中央顾问委员会是个新东西，是根据中国共产党的实际情况建立的，是解决党的中央领导机构新老交替的一种组织形式。
The Central Advisory Commission is something new.
Established in light of the circumstances of the Communist Party of China, it is an organizational form that will enable new cadres to succeed the old ones in the central leading organs of the Party.
目的是使中央委员会年轻化，同时让一些老同志在退出第一线之后继续发挥一定的作用。
The purpose of establishing this Commission is to lower the average age of members of the Central Committee and at the same time to make it possible for some elderly comrades who have retired from the forefront of affairs to continue to play a certain role.
从某种意义上说，顾问委员会是一种过渡性质的组织形式。
In a sense, the Central Advisory Commission is a transitional organization.
我们的态度正确，对推动他们的工作，帮助他们的工作，很有好处。
If we take a correct attitude, we shall help them in their work.
不仅不要妨碍中央委员会的工作，包括中央政治局、书记处的工作，也不要妨碍下面各级的工作。
Just as we should not hinder the work of the Central Committee, including the Political Bureau and the Secretariat, neither should we hinder the work of the organizations at lower levels.
比如我们的同志到哪个省去了解情况，我看不要随便发表意见，首先要认真调查研究，学习下面的实际经验。
For example, when we go on a fact-finding tour in a certain province, I think we should not offer opinions casually.
We should first investigate the conditions and study the experience of the local people.
发现确实有需要解决的问题，也应该采取帮助省委或者帮助某个基层组织的办法，让他们自己去解决。
If we think there is a problem, we should help the provincial Party committee or the grass-roots organization concerned but allow them to solve it themselves.
要注意起传帮带的作用，而不是去发号施令。
We should pass our experience on to them, help them and guide them, but not order them about.
我们从一开始就要注意这个问题。
We should pay attention to this from the very beginning.
前一段章蕴同志到福建去工作了两个多月，她在那里就搞得很好嘛。
Not long ago Comrade Zhang Yun worked in Fujian Province for more than two months.She did a good job there.
第二，顾问委员会的成员要联系群众。
Second, members of the Central Advisory Commission should keep in touch with the masses.
可不可以这样设想，除了身体不好的同志，凡是还能做点工作的，可以联系一个基层单位，比如联系一个工厂，一个学校，一个科学研究机关，一个地委或者县委，甚至一个农村基层组织，深入地了解情况。
Perhaps all comrades, except those in poor health -- all of us who can still do some work -- could choose a grass-roots unit such as a factory, a school, a scientific research institution, a prefectural or county Party committee or even a village Party branch in the countryside and try to find out how things are there.
这样就可以对党中央更好地起到参谋和助手的作用。
In this way, we shall be better able to help the Central Committee as consultants and assistants.
到联系的单位，还可以做一个报告员，同群众见见面，同党员见见面，把我们国家的事情，我们党在每个时期采取的方针政策，国际的情况和我们的对外政策，及时地给他们讲讲。
In the unit we have chosen we can also make reports and meet with the masses and Party members, keeping them informed about state affairs, about the principles and policies adopted by the Party at every stage and about the international situation and our foreign policy.
可以讲现在的问题，也可以讲历史。
We can tell them about current issues as well as historical events.
讲历史我们可是有资格，都是革命几十年的人，革命故事多得很。
We are qualified to talk about historical events, because we have been working for the revolution for dozens of years and have many stories to tell.
第三，我们还可以起一个作用，就是在保持党的优良作风方面以身作则。
Third, still another role for us to play is to set an example of the Party's fine style of work.
我们这些老同志下去，人家是非常尊重的，生活上是会照顾的，我们自己要注意不要过分麻烦人家。
When we veteran comrades go down to a grass-roots unit, the people there will respect us.
They will take care of everything for us, and we should try not to give them too much trouble.
总之，中央顾问委员会怎么做工作，怎么起作用，是个新问题。
In short, how the Central Advisory Commission should do its work and what role it should play are new questions.
相信我们这些老同志会处理得很好。
I am sure that we veteran comrades will be able to handle them well.
我们的国家也好，党也好，最根本的应该是建立退休制度。
Both the government and the Party should ultimately establish a system of retirement.
十一届三中全会以后不久，我们就讲要废除党和国家领导职务实际上存在的终身制。
Shortly after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, we began to stress the need to abolish the de facto system of life tenure in leading Party and government posts.
这个问题，世界上许多国家恐怕都比我们解决得好。
I am afraid that many countries in the world are more successful in solving this problem than we are.
我们干部老化的情况不说十分严重，至少有九分半严重。
The problem of the aging of our cadres, if not critical, is at least very serious.