The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Held a Meeting to Review Relevant Regulations on Improving Work Style and Strengthening Ties with the Masses, and to Analyze and Study Economic Work for 2013. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Presided over the Meeting.

On December 4, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to review the Eight-Point Decision of the Political Bureau on Improving Work Styles and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses, and to analyze and study economic work for 2013. The meeting was presided over by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

  The meeting emphasized that the conduct of leading cadres, especially senior ones, has a profound impact on the Party’s style of work, the government’s style of work, and even the overall social atmosphere. To improve the style of work, we must start with the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: we must set an example by doing what we ask others to do and firmly refraining from doing what we forbid others from doing, thereby using a sound Party style to lead and inspire good government and public conduct, and truly win the trust and support of the people. We must make a firm commitment to reforming our style of work, effectively address issues that have drawn strong public concern, and consistently maintain close ties with the people.

  The meeting unanimously adopted the Eight-Point Decision on Improving Work Style and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses. The Decision stipulates that all members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee must improve their investigative research: when conducting field visits at the grassroots level, they are to gain a thorough understanding of the actual situation, draw lessons from experience, study problems, resolve difficulties, provide guidance for work, learn from the masses and from practice, hold more symposiums with the masses, engage in more heart-to-heart talks with cadres, conduct more consultations and discussions, analyze typical cases in depth, and frequently go to areas where difficulties and conflicts are concentrated and where public opinion is most critical—while firmly rejecting perfunctory formalism. They are also required to travel light, reduce the number of escorts, simplify reception arrangements, refrain from posting or hanging slogans and banners, avoid arranging for mass welcome or farewell ceremonies, not lay out welcome carpets, not display flowers or plants, and not host banquets. Meetings and activities should be streamlined, the style of meetings genuinely improved, and all nationwide conferences and major events held in the name of the Central Committee strictly controlled; no meetings should be convened merely to make general work arrangements or issue requirements, and no one may attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies, groundbreaking ceremonies, celebrations, commemorations, awards ceremonies, expos, seminars, or any other forums without prior approval from the Central Committee. Meeting effectiveness must be enhanced by holding shorter meetings and delivering concise remarks, while eschewing empty rhetoric and clichés. Documents and briefings should be reduced in number and length, with substantive content being the sole criterion for issuance; any documents or briefings lacking real substance or that could be dispensed with should not be issued. Overseas visits must be standardized, arranged rationally in light of the overall needs of diplomatic work, with strict limits on the size of accompanying delegations, strict adherence to prescribed modes of transportation, and, as a general rule, no arrangements for representatives of Chinese-funded institutions, overseas Chinese, or Chinese students to meet or see off officials at the airport. Security arrangements must be improved, adhering to the principle of facilitating close contact with the masses, reducing traffic restrictions, and, under normal circumstances, refraining from closing roads or clearing venues and closing museums. News coverage must be improved: whether to report on the attendance of Political Bureau members at meetings and events should be determined based on work needs, news value, and social impact, with further reductions in the number, word count, and duration of such reports. Publication of written materials must be strictly regulated: except as centrally coordinated, individuals shall not publicly publish books or stand-alone collections of speeches, send congratulatory letters or telegrams, or inscribe dedicatory messages or calligraphic works. Frugality and thrift must be rigorously practiced, with strict compliance with regulations on clean governance and stringent enforcement of provisions governing housing, vehicle allocation, and other work- and life-related benefits.

  The meeting emphasized that the guiding principle behind formulating these regulations is strict adherence to high standards, thereby upholding the Party’s rigorous governance. Improving work styles and maintaining close ties with the people are crucial to the success or failure of the Party and the cause of the people. Party and government organs at all levels, as well as leading cadres, must put people first and govern for the people; they should take the lead in improving work styles, conducting in-depth investigations and studies at the grassroots level, fostering closer ties with the masses, and resolving practical problems. All regions and departments must, in strict accordance with these regulations and in light of their specific circumstances, formulate implementation measures, ensure rigorous enforcement, and achieve tangible results. Furthermore, all regions and departments are required to strictly abide by these regulations: at the end of each year, a special inspection shall be conducted on compliance; the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council shall carry out regular supervision and inspection, publicly report on compliance at the end of each year, and submit reports on implementation to the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee; any violations of these regulations shall be duly addressed. Disciplinary inspection and supervision bodies at all levels must treat oversight of compliance with these regulations as a routine task for improving Party conduct and government style. In addition, audit authorities are required to conduct annual reviews of the use of funds for meetings and other activities in all regions and departments.

