Q: The CPC used to admit members that were mostly
politically advanced farmers and workers, but since the beginning
of China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s, it has also
been welcoming members from outstanding elements of the new social
strata. Why is this? Will the change in composition affect the
nature of the CPC?
A: As it is commonly known, the CPC is the vanguard of the
Chinese working class. Since its founding in 1921, farmers and
workers have been the major social classes on which the Party is
based. However, the advanced nature of the CPC is not completely
determined by the family background and class origin of its
members, but by its straight adherence to the theories and programs
of Marxism-Leninism.
As the party in power in a country with a population of 1.3
billion, the CPC is not only expected to stick to its class nature,
but also to broaden its base in step with economic development and
social progress. Today, with the deepening of economic reform,
dramatic changes have taken place in China's socioeconomic
structure, composition of the national economy and employment
pattern. New social strata are emerging, such as the technical and
managerial professionals employed by foreign-invested companies,
founders and technical professionals of private hi-tech companies,
self-employed people, private business owners, personnel engaged in
intermediary agencies and freelancers. There is no lack of advanced
elements among them. Most of these people, cherishing a deep love
for the motherland and its people, and abiding by the Constitution
and laws, have actively participated in the great cause of building
socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is both necessary and
possible for the CPC to admit those among them who subscribe to the
Constitution and programs of the CPC, and who have proven to meet
the requirements for CPC membership through a long period of
tests.
We believe that admitting advanced elements from other social
strata will not change the nature of the Party because workers,
farmers, intellectuals, members of the armed forces and leading
officials still make up the backbone of the CPC, as the basic
components of the Party. Instead, it will further enhance the
Party's coherence and social influence.
As well, we should look at more than the class origin and
occupation of members to tell whether a party is a genuine workers'
party. Over a long period of time, farmers constituted the majority
in the CPC, while some Party members were from social strata other
than the working class. Despite this, adhering to Marxist theories
and programs, the CPC has attached great importance to its
ideological development. Therefore the vanguard nature of the CPC
has not changed, nor has the advanced character of the Party.
Adhering to the nature of the vanguard of the Chinese working class
does not necessarily mean rejecting the advanced elements from
other social strata. Maintaining a vanguard nature while admitting
other outstanding elements need not be contradictory goals --
instead, they can be combined.
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Shao Yaoxia (center), Associate Engineer
in Chief of the 17th Bureau of the China Railway Construction Corp.
discusses construction plans with her colleagues. Due to her
excellent work performance, Shao was admitted into the Communist
Party of China on the construction site of the Qinghai-Tibet
Railway on June 23, 2003.