The system of people's congresses stands as the foundation of China’s political structure. Born of Chinese soil, it represents a distinctive and original form of political organization—an extraordinary innovation in the annals of human political civilization.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the Party Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, has, in response to the evolving historical context, comprehensively reinforced the Party’s leadership over the work of the people’s congresses. It has vigorously promoted whole-process people’s democracy, actively advanced the modernization of the system and capacity for national governance, and refined the institutional mechanisms through which the people run the country. The Constitution has been amended in line with the times, and for the first time in Party history, a Central Conference on the Work of People’s Congresses was convened. Furthermore, the organizational and procedural systems of the people’s congresses have been improved, leading to achievements of historic significance.

With a strategic vision rooted in upholding and improving the Party’s leadership and consolidating the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently integrated the fundamental principles of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and its rich cultural heritage. He has deeply grasped the intrinsic laws governing the development of socialist democracy, systematically distilled the Party’s experience in advancing socialist democracy, and persistently pursued theoretical and practical innovation in developing the system of people’s congresses. Through these efforts, he has put forward a series of new concepts, ideas, and directives, thereby forming a body of important thought on upholding and improving the system of people’s congresses—an intellectual pillar that provides fundamental guidance for ensuring the system’s sound implementation and vigorous development in the on the new journey in the New Era.

To facilitate a deeper understanding and more thorough implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on this vital subject among officials and the broader public, we have compiled his relevant discourses into this volume, On Upholding and Improving the System of People’s Congresses. This collection comprises 37 of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s writings on the subject since the 18th CPC National Congress, several of which are being published here for the first time.

Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

November 2024