Zhu Lingjun: The Outlook on Political Achievements Is a Fundamental Issue

The concept of political achievement is a fundamental viewpoint and overall outlook on governmental performance; it is the concrete manifestation of one's worldview, outlook on life, and values within the context of political conduct. A correct concept of political achievement is deeply rooted in the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, as well as its nature and purpose; it is vividly embodied in all the Party's struggles and its entire practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The issue of the concept of political achievement is a fundamental one, concerning the principle of building a party for the public and exercising power for the people." The term "fundamental" refers to the necessary conditions or decisive factors for the existence of a thing—the foundational premise and deep-seated basis upon which other attributes, phenomena, or relationships are established. One's concept of political achievement determines major questions such as "for whom is political achievement established, what kind of achievement is established, and what is relied upon to establish it." It serves as the "master switch" ^[1] for the thoughts, positions, work style, and actions of Party members and cadres. The issue of political achievement is a matter where a single hair moves the whole body ^[2]; it is not a general matter of work attitude, but a fundamental issue concerning whether the Communist Party of China (CPC) can consistently maintain its true character as a Marxist party and consolidate its long-term ruling position.

The concept of political achievement embodies "for whom one governs, for whom one exercises power, and for whom one seeks benefits."

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Establish a correct view of power, status, and interests." In the final analysis, the Marxist party's concept of political achievement must properly answer "for whom one governs, for whom one exercises power, and for whom one seeks benefits." In essence, it is a concentrated reflection of one's view of power, status, and interests.

The concept of political achievement embodies the view of power. All modern political parties represent the interests of certain groups and must use the power in their hands to produce corresponding achievements within a certain spatial and temporal scope to gain recognition and support. Whence power comes and for whom it is used constitutes an important aspect in theory and practice that distinguishes the CPC from other political parties in the world. In 1944, an American journalist asked Comrade Mao Zedong: "Who gave you the power to act?" Comrade Mao Zedong replied: "The people gave it to us." In 1945, during a speech at a meeting of cadres in Yan'an, Comrade Mao Zedong mentioned this dialogue and further pointed out: "The people want liberation, so they entrust power to those who can represent them and who can faithfully handle matters for them; these are we Communists." The CPC, born in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, ultimately became the party in charge of national state power; this was the choice of history and the choice of the people. History and the people endowed the CPC with a glorious and arduous mission and task, and also endowed the CPC with the right to lead and the power to govern. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "the country is the people, and the people are the country" ^[3]. He requires that "Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, must clearly recognize that the power in their hands and the positions they hold are endowed by the Party and the people, and are to be used to work for the Party and the people; they can only be used to seek benefits for the people." When creating achievements, Party members and cadres must resolve the issue of for whom power is used, always remembering that power belongs to the public (gōng) and not the private (sī), exercising power correctly, and persisting in using power according to the law, impartially, and with integrity.

The concept of political achievement embodies the view of status. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Communist Party cadres must persist in being 'officials of the common people' (lǎobǎixìng de guān), seeing themselves as part of the common people, and not acting as 'overlord officials' (zuòguān dāng lǎoyé)"; "The higher the position, the more one must strengthen the concept of the masses and enhance the sense of being a public servant, the more one must respect the masses ideologically and stay close to them emotionally, maintaining a 'pure heart' (chìzǐ zhī xīn) for the people." A socialist country is one where the people are the masters of the house; the people are the masters, and cadres are public servants. It is perfectly natural for public servants to be responsible to and serve the people; this relationship cannot be inverted. To be a "public servant," one must first act for the public, always acting with a public-spirited mind and never harboring private motives; second, one must act as a servant, always remaining untainted by "official airs" (guānqì), ridding oneself of vulgarity, and achieving "clear breeze in both sleeves" ^[4] and a spirit of integrity. Our Party is constantly vigilant against the remnants of feudal thinking, preventing "official-standard" (guānběnwèi) ^[5] thinking from mutating into bureaucratism, preventing privilege-seeking thoughts from evolving into unhealthy tendencies and corruption, and opposing bureaucratism—particularly focusing on resolving the failure of some Party members and cadres to maintain and act upon the interests of the masses. Only when Party members and cadres position themselves correctly, maintain a pure heart for the people, and "sit their behinds firmly on the side of the common people," can they benefit the people with actual achievements.

