Founded in July 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) today
has more than 68 million members.
From 1921 to 1949, the CPC led the Chinese people in their arduous
struggle that finally brought about the overthrow of the rule of
imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism and the
establishment of the People's Republic of China. After the founding
of the PRC, the CPC led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in
defending China's independence and security; successfully
completing the transition from new democracy to socialism, and
carrying out systematic large-scale socialist construction,
achieving economic and cultural progress unparalleled in Chinese
history.
In 1956, after the transformation from private to social ownership
of the means of production was largely completed, the CPC's lack of
experience led to some mistakes in leading the process of
constructing socialism. Later, the CPC made the serious, nationwide
mistake of launching the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-1976), which
lasted for a long time.
The "Cultural Revolution" ended in October 1976, at which turning
point China entered a new historic era of development. Following
the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Party Central Committee at
the end of 1978, the country embarked on the biggest change in the
history of New China. From 1979, the CPC began to carry out the
reform and opening-up policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping. In the
more than two decades since the initiation of the reform and
opening-up, China's economic and social development has been
crowned with remarkable success and the country has taken on a
radically new look. This has been the best period and most
materially beneficial period for the Chinese people since the
founding of the PRC.?
The central organs of the CPC include the Party national congress,
the Central Committee, the Central Political Bureau, the Political
Bureau's Standing Committee, the Central Secretariat, the Central
Military Commission and the Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection. The Party national congress is held once every five
years. When the national congress is not in session, the Central
Committee is the highest leading organ of the CPC. The current
General Secretary is Hu Jintao.