At the symposium on private enterprises, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Cadres at all levels must deeply understand the principles of exercising power for the people’s benefit, taking responsibility to get things done, and maintaining integrity as a foundation for their conduct. They should consciously integrate responsibility with self-discipline.” Exercising power for the people’s benefit, taking responsibility to get things done, and maintaining integrity as a foundation for one’s conduct are not only basic requirements for cadres in fostering close and clean relationships between government and business, but also the key to winning the trust of the people, promoting the advancement of our cause, and preserving our political integrity. Thoroughly studying and implementing this important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping is of great guiding significance for cadres at large in practicing the correct views on power, performance, and career development.

One

Using power for the people is a concrete manifestation of the Communist Party of China’s commitment to a development philosophy centered on the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Our power is granted to us by the Party and the people; it is wielded for the sake of the Party and the people. It is public, not private, and can only be used to relieve the Party of its burdens, serve the country, and benefit the people.” All power belongs to the people and originates from the people. Our country is a socialist state under people’s democratic dictatorship, and the Constitution explicitly stipulates that “all power in the People’s Republic of China belongs to the people.” The power held by cadres is vested in them by the people through legally prescribed procedures. This institutionalized mechanism of delegation determines that the fundamental purpose of exercising power is to serve the people.

The dialectical unity of power and responsibility is an essential component of the Marxist view of power. The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility. When officials exercise their powers, they must firmly keep in mind their responsibilities and mission, clearly define the boundaries of their authority, and perform their duties correctly. They must neither neglect their duties nor engage in malfeasance or inaction; even more importantly, they must never overstep their authority or act arbitrarily. The process by which officials wield their power is also a continuous process of accepting public oversight and evaluation. Therefore, only by consistently integrating power with responsibility can we ensure that power operates on the right track.

Serving the people and bringing them well-being is an essential requirement of exercising power for the people’s benefit. This is not only a working method but also a political stance and a value pursuit. Throughout the entire process—decision-making, implementation, and supervision—we must fully take into account the interests and needs of the masses. In the decision-making stage, we should establish mechanisms for soliciting public opinion, ensuring that decision-making becomes a process that pools collective wisdom and reflects the will of the people. During implementation, we must strengthen goal-oriented and results-oriented approaches, taking public satisfaction as the benchmark. In the supervision stage, we need to build a comprehensive oversight system, with intra-party supervision playing the leading role, promoting seamless coordination among various forms of oversight, and ensuring that power operates in the sunlight.

Using power for the people also requires cadres to properly handle the relationship between public and private interests. Public power must be used exclusively for public affairs and to advance the common good. As Party cadres, we must uphold the principles of selflessness and impartiality, clearly distinguish between public and private interests, prioritize the public over the private, and put the public interest above personal considerations. When confronted with ambiguities between public and private interests, cadres must maintain a clear political mind and firmly adhere to Party principles. Only by consistently placing the public interest first can we earn the trust of the people and consolidate the Party’s ruling foundation.

Two

Taking responsibility and getting things done are the core benchmarks for assessing a cadre’s work attitude and competence. “Taking responsibility” reflects one’s attitude and sets the bottom line, while “getting things done” embodies capability and yields results—both are indispensable. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “To take on responsibilities and get things done is both the duty and the value of a cadre. The Party places cadres in various positions precisely so that they can shoulder responsibilities and get things done, rather than merely seeking official status and comfort.” On this new journey ahead, as we face numerous opportunities and challenges, cadres must strengthen their sense of responsibility, be willing to take on responsibilities, dare to take on responsibilities, and excel at taking on responsibilities—in order to live up to the mission of our times and achieve success through diligent effort.

The spirit of responsibility is embodied in loyalty to the Party and its cause. As the backbone of the Party’s cause, cadres must deeply grasp the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments,” strengthen their “Four Consciousnesses,” firmly uphold their “Four Confidences,” and ensure “Two Safeguards,” maintaining high consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core—in thought, politics, and action. The transition from political loyalty to conscious action represents the intrinsic logic of the spirit of responsibility, requiring cadres to not only hold the correct political stance but also demonstrate a strong sense of execution, fully and accurately implementing the Party’s guidelines, policies, and principles in their daily work.

