Governance Archives - Friends of Socialist China

Javier Vadell: The Communist Party of China as a collective ethical intellectual at the Fifth Plenary Session

The following article by Javier Vadell – Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC Minas) in Brazil and a researcher at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) – offers a thoughtful Marxist reading of the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which met in Beijing from 26 to 29 October and adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Drawing on Antonio Gramsci’s conception of the party as the “modern Prince” – a collective intellectual capable of forging a collective will and leading the intellectual and moral reform of society – Javier argues that the plenum reaffirms the CPC’s self-understanding as a “collective ethical intellectual”, one that must continually educate, discipline and renew itself as the condition for its long-term capacity to govern.

He examines the concept of self-reform as the Party’s answer to the “historical cycle of rise and fall”, and analyses the anti-corruption formula of the “three nots” – ensuring that officials do not dare, are not able and do not want to be corrupt – as an articulation of coercion, institutions and consensus. Of these, he notes, the third is the most ambitious: punishing and regulating are tasks of the state, but ensuring that a cadre does not want to be corrupt is the task of a collective intellectual seeking to shape consciences.

Oliver Vargas: The Party and the People

We are pleased to publish the following article by Oliver Vargas, a British-Bolivian journalist with CGTN. It offers an accessible explanation of some of the key concepts behind the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which met in Beijing from 26 to 29 October and adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Oliver explains what “full and rigorous Party self-governance” means – strict rules, oversight, anti-corruption work and internal discipline, combined with constant self-renewal – and why the CPC regards it as essential at this stage of China’s drive for socialist modernisation.

He goes on to discuss how these principles translate into practice at the grassroots, visiting an administrative service centre in Haikou (capital of Hainan province), where a new “One-Form” system has cut repetitive paperwork and helped identify elderly residents who were entitled to social security subsidies but had never claimed them.

Readers may also be interested in the full text of the plenum’s resolution and of Xi Jinping’s explanation of it, both of which we have published.

CPC resolution on party self-governance: A major contribution to the theory and practice of Marxist party building with global significance

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session in Beijing from October 26 to 29, 2026.

On October 29 the meeting adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Certain Major Issues concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance, which was published on November 1.

At just under 14,500 words, this is a highly important Marxist document of great and far-reaching significance and demanding serious study not only for the CPC but for communist parties and organisations worldwide. Embodying, summing up, applying and developing the experience and lessons drawn from the more than 100 years of struggle by the CPC and the international communist movement, and of building socialism in China and the world, it is fearless and ruthless in its exposure of shortcomings, mistakes and challenges, serious and meticulous in the steps and measures it outlines, and scientifically optimistic with regard to the future. It is a revolutinary programmatic document that breaks new ground and qualitatively advances the theory and practice of Marxist party building and governance and therefore of socialist construction.

The following are the key points and some significant highlights from the resolution:

I. Importance, Urgency, and Overall Requirements of Persevering with Full and Rigorous Self-Governance

The reason why the Party has achieved one victory after another is that it has cherished the high ideal of communism, dedicated itself to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation, and remained committed to seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. It is also because during each historical period, the Party has attached great importance to its self-supervision and self-governance, had the courage to uphold truth and correct errors, and grown ever stronger by relying on its own efforts and the support of the people to resolve its own problems, thus becoming the strong leadership core in the cause of the Party and the people.
Following the Party’s 18th National Congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core demonstrated tremendous political courage and a strong sense of responsibility in confronting the grave situation marked by weak, hollow, and watered-down Party leadership, lax, superficial, and ineffective self-supervision and self-governance, as well as a number of egregious problems within the Party. Staying firmly committed to full and rigorous Party self-governance, the Central Committee introduced stringent measures and made continuous efforts to tackle these prominent issues. As a result, the problem of lax and weak self-supervision and self-governance has been addressed at its root, unhealthy tendencies that had long gone unchecked have been curbed, deep-seated problems that had plagued the Party for years have been remedied, and serious dangers hidden within the Party, the state, and the military have been removed. The Party has thus grown stronger through revolutionary tempering.
As the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct began to show its teeth as ironclad discipline, we intensified efforts to rectify pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance (the four malpractices) while promoting sound practices.

Advancing full and rigorous self-governance as an unceasing endeavour

Breaking the cycle of rise and fall: Xi Jinping outlines resolution on party self-governance

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session in Beijing from October 26 to 29, 2026.

On the final day it adopted a resolution on Certain Major Issues concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance, which was made public on November 1. On the same day, the text of the explanation of the draft resolution given by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to introduce the discussion was also published.

In his explanation, Xi Jinping states: “For our Party to maintain its long-term governance, it is imperative to find answers to the fundamental question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall. Comrade Mao Zedong offered the first answer to this question back in his years in the cave dwellings of Yan’an: the people’s oversight over government. Since the Party’s 18th National Congress, we have found the second answer in exercising full and rigorous self-governance: the Party’s self-reform.”

According to Xi, this “entails exercising full and rigorous self-governance with unflinching courage to ensure the Party maintains its advanced nature and integrity and can purify, improve, renew, and excel itself. For more than a century, our Party has led the people in working tirelessly for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. During the course, the Party has always attached great importance to its self-supervision and self-governance, had the courage to uphold truth and correct errors, and grown ever stronger by relying on its own efforts and the support of the people to resolve its own problems.”

“At the same time,” he continued, “we must be keenly aware that full and rigorous Party self-governance is a long-term strategic task. Over the years, our Party membership is undergoing structural changes, with a steady increase in the proportion of members and officials born after the launch of reform and opening up in 1978. This has raised new requirements for education and management. The vast majority of Party members are exemplary, yet there remain a number of problems and hidden dangers that threaten to undermine the Party’s advanced nature, weaken its integrity, and jeopardise its long-term governance… Facing these problems and challenges, we must persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance to remove the viruses that would erode the Party’s health, ensuring that the Party will never change its nature, its conviction, or its character, and that the socialist cause can be advanced from generation to generation.”

