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Question: Would you please give a brief account of why it has been necessary to revise and promulgate the "Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres"?
Answer: The Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres recently promulgated by the CPC Central Committee were amendments on the basis of the "Interim Regulations on the Work of Selecting and Appointing Leading Party and Government Cadres" (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Regulations"). The Interim Regulations, promulgated by the CPC Central Committee in 1995, played an important role in standardizing the work procedures for the selection and appointment of cadres, improving the quality of work related to cadre selection and appointment, strengthening the buildup of leading bodies and curbing unhealthy trends and corrupt practices in the personnel affairs. By resolutely implementing a series of principles, policies and demands of the Party Central Committee concerning personnel work and conscientiously carrying out the Interim Regulations, Party committees (leading Party members' groups) at all levels had chosen large numbers of cadres who upheld the Party's basic line, had both ability and political integrity, were universally acknowledged by the general public and had gained remarkable achievements to enter leading bodies at various levels, and had enhanced the cohesiveness and combat effectiveness of leading Party and government bodies at various levels, thus guaranteeing the smooth progress of the reform and opening-up program, and the socialist modernization drive. Over the past seven years since the publication of the Interim Regulations, tremendous changes have taken place in China. The Party Central Committee has put forth a sequence of fresh demands for the work concerning the selection and appointment of leading Party and government cadres; new advances have been made and successful experiences accumulated in the reform of the personnel system; a batch of new achievements have also been secured in theoretical studies on Party building as well as in personnel work. The CPC's 16th National Congress will be held this year; new local leading Party and government bodies at all levels are being elected one after another; the ranks of Party cadres are undergoing an important stage featuring the replacement of the old by the new as a whole; and the task of selecting and appointing cadres is extremely arduous. At the same time, unhealthy trends existing in personnel work in some localities and departments are one of the hot issues evoking increasing complaints from vast numbers of cadres as well as the general public, remaining as one of the key problems that must be resolved in earnest. In the face of a suite of new situations and new problems emerging in the selection and appointment of cadres, the Interim Regulations can no longer completely meet the needs of work in both content and form. In compliance with the requirements of the new situations and new tasks and in the spirit of keeping pace with the times, the Party Central Committee has decided to revise and promulgate the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres. The Regulations are the basic rules and regulations to be followed in the selection and appointment of leading Party and government cadres, as well as a powerful weapon with which to prevent and control unhealthy trends in personnel affairs at their source. The publication and implementation of the Regulations are of important and far-reaching significance for establishing a comprehensive, scientific mechanism for cadre selection and appointment and a mechanism of supervision and administration, promoting scientific, democratic and institutionalized personnel work, and forming vigorous and enterprising leading bodies, guaranteeing the implementation of the Party's basic line, and ensuring the prosperity of the Party's cause and the long-lasting political stability of the country.
Q: The promulgation and implementation of the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres are, indeed, of great importance. Please give a further account of their main contents and characteristics.
A: The Regulations consist of 74 articles in 13 chapters. They clearly define the guiding ideology, basic principles and requirements for cadre selection and appointment, and set forth a series of links for the work such as standardizing democratic recommendation, appraisal, deliberation, decision-making, assuming office, making recommendations, nominations and democratic consultations in accordance with the law, open selection, competition for appointment, personnel exchange, avoidance, removal from office, resignation, demotion, discipline and supervision. In this way, the Regulations have laid down comprehensive, substantial and procedural stipulations for the selection and appointment of leading Party and government cadres. The various chapters are an organic whole, forming an integrated system for cadre selection and appointment. The general provisions, requirements for selection and appointment, democratic recommendation, appraisal, decision-making through discussion, discipline and supervision are the key links and main contents of the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres.
The present revised Regulations have the following salient characteristics:
First is persisting in keeping pace with the times, and giving the fresh connotations of the times to such contents as the principles, standards, procedures, methods and discipline for the selection and appointment of cadres. This fully embodies the important concept of the "Three Represents" and the Party Central Committee's new requirements for cadre selection and appointment.
Second is adhering to the basic orientation for expanding democracy. In the revised Regulations there are new measures for developing inner-Party democracy, and ensuring the masses' rights to be informed, participate, select and supervise in regard to cadre selection and appointment.
