The CPC’s Overall Leadership Is a Fundamental Guarantee for the High-Quality Development of the CPPCC in the New Era

On September 20, 2024, a meeting was held in Beijing to mark the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). During the meeting, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech, in which he highly commended the CPPCC’s historical contribution and elaborated on its distinctive Chinese features and notable political advantages. In his speech, President Xi set clear requirements for promoting extensive and institutionalized development of consultative democracy across all levels and put forward overarching plans for CPPCC work in the present and near future. He used 10 principles to summarize the main points of his thought on strengthening and improving CPPCC work, with the foremost principle being to uphold the CPC’s overall leadership over the CPPCC.

I. The fundamental guarantee for the CPPCC’s development and progress over the past 75 years

The leadership of the CPC is the defining feature and greatest strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is the foundation and lifeblood of the CPC and the country and where the interests and future of all Chinese people rest. Over the past 75 years, the CPPCC has consistently adhered to the fundamental political principle of upholding the CPC’s leadership, and each step in its growth and development has borne the unmistakable mark of this leadership.

An original mission of the CPPCC 

The CPC’s leadership was an inevitable result of China’s historical development. Moreover, it was the common choice of all Chinese people, including all other political parties, people’s organizations, and ethnic groups, social strata, and prominent figures from all sectors of society. On April 30, 1948, the CPC Central Committee issued the “May Day Slogans” to mark the International Labor Day, in which it issued a call for “all democratic parties, people’s organizations, and prominent figures to quickly convene a political consultative conference to discuss the holding of a people’s congress and establish a democratic coalition government.” The proposal immediately received an enthusiastic endorsement from other political parties, prominent figures without party affiliation, and all sectors of society, indicating those groups, having endured tests of life and death, now more clearly recognized the CPC’s advanced nature and readily and openly accepted its leadership. The first plenary session of the CPPCC was held in September 1949. This session marked the start of a new era in which the CPC would lead all other political parties, people’s organizations, and prominent figures from various ethnic groups and sectors of society in building a new state through consultation and securing great achievements through concerted efforts. It also marked the formal establishment of the system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation. In the 75 years since then, the CPPCC has steadfastly pursued its original mission of upholding the leadership of the CPC. It has served the central tasks of the CPC and the country and played a vitally important role in national affairs. 

The CPC Central Committee and the CPPCC National Committee convene a meeting at the Auditorium of the CPPCC National Committee to mark the CPPCC’s 75th anniversary. Among those in attendance were Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER SHEN HONG

An inevitable requirement for accurately grasping the CPPCC’s nature 

The CPPCC Charter stipulates that the CPPCC is an organization of the patriotic united front, an important institution for CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, and an important avenue for advancing socialist democracy and practicing whole-process people’s democracy in China’s political life. The Charter defines the CPPCC as an important channel and specialized institution for socialist consultative democracy, an important component of the national governance system, and an institutional arrangement that is distinctly Chinese in nature. The CPPCC’s nature and role determine that it is a political organization led by the CPC, that its working bodies are political organs, and that the CPPCC system and organization have a clear political nature. It is imperative that we demonstrate a high degree of commitment in our thinking, political stance, and actions to the principle of upholding the CPC’s leadership; there is absolutely no room for ambiguity or irresolution on this point. For the CPPCC, upholding the CPC’s leadership means that all important work is carried out under this leadership, all important activities are focused on the central tasks of the CPC and the country, and all important plans are implemented with the approval of the CPC Central Committee, after extensively soliciting opinions. This ensures that the CPC’s propositions are translated into consensus among all sectors of society by means of democratic procedures and that the CPPCC always advances in the correct political direction.

