爱国统一战线 Patriotic United Front

A political union of all socialist laborers, patriots supporting socialism and patriots supporting the unification of China.

First raised as the "ethnic united front" in 1935 by the Communist Party of China (CPC), it was meant to join the powers of all social groups regardless of their class, wealth and political positions to fight against the Japanese aggressors during the World War II.

Despite changes in the specific concept and target of the union under different historical conditions, this union has remained a key strategy of the CPC to mobilize all social sectors to achieve the contemporary goals it sets for the country.

Part of institutional arrangements for the country to consolidate and develop the people's dictatorship, this union was embodied in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, whose members include people from the CPC, the eight non-communist parties and other social groups.

南巡讲话 South Tour Speeches

A series of speeches delivered by the late leader Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up, during his inspection tour of southern Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shanghai in early 1992. Targeted at domestic misgivings and confusion among some scholars and even officials about the country's reform and development, Deng put forward some new viewpoints on a series of crucial issues, such as the core of Marxism, the essence of socialism, market economy, and how to emancipate and develop productivity. The significant speeches outlined an unequivocal path for the country's further reform and opening-up and have greatly driven its political, economic, and social development.

实事求是 To Seek Truth from Facts

A term stressing that facts or practices are the single standard by which to judge whether a theory is valid. It is one of the core ideas of the Communist Party of China about socialism with Chinese characteristics. Repeatedly stressed by different generations of leaders, this term was formally raised by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s. It was to mobilize the country to look for means of development in economic and political terms feasible and suitable for China rather than those based on political ideology. It is still part of the principles for the CPC stipulated in its constitution. It is also a popular term extensively used in different aspects of social life.

与时俱进 Keep Up With the Times

An expression that has become popular in official documents and speeches, accentuating the need on the part of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to keep pace with the rapid changes that have taken place in society.

First appearing in former President Jiang Zemin's speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the CPC's founding on July 1, 2001, the expression was included as part of the theme for the Party's 16th National Congress in 2002. Under the principle, the Party vowed to adapt its ideology and work in tune with the latest developments in and out of the country to better serve the people.

信访 Letters and Visits

A special term referring to actions of citizens or institutions to give information, make comments or suggestions and lodge complaints to the special administrative department in charge of receiving them through various forms. Letters and visits from the grassroots were lauded by State leaders as having remarkable significance in enhancing ties between the government and the people. Individuals and institutions could write letters or pay visits to the relevant department when they have information about or want to complain about the performance of the administrative organization, enterprise or institutions supplying public services as well as about their staff members. Departments receiving letters and visits are required to process the information and complaints according to a State Council regulation first adopted in 1995 and revised in 2005.

星火计划 Spark Program

A State effort to popularize modern technologies in the rural areas to stimulate rural development and raise the farmers' income. Started in 1986, the program offers support to technological projects easily applied and developed in rural areas, encourages factories and small businesses to develop these projects with incentives in several aspects, holds training courses in rural businesses and promotes agricultural technology among farmers. By 2006, local governments invested 14.3 billion yuan while the central government contributed 363.1 billion yuan to the program.

以人为本 Put People First

An idea of the Communist Party of China (CPC) stresses that boosting the people's interests and development are the purpose of the Party as well as the State. Formally raised during the third plenary session of the 16th CPC Central Committee in October 2003, this idea was tagged as the core of the scientific outlook of development by general secretary Hu Jintao in his report on the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007. As a ruling party, the CPC vowed to expand the people's interests, respect the people's position in political life, give play to their creativity and let them share the benefits of development.

两岸直航包机 Direct Chartered Flight Across the Taiwan Straits

Flights between designated airports on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan during major Chinese festivals. Regular flights have been cut off between the two sides since 1949. In 2003, the Taiwan authorities allowed Taiwan airlines to fly Taiwan people living in the mainland with chartered flights from Shanghai for the Spring Festival. As a trust-building step, chartered flights were added in 2006 during three other holidays: Tomb Sweeping Day, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid Autumn Festival. Airlines from both sides were allowed and the flights stopped at four mainland cities and two Taiwan cities. Negotiations are underway to arrange the chartered flights weekly or even more frequently.

基层群众自治制度 System of Community Level Self-Governance

A grassroots democratic system in which rural and urban citizens manage the public affairs in their organizations and communities. Composed of the villagers' committee in rural areas, neighborhood committee in urban areas and the conference of workers and staff in businesses, the system enables the members to carry out democratic elections, decision-making and supervision. An important part in the country's political democracy, it was stressed as a fundamental system to adhere to in improving the socialist political system by General Secretary Hu Jintao in his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007.

多党合作和政治协商制度 System of Multi-party Cooperation and Political Consultation

A basic political system in China under which the Communist Party of China (CPC), as the party in power, consults all non-Communist parties and representatives of non-party personages to reach a common understanding before taking major decisions. Formally established in 1949 when New China was founded, the system is practiced through various forms. The two major forms are the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, of which non-Communist party members and non-party personages are members, and the consultative conferences attended by non-Communist parties and unaffiliated democrats who are invited by the CPC bodies at different levels.

依法治国 Rule of Law

A fundamental principle of governance that stresses that the country should be administered in accordance with the law.

It was formally raised as a fundamental principle in 1997 when former general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiang Zemin delivered his report to the 15th National Congress of the CPC. He stressed the principle should be fully observed as "socialist democracy is gradually institutionalized and codified so that such institutions and laws will not change with changes in the leadership or changes in the views or focus of attention of any leader."

This principle was reiterated by General Secretary Hu Jintao during the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007.

民主集中制 Democratic Centralism

A principle of organization in the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as in the country's political life, stressing both democracy and centralism. Enunciated originally by Vladimir Lenin, the principle stresses that the Party members have the freedom to discuss and debate matters of policy and direction, but must support the final decision once it is reached through a majority vote. Individuals must obey the Party or the organization, the minority must obey the majority, the lower levels of organizations must obey the ones at the upper level. It is one of the most important principles adopted by the CPC at its early stage and is upheld till now.

政企分开 Separate Government Functions from Enterprise Management

An effort to draw a clear line between the roles of the administration and of the businesses. Under the planned economy, the extensive involvement of the government in economic operations resulted in the government making commercial decisions for the businesses and the State-owned enterprises offering public services to their employees, ranging from medical care to education. Since the country introduced the economic reform, it became a major mission for the government to separate the functions of the administration from those of the enterprises in order to improve the efficiency of both.

农转非 Change From Rural Residents to Urban Residents

A change in the residential status of people under the household registration system.

Since the household registration system was established in the 1950s, residents were put into two categories, urban and rural, according to where they lived. While urban residents enjoyed relatively better social security as industrial workers, rural residents had to depend on farming for a living.

Rural people could obtain urban registration under special circumstances, like entering universities or becoming army officers. This was difficult to achieve, but viewed as a quick way to a better life, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.

As the country began to reform, so did the household registration system. The supply of commodities became more abundant on the market, and the difference in welfare of urban and rural residents was narrowed.

863计划 863 Program

A government program to stimulate the development of advanced technologies. The figure "863" comes from the fact that it was created in the third month of 1986.

Approved by former leader Deng Xiaoping, the program aims at lifting China's own efforts in scientific and technology research as well as in commercializing the benefits of the research. The program's specific plan gives preference to research in biology, information technology, astronautics, laser technology, automation, energy technology, and new materials.

A milestone in the history of scientific progress, the program has boosted China's independent research capability, laying a solid foundation for economic and social growth.