Constitutional changes in accordance with new era
To maintain its good governance of the world’s most populous country and to realize the goal of national rejuvenation in the coming decades, the Constitution must give expression to what the ruling Communist Party of China has achieved in its praxis and theory, its understanding of the reality of China and its overall planning for the country’s development in the near future. At the 19th National Congress of the CPC, which was convened in October last year, the theoretical achievements made by the Party since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in November 2012 was summarized as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which is now the guideline for the development of the Party and the country’s economy, and for social progress in the years to come.
It is little wonder it has been proposed that this, along with some other important decisions made at the 19th CPC National Congress, including reform of the supervision mechanism, which will have a profound impact on the anti-graft fight and supervision over the exercise of power by officials at all levels, as well as other new policies and concepts, be written into the Constitution.
The proposed amendments also include the revision of the clause stipulating that the president and vice-president shall serve no more than two consecutive terms (five years each term), which has been necessitated by the need to perfect the Party and the State leadership system.
The strong leadership of the CPC has proved to be a decisive factor for what this country has achieved both economically and politically over the past four decades, and the Constitution has been amended four times over the past 40 years — in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004.
All the amendments have injected new ideas and concepts about where the country will go and how it will achieve its goal of rejuvenation and ensure people live happier lives. The amendments this time are no exception, and as such it is hoped they will be adopted at the coming plenary conference of the National People’s Congress next month.