Marxism Research Network
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Gao Chao and Hu Yifan: The Core Essence of Xi Jinping's Important Exposition on the Spirit of Struggle in the New Era

The contradictory movement of social development is the source of living water that nurtures the spirit of struggle. The great struggle led by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and the people embodies the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation and has formed a distinct spiritual hallmark. Since the New Era, Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the extreme importance of "engaging in great struggle" and has proposed a series of new assertions while calling on the entire Party to "persist in carrying forward the spirit of struggle," thereby forming an important discourse on the spirit of struggle in the New Era. This spirit of struggle is both the internal dimension and spiritual foundation for constructing the ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as a powerful spiritual force for pooling strength and consolidating hearts. Systematically grasping Xi Jinping's important discourse on the spirit of struggle in the New Era has profound practical guidance for resolving prominent issues among some Party members and officials, such as the weakening of the spirit of struggle and insufficient assumption of responsibility.

I. Xi Jinping’s Important Discourse on the Theoretical Connotations of the Spirit of Struggle in the New Era

Xi Jinping’s important discourse on the spirit of struggle in the New Era has reshaped the spiritual state of the CPC’s tenacious struggle on the new journey and formed the theoretical connotations of this spirit. The 18th National Congress of the CPC emphasized: "Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is a long-term, arduous historical task, and we must be prepared to engage in a great struggle with many new historical characteristics" [1]. In December 2016, while presiding over a democratic life meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping pointed out that "facing new situations and new challenges, we must carry forward the spirit of struggle" [2]. This marked the official appearance of the important concept of the "spirit of struggle" in the New Era within Xi Jinping's discourse. The 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized "persisting in carrying forward the spirit of struggle" as one of the major principles that must be firmly grasped, clearly elevating the promotion of the spirit of struggle to a key position for "boosting the morale and spirit of the entire Party." The spiritual state shaped by the Party's great struggle in the New Era presents a composite structure; it is an internal unity of spiritual state, a hardy work style, and the act of assuming responsibility.

The spirit of struggle in the New Era is fundamentally manifested as a proactive state of being high-spirited, enterprising, undaunted by hardships, and advancing in the face of difficulties. The starting point for carrying forward the spirit of struggle in the New Era lies in activating the proactive state of the spiritual subject, thereby maximizing their internal potential. In June 2013, at the working conference of the Party's mass line education and practice activities, Xi Jinping emphasized "educating and guiding Party members and officials to keep the 'two musts' [1] in mind, to be devoted to the public interest, to be diligent and honest in governance, and to maintain a high-spirited and promising spiritual state" [3], which demonstrates a clear problem-oriented approach. In January 2020, at the summary meeting of the "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission" [2] theme education, Xi Jinping pointed out that to carry forward the spirit of struggle, one must "be mindful of danger in times of peace, mindful of ruin in times of survival, and mindful of distress in times of joy; always remain alert and constantly invigorate the spirit" [4]. Approached from the perspective of a proactive state, the spirit of struggle in the New Era emphasizes the essential internal consistency between the spiritual state of individual Party members and officials and the overall spiritual outlook of the century-old Party. It is the fundamental goal for the entire Party to strengthen confidence and determination and maintain a spiritual state of never flagging.

The spirit of struggle in the New Era is centrally embodied in a hardy work style of "daring to unsheathe the sword" [3], daring to assume responsibility, daring to take tough measures in management, and daring to break new ground and conduct trials. Issues of work style are essentially issues of Party spirit; a hardy work style reflects the image and quality of the CPC, embodies Party spirit, and is determined by Party spirit. The spirit of struggle in the New Era inherits the fine traditions and styles formed by the Party over a long period and directly confronts the deep-seated malaise in the Party’s work style construction in the New Era. Xi Jinping requires that the entire Party must profoundly "understand this issue from a political height, become ideologically alert, remember the 'two musts,' and unswervingly transform work style" [5]. He emphasizes that comrades of the Central Committee Political Bureau should take the lead in inheriting and carrying forward the Party’s fine traditions; leading officials at all levels should be firm in their beliefs, serve the people, be diligent and practical, dare to assume responsibility, and be clean and honest; all Communists should temper a hardy work style while strengthening their awareness of potential risks. To carry forward the spirit of struggle in the New Era is to dare to manage strictly and dare to experiment within the primary political quality of loyalty to the Party and the lofty value standpoint of not failing the people.

