The Communist Youth League of China (中国共产主义青年团; abbr. 共青团) is an all-purpose school for Communist Party of China members. Except for its top-ranking officials, the league's members, from fifteen to twenty-five years of age, are indoctrinated, trained, and prepared to serve as future party regulars. The league is organized on the party pattern. Its leader is identified as first secretary and member of the party's Central Committee. The Communist Youth League was responsible also for guiding the activities of the Communist Young Pioneers (for children below the age of fifteen).

History

Founded in August 1920, it was originally named as the Socialist Youth League of China (中國社會主義青年團). Whilst the Party was officially established in July 1921, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was organized with the Party being set up throughout the country. In May 1922, the 1st National Representative Conference (全國代表大會) of the League was held under the leadership of the Party, and therefore became a unified organization in China. In the 3rd National Representation Conference in January 1925, the Chinese Socialist Youth League was renamed as the Chinese Communist Youth League. After the war resisting against Japan, in order to adapt to the new social and political situation, it was officially renamed as the Chinese New Democracy Youth League (中國新民主主義青年團) in April 1949.

Later in May 1957, its name as the Chinese Communist Youth League was resumed, historically combining the conferences of all three leagues (the Chinese Socialist Youth League, the Chinese Communist Youth League as well as the Chinese New Democracy Youth League). During the 10 years of the Cultural Revolution, the functioning of the League was blocked. From 1978 to 2003, 5 conferences were held. The current central committee members of the League had been elected since the 15th National Representative Conference in July 2003.

Structure

The national leading organization is the National Representative Conferences and the central committee elected by the conferences. The National Representative Conferences are held each 5 years, can can be held earlier or later under special circumstances. The central committee is to, in between the time of two conferences, implement the decisions made in the National Representative Conferences and lead the implementation of the duties of the League as a whole. In addition to the central committee, there are General Affairs Committees which are responsible for the implementation of daily affairs of the League. They are to lead the fundamental organizations in 31 provinces of the country. Up to the end of 2002, there were 210,000 committee members of fundamental organizations and 69,860,000 League members.

Its official newspaper is the China Youth Daily.

See also

• Young Communist League

Reference

• - China

External link

• CYC official site