Jin Xin: Promoting the Extensive, In-depth, Lasting, and Effective Implementation of Patriotic Education in the New Era
On January 1, 2024, the Patriotic Education Law officially came into force. Recently, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee jointly organized a press conference. Responsible officials from departments including the Central Propaganda Department and the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee interpreted the relevant circumstances of the Patriotic Education Law and answered reporters' questions.
Yang Heqing, Director of the Legislative Planning Office of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, first introduced the important role of the Patriotic Education Law. First, it provides a strong rule-of-law guarantee for promoting the extensive, deep, lasting, and effective implementation of patriotic education in the New Era. Second, it provides a powerful spiritual impetus for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The implementation of the Patriotic Education Law will further create a dense social atmosphere of "singing the main theme" [1] of patriotism, inspiring the sons and daughters of China to forge ahead on the "new journey" [2] and make contributions in the New Era, forming a powerful synergy to jointly realize the Chinese Dream [3]. Third, it provides strong support for carrying forward and inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture. Fourth, it lays a solid foundation for safeguarding national security, honor, and interests.
The Patriotic Education Law stipulates that network information service providers shall strengthen the construction of network patriotic education content. A reporter asked: what other specific provisions exist in China's relevant laws and regulations for the construction and management of network information content?
Tang Lei, Deputy Director of the Network Law-Based Governance Bureau of the Cyberspace Administration of China, explained that, first, at the level of laws, the Cybersecurity Law clarifies that the network must not be used to engage in activities that endanger national security, honor, or interests; the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs stipulates that departments such as cyberspace administration should encourage and support the creation, production, and promotion of outstanding literary and artistic works themed on the deeds of heroes and martyrs that promote the spirit of heroes and martyrs; and the Law on the Protection of Minors clearly proposes that the state, society, schools, and families should strengthen patriotic education for minors. Second, at the level of administrative regulations, the Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace stipulate that the state encourages and supports the production, reproduction, publication, and dissemination of network information that promotes core socialist values, advanced socialist culture, revolutionary culture, and fine traditional Chinese culture, so as to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation [4], cultivate the "family-country sentiment" [5] and good character of minors, and guide minors to develop good living and behavioral habits. Third, at the level of departmental rules, the Administrative Provisions on Internet News Information Services, the Provisions on the Governance of the Network Information Content Ecosystem, and the Administrative Provisions on Internet User Account Information have been formulated or revised, and the relevant systems for patriotism have been actively improved.
Zeng Jianli, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Propaganda and Education of the Central Propaganda Department, stated that establishing, emphasizing, regulating, and guiding patriotic education in the form of legislation reflects the continuous deepening of our understanding of the great significance and important role of the patriotic spirit, following the development of the Party's theory and practice in leading cultural construction in the New Era. It reflects the continuous innovation of our ideas and concepts of "using good laws to promote good governance" [6] as the integration of core socialist values into the construction of the rule of law continues to deepen. It also reflects our increasing awareness of exerting the regulating and guaranteeing roles of the rule of law as the Comprehensive Law-based Governance of China is implemented in depth. Meanwhile, facing the new missions and tasks of the new journey in the New Era, writing patriotic education into law is also a practical necessity to respond to the strong patriotic enthusiasm of the masses, effectively integrate social consciousness, condense a consensus on values, nurture family-country sentiment, enhance ethnic unity, and better unify thoughts and gather strength for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
The Patriotic Education Law puts forward clear requirements for inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary culture, and for tapping into the patriotic spirit contained in historical and cultural heritage. When asked about experiences and practices in this area, Zhou Jiucai, Level-1 Inspector of the Department of Policies and Regulations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, introduced that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Cultural Heritage Administration attach great importance to the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage. By promoting the "vitalization" and utilization of cultural relics and the inheritance and promotion of intangible cultural heritage, they better pass down fine traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary culture, and tap into the patriotic spirit contained within cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage. For example, in terms of the utilization of revolutionary cultural relics, they continuously improve and enhance the educational functions of former revolutionary sites and Red [7] memorial sites. In terms of the utilization of Red resources, they have released "One Hundred Boutique Red Tourism Routes for the Centenary of the Founding of the Party." In terms of the utilization of intangible cultural heritage, they promote the continuous integration of non-heritage into modern life and organize key national promotional and exhibition activities such as the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo, the China Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival, the China Original Folk Song Festival, and the "Xinjiang is a Good Place" Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition.
Following the implementation of the Patriotic Education Law, how should schools at all levels and of all types advance patriotic education in depth? Wang Daquan, Deputy Director of the Department of Policies and Regulations of the Ministry of Education, said that adolescent students are the key group for patriotic education, and schools are important frontiers for strengthening patriotic education. The education system will take the implementation of the Patriotic Education Law as a new starting point, fully perform statutory duties, and focus on work such as fully integrating it into the curriculum, strengthening education through practice, organizing brand-name activities, and deepening family-school synergy.