Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese Socialist Youth League held its first national congress in Guangzhou in 1922, and proclaimed its establishment. Thereafter, the organization changed its name several times and in 1957 finalized it as the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China.
The CYL is a mass organization of advanced youth led by the CPC, a school for the broad masses of youth to study communism in practice and an assistant and reserve of the CPC. The CYL resolutely supports the program of the CPC, takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guide to its action. Emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, it unites young people of all ethnic groups of the whole country in an effort to build China into a prosperous, democratic and civilized modern socialist country and work for the eventual realization of the communist system.
The basic task of the CYL at the present stage is: Firmly and unswervingly implementing the Party's basic line at the primary stage of socialism, to unite and lead the young people in adhering to the four cardinal principles with economic construction as the focus, and adhering to reform and opening up and working hard through self-reliance, to promote the development of productive forces and social progress and to foster successors with ideals, ethics, education and a sense of discipline in the great practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics in an effort to transfuse new blood into the Party and bring about young construction personnel for the country.
The CYL is an integrated whole organized under the system of democratic centralism. Its national leading body is the National Congress and the Central Committee elected at the Congress. The National Congress takes place every five years and is convened by the Central Committee. Led by the Party Central Committee, the CYL Central Committee is elected at the National Congress. When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee implements the resolutions of the Congress and exercises leadership over all the work of the League. The Central Committee Office is the agency of the CYL Central Committee in charge of routine work. Local organs of leadership include: the CYL's committees of provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-directed municipalities; the CYL's committees of cities, prefectures (meng) and autonomous prefectures; and the CYL's committees of counties (cities and banners) , autonomous counties and city districts.
In June 1998, the CYL convened its 14th National Congress which elected the new Central Committee with Zhou Qiang as the First Secretary and Bayin Chaolu, Sun Jinlong, Hu Chunhua, Huang Danhua, Zhao Yong and Cui Bo as Members of the Secretariat.
According to provisions of the CYL Constitution, all Chinese young people between 14 and 28 who recognize the CYL Constitution and are ready to join and work actively in one of CYL organizations, implement CYL resolutions and pay membership dues regularly may apply for membership. By the end of 1995, China had 170000 primary CYL organizations, 210000 full-time CYL cadres and 63.7 million CYL members.
The CYL is the organization at the core of All-China Youth Federation. Together with the CPC, it exercises leadership over the All-China Students' Federation. Entrusted by the CPC, it exercises leadership over the Young Pioneers of China.
Address: No. 10, Qianmen Dongdajie, Beijing, China
Postal Code: 100051
Telephone: 86-10-67012288
