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China Communist Youth League
The Communist Youth League, the other primary communist
organization, functioned as an all-purpose school for party
members. Except for its top-ranking officials, the league's
members, from fifteen to twenty-five years of age, were
indoctrinated, trained, and prepared to serve as future party
regulars. The league was organized on the party pattern. Its leader
(in 1987 Song Defu) was identified as first secretary and member of
the party's Central Committee. The Communist Youth League's
eleventh congress, held in December 1982, was attended by about
2,000 delegates. The congress elected a central committee of 263
members and 51 alternate members. In 1987 the league included 52
million members attached to 2.3 million branches. They were
required to carry out party policies, respect party discipline, and
act as a "shock force and as a bridge linking the party with the
broad masses of young people." Since 1984 the league's leadership
has increased ties with youth organizations worldwide through
friendly exchanges and cooperation. The Communist Youth League was
responsible also for guiding the activities of the Young Pioneers
(for children below the age of fifteen).
Data as of July 1987
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