Summing up the recent history of the party, he notes that: “Since the Party’s 18th National Congress, the Central Committee has confronted the grave situation marked by weak, hollow, and watered-down Party leadership, lax, superficial, and ineffective self-supervision and self-governance, as well as some egregious problems within the Party.”

As a result of the measures taken, “the problem of lax and weak self-supervision and self-governance has been addressed at its root, unhealthy tendencies that had long gone unchecked have been curbed, deep-seated problems that had plagued the Party for years have been remedied, and serious dangers hidden within the Party, the state, and the military have been removed. The Party has thus grown stronger through revolutionary tempering. Thanks to these efforts, we have significantly strengthened the Party’s overall leadership and the centralised, unified leadership of the Central Committee; achieved a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times…. As such a sound political situation has not been easily won, the whole Party must cherish it and continue to consolidate and develop it. This requires us, building on our valuable experience gained in the new era, to adopt higher standards and more concrete measures in persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance and constantly strengthen the Party’s capacity for providing political leadership, giving theoretical guidance, organising the people, and inspiring society. By doing so, we will see that the Party always enjoys the wholehearted support of the people and remains the strong leadership core in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

“Building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernisation is a pioneering endeavour that no one has attempted before”, Xi notes, but alongside the positive domestic developments, “At the same time, however, with the world, the times, and the course of history changing in ways like never before, we will be confronted with multiple risks and challenges on our journey ahead. Internationally, momentous changes of a magnitude not seen in a century are unfolding across the world at a faster pace. Breakthroughs are accelerating in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, while a profound shift is taking place in the international balance of power. As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, uncertainties and unforeseeable factors are increasing in our country’s external environment…

“In the face of complicated international and domestic landscapes and the challenging tasks of advancing reform, promoting development, and ensuring stability, it is essential, in our efforts to ensure steady and sustained progress in Chinese modernisation, to carry forward the great founding spirit and fine qualities of the Party, and always bear in mind that all of us in the Party must never forget our original aspiration and founding mission, that we must always stay modest, prudent, and hard-working, and that we must have the courage and ability to carry on our fight.”

Xi’s explanation also details the drafting process for the resolution along with its general framework and main content.

From Yan’an to the Fifth Plenum: the CPC’s commitment to self-reform

In the following article, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez examines the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Starting from Mao Zedong’s 1945 conversation with Huang Yanpei on how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall, Carlos traces the problem of bureaucratism and privilege in socialist states from Lenin’s warnings to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and shows how the CPC’s commitment to self-reform – together with the people’s oversight of government and the mass line – has become a permanent feature of its governance and a profound contribution to the theory and practice of Marxist party building.

This is an expanded version of an article written for CGTN, which appeared on 31 October.

In July 1945, the educator Huang Yanpei visited Yan’an and put a question to Mao Zedong. Throughout Chinese history, he observed, dynasties had emerged only to decay over time – their rulers growing complacent, their bureaucracies bloated, their people alienated. Could the Communists escape this historical cycle? Mao replied that they had found a new path: that of people’s democracy, supervision and accountability. “Only when the people are allowed to supervise the government will the government not slacken”.

Eighty-one years later, the same question was the central theme of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which closed in Beijing on 29 October. The plenum adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, its communiqué stating that the Party “has found two answers to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall”: “the people’s oversight over government and the Party’s self-reform”.

A longstanding challenge

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels famously wrote in the Communist Manifesto that communists “have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole”. Maintaining that unity of interests in practice, over the course of more than a century of socialist governance, has thrown up numerous challenges. How can a ruling communist party prevent the emergence of bureaucratism, corruption and privilege; how can it stay in touch with the masses? It is noteworthy that the plenum communiqué consciously echoes the founders of scientific socialism: “The Party tolerates no corruption, as it has no special interests of its own besides the interests of the working class and the greatest possible majority of the people.”

As early as 1919, just two years after the October Revolution, Lenin was already warning that the new Soviet state faced a serious danger: that reactionary elements were “assuming the colouring of communists and, to succeed better in their careers, procuring membership cards of the Russian Communist Party”. Such people quite clearly had interests separate and apart from those of the working people, namely, increasing their personal wealth and advancing their careers. Lenin’s writings in the final years of his life return again and again to the problem of bureaucracy and to the gap opening up between the party and the masses. In a speech on 30 December 1920 – somewhat ironically, a sharp rebuttal of ideas advanced by Trotsky and Bukharin – he famously said that “ours is a workers’ state with a bureaucratic twist to it”, sometimes translated as “a workers’ state with bureaucratic deformations”.

And indeed, in the last decades of the Soviet Union’s existence, a privileged layer of officials did emerge; there was a certain fusion of wealth and power; and the masses did become alienated. Things reached a point, as Xi Jinping has observed, where the Communist Party’s 19 million members did little to resist the dissolution of their party and state in 1991.

Self-reform in theory and practice

Since the start of the new era in 2012, the CPC has placed the notion of self-reform (a more literal translation is “self-revolution”) at the centre of its work. It holds that a ruling party must subject itself to continuous scrutiny, rectification and renewal, because no external force can do the job for it.

Xiong’an Forum takes forward the Global Governance Initiative

The 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong’an), the first gathering of its kind, was held in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei province from October 23-25. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), it was themed “Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation: Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World”. Nearly 400 representatives from political, strategic, academic, business, media, and youth sectors from more than 90 countries and international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, attended the opening ceremony. They included former Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Djoomart Otorbaev, former Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the forum, which was read to the opening ceremony by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Xi noted that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, and the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing rather than diminishing. He has put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and a better world. He called for efforts to promote the implementation of the GGI to inject more certainty and positive energy into a world of turbulence and transformation and jointly move toward a community with a shared future for humanity.

