Yang Weiguo: Deeply Understanding the Distinctive Characteristics of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Expositions on the Working Class and Trade Union Work
At the meeting celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the commendation ceremony for national model workers and advanced individuals, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, emphasizing: "The 20th Party Congress clarified the central task of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. This central task is the theme of the era for the Chinese workers' movement." Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has produced a series of important expositions regarding the working class and trade union work, proposing a series of new concepts, new thoughts, and new strategies. These have profoundly answered directional, fundamental, and strategic questions—such as why and how to rely wholeheartedly on the working class in the New Era, and what kind of trade unions to build and how to build them. This has further enriched and developed Marxist theory on the workers' movement and possesses distinct characteristics. It provides the fundamental follow-through for the development of the Party’s ministerial cause of the workers’ movement and for doing trade union work well in the New Era. It has propelled the Party’s workers’ movement cause toward historical achievements and all-around progress, and holds great significance for the innovative development of the workers’ movement and trade union work in the New Era, as well as for uniting and mobilizing hundreds of millions of employees to contribute wisdom and strength toward building a modern socialist country in all respects and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Demonstrating the Theoretical Character of Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Our advancement of theoretical innovation is theoretical innovation based on practice, not empty imagination sitting in an ivory tower; we must persist in discovering and developing truth through practice, and use practice to realize and verify truth." Promoting Chinese-path modernization is an unprecedented and pioneering undertaking; contemporary China is experiencing the most extensive and profound social transformation in our history and is undergoing the most grand and unique practical innovation in human history. This is an era that requires theory and will certainly produce theory; it is an era that requires thought and will certainly produce thought. Since the 18th Party Congress, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China's trade union work has upheld the fundamentals and broken new ground. Trade unions at all levels have focused closely on the Party's central tasks in the new journey of the New Era, uniting and mobilizing China's working class to follow the Party’s pace closely and stand at the forefront of the times, writing a magnificent chapter of the Chinese workers' movement. The development of practice calls for theoretical innovation, and innovative theory guides the era forward. New practices and developments provide powerful momentum and broad space for innovating Marxist theory on the workers' movement.
Engels pointed out: "Every new aspect of a science involves a revolution in the technical terms of that science." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work both adhere to the basic principles of Marxism and keep pace with the era and adapt to development requirements. They continuously expand the breadth and depth of understanding, dare to say "new words" [1] that predecessors did not say, and use new theories to guide new practices. For example, [this includes] adhering to the Party's overall leadership over the workers' movement and trade union work; strengthening ideological and political guidance for employees; promoting the reform of the industrial worker force [2]; safeguarding political security in the labor sphere; deepening the reform of the trade union system; promoting trade union organizations and work to continuously enhance vitality while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground; building a vast army of knowledge-based, skill-based, and innovative laborers; vigorously promoting the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labor, and the spirit of craftsmanship [3]; and fostering a social fashion of "labor is glorious" and a professional atmosphere of striving for excellence. This series of new concepts, thoughts, and strategies stands at the forefront of the era’s development and profoundly summarizes the valuable experience of the Party leading the workers' movement for over a century. They demonstrate the theoretical character of Marxist workers' movement theory—advancing with the times, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground—and have become an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The vitality of theory lies in continuous innovation; promoting the continuous development of Marxism is the sacred duty of Chinese Communists." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work connect the past, present, and future, profoundly elucidating the scientific connotation and practical requirements of the path of socialist trade union development with Chinese characteristics—the most important achievement of the Party’s theoretical innovation and practical development in the workers' movement. They incisively summarize the valuable experience of the "Six Persists" [4], further deepening our Party's understanding of the laws governing the workers' movement and trade union work. This not only better guides the cause of the workers' movement and trade union work in the New Era but also provides solid theoretical support and strong spiritual impetus for uniting and mobilizing the masses of employees to be self-confident, self-reliant, and brave in shouldering heavy responsibilities in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. To further mobilize and inspire China's working class and the broad masses of working people to forge ahead on the new journey and make achievements in the New Era—contributing even more to the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization—we must profoundly recognize the theoretical character of "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground" in the General Secretary's expositions. We must continuously enhance our political, ideological, and operational consciousness in arming our minds, guiding practice, and promoting work with the Party’s innovative theories, so as to better demonstrate the powerful strength of truth and the practical might of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work.
