Introduction

OVERVIEW
  The Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) is a key institution for training senior and middle-ranking Party officials, as well as outstanding young and middle-aged officials. It is a crucial platform for researching and communicating of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era while advancing the Party’s theoretical development. Additionally, it functions as a research institution for philosophy and social sciences, and a high-level innovative think tank with Chinese characteristics. It is a public institution directly under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
  The School (Academy) traces its origins to the School of Marxism and Communism, which was established in March 1933 in Ruijin City, Jiangxi Province. Following the Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (hereinafter referred to as the Red Army), the school was relocated to northern Shaanxi Province in 1935 and renamed the Party School of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party, former name of the Communist Party of China) Central Committee. In 1948, the CPC Central Committee established an advanced Party school called the Marxism-Leninism College, which was renamed the Advanced Party School of the CPC Central Committee in 1955. The operation of the school was paused during the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976) but was resumed in 1977. The National Academy of Governance began preparations in 1988 and was officially established in 1994, focusing on training senior and middle-ranking civil servants, high-level management personnel, and policy researchers. In March 2018, the CPC Central Committee integrated the functions of the Party School and the Academy, forming the new Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), operating as one institution under two names.
  The institution’s major roles include:
  - Serving as the primary platform for the education and training of officials, providing systematic training programs for provincial and ministerial-level officials, director-general level officials, outstanding young and middle-aged officials, executives of key state-owned enterprises, heads of centrally administered universities, county (city)-level Party secretaries, ethnic minority officials, core personnel in theory communication, and key teaching and research personnel in philosophy and social sciences.
  - Delivering education in Party theory and political ethics, and cultivating the capacity to perform duties.
  - Conducting research on major theoretical and practical issues, offering policy advisory services to the CPC Central Committee.
  - Nurturing talent in Marxist theory.
  - Providing guidance to Party schools (academies of governance) at all levels nationwide.
  Since its founding, the Party School of the CPC Central Committee has made significant contributions to training Party officials, promoting the Party’s theoretical development, and serving the cause of the Party and the people. On March 1, 2023, at a meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the School (Academy) and the opening ceremony of its 2023 spring semester, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech, saying, “Looking back on history, the Party schools have always remained true to their founding mission of fostering talent for and contributing wisdom to the Party. On the new journey in the new era, Party schools at all levels should stay committed to their founding mission and make new contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.” This important speech reaffirmed the founding mission of the School (Academy) and charted the course for its development on the new journey in the new era. 
  Chen Xi is the current president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). Xie Chuntao serves as the executive vice president in charge of daily operations (at ministerial rank/ ministerial level). Vice presidents include Li Yi, Gong Weibin, and Li Wentang. Zhang Zhongjun is the dean of education/ provost (at vice-ministerial rank/ vice-ministerial level). Other members of the School (Academy) Management Committee include Feng Pengzhi and Wang Yang.