The13thNational Congress of the Chinese Communist Partywas held in theGreat Hall of the Peoplein Beijing from 25 October to 1 November 1987. It was preceded by the12th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Partyand was succeeded by the14th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.[1]It was attended by 1,936 delegates and 61 'specially invited' delegates representing more than 46 millions of party members and included 200 foreign journalists who were invited to attend the opening and closing ceremonies.[2][3]In addition, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of theNational People's Congressand theCPPCC National Committee,representatives from the National Federation of industry and commerce, non-party people, ethnic minorities and religious people were invited to this congress as audience.
 The flag of the Chinese Communist Party before 1996 | |
| Date | 25 October–1 November 1987 (7 days) |
|---|---|
| Location | Great Hall of the People,Beijing, China |
| Participants | 1,936 delegates |
| Outcome | The election of the13th Central Committeeand the13th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection |
| 13th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | Trung Quốc Đảng Cộng Sản thứ 13 thứ cả nước đại biểu đại hội | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | Trung Quốc Đảng Cộng Sản thứ 13 thứ cả nước đại biểu đại hội | ||||||
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| Abbreviation | |||||||
| Chinese | Mười ba đại | ||||||
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The congress reaffirmed the correctness of the policy of reforms and the Open Door that was adopted during theThird Plenum of the 11th Congressin December 1978. It also saw the rejuvenation of the party leadership as veterans from theLong Marchretired and was replaced by younger and better educatedtechnocrats.[2]
Agenda
editThe agenda for the Congress was as follows:
(1) To review and adopt the report of the12th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
(2) To review the report made by the Advisory Committee of theCentral Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
(3)To review the report made by Commission of Discipline Inspection of the Central Committee.
(4) To adopt the recommend amendments to theConstitution of the Chinese Communist Party.
(5) Election of the13th CCP Central Committee,the CCP Central Committee Advisory Committee and the CCP Central Committee for Discipline Inspection Commission.[1]
Significance of the Congress
editPersonnel change
editDeng Xiaopingpersonally orchestrated the retirement of more than 90 party elders who were critics of market-oriented reforms adopted in the process of hisFour Modernizations.[4]The elders includedPeng Chen,chairman of theStanding Committee of the National People's Congress;Chen Yun,leading party economist;Hu Qiaomu,harsh critic of bourgeois liberalism andLi Xiannian,thePresident of the PRC.Deng himself relinquished all of his positions except his chairmanship of theMilitary Commissionthrough a special party constitutional amendment.[2]
Zhao Ziyangwas arranged to become the first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission withYang Shangkunas its permanent vice-chairman.[5]The new 285 member Central Committee consisted of 175 regulars and 110 alternate members. Around 150 aged leaders (43%) of the previous 348 members Central Committee failed to win reelection.Hua Guofengwas noted to have retained his membership in the central committee. Average age of the new ruling was 55.2 years, down from the 59.1 of its predecessor. 87 of the full and alternate members were new, and 209 (73%) of all Central Committee members were college educated.[6]
ThePolitburo,with 17 regulars and 1 alternate member, was also packed with younger supporters of reform. Although nine of the 20 previous members retired, former General SecretaryHu Yaobangalong with Vice-PremiersWan LiandTian Jiyunretained their memberships. The Standing Committee saw the election ofZhao Ziyang,Li Peng,Qiao Shi,Hu QiliandYao Yilin.
Although most elders had relinquished their official positions in the party, their influence did not falter. Their willingness to retire was probably made with the understanding that their favorite choice, Li Peng, would be appointed to the Politburo Standing Committee as well as to the future premiership.[2]Barely three weeks after the close of congress, Li was named acting premier, and later in the National People's Congress in March 1988, confirmed as premier.[7]
The 13th National Congress was notable because women were entirely absent from the highest levels of the party, leader such as Zhao Ziyang strongly opposed the participation of women in the political process.[8]
The primary stage of socialism
editIn his speech, Zhao Ziyang stated that "Reform is the only process through which China can be revitalized. It is a process which is irreversible and which accords with the will of the people and the general trend of events."[1]Buildingsocialism with Chinese features,Zhao announced, was an experiment that could not possibly have been foreseen by 19th-century European theorists. The central task of proclaiming market reforms was due to the fact of the widespread poverty and backwardness that existed throughout China.
The Chinese leadership reconciled to the idea that market mechanisms and central planning were both "neutral means and methods that do not determine the basic economic system of a society".[9]Hence an adoption of capitalist techniques and management skills in a mixed economy through multi-ownership system was permissible at that stage.[citation needed]
Overall significance
editThe 13th Party Congress was remarkable in several ways. It launched China into accelerated economic development, ensuring a leadership succession as elder party members voluntarily resigned in favor of younger leaders, and fitting Marxism into "a new reality to fit reality" rather than bending "reality to theory".[10]
However concerns remains over several issues. First, the resignation of party elders did not mean that reformers could get along with reforms right away since these elders still held immense influence over the party. Secondly, Deng has arranged Zhao to be the First Vice-Chairman of theCentral Military Commissionwithout the assurance that he would succeed Deng as the leader of China. Third, accelerated economic development and greater opening for foreign influences would revive old questions of "spiritual pollution", "bourgeois liberalization," and the perennial issue of "Chinese essence vs. foreign value." Fourth, separation of party functions from the government and economic enterprises would affect the vested interests of millions. Lastly, the supremacy of theFour Cardinal Principlesprohibited any rule other than the CCP and any freedom beyond what was permitted by the party.[2]
Overall, the Congress was a distinct success as it represented a consensus among disparate leaders to move the country forward economically but democracy, pluralism and human rights were issues were left unresolved.[2]
References
edit- ^abc"Đảng Cộng Sản tin tức võng — tư liệu trung tâm — nhiều lần đảng đại sẽ".generexpo.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-11-08.Retrieved2016-11-07.
- ^abcdefHsu, Immanuel (2000).The Rise of Modern China(Sixth ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp.888–895.ISBN978-0-19-512504-7.
- ^"Trung Quốc Đảng Cộng Sản thứ 13 thứ cả nước đại biểu đại hội".gov.cn.Retrieved2024-10-15.
- ^"Trung Quốc Đảng Cộng Sản tin tức, xã luận: Đi hướng tương lai tân khởi điểm".people.cn.Archived fromthe originalon 2020-04-30.Retrieved2016-11-08.
- ^Reaves, Joseph A. (3 November 1987)."China begins new era under Zhao".Chicago Tribune.Retrieved7 December2020.
- ^"Beijing Review Reports".Beijing Review.30:16–22. November 1987.
- ^Hsu, Immanuel (22 March 1990).China without Mao: The Search for a New Order.Oxford University Press. p. 227.ISBN9780198022657.
- ^Judd, Ellen R. (2002).The Chinese Women's Movement.Private Collection: Stanford University Press. p. 175.ISBN0-8047-4406-8.
- ^David, Holly (24 October 1984)."New Leaders, Reforms to Be Weighed at Chinese Party Congress".Los Angeles Times Periodical.Retrieved9 November2016.
- ^Henry, Kissinger (25 October 1987). "China Now Changing Rules and Ruling Party".Los Angeles Times Periodical.