The concept of political achievement embodies the view of interests. The Constitution of the Communist Party of China stipulates: "The Party has no special interests of its own other than the interests of the working class and the broadest masses of the people." Since its birth, the Party has established seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and founding mission, and has adhered to and practiced this with unswerving determination. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "all the struggles of the CPC are to seek happiness for the people." During the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee with Chinese and foreign journalists, he clearly pointed out that "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal," profoundly elucidating the question of for whom benefits are sought. In the New Era, our Party has grasped the most immediate and realistic interest issues of greatest concern to the people, handling them one after another, year after year, to better meet the needs of the masses in employment, education, social security, housing, medical care, elderly care, marriage, childbirth, and childcare, so as to let the fruits of reform and development benefit all people more equitably. Party members and cadres must clearly recognize that political achievements are not things to be hung on walls or shouted as slogans, nor do they merely consist of indicators and data on paper; rather, they must be perceptible and accessible to the masses. Cadres must do more good and practical deeds for the masses in their actual work, solving the vital interest issues of the people so they have a real sense of gain, happiness, and security.

The type of development realized depends on the concept of political achievement held.

The concept of development is the fundamental viewpoint and overall outlook on the essence, purpose, connotation, and requirements of development. The concept of political achievement is closely linked to the concept of development; whichever concept of political achievement is held will determine the kind of development realized. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Adhering to high-quality development must become an important component of the concept of political achievement for leading cadres." During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period ^[6], strategic opportunities and risky challenges coexist in China's development, with increasing uncertain and unpredictable factors. This necessitates that Party members and cadres be guided by a correct concept of political achievement, practice the New Development Philosophy, and produce more actual results in promoting high-quality development.

Implementing the New Development Philosophy completely, accurately, and comprehensively is an inherent requirement for establishing and practicing a correct concept of political achievement. In Zhijiang Xinyu ^[7], Comrade Xi Jinping expounded on the intrinsic link between the concept of political achievement and the concept of development, pointing out: "If there is a blind spot in the concept of development, one will fall into a misunderstanding in the concept of political achievement; if there is a deviation in the concept of political achievement, one will deviate from science in the concept of development." The concept of political achievement drives the concept of development, and the concept of development practices the concept of political achievement. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has seriously analyzed and judged the major development trends at home and abroad, as well as the prominent contradictions and problems in China's development, making timely and major adjustments to development philosophies and ideas, and promoting the New Development Philosophy to take root throughout the Party and society. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Do more calculations on the 'big abacus' (dà suànpán) and settle the 'big accounts' (suàn dàzhàng); do fewer calculations on the 'small abacus' and settle the 'small accounts'." Adhering to the New Development Philosophy is a profound transformation concerning the overall development of our country, focusing on the long-term and the fundamental. The concept of political achievement involves the coordination between the long-term and the immediate, and between the whole and the part. Only when Party members and cadres properly handle the relationship between the "greater self" (dàwǒ) and the "lesser self" (xiǎowǒ), between long-term and immediate interests, and between personal aspirations and overall development, can they firmly practice the New Development Philosophy in practice and truly promote the comprehensive development of individuals and the comprehensive progress of society.

