A Dong: Deepening Patriotic Education for Youth to Gather Youthful Strength for Chinese Modernization
Patriotism is the core of our national spirit and the spiritual bond that unites the Chinese nation in struggle and self-improvement. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to educate and guide the masses, especially young people, to better understand and identify with Chinese civilization, and to enhance their ambition, integrity, and confidence [1] as Chinese people. The sixth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress voted to pass the "Patriotism Education Law of the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Patriotism Education Law"), providing a powerful legal guarantee for strengthening patriotism education for young people in the New Era. The Communist Youth League (CYL) resolutely implements the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions and instructions on carrying out patriotism education and promoting the patriotic spirit. It fully implements the Patriotism Education Law, guiding the broad masses of young people to deeply understand the "trinity" of love for the country, love for the Party, and love for socialism, which are organically unified in the great practice of following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This inspires the younger generation to enhance their sense of historical responsibility and mission, stimulates the youthful passion of "strengthening the country is up to me" [2], and encourages them to act as a vanguard and shock brigade in the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Through practical actions, they resolutely support the Two Establishments and firmly achieve the Two Upholds.
I. Deeply Studying and Understanding the Rich Inner Meaning of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Strengthening Patriotism Education for Young People
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping, standing at the strategic height of the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the fact that the Party’s cause has successors, has made a series of important expositions on strengthening patriotism education for young people, providing the fundamental follow-up for our work. We must take the implementation of the Patriotism Education Law as an opportunity to deeply understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important requirements and earnest entrustments, and effectively carry out patriotism education for young people.
Patriotism is the historical foundation bestowed upon young people by Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that in the long river of thousands of years of the Chinese nation's development, patriotism has always been the stirring main theme and the powerful force inspiring all ethnic groups in our country to seek self-improvement. Since ancient times, the annals of Chinese civilization have been filled with records of "loyalty to the family and the country" (jiāguó qínghuái). Stories such as "Qu Yuan drowning himself in the river" [3], "Su Wu herding sheep" [4], and "Yue Fei's mother tattooing his back" [5] are household names. Figures like Lu You, Wen Tianxiang, Yu Qian, and Lin Zexu possess an awe-inspiring righteousness [6], reflecting the distinct characteristic of the Chinese nation's reverence for patriotism. At the same time, the Chinese nation has always held the tradition that "heroes emerge from the youth" and the belief that "if the youth are strong, the country will be strong; if the youth progress, the country will progress." It can be said that the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization records the patriotic acts and national righteousness of young people across different eras, making patriotism an innate spiritual gene for hundreds of millions of youth and accumulating the deepest, most lasting, and most sincere national sentiments.
Patriotism is a glorious banner of the youth movement led by the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Great May Fourth Movement promoted the spread of Marxism in China, raised the curtain on the New Democratic Revolution, and marked the emergence of Chinese youth as the vanguard in promoting social change in China. In modern times, the spirit of patriotism has inspired countless outstanding sons and daughters of China to carry out arduous and heroic struggles for national salvation. In particular, our Party led the people of the whole country, including the vast youth, through bloody battles and unyielding efforts to achieve national independence and people's liberation. Since the founding of New China, the youth, with the pride of "daring to command the sun and moon to bring a new day" [7], shouted the resonant slogan "dedicate youth to the motherland" and actively participated in the most extensive and profound social transformation in the history of the Chinese nation with unprecedented patriotic enthusiasm. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, under the leadership of the Party, the youth have vigorously promoted the national spirit and the spirit of the times, emancipated their minds, forged ahead with determination, and created great achievements in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. Entering the New Era, our Party has made the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation the distinct theme of contemporary Chinese patriotism. The broad masses of young people have actively devoted themselves to the magnificent practice of the Great Struggle, Great Project, Great Cause, and Great Dream [8], contributing their youth to the historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country.