In his keynote address, Wang Yi stated that at a crucial moment a year ago, when the postwar international order faced serious challenges and global governance risked falling behind, President Xi launched the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) – a much-needed initiative that offers solutions to bridge the governance deficit and build a better future. The past year has underscored the great contemporary value of the GGI, recorded China’s growing contribution to global governance, and seen rising international expectations for China to play a bigger role.

He went on to say that the past year has underscored the great contemporary value of the GGI. It has been endorsed by more than 160 countries and international organisations. Over 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance. Its core elements have been incorporated into the documents of multilateral fora such as the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS. Inspired by the GGI, more than 100 countries sent their representatives to the UN Security Council high-level meeting on global governance, and agreed to revitalise, reactivate and strengthen the United Nations.

Wang said: “Momentous transformations not seen in a century are unfolding before our eyes at a faster pace. While unilateralism and bullying resurge and the governance deficit widens, our world is decidedly moving toward multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations. This is the trend of our times and the trajectory of history, overwhelming and unstoppable. Humanity is woven together by intertwined interests and a shared future. We should unite as one, rise to the challenges, and take proactive, strong and persistent steps to make the GGI a full reality… Eighty-one years ago, the UN Charter officially came into force… The more turbulent our world becomes, the more important it is to recommit to the founding mission of the UN Charter, hold high the torch of multilateralism, and defend the authority of the UN. We should rally under the UN flag to build greater global consensus, better mobilise global resources, and coordinate global actions more actively.”

Every country, regardless of its size or strength, has the right to independently choose a social system and development path that suits its national conditions and meets the needs of its people – they also have the right to participate as equals, make decisions as equals, and benefit as equals in the process of global governance. All countries should stand for fairness and justice, and major countries must set an example in upholding equality, credibility, moral principles and cooperation.

Wang Yi went on to say that: “Together, we should bolster the strength of the Global South for better global governance. The rise of the Global South is the most momentous shift the world has seen since WWII; it reinforces and expands the force for good on the international stage. In keeping with this shift, the Global South must enjoy greater representation and say in international affairs. This will not only correct a historical injustice but also provide a wealth of ideas for improving global governance. The reform of the international financial system should not remain stagnant; the democracy deficit in global financial governance must be narrowed in line with the agreed time frame and road map. The reform of the UN Security Council should move in the right direction, namely increasing the representation of developing countries, making it a priority to meet Africa’s aspiration through special arrangements, and involving more small and medium-sized countries in global decision-making. The role of Global South cooperation mechanisms, such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, should be harnessed to inject more dynamism into the process of global governance reform… In today’s world, countries have been integrated into a community of intertwined interests. The imbalances brought by economic globalisation can only be resolved through development; protectionism will only make matters worse, while openness and cooperation lead to a better future… Global governance must keep pace with the rapid evolution of human society. The new frontiers – such as the deep sea, polar regions, and outer space – are the common heritage of humanity and represent the forefront of future development, yet there is a lack of governance and rules that must be addressed. We should embrace the principle of peace, sovereignty, inclusiveness and joint governance, and transform the new frontiers from arenas of zero-sum competition into areas of international cooperation. AI is advancing by leaps and bounds. We should take a people-centred approach and develop AI for the good of humanity, and evolve a governance structure based on general consensus soon, so as to make sure this frontier technology is kept under human control and benefits humanity.”

China, he went on to say, “asks all countries to work together and make relentless efforts to build a more just and equitable global governance system. In support of this goal, I wish to announce the following practical actions to be taken by China”:

China will deliver a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. We will push for more outcomes around the three priorities of openness, innovation and cooperation, and work with other APEC economies toward building an Asia Pacific community and the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
China will remain deeply engaged in advancing UN reform. We support efforts of the UN to streamline itself, improve efficiency and deliver more results.
China will encourage the Group of Friends of Global Governance to play a bigger role. We will organise more activities focusing on the nine priorities of global governance reform. We welcome more like-minded countries to join the Group and participate in its activities.
China will work for the full and effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. As one of the first States Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, China fully supports Xiamen’s bid to host the BBNJ Secretariat, which speaks to our desire to make new and important contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and the advancement of global maritime governance.
China will promote the recalibration of global human rights governance. The goal is to place the right to development high on the multilateral human rights agenda.
China will issue a Position Paper on Strengthening Outer Space Governance. We would like to see the rules of outer space governance keep pace with exploration, reflect broad participation, and benefit all countries.
China will issue a Progress Report on the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. We will systematically review the cooperation outcomes, practical experience and specific cases since the Action Plan was launched two years ago, and push for deeper and more substantive international cooperation on AI.
China will establish a Global Governance Research Centre. With a focus on the major theoretical and practical issues in global governance, it will become a platform for high-quality research, release the Global Governance Index, and compile annual reports, so as to provide academic insights and intellectual support for the reform and improvement of global governance.

Wang Yi also held a bilateral meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih on the sidelines of the forum’s opening. He said that China believes that peace is of primary importance for ending the refugee crisis. China does its utmost to advance the settlement of global hotspot issues and takes an active part in UN peacekeeping operations. China holds that development is the foundation for improving the conditions of refugees. China has provided a large amount of humanitarian assistance and support to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, creating conditions for addressing the refugee issue at its root.

Barham Salih thanked China for its long-term and firm support for the cause of the United Nations and the work of the UNHCR. He stated that China is a great country that commands considerable respect on the international stage and has long played an important role in peacekeeping, international mediation and promoting development. With the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reaching a record high and conflicts and violence presenting a worrying picture, closer cooperation with China is vital for UNHCR to address these challenges. The UNHCR looks forward to building a close partnership with China, pursuing people-centred cooperation, and jointly addressing the refugee challenge under the framework of the GGI.

