Wang Yubo: Vigorous Implementation Is the Practical Manifestation of Communists' Ideals and Beliefs
Implementing the major decision-making arrangements of the Party Central Committee is a fundamental requirement for maintaining the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee; it is also an important historical experience in the continuous development and progress of the cause of the Party and the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly noted: "I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of valuing hard work and vigorously grasping implementation. If we do not settle down to grasp implementation, no matter how good the goals or how great the blueprints are, they will only be like flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water [1]." On January 20, at the opening ceremony of a study session for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, must further strengthen their studies, delve into the Party's innovative theories, improve their professional literacy, and enhance their capacity for practical work." Currently, the "15th Five-Year Plan" [2] has already commenced. To turn the grand blueprint planned by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee into reality, the key lies in deeply studying and comprehending General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on vigorously grasping implementation, and promoting the realization of the Party Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements with a high sense of political responsibility and historical mission.
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on vigorously grasping implementation constitute the "philosophy of action" and "philosophy of praxis" for contemporary Chinese Communists in the New Era
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on vigorously grasping implementation are the precious crystallization of long-term practical cultivation, tempering over years, profound theoretical accumulation, and ideological inheritance. They manifest the distinct characteristics of the unity of theory and practice and the integration of history and reality.
When Comrade Xi Jinping worked in Zhengding, Hebei, he attached great importance to implementation, proposing to "focus on practical matters, seek practical results, and struggle with real swords and real spears." During his time in Fujian, he elucidated important methods for implementation, adhering to the "Four Downward to the Grassroots" [3] work system. In Ningde, he advocated the "water droplets piercing through stone" [4] spirit, explaining that the value of implementation lies in perseverance and tenacity. In Fuzhou, he advocated for "immediate action and honest work," requiring that once things are decided, they must be done, and once done, they must be done well. After moving to Zhejiang, he emphasized "tangibly placing implementation in an important position." During his tenure in Shanghai, he proposed the "Four Placements" [5], elevating the grasp of implementation to the height of serving national strategy and enhancing urban functional capacity. These important expositions provide scientific guidance for doing a good job in implementation and improving governing standards, highlighting profound theoretical significance and practical value.
Since the 18th National Congress [6], General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important expositions centered on vigorously grasping implementation, scientifically answering major questions such as "why we must grasp implementation, for whom we grasp implementation, and how we grasp implementation" in the New Era. These reflect a scientific worldview and methodology, constitute an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and form the "philosophy of action" and "philosophy of praxis" for contemporary Chinese Communists in the New Era.
Profoundly elucidating the great significance of vigorously grasping implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Empty talk harms the nation, while hard work prospers the country. Implementation accounts for ninety percent of the work, while the deployment is only ten. If we do not focus on implementation and do not earnestly grasp it, no matter how good the plans and deployments are, they will become nothing but castles in the air." He also noted: "Grasping implementation is a fundamental requirement of the Party's political line, ideological line, and mass line; it is also an important marker for measuring the Party spirit and the view on achievements of leading cadres." These important expositions profoundly reveal the essential requirements of vigorously grasping implementation and clearly point out its extreme importance, consolidating the ideological foundation for persisting in vigorous implementation in the New Era.
Profoundly elucidating the political requirements of vigorously grasping implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Only by standing at a political height can we more thoroughly comprehend the Party Central Committee’s major principles and decision-making arrangements, and work with greater foresight and initiative." He added: "The key to Party committees (Party leadership groups) at all levels playing their role in leadership and oversight is to see whether the localities, departments, and units they lead have executed and implemented these systems in all their work. If they are truly executed and implemented, there will be no problem with the direction, and no problem will arise politically." These important expositions manifest the fundamental requirement of taking a clear-cut political stand, clarify the political attributes and political responsibilities of vigorously grasping implementation, and embody the political consensus for vigorous implementation in the New Era.
Profoundly elucidating the scientific methods of vigorously grasping implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must take grasping implementation as the primary mode of carrying out work, use our brains, find ways, and come up with real moves and real measures." He emphasized: "Grasp implementation with the spirit of driving a nail" [7] and "Place grasping implementation in a prominent position, formulate specific plans, clarify the division of responsibilities, and prevent tasks from falling through." These important expositions manifest the practical character of Marxism, reveal the internal logic of vigorously grasping implementation, and elucidate the methodology for it, providing methodological guidance and action guidelines for implementation in the New Era.
