The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, "Opinions on Strengthening Party Building in Social Organizations (Trial)"

To effectively strengthen the Party's leadership over social organizations and promote their healthy development, we hereby present the following guidelines on enhancing the Party's work in building organizations within these entities, based on the Party Constitution and relevant laws and regulations.

I. The Important Significance and Overall Requirements of Strengthening Party Building in Social Organizations

1. The Significance: Social organizations primarily include social groups, privately-run non-enterprise entities, foundations, social intermediary organizations, and community-based social organizations in urban and rural areas. With the continuous deepening of reform and opening-up, China’s social organizations have experienced rapid growth, becoming a vital force in building a socialist modernization and serving as an important platform for the Party’s work and mass mobilization efforts. In the strategic layout of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and comprehensively strengthening Party governance, social organizations are entrusted with critical tasks. At the same time, these organizations themselves are facing numerous new challenges, developments, and issues. Strengthening Party building within social organizations is essential for guiding them toward the right path of development, fostering their vitality, and enabling them to play an even greater role in advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Moreover, it is crucial for closely uniting social organizations and their members around the Party, continuously expanding the Party’s influence within these organizations, reinforcing its class foundation, broadening its mass base, and solidifying its governing foundation.

2. Overall Requirements: Guided by Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of the "Three Represents," and the Scientific Outlook on Development, we will deeply implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important speeches. We will uphold the unity of Party leadership and the lawful autonomy of social organizations, integrate Party work into the operational and developmental processes of these organizations, and better organize, guide, and unite social organizations and their personnel. We will adhere to a rigorous and pragmatic approach, grasp the inherent principles and characteristics, strictly enforce Party building systems, and actively explore methods that align with the realities of social organizations, while firmly avoiding bureaucratic tendencies and formalism. Focusing on addressing specific challenges, we will tackle issues such as an incomplete organizational structure, insufficient organizational coverage, and inadequate utilization of organizational roles, thereby driving a comprehensive提升 in the level of Party building within social organizations. Finally, we will adopt a categorized approach, tailoring our efforts to the unique circumstances of different types and sizes of social organizations, properly balancing consistency with diversity, enhancing both precision and effectiveness, continuously strengthening the creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness of Party organizations within these groups, and fully leveraging the pivotal role of Party organizations as robust bastions and the exemplary, pioneering influence of individual Party members.

II. Clearly Define the Functional Positioning of Party Organizations in Social Organizations

3. Role and Function: The Party organization within social organizations serves as the Party's fighting fortress in these groups, playing a central political role. We must focus on fulfilling the Party's political responsibilities, closely aligning our work with the fundamental tasks entrusted to grassroots Party organizations by the Party Constitution. This includes rigorously conducting organizational life, strictly upholding political discipline, political norms, and organizational rules, and fully leveraging the political functions and influence of the Party organization. Furthermore, in accordance with the requirements for building grassroots service-oriented Party organizations, we should innovate service approaches, enhance our capacity to deliver services, and elevate the quality of service delivery—using these services to connect with the people, unite them, guide them, and ultimately win their trust and support.

4. Core Responsibilities: (1) Ensure the correct political direction. Publicize and implement the Party’s guiding principles, policies, and resolutions issued by the Central Committee of the Party, higher-level Party organizations, and our own organization. Organize Party members and the masses to earnestly study the Theory System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, deeply learn the important speeches delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and educate and guide them to abide by national laws and regulations. Additionally, guide and supervise social organizations to operate legally and maintain integrity in their professional practices. (2) Unite and rally the masses. Conduct effective ideological and political work, educating and inspiring employees to strengthen their political identity. Show care for and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers, while rallying positive energy to drive reform and development forward. (3) Promote organizational growth and development. Inspire staff members’ enthusiasm for work and foster a sense of ownership. Assist social organizations in refining their articles of association and internal management systems, and encourage and support them to participate systematically in social governance, deliver public services, and fulfill their social responsibilities. (4) Cultivate an advanced culture. Uphold the guiding role of socialist core values in cultural development, organize diverse and engaging cultural activities, and create a vibrant, uplifting cultural environment. Educate Party members and the public to consciously resist negative trends and firmly stand against all forms of illegal and criminal behavior. (5) Support talent development. Show concern and care for talented individuals, proactively offering guidance and assistance to help them continuously improve their ideological and professional capabilities. Provide support and safeguards to enable talents to pursue innovation and achieve success in their respective fields. (6) Strengthen internal organizational capacity. Innovate organizational structures, refine working mechanisms, and rigorously enforce all rules governing Party life. Effectively carry out tasks related to developing new Party members, educating and managing existing members, and providing them with quality services. Uphold and enforce Party discipline, closely monitor Party members’ fulfillment of their duties, and actively advance efforts in building a clean and honest Party. Furthermore, provide leadership over grassroots mass organizations within the unit, including the trade union, Communist Youth League, and Women’s Federation.