The spirit of struggle in the New Era emphasizes the act of assuming responsibility by having the courage to tackle difficult problems and the bravery to accept various challenges. Communists must "with a strong sense of mission, take on the responsibilities that should be assumed, keep up with the requirements of the times, the requirements of practice, and the requirements of the people" [6]. "Keeping up with the requirements of the times" means profoundly grasping the era's situation in which the "two overall situations" [4] are accelerating their evolution and interacting deeply, while always maintaining strategic resolve. "Keeping up with the requirements of practice" means adapting to new development requirements; one cannot "wear new shoes but walk the old road" [5], but must comprehensively and systematically propose scientific concepts and effective countermeasures to solve realistic problems. "Keeping up with the requirements of the people" aims to truly accept and shoulder the responsibility of serving the people whole-heartedly. The act of assuming responsibility by Party members and officials is embodied in a work style of seeking truth from facts, realizing value in the process of working for the people and seeking benefits for them.

II. Xi Jinping’s Important Discourse on the Criteria for Measuring the Spirit of Struggle in the New Era

The spiritual character of the CPC’s courage to struggle was formed through revolutionary tempering. Addressing the historical mission shouldered by Chinese Communists in the New Era, Xi Jinping creatively proposed the "Five Dares" at the summary meeting of the "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission" theme education, which stipulated important criteria for judging whether one possesses the spirit of struggle in terms of target requirements.

1. Whether one dares to "unsheathe the sword" when facing major issues of right and wrong. The spirit of struggle is the bold courage of Communists; its primary criterion is the daring to unsheathe the sword when facing major issues of right and wrong. "Major issues of right and wrong" refers to significant questions of right and wrong that carry matters of principle and fundamental importance, which are built upon the foundation of clear-cut class analysis. Xi Jinping pointed out: "The struggle of Communists has direction, stance, and principle. The general direction is to unswervingly persist in the leadership of the CPC and our country's socialist system" [7]. For Party members and officials to cultivate the spirit of struggle, they should "have a correct stance and clear attitude, dare to stand up and speak, and dare to express their attitude" [8]; on various matters of principle, they must achieve the daring to unsheathe the sword. Firmly establishing the "four consciousnesses" [6] is the fundamental requirement for conducting the great struggle in the New Era. First, to conduct the great struggle, one must firmly establish "political consciousness." Party members and officials must always keep the string of political discipline taut and remain politically savvy; they "cannot sing a different tune from the Party Central Committee on major issues of political principle or major issues of right and wrong, nor can they engage in political liberalism" [9]. Second, to conduct the great struggle, one must firmly establish " consciousness of the big picture." Party members and officials must keep in mind the "greatest interests of the nation" (guo zhi da zhe), think about issues and handle matters from a holistic and strategic height, and take the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments as a prerequisite, rather than harming the interest of the whole for the sake of local interests. Third, to conduct the great struggle, one must firmly establish "core consciousness" and "alignment consciousness." All levels of Party organization and all Party members must resolutely uphold the core, consciously align themselves with the Party Central Committee, align with the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies, and align with the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments. In the face of major matters of principle related to the Party's principles, the Party's cause, and the interests of the people, Party members and officials must engage in resolute struggle with the spiritual aura of "when meeting on a narrow path, the brave shall prevail" [7].