Third is persistently improving procedures. The Regulations lay down clear-cut, concrete stipulations for the various links in cadre selection and appointment, and there is new progress in promoting the selection and appointment of cadres in a scientific and standardized way.
Fourth is persisting in institutional innovation, and incorporating into the system open selection, competition for appointment, public announcement before appointment and probationary period, and perfecting the system of appointment, removal from office, resignation and demotion. New breakthroughs have been made in promoting the emergence of people with outstanding talents and straightening out the channels for cadres to be able to work at both higher and lower levels.
Fifth is persisting in effective supervision, establishing a responsibility system for the appraisal of cadres, a responsibility ascertainment system in regard to the selection and appointment of cadres and the responsibility system of supervision over the selection and appointment. New steps have been taken for the establishment of a scientific mechanism for supervision and administration.
Q: The Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres set forth six basic requirements for leading Party and government cadres. How should these requirements be implemented in practical work?
A: The CPC has always upheld the principle of appointing people with both ability and political integrity, and has constantly given it new connotations of the times in light of changes in the situation and tasks confronting the Party. Under the new conditions, adherence to the principle of using people with both ability and political integrity hinges on whether upholding and implementing the important concept of the "Three Represents" can be taken as the most important and most fundamental requirement for the selection and appointment of cadres.
The six basic requirements as laid down in the Regulations are an organic whole. They must be understood comprehensively and grasped correctly. In practical work, it is necessary to use the six basic requirements as a yardstick to make an all-round, objective and accurate judgment of cadres' ideological-political qualities and work style, leadership capability and professional competence, innovative awareness and ability, work performance and degree of public acknowledgement, as well as their cleanness, honesty and degree of self-discipline. At the same time, it should also be noticed that since the category and level of cadres' posts are different, the specific requirements for them should also vary. In selecting and appointing cadres, it is necessary to persist in using the six basic requirements set forth in the Regulations to make a comprehensive assessment of cadres, ensure that only those who are politically reliable and professionally capable are selected, form a correct orientation for appointment and guide the broad masses of cadres to focus their minds and energy on work and study, and constantly improve their own competence and enhance their ability to serve the people, thus making more contributions to the cause of the Party and people.
Q: In recent years, the Party Central Committee has repeatedly stressed the need to expand democracy in personnel work and ensure the masses' rights to be informed, participate, select and supervise in regard to the selection and appointment of cadres. In what aspects do the Regulations give expression to this requirement?
A: The Regulations embody the requirements for expanding democracy and ensuring the above "four rights" in such key links as recommendation, assessment, making decisions through discussion, and supervision in regard to the selection and appointment of cadres.
First is to expand democracy in recommendation. The Regulations stipulate that selection and appointment must go through the process of democratic recommendation. However, recommendation can be made by the authority in individual cases and under special circumstances. Otherwise, those who have not gone through the procedure of democratic recommendation cannot be listed for appraisal.
Second is to expand democracy in the process of appraising cadres. An advance appraisal notice system is instituted, whereby opinions from various quarters are heeded extensively while appraisal is being conducted.
Third is to expand democracy in deliberation and decision-making. In discussing and deciding on the appointment or removal of cadres, a Party committee must guarantee sufficient time for the participants to hear out the briefing on the situation and, on the basis of full discussion, decide by such methods as vocal vote, vote by a show of hands or secret ballot. The decision is to be made by the collective.
Fourth is to expand democracy in supervising cadres. A pre-appointment public notice system is instituted for the selection of candidates for promotion to leading posts at or below the department and bureau levels, a system whereby cadres should accept supervision from the general public to show full respect to the will of the people. In the selection and appointment of cadres, a Party committee (leading Party members' group) and its organization (personnel) department must consciously accept supervision from the general public. Institutions at a lower level, Party members, cadres and the people as a whole have the right to lodge complaints or appeals to the Party committee (leading Party members' group) at the higher level and its organization (personnel) department or the discipline inspection commission (supervision department) in regard to any violation of discipline and rules in cadre selection and appointment. Departments or institutions which receive the complaints or appeals should handle the cases through conscientious and responsible verification in accordance with the relevant stipulations.
