The Fifteenth National Congress of the CPC

It was convened in Beijing from September 12 to 18, 1997. The theme of the Congress was: Hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and push the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century in a comprehensive manner. Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the 14th Central Committee, made a report to the 15th National Congress of the Party on "Hold High the Great Banner of Deng Xiaoping Thought to Push the Socialist Cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Forward into the 21st Century".

2,048 delegates attended the National Congress, 60 of whom were specially invited, representing more than 58 million Party members nationwide. The National Congress used the concept of "Deng Xiaoping Theory" for the first time, expounded the historical status and guiding significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, and stated that Deng Xiaoping Theory is the result of the second leap of combining Marxism-Leninism with Chinese reality, and it is Marxism of present-day China, representing a new stage of development of Marxism in China.

It is stressed that Deng Xiaoping Theory is a unified scientific theoretical system in line with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, practice proves that Deng Xiaoping Theory, is the continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought, a correct theory guiding the Chinese people in successfully accomplishing their socialist modernization in the process of reform and opening to the outside world. In present China, adhering to Deng Xiaoping Theory means to truly adhering to Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought; holding high the banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory is truly holding high the banner of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.

The “new Party Constitution” adopted by the 15th National Congress inserted Deng Xiaoping Theory, together with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, into it as the Party’s guiding ideology.

The Congress formulated the Party's basic program at the primary stage of socialism, and established the two principles: public ownership being the mainstay, the joint development of a variety of ownership economies in tandem with the former, as well as the distribution according to labor as the mainstay and variety of multiple modes of distribution coexisting with the former, respectively as the basic economic system and distribution system of China at the primary stage of socialism.

The National Congress approved the strategic plan for cross-century development and further expounded the fundamental features and requirements for building socialism with Chinese characteristics in economy, politics and culture. The National Congress also emphasized that the key to pushing our cause into the 21st century in a comprehensive manner lies in adhering to, strengthening and improving the leadership of the Party and further strengthening of the Party building.

The Congress elected the new Central Committee, consisting of 193 full members and 151 alternates, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, consisting of 115 members.

The subsequent First Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee elected Jiang Zemin as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Yu Jianxing and Li Lanqing as the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CC.