2. Whether one dares to advance in the face of difficulties when encountering contradictions. Contradiction is the unity of opposites; in summary, it refers to the difficulties and challenges encountered on the road ahead. Its nature as a unity of opposites determines that people will inevitably be in one of two spiritual states: "advancing in the face of difficulties" or "stopping and retreating out of fear." "Advancing in the face of difficulties" means facing contradictions directly and struggling to the end. Xi Jinping summarized this as "the courage of a materialist," emphasizing that "the struggle of Communists is always directed toward contradictions, problems, risks, and challenges" [10]. Advancing in the face of difficulties is another important criterion for Party members and officials to possess the spirit of struggle. The history of the Party is a history of being undaunted by difficulties and struggling tenaciously to realize the great cause of national rejuvenation; it is even more so a history of Communists recognizing and directly facing contradictions. "Our Party leads the people in revolution, construction, and reform, always for the purpose of solving China's realistic problems" [11]. On the new journey, Communists profoundly recognize that ignoring contradictions or shrinking back from them will lead to "deep-seated problems becoming difficult to reverse." Party members and officials must be clear-headed and firm in dealing with contradictions, cultivating a heroic spirit that fears neither strong enemies nor contradictions. Xi Jinping emphasized: "To respond to major challenges, resist major risks, overcome major obstacles, and solve major contradictions, there is an urgent need to advance in the face of difficulties" [12]. The spirit of advancing in the face of difficulties means "working hard and practically, being tenacious, and maintaining a high-spirited fighting will to take on heavy burdens and face challenges directly" [13]. The span of time, the difficulty of tasks, and the density of tackling tough problems constantly test the resilience and perseverance of Party members and officials. Spiritual strength is the key factor that determines whether one can advance in the face of difficulties when encountering contradictions. Party members and officials should realize that "the more difficulties and contradictions there are, and the more severe the situation and complex the circumstances, the more one can temper their courage, grind their will, and grow their talents" [14]; they must always temper themselves in struggle with the tenacious will that "success does not have to be mine" [8].

3. Whether one dares to step forward in times of crisis. For Party members and officials, "stepping forward" is a choice; it is the dauntless spirit of setting aside individual interests when facing a crisis. Xi Jinping summarized this as the vanguard and exemplary role of "being visible in ordinary times, standing out at key moments, and being willing to risk everything at critical junctures" [15]. On the one hand, the CPC maintains its value-based sentiment of not failing the people through the implementation of the mass line. Daring to step forward in a crisis reflects the worldview and outlook on life and death of Party members and officials; it is a touchstone for testing "whether one is qualified and advanced" in various struggle practices. Party members and officials "stepping forward and charging to the front at moments of danger, using their blood and lives to guard the peace and happiness of thousands of households" [16], highlights their lofty sentiment of sincerely serving the people as Communists. The spirit of daring to step forward in a crisis profoundly contains the sense of responsibility of Party members and officials to never forget and to practice their original aspirations. On the other hand, the daring to step forward in a crisis is manifested in the capability and ability of Party members and officials to turn crises into opportunities. Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "Our greatest opportunity is our own continuous development and growth; at the same time, we must also attach importance to various risks and challenges, and be good at turning crises into opportunities and danger into safety" [17]. Accurately identifying changes, responding scientifically, and seeking change proactively—being good at turning crises into opportunities—is the foundation of the capability for Party members and officials to dare to step forward. Whether one can turn a crisis into an opportunity depends on whether officials are good at using a comprehensive, dialectical, and long-term perspective to discover the inherent necessary connections of objective things, grasping the essence through complex phenomena, seizing the key points, identifying the causes, making decisive decisions, and being good at integrating forces and scientifically deploying resources to handle the situation effectively.

  1. Whether one dares to assume responsibility when facing mistakes. Whether one dares to assume responsibility is the fundamental criterion for testing whether a Party member can share the Party's concerns and have the courage to get things done. Lenin pointed out: "In such a new, difficult, and great undertaking, shortcomings, errors, and mistakes are inevitable" [26], and "we must learn to analyze our many practical errors realistically and carefully, and learn to correct those errors step by step and persistently" [27]. In the New Era, the quality of daring to assume responsibility in the face of mistakes is a comprehensive measure of a Party member or official’s breadth of mind, character, and ability. On the one hand, daring to assume responsibility for mistakes is a manifestation of the excellent character and political commitment of Party members and officials to reflect on errors and correct their conduct. In reality, some Party members and officials choose inaction to avoid making mistakes, preferring to be "people-pleasers" [9], "peace-time officials" [10], or "sway-with-the-wind fence-sitters" [11], worrying that "the more dishes you wash, the more you break." The Party's hundred-year history of struggle profoundly demonstrates that the Party's greatness lies not in being infallible, but in never "concealing a malady for fear of taking medicine" [12], actively carrying out criticism and self-criticism, daring to confront problems directly, and possessing the courage for self-revolution. The political commitment of Party members and officials to reflect on and correct errors contains a profound confrontational meaning, concentrated in the courage to admit work errors and to be responsible to oneself, the people, and history. On the other hand, daring to assume responsibility for mistakes is the inexhaustible driving force for activating enthusiasm for struggle and practice. Educating and guiding Party members to dare to take responsibility through the spirit of accountability has the prominent value of continuously activating enthusiasm for struggle in reform, innovation, and the construction of a great modern socialist country. As early as his time working in Zhejiang, Xi Jinping emphasized in the article "In Conducting Pilot Programs, the 'Boldness to Hypothesize' Must Be Matched by 'Caution in Verification'" that one must have the spirit of "daring to lead the world" [13]: "In pioneering pilot programs, we must encourage success, tolerate failure, correct mistakes, and pay attention to protecting the reform enthusiasm of officials and the masses." In January 2016, at a provincial and ministerial-level leading officials' seminar on studying and implementing the spirits of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping proposed the "Three Distinctions" [14] as the standard for judging mistakes in the struggle and practice of Party members and officials. The purpose was to "tolerate mistakes made by officials in their work, especially in reform and innovation" [28], protect those officials who have an upright style and are daring, enterprising, and proactive, maximize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the vast number of officials, and inspire belief and confidence in getting things done.

