China Communist Party to have units in social groups

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said it requires social organisations to set up units of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to ensure their correct political direction and strengthen the Party's leadership over social organisations.

Social organisations have to make clear in their charters that they would establish CPC units and organise Party events. They should also implement socialist core values and observe social morality, state-run Global Timed reported, quoting an MCA press release.

Highlighting Party building in social organisations requires them to uphold Party leadership and stress political awareness, the MCA said.

"The notice implements the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which ensures the Party's leadership over all work," Su Wei, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Chongqing, told the paper.

The once-in-a five year Congress was held last year which approved a second tenure for Xi, now regarded as the most powerful leader heading the party, the presidency and the military.

He began his second five-year tenure in March and expected to continue in power for life after the removal of the two- term limit for the President.

Since he took over power in 2013, Xi has been reinforcing Party's control over all limbs of governance including the powerful military.

The report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC stressed the need to strengthen the building of primary-level Party units, and ensure that primary-level Party organisations in enterprises, villages, schools, communities and social organisations play a key role in communicating the Party's propositions and carry out the Party's decisions.

Many social organisations had established Party units before the notice was issued, and Party units serve to help organisations in their operations, such as communicating with governments and supervising their work, Xu Jialiang, a professor at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, told the paper.

"But Party units in these organisations are a political core rather than leadership core, which means the Party does not control these organisations and does not issue orders on operations," Su said.

The notice was issued following the MCA's campaign to combat illegal social organisations from April to December, and the ministry has shut down or dismissed over 300 illegal social organisations in the first quarter of the year. Fraudulent organisations have damaged the Party's and nation's reputation, and hurt the credibility of social organizations, the ministry said.