Patriotism is the heartfelt "strongest voice of the times" for the younger generation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Chinese youth are youth with deep feelings for their country and home, and they are youth with great creativity. Whether in the past, present, or future, Chinese youth are always the vanguard force in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! Contemporary youth have personally experienced and witnessed the great achievements and transformations of the New Era. Their "Four Confidences" have been continuously strengthened, and they are a generation that "looks at the world on an equal footing" [9]. New Era Chinese youth are fighting on the front lines of poverty alleviation, the battlefield of epidemic prevention and control, the frontier of scientific and technological breakthroughs, the front line of emergency rescue and disaster relief, the sports arena, and the border outposts of the motherland. At the moment when the Party and the people need them most, they step forward and take responsibility. With the passion of youth, they play the "strongest voice of the times"—"clear love, only for China" [10]—and with youthful actions, they practice the solemn vow of "rest assured, Party, the powerful country is up to me."
Patriotism is an inevitable requirement for the healthy growth and development of the younger generation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that for Chinese youth in the New Era, loving the motherland is the foundation of one's character and the basis for success. Both history and reality prove that only when young people love their motherland and integrate with the people will the spectrum of youth be broader and the struggle of life be more valuable. For contemporary youth to grow healthily and achieve great things, they must make patriotic belief a powerful spiritual motivator for personal success. They must harbor a heart of concern for the country and the people, a feeling of love for the country and its citizens, and continuously contribute to the motherland and the people. With a lifetime of true devotion and tenacious struggle, they must strive to realize their life value and write a youth without regrets on the new journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
II. Accurately Grasping the Key Priorities for Strengthening Patriotism Education for Young People
Patriotism education is work intended to "establish the heart" for the country and "establish the soul" for the nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that patriotism is the national heart and soul of the Chinese nation; in cultivating socialist builders and successors, the first task is to cultivate students' patriotic sentiments. As a mass organization of advanced youth led by the CPC, the CYL is a school for the broad masses of youth to learn socialism with Chinese characteristics and communism in practice; it is the Party's assistant and reserve force. On the new journey of the New Era, the CYL must closely revolve around its fundamental tasks, political responsibilities, and main lines of work, anchoring its goals, seizing key points, and effectively strengthening patriotism education for young people.
Always adhere to the unity of loving the country, the Party, and socialism. Patriotism is closely linked to a country's cultural traditions, historical development, and basic national conditions. The CPC is the firmest promoter and practitioner of the spirit of patriotism. Our country's patriotism has always developed around achieving the people's well-being and national prosperity, eventually merging into the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics led by the CPC to seek happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation. From the different periods of revolution, construction, and reform to the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, our Party has always adhered to its original aspiration and founding mission, leading the people in unremitting struggle, bringing bright prospects to the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. The history of the development of the Chinese nation and the history of the CPC powerfully prove that the fate of the motherland is inseparable from the fate of the Party and the fate of socialism. We must clearly use patriotism education to let young people understand a profound truth: only by adhering to the unity of loving the country, the Party, and socialism can patriotism be vivid and real.
Effortlessly integrate the promotion of the patriotic spirit with the persistence of the "soul-vein" and "root-vein." Marxism is the lasting force that stimulates patriotism. In modern times, to save the nation from peril, generations of people with lofty ideals carried out epic struggles, but none could change the semi-colonial and semi-feudal nature of Chinese society or the tragic fate of the Chinese people—until the birth of the CPC guided by Marxism, which led the people to successfully open the correct path to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Excellent traditional Chinese culture is the deep soil that nourishes patriotism. Chinese civilization is long-standing, broad, and profound, shining with the light of patriotic thoughts such as "everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world" [11], "I shall dedicate my life to the country's cause, regardless of fortune or misfortune" [12], and "serving the country with total loyalty" [13]. Strengthening patriotism education for young people must firmly uphold Marxism as the "soul-vein" (húnmài) and excellent traditional Chinese culture as the "root-vein" (gēnmài), guiding young people to strengthen their lofty ideals and common ideals, and continuously stimulating patriotic feelings and the ambition to serve the country.
Continuously promote the connection between stimulating patriotic enthusiasm and devoting oneself to building a strong country. The 20th CPC National Congress drew a grand blueprint for building a strong country and national rejuvenation. The growth and struggle period of contemporary youth highly coincides with and is closely linked to this great process. This generation of youth is born at the right time and are the beneficiaries of the Chinese Dream; this generation of youth shoulders heavy responsibilities, and the Chinese Dream must be realized through their hands. Carrying out patriotism education for young people means letting them understand that patriotism is not a slogan, but a concrete and realistic action. They must integrate their personal "small self" (xiǎowǒ) into the "greater self" (dàwǒ) of the motherland, closely combine their ideals with the fate of the motherland and the people, stimulate the youthful passion of "strengthening the country is up to me," and based on their own positions, strive to be the vanguard and new force in various fields such as economic development, scientific and technological innovation, rural revitalization, democracy and the rule of law, culture, education, and sports, green development, social services, defending the borders, the united front, and foreign exchanges. They must take responsibility (tǐngyīng dāndāng) and work together for Chinese-path modernization.
