Zhu Hanmo: Strengthening Political Guidance for Youth and Cultivating New Era Successors for the Party
General Secretary Xi Jinping, in a collective conversation with members of the new leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (CYL), emphasized the need to focus on strengthening the political guidance of the broad masses of youth. Strategically, this marks the direction forward and provides the ideological guidance for the CYL to conduct the Party’s youth work on the new journey. We must study and understand this deeply, and resolutely implement it within the practice of youth work.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that listening to the Party and following the Party has always been the political lifeblood maintained by the CYL, and "the Party has a call, the League acts" has remained the political conviction for generations of CYL members. Where the Party flag points is where the League flag heads; this constitutes the fundamental character that distinguishes the CYL from other youth organizations. Whether it can unite and lead the broad masses of youth to raise the flag with the Party, follow the Party’s command, and struggle for the Party is the fundamental criterion for testing the efficacy of the CYL’s work.
Strengthening political guidance for the broad masses of youth is the fundamental task in practicing the CYL’s original aspiration and founding mission. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that unswervingly following the Party and struggling for the Party and the people is the original aspiration and founding mission of the CYL. The smoke and fire of the New Democratic Revolution period [1], the tackling of formidable challenges during the period of socialist revolution and construction, the daring spirit during the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, and the proactive striving [2] in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics have all tempered the political character of the CYL and highlighted the mission and responsibility of League members and youth. The 20th National Congress of the CPC sounded the bugle for comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. The CYL must focus on strengthening youth political guidance, firmly grasp the theme of youth work in the New Era, and in the broadest way possible, unite, organize, and mobilize youth to strive to be the vanguard and shock brigade for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
Strengthening political guidance for the broad masses of youth is the fundamental work for training qualified socialist builders and reliable successors for the Party. The CYL must resolutely implement the important requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping, strengthen education on ideals and convictions among the youth, and guide them to establish the lofty ideal of Communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It must guide them to firm up their political conviction to listen to and follow the Party, and to establish correct life goals amidst the historical tide of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, thereby laying the foundation for a lifetime of struggle.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the CYL, as a school for the masses of youth to learn socialism with Chinese characteristics and Communism through practice, must focus on politics, start from ideology, and proceed from the characteristics of youth. It should help them "establish their resolve early and establish great resolve" [3], and deeply plant trust in the Party, confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and faith in Marxism in their hearts. This points out the working path for the CYL to conduct youth political guidance. Focusing on politics means focusing on arming the youth with the Party's scientific theories, inspiring them with the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission, guiding them with the Party’s glorious flag, and shaping them with the Party’s fine style of work. It means forging loyalty to the Party and continuously deepening the political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification of the youth with the "Two Establishments" and the "Two Upholds." Starting from ideology means focusing on leading the youth to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—this contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, which is the essence of the times in Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit. It means leading the youth to perceive the charm of truth, the power of practice, and the charismatic tension [4] contained therein. Proceeding from youth characteristics means focusing on grasping the traits of contemporary youth—such as independent thinking, active minds, broad interests, and a wide vision—which are distinctly different from those of any previous era. Facing this "Gen Z," "Internet-born generation," and "digital media natives," we should innovate methods and means to carry out political guidance while advancing with the times.
Deeply grasp theoretical logic, leading the youth to penetrate the Party's innovative theories, inspiring them to think more profoundly, and casting political steadfastness through theoretical clarity. We must persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge the soul and consolidate the heart, carrying out thematic education for CYL members and youth on a normalized and long-term basis. We must respect the laws of the ideological growth of youth, allowing them—through study involving mutual inspiration, exchange, analysis, and integration with reality—to gradually clarify how the Party’s innovative theories grasp the essence of things and how they manifest scientific rigor, a people-centered nature, practicality, and an evolving nature. Thus, they will feel, think, and realize, perceiving the greatness of the Party through the thoroughness of the theory. We must delve into the ideological essence and strive to make youth skilled at using the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods of the Party’s innovative theories to analyze problems. They must learn to grasp the mainstream and main thread amidst various ideological trends, choose the "top priorities of the country" [5] in their pursuit of values, and consciously listen to and follow the Party in their youthful struggle.
Fully explain historical logic, leading the youth to study Party history and inherit the "red gene," guiding them to see further, and firming up political faith through the call of mission. The Party’s history is a history of struggle, cleaving through waves and forging ahead; it vividly interprets the original aspiration and founding mission of Communists and stands as a glorious spiritual monument. Looking back at Party history, when the country was drifting and the nation was at a crossroads of life and death, that group of young people on the South Lake boat [6] chose to "open up the world and be the first to venture" [7]; those young people on the Jinggang Mountains chose to rely on the masses and struggle arduously; those young people on the Long March chose firm ideals and were unafraid of sacrifice... "To observe the present, one should use the past as a mirror; without the past, the present cannot be formed" [8]. Party history contains self-evident logic, is saturated with a long-reaching red lineage, and holds a deeply moving spiritual power. We should allow youth to firm up their political faith and melt their love for the country into their hearts while grasping historical laws and drawing on historical experience. They must profoundly recognize their historical mission and make correct value choices, thereby assuming the responsibility of the times to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.
Clearly demonstrate realistic logic, leading the youth to perceive the great achievements of national development, helping them feel more strongly, and establishing political self-confidence through achievement-based education. "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-strengthening" [9]. Since the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the Chinese people to promote historical achievements and historical transformations in the cause of the Party and the country. Achievements in economic development, technological innovation, cultural prosperity, and social change in the New Era are the most vivid and persuasive materials for helping youth firm up the "Four Confidences." We must conduct achievement-based education for the youth, strengthen publicity and display, build platforms for experiential learning, and broaden their international horizons. We must guide youth to understand the developmental achievements of the New Era from all-round and multi-angled perspectives through comparisons between the past and present and international comparisons. In particular, they must profoundly understand the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics that support these achievements, thereby enhancing their ambition, integrity, and confidence to struggle alongside the Party.
Clearly state practical logic, leading the youth to make contributions in social practice, encouraging them to work with greater conviction, and consolidating political consciousness through personal participation. As a school for the youth to learn socialism with Chinese characteristics and Communism through practice, the CYL should lead youth to temper their professional skills in practice. It should focus on increasing the match between practical content and professional knowledge, enabling youth to take root in their own disciplines, continuously draw nourishment from practice, and enrich their ideological understanding. They should forge true skills and hard capabilities in the process of solving real-world problems. Lead the youth to realize their life value in practice, focusing on increasing the alignment between the vehicles of practice and the central overall situation. Actively build platforms in various fields such as technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, social services, and defending the borders. This will allow youth to gain a sense of value and meaning in the process of contribution. Lead the youth to consolidate their political consciousness of listening to and following the Party in practice, focusing on increasing the coupling between practice-based education and theoretical study. Pay attention to the role of organizational leadership, role models, and peer influence, stimulating the enthusiasm and initiative of youth to throw themselves into the fiery practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. Use practice to test, consolidate, and exert the efficacy of ideological arming.