A. Roux, 'Meeting PCF-CCP. 11.24.1983 Session'

Meeting PCF-CCP. 11.24.1983 Session.

Xi Zhongxun’s presentation regarding China’s domestic situation since G.Marchais’ visit in October 1982. ([given] on the basis of a prepared text)

Broad picture: since December 1978 (3d session of the IInd CC) progress was steady and must continue in order to allow “socialist modernisation”. The economic situation is excellent, better than anticipated.

1st Consolidated unity and political stability:

Significance of the CCP’s 12th Congress in September 1982: economic instructions for the year 2000, adoption of just principles, adoption of new statutes for the CCP that have been cleansed of the influence of the Cultural Revolution, election of a new CC for the CCP

Completed in June 1983 with the meeting of the fifth National People’s Congress and the election of Li Xiannian as President of the Republic and the election of U Lanfu ^[1] as vice president. Meeting also of the 6th Chinese People's Consultative Conference under the presidency of Deng Yingchao with only 35% of communists in the Permanent Committee and 65% of [crossed out word] democratic personalities. Since then Congresses of various mass organisations were held: All-China Women's Federation, Communist Youth League, Federation etc

Improvement of the Party’s political life ensuring the dynamism of a stable society.

2nd Economic development

Steady progress with readjustment, reform, reorganisation. Natural difficulties: drought in the North, flood in the South affecting 40 million hectares, that is a third of the cultivated area. However, thanks to the “responsibility system with flat rate remuneration” production was increased. Better results than in 1982. 360 million tonnes of cereals were harvested - that is +3%

[crossed out line]

[handwritten] (325 million in 1981. 361 [million] in 1982) [end handwritten]

No need to purchase cereals abroad.

Cotton: production of 74 million hundredweight (+5%), of which the State purchases 63 million, that is 20 million more than in 1982 [handwritten annotation crossed out]

Agricultural sector: +4%. Industry: +10%, that is more than the plan. Economic return was improved during the second semester

3: Improvement of the people’s living conditions

Overall, salaries increased by 6, 4% between January and September. Farmers’ income increased by 8, 9% in 1982. Prosperous markets. Steady prices.

No longer rationing 70 products is being considered. This way no more rationing of cotton fabrics for 1984. However this will be done progressively and cereals will still be rationed. Rationing is known to be an issue often reported in socialist countries: we want to remedy that situation.

This this increases masses’ trust in the Party and in the success of socialist modernisation. Xi is quoting the opening speech of the 12th Congress by Deng Xiaoping: over the next 20 years, four endeavours must be successful: institutions reform; improving executives’ training; promoting the socialist spiritual civilisation; fighting criminal activities. This entails the Party’s consolidation. Solid results were already achieved, which allows for the launch of the current campaign.

4: Various information on specific points

a. Management teams.

For 3 years Deng Xiaoping has put forward institutional reforms in order to overcome bureaucratism and to promote “younger[,] more specialised, more revolutionary, more cultivated” executives. Training revolutionary successors is indeed key for the communist cause. A significant ideological work needs to be undertaken[.] Significant progress has been achieved in that direction: the CC audaciously promoted the best middle-aged and young executives

The CCP’s leadership includes three groups [:]

A first group/ Deng Xiaoping, Li Xiannian etc: over 70 years old[.] Veterans providing guidance

A second group: Hu Yaobang, Zhao Ziyang: over 60 years old. In charge of day-to-day activities

A third group: 40 to 50 years old. Qiao Shi, Hu Qili, Hao Jianxio..[.] [Handwritten annotation: (women[)] ] and the new vice prime ministers. [They are] the future.

This third group is key.

The readjustment of management teams is ongoing at the same time in the entire country: at provincial level, in autonomous regions, and at prefectural level. [It will be] completed in September. In 1984 it will be at district level (xian: they are 2000 in China).

Ministerial teams are [reduced] by 63%. [At] regional and “special city” level (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai) 35% [to] 45% of executives are young. 42% completed secondary education.