Pay more attention to the transformation of consolidating patriotic emotions into serving growth and talent development. Young people are the future of the country and the hope of the nation. They are at the starting stage of their life path and will encounter various problems and troubles in study, work, and life. They need care the most and are worth the highest expectations. On the one hand, we must revolve around their needs and expectations regarding graduation and job hunting, innovation and entrepreneurship, social integration, love and marriage, elderly care, and children's education, warmly helping young people solve practical difficulties and striving to help them grow and succeed. On the other hand, we should focus on their worries and anxieties regarding ideals and reality, "isms" and problems, self-interest and altruism, the nation and the world, actively helping young people resolve ideological confusion and striving to help them calibrate their life direction. We must consolidate the emotional foundation of patriotism education, fully convey the Party's care and love to young people, let them personally feel the warmth of the socialist family, achieve the resonance of "convincing people with reason, molding people with culture, and touching people with emotion," continuously enhance young people's sense of identity with the Party and the country, and their sense of pride in the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization effectively improving the affinity and infectiousness of patriotism education.
III. Continuously Promoting the Extensive, In-depth, Lasting, and Effective Implementation of Patriotism Education for Young People
The Patriotism Education Law stipulates that mass organizations such as the CYL and the Youth Federation should leverage their respective advantages to carry out patriotism education for the sectors and groups they connect with. It requires organizing distinctive commemorative and celebratory activities on important festivals such as Youth Day (May 4th) and International Children's Day (June 1st) to enhance feelings for the home and country. CYL organizations, Youth Federations, Students' Federations, and Young Pioneers at all levels must resolutely implement the Patriotism Education Law. Based on the ideological, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of young people, they should leverage organizational advantages and the characteristics of "practice-based education" (shíjiàn yùrén) to continuously deepen patriotism education for young people, guiding them to strive to be good youth of the New Era with ideals, responsibility, the ability to endure hardship, and the willingness to struggle, and striving to grow into "people of the era" (shídài xīnrén) capable of undertaking the great task of national rejuvenation.
The CYL must consolidate the ideological foundation of patriotism for young people. It is necessary to strengthen political guidance, unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to "congeal the heart and cast the soul" (níngxīn zhùhún), and establish a normalized mechanism for the thematic education of League members and youth. Programs such as "Youth Grand Study," "Youth Lecturer Group," and the "Young Marxist Training Project" (Qīngmǎ Gōngchéng) should be implemented. We must strengthen publicity and education on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation. We should highlight education on the current situation and policies and the great achievements of the New Era, guiding young people to continuously deepen their political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Two Establishments and firmly achieve the Two Upholds. We must mobilize youth to make contributions in their posts, closely revolving around the central tasks of the Party in the new journey of the New Era as determined by the 20th CPC National Congress. We must give new connotations of the era to CYL brand projects such as "Youth Commando Teams" (duì), "Youth Civilization Units" (hào), "Young Experts" (shǒu), "Youth Post Experts" (gǎng), and "Youth Skills Competitions" (sài), mobilizing and leading the broad masses of youth to vigorously devote themselves to Chinese-path modernization and demonstrate their ambition to serve the country in practice. We must highlight the effectiveness of service, promote the deep implementation of the Mid-to-Long-term Youth Development Plan, coordinate and optimize the policy environment for youth development, and realistically help young people solve their most pressing and anxious problems, ensuring that the hearts of young people are closely tied to the Party and the country. We must innovate internet-based guidance, adapt to the laws of youth mass work online, and deepen brand projects such as "Good Young Chinese Netizens," "Chinese Traditional Clothing" (huáfú), and "Made in China" thematic publicity. We should create literary and artistic works and cultural products with patriotic themes that young people love to see, and expand thematic activities such as "My Motherland and Me" and "Taking a Photo with the National Flag" to promote positive youthful energy and sing the main theme of patriotism.
