Communist Youth League of China

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Communist Youth League of China
中国共产主义青年团
Zhōngguó Gòngchǎnzhǔyì Qīngniántuán
Secretary General Lu Hao (陆昊)
Founded 1920
Headquarters No. 10, Qianmen Dongdajie, Beijing
Mother party Communist Party of China
This article is about the Communist Youth League in China. For other Young Communist Leagues, see Young Communist League.

The Communist Youth League of China (中国共产主义青年团 Pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎnzhǔyì Qīngniántuán; abbr. 共青团 Pinyin: Gòngqīngtuán) is a youth movement of the People's Republic of China for youth between the ages of fourteen and twenty-eight, run by Communist Party of China. The league is organized on the party pattern. Its leader is identified as the First Secretary and member of the party's Central Committee. The current First Secretary is Lu Hao (陆昊). The Communist Youth League was responsible also for guiding the activities of the Young Pioneers (for children below the age of fourteen).

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[edit] History

Founded in August 1920, it was originally named as the Socialist Youth League of China (中国社会主义青年团/Zhōngguó Shèhuìzhǔyì Qīngniántuán). Whilst the Party was officially established in July 1921, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was organized with the Party being set up throughout the country. In May 1922, the 1st National Representative Conference (全国代表大会/Quánguó Dàibiǎo Dàhuì) of the League was held under the leadership of the Party, and therefore became a unified organization in China. In the 3rd National Representation Conference in January 1925, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was renamed as the Chinese Communist Youth League. After the war resisting against Japan, in order to adapt to the new social and political situation, it was officially renamed as the Chinese New Democracy Youth League (中国新民主主义青年团/Zhōngguó Xīn Mínzhǔzhǔyì Qīngniántuán) in April 1949.

Later in May 1957, its name as the Chinese Communist Youth League was resumed, historically combining the conferences of all three leagues (the Chinese Socialist Youth League, the Chinese Communist Youth League as well as the Chinese New Democracy Youth League). During the 10 years of the Cultural Revolution, the functioning of the League was blocked. From 1978 to 2003, 5 conferences were held. The current central committee members of the League had been elected since the 15th National Representative Conference in July 2003.

The Communist Youth League has contributed a number of top echelon leaders of the Communist Party-led government of the People's Republic of China. The proliferation of leaders with a Youth League background has led to the informal name "Youth League faction" being used to describe certain members of the leadership at different times. The first "Youth League faction" was represented by Hu Yaobang (party chairman 1981-1982, party general secretary 1982-1987 following the abolition of the chairman position). The removal of reformist Hu Yaobang from power by the "elder statesmen" led by Chen Yun, and his death in 1989, led to the Tian'anmen Square protests of 1989. The second "Youth League faction" is represented by Hu Jintao (President since 2003). While there is no direct political lineage between the two Hus, Hu Jintao's administration has formally elevated the memory of the earlier Hu. In 2005, the 90th anniversary of Hu Yaobang's birth, a new museum and a series of commemorative books and television programs were launched. However, an elaborate commemoration meeting at the Great Hall of the People attended by Hu Jintao was downgraded to an internal meeting at Zhongnanhai, after the news roused strong reaction and speculation in the Western media about the prospects of rehabilitating the Tiananmen Square protests.

[edit] Structure

The national leading organization is the National Representative Conferences and the central committee elected by the conferences. The National Representative Conferences are held each 5 years, can be held earlier or later under special circumstances. The central committee is to, in between the time of two conferences, implement the decisions made in the National Representative Conferences and lead the implementation of the duties of the League as a whole. In addition to the central committee, there are General Affairs Committees which are responsible for the implementation of daily affairs of the League. They are to lead the fundamental organizations in 31 provinces of the country.

Most high school students are CYLC members when graduating[1]. Up to the end of 2002, there were 210,000 committee members of fundamental organizations and 69,860,000 League members.

Under current leadership of Chinese President, who was also a leading figure in this League, key government positions at both central and provincial levels are more likely to be filled by the League's members and former cadres, known as tuanpai. Members of this League are particularly loyal to the Chinese Communist Party.

Its official newspaper is the China Youth Daily.

[edit] List of First Secretaries

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ All Chinese Private Colleges to Have Communist Youth Groups

[edit] External links