Members of the Shibing County CPPCC Committee hold consultations with CPC branch and village committee members and village representatives in Shijiawan Village, Shibing County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, July 4, 2024. In recent years, the Shibing County CPPCC Committee has set up consultation and discussion platforms in local communities to promote democratic consultations at the community level. PEOPLE’S DAILY / PHOTO BY MO GUIBIN

The fundamental basis for the CPPCC’s historic achievements in the new era 

The CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has strengthened its leadership over CPPCC work ideologically, politically, organizationally, and institutionally. It has convened the Central Conference on CPPCC Work and issued regulations on the CPC’s united front endeavors and political consultations. It has also formulated a series of major plans in the new era to enhance socialist consultative democracy, improve CPPCC work, strengthen Party building in the CPPCC, improve the work of municipal- and county-level CPPCC committees, and uphold, develop, and improve China’s new type of party system. These moves have paved the way for historic achievements in the CPPCC’s work and helped foster a new atmosphere and image for the CPPCC.

II. Seamless integration between CPC leadership, united front, and consultative democracy

We should accurately grasp the rich implications underlying the integration between the CPC’s leadership, the united front, and consultative democracy and fully understand the sound and effective institutional arrangements underpinning the CPPCC, in order to strengthen our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of Chinese socialism.

The CPC’s leadership is a fundamental guarantee for the development of the united front and consultative democracy

The CPC is the leadership core for Chinese socialism. Whether we can uphold its leadership has a direct bearing on the fundamental direction of united front work and consultative democracy. As such, there is a unity between our efforts to uphold the CPC’s leadership on the one hand and to promote democracy and unity on the other. Unity must have a center, and true unity is only possible if we hold firm to that center. For us, that center is the leadership of the CPC. The stronger its leadership and the firmer its political stance, the more it will be possible for us to enhance the competence and cohesion of CPC organizations and members within the CPPCC committees at all levels, to provide effective ideological and political guidance, and to realize great unity that is genuine and tight-knit. This will ultimately result in more extensive and effective democracy. 

Consultative democracy is also an important means of realizing CPC leadership, as the process of consultation is about extensively listening to different voices and absorbing useful opinions and suggestions, but also about enabling people from all ethnic groups and social sectors to understand and embrace the CPC’s political propositions and its guidelines, principles, and policies. The CPC’s leadership thus determines both the direction and the effectiveness of united front work and consultative democracy. Only by upholding its leadership can the united front be steadily consolidated and expanded, and can consultative democracy achieve effective, systematic, and sound development.

The united front is a powerful instrument for the CPC in rallying people’s support and strength and an important pillar for the development of consultative democracy 

The united front is a vital part of the general line and policy of the CPC. It has served as an important tool in defeating the enemy, in working to govern and rejuvenate the country, and in the efforts to unite all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad to realize national rejuvenation. Through the united front, the CPC is able to realize political leadership by ensuring that other political parties, prominent figures without party affiliation, representative figures from all ethnic groups and sectors of society, and Chinese people at home and abroad understand its political propositions and its guidelines, principles, and policies. Through the united front, it is able to rally support and gather strength for achieving its goals by uniting with representative figures and ensuring all members of the united front identify with the CPC’s latest theories on a political, intellectual, theoretical, and emotional level. This allows the CPC to rally people across all sectors closely around it. At the same time, the united front has long remained committed to the principle of engaging in extensive consultation when matters arise, when problems emerge, and when taking actions. In practice, it has created standard and systematic mechanisms and diverse consultation platforms and vehicles, all of which have laid a solid foundation for the development of consultative democracy. 

At its third plenary session, the 20th CPC Central Committee put forward plans for building a broad united front, emphasizing the need to improve the policies and measures for facilitating the united front’s political role in rallying the support of the people and pooling their strength. On the new journey ahead, we must fully leverage the united front as an important instrument and work continuously to build a broader united front. In doing so, we will better pool, coordinate, and integrate the resources and strengths of all political parties, people’s organizations, and social organizations, thereby consolidating the main forces for the development of consultative democracy, expanding the CPC’s public support, and reinforcing its governance foundations.

