Zeng Jun: Grasping the Keys to Orderly and Effective Learning and Education on the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation
Carrying out in-depth learning and education on the implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations (hereafter "learning and education") throughout the Party is a major measure to consolidate and expand the achievements of Party style construction in the New Era and to advance the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in depth. It is of great significance for further strengthening the "flesh-and-blood ties" [1] between the Party and the masses, consolidating the Party's foundation for governance, and providing a strong guarantee of professional conduct for the advancement of Chinese-path modernization. To solidly carry out this learning and education, we must focus on the theme, grasp the key elements, and strive for quality in study, rigor in inspection, and effectiveness in rectification, ensuring that this centralized intra-Party education is conducted in an orderly and effective manner to achieve its intended goals.
1. Quality in Study: The Key Lies in Deepening Understanding
Ideology is the precursor to action; only with adequate understanding can work be properly executed. According to the deployment, learning and education should focus on studying and grasping General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party's style construction, studying and implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and their implementation rules, and systematically summarizing the remarkable achievements made in the deep implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations since the 18th National Congress [2]. To ensure the quality of study, effort must be applied to both comprehensiveness and depth. Comprehensiveness means reading the study materials "original book by original book, original flavor by original flavor" [3] to master the complete system and its core essence. Depth means not only "knowing what was said but understanding its meaning," and "knowing the phenomenon but understanding the underlying logic," thereby grasping the political connotations, scientific methods, and spiritual qualities behind these important expositions and policies.
The Central Eight-Point Regulations serve as the entry point and the "clarion call" [4] for improving work style, and are a pivotal move for strengthening Party style construction in the New Era. As a brand-new type of political party in human history, a Marxist party possesses not only scientific theory, rigorous organization, and strict discipline, but also a series of fine styles such as being rooted in the masses, hard work and plain living, and seeking truth from facts. Only by strengthening style construction can we ensure that the Party does not change its nature, its "color" [5], or its character. The fine traditions and styles formed during long-term struggle—such as integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism—are the "winning magic weapons" [6] for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to win over the masses and overcome various hardships. Only with excellent style can we withstand the "Four Tests" [7] and ensure the Party’s long-term governance and the people’s heartfelt support. To comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, the vast number of Party members and officials must possess a tempered style to shoulder responsibilities and overcome difficulties on the new journey. In short, we must grasp the spiritual essence of the Central Eight-Point Regulations from a political perspective, deeply recognizing their significance for the Party's style construction, the promotion of the Party's self-revolution, and the leading of the Great Social Revolution.
The practical measures for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations contain scientific work methods and ideological methods, which are vivid applications and concentrated reflections of the stance, viewpoints, and methods of the Party’s innovative theories. Emphasizing that the core of style issues is the relationship between the Party and the masses, and centering the starting and ending points on realizing, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the broadest range of people, reflects the "people-centered stance." Persisting in proceeding from reality, actively exploring paths and strategies to solve "unique challenges faced by a large party" [8], and demonstrating the determination and wisdom to suppress "unhealthy winds" and promote "new trends," reflects "self-confidence and self-reliance." While carrying forward the Party’s fine traditions, looking toward the Party’s new goals in the New Era and changes in the world, national, and Party conditions to update concepts and improve systems reflects "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground." Targeting the prominent style problems that once existed, focusing on key difficulties with "precision treatment" and avoiding "distraction" [9], reflects a "problem-oriented approach." Focusing on vertical coordination, tackling Party spirit, Party style, and Party discipline together, and combining "curing the illness" with "strengthening the body," reflects a "systemic concept." Drawing lessons from the rise and fall of various large and old parties on the world political stage, and using the Central Eight-Point Regulations to "open the game and break the problem" to shape the style and image of the world's strongest political party, reflects "having a global vision" (lit. "embracing the world").
In studying materials related to the Central Eight-Point Regulations, one must also earnestly sense the lofty spirit permeating the lines. The warnings about how the "ruin of style leads to the death of the state," and the admonition that the greatest danger for a Marxist party after taking power—especially after long-term governance—is "disconnection from the masses," express a profound sense of crisis and vigilance. The sentiment that "if we are a bit less comfortable, the people’s comfort and satisfaction will be a bit higher" reflects a resolute attitude toward fulfilling one's mission, noting that failing to struggle against behavior that harms the Party’s healthy body would make one a "debtor to history." In implementing the regulations, it is said that "if ten years isn't enough, then twenty; if twenty isn't enough, then thirty, until it truly becomes a custom that leads social conduct." This requires an approach of "leaving claw marks in iron and footprints in stone" [10], persisting in the "routine, the granular, and the long-term," expressing a steadfast determination to never stop until the goal is reached. Starting from style construction, especially rectifying the "Four Winds," and keeping a close eye on every holiday, every meal, and every gift card to prevent "undifferentiated, messy management" [11], reflects a pragmatic spirit of striving for perfection and following through to success.
