Jia Dezhong: Establish and Practice a Correct Outlook on Political Performance
Establishing and practicing a correct outlook on performance [1] is a matter of overall significance to the cause of the Party and the state, the vital interests of the masses, and the process of Chinese-path modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that Party members and officials must establish and practice a correct outlook on performance and focus on rectifying deviations in this regard. At present, what are the prominent manifestations of these deviations? What are their root causes? How can a correct outlook on performance be established and practiced? The broad ranks of Party members and officials must maintain a clear understanding of these issues.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "In recent years, we have worked tirelessly to rectify 'image projects' [2] and 'vanity projects' [3], achieving significant results; however, the root cause has not been eliminated, and new variants have appeared in some localities." Some are prone to "impulsive decision-making," becoming detached from reality, disregarding costs, and blindly accumulating debt for construction, thereby overspending local resources. Some favor "novelty governance projects," deliberately creating unconventional projects that violate objective laws in a blind pursuit of instantaneous results. Some are obsessed with "numerical performance," measuring work results through simple and one-sided figures, even resorting to fake project commencements and statistical fraud. Some suffer from "promotion anxiety," fearing not the dissatisfaction of the masses but rather a lack of attention from superiors, and thus dedicate themselves to building projects within the "field of vision" of leadership.
These typical manifestations of a deviated performance outlook not only damage the image of the Party and government in the hearts of the masses but also cause adverse effects on the long-term development of their respective regions or units. Why do these deviations occur in the performance outlook of these Party members and officials? Tracing the source, such issues involve both individual factors regarding ideology and capability, as well as the orientation of evaluation systems in certain localities.
A weak sense of purpose. The power in the hands of Party members and officials is bestowed by the Party and the people and is to be used for the work of the Party and the people; it must only be used to seek interests for the people. Only by serving the people wholeheartedly and acting out of public concern in all matters can one possess a correct outlook on right and wrong, on interests and righteousness, on power, and on one’s career—thereby living with integrity and exercising power with caution. General Secretary Xi Jinping's analysis of deviations in the outlook on performance hits the mark: "Is the underlying motivation not simply the word 'selfishness' (私)?" Some individuals deviate because they have forgotten the Party's purpose and harbor selfish intentions. They "attach great weight" to personal fame and gain while "treating lightly" the rise and fall of the cause; they "regard as insignificant" the safety and well-being of the masses. They indulge in pleasure to pursue "private interests," abuse public power for "private gain," and line their own pockets to satisfy "private desires," falling into a quagmire of selfishness from which they cannot extricate themselves.
Deficiencies in capability and quality. Lack of capacity and "competence anxiety" [4] not only restrict the growth and development of individual Party members and officials but also distort their understanding of performance to a certain extent. Some lack political capacity and have an insufficient understanding of the Party Central Committee’s major principles and policies, making it difficult to grasp issues from a global and strategic height; this leads them to focus excessively on immediate interests while ignoring long-term development and the collective interest. Some lack professional quality, failing to identify problems accurately or research solutions thoroughly; they do not act according to objective laws, resorting instead to blind action and "head-patting" [5] decision-making. Some possess weak psychological resilience, lacking composure and stability; they are prone to chasing short-term performance and quick success, often leaving behind disasters and hidden dangers for the long-term development of a region or industry.
Unscientific evaluation systems in some localities. In appointing personnel and managing affairs, orientation is key. Currently, the evaluation systems in some localities are incomplete and unscientific, which is another major cause of deviations. Some places "valorize data alone," relying excessively on GDP, project launches, and other quantitative indicators. This causes some officials to focus entirely on "inflating numbers" and "reaching the goal through codes" [6], falling into the trap where "officials produce numbers, and numbers produce officials." Some places "valorize results alone," looking only at the outcome without questioning the process. This causes some officials to suffer from "performance impatience," engaging in "reckless," "disorderly," or even "erroneous" work in pursuit of results. Some places fall into the "uselessness of evaluation," failing to link results with selection, appointment, incentives, or accountability. This creates the illusion that "it makes no difference whether one works or not, or whether one does a good or bad job," thereby dampening the enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and action.
How can Party members and officials achieve results, produce real accomplishments, and leave behind a legacy of performance? General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "To create achievements, we must resolve the questions of for whom we create achievements, what kind of achievements we create, and how we create them." The "Proposals of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development," deliberated and adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, stated: "We must persist in the correct orientation of personnel employment, placing political standards above all else. We must establish and practice a correct outlook on performance, improve the mechanism for official evaluation, adjust officials who are not fit for their current positions, and normalize the process of promoting or demoting leading officials based on performance." The Central Economic Work Conference held from December 10 to 11 this year also emphasized: "We must establish and practice a correct performance outlook, insisting on producing performance for the sake of the people and through practical work."
Persist in taking the well-being of the people as the greatest achievement. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Communists must remember that benefiting the people is the greatest performance" and "one must consciously be a selfless contributor dedicated to benefiting the people, always placing the people in the highest position in one's heart." Our Party promotes economic and social development ultimately to meet the people's needs for a better life. Party members and officials must adhere to the people-centered philosophy. They should focus on the most direct and realistic interest issues of the masses, identifying points of effort from the people’s urgent anxieties and problems. They should undertake more "satisfaction projects" and "heart-winning projects," handling livelihood issues such as income distribution, employment, education, social security, elderly and childcare, healthcare, and housing with heart and soul. They must continue to deepen the rectification of formalism to reduce burdens on the grassroots, ensuring that they "benefit the locality during their tenure." [7]
Persist in promoting high-quality development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "High-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in all respects, and adhering to high-quality development must become an important component of leading officials' outlook on performance." Party members and officials, especially leading officials, must establish an outlook on performance that aligns with the New Development Philosophy [8] regarding what kind of development to achieve and how. They should persist in a problem-oriented approach, seek truth from facts, and adapt to local conditions. Using high-quality development as a "conductor's baton," they should explore development paths consistent with local characteristics—integrating resource endowments, industrial bases, and scientific research conditions. They should forge a path that follows national trends while suiting local traits, truly achieving the goal of "adding luster to a part while contributing to the glory of the whole." Simultaneously, evaluation and selection methods should be improved to encourage a work orientation based on responsibility, practical work, and actual results.
Persist in valuing practical work, achieving solid results, and seeking effectiveness. Performance is achieved through action; only through genuine work can real performance be produced. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee: "By fostering a healthy political ecosystem, motivating officials to take responsibility, and coalescing the people's hearts and strength, we can continuously inject positive energy into economic and social development." The "15th Five-Year Plan" outlines a new blueprint for our country's development. Following the decisions of the Party Central Committee, the broad ranks of Party members and officials must remember that "empty talk harms the nation, while practical work prospers the country." With the tenacious will to "open a path through the mountains and build a bridge over the water," they must combine enthusiasm with a scientific spirit. They should shun vanity and superficiality, focusing instead on quiet, hard work. With the spiritual state of "success does not have to happen during my tenure" and the sense of responsibility that "I must contribute to the ultimate success," [9] they should perform all tasks thoroughly to create "latent achievements" [10] that benefit future generations, promote sustainable development, and struggle to turn the grand vision of Chinese-path modernization into a beautiful reality.
(Author: Professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University) Source: Qiushi Reports (Hongqi Wengao) Issue 24, 2025 Editor: Huihui