Q: Currently, in the selection and appointment of cadres, there are cases of one person alone or only a few persons having the final say in some localities and departments. What are the stipulations in the Regulations concerning this problem?
A: The key to solve this problem lies in persistently upholding the principle of democratic centralism. The Regulations contain a whole array of stipulations in this respect:
First, regarding the recommendation of cadres, the Regulations stipulate that when recommending to a Party organization candidates for a leading post, an individual must responsibly write and sign a letter of recommendation. After the letter is examined by the relevant organization (personnel) department, a democratic recommendation shall be carried out in accordance with the prescribed procedures. The candidates thus recommended, if not supported by the majority of people in the work unit concerned, shall not be listed for appraisal.
Second, in deciding on the persons for appraisal, the Regulations stipulate that whether it is the selection of a new leading body or the promotion and appointment of an individual, the person(s) to be appraised shall be determined through collective study on the basis of democratic recommendation by the relevant Party committee (leading Party members' group) or organization (personnel) department. No individual leading cadre shall decide on the choice of person to be appraised.
Third, the Regulations stipulate that while discussing and deciding on the appointment or removal of cadres by a Party committee, at least two-thirds of the members must attend the meeting, the decision shall be made with the agreement of more than half of the Party committee members that should attend the meeting, and a decision shall not be made by only one or a few persons. The Regulations also stipulate that prospective candidates and candidates recommended for the principal posts of the leading body of a prefecture (prefectural-level city), county (county-level city) Party committee or government shall be nominated by the standing committee of the Party committee at the higher level, the nomination shall be examined and deliberated at a plenary session of the Party committee, and it shall be put to the vote through a secret ballot. During the period when the plenum of the Party committee is not in session, the decision shall be made by the standing committee of the Party committee. The opinions of all Party committee members shall be solicited before the decision is made.
Q: The accuracy of cadre appraisal has always been an important concern of cadres and the general public, what are the stipulations in the Regulations in regard to the prevention of such appraisals from being inaccurate?
A: To prevent inaccurate appraisals, the Regulations have laid down relatively compact stipulations. Regarding the content of appraisal, it is required that the appraisers must conduct comprehensive investigation into the integrity, ability, diligence, performance and honesty of the candidates in accordance with the requirements for cadre selection and appointment and the requirements concerning the duties of different posts, with the emphasis on investigating their work performance. Regarding the scope of appraisal, the Regulations contain explicit stipulations on the scope of democratic recommendation and that of individual talks. This is conducive to ensuring that the mass line is faithfully followed in the appraisal work and the opinions and voices of the general public are heeded on a wider scale. With regard to appraisal methods, it is required that those involved become acquainted with the situation in an extensive and deep-going way through such methods as individual interviews, questionnaires, demo-cratic opinion polls, on-the-spot investigation, consulting related materials, special investigations and interviews with the person concerned. An advance notice on the investigation results shall be circulated within a specified scope through an appropriate method in light of the different situations of the persons to be appraised. In regard to appraisal discipline, it is stipulated that one must uphold principles, be fair and just, do in-depth and meticulous work, and truthfully report the feedbacks, and not conceal or distort facts. The Regulations also set strict requirements for persons participating in the assessment work, stipulating that they should have relatively high competence and corresponding qualifications, that the leading members of the appraisal groups shall be those having high ideological and political qualities, fairly rich work experience and good knowledge of personnel work. The Regulations also stipulate that a responsibility system for cadre appraisal work shall be instituted.
Q: In recent years, the Party Central Committee has paid great attention to the work of training and selecting outstanding young cadres. What are the stipulations in the Regulations on promoting the emergence of outstanding young cadres?
A: Training and selecting outstanding young cadres has always been a major strategic issue to which the CPC has consistently paid great attention. In order to boost the emergence of outstanding young cadres, the Regulations have set down explicit requirements in the "General Provisions," stating that attention should be paid to the selection and appointment of outstanding young cadres. Besides stipulating the qualifications required of those to be selected to hold Party and government leading posts, the Regulations also stipulate that exceptionally outstanding young cadres can be promoted by breaking conventional rules a manifestation of the spirit of "paying attention to, but not puzzling over, steps, and stressing seniority but not attaching importance only to seniority." The Regulations also stipulate that members of Party and government leading bodies shall be selected from the reserve force. The Regulations devote a special chapter to open selection and appointment through competition. Objectively, this helps broaden the field of vision in the selection and appointment of young cadres, thus creating favorable conditions for outstanding young cadres to come into the limelight.