  2. Whether one dares to engage in resolute struggle against unhealthy tendencies and evil winds. Unhealthy tendencies and evil winds [15] refer to the bad styles and habits within the Party. Whether one dares to struggle resolutely against them is a matter of Party spirit. Liu Shaoqi pointed out that the evil winds of deceiving superiors and subordinates and resorting to fraud "are not only incompatible with our Party's style of seeking truth from facts, and more than just a manifestation of impure Party spirit, but are also an abandonment of the honest and faithful attitude a Communist should have, and a loss of Party spirit" [29]. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Communist Party of China, with the spirit of self-revolution turned inward like a blade, has directly confronted prominent problems within the Party, halting some unhealthy tendencies that were previously thought difficult to stop. This has enhanced the Party spirit cultivation of members and officials—encouraging them to "rectify their caps and fasten their shoes" [16], take things seriously and confront them head-on, and strengthen their ideological foundations—and has tempered the courage and boldness to dare to struggle. On the one hand, daring to struggle against unhealthy tendencies is the key criterion for testing the firm Party spirit and the resilience in struggle of Party organizations at all levels and Party members and officials. "As a Marxist governing party, our Party must not only have a powerful strength of truth but also a powerful strength of character" [30], which Xi Jinping has summarized as the firm Party spirit and resilience in struggle characterized by "selflessness for the public good." Addressing prominent problems within the Party such as the "Seven Haves" [17], Xi Jinping called on the entire Party to strengthen their foundations at the levels of ideological style, work style, leadership style, and lifestyle. He aims to educate and guide Party members and officials so that they not only "dare not" be tainted by unhealthy tendencies, but also "cannot" and "will not want" to be tainted, so that the Party’s style becomes thoroughly purified. On the other hand, daring to struggle against unhealthy tendencies is key to tightening Party discipline and nurturing a positive and healthy intra-Party political culture. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has successively launched several themed education campaigns to resolutely struggle against unhealthy tendencies within the Party. First, by tightening Party discipline and using extraordinary resilience in struggle to fundamentally deter and halt unhealthy tendencies. Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must strictly implement the various provisions of the Party Constitution regarding intra-Party political life, dare to uphold principles, be brave in carrying out criticism and self-criticism, take the lead in promoting integrity, and resist unhealthy tendencies" [31]. Second, by nurturing a positive and healthy intra-Party political culture and creating a clean and upright political ecosystem, "guiding everyone to rectify the heart and cultivate the self, discipline themselves and their families, and be clean and honest officials, consciously resisting the erosion of unhealthy tendencies" [32]. This uses the Party's revolutionary spirit and fine traditions to educate Party members and officials and purify the political ecosystem.

III. THE PRACTICAL ORIENTATION FOR IMPLEMENTING XI JINPING'S IMPORTANT EXPOSITIONS ON THE SPIRIT OF STRUGGLE IN THE NEW ERA

"To overcome various risks and challenges on the road ahead, it will not do without the spirit of struggle" [33]. Xi Jinping's important expositions on the spirit of struggle in the New Era have pointed the way for the Party to advance the great struggle on the new journey and contain profound practical guiding significance. To implement these expositions, we must educate and guide Party members and officials to strengthen their experience in struggle, and to continuously win new victories in the great struggle with the mental outlook of "treading down the bumps to create a path, and setting out again after finishing the struggle against hardships" [18].

