Hong Xianghua and Zhang Guangze: The Essence of Conduct Issues Lies in Party Spirit

2025-04-22 CPC History & Party Building

Party spirit ^[1] and work style ^[2] are inextricably linked. Party spirit is the internal foundation of work style, while work style is the external expression of Party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The issue of work style is, at its essence, an issue of Party spirit." Party spirit is the cornerstone for Party members and cadres to establish themselves, their careers, their words, and their virtue ^[3]; it is also the fundamental basis upon which our Party maintains its advanced nature and purity. When Party spirit is pure, the work style is upright; when Party spirit is impure, the work style is crooked. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has broken new ground by formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulations of the Central Committee. They have persevered in rectifying work styles and strengthening discipline, corrected the "Four Winds" with the "spirit of driving a nail" ^[4], and successively launched a series of concentrated study-and-education campaigns ^[5]. These efforts have pushed the construction of the Party's work style toward greater depth and substance, leading to the continuous formation and development of a clean and upright internal political ecosystem.

The Work Style of Cadres is the Barometer for the People to Observe and Evaluate the Party's Style The Party’s work style concerns the Party's image, the leanings of public heart-minds ^[6], and the very survival of the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that "the work style of cadres is the barometer for the people to observe and evaluate the Party's style," and cautioned the whole Party that "the people most detest corruption and undesirable work styles." When Party members and cadres interact with the masses, their work attitude, efficiency, and personal conduct directly affect the people's trust in Party organizations. For example, in rural revitalization work, whether resident cadres truly go deep into the grassroots to take real action, and whether they truly eat, live, and labor alongside the masses, is clearly seen by the people. When the Party’s style is upright, the people feel a sense of fairness and satisfaction; the Party and the people can then share joys and sorrows, and our cause will flourish. Conversely, if work style construction is neglected and undesirable styles are allowed to erode the Party's body, an invisible wall will separate the Party from the masses, and the Party will lose its roots, its lifeblood, and its strength.

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always attached great importance to strengthening work style construction. During the Yan'an period ^[7], our Party carried out a revolution in work style characterized by the sentiment "one sees only public servants and no officials." This allowed the masses to see the essential difference between the new and the old political parties, ultimately leading us to "defeat the Xi'an style with the Yan'an style" ^[8]. A critical reason why our Party has united and led the people to achieve great successes in revolution, construction, and reform is that we have cultivated and adhered to a complete set of glorious traditions and fine work styles throughout long-term practice.

Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has targeted work style issues of close concern to the masses. They have used "ironclad institutional rules" to draw red lines for conduct, leading by example to ensure that the entire Party’s work style construction does not slacken, stop, or cease its forward movement. This has halted some ill winds that went unchecked for long periods and cured chronic ailments that had persisted for years. The "barometer" of cadre work style measures the shifts in the people's heart-minds and gauges the depth of the foundation of our governance. Only by maintaining a high degree of self-awareness—that "work style construction is always a work in progress and has no closing note"—can we ensure the Party’s image in the hearts of the masses remains like a bright red flag, forever flying in the wind.

Serious and Earnest Internal Political Life is the "Purifier" of the Party's Style The Communist Party of China has always regarded internal political life ^[9] as the primary platform for Party organizations to educate and manage members, and for members to engage in the tempering of their Party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Long-term practice has proven that serious and earnest internal political life is an important magic weapon for our Party to adhere to its nature and purpose and maintain its advanced nature and purity. It is the 'golden key' to solving internal contradictions and problems, the 'great melting pot' for wide ranks of members and cadres to temper their Party spirit, and the 'purifier' of the Party's style." This important discourse profoundly reveals the great significance of serious internal political life for purifying the Party's style and forging an iron-clad team. The "Party style purifier" ensures the health of the Party's body by continuously filtering out unhealthy components, removing harmful substances, and promoting self-repair. Since the 18th National Congress, the broad ranks of Party members and cadres have armed their minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, continuously strengthening the "Four Awarenesses," firming up the "Four Confidences," and achieving the "Two Upholds," thereby building a foundation of faith, replenishing the "calcium of the spirit" ^[10], and steadying the rudder of thought.

From the Gutian Congress ^[11], which established the principle of "ideological Party building," to the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which reviewed and adopted the Code of Conduct for Intra-Party Political Life Under New Circumstances; from advocating for a political situation characterized by "both centralization and democracy" to emphasizing the need to "enhance the political nature, contemporary nature, principle-centered nature, and combative nature of intra-Party political life, and comprehensively purify the intra-Party political ecosystem"—the Party’s historical practice proves that the more critical the historical juncture, the more necessary it is to utilize the purifying function of internal political life. A serious internal political life and a pure, healthy internal political ecosystem are the soil from which the Party's fine work style grows, the source of power for the Party's exuberant vitality, and the essential conditions for maintaining the Party's advanced nature and purity while increasing its creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. On the new journey of the New Era, facing the "four major tests" and "four types of dangers" ^[12], we must consistently implement this "purifier" of internal political life to ensure the Party remains the most reliable pillar of support for the Chinese people.

