Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen grass roots reach through Communist Party branches
Strengthened local membership seen as key to delivery of reforms and management of trade war fallout
Amid an escalating trade war with the United States and rising concern at home over the lack of reform progress, Chinese leadership is focusing on expanding the Communist Party’s reach at grass roots level.
A renewed effort has been made to build and strengthen party cells across the country. This is to ensure Beijing’s policies are faithfully carried out at the local level. It is also to strengthen social control as China prepares itself for more clashes with the US, observers said.
President Xi Jinping chaired a Politburo meeting on September 21 when the party’s most powerful 25 members met to discuss key policy direction.
The statement issued afterwards made no mention of trade war or reform – if they have been discussed at all. The focus is sharply on how to build and strengthen party organisations and expand into areas where previously the party has had only a token presence.
“The building of party cells should not only be strengthened in traditional sectors but also be extended to new areas. [We need to] continuously expand their coverage,” the statement said.
Party branches are urged to improve their organising capacity and leadership to “cement the organisational foundation of the party’s long-serving reign.”