  1. Strengthening ideological tempering and enhancing the confidence for struggle. Reviewing the Party's hundred-year history of struggle, the Party has always attached importance to ideological Party building and strengthening the Party through theory. Theoretical cultivation is the core of an official's comprehensive quality; theoretical maturity is the foundation of political maturity, and political steadfastness originates from theoretical clarity. Promoting the spirit of struggle and advancing the great struggle has direction, principles, and positions. The most fundamental requirement is to educate and guide Party members and officials to strengthen their ideological tempering and continuously enhance their confidence for struggle. On the one hand, to promote the spirit of struggle in the New Era, we must educate Party members and officials to study Marxist theory deeply, using theoretical clarity to consolidate the foundation of faith for the spirit of struggle. Only with theoretical clarity and ideological understanding can struggle have a direction, an object, and a goal. Addressing prominent problems such as some Party members and officials having "a shallow and non-thorough understanding of Marxism, insufficient mastery in applying Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods, and a lack of high-level results" [34], we must consolidate the scientific foundation of faith for the spirit of struggle through theoretical clarity. "Only when ideals and convictions are firm, and a 'diamond-like indestructible body' [19] is forged through firm ideals and convictions, can officials show their colors clearly on major issues of right and wrong" [35]. On the other hand, "history is the best textbook and the best sobering agent" [36]. To promote the spirit of struggle in the New Era, we must educate Party members and officials to study the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of the development of socialism deeply, drawing on the valuable experience of the CPC's history of struggle, and continuously nurturing the character, integrity, moral conduct, and courage for struggle from the great spirit of struggle. Furthermore, the most fundamental task in promoting the spirit of struggle in the New Era is to educate Party members and officials to study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era deeply, deepening their understanding of the situation, characteristics, and laws of struggle in the New Era, and further enhancing the consciousness and adherence to principles of the spirit of struggle.

  2. Strengthening political experience and honing the will for struggle. The core of promoting the spirit of struggle is to persist in the correct political position and to speak politics clearly on major issues of right and wrong. Xi Jinping requires that "we must educate and guide the vast number of Party members and officials to temper their political character and continuously improve their political judgment, political discernment, and political execution" [37]. Political initiative is the most advantageous initiative; it concerns the direction, principles, and position of the struggle. The spirit of struggle of Party members and officials is tempered through political practice. On the one hand, to promote the spirit of struggle in the New Era, we must make intra-Party political life more rigorous, and continuously hone the political character of self-revolution and the spirit of struggle. Enhancing the political, contemporary, principled, and combative nature of intra-Party political life is the focus of making intra-Party political life rigorous, forming a mechanism and atmosphere for speaking the truth and daring to take responsibility. For the Party Central Committee, it must "take the lead in observing the Party's organizational principles and the norms for intra-Party political life, understanding the rules and abiding by discipline" [38]; Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and officials must "orient themselves toward problems, examine deficiencies, find gaps, clarify directions, undergo 'political check-ups,' sweep away 'political dust,' and correct behavioral deviations" [39], so that the Party always remains full of vigor and vitality and becomes the strong leadership core for advancing the great cause and conducting the great struggle. On the other hand, to promote the spirit of struggle in the New Era, we must improve political execution, strengthen responsibility awareness, and continuously enhance the tenacity of struggle. First, Party members and officials must have a clear understanding of the "top priorities of the nation" [20], raise their political standing, and manifest the implementation of the Party Central Committee's spirit in the practice of planning major strategies, formulating major policies, deploying major tasks, and advancing major work. Second, Party members and officials must have a sense of responsibility—being responsible for their territory and fulfilling their duties—and invest themselves in practical work with a strong sense of responsibility. Third, Party members and officials must profoundly understand the many new requirements placed on the work of the Party and the state by the change in the principal contradiction in Chinese society [21]. They must not only have the overall strategic arrangements in mind but also be adept at closely combining the grand blueprint and lofty goals with down-to-earth, earnest work, continuously opening up new development situations through struggle.

