How is the CPC addressing challenges of long-term governance?

At a crucial stage in China's development, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to full and rigorous Party self-governance, calling for sustained efforts to strengthen Party building and address the challenges of long-term governance.

Why has the CPC placed renewed emphasis on this long-term task? What challenges does a long-governing party face, and how can institutional improvements, stricter cadre management and stronger oversight of power help address them?

The emphasis on full and rigorous Party self-governance carries particular significance this year, which marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), said Wang Binglin, director of the Institute of CPC History and Party Building at Beijing Normal University, in an interview with China Media Group.

The timing is also significant in light of the announcement that the 21st CPC National Congress will be held in the second half of 2027.

"Only by building a strong Party and ensuring that it fulfills its role as the core of leadership can we advance Chinese modernization, achieve the goal of building a strong country and realize national rejuvenation," Wang said.

Staying vigilant against the challenges of long-term governance

Wang identified four major tests facing the CPC in its long-term governance: governance, reform and opening up, the market economy, and the external environment. The Party must also guard against the risks of becoming detached from the people and corruption.

The longer a party remains in power, the more vigilant it must be, Wang said. Corruption and a loss of connection with the public can undermine public trust and weaken the foundations of governance.

Meanwhile, profound changes in the international landscape are bringing additional uncertainties. Addressing these challenges requires the Party to continuously strengthen its own institutions and governing capacity.

"Challenges will always exist. As the CPC is a large party with an extensive membership, new problems may emerge even as existing ones are addressed," Wang said.

He stressed that full and rigorous Party self-governance must therefore be a sustained effort, with no room for complacency or a let-up in discipline.

Tightening cadre management and oversight of power

A key priority is strengthening discipline among Party members, particularly officials.

"At the core of full and rigorous Party self-governance is strict management of officials," Wang said, emphasizing the need for clear institutional standards, high expectations and strict accountability.

He also highlighted democratic centralism as a fundamental principle of the CPC's organizational and leadership system. It enables collective deliberation and decision-making while preventing individual officials from exercising unchecked authority.

In practice, however, some officials have failed to uphold this principle, allowing personal decisions to override collective deliberation. Wang said stricter rules governing leadership decision-making and stronger oversight of leading officials, particularly those in top positions, are needed to address such problems.

The aim is to ensure that the exercise of power is subject to institutional rules and effective supervision.

Closing institutional loopholes and ensuring effective implementation

Establishing rules and institutions is only part of the task. Ensuring that they are comprehensive and effectively implemented is equally important.

Wang said existing mechanisms need to be reviewed and refined to identify loopholes and prevent officials from exploiting institutional weaknesses.

He also stressed the importance of stronger supervision and regular assessments to ensure that rules are consistently enforced rather than weakened or distorted in practice.

"When institutions are properly implemented and power is exercised transparently, informal rules that run counter to established principles will have no room to survive," Wang said.

For the CPC, sustained efforts to strengthen Party self-governance are therefore closely linked to improving its capacity for long-term governance. By tightening cadre management, refining institutional mechanisms and strengthening oversight of power, the Party seeks to address emerging challenges while maintaining its connection with the people.