Detailed Rules for Implementing the CPC Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct (Adopted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in 2017)

On October 27, 2017, the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee held a meeting to study and make arrangements for studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, and to deliberate the “Several Provisions of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening and Safeguarding the Central Committee’s Centralized and Unified Leadership” and the “Detailed Rules for Implementing the CPC Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.” Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

  The meeting emphasized that the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the supreme principle of Party leadership, fundamentally determining the future and destiny of the Party and the country and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people. Strengthening and upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is a shared political responsibility of the entire Party, first and foremost the political responsibility of the central leadership. The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee must take the lead in fostering political awareness, a sense of the overall situation, core consciousness, and alignment with the Party’s central leadership; strictly abide by the Party Constitution and the norms governing intra-Party political life; fully implement all requirements set forth at the 19th National Congress of the CPC on strengthening and upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee; conscientiously perform duties and carry out work under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core; resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s status as the core of the Party Central Committee and the entire Party; pool the will of the whole Party; and inspire all ethnic groups across the country to advance with full confidence toward the grand goals of achieving the Two Centenary Goals, building a modern socialist country in all respects, and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

  The meeting unanimously approved the Several Provisions of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening and Safeguarding the Central Committee’s Centralized and Unified Leadership. All members of the Political Bureau must firmly establish the “Four Consciousnesses,” unswervingly uphold the “Four Confidences,” proactively submit major issues to the CPC Central Committee for deliberation, conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and promptly report on significant progress in their implementation; they must take the lead in implementing the Party’s cadre policies, responsibly recommending cadres to the CPC Central Committee in light of their respective areas of responsibility; they must be loyal and honest to the Party, consciously combat any words or actions that violate the Party Constitution, undermine Party discipline, or jeopardize the Central Committee’s centralized leadership and unity, and earnestly fulfill their responsibilities for exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party in the departments, fields, or regions under their purview; they must annually submit written reports on their work to the CPC Central Committee and the General Secretary; and they must strictly abide by the relevant regulations on publicity and reporting. The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Party Groups of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate shall each year report their work to the Politburo Standing Committee and the Politburo.

  The meeting held that improving conduct is an ongoing endeavor. Implementing the CPC Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct is a matter of paramount importance: it determines whether our Party will remain closely connected with the masses, whether it can maintain long-term governance, and whether it can effectively fulfill its governing mission. The 19th National Congress of the CPC made new arrangements for steadfastly upholding sound conduct and strict discipline. We must continue to lead by example, consolidate and expand upon the achievements in implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Decision, unremittingly reform and transform our work style, ensure that the Party’s conduct improves across the board, and guarantee that the Party thinks and acts in concert with the people, thereby maintaining the close, flesh-and-blood bond between the Party and the masses at all times.

  The meeting noted that the revised Implementation Rules are guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the new arrangements and requirements set forth at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China regarding the Party’s style of work, adhere to a problem-oriented approach, and, in light of the new situations and challenges encountered in the past few years in the implementation of the CPC Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct, further standardize, refine, and improve provisions concerning such areas as enhancing investigation and research, streamlining meetings and activities, reducing the number of documents and briefings, regulating overseas visits, improving news coverage, and practicing strict economy and frugality. These revisions better reflect actual working conditions and enhance both the guiding significance and operational feasibility of the rules. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee should take the lead in upholding the Party’s fine traditions and work style, rigorously enforce the CPC Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision, and set an exemplary standard for the entire Party.

  The meeting emphasized that studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is the paramount political task for the entire Party and the whole country, both now and in the period ahead. It is essential to align the thinking of all Party members and people of all ethnic groups across the country with the spirit of the 19th National Congress and to concentrate our efforts on accomplishing the tasks set forth at the Congress. We must guide cadres and the general public in carefully studying the report to the 19th National Congress and the Party Constitution, ensuring a precise understanding of the ideological essence and core principles of the Congress’s spirit, and studying this spirit faithfully and in its original form. On the basis of comprehensive and systematic study, we should highlight key areas and grasp the crucial points, focusing particularly on the following: first, on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology that the Party must uphold over the long term; second, on the historic achievements and momentous transformations that have taken place in the cause of the Party and the country over the past five years; third, on the far-reaching implications of major judgments such as the assertion that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and that the principal contradiction in Chinese society has evolved into one between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development; fourth, on the effective implementation of the major decisions and arrangements made at the 19th National Congress; and fifth, on the fact that General Secretary Xi Jinping enjoys the ardent support of the entire Party and the deep affection of the people, and is the well-deserved leader of the Party.

  The meeting emphasized that studying the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China must be made a key task in the Party’s theoretical education and ideological armament, with multi-form, tiered, and comprehensive study and training conducted for all Party members. The study of the spirit of the 19th National Congress should be designated as a compulsory course in Party schools, cadre academies, and administrative colleges, and incorporated as an important component of ideological and political education and classroom teaching in schools. Rich and diverse publicity and education activities should be organized and carried out, with particular emphasis on highlighting the specific measures and concrete actions taken by various regions and departments in studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress, as well as showcasing exemplary stories and positive images of grassroots cadres and the general public in their efforts to study and implement it. Such efforts should broadly engage cadres and the general public, fostering a strong societal atmosphere of studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress. At the same time, external publicity should be strengthened, with proactive efforts made to communicate the spirit of the 19th National Congress to the international community in response to its concerns.

  The meeting emphasized the need to organize and carry out concentrated publicity and education campaigns to bring the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China into enterprises, rural areas, government organs, schools, communities, military camps, and online platforms. Leading cadres must take the lead in studying, explaining, and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress, ensuring that it is communicated clearly and comprehensibly so that the general public can understand, grasp, and put it into practice. This will help bring the Party’s theoretical innovations closer to the people, consolidate the unity of the Party and the people, and broaden social consensus.

  The meeting emphasized that, in studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the entire Party must firmly establish political awareness, overall awareness, core awareness, and alignment with the Party Central Committee; maintain high-level consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of political stance, political direction, political principles, and the political path; and consciously safeguard the authority of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core as well as its centralized and unified leadership. It is also essential to vigorously promote a Marxist approach to study and work, effectively enhance our ability to advance development and solve problems, and steadfastly and conscientiously ensure that all decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee are fully implemented.

  The meeting also reviewed other matters.