On the morning of November 1st, Song Tao, Minister the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), presided over a thematic meeting to focus on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. He stressed that we should take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guidance, thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and deeply understand and grasp the great significance of adhering to the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. We should also develop greater consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment; foster stronger confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and resolutely uphold the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. We should put into practice the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in all the work of IDCPC to achieve new progress in the Party’s diplomatic cause.

Song noted that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee is a meeting with groundbreaking and milestone significance held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and at the historical convergence point of the “two centenary goals”. General Secretary Xi’s important work report at the plenary session is insightful in prospects and rich in connotations. General Secretary Xi has comprehensively summarized, from a strategic and overall perspective, the important achievements of the Party, the military and the people of all ethnic groups in China under the leadership of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee after continually working with a pioneering and dauntless spirit, which is rather encouraging and inspiring.

Song also pointed out that The Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Some Major Issues Concerning How to Uphold and Improve the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advance the Modernization of China’s System and Capacity for Governance (hereafter referred to as the Decision) made on the plenary session has a clear-cut topic, an evident focus and powerful countermeasures, and it comprehensively responds to the major political issue of “what to be upheld and consolidated and what to be perfected and developed” in the national system and the national governance system in China. The important thoughts of General Secretary Xi’s governance of the country are full presented in the Decision, which embodies the extraordinary political strength and historical responsibilities of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core. The Decision focuses on the “two centenary goals” and on deepening reform in all areas, stays close to the prominent problems facing China’s current development, and systematically expounds the significant advantages of China’s state system and state governance system for the first time. And it makes plentiful new institutional arrangements in 13 aspects including upholding and improving the system of institutions for Party leadership as well as the system of institutions through which the people run the country. The Decision can provide a strong guarantee for China to successfully respond to various risk challenges and continuously win strategic initiatives. It is also the contribution of China’s wisdom and programs in establishing a better system for the exploration and construction of the human society, which will surely exert widespread international influence and far-reaching significance on the world.

Song emphasized that the IDCPC, as the central government directly responsible for the party’s diplomatic cause, shall regard the study and implementation of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee as a crucial political task in the current and future phase, with a high degree of political consciousness and ideological consciousness as well as the action consciousness to grasp the spirit expressed in the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping and in the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee so as to study and put it into implementation. We must earnestly enhance our understanding of the major achievements of the Party and the state since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and effectively focus on the overall goal of upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, advancing the national governance system and modernizing the governance capacity to raise institutional awareness and take the lead in maintaining the authority of the system. We must promote the national governance system and governance capacity as a link, tell the world the story of the Chinese system, actively promote the construction of a new-type political party relationship, and further play the political leading role of political party relations. It is necessary to deepen theoretical research, learn from the beneficial practices and experiences of other countries in governance system and governance capacity, and give full play to the role of the CPC Central Committee as an advisor and assistant. It is also necessary to further enhance the mission and responsibilities of the IDCPC as an institution directly under the CPC Central Committee, and make due contributions to upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.

All leaders of the IDCPC and the responsible officials of various bureaus were present at the meeting.

Enditem