Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Thursday, July 02, 2015

Key link in democratic centralism?

This is one of those times when I wish I'd been there (and understood Chinese). President Xi obviously was pandering to the officials, but was he also giving them more leeway in economic development planning?

His remarks also are another reminder of the parallel organization and functions of the Party and the government. Can you identify the key statement of that concept?

Xi stresses CPC governance at county level

President Xi Jinping has called on secretaries of Communist Party of China (CPC) committees at county level to be loyal to the Party, take initiative in economic development and serve the people wholeheartedly.

President Xi and party secretaries

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday when meeting with 102 individuals selected from more than 2,800 county-level Party secretaries…

"When counties are governed, the world is at peace," Xi said, quoting an ancient Chinese saying. "In our Party's organizational structure and the country's regime structure, the county is a key part that links higher and lower levels as well as a significant foundation for economic development, people's livelihoods and social stability."…

"A county-level Party committee is a frontline headquarters for the CPC's governance, and a Party secretary is the commander in chief," Xi said, acknowledging the huge pressures placed on them.

He urged these officials to follow Party codes of conduct and adapt themselves to China's plateauing economic growth.

"County-level Party secretaries should be trailblazers for development... take hold of the reform drive and guide the people to contribute to social and economic development together," Xi said, underlining poverty relief work.

He also called on Party committees and organization departments to lend more support to grassroots Party officials…