Delivered: At the closing
ceremony of the 12th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on 11 September
1982.
First Published: In Beijing Red Flag
(红旗), in
Chinese, No. 18, 16 September 1982, pages 48-49.
Source of the translation: Foreign Broadcast
Information Service, China Report: Red Flag No. 18, 16 September 1982.
(JPRS 82356), 1 December 1982, pages 77-79. A publication of Joint
Publications Research Service, Arlington (VA), USA.
Transcription/HTML/Markup for marxists.org: January
2024.
Comrades:
The 12th national congress of our party has now successfully fulfilled its historic mission, thanks to the common effort of all the delegates.
This congress, after fully democratic discussions, has unanimously endorsed the report delivered by Comrade Hu Yaobang on behalf of the 11th Central Committee of the party and adopted a resolution to this effect. Applying the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, the report of the Central Committee sums up the great successes we have achieved in setting things to rights in all fields of endeavor in the past 6 years, particularly since the 3d Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, analyzes the current political and economic situation in our country and puts forth the tasks and principles for creating a new situation in all fields of socialist modernization. We believe that, by firmly advancing in the direction indicated by the 12th congress, the Chinese people, led by our party, will certainly win great new victories in the socialist cause.
After careful discussion by all the delegates, this congress has unanimously adopted the new constitution of the party, which has removed the "left" mistakes in the constitution adopted by the 11th congress and which inherits and develops the strong points of the constitutions adopted by the 7th and 8th congresses. The new constitution is a crystallization of the party's historical experience and collective wisdom, and a powerful weapon for building a stronger party, both ideologically and organizationally, in the new historical period. It should be pointed out that, while it has been relatively easy to formulate the new party constitution, it will not be as easy to implement it strictly throughout the party. We must carry on ideological education and organizational work in real earnest, resolutely rectify the party style and consolidate all party organizations as the constitution requires and fight against all words and actions that contravene the constitution, so that members of our party may truly act as good examples to the masses and that our party may truly become a strong leading core for the cause of socialist modernization. After full deliberations and democratic election at this congress a new Central Committee and also a Central Advisory Commission and a Central Commission for Discipline Inspection have come into being. Thus a major organizational guarantee is provided for the realization of the principles and tasks set forth by the 12th congress. The new Central Committee consists both of old and long-tested comrades and of a great number of younger comrades. They will assuredly work together in close unity and cooperation and make the new Central Committee an even stronger command headquarters than its predecessor. The newly formed Central Advisory Commission consists of many old comrades of high integrity and prestige. It will assuredly serve as a good political assistant and consultant to the Central Committee and contribute to the cause of the party by helping and guiding younger comrades and passing on experience to them. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, now elected by the national congress of the party, is entrusted with greater responsibilities than its predecessor. It will play an important role in ensuring implementation of the new party constitution, upholding party discipline and maintaining the communist purity of the party. Here, on behalf of the presidium of this congress, and the old comrades on it in particular, I would like to express our warm welcome to the young and middle-aged comrades who have been elected to the central leading organs. We hope that they will guard against conceit and impetuosity, be modest and prudent, study diligently, shoulder with courage the tasks assigned them by the party and achieve outstanding results in their work.
Comrades! How well our party will do its work in the 5 years between the present congress and the next will be a matter of key importance to the realization of the general task set for the new period. This congress has proposed that we should, in these 5 years, bring about a fundamental turn for the better in three spheres,nnamely, the financial and economic situation of our country, the standards of social conduct, and the style of our party. At the same time, we must work together with our compatriots in Taiwan, Xianggang (Hong Kong) and Aomen (Macao) and Chinese nationals residing abroad to promote the reunification of our motherland. And we must wage a common struggle with the people of all countries to safeguard world peace. These are great, solemn and arduous fighting tasks, and we must not in the least slacken our effort. As soon as this congress is over, we must bestir ourselves and intensively propagate the spirit of the congress throughout the party and among the people of all nationalities. We will organize all party members, Communist Youth League members, workers, peasants, intellectuals, Liberation Army commanders and fighters, cadres and all other patriotic citizens to conscientiously study the report of the Central Committee to this congress, the new party constitution, Comrade Deng Xiaoping's opening speech and the important speeches made by Comrades Yi Jianying and Chen Yun, so that the principles and tasks set forth by the congress will be made known to everybody and will strike root in the hearts of the people. In the meantime, we must, in the light of the specific conditions in different localities and departments, adopt practical and effective measures for the full realization of these principles and tasks.
Comrades! While striving to accomplish the various fighting tasks set by the 12th party congress, we must further strengthen the great unity of the whole party and of the people of all nationalities in our country. Our great socialist cause is advancing victoriously along the correct path of Marxism. We are convinced that, so long as we rally closely round the Central Committee, rouse ourselves and work assiduously, we shall be able to steer the great ship of our revolution and construction steadily toward our great goal.
Throughout the congress, all the comrades working for it, including the secretarial staff, those in charge of general affairs and those engaged in security, medical care and other daily services, in drafting and translating the documents and covering the congress, in communications and liaison services, and in printing the documents—all these comrades have been working hard day and night to help make the congress a success. People of the Beijing municipality have also made their contributions. Here, on behalf of the presidium of the congress, I would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to them.
Now, I declare the successful conclusion of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.