Having elected a new Central Committee and a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and having adopted the Resolution on the Report of the 17th CPC Central Committee, the Resolution on the Report of the Work of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Resolution on the Amendments to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) came to a successful conclusion at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of November 14, 2012.

The Congress called on the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee and strive to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society. The Congress called on the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups to constantly win new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics and work together to create a happier and brighter future the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

Comrade Hu Jintao presided over the Congress.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Presidium of the 18th CPC National Congress sitting at the front row of the podium are: Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, Zhou Yongkang, Wang Gang, Wang Lequan, Wang Zhaoguo, Wang Qishan, Hui Liangyu, Liu Qi, Liu Yunshan, Liu Yandong, Li Yuanchao, Wang Yang, Zhang Gaoli, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Song Ping, Wei Jianxing, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Luo Gan, Fan Changlong, Xu Qiliang, He Yong, Ling Jihua, and Wang Huning.

The closing ceremony started at nine o'clock in the morning.

There should be 2,325 delegates and special invitees attending the 18th CPC National Congress and the actual attendance was 2,307. The actual attendance exceeded 50% of eligible delegates and the election procedures of the Congress were therefore followed.

The meeting first approved the list of 2 general scrutineers and 36 ballot scrutineers.

Under the supervision of general scrutineers and ballot scrutineers, the attending delegates and special invitees elected the 18th CPC Central Committee consisting of 205 members and 171 alternate members and the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection comprised of 130 members by secret ballot.

At 11:27 AM, Hu Jintao announced that the 18th CPC Central Committee and the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had been elected by the 18th CPC National Congress. The audience burst into prolonged and thunderous applause.

Subsequently, the Congress approved the Resolution on the Report of the 17th CPC Central Committee. The Congress approved the report made by Comrade Hu Jintao on behalf of the 17th Central Committee. The resolution pointed out that the report has drawn up a grand blueprint for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and promoting the socialist modernization in an expedited manner and has pointed out the direction for the further development of the causes of the Party and the country. It is the crystallization of the wisdom of the whole party and the people, a political declaration and a programme of action for the Party to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups to win new victories in socialism with Chinese characteristics and a Marxist guideline document.

The Congress considered the theme of the Congress stated by the report is of great significance for the Party to lead the people to carry forward the tradition and forge ahead into the future. The whole party must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, free up the mind, implement the policy of reform and opening up, pool the strength, overcome all difficulties, firmly march on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and strive to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

The Congress spoke highly of the work of the 17th CPC Central Committee. The Congress agreed with the basic summary made by the 17th CPC Central Committee on the course of endeavors in the past 10 years since the 16th CPC National Congress. The Congress stressed that the most important achievement in our endeavors in the past ten years is that we have formed the Scientific Outlook on Development and put it into practice by making courageous theoretical innovations on the basis of practices and developing closely interconnected new ideas and viewpoints on upholding and building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Scientific Outlook on Development is the latest achievement in developing the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Party and a powerful theoretical weapon for guiding all the work of the Party and the country. Together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development is the theoretical guidance that the Party must adhere to for a long time.

The Congress pointed out that to achieve new victory for socialism with Chinese characteristics under new historical conditions, we must have a firm grasp of the following basic requirements: we must maintain the people's principal position in the country; we must continue to release and develop the productive forces; we must persevere in reform and opening up; we must safeguard social fairness and justice; we must strive for common prosperity; we must promote social harmony; we must pursue peaceful development; we must uphold the leadership of the Party.

The Congress considered that based on China's actual economic and social development, we must work hard to meet the following new requirements while working to fulfill the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects set forth at the Sixteenth and Seventeenth National Congresses: the economy should maintain sustained and sound development; people's democracy should be expanded; the country's cultural soft power should be improved significantly; living standards should be fully raised; major progress should be made in building a resource-conserving and environmentally friendly society. To complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, we must, with greater political courage and vision, lose no time in deepening reform in key sectors and resolutely discard all notions and systems that hinder efforts to pursue development in a scientific way. We should set up a well-developed, scientific, procedure-based and effective framework of systems and ensure that operating institutions in all sectors are fully functioning.

The Congress agreed with the arrangements in the report for China's socialist economic development, political development, cultural development, social development, development of ecological civilization. The Congress stressed that the development of ecological civilization should be integrated into all aspects and the whole process of economic development, political development, cultural development, and social development. We should strive to build a beautiful China and achieve the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. The Congress stressed that we must proceed from China's core security needs to build strong national defense and powerful armed forces that are commensurate with China's international standing and meet the needs of its security and development interests.