Firming Up Ideals and Convictions is Fundamental to Maintaining and Developing the Party's Fine Work Style Conviction is the root; work style is the form. When the root is upright, the form gathers strength; when the root is not upright, the form will inevitably dissipate. To maintain and carry forward the Party's fine work style, firming up ideals and convictions is fundamental. The Communist Party of China takes Marxism as its foundation for building the Party, the realization of Communism as its highest ideal, and wholehearted service to the people as its fundamental purpose. This is the "root" of Communists. Without it, we would be like a tree without roots.

It can be said that ideals and convictions are the spiritual genes of the Party's fine work styles, while those styles are the realistic projections of those ideals and convictions. From the "red rice and pumpkin soup" ^[13] style of arduous struggle during the Jinggangshan period to the "using our own hands to provide ample food and clothing" spirit of self-reliance during the Yan'an period, the core has always been the unremitting adherence to the Communist faith. Behind the historical conclusion that "the victory of the Huaihai Campaign was pushed out by the common people in small wheelbarrows" ^[14] is the high degree of unity between the strict work style of Communists "not taking a single needle or thread from the masses" ^[15] and the ideal of "winning the world for the people."

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Firming up ideals and convictions is not abstract; it must target the specific problems we may face." In the battle against poverty, the deeds of Huang Wenxiu ^[16], who "expressed her original aspiration with her life," are a vivid example of ideals and convictions being transformed into a pragmatic work style. The old hero Zhang Fuqing ^[17] kept his contributions and fame hidden for over sixty years; none of his three children relied on his connections for schooling or employment. This stemmed from his adherence to the conviction that "Communist Party members must not enjoy special privileges," reflecting the traditional style of Communists "being the first to endure hardship and the last to enjoy comforts." "The key to measuring whether a cadre has ideals and convictions is to see their loyalty to the Party. Leading cadres must be loyal, clean, and responsible, and loyalty is always primary." A Communist's loyalty is manifested in strictly observing the Party's political discipline and political rules, and being a "clear-headed person" and an "honest person" in politics. Party members and cadres must strictly place their every word and action under the constraints of the Party's discipline and rules, always remembering that their primary identity is as a Communist Party member and their primary duty is to work for the Party. They must be loyal to the organization, be of one heart and one mind with the Party at all times, and resolutely respond to what the Central Committee advocates, resolutely execute what the Central Committee decides, and resolutely refrain from doing what the Central Committee prohibits.

Tempering Party Spirit and Strengthening Political Cultivation is a Lifelong Task for Party Members and Cadres The Communist Party of China regards the Party's political construction as the fundamental construction of the Party, emphasizing that political cultivation is the core of Party spirit cultivation and the fundamental cultivation for Party members and cadres. Over the past century of our Party's history, emphasizing the tempering of Party spirit and the strengthening of political cultivation has been both an important tradition in strengthening Party building and a vital experience for continuously increasing the Party's cohesion and moving from victory to victory. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Leading cadres should take the tempering of Party spirit and the raising of ideological awareness as a lifelong task—to live, learn, and cultivate oneself until old age. We must put political cultivation at the head of Party spirit cultivation, draw nourishment for Party spirit from the Party's innovative theories, and take the study, observance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline as important content of Party spirit cultivation." All Party members must maintain political clarity and steadfastness at all times, continuously improving their capacity for political judgment, political understanding, and political execution. They must consistently strengthen the tempering of their Party spirit and enhance their Party spirit cultivation, ensuring they have the Party, the people, responsibility, and discipline in their hearts.

We must draw nourishment for Party spirit from the Party's innovative theories, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, studying and understanding them deeply and internalizing them as personal guides for thought and action, thereby continuously strengthening and improving our own Party spirit cultivation. We must treat the study and observance of the Party Constitution, regulations, and discipline as vital components of Party spirit cultivation, ensuring every member uses them as a "pocket mirror" for self-reflection. In the process of "integrating study, thought, and application, and unifying knowledge, belief, and action," we forge an "indestructible vajra body" ^[18]. At the same time, we must perfect intra-Party supervision mechanisms and strengthen supervision over leading cadres to ensure that all members remain highly consistent with the Party Central Committee in their political stance, direction, principles, and path. Tempering a strong Party spirit is a continuous process with no end point. From the day they join the Party, every member and cadre must abide by their admission oath, taking the enhancement of Party spirit and the honing of a loyal character as a lifelong task. By constantly practicing and refining themselves within the strict internal political life of the Party, they can forge a strong Party spirit and promote the formation of a good political ecosystem.

