Remarks on Successive Drafts of the “Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China”

In a number of occasions between March 1980 and the Sixth Plenary Session of the Party’s Eleventh Central Committee in June 1981, Comrade Deng Xiaoping gave his opinions on the drafting work and instructed certain revisions to the drafting of the resolution which was being prepared by a drafting commission for the Sixth Plenary Session of the Party’s Eleventh Central Committee. Below are excerpts from nine of his talks which made remarks on the draft texts. Contained in Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping Vol. 2. The main content of these remarks mainly aimed to emphasize the guiding thoughts and important points to be considered when drafting the resolution:

Firstly, affirmation of the historical role of Comrade Mao Zedong and explanation of the necessity to uphold and develop Mao Zedong Thought. This is the most essential point. We must hold high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought not only today but in the future. The second main point should be an analysis, in the same spirit, of the rights and wrongs in the major events of the 30 years since the founding of New China, including a fair evaluation of the merits and demerits of some leading comrades.

Thirdly, there should be a basic summary of our past work. As I said before, it is better to write it in broad outline and not go into too much detail. The purpose of summing up the past is to encourage people to close ranks and look to the future. We should try to ensure that when this resolution is adopted, the thinking of Party members and non-Party people alike will be clarified, common views will be reached and, by and large, debate on the major historical questions will come to an end. Comrade Mao Zedong made mistakes during the decade of the “Cultural Revolution”. In our appraisal of him and of Mao Zedong Thought, we must analyze those mistakes in the spirit of seeking truth from facts. He pointed out that Mao Zedong Thought should not be lost, and losing this Thought would actually negate the glorious history of the Party. If the resolution is not written or not adhered to Mao Zedong Thought, we will make historic mistakes. Deng Xiaoping's important speeches have played a guiding role in drafting and adopting the “Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China”.