In an October 23 commentary article, the Xinhua News Agency wrote that: “The Global South should not remain a passive recipient of rules shaped by others. It must have a greater say in setting the global agenda and shaping international rules. Improving the representation of developing countries in global governance institutions is not a concession by the West, but a necessary adjustment to make the system more inclusive, representative and effective…

“Fairer representation, however, is only part of the answer. Global governance must also be judged by whether it improves people’s wellbeing and delivers tangible results. International cooperation should serve ordinary people, and commitments made at the global level must translate into practical progress on the ground.

“These principles are central to the GGI, which sets out five core concepts: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practising multilateralism, advocating a people-centred approach, and focusing on taking real actions.”

It concluded: “By giving all countries a greater voice, putting people at the centre and turning commitments into concrete results, the global community can build a system tailored to better meet challenges of our time.”

As part of institutionalising the Xiong’an Forum and carrying forward its work, CPIFA has established an international expert advisory committee. Our co-editor Keith Bennett, who attended the forum, is one of the eight people invited to join this committee and who participated in its initial discussion.

CPC Central Committee sums up experience, sets new tasks and prepares for the 21st Congress

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its fifth plenary session in Beijing from October 26 to 29, 2026.

A detailed communique setting out the work conducted by the plenum was released on its conclusion. Among its key points are:

The Central Committee heard and discussed a report on the work of the Political Bureau, presented by Xi Jinping on behalf of the Political Bureau. They also deliberated and adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Certain Major Issues concerning Persevering with Full and Rigorous Party Self-Governance. Xi Jinping delivered explanatory remarks on the draft Resolution.
Looking back on the Party’s journey since its founding, the Central Committee pointed out at the session that the key to the success of the Communist Party of China in winning one victory after another lies in its pursuit of the high ideal of communism, its dedication to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation, and its commitment to seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. During each historical period, the Party has attached great importance to its self-governance, had the courage to uphold truth and correct errors, and grown ever stronger by relying on its own efforts and the support of the people to resolve its own problems, ultimately emerging as the strong leadership core in the cause of the Party and the people… During this course, the Party has found two answers to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall: the people’s oversight over government and the Party’s self-reform. These are the unique discoveries of the Communist Party of China and will forever stand out in the history of Marxist parties.
Participants at the session gave a highly positive assessment of the great achievements our Party has made in exercising full and rigorous self-governance in the new era. It was unanimously agreed that the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core demonstrated tremendous political courage and a strong sense of responsibility in confronting the grave situation marked by weak, hollow, and watered-down Party leadership, lax, superficial, and ineffective self-supervision and self-governance, as well as some startling problems within the Party. Staying firmly committed to full and rigorous Party self-governance, the Central Committee introduced the most stringent measures and dedicated continuous efforts to tackle all these prominent issues. As a result, the problem of lax and weak self-supervision and self-governance has been addressed at the root, unhealthy tendencies that had long gone unchecked have been curbed, deep-seated problems that had plagued the Party for years have been remedied, and serious dangers hidden within the Party, the state, and the military have been removed. The Party has thus grown stronger through revolutionary tempering. The endeavors to advance full and rigorous governance over the Party in the new era have broken new ground in the self-reform of our century-old Party and brought about historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country. The Party and the people have thus seized the historic initiative in building a great party and a great country.
It was pointed out that as the Party endeavours to supervise, govern, develop, and strengthen itself in the new era, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies in response to the major questions of our times — what kind of long-term governing Marxist party we should build and how we should build it, thereby giving birth to Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. This thought has enriched and developed Marxist theory on party building, and it represents a major achievement in advancing the Party’s theoretical innovation through the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture. It stands as a crystallisation of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people.
It was stressed that many favourable conditions are now in place for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance, while we are also facing many new circumstances and new issues in this endeavour. Profound changes in global, national, and Party conditions have 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.
It was stated that in persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, we must uphold Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and thoroughly study and apply Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building… [We must] maintain the Party’s vanguard nature and uphold the overall leadership of the Party and the centralised, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. We must focus on enhancing the Party’s capacity for long-term governance, preserving its advanced nature and integrity, and maintaining its close bond with the people.
In doing so, we will see that the Party always remains a vibrant Marxist governing party that stays at the forefront of the times, enjoys the wholehearted support of the people, and is able to withstand all tests, and that it always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
We must, therefore, encourage all Party members and officials to uphold the Party’s nature and purpose, raise Party consciousness, have a better understanding of their identity as Party members and the Party’s vanguard nature, and maintain a lifelong commitment to cultivating stronger Party spirit. We must also encourage them to devote efforts to strengthening ideals and convictions, forging strong loyalty to the Party, fostering deep affection for the people, always seeking truth from facts, building moral character, and preserving honesty and integrity. These efforts will help them to be loyal, upright, and responsible and always preserve the true political character of Communists.
It was noted that democratic centralism is the Party’s fundamental organisational principle and leadership system, and its implementation is therefore an inherent requirement for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance. We must improve and implement the institutions of democratic centralism, giving full play to intraparty democracy while effectively practising correct centralism.
It was noted that taking integrated steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to commit corruption is both an important strategy for full and rigorous Party self-governance and a fundamental guideline for our fight against corruption. The Party tolerates no corruption, as it has no special interests of its own besides the interests of the working class and the greatest possible majority of the people.
In an effort to ensure security while pursuing development, we will press ahead with initiatives to see that public services are inclusive, meet essential needs, and provide a cushion for the people most in need, and deliver better results in our work related to workplace safety, disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief, food and drug safety, as well as social stability.
The Central Committee decided at the session that the Party will convene its 21st National Congress in Beijing in the second half of 2027 and stated that this congress, which is to be held at a critical stage for basically realising socialist modernisation and on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal, will be a highly important meeting and an event of great political significance for both the Party and the country.

