Communist Party of China to Amend Party Constitution

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is going to amend the Party Constitution at its upcoming 18th National Congress scheduled for Nov. 8, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to submit a draft amendment to the CPC Constitution to the 7th Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for further discussion on Nov. 1, before it is tabled with the national congress.

Monday's meeting, presided over by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also discussed a draft report to the 18th CPC National Congress, and decided to table it with the 7th Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for further review.

The meeting heard two reports, respectively on the suggestions collected from CPC members to the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution and the suggestions solicited from CPC members and non-Party personages to the draft report to the 18th CPC National Congress.

The meeting will modify the two draft amendments based on Monday's discussion before submitting these documents to the 7th Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee for deliberation.

The Party will make a draft report to the 18th CPC national congress that complies with the common aspirations of the CPC and people of all ethnic backgrounds, meets the development needs of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and adapts to "new situations" and "new tasks," according to an official statement issued after Monday's meeting.

The meeting stressed the importance of making a draft amendment to the CPC Constitution that conforms to the needs of the CPC's theoretic innovation, practice and development and will also promote the CPC's work and strengthen its construction, the statement said.

The 18th CPC National Congress is a very important conference to be held at a critical time when China is building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, deepening reform and opening up and accelerating the transformation of economic development pattern in difficult areas, it said.

The congress carries high significance in inspiring CPC members and people of all ethnic groups to continue to forge ahead with the building of a moderately prosperous society, the modernization drive, as well as the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The whole Party should hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, be guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of the "Three Represents," and thoroughly carry out the Scientific Outlook on Development, according to the statement.

"(The Party should) emancipate the mind, continue reform and opening up, gather strength, overcome difficulties, forge ahead along the socialist path of Chinese characteristics unswervingly and strive for the full establishment of a moderately prosperous society," reads the statement.

The Party should thoroughly examine the general situation concerning the development of the world and contemporary China and fully understand the new requirements for the country's development and new expectations from the people.

It should deeply summarize the lively experiences the Party has gained in leading the people to advance reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive, the statement said.

The Party should make best use of the key period of strategic opportunities facing China's development, advance innovation in theoretical terms, among others, and draw out the guidelines and policies that respond to the call of the times and the people, it said.

The congress will make strategic plans for China's reform and development, with focuses on the outstanding problems that are emerging during the country's development at its current stage and the issues that concern people's interests in the most immediate and realistic manner.

The congress will further socialist development in economic, political, culture, and social terms as well as in conservation culture, according to the statement.

It will carry forward Party building, scientific development and promote social harmony, and continue to improve people's livelihood and well-being, it said.