CPC to amend Party Constitution

The Communist Party of China (CPC) will amend the Party Constitution at its upcoming 18th National Congress scheduled for Nov. 8, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held on Monday.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to submit a draft amendment for the CPC Constitution to the seventh Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for further discussion on Nov. 1 before it will be tabled for the national congress.

Monday's meeting, presided over by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also discussed a draft report by the CPC's 17th Central Committee to the 18th CPC National Congress and decided to table it for the seventh Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for further review.

The meeting's attendees heard two reports on comments and suggestions collected from CPC members regarding the draft amendment and suggestions solicited from CPC members and non-Party members for the draft report to the 18th CPC National Congress.

During the process of solicitation, delegates to the CPC's 17th and 18th National Congress, as well as other people across the country, proposed many constructive suggestions, according to an official statement issued after Monday's meeting.

The two draft documents will be modified based on Monday's discussion before being submitted to the seventh Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for deliberation.

The Party will create a report for the 18th CPC National Congress that complies with the common aspirations of the CPC and people of all ethnic backgrounds, meets the development needs of socialism with Chinese characteristics and adapts to "new situations" and "new tasks," the statement said.

The meeting stressed the importance of making a draft amendment to the CPC Constitution that conforms to the needs of the CPC's theoretical innovation, practice and development, as well as promote the CPC's work and strengthen its construction, the statement said.

The 18th CPC National Congress is being held at an important time, as China is currently working to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way, deepening reform and opening up and accelerating the transformation of its economic development pattern, it said.

The congress carries high significance in inspiring CPC members and people of all ethnic groups to continue to forge ahead with the building of a moderately prosperous society, as well as the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party should hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, be guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of the "Three Represent," and thoroughly carry out the Scientific Outlook on Development, according to the statement.

"(The Party should) emancipate the mind, continue reform and opening up, gather strength, overcome difficulties, forge ahead on the socialist path of Chinese characteristics unswervingly and strive for the full establishment of a moderately prosperous society," the statement said.

The Party should thoroughly examine the general situation regarding the development of the world and contemporary China and fully understand new requirements for the country's development and new expectations from the people.

It should summarize the experience the Party has gained in advancing reforms, opening up and driving socialist modernization, the statement said.

The Party should make use of this key period in China's development, advance innovation in theoretical terms and draw out guidelines and policies that respond to the call of the times and the people, it said.

The congress will make strategic plans for China's reform and development with a focus on outstanding problems that are emerging during the country's development and issues that concern people's interests.

The congress will boost socialist development in economic, political, culture and social terms, as well as in conservation culture, according to the statement.

It will carry forward Party-building, scientific development and promote social harmony, as well as continue to improve people's livelihoods and well-being, it said.

Attendees to the meeting agreed that the revision of the Party Constitution at the CPC's 18th National Congress will better promote the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics and new projects related to the Party's self-construction.

The attendees agreed that important theoretical perspectives and strategic thoughts to be determined by the CPC's 17th Central Committee's report to the 18th National Congress should be added to the Party Constitution, the statement said.

The Party Constitution should be updated so as to reflect the Party's latest theoretical achievements in localizing Marxism and practical experience, it said, adding that the revision will help all Party members to better study, obey, support and carry out the Party Constitution, it said.

The revision will reflect strategic thoughts proposed by the CPC Central Committee since the Party's 17th National Congress and meet requirements that have emerged regarding the Party's work and construction, it said.