III. Improve the Management System and Working Mechanism for Party Building in Social Organizations

5. Establish robust organizational structures. Local Party committees at the county level and above should set up social organization Party-building institutions, leveraging the support of their respective Party organization departments and civil affairs authorities. For regions that have already established Party-building institutions for non-public-sector enterprises, these can be integrated into a single entity under the guidance of the Party organization department. Meanwhile, Party organization departments at higher levels will provide guidance to their counterparts at lower levels overseeing social organization Party-building activities.

6. Streamline the management system. The Party building work of national-level social organizations is uniformly led and managed by the Central Organs Work Committee, the Central State Organs Work Committee, and the Party Committee of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, respectively. Meanwhile, the Party building work for local social organizations is under the unified leadership and management of provincial, municipal, and county-level institutions dedicated to social organization Party building. The primary responsibilities of these central or local bodies in social organization Party building include: guiding the establishment of grassroots Party organizations and strengthening the ranks of Party members; overseeing ideological and political education as well as the Party’s mass work and integrity-building efforts; ensuring that affiliated social organization Party committees hold regular elections on schedule and approving the selection of secretaries and deputy secretaries; reviewing candidates for leadership positions within social organizations; and providing guidance on other key aspects of Party construction. Party building in urban and rural community-based social organizations is ultimately overseen by street/community Party organizations and township/village Party committees. For social organizations with a designated supervisory authority, their Party building activities are led and managed by the Party organization of that supervisory body, while still receiving guidance from the relevant social organization Party building institutions. Additionally, Party groups established within social organizations provide guidance on the work of both the organization itself and its directly affiliated Party branches. All regions should streamline the affiliation relationships of social organization Party organizations in accordance with principles that facilitate effective Party activities and enhance the education and management of Party members.

7. Enhance the working mechanisms. Party committees' organizational departments at all levels and social organization party-building institutions should strengthen overall coordination, regularly convene meetings on social organization party building with participation from relevant departments, and promptly address key issues. Emphasize collaboration between different levels, ensuring timely communication of updates and dynamics in social organization party building. Actively study and deploy priority tasks, leveraging grassroots experiences to drive broader initiatives. Party committees' organizational departments at the county level and above, along with social organization party-building institutions, should directly engage with a select group of larger-scale, well-staffed, and highly influential social organization party organizations, staying closely informed, actively gathering feedback, and providing robust guidance.

4. Promote effective coverage of Party organizations and Party work within social organizations

8. Establish Party organizations at the organizational level. Any social organization with three or more formal party members must, in accordance with the Party Constitution and subject to approval by the higher-level Party organization, set up a Party Committee, General Branch, or Branch as appropriate, and carry out regular leadership transitions. For larger organizations with numerous member units but fewer party members than required, a Party Committee may be established with approval from the Party Committee at or above the county level. When a social organization undergoes changes, merges, splits, or is dissolved, its Party organization should promptly report to the higher-level Party organization and properly handle related tasks such as transferring party membership affiliations. In turn, the higher-level Party organization should promptly make decisions regarding any adjustments or abolishment of the social organization's Party organization.

9. Establish Party organizations based on industries. For industries with distinct characteristics and well-established management systems, industry-specific Party organizations can be set up through industry associations and chambers of commerce. These industry-level Party organizations will provide guidance on Party-building work within member units.

10. Establish Party organizations by region. In areas where social organizations are relatively concentrated—such as neighborhoods, industrial parks, office buildings, and other similar zones—Party organizations can be established in a unified manner, transcending organizational boundaries. For smaller social organizations with fewer members, they may join forces to set up a joint Party organization, following the principle of convenience and proximity.

11. Achieve full-area coverage. Guided by the principle of establishing Party organizations wherever possible, we will intensify efforts to set up Party organizations across the board. For social organizations that currently lack the necessary conditions for establishment, we can initiate Party activities through measures such as assigning Party-building instructors or liaisons, or by fostering grassroots organizations like trade unions and Communist Youth League branches. Once the conditions are ripe, Party organizations should be established promptly. For newly established social organizations that already meet the criteria for formation, the registration and approval authorities must actively encourage and facilitate the simultaneous establishment of Party organizations. Meanwhile, Party organizations at the street/community and township/village levels should strengthen their leadership and guidance over social organizations operating in urban and rural communities. Through diverse approaches, we will gradually ensure effective coverage of both Party organizations and Party activities across all sectors.

