengthening officials' ability to take action and start undertakings, improving the quality of training and selecting outstanding young officials, and strengthening officials' management and oversight.

Zhang Fuhai, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy director of the National Commission of Supervision, introduced the notable results achieved in Party conduct, integrity building and the fight against corruption since the beginning of the new era. Practice has shown that our Party has successfully found a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics under the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, addressing symptoms and root causes and advancing in an integrated way efforts to ensure that people do not dare to, cannot and do not want to be corrupt. At the same time, we must recognize that the situation in the fight against corruption remains grave and complex, and the task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption remains arduous and heavy.

Xie Chuntao, executive vice president of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), introduced the Decision's further arrangements for upholding governance of the Party through institutions and rule-based governance of the Party in three areas: improving the system of intra-Party regulations, strengthening the implementation of institutions, and vigorously eliminating unspoken rules. It further clarified the primary responsibility of Party committees (leading Party members groups), the oversight responsibility of discipline inspection commissions, the responsibility of Party committee (leading Party members group) secretaries as the persons bearing first responsibility, the “one post, dual responsibilities” of other members of leading bodies, and the specific responsibilities of Party members and officials, and improved a responsibility system in which each party fulfills its duties in a coordinated way.

Wang Gang, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.