The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on September 18 deliberated a draft amendment to the Party constitution at a meeting presided over by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. The following is an edited version of a report on September 19 by Xinhua News Agency about the meeting:

The Communist Party of China (CPC) will amend its constitution at the upcoming national congress in October.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on September 18 deliberated a draft amendment to the constitution at a meeting presided over by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Amending the constitution at the 19th CPC National Congress on the basis of the new situation and tasks would promote the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and Party building, said a statement issued after the meeting.

It said the amendment must include the key theories and strategic thought presented in a report to be delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress.

"The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts, thought and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experiences in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance," read the statement.

It also noted that the amendment should make the CPC more vigorous and stronger and enable it to keep a close connection to the people.

The draft amendment will be submitted to the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which will be held on October 11, for discussion.

The CPC constitution was last amended in 2012.

The meeting also reviewed the draft report by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress. The draft will be submitted to the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee for discussion.

"Wisdom should be pooled to draw up a report which conforms to the common wish shared by the Party and people of all ethnic groups, meets the requirements of socialist development with Chinese characteristics and adapts to the new situation and tasks for the work of the Party and the country," the statement said.

"The 19th CPC National Congress is a very important meeting to be held at a critical stage when China is striving to achieve a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, and at a critical time for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

It also said that the congress has a great responsibility to inspire and mobilize people to forge progress.

The statement said it is imperative to analyze the development trends of the world and China, take into account new requirements of the nation's development and new expectations from the people, and summarize the experience that the Party has gained from leading the people to advance the reform and opening up and the building of socialist modernization.

"People-oriented development should be implemented to solve the conspicuous problems faced by the country, and a strategic plan should be made to push forward the Party and country's goals to promote balanced economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress and the coordinated implementation of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy," the statement said.

The Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy refers to building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing law-based governance and strengthening Party self-governance.

The meeting reviewed a report on the implementation of the eight-point frugality code by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the code was introduced in 2012 and the Political Bureau's role in leading the Party to improve work styles.

It said that the eight-point rule has played an important role in safeguarding the Party's authority and tightening the flesh and blood ties between the Party and the people.

The meeting also asked the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and leading officials at all levels to take the lead in overcoming formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, saying that efforts should be made to address both the symptoms and root causes of such unwanted behaviors.

The meeting also studied a draft work report by the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to be submitted to the upcoming 19th CPC National Congress.

It called for upholding and strengthening the leadership of the Party, promoting clean governance, and deepening the anti-corruption battle to pave way for achieving the two centennial goals and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Copyedited by Bryan Michael Galvan

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