Making revisions to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a tradition of the Party to incorporate its new achievements in theoretical innovation and practical development into the Party Constitution in accordance with changing situations and the needs of advancing the Party's work and enhancing Party building. 

The resolution on the latest amendment to the Party Constitution, where 50 revisions were made in General Program and 11 other Chapters, was adopted at the closing session of the 20th CPC National Congress on October 22. Xi Jinping then announced the approval of the resolution.

The latest revisions require the CPC to stay true to the Party's original aspiration, carry forward the fighting spirit and build up fighting ability, and embark on a new journey to accomplish the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

This is the ninth amendment to the CPC Constitution since China started reform and opening up in late 1978. The former eight amendments were approved at the eight consecutive CPC National Congresses since the 12th CPC National Congress in September 1982. 

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Full text of the Constitution of Communist Party of China

How the report to 20th CPC National Congress was made

In recent years, Party members and organs have suggested revisions to the CPC Constitution.

On May 27, at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over by Xi, the decision was made to amend the CPC Constitution and a special group was established for the draft amendment.

Three days later, the first meeting of the group marked the official beginning of the work on the revision of the Party Constitution.

Adapting to changes and pooling Party wisdom highlighted

As for the revision to the Party Constitution, the CPC Central Committee stressed that the amendment should fully reflect the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and the new ideas, new thinking and new strategies on national governance put forward since the 19th CPC National Congress in October 2017.

Fully encouraging intra-Party democracy and pooling the wisdom of the entire Party is also one of the principles. 

Soliciting opinions and discussions

From early June to late August, Xi presided over five symposiums, hearing opinions from leading officials of various regions across the country as well as the military, and discussed the matter with them.

In mid-June, 108 written reports with a total of 1,929 opinions and suggestions were submitted to the group, which worked around the clock to sort out the opinions and form a summary counting more than 360,000 Chinese characters in more than 700 pages. Then the group made 48 revisions to the Party Constitution.

On August 4, the draft version of an amendment to the Party Constitution was printed and distributed to regions, departments and institutions nationwide, inviting more than 4,700 leading officials for discussion. 

After absorbing those opinions and suggestions, the group in late August made six revisions to the draft amendment, including two changes on the initial 48 revisions.

The standing committee of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau discussed and passed the draft amendment to the Party Constitution during the seventh plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee on October 11, and decided to submit it for deliberation at the 20th CPC National Congress.

During the 20th CPC National Congress, the draft amendment was further improved after absorbing opinions and suggestions put forth by delegates to the congress.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: History of previous revisions made to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China on display at a memorial hall in Shanghai, July 20, 2022. /CFP)