V. Expanding the Ways for Social Organization Party Organizations and Members to Play Their Roles

12. Conduct Party organization activities centered on the healthy development of social organizations. These activities should be closely aligned with the growth of social organizations, actively exploring effective platforms such as themed events to mutually reinforce professional practice, daily management, and cultural development within the organizations. Promote the mutual inclusion and cross-appointment of Party members serving in organizational leadership positions and members of the Party organization's leadership team. The Party organization secretary should attend or observe relevant management meetings, and non-Party member leaders of social organizations may be invited to participate in activities organized by the Party branch.

13. Conduct Party organization activities that closely align with the needs of employees and the public. Party organizations within social organizations should deeply understand and closely monitor the ideological conditions and practical needs of employees and the public, innovate approaches to ideological and political education, organize and carry out activities that resonate with the masses, deliver services that meet their expectations, strengthen humanistic care and psychological counseling, actively help people resolve their concerns, integrate education into service delivery, and effectively enhance the appeal and influence of Party organizations. Uphold the principle of Party building leading mass organization development, while mass organization development in turn supports Party building, and emphasize leveraging the roles of trade unions, Communist Youth Leagues, Women's Federations, and other mass organizations to create a collaborative force for effectively engaging with the public.

14. Highlight the unique characteristics of social organizations when conducting Party organization activities. Leverage the professional expertise of social organizations and their staff to actively engage in specialized volunteer services. Capitalizing on the abundant resources—such as talent and information—available within social organizations, proactively establish partnerships with community-based and other sectoral Party organizations to foster joint development, enabling resource sharing and complementary strengths. Additionally, capitalize on the broad network connections of social organizations by organizing Party members to promote the Party’s guiding principles, policies, and initiatives during their professional activities, thereby rallying societal consensus. Given the high mobility of organizational staff, make full use of modern information technologies to enhance the openness, flexibility, and effectiveness of Party organization activities.

15. Closely align educational management and services with the realities of Party members. Focus on safeguarding and implementing Party members' rights to know, participate, vote, and supervise; actively promote transparency in Party affairs, enhance members' engagement in internal Party matters, and fully leverage their pivotal role in the political life of the Party. Prioritize Party spirit education, strengthen training programs for Party members, and continuously improve their overall quality. Through initiatives such as establishing "Party Member Pioneer Posts," "Party Member Responsibility Zones," and "Party Member Service Windows," vigorously encourage Party members to publicly commit to and fulfill their responsibilities, thereby demonstrating exemplary leadership and driving force. In accordance with the principle of "one affiliation, multiple opportunities to participate in organizational activities," actively involve Party members whose organizational affiliations have not yet been transferred in activities organized by Party branches within social organizations. Intensify efforts to recruit new Party members, always placing political criteria first, and step up education and cultivation of prospective candidates. Pay special attention to developing qualified leaders and key personnel from social organizations into Party members, while also prioritizing recruitment within organizations that currently have no Party members or only a few. Strengthen supervision and management of Party members, rigorously oversee organizational relationships, promptly address cases of unqualified members, and ensure that the Party ranks remain advanced and pure.

16. Implement strict requirements to enhance the quality of organizational life. Closely align activities with the actual thoughts and work realities of party members, and rigorously enforce systems such as "Three Meetings and One Lesson," democratic evaluations of party members, and regular analyses of party members' political integrity. Regularly solicit feedback from staff and the public regarding the party organization and its members, promptly addressing any identified issues. Hold democratic life meetings for party member leading cadres as required, and convene regular organizational life meetings for all party members. Actively engage in constructive criticism and self-criticism, guiding party members to uphold discipline and adhere to rules, while firmly preventing organizational life from becoming casual, superficial, entertainment-driven, or overly mundane.

6. Strengthen the Development of Party Workforce in Social Organizations

17. Select and strengthen outstanding leaders for Party organization secretaries. In accordance with the criteria of upholding convictions, dedicating oneself to service, possessing competence, and emphasizing moral integrity, carefully select and empower capable individuals to serve as Party organization secretaries in social organizations. Generally, Party organization secretaries should be chosen from within the social organization itself; it is encouraged that party-member leaders of these organizations take on the role of Party secretary. If the head of a social organization is not a party member, the position of Party secretary can be filled by selecting someone from among the management team. If no suitable candidate is available within the organization, the higher-level Party organization may be asked to appoint a qualified individual, who will then assume office according to relevant internal Party regulations.

18. Strengthen and expand the team of Party affairs professionals. To meet the growing needs of Party building in social organizations, we must adhere to a combination of full-time and part-time personnel, adopting a multi-channel and diversified approach to recruitment. This will help build a team of Party workers who are highly qualified, well-structured, and adequately sized. For large social organizations with a substantial number of party members, dedicated deputy secretaries should be assigned. We will also intensify efforts to dispatch Party-building instructors, fully leveraging their roles in organization, publicity, member engagement, service delivery, and coordination guidance. Additionally, Party-building workstations will be established in areas where social organizations are relatively concentrated, staffed by both full-time and part-time personnel to effectively carry out Party-related tasks.

