Critique on the Second Briefing
Regarding the Spirit of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee
(September 6, 1959)

This document is to be distributed to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and regions for reference.

The Central Committee
September 6

---

This briefing, submitted by the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China on September 3, 1959, to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee, states that the Eighth Session of the Provincial Committee Plenum has concluded its discussions on the issue of increasing production and practicing economy. During the discussions, the comrades unanimously endorsed the resolution of the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee on the campaign to increase production and practice economy. They hold that the adjusted major national targets for 1959 are positive and reliable leap-forward targets. So long as we resolutely overcome right-leaning thinking and earnestly adopt effective measures, these targets can be fulfilled and overfulfilled. However, a very small number of comrades still harbor right-leaning thinking and a fear of difficulties. After repeated discussions, the meeting finally set the major industrial and agricultural targets for the province this year. At present, on the industrial front, results have been immediate—the production of steel, iron, and coal has risen sharply—and the agricultural production emulation campaign has entered a new stage.

---

To be reviewed by Liu and Peng Zhen.
To be handled by Shangkun. (2) Additional copies to be printed as previously indicated.

[1] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Peng Zhen was then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, was then an alternate secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.