The Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC

It was convened in Beijing from November 8 to 14, 2012. The National Congress was attended by 2,268 official delegates and 57 invited delegates, representing more than 82.2 million Party members nationwide. The theme of the National Congress is to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents” and the “Scientific Outlook on Development”, emancipate the mind, Reform and Opening-up, gather strength, overcome difficulties, unswervingly advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to build a well-off society. One of the main lines running through the National Congress is to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. Hu Jintao, on behalf of the 17th Central Committee, made a report to the National Congress on “Firmly March on the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive to Complete the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects”.

The National Congress proposed that the “Scientific Outlook on Development” is a scientific theory which is inherited from Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of “Three Represents”, and is a concentrated embodiment of Marxism's worldview and methodology of development, the latest achievement of Sinicization of Marxism, and the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China and the guiding ideology that must be adhered to and implemented in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The National Congress unanimously agreed to include this in the Party Constitution. This is an important decision and historic contribution made by the 18th Party Congress.

The Congress proposed that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics are the fundamental achievements of the Party and the people, which have been struggling, creating and accumulating for more than 90 years and must be cherished, always adhered to and constantly developed. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the way to achieve, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the guide to action, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental guarantee, the three are unified in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The National Congress proposed that the general basis for building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the primary stage of socialism, the general layout is the economic building, political building, cultural building, social building, ecological civilization building "five in one", the general task is to achieve socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The National Congress believes that the building of ecological civilization must be placed in a prominent position, integrated into all aspects of economic building, political building, cultural building, social building and the whole process, and strive to build a beautiful China, to achieve the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. The National Congress proposed to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

The National Congress put forward clear requirements for the overall improvement of the scientific level of Party building: firm ideals and beliefs, adhere to the spiritual pursuit of the Communists; adhere to the people-oriented, governance for the people, always maintain the flesh and blood ties between the Party and the people; actively develop intra-Party democracy, enhance the creative vitality of the Party; deepen the reform of the cadre personnel system, build a high-quality ruling cadre; adhere to the principle of Party-controlled talent, the best talent in all fields The Party and the State will gather the best talents from all walks of life to the Party and the State; innovate grass-roots Party building work to strengthen the organizational basis of the Party's rule; unswervingly oppose corruption and maintain the political integrity of the Communists; and strictly define the Party's discipline and consciously maintain the centralized unity of the Party. The National Congress elected the 18th Central Committee, consisting of 205 members and 171 alternates, and the Central Committee for Disciplinary Inspection, consisting of 130 members. The First Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee subsequently elected Xi Jinping as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli as the CPC Standing Committee of the Central Political Bureau.