Sun Qingju: Deeply Understand and Effectively Apply the Principle of Putting the People First

Currently, the entire Party is deeply engaged in the thematic education campaign for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This thematic education is intended to push the entire Party, particularly leading cadres, to continuously deepen their study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To deeply study and thoroughly understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, one must grasp the worldview and methodology of this important thought, as well as the positions, views, and methods that permeate it. The report to the 20th Party Congress proposed scientific methods for continuing to advance theoretical innovation—namely: we must maintain the supremacy of the people, we must maintain self-confidence and self-reliance, we must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must remain problem-oriented, we must maintain a systems concept, and we must maintain a global vision. These "Six Must-Maintains" are an important manifestation of the positions, views, and methods of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, among which "must maintain the supremacy of the people" ranks first. Marxism is a theory of the people. Maintaining the supremacy of the people holds a foundational and fundamental status and role within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to coagulate the soul and forge the spirit ^[1], and to promote the solid development of thematic education to achieve practical results, we must profoundly comprehend and accurately grasp the important position, view, and method of maintaining the supremacy of the people. We must transform it into a powerful ideological weapon for reforming our own subjective and objective worlds, truly ensuring it is internalized in the heart and externalized in action.

The People-Centered Character is the Essential Attribute of Marxism

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Marxism is a theory of the people; for the first time, it created a theoretical system for the people to achieve their own liberation." In the history of human thought, Marxism stood for the first time on the side of the people to explore the path of human freedom and liberation; its people-centered character is the essential attribute of Marxism. Marx and Engels demonstrated that the true creators of history are the masses, noting that "historical activities and ideas are the ideas and activities of the 'masses'" and "historical activity is the cause of the masses." Lenin inherited and developed the Marxian and Engelian view of the people, placing even greater emphasis on the important role of the masses in historical development: "As man’s history-making activity grows in scope and depth, the size of that mass of the population which is the conscious maker of history is bound to increase," and "Vital, creative socialism is the product of the masses themselves." Rooted among the people, Marxism pointed out the correct path for propelling history forward by relying on the people, exerting an unprecedented and profound influence on human society.

The salvos of the October Revolution brought Marxism-Leninism to China. The Communist Party of China (CPC) has persisted in taking Marxism as its guide, unfolding the history of the Party’s theoretical exploration through the historical process of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China's fine traditional culture. In this history of continuously opening new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, the Chinese Communists have always adhered to this people-centered character—the essential attribute of Marxism—when advancing theoretical innovation and creation. Comrade Mao Zedong believed: "What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion which no force can smash, absolutely none." "Once China's destiny is in the hands of the people, China, like the sun rising in the east, will illuminate every corner of the land with a brilliant flame."

During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "If we do not develop the productive forces and do not raise the people's standard of living, we cannot say we are meeting the requirements of socialism." He emphasized that "whether it is conducive to improving the people's standard of living" is one of the criteria for judging the success or failure of our country's reforms. Comrade Jiang Zemin identified "serving the people whole-heartedly, the Party working for the public interest, and exercising power for the people" ^[2] as the fundamental difference between our Party and all political parties of the exploiting classes. He pointed out: "Our Party must always represent the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people; that is, the Party's theories, lines, programs, principles, policies, and all work must persist in taking the fundamental interests of the people as the starting point and the ultimate goal." Comrade Hu Jintao clarified that the "core of the Scientific Outlook on Development is being people-oriented," and required leading cadres at all levels to "ensure that power is used for the people, emotions are tied to the people, and interests are sought for the people."

As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our Party comes from the people, was born for the people, and thrives because of the people." "Taking the people’s heart as our heart, breathing the same air as the people, sharing the same destiny, and linking heart-to-heart—this is the Party’s original aspiration and its enduring perseverance." "Making people's lives happy is the 'top priority of the state' (guó zhī dà zhě)." "The people's aspiration for a better life is our goal." General Secretary Xi Jinping always keeps the people in his thoughts and mind. The essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the "theory of the supremacy of the people" and the "theory of the people's happiness." Looking back at the Party's more than one hundred years of theoretical exploration, it is precisely because our Party adheres to and develops the people-centered character of Marxism that the Party’s innovative theories continuously demonstrate vigorous vitality, always garnering the support and advocacy of hundreds of millions of people, and scientifically guiding the people from one victory to another.

Maintaining the Supremacy of the People is a Red Line Running Through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

Maintaining the supremacy of the people means staying people-centered, relying on the people to pioneer great historical undertakings, and leading the people to create a better life. Since the 18th Party Congress, the baton of history has been passed to the Chinese Communists with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative. General Secretary Xi Jinping is a leader of the people who comes from the people, is rooted in the people, has been tempered among the people, has grown up among the people, and is supported and deeply loved by the people. The theoretical foundation, the value pivot, and the practical starting point of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is maintaining the supremacy of the people. To better grasp the essence and core meaning of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, one must profoundly understand that maintaining the supremacy of the people is the fundamental position of this Thought and the fundamental starting point for continuing to advance the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.

Grasping the theoretical foundation. Marxism is a theory of the people. As contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, a red line running through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is maintaining the supremacy of the people. The reason "maintaining the supremacy of the people" ranks first among the "Six Must-Maintains" is that it is the fundamental position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; it is one of the most distinctive contents of the worldview, methodology, and the positions, views, and methods permeating this important Thought. General Secretary Xi Jinping is fully dedicated to the interests of the people, always mindful of the people’s well-being, and possesses a sincere sentiment of being heart-to-heart with the people and sharing their joys and sorrows. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era takes maintaining the supremacy of the people as its theoretical foundation and regards working for and benefiting the people as the driving force for continuously advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, truly achieving a concentrated expression of the people's interests and voices.

Holding fast to the value pivot. Maintaining the supremacy of the people is both a theoretical thesis and a value judgment. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regards "everything for the people" as its fundamental value orientation in governing the country. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our goals are grand, but also very simple; in the final analysis, they are about letting all Chinese people live a better life." At the same time, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era takes the people's interests as the criterion for judging all the Party's work. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "All work of the Party must take the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the highest standard." "To test the effectiveness of all our work, we must ultimately see whether the people have truly received tangible benefits, whether their lives have truly improved, and whether their rights and interests have been truly guaranteed." "We must take whether the people support it, whether they agree with it, whether they are happy about it, and whether they consent to it as the fundamental yardstick for measuring the success or failure of all work." It is precisely because it is deeply rooted in the people, relies closely on the people, and always highlights the value orientation of the supremacy of the people that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has opened new frontiers for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.

Rooted in the practical starting point. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era possesses not only the power of truth but also continuously demonstrates great practical power. It is precisely through maintaining the supremacy of the people in practice that the cause of the Party and the state has achieved historical accomplishments and undergone historical transformations in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Strive with determination for the people to live a better life" and "Improving the people's well-being is the fundamental purpose of development," fully embodying "everything for the people." General Secretary Xi Jinping also emphasized: "We must rely closely on the people, fully bring into play the people's role as the subject, respect the people's pioneering spirit, work and start undertakings for the people, and rely on the people to do so," fully embodying "everything follows the people." In the decade of the New Era, we have persisted in practice that everything is for the people, building the world's largest systems for education, social security, and medical and health services. The lives of the people have improved in all aspects, and the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security has become more substantial, more guaranteed, and more sustainable. In practice, we have persisted in relying on the people for everything—sincerely respecting the people, truly believing in the people, and genuinely relying on the people. We have stabilized the economy, promoted development, fought poverty, built a moderately prosperous society, controlled the pandemic, resisted major disasters, responded to changes, and diffused crises. We have overcome one seemingly insurmountable difficulty after another, created one human miracle after another that has made the world look on with new eyes, and successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization.

Successfully Answering the "People First" Examination Paper for the New Era and New Journey

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Only by accurately grasping the positions, views, and methods of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, including the 'Six Must-Maintains,' can we better comprehend the essence of the Thought, get the ideological methods right, stand high in our understanding of problems, see deeply in our analysis, and be precise in our work, ensuring that we act with measured intensity and ease." To deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must comprehend and apply "maintaining the supremacy of the people" well and successfully answer the "people first" examination paper for the New Era and new journey.

Persistently stand firm in the people's position. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The people's position is the fundamental political position of the Communist Party of China and a distinctive sign that distinguishes a Marxist party from other political parties." To stand firm in the people's position, we must always represent the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, share their weal and woe, be inextricably linked with them in life and death, and always breathe the same air, share the same destiny, and be heart-to-heart with the people. We must take seeking happiness for the people as our fundamental mission, place the people's interests in the supreme position, persist in the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly, and insist that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people. We must allow the fruits of reform and development to benefit all people more extensively and fairly, and continuously advance toward achieving common prosperity for all.

Persistently strengthen the mass viewpoint. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The people are the power that creates history; we Communists must never forget this most basic truth of historical materialism." The masses of the people possess endless wisdom and strength and are the fundamental force determining our future and destiny. To strengthen the mass viewpoint, we must respect the people's status as the subject and their pioneering spirit, always believe in the people, rely closely on the people, and fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the masses. We must gather the majestic power of a united people to lead them in jointly creating a new historic cause. We must deeply realize that on the road ahead, whether the winds are high and waves are rough or there are literal stormy seas, the people will always be our Party’s most solid support and strongest confidence.

Persistently implement the mass line. The mass line is the fundamental working method that our Party has always maintained. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In the past, present, and future, we must persist in everything for the masses, everything relying on the masses, from the masses and to the masses, transforming the Party's correct propositions into the conscious actions of the masses, and implementing the mass line in all activities of governing the country." To persistently implement the Party’s mass line, we must always maintain the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses, have affection for the masses, truly regard ourselves as members of the masses, and treat the masses' affairs as our own. We must always accept the people's criticism and supervision, actively respond to the masses' concerns, and effectively solve the interest problems that are most concerning, most direct, and most realistic for the masses, so that our Party will always win the trust and support of the masses of the people.