The challenge, which many socialist countries are experiencing, relates to the measures that should be taken for executives that are effectively not part of the reorganisation [effort]: old executives are partially or completely stepping down. They are keeping their salaries and benefits. Mid-level^[3] and young executives are being transferred or retrained. Promoted comrades are demonstrating a lot of respect towards veterans. There is still a lot of work to do, it will be completed prior to 1890.^[4]

b. strengthening democracy and socialist legality

“There is no Socialism without democracy. There is no socialist modernisation without democracy”. Chaos and arbitrary (wufa wutian) were the rule during the Cultural Revolution. Since the 3rd plenum, effective measures were taken, as is demonstrated by the new statutes of the CCP, the Constitution. The statutes specify that, even though^[5] the CCP plays a leading role, any cult of personality is forbidden and activists are not above the law. The constitution widens the role of various mechanisms. The role of mass organisations, spokespersons of the people, is also improved. The union between the CCP[,] democratic parties and personalities without parties is therefore strengthened. So is [the union between] the Han population and national minorities (without that “Tibet would be an Indian colony”; the Mongols…). Approval of large masses. As for democracy, this is the best period since 1949. Building socialist democracy is connected with building socialist legality. Therefore the new Constitution is a significant step forward[.] 36 laws were passed: civil code, penal procedural code etc[.] The Party is not above the law and must on the contrary respect it in an exemplary fashion

Public Safety is strengthened; fight against economic criminal activities in particular. During the summer of 1983 Deng Xiaoping asked the CC to reinforce action against common law offences. 1949-1966 was a period of excellent social order[.] But class struggle still exists in Socialism, even though it is less acute. Moreover, there is the impact of ten years of trouble, from 1966 to 1976. Delinquency has increased, individualism, anarchism. In addition to that, corrosive influence of the bourgeois lifestyle. Delinquency thus rose from 2 ‱ to 8 ‱. This is lower than the USA (100 ‱) but creates great public discontent. Severe blows were struck since the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress‘ September 2, 1982 decision: it was decided criminals would be harshly punished. Many arrests in August and September. Dismantling of gangs^[6]. In September offences have gone down by 47, 4% relative to August: in October by 10% relative to September. The crime rate has lowered but 3 more years of fight are needed.

c. the Party’s consolidation

40,400,000 members [illegible unwritten character - could be a figure affecting the total number of grassroot organisations mentioned thereafter] 500,000 grassroot organisations. But shaken by the chaos of 10 years of trouble. Measures are needed to progressively correct the working style. However there are countless inherited problems:

[crossed out line]

-the level of Party consciousness of the members needs to be improved. Inappropriate style. Former “rebels”, people involved in the formation of factions during the Cultural Revolution or involved in armed clashes: they must be unmasked. Ideological and organisational impurities [must] also [be] identified. 3 years of consolidation campaign (“zheng dang”, not to be confused with past movements “zheng feng”). Document prepared in March 1963 about the consolidation [of the Party].^[7] 3000 people contributed to it. Long discussion: adopted during the second session of the CC last October

Unity of thought; against erroneous right-wing and left-wing trends. Fight against paternalism, factionalism, liberalism. The wrong people must be excluded. Three categories of people that should be unmasked were identified: factionalists, rebels, troublemakers. Large masses level must be elevated.^[8] Criticism and self-criticism must be used as weapons to reregister all members. Reregistration can be postponed [several crossed out words] for two years for those committed to changing even though their current attitude is not right. “Inadequate” members will not be reregistered. “Malicious” members will be excluded. Past left-wing mistakes as well as botching should be avoided. A committee leading the campaign was appointed under the leadership of Hu Yaobang. The Party’s consolidation and ongoing reforms must be tied together: a new style is necessary. Not as in the past nor as in other parties: “no purge”. Amongst leadership, they were “some people of goodwill who estimated that three years was too long and would harm the economic work”. In reality, it is necessary to reform ideologically. In order to properly critique and self-critique, time is needed. “Zhengdang” past experience and experience of the international communist movement can also be used to [lead a successful campaign]^[9][.] Our Party is good or relatively good. A work meeting presided by Xi Zhongxun took place after the CC session: the discussion was very broad. At the end, Hu Yaobang gave an excellent speech: he reiterated the goals to be reached; he said botching and exaggerations had to be avoided. Democratic parties (8 in total, that are successively holding their congresses) are being given a monitoring role. They will help us consolidate the Party and also reform without going through a similar campaign [than that of the Communist Party] contrary to what happened during the “1957 anti-Right campaign”.. despite promises to the contrary.^[10] Relations between the CCP and other parties are like those between “old comrades in arms”/: Xi Zhongxun’s speech before the Democratic League and the Industrialists Federation was applauded [when he used]^[11] that expression.

d. strengthening of the leading role on the ideological front and “ideological pollution”^[12].