Embodying the Fundamental Path of the "Two Combinations"
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, the 'Two Combinations'—combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality and with fine traditional Chinese culture—is the path we must take." The "Two Combinations" is not only a regular understanding we reached while exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics but also the fundamental path for promoting the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. One important reason why General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work have been able to continuously enrich and develop—thereby pushing practical innovation forward through theoretical innovation—is the consistent adherence to combining the basic principles of Marxism with the specific realities of the Chinese workers' movement and with fine traditional Chinese culture.
Combining with the specific realities of the Chinese workers' movement. Marxism profoundly reveals the universal laws of the development of nature, human society, and human thought; it reveals the essence, internal connections, and developmental laws of things. It is a "great cognitive tool," a powerful ideological weapon for us to observe the world and analyze problems, and provides a scientific worldview and methodology for "interpreting the world." At the same time, Marxism possesses a distinct practical character; it is not only committed to scientifically "interpreting the world" but also to actively "changing the world." It is the fundamental guiding ideology for establishing and strengthening our Party and country. Engels pointed out: "Marx’s whole way of thinking is not so much a doctrine as a method. It provides not ready-made dogmas, but starting points for further investigation and the method for such investigation." Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Any ideology—even the very best, even Marxism-Leninism—is ineffective if it is not linked with objective realities, does not meet objectively existing needs, and is not grasped by the masses of the people." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work persist in using Marxism to observe, grasp, and lead the era. They persist in using dialectical materialism and historical materialism to correctly answer major questions in the practice of China's workers' movement and propose correct ideas and effective methods for solving problems. These expositions have put forward many new major viewpoints in areas such as deepening trade union reform and construction, wholeheartedly serving the masses of employees, and promoting the comprehensive development of employees. They represent an enrichment and development of Marxist workers' movement theory that is holistic rather than local, and systemic rather than fragmented, allowing Marxist workers' movement theory to be presented to the world in a brand-new image.
Combining with fine traditional Chinese culture. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "We are Marxist historicists; we must not cut off history. From Confucius to Sun Yat-sen, we should summarize and inherit this precious legacy." The significant proposition of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism itself determines that we must never abandon the "soul-vein" [5] of Marxism, nor the "root-vein" of fine traditional Chinese culture. Guarding this soul and root is the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation. Fine traditional Chinese culture is broad and profound, providing inexhaustible cultural resources for promoting theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work are rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese culture. They persist in integrating the ideological essence of Marxism with the gems of fine traditional Chinese culture and the common values that the masses "use daily without realizing it" [6]. They are adept at finding the "living water" [7] for theoretical innovation from the rich philosophical thoughts, humanistic spirit, value concepts, and moral standards contained in fine traditional Chinese culture—such as "Great achievements are made through resolve, and a great enterprise is broadened through diligence" (Gōng chóng wéi zhì, yè guǎng wéi qín) [8]; "The livelihood of the people lies in diligence, for with diligence there is no want" (Mín shēng zài qín, qín zé bù kuì) [9]; and "Like cutting, like filing, like chiseling, like grinding" (Rú qiē rú cuō, rú zhuó rú mó) [10]. This has expanded the cultural foundation of Marxist workers' movement theory, providing the path of socialist trade union development with Chinese characteristics with a more expansive and far-reaching historical depth. With the profound insight, keen judgment, and theoretical creativity of a Marxist statesman, thinker, and strategist, General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly grasped the "Two Combinations," especially the "Second Combination" [11]. He has enriched the cultural life of Marxist workers' movement theory with fine traditional Chinese culture, promoting new leaps in its Sinicization and modernization, and demonstrating an increasingly distinct Chinese style and Chinese spirit.