2. Rigor in Inspection: The Key Lies in Identifying Problems
After more than a decade of persistent effort, the implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations has achieved remarkable results. Some "unhealthy winds" that went unchecked for long periods have been stopped, and "chronic ailments" [12] that persisted for years have been cured. This has led to a refreshing change in Party and government style, driving social conduct toward continuous improvement. This process has further tightened the ties between the Party and the masses and between officials and the masses, defending the Party's nature, purpose, and image. The achievements have allowed the entire Party and nation to see the CPC Central Committee’s firm determination to rectify conduct and enforce discipline, strengthening confidence in the effective eradication of persistent problems.
Data from the work report of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) show that in 2024, supervisory organs nationwide investigated 118,000 cases of hedonism and extravagance, with 157,000 individuals criticized or processed. They investigated 107,000 cases of formalism and bureaucratism, processing 156,000 individuals. These figures indicate that enforcement is intensifying, but they also show that violations of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations remain prominent. The persistence of these problems relates to the seriousness of execution in some locales and units, as well as the inherent characteristics of "style" itself. Compared to other work, style issues are "intangible"; if not grasped concretely, they easily slip through the cracks. Furthermore, the "pathogens" affecting style have not been completely eradicated and can "resurge" if neglected, making style issues stubborn and repetitive. In this sense, we must realize that style construction is both a "war of attrition" and a "protracted war," requiring continuous effort and strengthened learning to "reorganize and set out again" and "strive for even greater heights."
Intra-Party style problems have diverse manifestations and complex causes, involving "principal contradictions and their primary aspects" [13] as well as secondary ones. Solving problems requires grasping the principal contradiction. The spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations originally targeted prominent issues in writing styles, meeting styles, news reporting, and official visits, then extended to the "Four Winds," and finally expanded to all aspects of Party style construction. In recent years, while "Four Winds" issues have been generally contained, old problems have not been rooted out. Some have become "invisible" or "mutated," some have "changed their suits" (hidden under new guises), and others "play hide-and-seek" to evade supervision. Meanwhile, new problems have risen to become the principal contradictions, such as shirking responsibility, conducting "show-style" or "potted-landscape style" [14] research, and implementing policies through "packaging" or "labeling" that increases the burden on grassroots levels. All these, though involving a minority, deviate from the spirit of the regulations and require high attention and great effort to rectify.
In identifying problems, we must look for common issues, their specific manifestations in different regions and industries, and the unique problems of specific units. Only by comprehensively identifying problems in light of reality can we prevent certain units from being "self-satisfied" due to an inability to find faults, thereby laying a solid foundation for "targeted therapy."
3. Effectiveness in Rectification: The Key Lies in Regularity and Long-term Efficacy
According to the deployment, this learning and education will not be divided into batches or stages; instead, it will integrate study, inspection, and rectification as a single process, incorporated into daily routines. The purpose of study is to enhance understanding and confidence for better rectification. The purpose of inspection is to benchmark against standards and find deficiencies, also for better rectification. Centralized rectification must persist in "solving whatever problem exists" and "rectifying whatever problem is prominent," achieving immediate rectification upon discovery. Through this centralized education, we must further improve the long-term mechanisms for style construction. This is the fundamental experience accumulated over ten years of implementing the regulations and during every centralized intra-Party education since the 18th National Congress.
First, strengthen ideological education to transform external requirements into internal identification. We must educate Party members and officials to realize that fine style is an inherent requirement of a Marxist political party and a necessary condition for consolidating the Party’s long-term governing status. Malpractice and "privilege-seeking" [15] deviate from the Party's nature and purpose. Strengthening style construction in the New Era is about "setting things right" and "clearing the source." For a true Communist, implementing the regulations is an obligation, and maintaining the Party's fine style is a glorious responsibility.
Second, strengthen institutional construction to protect a "clean and upright political ecosystem" [16] through systems. For universal problems, we must trace them to their roots—identifying the "lesion," the "pathology," and the "pathogen"—to clarify standards, processes, and risk points through institutionalization. Once regulations are set, everyone must strictly implement them to maintain the "rigidity" and seriousness of the system.
Third, strengthen responsibility and accountability to build a liability system for style construction. Party committees at all levels must shoulder their "primary responsibility," placing style construction in a prominent position and planning it alongside other Party-building tasks. Leading officials, especially "top leaders," must lead by example, managing their subordinates and teams while disciplining themselves.
Fourth, optimize the orientation of personnel selection, vigorously promoting officials with excellent style. We must persist in the "New Era standard for officials" (loyalty, integrity, and responsibility), working to change the "reverse incentive" where "doing more leads to more mistakes, and doing nothing leads to no mistakes." We must improve performance evaluation indicators to stimulate the internal motivation for proactive work.
Fifth, optimize supervision channels to form a multi-dimensional supervision pattern. While strengthening top-down supervision, we should make good use of public opinion and media oversight. By actively developing whole-process people's democracy and intra-Party democracy, we can add "probes" to detect violations, making the "Key Minority" [17] accustomed to working under the "spotlight."
(Author: Zeng Jun, Vice Director of the Shanghai Center for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Executive Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee)