CCDI Plenary Communique Highlights Xi Jinping Thought on Self-Revolution
Hi folks,
Earlier today, Xinhua published the communique following the third plenary session of the CCDI. The big political outcome from this session appears to be the establishment of a Xi Jinping Thought on Self-Revolution. You’ll read much more about it as you go further in my breakdown of the document.
Cheers,
Manoj
The work report presented by Li Xi during the session was titled: “In-depth study and implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution, and in-depth advancement of high-quality development of discipline inspection and supervision work on the new journey”. 全会由中央纪律检查委员会常务委员会主持。全会深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，全面贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届二中全会精神，回顾2023年纪检监察工作，部署2024年任务，审议通过了李希同志代表中央纪委常委会所作的《深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，纵深推进新征程纪检监察工作高质量发展》工作报告.
“The plenary session carefully studied and deeply understood General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech. It was unanimously agreed that the speech profoundly expounded the important thought of the Party’s self-revolution from the perspective of coordinating the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the major changes unseen in a century taking place in the world. It scientifically addressed the three major issues concerning the Party’s self-revolution, clearly put forward the practical requirements for promoting the ‘nine grasps’ 九个以(Xinhua called it the the “nine main points” to be grasped in advancing “self-reform”) for pursuing self-revolution, made strategic arrangements for continuous efforts and in-depth promotion of the fight against corruption, and placed ardent expectations and specific requirements for the discipline inspection and supervision cadres. The foresight, broad vision, profound thinking, and rich connotation fully demonstrates our Party’s high degree of self-consciousness with regard to self-purification, self-perfection, self-innovation, and self-improvement. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution have condensed the rich practical experience and important theoretical findings of the comprehensive and strict Party governance in the new era, and have gathered a high degree of consensus across the whole Party. The construction of a clean government and the fight against corruption provide fundamental guidance and provide powerful ideological weapons and scientific action guidelines for the discipline inspection and supervision work in the new journey. Everyone unanimously stated that they will thoroughly study, comprehend and resolutely implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, improve their political positions, enhance political consciousness, and effectively align their thoughts and actions with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution. They will faithfully fulfil their duties and responsibilities in the new journey, making unremitting efforts to create a new situation in the Party's self-revolution.” 全会认真学习、深刻领会习近平总书记重要讲话。一致认为，讲话从统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局的高度，深刻阐述党的自我革命的重要思想，科学回答关于党的自我革命的三个重大问题，明确提出推进自我革命“九个以”的实践要求，对持续发力、纵深推进反腐败斗争作出战略部署，对纪检监察干部队伍寄予殷切期望、提出明确要求，高瞻远瞩、视野宏阔、思想深邃、内涵丰富，充分彰显了我们党自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高的高度自觉。习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想凝结了新时代全面从严治党丰富实践经验和重要理论成果，凝聚了全党高度共识，为新时代新征程深入推进全面从严治党、党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争提供了根本遵循，为做好新征程纪检监察工作提供了强大思想武器和科学行动指南。一致表示，将深入学习领悟、坚决贯彻落实习近平总书记重要讲话精神，提高政治站位，增强政治自觉，切实把思想和行动统一到习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想上来，在新征程上忠实履职尽责，为开创党的自我革命新局面作出不懈努力。
The next paragraph is long. I am only picking up the relevant bits:
“The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the National Supervisory Commission, and discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels have firmly held in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s expectations and requirements for a ‘new team, new atmosphere, new situation, and new actions.’ They have taken the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th Party Congress as the main line, promoting the whole Party to firmly support the ‘Two Establishments’ and resolutely achieve the ‘Two Safeguards’ as the mission and responsibility, worked towards the goal of addressing the unique problems of a big Party and improving the system of comprehensive and strict Party governance, and focussed on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the education and rectification of the national discipline inspection and supervision cadre team. They have engaged in deep learning, practical research, and effective implementation, consistently emphasising a strict tone, strict measures, and a strict atmosphere in order to strengthen political supervision, maintain discipline, and combat corruption. Through these efforts, they have achieved new progress and results in the high-quality development of discipline inspection and supervision work, providing strong support for the development of comprehensively modern socialist country.” 中央纪委国家监委和各级纪检监察机关牢记习近平总书记“新班子、新气象、新局面、新作为”的期望要求，以全面贯彻党的二十大精神为主线，以推动全党坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”为使命责任，以推动解决大党独有难题、健全全面从严治党体系为目标方向，以开展学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育和全国纪检监察干部队伍教育整顿为重点，深学习、实调研、抓落实，始终以严的基调、严的措施、严的氛围强化政治监督、正风肃纪反腐，纪检监察工作高质量发展取得新进展新成效，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供有力保障.
