12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

The 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

The 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十二次全国代表大会) was held in Beijing between September 1 and September 11, 1982. There were 1,600 full delegates and 149 alternate delegates that elected the 12th CPC Central Committee composed of 210 members and 138 alternate members, a Central Advisory Commission composed of 172 members and a Central Commission for Discipline Inspection composed of 132 members.

Goals

In his opening address, Deng Xiaoping put forward the idea that China should integrate the universal truth of Marxism with the reality of China and vow to build a socialist society with Chinese characteristics. The congress aimed to define the correct strategy for the construction of socialist modernization by summing up the historical victory since the 11th Party Congress and eliminating the chaos following the Cultural Revolution. The congress also outlined the general task of the Party to unite the people of all ethnic groups in working hard to achieve, the modernization of industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology and to make China a culturally and ideologically advanced and highly democratic socialist country. It also set the economic goal for the period from 1981 to the end of this century, that being to quadruple the annual industrial and agricultural output value of the country, so that they could improve the standard of living. The congress also adopted a new Party Constitution.

Agenda

Hu Yaobang made a report on behalf of the 11th Central Committee. Ye Jianying and Chen Yun both delivered speeches about the cooperation between the senior and younger officials and the replacement of them by younger officials. Li Xiannian addressed the closing session.

Election Results

Hu Yaobang was elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee and Deng Xiaoping was appointed Chairman of the Central Military Commission as well as chairman of the CPC Central Advisory Commission.