Profoundly elucidating the subjects responsible for vigorously grasping implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The 'number one' leader [8] is the key to grasping implementation. One must shoulder the responsibility, dare to carry the heaviest burdens, dare to gnaw on the hardest bones [9], and be adept at taking on the 'hottest sweet potatoes' [10], catching hold of and realizing the work under one's charge to achieve results." He also noted: "We must implement leadership responsibility; one level must grasp the next, and one level must lead the next, ensuring implementation cascades through every layer." These important expositions clarify the important role of "lead goose" [11] guidance in vigorously grasping implementation, point out the responsibility system for implementation, and define that for Party leading cadres, truly and effectively grasping implementation is a requisite duty and an inherent responsibility.
Profoundly elucidating the value pursuits of vigorously grasping implementation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must focus more on the livelihood issues that the people generally care about, adopt more targeted measures, grasp implementation one by one, work year after year, and make the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security more substantial, better guaranteed, and more sustainable." He emphasized: "We must persevere in doing livelihood work well, carry forward the spirit of driving a nail, maintain an unremitting tenacity, follow every launched item through to the end, do one thing after another, work year after year, and move forward with perseverance, ensuring that every item reaches a conclusion and every matter receives an answer, so that the masses see the changes and receive actual benefits." He also stressed "grasping implementation through pragmatic measures that are close to reality and close to the people, and pushing work through by having one level press the next, ensuring the Party Central Committee's decision-making arrangements take root." These important expositions fully manifest the firm stance of the supremacy of the people, centrally embody the people-centered philosophy of development, and point out the starting point, objective, and focus area for vigorously grasping implementation in the New Era.
Ensuring that the Party Central Committee's various decision-making arrangements take root, blossom, and bear fruit through practical work and real results
Since the 18th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has always kept the land of Yunling [12] in his heart and remained deeply concerned for the people of all ethnic groups there. He has issued a series of important instructions and comments, and from the height of the overall strategic situation of the Party and the country, he has defined development positioning and pointed out struggle goals for Yunnan. The cadres and masses of all ethnic groups in the province have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, instructions, and comments made during his inspections of Yunnan, ensuring through practical work and real results that the Party Central Committee's various decision-making arrangements take root, blossom, and bear fruit.
Striving for implementation without compromise, manifesting political commitment through firm belief and practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Resolutely maintain the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, ensuring we do not fall behind or deviate, and grasp the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s spirit without compromise." We always regard "studying the thought" as the primary task and "consolidating the soul" [13] as the primary requirement. We have improved the regular and long-term mechanisms for implementation and promptly carry out "look-backs" [14] to ensure all tasks are implemented comprehensively, accurately, and effectively. For example, General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to and is constantly mindful of the protection and treatment of Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake. We grasp implementation with a rock-solid stance, quality, ability, and will. Using "thunderous means" and the courage to address root causes, we strictly rectified the problems of illegal constructions along the banks of Dianchi Lake and vigorously promoted the ecological protection and treatment of Erhai Lake. After five years of systematic protection and treatment, the water quality of Dianchi Lake has remained stable at Category IV, and a pattern of large-scale ecology, wetlands, and scenic areas has basically formed along its banks; the water quality of Erhai Lake has long remained excellent, and the situation of harmonious coexistence between man and nature has become more apparent.
Striving to grasp implementation with vigorous speed and efficiency, manifesting a forging-ahead posture by seizing the day and the hour. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "For urgent matters, we must act immediately and handle them quickly; we cannot be slow or dilatory." We have deeply carried out the building of work styles, vigorously promoted the work style of "immediate action and honest work," and advanced the implementation of various tasks forcefully and effectively. For example, based on our own resource advantages, we acted swiftly and actively implemented the "dual carbon" actions [15]. In the "West-to-East Power Transmission" [16] project, Yunnan has cumulatively sent over 2 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to saving approximately 665 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.728 billion tons for the eastern regions, making an important contribution to ensuring national energy security. We have vigorously promoted the deep integrated development of green energy and green manufacturing. Since the beginning of the "14th Five-Year Plan," Yunnan's installed capacity and proportion of green power have ranked among the top in the country. The total output value of green aluminum, silicon photovoltaics, and new energy batteries has grown by an average of 30.4% annually. "Green Power + Advanced Manufacturing" is becoming a new name card for Yunnan in serving the implementation of national strategies.
