The 18th National Congress of the CPC

The 18th National Congress of the CPC——中共十八大

The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in Beijing on November 8-14, 2012.

2,268 full and 57 special delegates attended, representing 82 million CPC members nationwide. On behalf of the 17th CPC Central Committee, Ho Jintao delivered a report entitled “Firmly March on the Path of Social- ism with Chinese Characteritics and Strive to Complete the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects”.

The congress reviewed the work and achievements of the previous five years since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, established the historic position of the Scientific Outlook on Development, defined the basic requirements for comprehensively seizing a new victory fot socialism with Chinese characteristics, and set the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and deepening reform and way. It defined an overall Opening up in an all-around strategy to promote the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical Conditions and put forward cleat requirements to effectively improve Party building in an all-round way. The Constitution of the Communist Party of China (Amendment) was approved at the congress, which set the Scientific Outlook on Development as the long-term guiding ideology for the CPC.

The Central Committee, consisting of 205 members and 171 alternate members, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of 130 members were elected at the congress. Subsequently, at the First Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing Committee were elected, with Xi Jinping as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. At the same time Xi was appointed chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Wang Qishan's nomination as secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was approved.

The 18th National Congress of the CPC was one of great importance, being held as China prepared to enter the decisive stage of completing the building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.