Consultative democracy is an important means of upholding the CPC’s leadership and consolidating and developing the united front 

The process of extensive consultation among all sectors of society is a process of advancing democracy and pooling wisdom, promoting unity in thinking and building consensus, and ensuring sound and democratic decision-making. It is, in effect, a process of more effectively realizing the CPC’s leadership. At the meeting marking the CPPCC’s 75th anniversary, President Xi Jinping set out specific plans and clear requirements for the comprehensive development of consultative democracy in five areas. These are as follows: consistently maintaining the correct political orientation, thoroughly improving the system of consultative democracy, effectively strengthening the mechanisms for consultative democracy, steadily expanding consultation methods and platforms, and actively creating an enabling atmosphere and conditions for consultation. 

On the new journey ahead, we must ensure that President Xi’s plans and requirements are carried out. By upholding, developing, and using consultative democracy to good effect and promoting full expression to solicit effective solutions and views from all sides, we can ensure that CPC and government decisions and work better align with the will of the public and practical conditions. This will enable all members of the united front to better identify with the CPC’s propositions and to carry out its guidelines, principles, and policies. It will ensure that we consolidate both the CPC’s leadership and governance position and the great unity that prevails among all ethnic groups in China and among all the Chinese people at home and abroad. 

The CPC’s leadership, united front work, and consultative democracy all share the same objectives and constitute a cohesive whole; they are interconnected, with each reinforcing the strengths of the others. The fact that the CPPCC seamlessly integrates all three of these elements highlights its distinctive Chinese features and striking political advantages. As a CPC-led political organization, the CPPCC can help refine the institutions and systems through which the people run the country, thus effectively safeguarding the overall, fundamental, and long-term interests of the greatest possible number of people. As the most extensive organization of the patriotic united front, it can help pool the wisdom and strength of the Chinese nation to the greatest extent possible, thus creating a powerful dynamic where everyone is of one mind and working for the same goals. As an important channel and specialized institution for socialist consultative democracy, it can help promote sound decision-making and effective implementation of policies, thus enhancing the effectiveness of national governance. The CPPCC has integrated CPC leadership, the united front, and consultative democracy into its dynamic efforts to advance democracy and promote unity and to offer suggestions on state affairs and build consensus. This has enabled it to demonstrate tremendous vitality and ensures it will continue to do so in the future.

The CPPCC National Committee holds a video consultation on the issue of promoting the application of artificial intelligence in more settings and advancing high-quality development of modern industry. CPPCC DAILY / PHOTO BY JIANG GUIDONG

III. Exercising the CPC’s leadership throughout all aspects of the CPPCC’s work to facilitate Chinese modernization

The CPC’s leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the development and progress of the CPPCC. Therefore, we must ensure that its leadership is embedded in all aspects of the CPPCC’s work. 

Firmly upholding the CPC’s overall leadership and the centralized, unified leadership of its Central Committee 

The CPC leadership group of the CPPCC National Committee shoulders major political responsibility for realizing the CPC’s leadership over the CPPCC. It must fulfill its leadership role of setting the correct direction, keeping the big picture in mind, and ensuring implementation of its policies. To this end, we need to improve the organizational systems and institutional mechanisms for implementing its leadership over CPPCC work. We should uphold and improve the top-of-the-agenda system and enhance the regular, long-term mechanisms for studying and implementing President Xi Jinping’s written and spoken instructions and the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and plans. We must put in place a complete chain of work to ensure we act upon incoming tasks immediately, conducting relevant studies and research, clearly assigning responsibilities, and carrying out follow-up supervision. We will apply the list system regarding issues for which the CPC leadership groups of the National Committee and its general office need to seek instructions from, and submit reports to, the CPC Central Committee and ensure all work is reported on in a timely manner. We will urge CPC members within CPPCC organizations to always keep in mind that their primary identity is as CPC members and that their primary duty is to work for the CPC. They must use their exemplary conduct to influence and lead all National Committee members in observing discipline, abiding by the rules, and acting with integrity.