Striving for implementation by seeking truth from facts, tempering a rock-solid work style through personal practical work. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "When starting businesses and carrying out tasks, Party members and cadres must seek truth from facts and be pragmatic; there can be no room for the slightest superficiality." We strictly abstain from formalism and bureaucratism, do work substantively, and produce real achievements through hard work. For example, according to the arrangements of the Party Central Committee, we have deeply studied and applied the experience of the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation Project" [17], and deeply carried out the "7 Special Actions" for Patriotic Health. We have integrally promoted the improvement of urban and rural human settlements, the development of "Residential Tourism [18] in Yunnan," and the construction of healthy county seats. Compared with 2020, the coverage rate of rural sanitary toilets, the sewage treatment (control) rate, and the domestic waste treatment facility coverage rate have increased by 20.9, 36.2, and 54 percentage points respectively. All natural villages have reached the first-grade standard for rural human settlements. "Residential Tourism in Yunnan" has become a major IP, a major ecosystem, and a major industry.
Striving for implementation with the courage to act and the skill to perform, shouldering the responsibilities of the era amidst difficulties. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Doing things and taking responsibility is where a cadre's duty and value lie." History only looks kindly upon those who forge ahead; the era always favors those of action. We carry forward the spirit of struggle, working with bold responsibility and bold management, and improving the capacity for creative execution. General Secretary Xi Jinping pays high attention to the construction and operation of the China-Laos Railway and has issued important instructions on many occasions. We have earnestly implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions. On the basis of deep investigation and scientific demonstration, we innovatively implemented a cross-administrative-district custodianship model, where Kunming City took over the custodianship of Mohan Town in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the border port of the China-Laos Railway. Over the past three years, Mohan Town has achieved "four doublings" in fixed asset investment, general public budget revenue, introduced funds from outside the province, and permanent resident population, powerfully shaping the international window image of the China-Laos Railway.
Steadily advancing all work during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period with a work style of honest work and vigorous implementation
The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for consolidating the foundation and fully exerting force to basically realize socialist modernization. We must deeply implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on vigorously grasping implementation, continuously radiate the high-spirited vigor of "truly grasping," temper the firm will of "daring to grasp," master the scientific methods of "being adept at grasping," and maintain the enduring perseverance of "constantly grasping." We must more resolutely and forcefully implement the Party Central Committee’s major decision-making arrangements, and tangibly turn the grand blueprint of the "15th Five-Year Plan" into concrete reality.
Deepening implementation through the unity of Party spirit and the people-centered nature. There is no Party spirit divorced from the people-centered nature, and no people-centered nature divorced from Party spirit. We Communists stand because of our faith and fight for our ideals. Vigorously grasping implementation is the ideal and belief of Communists in action. As we forge ahead into the "15th Five-Year Plan," we must integrate the principle of adhering to the Party spirit with the firm stance of the people’s position, tangibly producing achievements that benefit the Party and the people. Grasping implementation is talking politics; talking politics requires grasping implementation. The reason the cause of the Party and the country has been able to achieve historical successes and undergo historical transformations lies fundamentally in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s steering of the ship and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must always persist in making the Party's leadership permeate the entire process of grasping implementation, profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," and enhance the "Four Consciousnesses," firm up the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds." The heart of the people is the "root" of the Party; every practical thing we do is "cultivating the root" for the Party. We must always "sit on the same bench" with the masses, think about things and make decisions from the people's standpoint, and implement the Party Central Committee’s decision-making arrangements to the grassroots level without compromise, transforming them into the tangible interests of the masses, and consolidating the Party’s governing foundation and mass foundation through vigorous implementation.
Deepening implementation through the unity of ideological and practical nature. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out...
"We must persist in integrating theory with practice, focusing on acquiring true knowledge and comprehending the essence through practice." As we forge ahead into the 15th Five-Year Plan [19], we must maintain the unity of ideological leadership and practical action, striving to be men of action possessed of ideals and convictions. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is expansive and profound; only by learning it well can we implement it effectively, and for effective implementation, sound learning is a prerequisite. In studying the Party's innovative theories, a beginner may feel there is nothing they do not understand, yet upon further study, one realizes how much remains elusive. Only through comprehensive, interconnected, and in-depth study can one reach a point of sudden enlightenment [20], truly understanding, internalizing, and applying them. We must continually strengthen orientations toward learning, integration, dynamic action, and implementation, forging a unified will and a force for advancement through the mutual reinforcement of study and application. We must seek truth from facts, proceed from reality in all things, and link theory with practice. By studying, grasping, and following objective laws, and by adapting to local conditions [21] and temporal contexts, we must earnestly explore effective methods and pathways for executing the major policy decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, ensuring that policy measures reach the very grassroots [22].
