The stone bearing former President Jiang Zemin's inscription of the school's name. (File Photo)
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Party School has adjusted its campus layout and unveiled statues of communist figures to boost party spirit and inspire officials, according to the school's authority.
In response to questions posed by foreign media at a press conference in Beijing Monday, the Party school stated that the decision to move the stone bearing former President Jiang Zemin's inscription of the school's name was done for safety reasons and did not indicate disrespect for Jiang.
Zhuo Zeyuan, official from the CPC Central Committee's Party School,said the school moved the stone from the lawn outside the gate to a spot in front of the main office building as part of the adjustment plan.
"Many people wanted to take pictures of the Party school, and taking photos with the stone was the best choice, which caused traffic congestion on the main road leading to the north gate of the Summer Palace and posed great danger to people's safety," Zhuo explained.
"Moving the stone didn't mean any disrespect for Jiang. We will, as always, respect Jiang," added Zhuo.
Zhuo pointed out the layout adjustment also involved aligning statues of Marx, Engels, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping along the campus's axis.
Another statue of Jiao Yulu, a leading example of an honest Party cadre, stands in the east part of campus, according to a statement published on the Party school website on Sunday
"As the highest institution of learning charged with training senior and middle-ranking CPC leading cadres, our campus, though it boasts a beautiful environment with trees and ponds, lacked a landscape embodying the Party spirit," said the Party school committee in the statement
The statues, which are made by leading Chinese sculptors, are an effort to bring the spirit of the Party to campus.
"The figures of the statues represent different phases of development for the CPC, showcasing the Party spirit of catching up with the times, as well as the importance of Party cadres in promoting socialism with Chinese characteristics," the statement said.
The sculpture of Karl Marx standing by Friedrich Engels was chosen because Marxism has guided the CPC's ideology. Marxist theories are usually the very first thing Party officials study at the school.
The statue of Mao Zedong, great pioneer and leader of Marxism in China, as well as a leader of the revolution and founder of the People's Republic of China, is located in the plaza in front of the assembly hall. The statue is based on Mao's image during his tenure as the head of the Party school from 1943 to 1947.
Deng Xiaoping was the founder of China's reform and opening up policy in the 1980s and the initiator of socialism with Chinese characteristics. His statue was placed on campus as a reminder of Party officials' duty in China's development.
The Party school also plans to erect a statue of another excellent Party cadre in addition to Jiao Yulu to inspire leading officials to learn from exemplary figures.