Q: Now, the problem concerning cadres being able to work at higher levels but not at lower levels is quite prominent. What measures have the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres adopted to resolve this problem?
A: In this regard, the Regulations stipulate that it is necessary to institute a system for the removal of cadres from office, a system of resignation, a system of demotion, a system of appointment and a probationary period system, thus introducing a solution to the problem of cadres not being able to work at "lower levels." Those who have gone beyond the age-limit for appointment or reached the retirement age, or have been proved to be unfit for the job through democratic opinion poll in the annual assessment and grading by over one third of the votes on the issue, or confirmed to be unqualified by the authority through assessment, shall be removed from their posts. The Regulations stipulate the institution of a resignation system for leading Party and government cadres. Resignation includes resignation due to post shift, voluntary resignation, resignation for acknowledgement of one's mistake, and resignation by order. A demotion system for leading Party and government cadres is instituted, whereby those with inadequate working ability or who for some other reason have proved unequal to the requirements of their present posts, shall be demoted. The instituting of an appointment system for some highly specialized leading posts is more conducive to enabling cadres to work at both higher and lower levels and to work in different departments. The Regulations also stipulate that for those who are promoted to leading posts at or below the prefecture (or department under a provincial government) and department (or bureau under a ministry) level not through election, a one-year probationary period system shall be instituted. Upon expiry of the probationary period, those proved qualified for their jobs through assessment shall remain at their posts; those proved unqualified shall be removed from the posts they have held on a trial basis.
Q: Unhealthy tendencies in personnel affairs in some localities and departments have become a common source of complaint among cadres and the general public. What are the stipulations in the Regulations on solution to this problem?
A: Currently, there do exist such unhealthy tendencies in some localities and departments, some of which are quite serious, as manifested strikingly in the violation of the specified principles, standards and procedures in the selection and appointment of cadres, the frequent practice of "running and asking for official posts" despite repeated prohibition, and the constantly occurring cases of "buying or selling official posts," canvassing votes and practicing bribery at elections. These harmful trends and corrupt phenomena have seriously obstructed the implementation of the Party's line, principles and policies concerning cadres, corrupted the Party style and tarnished the Party's image, and incurred bitter hatred from the general public. These problems must be resolutely dealt with and rectified. Deepening the reform, improving the institutions and strengthening mechanisms are the ways to arrive at permanent solutions to these problems. To this end, the Regulations have adopted a host of measures in the following aspects:
First, expanding democracy in personnel work. Democracy is an important guarantee for making decisions on the scientific use of personnel, as well as an effective means for restraining and supervising the use of power. The expansion of democracy is conducive to preventing and controlling unhealthy trends in personnel work at their roots.
Second, the supervision of personnel work has been strengthened. Supervision is a key measure for preventing and discovering problems, and for plugging loopholes. The Regulations have enhanced the system of supervision, from top to bottom, and vice versa, over leading officials and the selection and appointment of cadres. The Regulations stipulate that Party committees (leading Party members' groups) and their organization (personnel) departments and discipline inspection organizations (supervision departments) at all levels shoulder responsibility of supervision over the selection and appointment of cadres. Organization (personnel) departments should intensify supervision and inspection of cadre selection and appointment and the implementation of the Regulations, and conscientiously accept supervision from the authority and the general public. Institutions at the lower level and Party members, cadres and the general public all have the right to report and appeal to Party committees (leading Party members' groups) at the higher level and their organization (personnel) departments, and to discipline inspection organizations (supervision departments) about acts in violation of discipline and rules in the selection and appointment of cadres. Departments and institutions accepting and handling such cases should verify and deal with such cases in accordance with related stipulations. The Regulations also stipulate the establishment of a joint meeting system of related units, including organization (personnel) departments and discipline inspection organizations (supervision departments), and the institution of a responsibility ascertainment system for the selection and appointment of leading Party and government cadres.
