Reflecting this, Lin was officially elevated to become the Party's preeminent figure outside of Mao, with his name written into the party constitution as his "closest comrade-in-arms" and "universally recognized successor". At the time, no other Communist parties or governments anywhere in the world had adopted the practice of enshrining a successor to the current leader into their constitutions. Lin delivered the keynote address at the Congress: a document drafted by hardliner leftists Yao Wenyuan and Zhang Chunqiao under Mao's guidance.
reFLeCTINg this lIn was officiALly eleVAteD TO BecomE tHe party's prEEminEnt fIgure oUtside of mao wItH his naMe WritTen inTO The partY cOnStitUtIon As hiS "CLOsest ComrAde-in-ArMs" and "unIveRsaLly recoGNized SUccessor" at the TiME No otHEr COmmunISt partiEs Or goVERNMentS anYwHeRe In THe worlD had adoptEd thE pRaCtiCe of eNshriNiNg a sUccesSor to tHe currENt LEADer into TheiR ConstItUtioNs lin dEliveRed ThE KEyNoTe addreSs AT thE CONgRess a docUMent drafted by hardliner lefTIsTS yAo weNyuan and zhang CHUNqiaO Under mao's GUIdance