作者：丁衡祁

中共中央关于加强党的执政能力建设的决定：中国共产党第十六届中央委员会第四次全体会议，全面分析了当前的形势和任务，着重研究了加强党的执政能力建设的若干重大问题，作出如下决定。“我们党要带领全国各族人民全面建设小康社会，实现继续推进现代化建设、完成祖国统一、维护世界和平与促进共同发展这三大历史任务，必须大力加强执政能力建设。”

党的执政能力指的是什么？

第十六届中央委员会第四次全体会议的决定指出：“党的执政能力，就是党提出和运用正确的理论、路线、方针、政策和策略，领导制定和实施宪法和法律，采取科学的领导制度和领导方式，动员和组织人民依法管理国家和社会事务、经济和文化事业，有效治党治国治军，建设社会主义现代化国家的本领。”很显然，这里指的是领导、动员和组织的能力。这是由我们党的性质所决定的：
The Communist Party is the sole party in power in China.
The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the faithful representative of the interests of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and the core of leadership over the socialist cause of China.

各家媒体都把“加强党的执政能力建设”翻译为enhancing the governance capability of the Party：

Important program for enhancing the governance capability of the Party: People's Daily Editorial

The People's Daily issues an editorial Tuesday, Sept. 21, entitled "Important program for enhancing the governance capability of the Party".

CPC stresses importance, urgency to enhance governance capability

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has conceded that it needs to enhance governance capability to consolidate its ruling status and meet domestic and global challenges.

To enhance the governance capability of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is vital to China's socialist cause, the Chinese nation and the CPC itself, says the CPC Central Committee in a communique issued Sunday at the close of its four-day plenum.

Only by constantly improving its governing capability can the Party remain to be the core of leadership in the historic mission of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, says the communique.

但实际上 Governance Capability 是指行政方面的能力，例如加拿大的一个组织对 governance capabilities 的解释：

Governance Capabilities：CESO （Canadian Executive Service Organization） provides a unique wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and experience at all levels of government.

Does your community need help with governance, meaning Council and Board development or in the areas of health and education? With its outstanding talent bank, CESO strives to make a difference through understanding and team work. The underlying tenet of our services is that CESO is there to listen to what your community needs and to assist you in finding the right solution to fit the individual situation.

We can help you develop your governance capabilities, focusing on internal organizational needs including: 

human resource development

management skills

project management

information systems

而在加强党的执政能力建设过程中，提高政府行政能力是一个重要方面，但只是其中一部分。

行政能力建设，首要的是提高推进发展的能力，筑牢党的执政根基。其次是要努力提高依法行政能力。第三，要提高保持稳定的能力，努力构建社会主义和谐社会。加强政府自身建设，确保政府履行各项职责，是加强党的执政能力的重要基础。要鼓励广大公务员特别是领导干部更新知识结构，注重学习市场经 济、科技、法律和管理等方面的知识，解决"本领恐慌"问题，以适应经济全球化和知识经济的要求，并树立"管理就是服务"的理念。要加大政务公开力度，公开 办事程序、时限和质量要求，接受社会监督，健全和完善反腐倡廉的监督制约机制……

那么应该怎样翻译“加强党的执政能力建设”比较恰当呢？

Definition of competence: the ability to apply particular knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to the standard of performance required in specified contexts

加强党的执政能力建设:

enhance the leadership competence of the Party

enhance the competence of the Party as the core of leadership

elevate the level of competence of the Party of power

strengthen the competence of the Party for exercising power

About the author:

丁衡祁，对外经济贸易大学商务英语系教授，2002 年退休后被对外经济贸易大学卓越国际学院聘为英语教学研究中心主任。曾任对外经济贸易大学研究生部主任兼师资培训中心主任。曾被派往中国驻美国旧金山总领事馆任商务领事。曾在中央电视台主讲英语教学节目《夺魁》（Bid for Power）。现为中国翻译协会理事，《中国翻译》杂志编委，中国译协对外传播委员会成员，全国翻译专业资格考试英语专家委员会委员，中国日报网站英语点津“翻译擂台赛”特约专家，中国对外翻译出版公司专家顾问委员会委员，中国进出口银行英文译审。