Chongqing - In 2026, the Communist Party of China (CPC) marks its 105th anniversary. A key feature of China’s governance lies in the way the CPC leadership works together with government implementation. This raises a central question: how does the party-government relationship work in practice?

According to Zheng Changzhong, Professor at Fudan University, the relationship can be understood from the way planning and implementation are organized.

“The party organizations of the Communist Party of China make the overall planning, and the government proceeds with implementation,” Zheng said.

This division, he explained, does not mean that the CPC and the government function as two separate power centers. Instead, it is a collaborative arrangement in which different institutions perform different roles within the same governance process.

“They are not two separate centers of power. It’s a collaborative relationship,” Zheng said.

Within this structure, the CPC is responsible for setting the overall direction of national development. The Central Committee of the CPC determines the country’s overall goals and strategies, while Party organizations help manage officials, coordinate across different fields, and build social consensus.

Coordination is a key part of this role. In a large country with responsibilities spread across many sectors and levels, major tasks often involve cross-field challenges. CPC committees, therefore, play a role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating different sides to prevent fragmented action.

The CPC also maintains key governance bottom lines, including integrity, safety, and stability. These functions are aimed at keeping major development tasks aligned with overall national priorities.

At the same time, Party leadership does not mean replacing government administration.

“The CPC does not deal directly with specific administrative matters,” Zheng said.

The government’s role is execution. It turns the blueprint determined by the CPC into specific policies, projects, and actions. Its work includes day-to-day economic and social management, public services, administrative law enforcement, grassroots governance, and handling the daily demands of the people.

Taken together, this structure connects strategic direction with practical governance. Under CPC leadership and government implementation, different parts of society are organized around central tasks for modernization and development.

(Wanqing Lu, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)