President Xi urges strong efforts to ensure theories keep up with times
Relentless efforts should be made to adapt Marxism to China, to the era and to the public, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Friday. [Special coverage]
Xi made the remark at the 43rd group study session of the members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The study session was held ahead of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, which will convene in Beijing on Oct 18. The congress is held every five years.
Jiang Hui, a senior researcher at the Institute of Information Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gave a lecture at the group study and offered his opinions.
Xi said that as a party upholding Marxism, the CPC should make sure its theories keep up with the times.
Drifting away from or betraying Marxism will lead to the Party's losing its soul and direction as it moves forward, Xi added.
Marxism is unsurpassed in achieving great heights and having a huge influence, he said.
One of the keys to the Party's success in conquering hard times and scoring new glories is boosting the building of the Party with thoughts and theories, Xi said.
The Party should better use Marxism to observe, interpret and play a leading role in the era, he added.
Since China has undergone remarkable changes following its reform and opening-up, Chinese are most qualified and capable of unveiling the lessons and natural laws behind such changes and of making original contributions to the development of Marxism, Xi said.
Party members should be self-conscious about and confident in the theory, focus on what they do, listen to what the people think, respond to actual needs and fully sum up the practices of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.
Additionally, the Party should continue improving its capabilities in analyzing and tackling issues by using Marxism, and continue strengthening its capabilities in addressing major challenges, risks, resistance and contradictions, he said.
The Party's officials, particularly those in senior ranks, should fully study the classics of Marxism, as well as the Party theories of Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, The Thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, as well as new ideas, thoughts and strategies regarding governance by the CPC Central Committee, Xi said.
Sun Zhengcai expelled
The former secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the CPC, Sun Zhengcai, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for "serious discipline violations".
A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved a report on the investigation of Sun and made the decision on Friday.
According to evidence found by the authorities and tips from the public, the CPC Central Committee decided to remove Sun from his position as Chongqing Party chief on July 14.
