Founded in July 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) today
has 70.8 million members.
From 1921 to 1949, the CPC led the Chinese people in their
arduous struggle that finally brought about the overthrow of the
rule of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism and the
establishment of the People's Republic of China. After the founding
of the PRC, the CPC led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in
defending China's independence and security, successfully
completing the transition from new democracy to socialism, and
carrying out systematic large-scale socialist construction,
achieving economic and cultural progress unparalleled in Chinese
history.
In 1956, after the transformation from private to social
ownership of the means of production was largely completed, the
CPC's lack of experience led to some mistakes in leading the
process of constructing socialism. Later, the CPC made the serious,
nationwide mistake of launching the "Cultural Revolution"
(1966-1976).
The "Cultural Revolution" ended in October 1976, at which
turning point China entered a new historic era of development.
Following the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Party Central
Committee at the end of 1978, the country embarked on the biggest
change in the history of New China. From 1979, the CPC began to
carry out the reform and opening-up policy initiated by Deng
Xiaoping. In the more than two decades since the initiation of the
reform and opening-up, China's economic and social development has
been crowned with remarkable success and the country has taken on a
new look. This has been the best period and most materially
beneficial period for the Chinese people since the founding of the
PRC.???
The central organs of the CPC include the Party national
congress, the Central Committee, the Central Political Bureau, the
Political Bureau's Standing Committee, the Central Secretariat, the
Central Military Commission and the Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection. The Party national congress is held once
every five years. When the national congress is not in session, the
Central Committee is the highest leading organ of the CPC. The
current General Secretary is Hu Jintao.?