Adhering to high-quality development is an important content of a correct concept of political achievement. Promoting high-quality development is a complex systemic project. On one hand, it requires comprehensive consideration of various factors such as politics and economy, history and reality, matter and culture, development and people's livelihoods, resources and ecology, and domestic and international situations. On the other hand, it is necessary to avoid cognitive biases, shifts in the concept of political achievement, and misunderstandings in the concept of development caused by viewing issues in a one-sided, isolated, or static manner, which would create new development problems. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The concept of political achievement is reflected not only in grasping development, but also in benefiting people's livelihoods and maintaining stability; it is reflected not only in 'obvious achievements' (xiǎn jì) that show immediate effects, but also in 'latent achievements' (qián jì) that lay foundations, increase stamina, and benefit the long term; it is reflected not only in solving realistic contradictions, but also in solving problems left over from history." Currently, China's high-quality development is in a critical period of "climbing slopes and crossing hurdles" ^[8]. Whether it is building a modernized industrial system, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions, building a unified national market, and expanding high-level opening up, or solidly promoting common prosperity for all, preventing a return to poverty on a regular basis, defusing hidden local government debt, strengthening ecological environmental protection, and coordinating development and security, we face many difficulties and challenges. Party members and cadres must accurately identify the position of their own regions and departments within the national development framework, persist in acting according to local conditions and persist over the long term, striving to forge a path of high-quality development suited to the actual conditions of their regions and departments. If the concept of political achievement is misplaced, it can easily lead to problems such as blind decision-making, rash advances, and the disorganized launching of projects, which not only fail to promote high-quality development but also cause a waste of resources and damage the image of the Party and government in the eyes of the masses. Only by establishing a correct concept of political achievement that insists on seeking truth from facts, proceeds from reality, and acts according to objective laws—and through scientific decision-making and hard, practical work—can we create achievements recognized by the masses and continuously achieve new breakthroughs in promoting high-quality development.

The concept of political achievement concerns the work style of Party members and cadres and affects the effectiveness of their endeavors.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The Party's style of work is the Party's image; it concerns the support or opposition of the people and the life and death of the Party." Whether the concept of political achievement is upright or not determines whether the work style of Party members and cadres is firm and affects the effectiveness of their endeavors.

The concept of political achievement concerns whether Party members and cadres can effectively follow the mass line. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The core of the issue of work style is the relationship between the Party and the masses." The Party's mass line is the Party's lifeline and fundamental working line. Our Party has always implemented the mass line throughout all activities of governance, relying closely on the people to undertake and promote great causes. A few Party members and cadres have a weak sense of purpose and fading feelings for the masses, resulting in prominent problems in work style; behind this lies a significant deviation in their concept of political achievement. If Party members and cadres act starting from personal or small-group interests, placing private interests above public ones, they will be unable to establish a correct concept of political achievement, deviating from the requirements of the Party's mass line, and inevitably resulting in problems in their work style. In reality, some Party members and cadres are indifferent to the urgent needs and anxieties of the masses, even playing "Tai Chi" ^[9] (shirking responsibility); some shout loud slogans but take light action, being unwilling or unable to do mass work, separated from the masses by a "heart wall"; some progress from "winds" to corruption ^[10], starting with a bottle of wine or a pack of cigarettes, with their boldness and "appetite" growing ever larger as they use their power to exert influence, sign off on favors, and reap benefits; and so on. These problems are matters of work style or are induced by work style, reflecting a displacement of the concept of political achievement. The primary question of the concept of political achievement is for whom one acts. Only by fundamentally establishing the philosophy of building the Party for the public and the pursuit of benefiting the people as the greatest political achievement can one work with genuine emotion for the masses, enhance the sense of responsibility of being "always concerned," avoid vanity, empty fame, and superficial work, and effectively follow the Party's mass line to maintain close ties with the masses.

The concept of political achievement concerns whether Party members and cadres work with real effort and take responsibility. Achievements are never obtained by waiting or asking for them; they are achieved through real and hard work, just as one "opens a road when meeting a mountain and builds a bridge when meeting water." Only by working truly can one produce real achievements. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "For anything that benefits the Party and the people, we must not avoid difficulties or shirk responsibility; we must act boldly and resolutely." A correct concept of political achievement highlights the clear orientation of practical work, embodied in a work style of acting boldly and daring to take responsibility. This year is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" ^[11]; to ensure decisive progress in basically achieving socialist modernization, there are no shortcuts—only practical work. Party members and cadres must persist in producing achievements for the people and through practical work, with the spiritual realm of "success does not have to be mine" and the sense of mission that "I must contribute to success." They must carry forward the "spirit of driving the nail" (dìngzǐ jīngshén) ^[12] and implement the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the work requirements of various regions and departments to the letter. They must carry forward the spirit of struggle and responsibility, dare to take tough actions, and when encountering contradictions, they must not circumvent them; when facing difficulties, they must dare to meet them head-on, becoming skilled at resolving risks and challenges through new methods and pathways.

