Inclusion of Xi's thought highlight of amendment to CPC Constitution

BEIJING -- Among the latest revisions on the Constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the highlight was the inclusion of "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" in the amendment.

The amendment to the Constitution was approved at the 19th CPC National Congress, which took place from Oct. 18 to 24.

The amendment juxtaposed Xi's thought with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development as the guiding ideology for the CPC.

The People's Publishing House has published offprints of the revised Constitution of the CPC, which became available at Xinhua Bookstores across the country on Saturday.

Regarding the Party's achievements since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the inclusion of Xi's thought took place at the right time, an official from the secretariat of the 19th CPC National Congress told Xinhua.

Over the past five years, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the CPC has led the Chinese people from all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to "carry out a great struggle, develop a great project, advance a great cause, and realize a great dream," ushering in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In this case, "the theoretical and practical significance of Xi's thought has become more evident," and it has the wide acknowledgement and upholding from across the Party and the people, the official said.

Another key factor that paved the way for the inclusion was the adherence to the strict governance of the Party, which helped the Party gain and consolidate "crushing momentum" in its fight against corruption, and significantly improved the political ecology within the Party, leading to the consolidation of the social basis of the Party's leadership.

Therefore, the official said, the time and conditions were ripe for writing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the Party Constitution.

"General Secretary Xi Jinping showed the insight, judgment and strategic composure of a Marxist politician, theorist and strategist to have put forward a series of trail-blazing concepts, thoughts and strategies," the official said.

"They all played a decisive part in creating the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," the official said.

Apart from Xi's thought, a wide range of new ideas, thinking and strategies put forward by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, have been added to the Constitution, including giving play to the decisive role of market forces in resource allocation, advancing supply-side structural reform and enhancing the country's cultural soft power.

Congress delegates also agreed to write the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the Party Constitution, along with its path, theory and system.

In addition, the amendment included an assessment of the change in the "principal contradiction" facing Chinese society.

The CPC said the central contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved from "the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production" to "unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life."

"Advancing the guiding ideology of the CPC and pushing forward the cause of the Party and the country in the new era required revisions on the Constitution," the official said.