Han Zheng at the UN: China will join hands with all other countries to make the world a better place

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) general debate was held in New York, September 22–28.

Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China addressed the assembly on September 26.

Having referred to the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, starting with the Global Development Initiative, proposed five years ago at the 76th session, Han said:

“At a time when countries of the world find their future so closely linked, more and more of them want to join hands to shoulder the historic mission of addressing difficulties and challenges, and advancing the well-being of all humanity.”

With this in mind, he proposed four steps:

We should safeguard the postwar international order and foster lasting peace based on common security. The world wants peace, not war. We should turn into action the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and reject the Cold War mindset and bloc confrontation. We should settle differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation and oppose unilateral military actions that violate the UN Charter and circumvent Security Council authorisation. Major countries shoulder special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security, and they should take the lead in complying with rules, upholding rule of law and doing what’s right.

He added: “China calls for advancing the governance of the West Bank and the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza in accordance with the principle of the Palestinians governing Palestine… China urges the relevant country to immediately stop using threat of force against Cuba and immediately and completely lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba.”

We should address the global development predicament and promote prosperity for all through openness and cooperation. It is important to give priority to key areas including poverty reduction, food security and energy transition, step up resource input, and increase support for countries in the Global South. Developed countries should honour their commitment to development financing and climate financing. Facing a new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, especially the dynamic development of artificial intelligence, we should take a people-centred approach and develop AI for the positive and for good, narrow the digital divide, and promote development that is universally beneficial.
We should advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations and rebuild unity and mutual trust through communication and dialogue. We should reject ideological prejudice and respect the development paths and social systems decided on independently by the people of all countries. We should deepen the sharing of governance practices and jointly explore ways to tackle challenges facing our times.
We should stay committed to multilateralism and take steps to safeguard fairness and justice. Multilateralism is the choice made by humanity after going through scourges, and fairness and justice are the joint pursuit of the people of all countries. China holds that all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community, and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation, and rule of law, fairness and justice in international affairs should be jointly upheld. The UN should effectively address global challenges including climate change and public health security, improve governance rules in such areas as cyberspace, outer space and polar regions, and truly increase the representation and voice of the Global South.

Noting that it was on October 25, 1971, that the General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, by which the UNGA decided to restore all the rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN and recognise the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, Han continued:

“Over the past 55 years, China has been a stabilising force in times of volatility. China is firmly committed to pursuing peaceful development and has the best track record on peace and security among major countries. It is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. It also took the initiative that led to the issuance of the first joint statement of the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states on preventing nuclear war. China has been a main engine driving common development. China has created two miracles at home, namely, fast economic growth and long-term social stability, and it has, over many years, contributed around 30 percent to global growth. China has joined hands with more than three fourths of the countries in the world in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, it has mobilised over 23 billion US dollars and carried out more than 2,000 projects under the Global Development Initiative, and it has granted zero-tariff status to all the African countries and least developed countries having diplomatic relations with it to empower the Global South in pursuing modernisation. China has been a progressive force in an era of change. China has always spoken up for the Global South, stood up for the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and continued to work toward a more just and equitable global governance system. In October, China will host the Global Governance Forum in the Xiong’an New Area. You are welcome to attend the forum and join the discussion about the way forward in global governance.”

He concluded: “China will join hands with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and make the world a better place for all of us.”

Jean-Pierre Page: Socialism works, and China is living proof of it

Jean-Pierre Page is a veteran of the French labour movement: a former Air France worker, a member of the Confederal Executive Committee of the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) and head of its international department. He co-authored Masters of the World on the war in Yugoslavia with Samir Amin, Noam Chomsky and Georges Labica, and China Without Blinders with Maxime Vivas, and has edited the journal La Pensée Libre since 2004.

In this wide-ranging interview conducted by Xinhua, Page discusses the Communist Party of China’s conception of “self-revolution”, and what it means for communist parties elsewhere. A communist party, he argues, is a living, militant body rather than an electoral machine, and criticism and self-criticism are fundamental practices for every communist regardless of rank – so self-revolution amounts to the requirement that every member hold themselves accountable and make their daily conduct exemplary.

He is blunt about the contrast with Europe. Bureaucratisation, careerism, the professionalisation of political and trade union life, and a drift from the concerns of working people have afflicted communist parties too, and in most European countries their decline – through strategic errors and the abandonment of communist principles – has deprived the people of the means to defend their interests. He notes “a very alarming level of mediocrity and political illiteracy” among politicians, a symptom of capitalism’s systemic crisis, and observes that in France barely half the population now votes, with many of the rest turning to the far right.

On corruption, Page draws a pointed historical lesson: the abuses of the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe estranged those parties from the people and were “not unrelated to the collapse of the Soviet Union” – while under capitalism the same tendencies have worsened, sustained by a culture of impunity, two-tier justice and more than a thousand lobby groups operating at European level alone.

He also addresses China’s National Action Plan on Human Rights 2026–2030 and the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance held in Beijing, arguing that human rights are inseparable from the right to development: there is little point discussing rights with people deprived of an income, a job or a roof over their heads. Against the Western claim to define human rights universally, he sets China’s record on poverty eradication, and concludes that while China may not be a model, it is an example. “Socialism works, and China is living proof of it.”

Chinese Embassy in London holds symposium on the CPC and the world

On the morning of July 6, 2026, the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a symposium entitled “The Communist Party of China and the World”, marking the CPC’s 105th founding anniversary.

The event was chaired by Minister Zhao Fei and Ambassador Zheng Zeguang delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Reviewing the Glorious Journey, Creating New Historic Success, and Jointly Promoting the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity’.

In his presentation, Ambassador Zheng elaborated on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the rally celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, held in Beijing on July 1.