The All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) must consolidate a youthful synergy of patriotism among the broad masses of young people. We must solidify the youth patriotic united front [14] in the New Era, deepen the reform of ACYF organizations, and strengthen the foundation of organizational membership across all levels of the ACYF. We should promote the construction of the Communist Youth League (CYL) and ACYF sectors within the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) [15], expand thematic activities such as the "ACYF Grand Lecture Hall" and "ACYF Reading Society," and guide ACYF committee members and youth from all ethnic groups and sectors to work together toward the Chinese Dream, steadfastly inheriting the glorious tradition of "patriotism, unity, and following the Party." We must forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation [16], implement projects for the promotion of ethnic unity among youth, and facilitate interaction, exchange, and integration among young people of all ethnic groups. This will enhance their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, ensuring they cling together like pomegranate seeds [17]. We must enhance the patriotic sentiments of youth in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as young overseas Chinese. We shall deepen activities such as "Hong Kong and Macao Youth View the Motherland," implement measures like the "Eight Policy Measures of the ACYF to Benefit Youth in Hong Kong and Macao," and encourage Hong Kong and Macao youth to strengthen their national consciousness and patriotic spirit. We will expand channels such as the Cross-Strait Youth Development Forum to provide assistance for Taiwanese youth studying, working, and living on the mainland, fostering their national and cultural identity to jointly advance the great cause of national reunification. We must also strengthen contact with and service to young overseas Chinese, providing warmth and support according to their needs and expectations, thereby weaving a tight patriotic bond through which they care for, support, and participate in the construction of the motherland.
The All-China Students' Federation (ACSF) must stimulate the youthful enthusiasm for patriotism among university and secondary school students. We should integrate into the general framework of ideological and political education (sizheng) [18], coordinate with school-based ideological and political classrooms, and leverage the patriotic education functions of the "Second Classroom." We shall organize students to participate in social practice programs such as "Three Services to the Countryside" [19] and "Returning to the Home Village" to appreciate the magnificent scenery and historical-cultural heritage of the motherland, allowing them to receive an education while investigating national conditions, experiencing society, and serving the masses. We must foster a campus culture that reveres patriotism, strengthen the construction of student unions and various student associations in universities and secondary schools, and launch thematic activities such as "Dialogues with Faith." This will guide young students to draw rich nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit "red genes" from revolutionary culture, and accumulate spiritual strength from advanced socialist culture. We must guide their life aspirations toward becoming talented individuals who serve the country, following the developmental patterns and age characteristics of youth. By launching thematic activities like "Advancing Together with the Motherland," we will stimulate their will to strive for excellence and serve the nation. Through innovation and entrepreneurship competitions such as the "Challenge Cup" and "Creating Youth," we will ignite their spirit of loving science and serving the country through technological innovation, establishing the lofty ideals and ambitions of contributing their youth to the cause of the motherland and the people.
The Young Pioneers must initiate the simple and fundamental patriotic emotions of children and adolescents. We must tell patriotic stories vividly and proactively link them with national education. By organizing Young Pioneer troop meetings, team days, and activity classes, and by standardizing ceremonial education such as raising the national flag, singing the national anthem, and induction ceremonies, we will reinforce awareness of national symbols and marks. We shall build brand projects like "Red Scarf Hearts Toward the Party" and "Red Scarf Loves Learning" to tell the stories of the Party, the revolution, and its heroes, helping Young Pioneers harbor the Chinese Dream and establish the will to strengthen the nation. We must ensure that patriotic role models are studied effectively by recounting the deeds of heroic martyrs and advanced models. We will deepen activities such as the "Red Scarf Medal" drive and the selection of "Outstanding Young Pioneers," guiding them to "learn from pioneers in childhood and strive to be pioneers when grown." We must ensure the principles of patriotism are understood thoroughly by strengthening the construction and training of Young Pioneer workers and counselors. We shall carry out thematic activities such as "Striving to be Good Team Members in the New Era" and "Red Scarf Rendezvous with the Chinese Dream," guiding Young Pioneers to promote and practice socialist core values, cultivating their simple sentiments of loving the Party, the motherland, and the people, and ensuring they are "always prepared" to achieve the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(The author is the First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League) Web Editor: Zhang Jian Source: Qiushi, 2024, No. 3