We must deepen implementation by maintaining the unity of local and global perspectives. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Once a decision is made, it must be implemented; departments at all levels must possess a sense of the big picture and the capacity for execution." As we forge ahead into the 15th Five-Year Plan, we must maintain the unity of the local and the global, achieving a virtuous cycle where "the whole empowers the part, and the part serves the whole." We must constantly keep the "top priorities of the nation" [23] in mind, proceed consciously from the "two big pictures" [24], oppose departmentalism [25], and, through earnest work, consciously submit to, actively integrate into, and fully uphold the overall situation. We must fulfill the primary responsibilities of our respective regions and departments, ensuring we remain "responsible for the land, accountable for the land, and exhaustive in our duties to the land," [26] adding luster to the whole while bringing credit to our specific locality. We must resolutely guard against formalism, bureaucratism, and "performance-record impulses" [27]. We must firmly refuse to engage in projects for vanity or quick success that "pass the thunder along by beating the drum" [28]; we must refuse to engage in making a hollow noise, shouting empty slogans, or practicing fraud; we must refuse to blindly chase "outlets" [29], expand scales of operation haphazardly, or "lose money just to get a cheer" [30]; and we must refuse the practice of "making decisions by patting one's head, making promises by patting one's chest, and walking away by patting one's backside." [31]
We must deepen implementation by maintaining the unity of whole-process and stage-based objectives. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The new stage of development we are in today is a stage within the primary stage of socialism, and at the same time, it is a stage that has reached a new starting point after decades of accumulation." As we forge ahead into the 15th Five-Year Plan, we must unify our whole-process goals with stage-based work. We must both fight a series of interconnected "battles of fortification" and, more importantly, fight a "protracted war" by persisting over the long term. In accordance with the "two-step" strategic arrangement [32] for the comprehensive buildup of a great modern socialist country, we must see one blueprint through to the end. We must construct a promotion mechanism that is fully integrated, clearly demarcated, interlinked, and consistent throughout the entire process, ensuring that responsibility is both pressed down and carried forward at every level. Taking the Five-Year Plan as our grasp, we must work one crop after another and fight one battle after another, continuously achieving new and greater successes.
We must deepen implementation by maintaining the unity of inheritance and innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Only by upholding the fundamentals can we avoid losing our direction or making subversive errors; only through innovation can we grasp and lead the era." As we forge ahead into the 15th Five-Year Plan, we must maintain the dialectical unity of inheritance and innovation, unswervingly upholding the fundamentals while seeking breakthroughs according to local and temporal conditions. We must protect the essence, source, root, and soul of Chinese-path modernization, unswervingly adhering to its Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles, while focusing on strengthening the foundation and cultivating the core. Based on the requirements of the new stage, new situation, new tasks, and new requirements, we must be adept at using new thinking to solve old problems and new methods to meet new challenges. By accurately identifying changes, scientifically responding to changes, and actively seeking changes, we shall grasp historical initiative and seize the initiative in development.
We must deepen implementation by maintaining the unity of struggle and scientific rigor. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The establishment of the Communist Party of China, the founding of the People's Republic of China, the implementation of reform and opening up, and the advancement of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era were all born in struggle, developed in struggle, and grew strong in struggle." As we forge ahead into the 15th Five-Year Plan, we must grasp the inherent unity of struggle and scientific rigor, breaking through obstacles to development with tenacious struggle and providing sustained momentum for high-quality development through scientific methods. The struggle of us Communists has a direction, a position, and principles; it is always directed at contradictions, problems, risks, and challenges, with the goal of coordinately advancing high-quality development and Chinese-path modernization. We must carry forward the spirit of struggle, stepping forward and meeting difficulties head-on. Facing heavy development tasks, we must dare to take the lead; facing contradictions and difficulties, we must dare to make decisions; facing risks and challenges, we must dare to take responsibility. We must find solutions and open new horizons by overcoming core difficulties. We must persist in leading high-quality development with the new development philosophy, establish and practice a correct view of performance records, and regard the well-being of the people as the greatest achievement. We must constantly pay attention to what the Party Central Committee is concerned about and emphasizing, profoundly understand its strategic intentions, and accurately grasp the laws of high-quality development. We must work for the Party and the people honestly and according to the rules, ensuring that what must be done is done, what can be done is pursued with effort, and what should not be done is strictly avoided. We must not be self-opinionated, and even less should we act on our own authority. We must always adhere to high-quality development as the "hard truth" [33] of the New Era, striving to write a new chapter on the new journey of the New Era that can stand the test of history, practice, and the people.
(The author is the Deputy Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Yunnan Province) Source: People's Daily (February 25, 2026) Editor: Huihui