CPC theory, governing style and composition evolve and open up

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-22  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THIRTY years of China's reform and opening-up drive have seen remarkable changes of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the biggest ruling party in the world.

"Today, the CPC's policy and decision on internal affairs has a global influence," Martin Mulligan, a senior editor with the Financial Times told his students at a training course in Beijing.

China held a meeting last Thursday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening-up drive, a watershed in China's development.

The decision to open up the once sealed-off country and reform its struggling economy was made at the 3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, which started on December 18, 1978.

Since economic liberalism, considered by some to be the root of the current global financial meltdown, has run into a brick wall, more people have paid attention to China's development pattern as well as its designer, the CPC.

According to the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, by the end of 2007, the CPC had more than 74 million members.

"The reform and opening-up has altered the appearance of China, the ruling party's membership and its components," said Qin Xuan, professor with Renmin University of China. "The CPC's ruling theory and style have also changed."

Wang Changing, an expert with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said the CPC has been transformed from an all-powerful Party, rooted in the highly planned economy, to a service party so as to well match the market-oriented mechanism.

The 2nd collective leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with Deng Xiaoping as the core, linked Marxism with Chinese people's practice, and eventually Deng Xiaoping Theory came into being. It is considered a theory suited to China's national conditions.

Then, the 3rd collective central leadership, with Jiang Zemin as the core, raised the concept of the "Three Represents," namely the CPC has always represented the most advanced productivity and culture in China, as well as the most fundamental of interests of the majority of the Chinese people.

Scientific outlook

The 4th collective central leadership headed by President Hu Jintao has brought forward the Scientific Outlook on Development, a guiding principle for China's economic and social development.

"The reform and opening-up drive ripens socialist theory with Chinese characteristics," said Shen Baoxiang, professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

The system of the theories gave answers to what is socialism and how to build socialism. Experts named the theories "neo-socialism."

"Socialism with Chinese characteristics has a positive influence on communalism in the world. China and other 'socialist' countries have promoted socialism after overcoming austere challenges," Qin Xuan said.

Against the background of the global financial crisis, he said, there would be a new round of controversy on "isms" as some Western scholars argued that the crisis has make it possible to replace capitalism with socialism.

However, the professor said, the CPC still faces many challenges, such as how to realize a sustained economy, widen socialist democracy and resolve issues concerning peoples' livelihoods.

President Hu admits that the CPC is up against new problems while its rule becomes longer and its composition is changing.

Qin said: "The CPC should continue to pursue development in a scientific way, crack down on corruption so as to promote social harmony and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects."

"The CPC will show a new face as it persists in the reform and opening up policy in the future," he added.