The Congress stressed that we must fully and faithfully implement the principle of "one country, two systems," under which the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong and the people of Macao govern Macao and both regions enjoy a high degree of autonomy. We must on one hand adhere to the one-China principle and on the other hand respect the differences of the two systems, on one hand uphold the power of the central government and on the other hand ensure a high degree of autonomy in the special administrative regions, on one hand give play to the role of the mainland as the staunch supporter of Hong Kong and Macao and on the other hand increase their competitiveness. We must consolidate and strengthen the political, economic, cultural and social foundation for the peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations and create even better conditions for achieving peaceful reunification. The Congress agreed with the analysis on the international situation and the proposed guideline for external work in the report.

The Congress stressed that we must comprehensively carry out the great new undertaking of party building in an innovative and reform-driven manner and make party building more scientific in all respects. All party members must focus on strengthening the Party's governance capacity, advanced nature and purity. We should make all-around efforts to strengthen the Party theoretically and organizationally and improve its conduct. We should enhance our capacity for self-purity, self-improvement, self-development and self-innovation and build the Party into an innovative, service-oriented and learning Marxist governing party. By taking these steps, we can ensure that the Party is always the firm leadership core guiding the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should keep to the Chinese-style path of combating corruption and promoting integrity. We should advance in an all-around way the establishment of a system of combating corruption through both punishment and prevention and see to it that officials are honest, the government is clean, and political integrity is upheld.

The Congress stressed that the more complexities the Party faces and the more arduous the tasks it undertakes, the more imperative it is for the Party to strengthen its discipline and uphold centralized leadership. This will enable the whole party from the leaderships to the ranks to advance in unison as a great force.

The Congress stressed that to live up to the people's trust and expectation and stand new tests under new historical conditions, the whole party must be keenly aware of potential dangers, be modest and prudent, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and remain clear-headed. We must be innovative in our thinking, uphold truth and correct mistakes, and always maintain energy and drive. We must uphold the fundamental purpose of the Party, trust and rely on the people, and always put them above everything else. We must heighten our sense of mission, be realistic and pragmatic, defy difficulties and work hard, and preserve the political integrity of Communists.

The Congress passed a resolution on the work report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, giving full consent to the job done by the 17th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The Congress also endorsed a resolution on an amendment to the CPC Constitution and decided that the amendment went into effect on the date of its adoption.

The Congress held that the Scientific Outlook on Development is not only a successor and extension to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, but also a scientific theory that keeps up with the times. The epitome of the Marxist worldviews and methodology on development, it is the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions and the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. It is the theoretical guidance the Party must adhere to for a long time to come. It was unanimously agreed at the Congress that the Scientific Outlook on Development, together Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, should be incorporated into the CPC Constitution as the Party's guide to action. The Congress requested all Party members to engage in more in-depth study of the Scientific Outlook on Development, enhance their consciousness and determination in implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, and continuously improve the implementing mechanisms, so that the Scientific Outlook on Development will become the theory guiding the whole process of China's modernization drive and all aspects of Party building.

The Congress held that the incorporation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics into the Party Constitution helps the Party to deepen its understanding of socialism with Chinese characteristics and grasp the connotation of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a comprehensive manner. The Congress stressed that all Party members must cherish the path, the theories and the socialist system that the Party has explored and created after going through all the hardships; and they must uphold them all the time and continue to develop them; they must strengthen their confidence in the path, the theories and the socialist system, and strive to score new victories in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

By including the need to promote ecological progress and elaborating on it in the Constitution, the Party has enriched the composition of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and clarified the strategic position of ecology in China's overall development plan, which are conducive to the all-round advancement of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With the introduction of new elements into the country's socialist economic, political, cultural, and social development, the newly amended CPC Constitution will play a very important role in ensuring all Party members' conscious and resolute implementation of the Party's basic theories, basic line, basic program, basic experience, and basic requirements, comprehensively promoting the development of socialist market economy, socialist democratic politics, socialist advanced culture, socialist harmonious society and socialist ecological progress, and uniting and leading people of all ethnic groups of the country in scoring new victories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Congress maintained that the policy of reform and opening up is the path leading to a stronger China and the salient feature of the new period in China. The inclusion of this statement in the Party Constitution will help the whole Party acquire a deeper understanding of the importance of continuing to carry out reform and opening up and thus pursue this endeavor even more consciously and with greater determination

The Congress held that the incorporation of new achievements, new understanding and new requirements in Party building since the convening of the 17th National Congress of CPC into the Party Constitution constitutes a great improvement on the priority, composition and overall objective of Party building, and will be conducive to the great new undertaking of Party building. It is of great necessity to reflect and draw on the successful experience accumulated in Party building in recent years, and revise a number of specific articles and provisions in the Party Constitution in accordance with revisions made in the General Program of the Constitution.

