Mastering the Working Method of "Doing Some Things and Refraining from Others"
Promoting sustained and healthy economic and social development requires not only correct ideas and policies but also correct work strategies and methods. Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the methodology of "acting in some areas while refraining from others" [1] on multiple occasions, covering various aspects such as industrial development, scientific and technological innovation, and the development strategy for the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Accurately understanding and grasping the philosophical wisdom contained therein is of great guiding significance for promoting high-quality development.
"Acting in some areas" (yousuo wei) and "refraining from others" (yousuo buwei) are a pair of complementary methodological concepts imbued with the spirit of dialectics. The expression originates from the Mencius: "A person of noble character acts in some areas and refrains from others; knowing what can be done and doing it, while knowing what cannot be done and refraining from it—this is the way of action and inaction for the person of noble character" [2]. This means that the person of noble character possesses clear standards of right and wrong, good and evil; they understand what should be done and do it, while clearly understanding what should not be done and resolutely refraining from it. This is the criterion for the conduct of a junzi. "Acting in some areas while refraining from others" contains a scientific methodology for work. On one hand, it emphasizes seizing opportunities, venturing into practical exploration, exerting subjective initiative, actively taking responsibility, and being adept at carrying out work creatively. On the other hand, it emphasizes proceeding from reality in all things, serving as a catalyst by seeking truth from facts and adapting measures to local conditions, and being willing to renounce certain things in one's work—either not doing them at all or not doing them for the time being. Taken together, it means that in our work we must assess the timing and situation, decide what to accept or reject, and choose the most important things to do, thereby reflecting the principles and bottom lines of our work.
"Acting in some areas" requires us to carry forward the spirit of historical initiative, grasp the primary contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and enhance our consciousness and initiative in resolutely implementing the decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee. Dialectical materialism emphasizes that in the process of the development of things, many contradictions exist, but the primary contradiction and its principal aspect often determine the course of development. Grasping the primary contradiction to drive the overall work is both an inherent requirement of dialectical materialism and a work methodology that our Party has consistently advocated and maintained. Since the 18th Party Congress, in the face of a complex international and domestic situation, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and the new expectations of the masses, we must conform to the historical trend, respond to changes actively, and seek changes proactively. Only by continuing to advance the grasp of reform and the promotion of development can we maintain strategic initiative at all times. In the work of promoting the comprehensively deepening of reform, we must focus on the prominent contradictions and problems restricting high-quality development, persist in placing the resolution of major institutional and mechanistic issues in a prominent position, tackle tough problems, break through barriers, and continuously advance the reform in both breadth and depth. In the work of promoting industrial development, we must firmly grasp our own strategic positioning within the overall national development framework and integrate this with the resource endowments, industrial foundations, and scientific research conditions of our respective regions to find a path for high-quality development that accords with local realities. On the new journey of the New Era, we must be adept at using the method of contradiction analysis, keeping close to the center, distinguishing between primary and secondary issues, grasping the key points, and applying precision to ensure we firmly hold the correct direction of "acting in some areas."
"Refraining from others" is by no means the same as inaction (bu zuowei); rather, it means taking a firm stand, holding the bottom line, persisting in proceeding from reality in all things, and determining development ideas by adapting measures to local conditions and seeking truth from facts. The methodology of "refraining from certain things" is also a fine tradition of our Party. As early as the initial period after the founding of New China, facing a complex domestic and international environment, Mao Zedong emphasized: "Do not strike out in all four directions. Striking out in all directions creates national tension, which is very bad. We must never create too many enemies; we must make concessions in one area, ease the tension there, and concentrate our forces to attack in another direction" [3]. Entering the New Era, industrial levels and developmental conditions vary across regions, and high-quality development will necessarily manifest in different forms. Eastern regions have a solid economic base and high levels of scientific research, providing the conditions to carry out original innovation, integrated innovation, and open innovation to develop high-tech manufacturing. Western regions have a relatively weak developmental foundation but possess unique natural resource endowments, making them suitable for building characteristic advantageous industries. If one possesses "unique skills" [4] but fails to temper and improve them, insisting instead on "driving a duck onto a perch" [5] (forcing an impossible task) in areas where one should not or cannot act, or engaging in wishful "pepper-sprinkling" [6] investment, the result will only be the opposite of what was intended. The reason for deviations in the outlook on performance among some Party members and cadres is precisely the crux of "striving" where one should have "refrained," resulting in decorative "image projects" [7] or wasteful "vanity projects" [8]. Both image and vanity projects replace long-term substance with "short, level, and fast" [9] results. In essence, these are driven by a mistaken outlook on performance characterized by an obsession with quick successes and instant benefits and a craving for empty fame. They lead to a tremendous waste of resources and development opportunities, affect the long-term healthy development of a region or field, and seriously damage the interests of the masses, fundamentally deviating from the starting point and ultimate goal of promoting reform and development. In this sense, only by not being misled by utopias, not being deceived by empty reputations, and persisting in "refraining from certain things" can one achieve great things and ensure that what is done will succeed.
It is evident that the key to grasping "acting" and "refraining" lies in the standpoint and perspective from which one views problems. Only by standing on the side of the Party and the people and considering one's own developmental positioning from the perspective of the whole—rather than merely looking after personal fame and fortune or focusing solely on one's own "one-and-a-third acres of land" [10]—can one find the right direction for development.
Naturally, the "time and momentum" (shi yu shi) [11] are not cast in stone; "acting" and "refraining" can also transform into one another. This requires us to assess the timing and situation with an eye toward development, seize every favorable opportunity, and use all favorable conditions to respond proactively. Only then can we better grasp the timing, intensity, and effectiveness (shi-du-xiao) of "acting" and "refraining," and always maintain a firm footing while seizing the initiative. Between "acting and refraining" lies wisdom, breadth of vision, and a sense of responsibility. Fundamental to "acting while refraining" is solving the philosophical proposition of ensuring the subjective conforms to the objective. Behind it lies strategic thinking, dialectical thinking, systems thinking, and process thinking, which align with the general principle of "seeking progress while maintaining stability" and the spiritual requirement of "prudent and steady progress." We must master the work method of "acting in some areas while refraining from others," profoundly recognize and follow the laws of economic and social development, be daring and adept at acting when we should "act," and maintain strategic resolve when we should "refrain."