Political achievement must ultimately be judged by the masses; the concept of political achievement concerns the Party's foundation for governance. "The times are the paper-setter, we are the examinees, and the people are the examiners." The effectiveness of political achievements must ultimately be judged by the masses. True political achievement consists of good and practical deeds that benefit the masses. If the concept of political achievement deviates, it will lose the trust of the masses and ultimately shake the Party's foundation for governance. Whether political performance is good or not must be evaluated by the masses. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out:

"Checking the efficacy of all our work ultimately depends on whether the people have truly received tangible benefits, whether the people's lives have truly been improved, and whether the people's rights and interests have truly been guaranteed." The membership of the Communist Party of China exceeds 100 million, yet placed among a population of over 1.4 billion, they remain a minority. Divorced from the support of the broad masses of the people, any grand objective determined by our Party would be difficult to realize. Our Party’s level of governance and its governance efficacy are not for us to decide ourselves; they must and can only be judged by the people. In our Party’s history, every period has seen many outstanding Communists win the public praise ^[13] of the people through actual achievements. For example, Jiao Yulu led the people of Lankao County to struggle against the "three evils" ^[14] of waterlogging, sandstorms, and saline-alkali soil; Lankao, once a place of endless yellow sands and vast saline-alkali wastes, is now a forest of Paulownia, a "thousand hectares of clear green" ^[15]. Gu Wenchang led the people of Dongshan County to battle sandstorms, droughts, and floods; the tall and upright beefwood trees stand as witnesses to the metamorphosis of this "pearl of the sea." Local people affectionately refer to the Paulownia as "Jiao’s Paulownia" and the beefwood as "Gu’s Trees"; these two County Party Secretaries erected monuments of benefiting the people within the hearts of the people. Gold and silver cups are not as good as the public praise of the common people; gold and silver awards are not as good as the compliments of the common people. Party members and cadres must regard handling affairs for the people and creating benefits for the people as their most important political achievements, accept the masses' judgment of these achievements, and use this as an important basis for continuously improving their work.

Doing good and practical deeds for the masses is an important standard for measuring the effectiveness of political achievements. When Communists do things and create achievements, it primarily depends on how many good and practical deeds they have performed for the masses. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Wherever there is a need from the people, that is where good and practical deeds can be done, and where achievements can be created." "Whether certain things are good and practical deeds cannot be judged solely by the immediate needs of the masses; we must also look at whether there will be 'sequelae,' and whether we will 'solve one problem but leave ten regrets.'" So-called good and practical deeds must not be based on subjective assumptions, much less be simplified or one-sided; they must be weighed against the immediate and long-term needs of the masses. Promoting economic development, carrying forward social integrity, enriching the masses' cultural and leisure lives, and resolving the "urgent, difficult, and anxious" ^[16] problems of the masses are all good and practical deeds. Party members and cadres must adhere to a people-centered philosophy and truly perform good and practical deeds that touch the hearts of the masses, ensuring that the people's lives are truly improved and their interests are truly guaranteed.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly noted: "Every era must accomplish the tasks of that era. Whether one does well or poorly, contributing much or little, history will be the judge! Communists must perform good deeds for the people." The hearts of the people constitute the greatest politics. We must recognize the importance of establishing and practicing a correct outlook on political achievements from the height of its relevance to the Party’s foundation of governance. We must profoundly grasp the fundamental nature of the issue of political achievements, constantly cultivate and refine our Party spirit ^[17], "strengthening the foundation and nurturing the vital source" ^[18]. In our practical work, we must achieve the unity of knowledge and action ^[19], working with sincerity and solid effort to write a new chapter in the construction of Chinese-path modernization through real work and real results.

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Central Party School (National Academy of Governance)) Source: People's Daily (March 24, 2026) Editor: Huihui