Introduction to An Article on Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance

An article by theoretical study group under the executive council of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee was published in this year's sixth issue of Qiushi Journal. It stresses the imperative to gain a new and deeper understanding of full and rigorous Party self-governance on the new journey of the new era.

It is of vital importance to stay alert and determined to tackle the special challenges that a large party like the CPC faces, so as to make our Party stronger and more vibrant and ensure its leading position in face of numerous tests, according to the article.

To always stay alert and determined to tackle the special challenges that a large party like the CPC faces is a major proposition made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core in its efforts to carry out full and rigorous Party self-governance on the new journey of the new era. Proceeding from a new historical juncture and new realities, this proposition reflects a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature and developments of the CPC, as well as the great foresight of Xi Jinping as the leader of a major party and a major country.

At the Second Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Xi Jinping specified six issues requiring further efforts to resolve, i.e. how to always stay true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, how to always unify thinking, will and action of the whole Party, how to always ensure the Party's ability to govern and lead, how to keep a high morale in conducting initiatives, how to consistently find and address issues in the Party and how to maintain a political atmosphere of integrity within the Party. The six issues, featuring in-depth strategic thinking and strict logic, have provided direction for our efforts in self-reform within the Party. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led our Party in exercising full and rigorous self-governance with unprecedented resolve and extent. Thanks to the introduction of a series of creative new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies which are original and momentous, Xi Jinping thought on the CPC's self-reform took shape, elevating the self-reform of our century-old Party to a new level.

This thought upholds the basic tenets of Marxist theory on party building, while drawing on the best of traditional Chinese culture and the lessons from other political parties of the world to escape the historic cycle of rise and fall. As a thorough account of our endeavors to exercise full and rigorous self-governance in the new era, the thought has provided answers to questions such as what the importance of the CPC's self-reform is, why the self-reform is possible, and how to advance reform within the Party. Based on the nine practical requirements concerning the CPC's self-reform and born of unique experience of a large party like the CPC, Xi Jinping thought on the CPC's self-reform has served as a fundamental guideline for tackling the special challenges that a large party like the CPC faces.

Editor: Yi Xiaowei