Comments on Forwarding the Report on the Northeast China Rural Production Cooperative and Mutual Assistance Movement (October 17, 1951) To Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Chen, Peng Zhen, Chen Boda, Hu Qiaomu, and Yang Shangkun [1]: Please review this document [ ]. After reading it, Comrade Yang Shangkun is requested to have it printed as a small booklet and distributed to all Central Bureaus, Sub-bureaus, and Party committees of provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.
It is also to be sent to various departments of the CPC Central Committee, the Party groups of the Central People’s Government, all comrades attending the current Central Conference [3], and all Communist Party members present at the National Committee [4]. Mao Zedong October 17 Based on the manuscript for publication.
To All Central Bureaus, Sub-bureaus, Provincial/Municipal/Autonomous Region Party Committees, and Local Prefectural/City Party Committees: We are hereby transmitting Comrade Gao Gang’s report on the production cooperative and mutual assistance movement in rural Northeast China for your reference.
The report may also be published in intra-party publications.
The Central Committee deems the principles set forth by Comrade Gao Gang in this report [ ] to be correct.
Party committees in all areas that have already completed the land reform should study this issue carefully and guide the peasant masses to gradually establish and develop various forms of agricultural production mutual assistance and cooperation organizations based on private property, while at the same time refraining from belittling or excluding individual farmers who are unwilling to participate in this movement.
Each province and region should set up state-owned factories for manufacturing new-type farm implements so that peasants can purchase them.
Provinces, prefectures, and counties should each establish at least one publicly owned model farm.
The Central Committee has drafted an instruction (draft) on developing the agricultural production mutual assistance and cooperation movement, which will be issued to you shortly.
The CPC Central Committee October 17, 1951 Based on Mao Zedong’s manuscript Notes [ ] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi.
Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.
Zhu refers to Zhu De.
Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at the time served as Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Director of the Financial and Economic Commission.
Peng Zhen was then an alternate member of the CPC Central Secretariat and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.
Chen Boda was Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Propaganda Department.
Hu Qiaomu was also a Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Propaganda Department.
Yang Shangkun was Director of the CPC Central Office. [2] Refers to Comrade Gao Gang’s report dated October 14, 1951, addressed to Mao Zedong, concerning the production cooperative and mutual assistance movement in rural Northeast China. [3] Refers to the expanded meeting of the CPC Central Political Bureau held in October 1951, at which the policy of “streamlining the military and government organs, increasing production, and practicing economy” was discussed and decided upon. [4] Refers to the upcoming Third Plenary Session of the First National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

[ ] In his report, Gao Gang proposed guiding principles for the rural production cooperative and mutual assistance movement: actively support and develop it in accordance with the masses’ voluntary participation and needs, gradually advancing from lower to higher forms.
The key lies in assessing the actual effectiveness of our leadership over these cooperative groups—namely, whether they have boosted agricultural productivity, increased grain yields, and raised farmers’ incomes.
Various types of cooperative groups must achieve outstanding results in order to energetically mobilize and attract independent farmers to join different kinds of cooperative organizations voluntarily; however, voluntariness must be emphasized, and there should be no coercion or discrimination against those who choose to remain independent.
Likewise, assistance should be provided to address the difficulties faced by independent farmers in both production and daily life.
The People’s Government ought to extend preferential treatment to these cooperative groups in all respects, particularly regarding farm tools, technical guidance, and marketing channels.
To better lead the development of these cooperative groups, it is essential to cultivate a core cadre within them.
Party organizations at the provincial, county, and district levels should train active members, disseminate successful experiences, raise awareness, strengthen organizational cohesion, and regularly dispatch personnel to provide guidance and conduct inspections of cooperative group activities.
Rural Party branches and individual Party members should serve as the central core of these cooperative groups.