Deeply Study and Understand Xi Jinping's Thought on Upholding the Party's Overall Leadership
In accordance with the notice from the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS) regarding the strengthening of the study, implementation, and fulfillment of the major policy decisions and deployments of the CASS Party Group, important academy meetings, and the instructions and comments of academy leadership, the Department of International Communist Movement has researched and formulated a plan for collective ideological theory study for the second half of 2022.
On July 20, 2022, the Department of International Communist Movement conducted its first collective theoretical study session to strengthen ideological construction. The session focused primarily on the content regarding "Upholding the Party's Overall Leadership" in the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. This study and exchange adopted a format combining keynote presentations with discussion. Yuan Xiuli, Deputy Director of the Department of International Communist Movement, presided over the meeting, and all personnel from the department participated in the study and exchange.
(Venue of the Department of International Communist Movement's study of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China)
Researcher Pan Jin'e, Director of the Department and Branch Party Secretary, first provided an explanation regarding the arrangements for this study session. She noted that this thematic study of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is the first concentrated theoretical study session for strengthening ideological construction formulated by the department, based on deeply studying and grasping the major policy decisions of the Academy Party Group, important meetings, and the instructions of leadership. This session featured keynote presentations by comrades from the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement, with other comrades participating in the discussion.
Regarding the method of study, she further proposed the "Two Combinations" [1] study requirement. First, the thematic study of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China should be conducted in combination with the contents of the first three volumes; this helps form a holistic cognition of the material and a grasp of the basic content and internal logic of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on governance. Second, the study should be combined with the disciplinary background of the International Communist Movement for in-depth thematic research. By utilizing the mapping and comparative analysis of relevant concepts, categories, and thoughts by classical Marxist authors, one can deeply learn and thoroughly understand the core essence and theoretical innovations of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on governance.
Subsequently, comrades from the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement, acting as keynote speakers, successively reported on their study reflections.
(Comrades from the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement delivering keynote speeches)
Pan Xihua, Director of the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement, titled her report "Keeping 'the Nation’s Most Fundamental Interests' [2] in Mind and Upholding the Party's Overall Leadership." Centering on five keywords—"the nation's most fundamental interests," "the Party's overall leadership," "comprehensively strengthening Party building," "upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee," and "maintaining the Party's unity and solidarity"—she reported her reflections from five perspectives. First, regarding "the nation's most fundamental interests" (guo zhi da zhe): As the major situations, trends, and matters of concern emphasized by the Party Central Committee, these represent the most important interests of the Party and the state and the positions that must be most firmly defended. These interests are "fundamental" because they concern essential interests, focus on the strategic landscape, and require a higher political standing. The criterion for judgment is singular: whether it concerns the fundamental interests of the Party and the state. Second, upholding the Party's overall leadership has rich connotations. To uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership does not mean the Party should "take on everything" [3] or "replace everything." Rather, it means the Communist Party of China occupies a leading position of overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties across the various undertakings of the Party and the state. Upholding the Party’s overall leadership is not abstract but concrete; it must be implemented pragmatically in all activities of governance. Most importantly, the entire Party must obey the Central Committee and constantly uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. Third, upholding the Party's core leadership position and maintaining the Party's unity and solidarity is the fundamental guarantee for the success of the cause of the Party and the people. Maintaining unity and solidarity is the lifeblood of the Party and the key to our Party becoming a century-old party and creating worldly achievements. To maintain unity and solidarity, one must be loyal to the Party and use the "Two Upholds" to guide the unity and solidarity of the whole Party. Fourth, in upholding the Party's overall leadership, several relationships must be correctly grasped, specifically: upholding the Party's overall leadership is the only path to upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; the Party's overall leadership profoundly shapes the political advantages of whole-process people's democracy; upholding the Party's overall leadership requires comprehensively strengthening Party building; following the new path of Chinese-path modernization requires the leadership of the Communist Party of China; and upholding the Party's overall leadership requires adhering to the philosophy of putting the people first. Fifth, as researchers in the "national team" [4], and especially as researchers who are Party members, we should keep "the nation’s most fundamental interests" in mind, enhance our awareness of being a political organ, take a clear-cut political stand, remain politically stable and reliable, and effectively translate the enhancement of the "Four Consciousnesses" [5], the firming of the "Four Confidences" [6], and the fulfillment of the "Two Upholds" into practical actions.