He described the speech as a political declaration for Chinese Communists to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and continuously achieve new victories in Chinese modernisation on the new journey in the new era. It also serves as an important window through which friends from around the world can better understand the CPC.

He said that on the journey ahead, China will study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, uphold a correct view of governance performance, persist in exercising full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, and carry forward the Party’s outstanding qualities, thus ensuring that the Party always maintains strong creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness. Although the road ahead is full of risks and challenges, requiring constant readiness to withstand high winds, strong waves, and even turbulent storms, the CPC has strong confidence and firm resolve, and will remain steadfast and forge ahead with courage to create new historic successes.

Ambassador Zheng noted that while the CPC is committed to seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, it is also dedicated to advancing human progress and promoting harmony for the world.

He stressed the CPC’s readiness to engage in dialogue and exchanges and strengthen mutual learning with political parties and governments of all countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality and also briefed the participants on the development of China-UK relations since the beginning of this year.

Following the ambassador’s keynote report, contributions to the discussion were made by the following guests:

Alex Gordon, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB)
Andy Brooks, General Secretary of the New Communist Party of Britain (NCP)
Daniel O’Brien, Vice Chair of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (CPGBML)
Stephen Perry, Honorary President of the 48 Group
The Right Honourable Lord (Neil) Davidson KC, Baron of Glen Cova, Labour Member of the House of Lords
Sir Mark Hendrick, Labour Member of Parliament and Vice Chair of the China All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
Professor Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute, King’s College London
Keith Bennett, Co-editor of Friends of Socialist China
Kevan Nelson, International Secretary of the CPB
Dr Ali Al Assam, Committee member of Friends of Socialist China
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Committee member of Friends of Socialist China
George Korkovelos, Culture Secretary of the CPGBML

What defines the CPC’s 105-year success? – a CGTN Dialogue

The following is a discussion from CGTN’s Dialogue programme marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Broadcast in the wake of Xi Jinping’s anniversary speech – in which he hailed the Party’s 105-year history as the “most magnificent epic” of the Chinese nation – it brings together Xia Lu, associate professor at the School of CPC History and Party Building at Renmin University of China; Carlos Martinez, co-editor of Friends of Socialist China; and Radhika Desai, convenor of the International Manifesto Group.

The panel discusses how to evaluate the CPC’s achievements and governing logic; the role of Marxism – seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and the Party’s capacity for self-renewal – in explaining its longevity and legitimacy; and the distinctiveness of Chinese modernisation. Radhika Desai argues that the Chinese revolution, following the Bolshevik revolution, set humanity on a path to socialism, and that amid a declining capitalism China has become an “ocean of stability”. Carlos Martinez stresses that China’s is a modernisation achieved without colonialism, slavery or war – shattering the Eurocentric assumption that to modernise is to Westernise. Xia Lu reads the Party’s six outstanding qualities through the lens of dialectical and historical materialism, and emphasises the mass line and the Party’s vigilance against detachment from the people.

105 years of the Communist Party of China – true to its principles, firm in its course

The 1st of July 2026, marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. To mark the occasion, we are pleased to publish this reflection by Oliver Vargas, a British-Bolivian current affairs commentator working for CGTN in Beijing, written from Yan’an – the revolutionary base where the Long March ended and where the Party made its headquarters through the most decisive years of war and revolution.

Vargas argues that the revolutionary sites of Yan’an are best understood as global heritage sites of the international workers’ movement, whose lessons belong to the peoples of Latin America and the wider Global South. He locates the secret of the Party’s enduring vitality in its tradition of rigorous self-governance and self-reform – a habit written into its DNA since 1921 and raised by Xi Jinping into a systematic doctrine – bound together with its unbroken bond with the people.

Wang Yi sets out China’s global vision at UN

China held the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in May, 2026. In that capacity, it called a high-level meeting on May 26. The theme of this meeting was ‘Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centred International System’. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, travelled to New York to chair the meeting. He also attended the meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance at the UN headquarters in New York on May 28 and held a considerable number of bilateral meetings, particularly with his counterparts who had also travelled to New York to attend the meetings. Prior to returning home, Wang also visited Canada, May 28-30.

In his remarks to the high-level meeting held on May 26, Wang Yi said that the international situation is undergoing the most complex and profound changes since the end of World War II. The giant ship of human civilisation is sailing into dangerous waters, and world peace and development are at a crossroads. The challenges confronting us are testing the international community’s commitment to safeguarding peace, its resolve to stand up for justice, and its courage to make bold reforms. Members must stand united and act together to defend, revitalise and strengthen the UN.

He advanced a number of proposals in this regard:

Reinvigorating the UN Charter for stronger leadership. The root cause of the chaos in today’s world is not that the Charter’s spirit is outdated, but that the international order and the basic norms governing international relations, both set out in the Charter, are not being effectively upheld and observed. Members must uphold sovereign equality, oppose interference in internal affairs; uphold the peaceful settlement of disputes, oppose the use of force; uphold the victorious outcomes of World War II, oppose glorifying the history of aggression. Major countries, in particular, have the responsibility to lead by example in following the rule of law and the right path, and should not practice double standards, exceptionalism or selective application.
Reinvigorating the authority of the Security Council for greater ability to act. What comes with Security Council membership is not privileges, but responsibilities. Members should rise above the narrow national interests and use international public goods responsibly. Any unilateral military action that circumvents the Council’s mandate is unacceptable, and any unilateral sanction that exceeds the Council’s resolutions lacks legitimacy.
Reinvigorating global development cooperation for stronger mobilisation. As the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is woefully behind schedule, the UN needs to vigorously coordinate global actions and fully mobilise global resources. It is important to solidify the pillar of development, strengthen the development system, provide countries of the Global South with more funding, technological and intellectual support in key areas such as poverty reduction, and urge developed countries to deliver on their development financing pledges. It is imperative to earnestly increase the representation and say of developing countries at the IMF and the World Bank. China supports the UN in strengthening dialogue with BRICS countries, the G20, the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, for a universally beneficial and balanced global economic and financial governance system.
Reinvigorating the global governance platform for stronger execution capacity. Faced with emerging threats and challenges, no country can stay unaffected. A united response is the only way forward. Members should strengthen the sense of a community with a shared future for humanity, replace coercion with consultation, zero-sum with win-win, and small circles with greater unity.
Reinvigorating the effectiveness of the UN system for stronger vitality. Member states should fulfill their financial obligations with real actions, support the UN in performing its mandate, and steadily contribute to the cause of the UN, rather than willfully withdraw from treaties and organisations, still less establish alternatives.

