Xie Bingliang: Assessing the "Three Fires" Through the Lens of a Correct Outlook on Political Achievements
"A new official sets three fires upon taking office" [1] is a common metaphor used to describe the ideas and methods an incoming official employs to open up a new phase of work at the beginning of their tenure. In the book Out of Poverty, Comrade Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "Whether the 'three fires' should be lit, and when it is appropriate to light them, must proceed from reality. One must go deep among the masses, conduct extensive investigation and research, clarify the sequence of events, and then, after assessing the situation, light them if they should be lit. If they should not be lit, one must never follow the trend or force the 'lighting of the fire' just for the sake of it." This important discourse embodies the profound connotations of firmly establishing a correct outlook on performance [2], pointing out the correct direction and providing the fundamental compliance for Party members and cadres to start businesses, undertake tasks, and manifest responsibility.
When Party members and cadres assume new positions, facing the heavy trust of the Organization, the expectations of the masses, and the requirements of the cause, they must think deeply and correctly answer the questions of whether, how, and when the "three fires" should be lit. On the surface, the "three fires" are a concentrated manifestation of thought, methodology, and the intensity of action; in essence, they are the external expression of one's outlook on performance and a concentrated display of one's original aspiration and founding mission, sense of responsibility, and style and image. The "three fires" act as a mirror, reflecting whether the outlook on performance is upright, whether the awareness of the Party’s purpose is firm, and whether the work style is pragmatic. They reflect a Party member or cadre’s way of governance, political ethics, and the essentials of administration. In this sense, the "three fires" should be lit where appropriate; this enthusiasm and passion for wanting to do things and being able to do things reflects the vigor and responsibility of performing one's duties and deserves affirmation and encouragement.
To hold office in a locale is to bring benefit to that locale. For whom the "three fires" are lit and where they are directed reflects one’s fundamental stance, allowing for no hesitation or the slightest deviation. Only when the stance is upright can the "three fires" be lit with value and meaning; conversely, if the stance is skewed, the earlier and more fiercely the fire burns, the greater the harm. The power in the hands and the responsibility on the shoulders of Party members and cadres are bestowed by the Party and the people; the starting point and ultimate goal of performing duties and handling affairs must be to bring benefit to the people. Therefore, the "three fires" can only be lit for the people, for development, and for the cause; they must never be lit for personal prestige or professional promotion. One must always keep the the people’s urgent anxieties and expectations [3] in school, hold the safety and well-being of the common people in one’s hands, and focus on the hot spots of people’s livelihoods, the bottlenecks of development, and the difficulties of governance, lighting the "three fires" where the masses need them most and at the most critical links of the cause.
How the "three fires" are lit and how they perform tests the work capabilities and effectiveness of Party members and cadres. It is necessary both to take proactive action and seize opportunities, and to build momentum and grasp the "heat" [4] of the situation. Only in this way can the fire be lit accurately, vigorously, and substantively. In reality, some Party members and cadres are eager to light a fire to create a spectacle as soon as they arrive at a new post, possessing great determination despite being unclear about the situation. Some are fond of "starting a separate kitchen" [5], discarding the correct paths of their predecessors to start over. Others prefer "engaging in large-scale and rapid advancements," "opening fire on all fronts" as soon as they take office, blindly launching projects and overextending their reach. These "fires of utilitarianism" and "fires of vanity" may seem boisterous, but they actually exhaust the people and drain resources. They both damage the development of the cause and overdraw the trust of the masses, causing great harm and terrible influence.
To light the "three fires" well, one must adhere to seeking truth from facts, go deep among the masses, carry out investigation and research, and act only after the plan is set. When Comrade Xi Jinping worked in local governments, he always insisted on putting investigation and research first, spending a great deal of time going deep into the grassroots, visiting the masses, and getting a clear grasp of the actual situation. On the basis of fully mastering first-hand information, he would assess the situation, plan scientifically, and deploy systematically. In Zhengding, Hebei, he proposed the "semi-suburban" economic development path; in Fujian, he advocated for "reading the mountain and sea sutra" [6]; in Zhejiang, he coordinated urban and rural development and mapped out the "Green Rural Revival Program" [7]; in Shanghai, he explored new models for managing mega-cities... This clarity and resolve demonstrate a scientific attitude of seeking truth from facts and reflect the realm and responsibility of "success does not have to stay with me, but success must include my contribution" [8]. History and practice have repeatedly proven that practicing a correct outlook on performance requires solid investigation and research to thoroughly understand the development foundation, resource endowments, contradictions, problems, and the wishes of the masses. One must adhere to everything proceeding from reality, respect objective laws, and balance the continuity of work with the pioneering spirit. One must grasp the rhythm and intensity of work, neither rushing to expand prematurely, nor being eager for quick success, nor seeking to achieve everything in one stroke. Only by lighting the "accurate fire" that conforms to reality, the "slow-simmering fire" for long-term development, and the "true fire" for solving difficult problems, can the major decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee be effectively implemented and the cause advance steadily and reach far.
This year is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" [9]. The vast number of Party members and cadres, especially newly appointed leading cadres, must establish and practice a correct outlook on performance, engaging in more deep reflection and avoiding blind or reckless actions. They should possess more affection for the people and take personal gains and losses lightly; they should persist over the long term and prevent the pursuit of quick fixes. We must establish ourselves through practical work and build trust through actual achievements. With solid work results, we shall live up to the trust and heavy responsibility of the Party and the people, demonstrating new responsibility and making new contributions on the great journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.