Press conference on guiding principles from fifth plenary session of 20th CPC Central Committee

CCTV:

At this plenary session, the CPC Central Committee decided to study and formulate plans for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance. What considerations prompted this decision? In addition, what signal did this plenary session send? Thank you.

Wang Gang:

I'd like to invite Mr. Tang to answer these questions.

Tang Fangyu:

Thank you for your questions. Based on my understanding, in deliberating and making plans for persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance at the plenary session, the CPC Central Committee has kept three key considerations at the forefront.

First is to meet the needs of advancing our cause and adapt to changing circumstances. Persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance is determined by our Party's mission and responsibility as a Marxist governing party. It is an inevitable requirement for preserving the Party's advanced nature and integrity, and consolidating the Party's long-term governing position. It is an inevitable requirement for consolidating and developing a sound political situation featuring high unity and solidarity across the Party and strong cohesion among the Party, the military and the people. It is also an inevitable requirement for fulfilling the Party's historic mission and ensuring steady and sustained progress in the cause of the Party and the country. Profound changes in global, national and Party conditions give rise to many new circumstances and new issues. That has made the Party's tasks of uniting and leading the people in safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, of uniting and leading the people in promoting reform and development and maintaining social harmony and stability, and of maintaining its advanced nature and integrity even more arduous. All this poses formidable challenges to the Party's governance and leadership capacity, the quality of its membership, and its resistance against corruption and moral decline under the new circumstances. The longer the Party governs, the longer peace endures, and the more complex the environment becomes, the more imperative it is for us to act with a strong sense of potential dangers and persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance. Second is to actively respond to the expectations of the entire Party and the whole nation. Since last year, Party members, officials and the public have widely offered suggestions through various channels such as public complaints and proposals and online messages, calling for summarizing and applying the valuable experience of full and rigorous Party self-governance since the 18th CPC National Congress to build the strength of the Party. The support of Party members and officials and the expectations of the people form the driving force behind our Party's progress. Third is to follow the established practice of major decision-making by the CPC Central Committee. Since the launch of reform and opening up, every Central Committee has dedicated a plenary session to deliberating and making plans for Party building. This has become an effective institutional arrangement.

As for the signals sent by the plenary session, I see three main points. First, it conveys our Party's explicit stance and persistent pursuit as a Marxist governing party in upholding the Party's ideals, nature and purpose. Second, it conveys our Party's lofty aspirations and sense of responsibility in building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. Third, it conveys our Party's firm confidence and strong resolve to face contradictions and problems head-on and adopt higher standards and more concrete measures to persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Judging from the extensive coverage by domestic and international media over the past few days, the delivery of these signals has been widely positive and resounding.

That's all for my answer. Thank you.