Wang Yi stressed that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the UN. For 55 years, as a permanent member of the Security Council, China has taken an active part in the UN cause. From this historic point onward, China will continue to uphold principles and follow the path of justice. Together with all countries, China will pursue greater unity under the banner of multilateralism, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and move toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Following the meeting Wang Yi briefed the press.

He explained that the meeting was proposed by China in its capacity as the rotating President of the Security Council. He pointed out that in recent times, the purposes of the UN Charter have been disregarded, the basic norms governing international relations have been undermined, and world peace and security are in jeopardy. At this critical juncture, the Security Council must step forward and shoulder its responsibilities.

It was widely agreed that the UN Charter has not become outdated and remains the cornerstone of the international order. The centrality of the UN must be strengthened, not weakened. As none of us wants to see international relations slide back to the law of the jungle, we need to uphold the same system, the U.N.-centered international system, and observe the same set of rules – the basic norms governing international relations based on the Charter.

It was also widely agreed that the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable, and that the domination of international affairs by one or a few countries no longer corresponds to the trend of the times. We should firmly follow the path of multilateralism, do our utmost to safeguard unity, oppose division, seek cooperation, reject confrontation, and jointly inject much-needed stability and certainty into the world.

The view that current global governance has visibly fallen behind and needs to be reformed and improved in keeping with the times was also widely shared. Global governance should reflect the aspirations of all countries in a more balanced way and ensure equal participation and shared benefits for all. In particular, it is important to increase the representation and voice of the Global South and jointly build a more just and equitable global governance system.

Wang also pointed out that to reinvigorate the UN, the Security Council must first be reinvigorated. To achieve this goal, he stressed the following:

All Security Council members must regard the maintenance of peace as their shared responsibility, observe the Charter, uphold justice, refrain from pursuing narrow self-interest, and avoid bloc confrontation.
The representation and voice of developing countries and small and medium-sized states should be increased through reform, in particular by addressing the historical injustice faced by Africa.
The objectivity, fairness, and inclusiveness of Security Council proposals should be enhanced, and the five permanent members, in particular, should play an exemplary role in this regard.
The international community should jointly oppose all unilateral acts that bypass the Security Council, so that unilateral bullying finds no support and no legitimacy.

In his keynote speech to the May 28 meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance, Wang Yi said that the current international situation is marked by intertwined changes and turbulence. Countries are calling for fairness and justice, longing for solidarity and cooperation, and aspiring to peace and stability. Against this backdrop, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative last September, emphasising five core concepts: sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred approach, and real actions. In less than a year, the initiative has received support and response from nearly 160 countries and international organisations. The Group of Friends of Global Governance has been successively established in New York, Geneva and Vienna, with membership reaching over 60 countries. Guided by the spirit of equality and mutual respect, members have held extensive discussions and reached consensus on five key points including advancing greater democracy in international relations, upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguarding the central role of the United Nations, narrowing the North-South divide, and addressing the most pressing challenges.

He stressed that reforming and improving global governance is a historic mission for this generation and said that China proposes the following nine reform directions:

Promoting UN reform for greater efficiency. The purpose of reform is to enhance the United Nations, not weaken it. UN reform should be led by member states and carried out in a fair, inclusive and transparent manner. Member states should be urged to fulfill their financial obligations, and budget management and fiscal accountability should be strengthened.
Enhancing the authority and capacity of the Security Council. The voice of developing countries and the vast number of small and medium-sized countries should be strengthened, and the historical injustice faced by Africa should be addressed as a priority. Unilateral actions and sanctions that bypass the Security Council should be opposed.
Adapting peacekeeping operations to the demands of the times. The three principles of peacekeeping should be upheld and improved, and peacekeeping operations should be better mandated and empowered. The United Nations should be supported in strengthening coordination with regional organisations such as the African Union and the League of Arab States, so as to build a combined force for mediation on regional hotspot issues.
Building international consensus on accelerating development. Development should be pushed back to the centre of the UN agenda, and the post-2030 development agenda should be planned ahead. Developed countries should fulfill their commitments on development financing. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should be upheld, and a fair, reasonable and win-win global climate governance system should be built.
Steering global human rights governance in the right direction. The one-sided approach of placing human rights above sovereignty should be abandoned, and it should be made clear that it is the people of each country who judge and improve their own human rights.
Deepening reform of the economic and financial system. The shareholding review of the World Bank should be accelerated, and a meaningful adjustment of IMF quota shares should be achieved as soon as possible. The dispute settlement mechanism should be restored to normal operation, and World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules should be updated to keep pace with the times.
Establishing rules for artificial intelligence (AI) governance. A people-centred and AI-for-good approach should be upheld, and the United Nations should be supported in playing its role as the main channel. The digital divide should be prevented from widening, and guardrails should be set for military applications and governance of AI.
Strengthening governance in emerging domains such as cyberspace and outer space. The four principles of respecting cyber sovereignty, maintaining peace and security, promoting open cooperation and building good order should be upheld, and the United Nations should be supported in advancing global cyberspace and digital governance. Outer space should be used for peaceful purposes.
Promoting exchanges among civilisations and achieving inclusive mutual learning.