  The meeting emphasized that, since the beginning of this year, in the face of a markedly slowing global economic recovery and mounting downward pressure on the domestic economy, under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, all regions and departments have steadfastly taken scientific development as the overarching theme and accelerating the transformation of the pattern of economic development as the central task. Adhering to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and in light of evolving economic conditions, they have strengthened and improved macroeconomic regulation, with a focus on stabilizing growth, adjusting the economic structure, advancing reform, and improving people’s livelihoods. As a result, China’s economy has become more stable, positive factors have continued to increase, and the annual tasks for economic and social development are expected to be largely accomplished. China remains in an important period of strategic opportunity in which much can be achieved; next year will offer numerous favorable conditions and positive factors for economic and social development. At the same time, the challenges facing economic development remain substantial, and the various risks and difficulties must not be underestimated. The entire Party and the whole country must earnestly enhance their sense of potential danger and urgency, fully anticipate the difficulties and challenges ahead, and carry out all aspects of work in a solid and pragmatic manner.

  The meeting pointed out that next year will be the inaugural year for comprehensively and thoroughly implementing the spirit of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China; a pivotal year that bridges the past and the future in the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan; and an important year for laying a solid foundation for fully building a moderately prosperous society. Therefore, doing a good job in economic work is of paramount importance. We must study and implement the spirit of the 18th National Congress in depth and in all respects, adhere to Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development as our guiding principles, stay firmly focused on the central theme and main line of work, center on improving the quality and performance of economic growth, seek progress while maintaining stability, pioneer and innovate, make a solid start, further deepen reform and opening up, further strengthen innovation-driven development, enhance and improve macroeconomic regulation, actively expand domestic demand, intensify strategic adjustments to the economic structure, concentrate on safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods, bolster the internal vitality and driving forces of economic development, keep overall price levels broadly stable, and achieve sustained, healthy economic development and social harmony and stability.

  The meeting emphasized the need to maintain the continuity and stability of macroeconomic policies, enhance their targeted nature and effectiveness, conduct timely and appropriate fine-tuning as needed, and strengthen policy coordination and synergy. Efforts should be focused on expanding domestic demand, accelerating the development of a number of new consumption growth drivers with strong pull effects, promoting steady investment growth and structural optimization, and continuing to strictly curb the unchecked expansion of “two high” industries and sectors suffering from overcapacity. Agricultural production must be vigorously and consistently supported through the implementation and refinement of supportive policies, increased investment in agricultural science and technology, encouragement of innovative agricultural production and management models, and strengthened development of irrigation and water conservancy infrastructure as well as disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. The transformation and upgrading of industries should be accelerated, with greater emphasis on leveraging independent innovation to drive structural adjustment; enterprises should be supported in leading the implementation of major national science and technology projects with clearly defined industrial objectives; mergers and reorganizations in overcapacitized sectors should be promoted to favor the stronger while weeding out the weaker; support should be provided for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises; productive service industries should be expanded; and ecological conservation should be strengthened. Urbanization should be advanced in a proactive yet prudent manner, with efforts to enhance the comprehensive carrying capacity of cities and towns, improve the economical and intensive use of land, and steadily advance the process of granting urban residency to rural migrants. The overall regional development strategy should be implemented in depth, with accelerated development of contiguous areas facing particularly difficult conditions and vigorous promotion of the marine economy. The level of opening-up should be continuously raised, the structure of foreign trade optimized, export-support policies refined and stabilized, imports actively increased, opportunities seized to encourage enterprises to expand overseas, and support provided for the opening-up of inland and border regions. The general price level should be kept broadly stable, supply-demand balance in key commodity markets promoted, distribution costs further reduced, and market pricing and fee-charging practices standardized. Reform in key areas should be solidly advanced, including expanding the pilot scope of the transition from business tax to value-added tax to more regions and sectors, improving the mechanism for setting prices of resource-based products, deepening reform of the medical and healthcare system, advancing reform of the state-owned sector and rural areas, and effectively implementing reforms in science and technology, education, culture, and administrative approval. Strong measures should be taken to safeguard and improve people’s livelihoods, including strengthening urban and rural public employment service systems, steadily raising the level of pooled social security coverage and benefit standards, developing social programs in education, health, culture, and other fields, intensifying regulation of the real estate market and housing security efforts, reinforcing social services and governance, and maintaining social harmony and stability.

  The meeting also reviewed other matters.