Some other key points with regard to the work focus that are made are:
Carrying out thematic education and education rectification in a thorough manner, studying and understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era with earnestness and emotion, unswervingly shouldering the important political responsibility of the Two Safeguards’ and strictly governing and forging an iron army of discipline inspection and supervision. 扎实开展主题教育和教育整顿，用心用情深学细悟习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚定不移扛起“两个维护”重大政治责任，严管严治锻造纪检监察铁军.
Strengthening political supervision around the strategic blueprint issued at the 20th Party Congress.
Continuing to deepen the anti-corruption struggle, seriously investigating and deal with corruption problems in the fields of finance, state-owned enterprises, universities, sports, tobacco, medicine, grain purchase and sale, statistics, etc., resolutely eliminating potential risks of systemic corruption, ensuring integrated promotion of the policy of ensuring that people do not dare to be corrupt, can not corrupt, and do not want to corrupt and comprehensively consolidating the hard-won overwhelming victory. 持续深入推进反腐败斗争，严肃查处金融、国企、高校、体育、烟草、医药、粮食购销、统计等领域腐败问题，坚决清除系统性腐败风险隐患，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，全面巩固来之不易的压倒性胜利.
Persevering in implementing the spirit of the Central Committee's eight-point regulations.
Comprehensively strengthening the Party's discipline construction, promoting the unified integration of strict management, supervision, and encouragement to take responsibility. Unswervingly deepening political inspections, ensuring the high-quality completion of inspections covering all Party organisations of centrally managed enterprises…continuing to promote the reform of the discipline inspection and supervision system, assisting the Party Central Committee in revising the regulations on disciplinary actions, and promoting the improvement of the Party’s self-revolutionary system. 全面加强党的纪律建设，促进从严管理监督和鼓励担当作为相统一。坚定不移深化政治巡视，高质量完成对中管企业党组织巡视全覆盖。深入贯彻制度治党、依规治党要求，持续推进纪检监察体制改革，协助党中央修订纪律处分条例，推动完善党的自我革命制度规范体系。
The next bit is interesting:
“Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the entire Party with unprecedented determination in order to promote comprehensive and strict Party governance and has creatively proposed a series of original and iconic new ideas, new thoughts and new strategies, thereby forming General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution and guiding the century-old party to open up a new realm of self-revolution. This is a new achievement in our Party's adherence to the ‘two integrations’ (i.e., integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with its traditional culture) as part of the promotion of theoretical innovation. It represents a new chapter in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and demonstrates that the Party's understanding of the laws of Marxist party building and Communist Party governance has reached new heights.” 习近平总书记带领全党以前所未有的决心力度推进全面从严治党，创造性提出一系列具有原创性、标志性的新理念新思想新战略，形成习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，指引百年大党开辟了自我革命的新境界. 这是我们党坚持“两个结合”推进理论创新取得的新成果，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的新篇章，标志着我们党对马克思主义政党建设规律、共产党执政规律的认识达到新高度. (So now we have a formal Xi Jinping Thought on Self-Revolution. The key aspects of this are the nine grasps that I have mentioned above. These were covered in my breakdown of Xi’s speech at the plenary session earlier in the week.)
Anyway, the communique continues:
“This important thought profoundly answers the significant questions of ‘why must our Party carry out self-revolution,’ pointing to the fundamental task of ensuring that the entire Party always maintains its original aspiration and fulfils its mission. It profoundly answers the major question of ‘why our Party can undertake self-revolution’, thereby strengthening the confidence and determination of the whole Party to make good use of the ‘second answer’ and solve the unique problems of a big party. It also answers the critical question of “how to advance self-revolution’, demonstrating the bright prospects for the Party to maintain vitality and embark on a new journey.” 这一重要思想深刻回答了我们党“为什么要自我革命”的重大问题，指明了确保全党永葆初心、担当使命的根本任务；深刻回答了我们党“为什么能自我革命”的重大问题，坚定了全党用好“第二个答案”、解决大党独有难题的信心决心；深刻回答了我们党“怎样推进自我革命”的重大问题，展现了党永葆生机活力、走好新的赶考之路的光明前景.
The paragraph ends with calling on discipline inspection and supervision agencies and cadres to study this thought, since they will be implementing it.