The meeting reached consensus on five key points:

All members support the democratisation of international relations. All countries, regardless of size, strength or wealth, have the right to choose their own social systems and development paths, and to participate, decide and benefit equally in global governance.
All members call for upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, ensuring the equal application of international law and international rules, and opposing double standards and coercion.
All members support safeguarding the central role of the United Nations, practicing multilateralism, strengthening multilateral mechanisms, and opposing unilateralism and power politics.
All members support reforming and improving global governance and narrowing the North-South divide to ensure that all countries share the benefits of development and that no country is left behind.
All members call for addressing the most pressing challenges facing the international community through concrete actions and practical results to ensure global governance meets the needs of the times and the people.

How China’s initiatives are paving a new path to a better world

The following article, originally published in Xinhua, provides an overview of the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping over the last five years – the Global Development Initiative (GDI, 2021), the Global Security Initiative (GSI, 2022), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI, 2023) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) – and discusses how these proposals link together to form a unified framework for building a community with a shared future for humanity, addressing, respectively, material development, peace and stability, cultural understanding, and institutional reform.

The article notes that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the initiatives as being “totally compatible with the UN Charter” and that they have attracted broad support from countries around the world, particularly the Global South.

The piece argues that systems of international cooperation are increasingly fractured by unilateralism, sanctions, protectionism and bloc confrontation, contrasting these trends with China’s emphasis on sovereign equality, dialogue and multilateralism. It highlights deepening global crises: development is in reverse in parts of the world, the poverty gap is widening, and security tensions are intensifying. The article states that progress toward the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals has stalled: only 35 percent of targets are on track, nearly half are moving too slowly, and 18 percent have regressed. It stresses worsening global inequalities, noting the poorest half of humanity holds only 2 percent of global wealth, billions face food insecurity exacerbated by conflicts, and climate-adaptation financing gaps are growing.

The article describes the GDI as a break from Western-dominated development models, emphasising China’s long-term planning combined with market dynamism. Projects funded by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund in Nepal and major infrastructure cooperation such as the China-Laos Railway are cited as examples of China “teaching a man to fish”: the Laos railway cut logistics costs by over 30 percent and created 100,000 jobs, while China-Africa Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centres increased crop yields by 30-60 percent and benefited over a million farmers. Meanwhile, China-Brazil clean-energy cooperation centres are extending power access to remote communities, linking development to ecological protection.

The Global Governance Initiative, which was announced in September this year, proposes a program of global governance reform rooted in respect for sovereign equality, international rule of law, genuine multilateralism, adherence to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and a people-centred focus on employment, education and healthcare. China is turning these ideas into practice by supporting reforms in multilateral institutions, expanding BRICS and SCO cooperation, promoting South-South platforms such as FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) and the China-CELAC Forum, and advancing new governance norms in data security, AI, and cross-border data flows. The article notes China’s increased funding to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, and highlights the creation of the International Organisation for Mediation headquartered in Hong Kong, established with more than 30 countries, as an example of security governance via law rather than force.

Australian communists learn from China’s experience in party building

The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) has said that it can learn from the Communist Party of China’s efforts to uproot corruption and bureaucracy and retain a good style of work based on the mass line.

In a recent interview with the Global Times newspaper, Vinnie Molina, National President of the CPA, was asked what lessons China’s “eight-point decision” provides for Marxist parties worldwide.

The eight-point decision is a set of rules first adopted by the CPC leadership in December 2012 to address chronic bureaucratic issues, including official privileges.

Spelled out in just over 600 words, it established rules for Party leaders governing research tours, meetings, documentation, and other official duties. It later expanded into a Party-wide initiative for all members to adopt its principles to improve governance conduct. After more than a decade of implementation, the decision has been hailed as a “game changer” in China’s governance.

In March 2025, the CPC launched a further Party-wide education campaign to implement the program.

Asked what provisions made the deepest impressions on him, Molina replied:

“To be a good Communist requires dedication and humility. I really admire the leadership style of Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially how he leads by example… The first regulation is crucial: ‘leaders must keep in close contact with the grassroots.’ Those who are in positions of responsibility must work hard to earn the people’s trust and never separate themselves from the people. Local knowledge and experience are vital for leadership on the national level.”

As the president of a Marxist-Leninist party, Molina sees the decision as inheriting and developing Marxist party-building doctrine:

“Friedrich Engels, in his ‘Rules of the Communist League (1847),’ recognised that if the working masses were to overcome capitalism, they would need to be highly organised. He also stressed the importance of responsibility to the community and having safeguards against the misuse of funds. It is easy to deviate from party discipline if we are not closely linked to the people. It is with the people that the Communist Parties test their leadership and policies.”

He added: “The CPC uses the method of criticism and self-criticism in party-building at all levels from the leadership to the rank and file to strengthen the unity of the organisation and its place in Chinese society. As Marxist-Leninist parties, we must reflect on the principles and methods of work and establish strict requirements to ensure both centralism and democracy are adhered to. We can only grow and thrive if we have cadres who are disciplined and understand the need for democratic centralism, self-discipline and leading by example.”

On the relations between Marxist parties worldwide, including between the CPA and CPC, Molina concludes:

“The exchanges between Communist Parties are vital to upholding our commitment to proletarian internationalism. By learning how each party applies universal principles to its specific context, we gain invaluable insights. The CPC’s decision of engaging with Marxist parties worldwide is not only correct but essential. We deeply value this dialogue and hope to see in-depth information sharing. ‘Workers of the world, unite’ is a phrase that rings true throughout history. To isolate ourselves from the world can lead to the withering of our movement – as seen in parts of the Western left, which have at times fallen prey to the imperialist propaganda. That is why we support greater opportunities for Marxist education exchanges, which can help smaller parties like the CPA train cadres capable of building a stronger communist presence.”