After the Congress completed all its agendas, Hu Jintao delivered an important speech amidst warm applause. Hu noted that, thanks to the joint efforts of all delegates present, the 18th CPC National Congress has been convened in a way that holds high the socialist banner, carries forward the socialist cause and calls on the country to forge ahead into the future in unity. The report of the 17th CPC Central Committee approved at the Congress holds high the grand banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as the action guide, analyzes the development and changes in international and domestic situations, reviews the Party's work over the past five years and the struggle and historical achievements made since the 16th CPC National Congress, crowns the Scientific Outlook on Development as the theoretical guidance for the Party, comes up with the basic requirements that must be met in scoring new victories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, puts in place the objectives of building a moderately well-off society and deepening reform and opening-up in a comprehensive manner, makes comprehensive arrangements for the promotion of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new period, and sets explicit requirements on scientific Party building. The amendment to the CPC Constitution adopted by the Congress embodies the Party's achievements in theoretical innovation and practice, the major theories, policies and guidelines, and work arrangements put forth in President Hu's report at the 18th Party Congress, and the achievements scored in the field of Party building in recent years. It also sets new requirements for improvement in Party work and Party building. The Congress reviewed and approved the work report of the 17th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The Congress elected a new Central Committee of the Party, achieving a smooth succession of the Party's central leadership. The Congress also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. It was the conviction of the party that all the decisions and plans adopted and all the achievements made at the Congress will be of far-reaching significance in guiding the all-around development of the great cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics and the great new undertaking of Party building.

Hu noted that delegates to the National Congress of the Party have a glorious mission and major responsibilities. They must bear their sacred duties in mind, conscientiously study and apply the Party's theory, guidelines and policies, study, comply with, implement and defend the Party Constitution, keep themselves in line with the Party's Central Committee not only ideologically and politically but also in action, stay close to the rank and file Party members and the people, and exercise their rights as delegates in the right way. They must also play an exemplary role, contribute their wisdom and efforts to the cause of the Party and the country, and live up to the confidence and trust of the rank and file Party members.

During the congress many foreign political parties and organizations sent congratulatory messages on its opening. Congratulations also came from the central committees of domestic Democratic Parties, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of all ethnic groups of the country, as well as people from all walks of life. The presidium of the Congress felt sincere gratitude for their congratulations, Hu stressed.

The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, Hu stressed, are the fundamental achievement the Party and the people have explored, created and built up after going through over 90 years of hardships. All Party members must cherish and keep to them all the time and continue to develop them. The path, the theories and the system are the fundamental guarantee for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. All Party members should closely unite around the Party's central committee, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guide themselves with Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, free up their minds, keep to the policy of reform and opening-up, rally forces in overcoming difficulties, steadfastly advance along the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unremittingly promote the building of a moderately well-off society, and lead the people in seizing and making good use of the period of important strategic opportunities in the country's development, working hard, forging ahead with determination, and fighting in unity for the fulfillment of the tasks of the 18th National Congress of the Party.

After the election, non-CPC representatives including incumbent and former Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, incumbent and former Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen (Beijing only) of the Central Committees of Democratic Parties, Chairman and Vice Chairmen (Beijing only) of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of those without party affiliation, as well as representatives of Democratic Parties, nonparty personages and religious figures who serve on the Standing Committees of the National People's Congress and the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, including Han Qide, Zhou Tienong, Jiang Shusheng, Chen Changzhi, Yan Junqi, Sang Guowei, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, Huang Mengfu, Dong Jianhua, Zhang Meiying, Zhang Rongming, Wan Gang, Lin Wenyi, Luo Fuhe, Chen Zongxing, Wang Zhizhen, He Houhua, He Luli, Cheng Siwei, Jiang Zhenghua, Sun Fuling, Luo Haocai, Zhang Kehui, Zhang Huaixi, Li Meng, Yuan Longping, were invited as observers to attend the closing session of the Congress and seated on the rostrum as VIP guests. Other relevant CPC cadres also attended the meeting.

The Congress successfully concluded to the tune of "Internationale."