Amendment to CPC Constitution to embody leadership's new governance thoughts

Tuo Zhen, spokesperson for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, holds a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

The Communist Party of China (CPC) will amend its Constitution at the upcoming national congress to represent the ideas of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, a spokesman said Tuesday. [Special Coverage]

The amendment, including key theories and strategic thought, will be presented in a report delivered to the congress, said congress spokesperson Tuo Zhen at a press conference.

Tuo said that this year there was consensus within the CPC that the Party's Constitution should be amended at the upcoming 19th CPC National Congress on the basis of the Party's theoretical innovations, new developments in practice, and changing conditions and missions.

"Taking into account the opinions from various sectors, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to make appropriate amendment to the Constitution," Tuo said.

"The amendment must fully represent the latest sinification of Marxism, as well as new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experiences in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance," Tuo said.

He said the amendment had been approved by the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and would be submitted to the 19th CPC National Congress for review.

A fundamental document of the CPC, the Constitution enjoys the highest authority within the Party and has supreme binding power to all Party members.

Tuo said that previous CPC national congresses had regularly amended the Party's Constitution. Since the current Constitution was endorsed in 1982, six revisions have been made.