CPC to train members in Party principles

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) has launched a five-year nationwide training program among its grassroots members, with the aim of strengthening their faith in the Party.

The education is dedicated to vitalizing the whole Party through promoting the Party's spirit and the awareness of reform among the members, according to a statement published by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on Wednesday.

It will be targeted at grass-roots Party members from border, ethnic minority and rural areas, those in non-public sectors, leaderships at low levels as well as recruits, the statement said.

Ideological education will be the major content, including the teaching of the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese dream, the Party Constitution and the Party's lines, principles and policies.

According to the statement, different focuses will be given to Party members during the training. Members from border and ethnic minority areas will learn about the religious conception of Marxism, atheism, and the view of rule of law.

As for secretaries of low-level Party organizations, the training will focus on improving their abilities to serve people, enhance the cohesion of the public and maintain social stability, it added.

The national training comes on the basis of the CPC's "mass line" campaign aimed at removing undesirable work styles from officialdom and forging closer Party-people ties.

Launched in June 2013, the campaign has now entered its second phase, which is scheduled to run from January to September and to target more lower-level departments and leaderships.

Apart from traditional classroom education, distance online teaching will be provided, the statement said, adding that Party members will be encouraged to use social media including Weibo and WeChat.

Two social media accounts focused on educating CPC members were launched respectively on instant messaging platforms WeChat and EasyChat on Friday.

The two accounts, "gcdyweixin" on WeChat, and "gcdyyx" on EasyChat, feature news concerning Party organizations, introductions to role models for CPC members, and updates on the ongoing mass-line campaign.