BEIJING, Oct. 16 (INP): The Communist Party of China has agreed to amend its constitution ahead of this week’s national congress. The Central Committee passed a previously announced proposal which will now be put to congress for formal approval. A communique was issued when the four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the Party’s 18th Central Committee concluded here yesterday. The amendment must include the key theories and strategic thought presented by the 18th Central Committee’s report to be made to the 19th national congress, it said. The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the Central Committee since the 18th national congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance. A total of 191 members and 141 alternate members of the Central Committee attended the meeting, with members of the disciplinary body and leading officials of related departments present as non-voting delegates. Eleven new full members, who were alternate members of the 18th Central Committee, were admitted to the committee during the plenum. The session analyzed the current situation and tasks and discussed several important issues which focus on “Four Greats,” making full preparation for the 19th congress. The issues under discussion included “engaging in the great battle with many new historical features, embarking on the new great project in Party building, advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and realizing the great dream of revival of the Chinese nation under new situations.” The plenum affirmed the work of the Politburo since the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee a year ago. The meeting reached consensus that the Politburo had held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and thoroughly implemented the spirits of the 18th congress and ensuing Central Committee plenums. It has followed the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and thoroughly carried out the essence of President Xi Jinping’s series of important remarks and new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies, the communique said. The Politburo has united and led the nation to continue seeking progress while maintaining stability for its economic work, kept in mind both the domestic and international situations, continued to adopt an overall approach to promote economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress, as well as advancing coordinated development of the “Four Comprehensives.” It has been firm in implementing new development concepts, advancing difficult reforms, building a clean Party and fighting against corruption, effectively dealing with various risks and challenges, and innovating and improving macro control. It has also managed to coordinate work for stabilizing growth, promoting reform, adjusting economic structure, improving people’s well-being, and preventing risks. It has deepened military reform and construction, taken the initiative in handling work involving the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions and Taiwan, and carried forward big-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. It strengthened Party discipline comprehensively, maintained stable and healthy economic development as well as social harmony and stability, the communique said. Safeguard authority Senior officials should remain loyal to the Party and willingly safeguard the authority of the Party’s central leadership and the unity of the Party, said the communique. The Party’s leading position should be ensured in all aspects and its role of overseeing all work and coordinating all parties should be guaranteed. The Party principles should be upheld and its policies implemented, the document stressed. All local authorities and departments should carry out the decisions of the Central Committee in the first instance, it said. Senior cadres should set an example for all members to keep the Party and the people at heart and be aware of what should and should not be done. They should display strong political and moral integrity, obedience to Party disciplines and resistance to corruption, the document said. With more than 89 million members and leading more than 1.3 billion people in the drive for reform and modernization, the document said that without the authority and centralized leadership of the Central Committee and without strict political disciplines, rules and a clean political environment, the Party would compromise its creativity, cohesion and effectiveness, weaken the foundation and ability of its governance and fail its mission. China has “gained and consolidated crushing momentum” in its fight against corruption, the communique said, adjusting a judgment made last year which only stated it “gained crushing momentum.” INP/J/AH