The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee unveils its proposed constitutional amendment package on Feb. 25. [File Photo/Xinhua]

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee unveiled its proposed constitutional amendment package on Feb. 25. These amendments will proceed in accordance with the following four major principles.

First, the constitutional amendments will be carried out under the leadership of the CPC.

The leadership of the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for advancing law-based governance and building a socialist country under the rule of law. 

In the past 70 years, China's Constitution and all its amendments were drawn up and carried out under the leadership of the CPC, and this time the constitutional amendments will still to be carried out under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core.

We will continue to strengthen our consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment. We need to strengthen our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure that the constitutional amendments will keep moving in the right political direction.

Second, the constitutional amendments will proceed by soliciting opinions extensively.

The constitutional amendments have a direct and far-reaching significance for the country. They should adapt to the development of the Party and people's cause, and in the meantime, abide by the law of the development of the Constitution and other laws. 

In the drawing up of the Constitution and all previous amendments to it, a wide range of opinions and suggestions were solicited from the public. When the Constitution was amended in 1982, the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress (NPC) made public the draft amendments to draw on collective wisdom and absorb all useful ideas.

Only in this way can the amended Constitution reflect the common aspiration of the people from all walks of life and be warmly supported by the people.

Third, the constitutional amendments will proceed in accordance with prescribed procedures.

China has built up an effective working procedure and mechanism in the past decades that is consistent with the guideline of the Constitution. The constitutional amendments go through two stages.

In the first stage, the CPC Central Committee makes proposals on amendments to the Constitution and forwards the proposals to the NPC Standing Committee for deliberation; in the second stage, the NPC Standing Committee will, after discussions, formulate the "Amendments to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China," which will be given to the plenary session of the NPC for deliberation and approval.

This year the CPC Central Committee convened a plenary session specially for discussing the amendments to the Constitution – a move which was unprecedented in the history of the CPC.

The move fully demonstrates that the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core has attached great importance to the constitutional amendments, the rule of law, and Constitution-based governance.

Fourth, only part of the Constitution will be amended. 

Amendments to the Constitution will be done with great care, and will conform to the law of constitutional development and give expression to the unique features of the constitutional system.

China's current Constitution is good and conforms with the reality of the country, and the part which needs to be amended is minor and supplementary. Amendments will only be made at places necessary for the purpose to maintain the continuity, stability and authority of the Constitution.

This post was translated by Li Jingrong. Its original unabridged version was published in Chinese.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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