  3. Strengthening practical training and enhancing the ability for struggle. Xi Jinping emphasized that Party members and officials should "strengthen practical training to ensure their professional competence and work ability keep pace with the times" [40]. Building a great modern socialist country in all respects is the Party's mission and task on the new journey. Promoting the spirit of struggle means educating and guiding Party members and officials to strengthen their practical training and capture victory in the cause by enhancing their ability for struggle. On the one hand, to promote the spirit of struggle, we must persist in the unity of knowledge and action and engage in earnest work, transforming the determination and courage for struggle into the ability to handle complex problems and respond to complex situations in social practice. "We must be adept at applying the skills we have learned to practical work, striving to achieve the unity of knowledge and action, using knowledge to promote action, and seeking knowledge through action" [41]. Strengthening practical training addresses the issue of officials’ ability to struggle. Party members and officials must persist in combining theory with practice, pay attention to learning true knowledge and grasping true essence in practice, plan their cause and work starting from reality, be adept at grasping the essence of things, the laws of development, and the keys to work, and enhance the scientific nature, foresight, initiative, and creativity of their work, firmly seizing the initiative in development. On the other hand, to promote the spirit of struggle, we must emphasize the summation of experience, refining successful struggle practices into a systematic, organized, and law-governed understanding of struggle in social practice. "Strengthen research and reflection, strengthen practical experience, and enhance the ability to grasp and apply the laws of the market economy, the laws of social development, and the laws of nature" [42]. In social practice, we should summarize the experience of struggle, use the attitude of "seeing the spark and predicting the fire" [22] to scientifically predict potential risks and challenges, and master the "degree of heat" [23] in struggle by grasping the unity of opposites. Furthermore, to promote the spirit of struggle, we must rely closely on the masses, learning the wisdom of struggle from them in social practice and firmly believing that the masses are the powerful backbone of struggle. "We must take the people as our teachers, learn from them, drop our airs, go down to the grassroots, get in touch with reality, and understand the situation of the people" [43]. We must always stand firmly on the side of the people, concentrate their wisdom, be adept at relying on the masses to summarize the laws of struggle and solve the difficult problems of struggle, and continuously enhance the Party's capacity for mass organization and social mobilization.

  4. Strengthen professional training and improve the effectiveness of struggle. Professional quality is a unity of professional knowledge, professional capacity, professional style, and professional spirit; it is not as simple as merely having a relevant professional background. On the new journey, the conduct of struggle by Party members and cadres involves not only political requirements but also intellectual and professional requirements. Therefore, Party members and cadres must earnestly improve the effectiveness of struggle by strengthening professional training. On the one hand, to carry forward the spirit of struggle, one must master professional knowledge and methods, improving effectiveness through the construction of a complete knowledge system. "If one only has a general understanding of certain concepts and requirements without focusing on constructing a corresponding knowledge system—knowing the what but not the why [24]—then one’s speech and actions will lack professional polish." [59] (p. 220) Whether cracking difficult development problems or resolving issues involving the interests of the masses [25], complex and comprehensive professional thinking, professional quality, and professional methods are required. The vast number of leading cadres must enhance their comprehensive and coordinated capacities, focus on the analysis and forecasting of domestic and international situations, fully utilize the role of think tanks and professional research institutions, and improve their capacity for scientific decision-making to ensure that the major strategies formulated and the important policy measures introduced conform to objective laws. On the other hand, to carry forward the spirit of struggle, one must learn and master the professional knowledge of one's own assigned field to become an expert leader. Party members and cadres must temper their professional abilities and promote a professional spirit based on their specific posts, constantly increasing the scientific, systemic, and creative nature of their decision-making, work, and management control. Party organizations must place professionalization in a more prominent position, focusing on cultivating the post-specific professional capacity and professional spirit of Party members and cadres, and enhancing the ability of the cadre ranks to adapt to the development requirements of building a great modern socialist country. Through professional training, we must constantly reinforce the foundation, remedy weaknesses [26], and leverage advantages, continuously enhancing the ability to struggle so as to lay a solid foundation for achieving victory in the Great Struggle [27] of the New Era.

(Author Bios: Gao Chao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Associate Researcher, and Master's Supervisor at the School of Marxism, Beijing Normal University; Hu Yifan, School of Marxism, Beijing Normal University)

Internet Editor: Tongxin Source: School Party Building and Ideological Education