19. Strengthen education and training for Party workers. Integrate Party workers from social organizations into the scope of grassroots Party cadre training programs, leveraging party schools, administrative colleges, cadre academies, and universities at all levels to deliver these courses. The training initiatives will be jointly organized and implemented by the Party Committee's organizational department, institutions dedicated to Party building in social organizations, and relevant departments including civil affairs, justice, finance, taxation, education, health and family planning, as well as industry and commerce authorities. Emphasis will be placed on enhancing training in areas such as Party theory, guidelines, policies, internal Party regulations, national laws and regulations, Party work knowledge, and social organization management—aiming to improve their ability to effectively engage with the public and support the development of social organizations.

20. Strengthen management and motivation. We will uphold a combination of strict management practices and caring, motivating approaches, establishing robust management, assessment, and incentive systems tailored to the unique characteristics of social organizations. This will ensure that party workers in social organizations have platforms to demonstrate their capabilities, secure competitive compensation, and enjoy opportunities for professional growth. Party organization secretaries of social organizations must diligently implement the responsibility system for party building, annually reporting their work to higher-level party organizations and party members within their own units—and willingly undergoing evaluation. Based on actual needs, appropriate work allowances should be provided to party organization secretaries and full-time party workers. Additionally, we will prioritize recommending outstanding party organization secretaries as candidates for delegates to party congresses at all levels, People’s Congress representatives, and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. These individuals may also be considered for selection as model workers or other distinguished role models. When nominating leaders of social organizations for such positions, it is essential to first seek the opinions of the organization’s party committee. Finally, we will establish a formal system for reporting changes in party worker positions. If a party organization secretary faces unjust treatment due to upholding principles, the higher-level party organization must promptly investigate the situation, offering timely assistance and support.

7. Strengthen organizational leadership and guidance for Party building work in social organizations

21. Ensure the implementation of leadership responsibilities. Party committees at all levels must strengthen their leadership over Party building in social organizations, integrating this work into the overall framework of Party building initiatives. It should be treated as a key component in assessing and evaluating grassroots Party building efforts, as well as an important criterion for evaluating the performance of leading teams and officials in relevant departments. Additionally, reinforce leadership over Party building within social organizations that have severed ties with administrative agencies, ensuring that detachment from administration does not mean loss of oversight. Party organization departments at all levels should take the lead in overall coordination, while specialized institutions focused on Party building in social organizations should provide targeted guidance. Meanwhile, departments such as civil affairs, justice, finance, taxation, education, health and family planning, and industry and commerce should collaborate closely based on their respective functions to effectively support Party building activities in social organizations. Those failing to fulfill their responsibilities adequately will be held accountable.

22. Strengthen basic safeguards. Establish a funding mechanism for Party building work that relies on multiple channels of fundraising and diversified investment. Social organizations should include Party building funds as part of their administrative expenses, allowing eligible expenditures to be deducted before calculating corporate income tax in accordance with relevant regulations. All party membership dues contributed by Party members in social organizations will be fully allocated downward, and the Party committee’s organizational departments may provide additional support using retained party dues. Where conditions permit, various approaches can be adopted to offer necessary financial assistance. We encourage social organizations that meet the criteria to build dedicated venues for Party organization activities, and promote the coordinated development of Party-mass service centers in areas where such organizations are concentrated. Furthermore, we advocate for shared use of facilities and pooled resources between Party organizations in enterprises, institutions, government agencies, street communities, township villages, and social organizations themselves. Finally, strengthen ideological education for leaders of social organizations, guiding them to actively support Party building efforts, providing essential conditions for Party organizations to carry out activities and perform their duties effectively—and ensuring that these principles are explicitly incorporated into the articles of association of social organizations.

23. Ensure robust implementation and follow-up. All regions and relevant departments should carefully study and develop plans for Party building within social organizations, along with annual action plans. Implement target-based management, strengthen supervision and inspection, and actively promote the effective execution of these initiatives. Additionally, establish comprehensive assessment and evaluation methods for Party building in social organizations, clearly defining both rewards and penalties, and enhancing the application of evaluation results. At the same time, respect the innovative spirit at the grassroots level, continuously explore new challenges, and address emerging issues. Finally, share and replicate successful practices, while highlighting exemplary Party organizations, Party members, and leaders of social organizations to foster a positive atmosphere for Party building within these entities. Each region and relevant department may, based on their specific circumstances, formulate detailed implementation measures to put these guidelines into practice.