The next paragraph deals with tasks for 2024. These are:
adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee
thoroughly study and implement of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution
resolutely implement the strategic policy of comprehensive and strict Party governance
deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, consciously strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ and ‘four self-confidences’, and achieve ‘two safeguards’
adhere to the general tone of work of seeking progress while maintaining stability
consolidate and expand the outcomes from the thematic education and rectification campaign
loyally perform the duties entrusted by the Party Constitution and the Constitution
improve the system of comprehensive and strict party governance
ensure in-depth rectification of discipline and anti-corruption efforts
deepen the high-quality development of discipline inspection and supervision in the new journey, and provide a strong guarantee for comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernisation
做好今年纪检监察工作，要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届二中全会精神，深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，坚决落实全面从严治党战略方针，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，自觉增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，巩固拓展主题教育和教育整顿成果，忠诚履行党章和宪法赋予的职责，推动健全全面从严治党体系，纵深推进正风肃纪反腐，纵深推进新征程纪检监察工作高质量发展，为全面推进中国式现代化提供坚强保障。
After this, there are 8 big points that are made:
First, take the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially the important thought on the Party's self-revolution, as the main theme for the education and training of discipline inspection and supervision cadres. It adds: Transform the results of learning into tangible achievements in to improve discipline and work style and combat corruption. 把学习贯彻新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是党的自我革命的重要思想作为纪检监察干部教育培训主题主线，健全并严格执行“第一议题”制度、集体学习制度，在深化、内化、转化上持续用力，自觉从党的创新理论中找理念、找思路、找方法、找举措，不断把学习成果转化为正风肃纪反腐的实际成效。
Second, emphasise the Two Safeguards’ and deepen political supervision. Place the strict enforcement of the Party’s political discipline and rules in a prominent position, focusing on political loyalty, political security, political responsibility, political position, and intra-party political life. Resolutely correct political deviations and promptly eliminate political risks. Strengthen political supervision closely around the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the major policies of the CPC Central Committee, regularly carry out ‘look back’/retrospective reviews on the implementation situation, and urge the whole Party to unify its thinking and will and move forward in unison. 第二，突出“两个维护”深化政治监督。把严明党的政治纪律和政治规矩摆在突出位置，聚焦政治忠诚、政治安全、政治责任、政治立场、党内政治生活，坚决纠正政治偏差，及时消除政治隐患。紧紧围绕习近平总书记重要指示批示和党中央大政方针加强政治监督，常态化开展落实情况“回头看”，督促全党统一思想、统一意志、步调一致向前进。
Third, focus on eradicating the breeding ground for corruption and deepen the fight against corruption. Under this, the document says that the “top priority” will be to “crack down on any collusion between officials and business people.” It also talks about deepening the rectification of corruption in the fields of finance, SoEs, energy, tobacco, medicine, infrastructure projects and bidding; and resolutely punishing corruption that is around the masses and rectifying cross-border corruption. 持续发力、纵深推进反腐败斗争，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，强化高压态势，继续紧盯重点问题、重点领域、重点对象、新型腐败和隐性腐败，把严惩政商勾连的腐败作为攻坚战重中之重，深化整治金融、国企、能源、烟草、医药、基建工程和招投标等领域腐败问题，坚决惩治群众身边腐败，集中整治跨境腐败问题. It also talks about strengthening the anti-corruption toolkit, punishing bribe-givers and bribe-takers in an integrated approach, strengthening positive and negative education (i.e., to build a culture of honour in honesty and shame in corruption).
Fourth, emphasise the regularised and long-term implementation of the eight-point regulation; vigorously correct formalism and bureaucratism; and distortions in terms of perspectives on exercise of power and political achievements.
Fifth, emphasise the strict tone and deepen the Party's discipline construction. Under this, the document calls to take the opportunity to study and implement the newly-revised disciplinary regulations in order to strengthen disciplinary education and strive to solve problems such as lack of attention, understanding, and mastery of Party’s rules and discipline. 第五，突出严的基调深化党的纪律建设。以学习贯彻新修订的纪律处分条例为契机加强纪律教育，认真开展党纪学习教育，着力解决对党规党纪不上心、不了解、不掌握等问题.
Sixth, emphasise the political positioning and deepen inspection and supervision. Solidly promote the full coverage of inspections, and explore upgrading inspections and joint inspections. Strengthen the guidance and supervision of inspection work in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, establish a working mechanism for guiding internal inspections in central units in different sectors and industries, and comprehensively promote the extension of inspections to the grassroots level.” It also calls to study and implement regulations related to inspection work, revise the provisions for Party organisations being inspected to cooperate with central inspections, and establish a responsibility system and institutional procedures covering the entire cycle of inspection and rectification. 第六，突出政治定位深化巡视巡察。扎实推进巡视全覆盖，深入探索提级巡视、联动巡视，加强对省区市巡视工作的指导督导，建立对中央单位内部巡视分板块、分行业指导的工作机制，全面推动市县巡察向基层延伸。学习贯彻巡视工作条例，修订被巡视党组织配合中央巡视工作规定等，建立覆盖巡视整改全周期的责任体系和制度流程.
Seventh, stress on standardisation, rule of law, and regularisation to deepen the reform and institutional construction of the discipline inspection and supervision system. Under this, the call is to improve the internal organisational structure, functional configuration, and resource allocation of the discipline inspection and supervisory agencies.
Eighth, emphasise and carry forward the spirit of thorough self-revolution and deepen the self-construction of discipline inspection and supervision agencies. This is about discipline inspection agencies ensuring that they themselves are “brave in self-revolution.”