Comments on the Report Concerning Several Major Issues in Work
(November 19, 1958)


This document is very good; it should be circulated to all comrades attending the meeting. It ought to be approved and implemented nationwide.


Mao Zedong
November 19, 1958
[1]


Refers to the report submitted by Chen Yun, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, to Mao Zedong on November 17, 1958. The report, prepared by the Party Group of the State Basic Construction Commission, addressed several major issues in current basic construction work. The report stated: (1) Industrial layout should be appropriately dispersed, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. There are four advantages to this approach: first, projects can be put into production sooner; second, bases are established for larger factories, facilitating future development; third, construction experience is gained; and fourth, technical personnel are trained. Therefore, it is recommended that the party committees of provinces, municipalities directly under the central government, and autonomous regions conduct a thorough review and make rational adjustments to industrial layouts within their jurisdictions—dispersing enterprises that require dispersion, scaling down those that should be smaller, and adopting a phased construction approach for projects already underway but whose excessively large scale makes reduction difficult. (2) Construction projects must be prioritized in a definite sequence. For 1959, project prioritization should continue to be centered on steel—that is, equipping large, medium, and small steel plants as well as related basic industries and transportation sectors—in order to ensure the completion of the 30-million-ton steel production target. (3) Design work must adhere to the principle of combining indigenous and foreign practices. This means designing based on China’s economic development needs, the creativity of the masses, and other specific conditions, while drawing on foreign experience. This constitutes a fundamental issue in implementing the General Line through design work. It is suggested that the State Council’s industrial and transportation departments, together with the party committees of all provinces, municipalities directly under the central government, and autonomous regions, carefully review and revise the designs of all construction projects. (4) Promoting rapid construction can harness the enthusiasm and creativity of the broad workforce, significantly shortening project timelines, enabling the swift completion of numerous new enterprises and buildings, and reducing construction costs. (5) The supply of complete sets of equipment must be organized meticulously. Each industrial sector should promptly determine the scope of equipment supplies for various types of factories and issue lists notifying the provinces, municipalities directly under the central government, and autonomous regions, so that local authorities have a clear understanding. When setting machinery manufacturing targets, it is essential not only to schedule the production of main equipment but also to reserve sufficient production capacity for auxiliary equipment. Relevant departments should strengthen their organizational leadership over the nationwide supply of complete equipment sets. (6) Basic construction must be further strengthened under the leadership of the Party, with extensive mass movements. Several major issues in basic construction should be discussed among cadres and the general public, encouraging open debate and free expression, truly achieving a clash of ideas and reaching a unified understanding, thereby ensuring that the Party’s policies are consistently and correctly implemented at every stage of construction. [2]


Refers to the upcoming enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to be held in Wuchang.