一国两制 One Country, Two Systems

An idea formally put forward by Deng Xiaoping, then leader of China, in the early 1980s to reunify the country.

Deng suggested that there should only be one China, but the regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, once reunified with the rest of the country, could retain their original economic and political systems while other parts keep pursuing socialism.

This arrangement was observed when the country resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao in 1997 and 1999 respectively. The two cities are now the special administrative regions of the country with a high degree of autonomy.

The central government has also proposed the idea to the Taiwan authorities to speed up the reunification of China.

三通Three Direct Links

Shorthand for direct links in post, transportation and trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. Direct communication across the Taiwan Straits in most social and economical terms virtually stopped after the Kuomintang forces retreated to Taiwan in 1949. And the contacts, if any, were routed through intermediate places, mainly Hong Kong and Macao.

In the early 1980s, the central government appealed to the Taiwan authorities for opening "three links". The latter has consistently refused, but had to make concessions in the face of growing cross-Straits exchanges. "Three mini-links" was opened in 2001 between Fujian Province and the islands of Jinmen and Matsu in Taiwan. Cross-Straits charter flights were approved in 2003 for the Lunar New Year and the flights were arranged in 2006 for three other traditional Chinese festivals.

和谐社会A Harmonious society

A blueprint for social development featuring decent living standards for the majority of people, a tolerant society and peaceful coexistence between the human society and nature.

The concept was first floated in 2004 and then amplified in October 2006, when the Party set specific goals for building a harmonious society by 2020. The goals range from fostering the rule of law, substantial protection for private property, developed public services to foster creativity and more efficient use of resources.

Stemming from ancient Chinese ideas about harmony, the blueprint underlines the need to fine tune relations between different social entities. The idea also appears in the country's foreign policy, particularly its call for "a harmonious world".

大部制 Super-Ministry System

A very recent idea to restructure central government offices so that ministries, commissions and departments of the State Council with similar or overlapping functions can be merged into super-ministries. This scheme has been introduced in a reshuffle of the State Council approved by the National People's Congress in March to improve efficiency, reduce the cost of policy making and its execution, and straighten out problematic chains of command. Five super-ministries respectively overseeing industry, transport, housing and construction, human resources and the environment were established.

Based upon the current changes, the central government vowed to undertake further administrative reforms in the future.

三个代表 Three Represents

Shorthand for the call that the Communist Party of China (CPC) provides insight and leadership for economic and cultural progress, and commit itself to public good.

Former CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin, who was credited with its creation, literally admonished his comrades to "represent the development trend of China's most advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's most advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people".

The theory is the result of deliberations of the CPC's third-generation leaders on legitimacy and Party-building. At the 16th CPC National Congress in 2002, it was formally written into the Party Constitution.

科学发展观 Scientific Outlook on Development

A concept initiated by the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2003. It stresses a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development that is people-orientated. With priority on addressing the needs and protecting the rights of the people, the country will not only grow in economic terms, but also in political and cultural terms. The growth aims to bridge regional disparity, the urban-rural gap, protect resources, and the environment.

This concept is the core of policies by the CPC's current leaders headed by Hu Jintao. At the 17th CPC National Congress in October 2007, it was formally included in the Party Constitution.

双拥 Double Support

Shorthand for the administrative effort to enhance ties between the army and civilian communities. In essence, the expression means local governments and common people should support the army and give preferential treatment to the families of service people, particularly those killed while on the job, while soldiers should support the government and love the people.

In connection with this effort, schools offer training programs to soldiers, while common people provide technological consultations and donate books and the use of other facilities to the army. In return, the army helps deal with natural disasters, major construction projects and other difficulties.

保持党员先进性教育Campaign to Educate Party Members to Preserve Their Vanguard Nature

A campaign by the Communist Party of China to educate its members to stick firmly to the principles of the Party and serve the people so as to keep the Party's vigor and leading role in the country.

From January 2005 to June 2006, the country's 68 million Party members participated in the special education program. They refreshed their knowledge about the important theories of the Party at different periods, solidified their loyalty to the Party and improved the efficiency of the grass-root organizations of the Party in serving the people.

和平共处五项原则 Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

A set of norms governing relations between nations first raised by China. Put forward by then Premier Zhou Enlai in 1953 during negotiations between China and India, the five principles were originally meant to maintain friendly ties. Under the principles, both sides agreed to respect the territorialintegrity and sovereignty of each other, not to invade the soil of each other, do not interfere in each other's internal affairs, the ties should be equally based, and mutually beneficial for the two countries to coexist peacefully.

The five principles have been widely accepted in bilateral relations between China and many other countries. One of the corner stones of China's foreign policy, it has also become an important part in the law on international relationships.

社会主义荣辱观 Socialist Concept of Honor and Disgrace

An idea put forward to instill a value of moral standards among the public, especially youngsters, in line with Chinese traditional values and modern virtues.

The concept underscores the value of patriotism, consciousness of serving the people, belief in science, hard work, solidarity, honesty, observation of the law and plain living. It condemns the opposite of these virtues as disgraces.

It was raised by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, in March 2006. And the concept is also known as "eight honors and eight disgraces".

"三讲" 教育 "Three Emphasis" Education

A campaign by the Communist Party of China (CPC) to remind Party officials to pay more attention to theoretical study, improve their political awareness, and be honest and upright.

Jiang Zemin, then CPC general secretary, pointed out in November 1995 that Party officials should improve their self-education in the three aspects. And a national campaign was soon started among all Party officials. A conference was held in December 2000 which hailed the campaign as a success. CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao said the move had boosted the individual capabilities of Party members and the internal governance of the Party as well.

党务公开 Open Management of Party Affairs

An institutional arrangement for branches of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at all levels to improve transparency.

According to this principle, Party branches are obliged to make their processes for making decisions and carrying out activities as well as their achievements known to other Party members according to the characteristics of the issues. And if the issues are closely related to the interests of the public, the Party branches should also publicize their work to all. Formally included in the CPC Constitution in 2007, this principle was part of the CPC's effort to promote democracy within the Party, protect the democratic rights of Party members and enhance the internalsupervision of the Party.
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