Comments on the Draft Decision of the Central Committee on the Planned Rotation of Principal Leading Party and Government Cadres at All Levels
(August 16, 1962)

Distribute to all comrades for discussion.
Mao Zedong
August 16

[1] The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Planned Rotation of Principal Leading Party and Government Cadres at All Levels" (draft of August 10), issued by the Confidential Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on August 16, 1962, consists of six articles in full. Its contents include the significance, scope, targets, work plans, and steps for cadre rotation. The decision states: In order to implement the Party's democratic centralism, strengthen the collective leadership of Party committees at all levels, exchange experiences in a planned, systematic, and multifaceted manner, and help principal leading cadres at all levels broaden their horizons, enrich their experience, and enhance their leadership capabilities, the Central Committee has decided: to carry out planned rotation of principal leading cadres at all levels nationwide between the central and local levels, between higher and lower levels, between different regions, and between different departments, and to establish regular cadre rotation as a fundamental system in our Party's cadre management work. The scope and targets of rotation shall primarily be Party member cadres holding principal leading positions in Party committees and state organs at and above the commune level. The decision was adopted at the Tenth Plenary Session of the Eighth CPC Central Committee held from September 24 to 27 of the same year, with the title changed to "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Planned and Step-by-Step Rotation of Principal Leading Party and Government Cadres at All Levels." The full text was expanded from six to eight articles, and regarding the scope and targets of rotation, "Party member cadres holding principal leading positions in Party committees and state organs at and above the commune level" was revised to "Party member cadres holding principal leading positions in Party committees and state organs at and above the county level."

[2] Refers to the comrades then attending the Central Committee Work Conference in Beidaihe.