Since the Party's founding in July 1921, themes of CPC national congresses explicitly define the path and goal of the Party. Following are the themes of major CPC national congresses.

-- In 1921, a total of 12 delegates representing about 50 CPC members nationwide secretly convened at the first CPC national congress in late July in Shanghai. July 1 was later designated as anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

-- In 1922 at its second national congress, the CPC formulated the supreme guiding principle of building a communist society and the baseline of national unity and independence.

-- In 1945 at its seventh national congress, Mao Zedong Thought was written into the CPC Constitution as the Party's guide to action.

-- In 1982 at the 12th national congress, the CPC advanced the proposition of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

-- The theme of the 13th national congress in 1987 was to accelerate and deepen reform. The congress formulated the basic line that economic construction is the Party's central task and the Party must adhere to the four cardinal principles and stick to the reform and opening-up policy during the primary stage of socialism.

-- The theme of the 14th national congress in 1992 was to accelerate the reform, the opening to the outside world and the drive for modernization, so as to achieve greater successes in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

-- The theme of the 15th national congress in 1997 was to hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory for an all-round advancement of the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century.

-- The theme of the 16th national congress in 2002 was to hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully act on the important thought of Three Represents, carry the Party's cause into the future, keep pace with the times, build a well-off society in an all-round way, speed up socialist modernization and work hard to create a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

-- The theme of the 17th national congress in 2007 was to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, continue to emancipate the mind, persist in reform and opening up, pursue development in a scientific way, promote social harmony, and strive for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.