New era update urged for Constitution
Inclusion of Xi Thought proposed at key session of CPC Central Committee
The Communist Party of China Central Committee, at a key session that concluded on Friday, proposed to write Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the Constitution.
The Second Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, held from Thursday to Friday, was presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the session.
The session was attended by 203 members and 172 alternative members of the CPC Central Committee, members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, leading officials in charge of relevant affairs, some deputies to the CPC’s 19th National Congress elected from grassroots organizations, and experts.
At the session, the leaders reviewed and adopted a proposal for amending some parts of the Constitution. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People’s Congress, introduced the draft proposal at the session.
Major theoretical achievements, principles and policies adopted at the 19th CPC National Congress should be incorporated in the upcoming revision to the Constitution, according to a communique issued after the plenary session.
Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core, the whole Party and country have put the implementation of the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress as the top political task, launched many publicity activities, and initiated a campaign to learn the spirit of the congress and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which has led the whole Party and nation to have more unified thoughts and stronger actions, according to the communique.
It pointed out that as the country’s supreme law, the Constitution has played an important role in the practice of the Party’s governance and the process of reform and opening-up.
Facts prove that China’s current Constitution is a good one that accords with China’s national situation, fully reflects the common will of the people, fully protects the democratic rights of the people and fully protects the people’s fundamental interests, said the communique.
Safeguarding the authority of the Constitution is the premise to safeguard the country’s unity, esteem and authority, and it is also the guarantee to protect the people’s interests and ensure the country’s long-term peace, according to the communique.
With unprecedentedly strong efforts made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core since the Party’s 18th National Congress, the Party has made historical achievements in building socialist rule of law, it said.
The CPC attaches great importance to the role and function of the Constitution in the governance of the country, and the Party has taken effective measures to strengthen the implementation and supervision of the Constitution, it said.
The communique pointed out that the Constitution must be improved along with the practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and such improvement is an outstanding characteristic and basic rule of China’s Constitution.
China enacted its Constitution in 1954. In 1982, the fifth session of the fifth National People’s Congress adopted the present Constitution, which has been amended in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004.
The current Constitution needs to be amended because socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and there are new tasks in the new era, the communique said. Some amending should be done to apply the Party’s and people’s theoretical innovation, practical innovation and systematic innovation outcomes in order to update the rules of the Constitution, it said.
At the key session of the CPC Central Committee, the leaders reviewed and adopted a proposal for amending some parts of the Constitution.
The communique stressed that revising the Constitution is a great event of China’s political life, a major decision of the CPC Central Committee and a great measure to promote the rule of law.
The amendment process should uphold the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the spirit of the CPC’s 19th National Congress and follow the action guide of MarxismLeninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, The Thought of Three Represents, Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, said the communique.
The major theoretical views and key policies set at the Party’s congress, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, should be included in the country’s fundamental law to push the Constitution to keep up with the times on the basis of keeping its continuity, stability and authority, said the communique.
The revision must follow such principles as sticking to the CPC’s leadership, adhering to socialist rule of law, sticking to correct political direction, strictly following the procedures and rules of the law, fully practicing democracy, reaching wide consensus, reflecting the people’s will, being supported by the people, and focusing on some parts rather than an overhaul of the Constitution, said the communique.
It stressed that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest outcome of developing Marxism in the modern Chinese context, which should be a guide upheld by the Party and country in the long run.
The CPC’s leadership is the most essential character of socialism with Chinese char- acteristics, and the Party’s leadership must be upheld and enhanced in all works, said the communique.
It has great significance for the peace and development of mankind to uphold peaceful development, stick to win-win strategy and push to build a community of shared future for mankind, the communique said.
It said that the reform of China’s national supervision system is a great political system reform and a major step to enhance the Party’s and government’s self-supervision. This requires building an antigraft network under the Party’s unified leadership and building an effective national supervision system that covers all people exercising public power, it said.
The revision should be an opportunity for the country to push the rule of law and the rule of Constitution to a new level, and all public servants, especially leading officials, should enhance Constitution mentality, fulfill their duties in line with the Constitution and laws, and accept supervision from the people, said the communique.
No organization or individual will be permitted to enjoy special privileges that place them above the Constitution and law, and all those who violate the Constitution and laws must be held accountable, it said.
The whole Party should unite closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core, set Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, and implement the spirit of the Party’s 19th National Congress and this session, said the communique.
The whole Party should stick to the socialism rule of law with Chinese characteristics, safeguard the authority of the Constitution, ensure its implementation and make efforts to build socialist rule of law in the new era, it said.