Endeavoring to use the CPC’s new theories to enhance cohesion and build inner strength 

We must step up efforts to arm ourselves with the CPC’s new theories. This is essential for ensuring the CPC’s overall leadership over the CPPCC and a prerequisite for reinforcing our foundations and correctly carrying out our duties. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era serves as the overarching guide for CPPCC work. We should improve the long-term mechanisms for regular reading programs and political and theoretical study sessions for National Committee members, and consolidate and build on the achievements of our educational campaign on the study and implementation of this Thought. We need to keep enhancing our capacity to analyze and resolve problems and to transform the subjective and objective worlds using this new theory. We must also fully and faithfully apply President Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening and improving CPPCC work, grasping the essence and core principles of this thought and understanding both the significance and rationale behind it. We must ensure we know not only what to do but why we are doing it, apply what we have learned in practice, and act on our beliefs. This will allow us to turn new knowledge into abilities that ensure the CPPCC carries out its duties to a high standard and into concrete actions to uphold Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership.

Fulfilling our duties and responsibilities with a focus on advancing Chinese modernization 

The CPPCC can only work effectively and play its important role if it aligns itself with the development goals and overall work of the CPC and the country. We must focus on major, difficult, and pressing issues related to advancing Chinese modernization, furthering comprehensive reform, promoting high-quality development, and maintaining social harmony and stability. We should optimize the mechanisms for developing key consultation plans and formulate sound annual plans for consultations, inspections, field visits, research tours, and key democratic oversight plans. We must steadily advance our consultative role in state affairs and leverage the advantages of consultative oversight to transform the institutional strengths of the CPPCC into effective national governance. We must improve the working mechanisms that enable the united front to fulfill its political role in rallying support and pooling strength. We should enhance the effectiveness of activities for building unity and friendship and engaging in discussion, and advance initiatives to ensure National Committee members stay in close contact with the sectors they represent and serve the people by fulfilling their duties. We must do more to strengthen confidence, rally public support, demonstrate compassion for people, and build consensus, striving to achieve the greatest possible convergence of interests for building a great country and achieving national rejuvenation. We must implement the reform tasks set out at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on improving the mechanisms for consultative democracy. To this end, we need to refine the mechanisms that enable in-depth consultations and interactions, the full expression of opinions, and the formation of broad consensus. We need to strengthen the mechanisms through which the CPPCC reports on social conditions and public opinions and stays in contact with and serves the people, and refine the mechanisms for democratic oversight by the CPPCC. All this will ensure we enhance the institutions, standards, and procedures for CPPCC consultation.

Improving the quality and effectiveness of CPPCC work through strict discipline

To strengthen the ranks of the National Committee, we need to guide CPPCC members in valuing their political identity, improving their political integrity, and enhancing their political capabilities. On fundamental issues concerning our path, system, political standpoint, and direction, the stance and principles of National Committee members must be clear-cut and unwavering, and they must demonstrate a stronger sense of mission and responsibility. They should consciously commit to taking practical actions on the front lines in order to build consensus, provide proposals and suggestions, promote consultative democracy, and contribute to national governance. We must step up efforts to build the CPPCC as a political body. We should carry out regular and long-term activities to increase awareness of CPC discipline, tighten political and organizational discipline, and ensure full and rigorous enforcement of discipline. In doing so, we will foster a clean and honest political environment that encourages dedication and hard work and build a contingent of loyal and responsible members with integrity. Focusing on the role of political inspections, we will improve the systems and procedures for inspection work, facilitating the CPC leadership group of the National Committee in conducting inspections of the CPC branch groups of special committees. We will also ensure all CPC organizations at every level are inspected by the Party leadership groups of general offices at the corresponding level. We must continue to make concerted efforts to enhance Party consciousness, improve Party conduct, and tighten Party discipline. In making personnel appointments, we will adopt an approach that emphasizes practical work, concrete achievements, and the willingness to shoulder responsibility. We will advocate the pursuit of constant improvement and perfection in our work and improve the systems and mechanisms for guarding against pointless formalities and bureaucratism. In doing so, we will strive to build the CPPCC into a model of excellence that the CPC can trust and the people are satisfied with.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 19, 2024)