Party officials, lawmakers and media have called for unwavering conformity with top leader Xi Jinping, ahead of the country"s major political meetings, known collectively as the "two sessions." Faithfulness to the core leadership of the Party is characterized by staunch loyalty to "the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, [its] General Secretary Xi Jinping as well as to Party theories, guidelines, principles and policies," according to a recent commentary published by Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. It underscored that the "consciousnesses of the ideology, the whole, the core and the line" must be promoted. This concept, dubbed "the four consciousnesses," was raised earlier this year at a high-level meeting of the CPC Central Committee. "The fundamental principle of strengthening consciousness is to follow the ideology, political thinking and deeds of the CPC Central Committee, with Xi as general secretary," Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at the spring semester opening ceremony for the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. On the day that the Qiushi article was published, Liu remarked that "conforming with "the line" is a significant political principle," -- it is where the Party"s strength and advantages lie. The remarks were made ahead of the annual sessions of the National Committee of Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China"s top political advisory body, and the National People"s Congress (NPC), China"s top legislature. The two sessions are the most important political events in China, at which political and economic development measures are discussed and key policies adopted, including the new Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). Adherence to the Party line must feature across all processes and aspects of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Qiushi article said. All of society must be united by a series of important speeches by Xi on the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, according to the article. The Qiushi article also reflected on the important role the Party"s leadership played in leading various development strategies, such as the "Four Comprehensives," the overarching strategy for long-term development. Another strategy -- the five development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing -- has guided development policy since it was first raised at a key CPC meeting in October. Both the Four Comprehensives and the five development concepts were developed by Xi and his team. Xie Chuntao, a professor with the CPC Central Committee Party School, said that the CPC had also launched a nationwide campaign among its 87 million members, calling on them "to study the Party code of conduct, to study a series of remarks made by Xi, and to be qualified Party members." "To study, to accept and to resolutely implement, that is the way China will build a moderately prosperous society by 2020," he said. Over the past three years, Xi"s governance theories have been used as a roadmap for the country"s development, as the world’s second largest economy was in dire need of structured methodologies to face its reform test. China is facing slower growth and trying to shift its economy from a focus on high growth to a more sustainable framework. Xi advocates supply-side structural reform, which will advance economic restructuring by reducing ineffective and low-end supply, and boost productivity by expanding medium-to-high-end supply. Experts say supply-side reform will be a distinctive feature of China"s economic policies in 2016 and beyond. Xi"s thoughts go far beyond the economic field. His anti-corruption campaign, to strengthen the 87-million-strong CPC, has drawn worldwide attention. The punishment of senior officials including Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai and Ling Jihua for corruption has shown Xi is determined to make the Party cleaner, media have said. Xi also launched China"s biggest military reform in decades to make the People"s Liberation Army a stronger and more effective fighting force that maintains absolute loyalty to the Party. In the diplomatic sphere, Xi has been advocating a global community of shared future. A series of initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank serve to highlight China"s image as a responsible and active player in global development. Xi"s governance thoughts have been well received overseas, too. "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," is available in more than 100 countries. Zhang Zhao"an, an NPC deputy from Shanghai Municipality, said allegiance to Xi is a necessity to reach consensus among the entire nation to promote reform and opening-up. "While we are handling the complex economic situation at home and abroad, we cannot afford to lose direction or force. We must line up with the CPC Central Committee and Xi as the core," said Zhang, vice director of economic research center under Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Zhu Yilong, a CPPCC National Committee member and vice chair of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, said the success of the world"s second largest economy will not come easily. Stability and people"s unified thinking are imperative to China"s development. "Xi has won the support of the people," he said. "The time is ripe for raising the "four consciousnesses"." |
