The Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th CCP Central Committee was held from June 27 to 29. Hua Guofeng resigned as Chairman of the CCP Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Hu Yaobang succeeded him as Chairman, and Deng Xiaoping took over as Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
On September 10, 1980, the Third Session of the Fifth National People's Congress (August 30 to September 10) adopted a resolution accepting Hua Guofeng's resignation from the office of Premier of the State Council and decided that Zhao Ziyang would serve as Premier of the State Council.
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was held in Beijing through February 29, restoring the Secretariat and electing Hu Yaobang as General Secretary; Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang were additionally elected to the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, and Wang Dongxing and three others resigned.
By emphasizing that "practice is the sole criterion for testing truth," Deng Xiaoping defeated Hua Guofeng and established a governing philosophy centered on economic development.
On February 7, 1977, People's Daily published an editorial titled "Study the Documents Well and Grasp the Key Link," which stated, "We resolutely uphold all policy decisions made by Chairman Mao; we unswervingly follow all instructions given by Chairman Mao." This later became known as the "Two Whatevers," and Hua Guofeng was accused of adhering to this principle.
After Mao Zedong died in September 1976, Hua Guofeng, together with Ye Jianying and others, smashed the Gang of Four on October 6, and was elected Chairman of the CCP Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission that same night; earlier, on April 30, Mao Zedong had written for him: "You handle it, I'm at ease."
After 1976, Hua Guofeng served simultaneously as Chairman of the CCP Central Committee, Premier of the State Council, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.