The Theory of Three Represents

The Theory of Three Represents——三个代表重要思想

After the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee in 1989, the CPC, represented by Jiang Zemin, built a deeper understanding of socialism and Party development during the practice of developing Chinese socialism, and accumulated valuable experience on state and Party governance, culminating in the Theory of Three Represents.

In November 2002, the 16th CPC National Congress systemically summed up the experience gained since the start of reform and opening up, especially since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, and decided that the Theory of Three Represents would become part of the guiding ideology of the CPC and be included in the Party Constitution, together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory. In March 2004, the second session of the 10th NPC adopted a Constitutional amendment, establishing the guiding role of the Theory of Three Represents in state politics and social life.

The CPC must always represent the development requirements of China's advanced productive forces, the progressive course of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the Chinese people. This is an effective summary of the Theory of Three Represents. The key to its implementation lies in keeping abreast with the times, maintaining the Party's advanced nature, and governing for the people.

The Theory of Three Represents introduced a series of new thoughts, ideas and conclusions concerning reform, development and stability, domestic and foreign affairs, national defense, and the running of the Party, state and army. On the basis of Deng Xiaoping Theory, it provided further answers to the questions of what is socialism and how to build socialism, and creatively answered the questions of what kind of Party should be built and how to build the Party.

The Theory of Three Represents is the continuation and development of Marxism-Leninism,Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory. It reflects the new requirements for the Party and the state brought about by changes in the world and China, and is a powerful theoretical weapon for strengthening and improving the Party and developing Chinese socialism. It is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the CPC, a guiding principle that the Party must uphold in the long run, and the foundation of the Party and its governance and its source of strength.