Highlighting the Practice-Oriented Approach to Promoting Development
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our modernization is both the most difficult and the greatest. From this perspective, relying closely on the working class is indispensable." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work not only scientifically grasp the relationship between upholding fundamentals and innovation, and between the "soul-vein" and "root-vein," but also integrate "substance" (ti) and "application" (yong). They explore laws and recognize essences at the level of "substance," while strengthening problem-orientation and practice-orientation at the level of "application." They contain both innovations and breakthroughs in Marxist workers' movement theory and strategic deployments and practical requirements for the workers' movement and trade union work, clarifying the roadmap and task list. The "unity of substance and application" and "application inherent in substance" [12] allow theoretical innovation and practical development to complement and enhance one another. This profoundly reflects the distinct practicality of Marxism, pointing out the way forward for the masses of employees to forge ahead with the spirit of strivers at a new historical starting point.
Pooling the majestic strength of the working class. Using Chinese-path modernization to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation has an incomparably bright future, but the road ahead will not be smooth sailing. From overcoming "chokehold" [13] key core technologies and accelerating the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, to accelerating the construction of a modernized industrial system and pushing industries toward the medium-to-high end of the global value chain, to coordinating domestic economic work and international economic and trade struggles—responding to the uncertainties of drastic changes in the external environment with the certainty of high-quality development—none of this can be achieved without the working class playing its role as the main force through hard, honest, and creative labor. This necessitates gathering the infinite wisdom and strength hidden within the working class and stimulating the innovation and creativity of the whole society. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions have made original contributions to the major theoretical and practical question of how to fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of hundreds of millions of employees to unite and struggle for Chinese-path modernization. They emphasize focusing on promoting high-quality development and mobilizing employees to make contributions and innovate; adapting to the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation to comprehensively improve the quality of laborers; deeply practicing Socialist Core Values and vigorously promoting the spirit of model workers, labor, and craftsmanship; and focusing on promoting common prosperity to steadily improve the well-being of the masses of employees and working people. We must take practical action to study and implement these expositions, closely uniting the working class around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. We must be down-to-earth, enterprising, and dedicated, embracing the New Era with creativity and casting new brilliance through struggle.
Promoting the high-quality development of trade union work. China’s trade unions are the bridge and bond linking the Party with the masses of employees; they are an important social pillar of the socialist state power and the representatives and maintainers of the interests of employees. Our Party has always attached great importance to the role of the working class and trade union organizations, leading the cause of the workers' movement from victory to new victory. Under the new situation, trade union work can only be strengthened, not weakened; it can only be improved and elevated, not stagnated. With the in-depth development of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, employment forms have become more diverse, and the composition of the working class is constantly evolving. How to promote the high-quality development of trade union work and better play the role of the bridge and bond between the Party and the masses has become an urgent practical task we must answer. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the working class and trade union work, personally planning and guiding the reform of the industrial worker force and trade union reform. He has delivered a series of important speeches and instructions, steering the course for the workers' movement and trade union work. These expositions emphasize adhering to the correct political direction; adhering to an employee-centered work orientation; and deepening trade union reform and construction to continuously enhance leading power, organizational power, and service power—making original contributions to promoting the high-quality development of trade union work.
On the new journey, we must persist in taking General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the working class and trade union work as the fundamental follow-through. We must raise our political standing and firmly grasp the era’s theme of the Chinese workers' movement. We must consciously apply the spirit of reform to plan and promote trade union work, innovating organizational systems, operating mechanisms, activity modes, and work methods. This will push trade union work to a new level, ensuring it always identifies its direction around the Party's central tasks and better serves the overall situation of promoting Chinese-path modernization.