China condemns 'money worship', corruption of reform era in key document
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[November 16, 2021]
By Gabriel Crossley
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's ruling
Communist Party slammed the "money worship", "extreme individualism" and
corruption that emerged in the four decades since the country opened up,
calling for stronger party leadership and moral discipline in a key
resolution released on Tuesday.
The document strengthens President Xi Jinping's dominance of the party
ahead of what is likely to be a precedent-breaking third term to begin
next year, while enshrining his vision of China's historical trajectory.
The resolution on the party's "achievements and historical experiences"
since its founding 100 years ago was passed at the end of a four-day,
closed-door meeting last week of its Central Committee.
It puts Xi on the same pedestal as predecessors Mao Zedong and Deng
Xiaoping, whose pre-eminence was cemented by the only other two such
resolutions passed, in 1945 and 1981, respectively.
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It sketches out an overview of China's history, from the "humiliations"
of the late Qing empire to the present day, and hopes of a future "great
rejuvenation", emphasising repeatedly that the Communist Party is the
driver of progress.
Deng launched reforms in 1978 that transformed China from an
impoverished backwater into the world's second-largest economy. His own
resolution emphasised the importance of "collective leadership" after
the Maoist excesses of the Cultural Revolution.
Xi, however, is seen to have amassed more power than any leader since
Mao, and the latest resolution did not emphasise collective leadership.
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![](../images/111621PIX/news_t43.jpg)
A screen shows late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping during a
show commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of
the Communist Party of China at the National Stadium in
Beijing, China June 28, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File
Photo
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While the new document pledges to continue with
"reform and opening" policies, it noted that since their launch,
"erroneous trends of thought such as money worship, hedonism and
extreme individualism" have emerged.
The Party also saw a weakening of its leadership and corrupt
practices in the reform era, it said.
Stricter governance, stronger ideological work and more cultural
"self-confidence" can help solve these problems, it said, noting
that the Xi era had seen many long-term issues resolved.
Xi has called for achieving "common prosperity", seeking to narrow a
yawning wealth gap, and has presided over a vast anti-corruption
campaign, punishing more than one million officials, from
low-ranking cadres to potential rivals for the top leadership of the
party.
(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley and Kevin Yao; Editing by Tony Munroe
and Nick Macfie)
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