On September 5, the Academy of Marxism held a summary meeting for the "Stay True to Our Original Aspiration and Keep Our Mission Firmly in Mind" theme education campaign.
On September 5, the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS) held a summary conference for the "Remaining True to our Original Aspiration and Founding Mission" [1] theme education campaign. Fan Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Vice Presidents Xin Xiangyang and Jia Chaoning attended, along with the entire cadre of Party members and staff. The meeting conveyed the spirit of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' (CASS) summary conference on the "Remaining True to our Original Aspiration and Founding Mission" theme education, reported on the special democratic life meeting [2] held by the Institute’s Party Committee regarding the theme education, and summarized the Institute’s progress in this campaign.
Fan Jianxin pointed out that in accordance with the requirements of the Party Central Committee and the CASS Party Leadership Group, and under the effective guidance of the Fourth Guidance Group of the CASS Party Leadership Group, the Institute of Marxism Studies integrated the theme education with its actual conditions. It organically combined the theme education with disciplinary adjustment and the construction of personnel teams, focusing closely on the strategic task of building the "Three Systems" [3]. Through meticulous deployment and rigorous implementation, the Institute earnestly carried out the general requirements of "upholding the original aspiration, assuming the mission, identifying gaps, and ensuring implementation." It effectively ensured that ideological understanding, the inspection of problems, the implementation of rectification, and organizational leadership were all thoroughly executed. By focusing on the fundamental task and firmly grasping the main line, the Institute fully completed all prescribed actions. Significant results were achieved in gaining theoretical insights, receiving an ideological and political baptism, demonstrating courage and responsibility in initiatives and career-building, solving difficult problems for the masses, and setting an example of integrity and uprightness.
Fan Jianxin emphasized five aspects in his comprehensive summary of the primary methods and work achievements of the Institute’s "Remaining True to our Original Aspiration and Founding Mission" theme education.
First, integrating study and education throughout the entire process has further improved the ideological and political level. The Institute persisted in studying comprehensively and systematically, reflecting deeply, linking theory to practice, and following up timely on new developments. The Party Committee's Central Study Group [4] held two expanded meetings, conducted centralized training for all staff on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and distributed a hundred-question knowledge assessment on the theme education to all Party members and staff. Leading cadres were organized to conduct intensive readings of the Selected Compilation of Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on "Remaining True to our Original Aspiration and Founding Mission" and to read through the Outline for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (hereinafter referred to as the "Outline"). They studied the Party Constitution, the Several Norms Regarding Political Life Within the Party Under the New Situation, and the Regulations on CPC Disciplinary Action section by section and sentence by sentence, while also following up on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s latest important speeches. Levering the Institute’s characteristics—namely its complete range of Marxist theoretical disciplines and its concentration of talent—it achieved "Five Combinations" in study and education. These include: combining study with the basic principles of Marxism; combining study with Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the "Three Represents" [5], and the Scientific Outlook on Development; combining the study of the "Outline" with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches since the 18th National Congress [6]; combining individual self-study with leadership-led study and collective discussion; and combining study with research and dissemination. Through this study, the core essence, rich connotations, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era were further mastered. The spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences and his three congratulatory letters to CASS were further grasped. This pushed theoretical study to go deeper, become more heart-felt, and more practical, enhancing the consciousness and determination to implement New Thought. It further fortified the foundation of faith, replenished "spiritual calcium" [7], and steadied the "ideological helm," strengthening the "Four Consciousnesses" [8], firming the "Four Confidences" [9], and more consciously achieving the "Two Upholds."
Second, integrating investigation and research throughout the entire process has further clarified prominent problems. Through opening email accounts, setting up suggestion boxes, conducting heart-to-heart talks, holding symposiums, having leadership team members attend meetings of the Party branches they are linked with, and holding exchange meetings on leadership research results, the Institute focused on implementing the Central Committee’s decisions and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions. Investigation and research were conducted on the Institute’s discipline and talent development, striving to clarify prominent problems, preliminary identifying various situations within the Institute, analyzing specific bottlenecks, and forming basic ideas and concrete measures for problem-solving and work improvement. During the investigation, 19 areas of concern were preliminary sorted and categorized, covering five major classes: research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, discipline construction, talent construction, scientific research management services, and Party building. For these problems, causes were sought from both subjective and objective perspectives, and preliminary rectification measures were proposed. During the investigation process, the Institute also adhered to the principle of "rectifying while knowing and reforming while investigating," promoting the immediate resolution of problems.
Third, integrating the inspection of problems throughout the entire process has further analyzed the issues and their root causes. In accordance with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s requirements for the "Four Comparisons" [10] and "Four Self-Examinations," the Institute widely solicited opinions and suggestions. With the consciousness to face problems head-on and the courage to "turn the blade inward" [11], personnel positioned themselves, their responsibilities, and their work within the inquiry. They prevented evaluations from being "broad and empty" or "small and fragmented," identifying each problem that violated the original aspiration and mission one by one. Special meetings were held to explain gaps and problems found in comparison with the Party Constitution and regulations. Aiming at work deficiencies and specific problems, the Institute conducted analysis and reflection, particularly performing profound inspections of subjective and ideological factors.
Fourth, integrating the implementation of rectification throughout the entire process has further promoted the construction of the "Three Systems." The word "rectification" was integrated from start to finish. The implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions was reviewed item by item; a special rectification report was formulated, a ledger was established, and implementation was tackled one by one. For the identified issues, differentiated and precise measures were applied for solid rectification, especially regarding the special cleanup of the eight prominent problems listed in the theme education. For issues difficult to resolve immediately, phased goals were clarified for continuous rectification, achieving preliminary results in solving the "worries and frustrations" of cadres, scholars, and the masses. Before the end of the theme education, a high-quality democratic life meeting was held to further refine rectification measures. Based on study, investigation, and problem inspection, the Institute formulated rectification measures: enhancing capability to improve ideological and political levels; highlighting keys to enhance comprehensive research strength; reforming and innovating to improve the mechanisms for the "Three Systems"; putting people first to strengthen talent teams; and taking responsibility to improve the ability to manage the Institute and its departments.
Fifth, integrating organizational leadership throughout the entire process has further strengthened the Party’s leadership. The Secretary of the Party Committee fulfilled the duties of the "person with primary responsibility" [12]. Along with other leadership team members and leading cadres, the Secretary took the lead in study and discussion, investigation and research, problem inspection, and rectification implementation, playing an exemplary role. Leadership team members went to their respective Party branches to participate in study sessions and organizational life meetings [13], listening to opinions face-to-face, conducting in-depth research, and supervising the theme education in each branch. The theme education was conducted with a "good style of work," resolutely preventing formalism, minimizing written materials submitted by Party branches, and striving for fewer, shorter meetings and shorter documents. By insisting on overall planning, the "two-fold success" of both theme education and scientific research work was achieved. Taking the theme education as an opportunity, the regulations of the Party Branch Work Regulations were implemented, grass-roots Party branch construction was strengthened, and the Party branch study system was improved.
Jia Chaoning, Vice President and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, specifically emphasized strengthening disciplinary execution and enhancing awareness of the "overall situation" during the implementation of rectification in the theme education.
Contribution: Fang Tao