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.”
A fact sheet on the eight-point decision, issued by the Press Office of the CPC’s International Department, may be read here.
GT: Which provisions from the eight-point decision left the deepest impression on you? What philosophy do you believe they reflect in the CPC’s governance?
Molina: 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 eight-point decision responds to material conditions. It is essential that the decision be implemented by the leadership of the CPC to ensure discipline within the Party and hence its longevity, survival and rejuvenation. 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. Today, the CPC’s socialist governance reflects these core principles. We are seeing less corruption, a better work style, stricter conduct and more commitment on the local level. Socialism can only be achieved through grassroots, practical actions to tackle people’s problems and by gaining the support of the people.
GT: As president of a Marxist-Leninist party, how do you view the eight-point decision in terms of its inheritance and adaptation of Marxist party-building doctrine?
Molina: 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 organized. 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. In light of this, the eight-point decision is clearly a Marxist doctrine of party-building. The decision outlines important points that Marxist-Leninist parties can adopt and apply based on their own specific conditions. The role of leadership, the party and its officials, as well as how they are respected by party members and the general public, is a crucial factor in ensuring the successful implementation of the decisions adopted.
GT: You have noted that the CPC upholds the work style of “practicing self-criticism” in guiding the successive victories of the Chinese people. How do you interpret the spirit of “self-revolution” of the Party reflected in the implementation of the eight-point decision?
Molina: The eight-point decision has been correctly put as a self-revolution. 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 organization 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.
GT: The CPC is the world’s largest Marxist ruling party, with over 100 million members. In light of the eight-point decision, what do you believe is the key advantage of the CPC’s leadership?
Molina: How does the CPC organize nearly 100 million members to steer society? The answer lies in its inseparable bond with the people. This is the cornerstone. With such a staggering size of the party, one might expect chaos. Yet, the CPC defies this logic: its vast scale brings not less, but more organizational direction. The Party achieves what is unattainable in disorganized capitalist systems with broken institutions and parties detached from the people. It shatters the myth that a larger size inevitably means greater disorganization, proving instead that its growth has fueled greater cohesion and effectiveness.
GT: You once remarked that “the experience of the CPC in the adaptation of Marxism to the complex circumstances of China is a vast library of knowledge studied throughout the world.” In your view, what insights and lessons can the conduct improvement embodied in the eight-point decision offer to political parties worldwide, especially Marxist parties?
Molina: We can learn from the CPC as an effective ruling Communist Party that has adapted the orthodox and classical conception of Marxism flexibly to the complex circumstances of Chinese society. Understanding Chinese society and how the theory has been tailored to these specific conditions offers valuable lessons. Marxist parties like ours can draw from the CPC’s experience in adapting Marxist theory to the evolving realities. For instance, leaders in the Marxist parties must be upstanding and respected members of their communities. We have to work with, not against, communities, earning the trust of the people, including those who are not politically engaged, and always addressing grassroots issues that truly matter – like safer streets, more accessible infrastructure and better transport. These are the concerns that matter to the Communists. We cannot think big without also thinking about the grassroots. This was the approach the CPA took in the past, and it will remain our central focus in the years ahead. Ultimately, we as Communists have to change people’s lives for the better.
GT: The CPC has forged fraternal ties with Marxist political parties worldwide including the CPA, maintaining sustained and in-depth exchanges of governance experiences. In your view, what significance do inter-party exchanges hold amid Western media biases? What are your expectations for future cooperation and exchange among global Marxist parties?
Molina: 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.
