Why and How the CPC Works in China

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Editor Notes:

The international community now views China and the Communist Party of China (CPC) with increasing respect because of a series of important and symbolic events – from the "truly exceptional" Beijing Olympic Games to the fast economic growth obtained even against the backdrop of the international financial crisis. "China Model," "China Road" and "China Experience" have become hot topics of discussion both at home and abroad.

A book that answers 13 questions about how the Communist Party of China (CPC) works in China and why the Party has made great achievements in the past decades has been recently published by the Beijing-based New World Press.

The book, named Why and How the CPC Works in China, puts forward a new way of introducing China and the CPC to the world.

Voices on the Book

"The book is not a theoretical work in the traditional sense, nor an ordinary book on the history of the CPC, but an attempt to combine both organically. It is hoped that this book will increase the readers' understanding of the CPC through reviewing the history, achievements and experience of the Party in revolution and ruling the country."
-- Xie Chuntao, the author of the book and a professor with the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC

"This book records the whole process from the foundation of the People's Republic of China to the modern construction of the country. For many people in other countries, who have misunderstandings about the CPC, this book is definitely a must read."
-- Zhao Qizheng, the spokesman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

"This book is an important example of what China brings to the book fair every year,"
-- Claudia Kaiser, Vice President of the Frankfurt Buchmesse

"In order to deal with China, you have to understand the CPC, and in order to understand the CPC, you have to read this book."
-- Huang Yongjun, President of New Classic Press (UK)

"There are still many misconceptions about China that this book aims to overcome. An important point is that the book openly discusses the past mistakes of the CPC, including the issue of corruption. This is a big step forward."
-- Greg Jones, an exhibitor with a Chinese publishing company at the Frankfurt Buchmesse

"The media still often make the mistake of writing stories that are not based enough on fact. It is necessary to remember how far China has come in a very short space of time."
-- Gerhard Friedemann, who has worked in China in the energy field

The Book in the Spotlight on the Frankfurt Book Fair


Speech at the Launching Ceremony of Why and How the CPC Works in China	Reading China: CIPG attends Frankfurt Book Fair	CIPG launches Why and How the CPC Works in China in Frankfurt	Speech at the Books Offering Ceremony of Why and How the CPC Works in China

The following are some selected parts of the book.

Preface: Solving the Puzzles about the CPC

The international community now views China and the Communist Party of China (CPC) with increasing respect because of a series of important and symbolic events – from the "truly exceptional" Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Exposition that attracted world attention to the fast economic growth obtained even against the backdrop of the international financial crisis. More>>

Chapter 1: Why Was the CPC Capable of Establishing a New China?

On October 1, 1949 the People's Republic of China was founded. It was only three years and three months after the Chinese Civil War (1946-1949) between the KMT and the CPC broke out. When the war began, none of the CPC, the KMT, the United States, the Soviet Union and other countries expected that the end would come so fast, because the CPC was much weaker than the KMT. More>>
The "two worlds" of a country
Establishment of a multi-party coalition government
Fanshen
Loss of trust
Striking contrast between the KMT and the CPC

Chapter 2: How Was the CPC Able to Clear up the Mess Left Behind by the KMT?

On October 1, 1949 the People's Republic of China was founded. The whole world was watching the New China, guessing whether it would be able to consolidate its position or not. This was not unreasonable. Although an independent and unified democratic republic where the people were the masters had been established, it was still facing very serious challenges, the focus of which was no longer a military problem, but a difficult economic problem which was comparatively more complex and difficult to solve. More>>
War-torn economy
Stabilization of prices and unification of finance and economy
"Do not hit out in all directions"
Land reform and economic development
Two different worlds

Chapter 3: How Did the CPC Keep the People's Support Despite Its Mistakes?

The CPC not only has experience in leading the Chinese revolution, construction and reform, but also has learned lessons from its past serious mistakes, which caused great losses to the party, state and nation. The serious mistakes mainly refer to those committed during the period from 1957 to 1976, when the Cultural Revolution ended. More>>
Serious departure of effect from motive
Important achievements made during the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution
Leaders sharing weal and woe with the masses
Correct handling of mistakes

Chapter 4: How Did the CPC Maintain Power When the Eastern Bloc Communist Parties Fell?

On December 25, 1991 the red hammer-and-sickle flag that had been flying over the Kremlin for more than 70 years was quietly lowered, and the tricolor flag that symbolized Russia was raised, marking the demise of the Soviet Union, the world's first socialist country, founded by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and governed by the Soviet Communist Party. More>>
Exploring China's own path of development
Reform and opening up changed China's destiny
Combining reform and development with stability
"The key is to do a good job inside our Communist Party"

Chapter 5: Why Could the CPC Solve the Problem of Feeding 1.3 Billion People

In his article under the controversial title "Who Will Feed China? Wake-Up Call for a Small Planet" published in 1994, Lester R. Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, pointed out that food security is the most severe challenge confronted by mankind. According to Brown, by 2030 the Chinese population will have reached 1.6 billion, which will lead to a sharp increase in the demand for food. More>>
Food is the lifeline of the Chinese people
Last batch of UN food aid for China
Outstanding contributions of Yuan Longping
Food security remains a problem