The Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, commonly known as the "third historical resolution", is a document adopted by the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on its Sixth Plenary Session held between 8–11 November 2021. This document was the third of its kind after "historical resolutions" adopted by Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.[1]
In March 2021, the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party decided that the sixth plenary session of the 19th CCP Central Committee would focus on studying and summarizing the achievements and historical experiences of the CCP in the last century. A document drafting group was set up, with Xi Jinping as the group leader, and Wang Huning and Zhao Leji as deputy group leaders, with other officials of the CCP and state helping to draft the document.[2]
On 1 April 2021, the CCP Central Committee issued a notice on soliciting opinions on the key issues about drafting the document from within and outside the CCP. On 6 September, the CCP Politburo decided to distribute the draft resolution for soliciting opinions within a certain range within the CCP, including soliciting opinions from some veterans within the party, and also listening to the opinions of the leaders of the minor parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and representatives of non-party personages.
On 18 October 2021, Xi chaired a Politburo meeting to study the issue of comprehensively summarizing the major achievements. The CCP Politburo listened to the report on the solicitation of opinions on the draft, and decided to submit the draft resolution to the Sixth Plenary Session after making revisions based on the opinions discussed at this meeting.[3] The Resolution was adopted on 11 November, at the end of the Sixth Plenary Session.
The Resolution divides the CCP's history into three eras.[4] The first era, under Mao's leadership, prepared the foundation for socialism with Chinese characteristics. The second era is framed as under the leadership of Deng and his successors. The third era, under General Secretary Xi Jinping's leadership, is framed as the synthesis of the preceding two eras. The Resolution
The Resolution begins by describing the country before the Chinese Communist Revolution as a splendid civilization weakened by the aggression of Western imperial powers. Led by Mao and equipped with Marxism, the CCP is described as liberating China. Next, the Resolution describes China's socialist construction during Mao's leadership and his integration "of the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China's realities."
The Resolution describes Mao Zedong Thought as "a summation of theories, principles, and experience on China's revolution and construction that has been proven correct through practice, and [having] put forward a series of important theories for socialist construction." Regarding the Mao era, the 2021 Resolution echoes the position of the 1981 Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People's Republic of China.
According to the Resolution, Deng, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao explored the path of how best to build socialism in China with a focus on the questions of "what is socialism and how to build it" and "what kind of party to build and how to build it."
The document for the first time credited Xi as being the "main innovator" of Xi Jinping Thought.[6] The document declares Xi's leadership as being "the key to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".[7] In comparison with the other historical resolutions, Xi's one did not herald a major change in how the CCP evaluated its history.[8] To accompany the historical resolution, the CCP promoted the terms Two Establishes and Two Upholds, calling the CCP to unite around and protect Xi's core status within the party.[9]