Wang You took "Party spirit" (dangxing) [7] as an entry point. Combining the exposition of the triple connotation of "Party spirit" by classical Marxist authors, particularly Lenin, he provided a comparative analysis of the theoretical innovations and developments realized in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s discourses on firming the "Party spirit" position and strengthening "Party spirit" cultivation. He argued that Party spirit is an important Marxist concept and a basic requirement of the CPC for its members. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the issue of Party spirit and has discussed it many times. For instance, in his report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, "Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Victory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," he required: "The whole Party must more consciously uphold the principle of Party spirit, have the courage to face problems squarely, be brave enough to 'scrape the poison off the bone' [8], and eliminate all factors that damage the Party's advanced nature and purity"; "All comrades of the Party, especially senior cadres, must strengthen their tempering of Party spirit, continuously improve their political awareness and ability, and take loyalty to the Party, sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling duties for the Party, and benefiting the people as their fundamental political responsibility, forever maintaining the political character of Communists." By tracing the history of the development of Marxism and the history of the international communist movement, we can see that Party spirit is a major issue that has been continuously emphasized in the revolutionary practice of Communists in various countries, concerning the vitality of the proletarian party. Classical Marxist authors made many profound expositions on the issue of Party spirit. Taking Lenin as an example, through works like One Step Forward, Two Steps Back written around 1904, he refuted the "circle spirit" and "amateurish methods" that were prevalent within the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party during its early building stage and were contrary to Party spirit. He proposed the "foundations of Party spirit" including the Party program, tactical regulations, and organizational experience, and further clarified Party spirit at the theoretical, philosophical, and organizational levels, sweeping away the sectarianism and liberal ideas of members and greatly enhancing the Party's combat effectiveness. In the New Era, the view of Party spirit proposed by classical Marxists like Lenin still possesses vigorous vitality and has important practical significance for comprehensively strengthening Party building and institutional construction.
Yu Hui, combining six speeches by General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding "the nation’s most fundamental interests" (guo zhi da zhe) between April 20, 2020, and March 1, 2022, analyzed and organized the connotations of this term from the three levels of value, theory, and practice. She pointed out that at the value level, the CPC, as the vanguard of the working class, has written the word "people" on its banner since the day of its birth. It always remembers that power must be used for the people, emotions must be tied to the people, and interests must be sought for the people. It follows the principle that the Party comes from the people and is rooted in the people, adheres to everything being for the people and relying on the people, and serves the people wholeheartedly. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "The country is the people, and the people are the country; as the CPC has fought to establish and maintain its leadership over the country, it has in fact been fighting to earn and keep the people's support. The CPC has its roots in the people, its bloodline in the people, and its strength in the people." "To let the ordinary people live a good life is the starting point and objective of all our work"—this is what "the nation's most fundamental interests" means. For a hundred years, all the struggles of the CPC have been dedicated to realizing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. At the theoretical level, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest achievement of the continuous development and innovation of Marxism, based on the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core firmly adhering to Marxism, grounded in a profound insight into the characteristics of the 21st century and a scientific judgment of contemporary China's development position. It is the guide to action for the struggle to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is to adhere to the contemporary "most fundamental interests of the nation." At the practical level, "the nation's most fundamental interests," as the major matters of concern for the Party Central Committee that relate to the country’s development prospects and the nation's historical destiny, play a vital role in promoting contemporary China's development and realizing the people's happiness. They have distinct temporal orientations in different historical periods of the Chinese nation's development. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, we must keep "the nation’s most fundamental interests" in mind, uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, coordinate the "Four Greats" [9], promote the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan," and coordinate the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. We must adhere to and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.
Subsequently, other researchers from the Department of International Communist Movement also reported their personal study reflections from different perspectives.
Yuan Xiuli, Deputy Director of the Department, pointed out that in the process of studying the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, the profound connotations of "the nation’s most fundamental interests" became even clearer. She felt inspired by Comrade Wang You’s study and exposition on Party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal to uphold the Party's overall leadership is, on one hand, a necessity of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and on the other, an adherence to and development of Marxist thought on party building. In the process of guiding the workers’ movements in Germany, France, and the United States, Marx and Engels attached great importance to the Party's leading position. Regarding errors such as the followers of Lassalle and Bakunin attacking the role of the General Council of the International Workingmen's Association, Marx resolutely defended the status and role of the General Council. Engels' work On Authority was also a strike back against these erroneous ideas. Lenin’s exposition and defense of Party spirit and the Party's leading position occupy a prominent place in the history of the international communist movement. These played an important role in Lenin’s efforts to unite the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, overthrow the Tsarist autocracy, achieve victory in the October Revolution, and lead the Soviet regime in carrying out socialist construction. We should comprehensively understand the important significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s thoughts on upholding the Party's overall leadership.
Other participating scholars also successively exchanged views on the comprehensiveness, systematic nature, and holistic methodology of researching the Party's overall leadership, as well as how leading cadres should strengthen their sense of responsibility—being aware of responsibilities in the heart, bearing them on the body, and fulfilling them through action. Through this thematic study and exchange, everyone further clarified the extreme importance of upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership and the necessity and urgency of strengthening ideological construction. They expressed their commitment to further enhancing their awareness of being a political organ, firming the "Four Confidences," and implementing the "Two Upholds" in practical actions. The Party Branch of the Department of International Communist Movement will also take the study of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China as an opportunity to successively carry out a series of study activities to strengthen ideological construction, comprehensively improving the Marxist theoretical literacy and professional capabilities of research personnel.
(Contribution by the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement)