NPC officials answer questions from the media following the announcement of the oath bill's revised version. (Photo : Want China Times/CNS)
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) released on Wednesday a revised version of the oath which cuts "socialism with Chinese characteristics."
As stated by the NPC, the constitutional oath aims to inspire state functionaries to follow, observe and safeguard the country's Constitution.
"Establishing a system of pledging allegiance to the Constitution through legislation is of profound significance to ensuring loyalty to the Constitution in state functionaries, by observing and safeguarding the Constitution," said Han Xiaowu, deputy secretary-general of the 12th NPC Standing Committee.
The arrangement to set an oath was made during the fourth plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee in October last year.
The country's rubber stamp legislature will take an oath before taking office from Jan. 1, 2016.
The legislature includes all civil servants directly appointed by the People's Congress at all levels, as well as both government and judicial officials, meaning it would include future presidents, premiers, NPC chairs, state councilors and ministers.
A news agency translated the final draft into English, which reads:
"I pledge to be allegiant to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, safeguard the Constitution authority, perform obligations given by the laws, be loyal to the country and people, be committed and honest when performing duties, accept people's supervision and work hard to build a socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious."
The draft oath has sustained several changes, the most striking of which is the final line, which originally read "work hard for great cause of the socialism with Chinese characteristics."
Other changes include the word "allegiant" in the beginning, which was originally "uphold," as well as the word "loyal," which had been "allegiant" in the earlier draft. The phrase "be committed and honest when performing duties" was also a new addition.