Third, tightening up the procedures for cadre selection and appointment as a necessary vehicle for realizing democracy and supervision, as well as an essential basis for standardizing the conduct of personnel work. The Regulations contain strict procedural stipulations on various links, including recommendation, nomination, appraisal, deliberation, decision-making, personnel exchange, avoidance, resignation, demotion and disciplinary supervision, which are of high practical significance to preventing and correcting the unhealthy trends in personnel work.
Fourth, instituting rigorous discipline in personnel work. The Regulations contain more complete and more comprehensive stipulations than before in disciplinary sanctions and penalizing measures in personnel work, thus enriching the contents of the "ten prohibitions" requirements. It is required that Party committees (leading Party members' groups) at various levels and their organization (personnel) departments, within the limits of their personnel administration power, deny approval to the appointment and removal of cadres in violation of the rules, and correct such irregularities resolutely. Organizational or disciplinary measures shall be adopted against the person mainly responsible and other directly responsible persons in accordance with relevant rules. The Regulations also stipulate that in dealing with serious consequences resulting from oversight and mistakes in cadre appointment, it is necessary to ascertain and affix responsibility on the principally responsible person and other directly responsible persons; in cases of serious unhealthy tendencies in the use of personnel, which evoke vehement resentment from both cadres and the general public, as well as ineffective handling of cases that violates organizational and personnel discipline, it is necessary to investigate and affix responsibility on principal leaders and leaders in charge of related work of the relevant Party committee. It is believed that the unhealthy trends in personnel work can be effectively prevented and checked so long as the people concerned strictly act upon the stipulations laid down in the Regulations, and are bold in upholding principles and dare to tackle concrete or thorny issues.
Q: Finally, what are the specific arrangements the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee has made for implementing the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres?
A: The formulation of rules and regulations is, of course, important, but the execution of rules and regulations is even more so. Guided by the important concept of the "Three Represents" and the important speech made by Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, at the graduation ceremony of the provincial (ministerial) cadre in-service training class of the Central Party School on May 31, 2002, properly grasping the study and implementation of the Regulations is an important and urgent task now and for a period of time to come placed before the Party committees (leading Party members' groups) at all levels and their organization (personnel) departments. The Party Central Committee pays great attention to the study and implementation of the Regulations. On July 22, 2002, the Party Central Committee held a special national teleconference, at which Hu Jintao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech. Hu called for mobilization and arrangement for the study and implementation of the Regulations and set forth clear-cut requirements. In addition, the Central Organization Department has recently issued a notice, requiring that organization (personnel) departments at all levels conscientiously implement the spirit of the speech given by Hu Jintao at the national teleconference, and take the lead in studying, vigorously publicizing and resolutely implementing the Regulations. At present, they should, under the unified leadership of Party committees (leading Party members' groups), concentrate for a period of time on earnestly and properly organizing the study of the Regulations, so that leading cadres at all levels may be familiar with the Regulations, cadres of organization (personnel) departments may be well versed in the Regulations, and the general run of cadres and the general public may understand the Regulations. In light of the realities of personnel work in their own localities and departments, they should conscientiously seek out and solve the outstanding problems existing in their work in line with the Regulations, so as to ensure that they apply what they have learned. Organization (personnel) departments at all levels should place the implementation of the Regulations high on the agenda, earnestly apply them in all the links of personnel work, and strengthen supervision and inspection. Leading cadres of organization (personnel) departments should be the first, and models, in implementing the Regulations. In what the lower levels are required to accomplish, leading cadres and upper-level organizations should be the first to accomplish, in the way of one level leading and bringing along another, so as to ensure practical results. They should conscientiously implement the responsibility ascertainment system related to the selection and appointment of cadres. In regard to serious consequences resulting from oversight and mistakes in the appointment of cadres, they should investigate and affix responsibility on the principally responsible persons and other directly responsible persons. No approval shall be given to matters related to the appointment and removal of cadres in violation of the stipulations of the Regulations. Decisions already made on the appointment and removal of cadres in violation of the stipulations of the Regulations shall all be invalid.
As long as Party organizations at all levels resolutely implement the requirements of the Party Central Committee and strictly act upon the Regulations on Selecting and Appointing Cadres, the selection and appointment of leading Party and government cadres will definitely be raised to a new level.
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