Notes

↩ [1] 党性 (dǎngxìng): Party spirit. In Chinese Marxist theory, this refers to the refined manifestation of class consciousness and the total commitment of an individual to the Party’s ideology, discipline, and goals. It is often treated as the "soul" of the Communist.
↩ [2] 作风 (zuòfēng): Work style. Refers to the habitual attitude and behavior of Party members in their work, study, and daily life. It is categorized into ideological style, work style, writing style, and lifestyle.
↩ [3] 立身、立业、立言、立德 (lìshēn, lìyè, lìyán, lìdé): The four pillars of personal cultivation. A contemporary riff on the classical Chinese "Three Immortalities" (立德、立功、立言) from the Zuo Zhuan, meaning to establish one's character, career, words/theories, and virtue.
↩ [4] 钉钉子精神 (dīng dìngzi jīngshén): The "spirit of driving a nail." A metaphor used by Xi Jinping to describe a persistent, steady approach to work—not giving up until a task is completely finished, much like hitting a nail multiple times until it is firmly in place.
↩ [5] 集中学习教育 (jízhōng xuéxí jiàoyù): Concentrated study-and-education campaigns. Refers to periodic, theme-based Party-wide movements, such as the "Mass Line" campaign (2013), the "Three Stricts and Three Honests" (2015), and more recently, the "Study of Party History" (2021).
↩ [6] 人心向背 (rénxīn xiàngbèi): The leanings of public heart-minds. A classical idiom meaning whether the people support or oppose a ruler/regime; it is considered the ultimate decider of political legitimacy in Chinese political thought.
↩ [7] 延安时期 (Yán'ān shíqī): The Yan'an period (1935–1948). The period when the CPC headquarters were located in Yan'an, Shaanxi, following the Long March. It is mythologized as the "cradle of the revolution" where the Party's core values and "Yan'an Spirit" (hard work, self-reliance) were forged.
↩ [8] “用延安作风打败西安作风” ("yòng Yán'ān zuòfēng dǎbài Xī'ān zuòfēng"): "Defeat the Xi'an style with the Yan'an style." A phrase attributed to the patriotic educator Huang Yanpei after visiting Yan'an. "Xi'an style" referred to the perceived corruption and bureaucracy of the Nationalist (Kuomintang) government, while "Yan'an style" represented the CPC's perceived integrity and closeness to the people.
↩ [9] 党内政治生活 (dǎngnèi zhèngzhì shēnghuó): Internal (or intra-Party) political life. Refers to the collective activities, meetings (such as "democratic life meetings"), and disciplinary structures through which Party members interact and are managed.
↩ [10] 精神之钙 (jīngshén zhī gài): "Calcium of the spirit." Xi Jinping’s metaphor for ideals and convictions. If a Communist lacks faith, they suffer from "calcium deficiency," leading to "political rickets" (lack of backbone or moral collapse).
↩ [11] 古田会议 (Gǔtián huìyì): The Gutian Congress (1929). An early CPC meeting that established the principle that "the Party commands the gun" and prioritized "ideological Party building" to ensure the Red Army remained a political organ.
↩ [12] “四大考验”“四种危险” ("sì dà kǎoyàn" "sì zhǒng wēixiǎn"): The "four major tests" (market economy, external environment, etc.) and "four types of dangers" (slacker spirit, incompetence, distancing from the masses, and corruption) identified by the CPC as threats to its long-term governance.
↩ [13] 红米饭、南瓜汤 (hóng mǐfàn, nánguā tāng): "Red rice and pumpkin soup." A reference to the meager diet of the Red Army during the Jinggangshan period (1927–1929), symbolizing the Party's tradition of sharing hardships with the people.
↩ [14] 淮海战役 (Huáihǎi zhànyì): The Huaihai Campaign (1948–1949). One of the three decisive campaigns of the Chinese Civil War. The "wheelbarrows" quote (credited to General Chen Yi) emphasizes that the CPC's victory was due to the logistical support of millions of peasants who voluntarily transported supplies for the army.
↩ [15] 不拿群众一针一线 (bù ná qúnzhòng yī zhēn yī xiàn): "Not taking a single needle or thread from the masses." One of the "Three Main Rules of Discipline" laid down by Mao Zedong for the Red Army, emphasizing strict integrity and protection of civilian property.
↩ [16] 黄文秀 (Huáng Wénxiù): A celebrated "poverty alleviation" cadre who gave up a comfortable life in the city to lead a village in Guangxi. She died in a flash flood in 2019 while performing her duties.
↩ [17] 张富清 (Zhāng Fùqīng): A decorated veteran of the Chinese Civil War who kept his medals and military achievements secret for decades while working as a humble clerk in a remote mountainous county. He was rediscovered and honored in 2018 as a paragon of "selfless dedication."
↩ [18] 金刚不坏之身 (jīngāng bùhuài zhī shēn): "Indestructible vajra body." A term originating in Buddhism (Vajrakaya) describing an eternal, indestructible body; in modern CPC discourse, it is used metaphorically for a Party member whose faith and integrity are so strong that they are immune to corruption or ideological "erosion."