Deepen the reform of party and state institutions

Promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity*

Xi Jinping

Deepening the reform of the party and state institutions is an important measure to implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and a centralized deployment to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The purpose of continuing to promote the reform of party and state institutions is to promote the party's leadership over socialist modernization to be more scientific in institutional setup, more optimized in functional allocation, more perfect in institutional mechanisms, and more efficient in operation and management. The reform of party and state institutions is a complex and systematic project, which cannot be achieved overnight, nor will it be done once and for all; it is necessary to constantly adjust and optimize the functional system of party and state institutions in accordance with new missions and tasks, new strategic arrangements, and new work needs, so as to better meet the needs of the development of the cause of the party and the state.

This institutional reform was promoted on the basis of the systematic and holistic restructuring of the functions of the party and state institutions since the Third Plenary Session of the 5th CPC Central Committee, and at the same time it was studied and planned in the context of the <>th CPC National Congress making strategic arrangements for the development of the cause of the party and the country in the next five years or even longer. We must adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, adapt to the requirements of promoting the overall layout of the "five-in-one" and the "four comprehensive" strategic layout in a coordinated manner, meet the needs of building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development, adhere to the problem orientation, coordinate the organs of the Party Central Committee, the National People's Congress, the State Council, and the CPPCC National Committee, coordinate the central and local governments, make full use of the favorable conditions in all aspects, fully consider various risks and challenges, and firmly promote the adjustment of institutional responsibilities in some key areas.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, an important purpose of deepening the reform of the party and state institutions has been to uphold and strengthen the party's comprehensive leadership, and to implement the strengthening of the party's comprehensive leadership in all fields, aspects and links in terms of institutional responsibilities. The purpose of this institutional reform, the establishment of a new decision-making and deliberation coordination organ of the Party Central Committee, the establishment of new functional departments and offices of the Party Central Committee, and the establishment of new organs dispatched by the Party Central Committee in important fields is aimed at giving play to our strong points, making up for our shortcomings, and strengthening our centralized and unified leadership over major work. The functional departments, offices and dispatched organs of the Party Central Committee should take the lead in adhering to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, take the lead in implementing the Party's line, principles and policies, base themselves on their responsibilities and positioning, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and play a better role.

At the same time, we have made relatively reasonable designs and arrangements for institutional setup and responsibility allocation in terms of financial management system, science and technology management system, social management system, data management system, intellectual property management system, Hong Kong and Macao work system, "three rural areas" work system, and elderly work system. These adjustments are solutions proposed on the basis of analyzing the deep-seated contradictions and problems we face. In the next step, the key is to benchmark the duties and tasks entrusted by the Party Central Committee, earnestly change functions, methods, and work styles, and perform duties and responsibilities efficiently.

All regions and departments should consciously think and act under the overall situation to ensure that the implementation of the institutional reform plan is not discounted, deformed, or out of style, especially in strict accordance with the institutional reform plan to formulate and implement the department's "three determinations" regulations. The "three determinations" stipulations are the basic basis for internal party regulations and departments to perform their duties, and the power lies with the party central committee. After the "three determinations" stipulate that after the approval of the Party Central Committee, departments must strictly perform their duties and carry out work in accordance with this, and take high-level ability to perform their duties and high-quality work performance as an important criterion for testing the effectiveness of institutional reform.

It is of great importance to do a good job in the organization and implementation of institutional reform. It is necessary to continue to make good use of the valuable experience of upholding the party's comprehensive leadership over institutional reform, persisting in not establishing or breaking the ground, persisting in promoting the optimization, coordination, and efficiency of institutional functions, persisting in playing a game of chess between the central and local authorities, persisting in integrating reform with the rule of law, and persisting in running ideological and political work through the entire process of reform, grasping the key points and key points, doing the work in depth and detail, and promoting the organization and implementation of institutional reform in an organized, step-by-step, and disciplined manner.

First, it is necessary to intensify unification. Under the leadership of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Committee for Comprehensively Deepening Reform takes the lead in grasping the overall situation, strengthening overall coordination, and establishing a coordination mechanism. The Party Central Committee, the National People's Congress, the State Council, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are responsible for the implementation of institutional reform in their respective systems, and the reform of local institutions is under the unified leadership of provincial-level party committees. The leading comrades in charge of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council are the first responsible persons for the institutional reform work in their respective areas, and they should take the lead in implementing the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, jointly study and refine the implementation plans with the leading bodies of the reform-related departments under their charge, and do a good job in key links such as mobilization and deployment, heart-to-heart talks, transfer to subordinate organizations, and functional adjustment. The General Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Editorial Office of the CPC Central Committee, the General Office of the State Council and other departments should also coordinate relevant work according to their respective responsibilities and division of labor.

Second, we must adhere to a stable tone. This institutional reform involves a large number of departments and touches on deeper issues, and it is necessary to plan and then move. The leadership group of the newly formed department should be equipped in place as soon as possible, familiarize itself with the responsibilities and task requirements of the department as soon as possible, and follow the order stipulated by the "three determinations" of first transferring to subordinates and then making "three determinations", and pay close attention to the establishment of institutions, complete personnel, and centralized office work to ensure a smooth transition, orderly transfer and seamless connection. For reform tasks involving a wide range of areas and complex situations, it is necessary to seriously study and formulate special reform plans on the basis of the top-level design made by the Party Central Committee, refine relevant policies and measures, and organize implementation after submitting them for approval according to procedures. The reform of central and local institutions should be organically connected and orderly promoted in work deployment and organizational implementation. Reform tasks at the central level should be completed by the end of 2023, and reform tasks at the local level should be completed by the end of 2024.

Third, we must do a good job in people's work. It is necessary to guide the broad masses of party members and cadres to stress politics, take into account the overall situation, abide by the rules, correctly deal with the adjustment of the pattern of interests and the advancement and retreat of individuals, actively support reform, consciously obey organizational arrangements, and ensure that there is no confusion in thinking, continuous work, no dispersion of the contingent, and no loss of motivation.

Fourth, strict discipline should be enforced. Departments involved in organizational changes and adjustment of responsibilities should consciously obey the overall situation, ensure that institutions, responsibilities, personnel, etc. are adjusted in a timely manner as required, and do not allow slackness and delay, let alone make flexible choices. It is strictly forbidden for higher-level departments to interfere in the setup and establishment of lower-level institutions, strictly prohibit the sudden promotion of cadres, strictly enforce financial and economic discipline, and resolutely prevent the loss of state-owned assets. It is necessary to strengthen supervision and accountability for discipline enforcement, seriously investigate and deal with violations of discipline and regulations in institutional reform work, and seriously pursue the responsibility of relevant personnel.

Fifth, it is necessary to have a basis in law. Where it is necessary to enact, amend, or abolish laws on the track of the rule of law, the principal responsible unit should take the initiative to connect with the legislative body. Legislative bodies should make overall plans for relevant legislation, reform, repeal and interpretation work.

In addition to the "Plan for the Reform of Party and State Institutions" deliberated at this plenary session, the Party Central Committee has also studied and deployed the optimization and adjustment of the relevant deliberative and coordinating organs of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, which should be implemented and implemented as one.

※This is part of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Second Plenary Session of the 2023th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on February 2, 28.