Old problem: very successful in the fields of arts and literature

But there is “some pollution of the minds”: rejection of the four fundamental principles (i.e : the leading role of the CP, Marxist-Leninism and Mao’s way of thinking^[13] [handwritten annotation] people’s democratic dictatorship [end handwritten], construction of Socialism..)[.] Corrupted ideas of the bourgeoisie are spreading. Distrust towards Socialism and extreme individualism are developing. Bourgeois liberalism: consequences can be severe

However these ideological problems are “only contradictions among the people”. It is important to clearly distinguish criminal acts and those that are “of antagonistic nature”. Sticking to the “policy of the two 100” (i.e: “May the 100 Flowers bloom again: May the 100 schools compete”). The fight [is] only ideological, and takes as its guiding principle the criterion of convenience.^[14] No attacks on people.^[15] Marxism must be developed. In order to better develop economic and cultural foreign relationships. The key purpose of the “Party’s consolidation” is to implement the line adopted in December 1978. Current ill-intentioned anti-Chinese campaign: the current measures are in no way a change from the line but aim on the contrary at safeguarding it.

There are however many problems to be solved in order to [:]

-accelerate [crossed out word] the construction of Socialism and increase production four times by the year 2000

-unity and reunification of the motherland

-fight against hegemonism and for world peace  

5: Economic construction

a: two steps: until 1990 increase production by 6 to 7% a year. This way we will have laid the foundations in order to truly take off at the end of the century. A lot of problems to solve: historical problems; insufficient economic efficiency; accumulation rate to be maintained around 30% (previously reached 37 to 38%. Dropped to 25% in 1982). Too much was previously taken from farmers[.] Since December 1978, the state has granted farmers 70 billions of yuan in various ways. However we cannot go too far: we need to take funds from farmers.

b. Developing agriculture

Changes are very significant: see article from the Polish review Politika from Sept 24, 1983 regarding the successes of agriculture in China: appreciate the fact that ¼ of the world population is being fed thanks to 7% of the world’s cultivated land. 80% of farmers.

c. the “readjustment”: 400,000 companies. Enhance their production potential: ongoing reforms.

d. the building of key civil engineering works should be prioritized: 70 [cropped out figure : could be 770] significant projects underway

e. opening of the country with willingness to guarantee independence. France’s advanced technology is therefore being used according to needs and possibility: examples nuclear and Telecom.

(Due to time constraints the discussion went on informally around the table. Therefore notes could not be taken.).

Prepared by A.Roux on 12/4 1983

^[1] Translator’s note: For reference purposes, other possible spellings: Ulanhu or Ulanfu. Also known as Yun Ze.

^[2] Translator's note: Vague meaning, could also refer to a trade union.

^[3] Translator's note: Some ambiguity, could also be “middle-aged" in that context.

^[4] Translator's note: Some ambiguity, could also be “middle-aged" in that context.

^[5] Translator’s note : Ambiguity, could also mean “if the CCP plays a leading role” or “when the CCP plays a leading role”.

^[6] Translator's note: Could also mean: killing gang members and/or selling all their assets.

^[7] Translator's attempt to clarify, however the meaning of this fragment is unclear.

^[8] Translator's note: the meaning of this fragment is unclear - could be level of knowledge, level of awareness with regards to the Party’s policies ?

^[9] Translator's attempt to clarify, literally: "can also be used to be successful".

^[10] Translator's note: the sentence is unclear, however the idea seems to be that this time around and unlike what happened in 1957, the CCP intends to keep the promises it has made to other political parties.

^[11] Translator's attempt to clarify, original sentence somewhat unclear.

^[12] Translator’s note: Meaning unclear in the original document.

^[13] Translator's note: Meaning of the expression in the original document unclear, maybe Maoism?

^[14] Translator's note: Meaning unclear in the original document.

^[15] Translator’s note: "No personal attacks” is what the author might have meant here.