The spirit of responsibility embodies a clear problem-oriented approach as well as the courage and determination to face difficulties and challenges. At present, China’s development has entered a period marked by both strategic opportunities and increasing risks and challenges, with a growing number of uncertain and unpredictable factors. The risks and challenges we need to address, as well as the contradictions and problems we must prevent and resolve, are more severe and complex than ever before. On this new journey ahead, cadres must step up to their responsibilities, dare to confront problems squarely, excel at finding solutions, and have the courage to rise to any challenge. Faced with the malicious encirclement, containment, and suppression by external forces, cadres should firmly uphold their stance and fight back with confidence and integrity. When confronted with contradictions and problems in domestic reform, development, and stability, they must maintain strategic self-confidence and tackle tough issues head-on. And when dealing with prominent problems within the Party itself, they must dare to turn the knife inward and enforce strict discipline and governance. The process of solving problems is, in essence, the very process through which cadres take on their responsibilities and drive forward the cause’s development.

To take responsibility and get things done, cadres must proactively adapt to new requirements arising from evolving circumstances and focus on enhancing their capabilities and qualities. Taking responsibility requires not only courage but also confidence—and this confidence stems from solid competence. Cadres must intensify their learning, improve their theoretical understanding of politics and their professional skills, and become experts in their respective fields. Specifically, on the one hand, they should elevate their theoretical understanding of politics by thoroughly studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, grasping its core essence and practical requirements, and strengthening their ability to analyze and solve problems using Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods. On the other hand, they should enhance their professional capabilities by delving deeply into job-specific knowledge, becoming familiar with work patterns, and reinforcing their professional expertise and capacity to perform their duties effectively. At the same time, cadres must place great emphasis on practical training—a crucial pathway for improving their abilities. They should actively seek opportunities to hone their skills at the grassroots level, in challenging and complex environments, and at the forefront of reform and development. Through such practical experiences, they can accumulate valuable experience, develop their talents, and enhance their capacity to handle complex situations and solve real-world problems.

Three

Upholding integrity is an essential requirement for maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “We must firmly remember that integrity brings blessings, while greed brings misfortune; we must establish a correct view of power, status, and interests, and at all times remain steadfast in our minds, disciplined in our conduct, and true to our integrity.” All cadres should practice self-discipline and integrity, cultivating a sense of awe, exercising restraint in their words, and knowing when to stop in their actions. Faced with various temptations, they must remain clear-headed, fortify their ideological defenses against corruption and degeneration, and earn the respect and trust of the masses through their integrity.

To uphold integrity and establish oneself on a solid foundation, we must first rectify our thinking at the source. Only by straightening our thoughts at the root and firmly grounding our ideals and convictions can we remain true to our inner principles and bottom lines when confronted with the myriad and complex temptations of the world. If our minds are eroded by corrupt and evil thoughts, we will inevitably lose ourselves in the whirlpool of materialistic allurements. We must continuously arm ourselves with the Party’s innovative theories, deeply grasp the essence and value of integrity and public service, and cultivate from the depths of our hearts a reverent attitude toward power and a sincere devotion to the people. By addressing corruption at its very source, we can maintain upright conduct and remain untainted, truly putting into practice the principle of serving the people wholeheartedly and becoming cadres whom both the Party and the people can trust and rely on.

A correct view of interests is an essential foundation for maintaining integrity and upholding one’s moral character. Cadres must properly balance their personal interests with the interests of the Party and the people, always placing the interests of the Party and the people first, subordinating their personal interests to those of the Party and the people, and consciously resisting the erosion of all kinds of decadent ideologies. They should remain unmoved by fame and fortune, unconfused by material desires, and unburdened by personal attachments. They must deeply recognize that their true value lies not in the height of their position or the extent of their power, but in the effectiveness of their service to the people and their contributions to the cause. Only by firmly holding onto a correct view of interests can we maintain integrity and self-discipline.

Upholding the Party’s discipline and rules is the cornerstone of maintaining integrity and establishing oneself with honesty. By strictly observing political discipline, cadres can ensure that their thinking and actions remain closely aligned with the Party Central Committee, thus guaranteeing that the exercise of power stays on the right political course. Only by adhering to organizational discipline can we regulate our words and deeds and prevent the abuse of power. Moreover, the discipline of integrity directly sets clear boundaries for cadres’ official conduct, urging them to clearly distinguish between public and private interests and to wield their power fairly and justly. Within the “safety net” provided by discipline, they can proactively take responsibility and act decisively, truly practicing integrity and serving the Party and the people wholeheartedly, thereby contributing their efforts to the cause of the Party and the people.

Using power for the people, taking responsibility to get things done, and maintaining integrity as a foundation—these three principles are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Using power for the people is the fundamental guiding principle, reflecting the Party’s purpose and political stance; taking responsibility to get things done is the core requirement, embodying both a sense of duty and personal competence; and maintaining integrity as a foundation is the essential safeguard, demonstrating Party spirit and disciplinary awareness. These three principles are organically unified and indispensable to one another, collectively underpinning the positive image and solid work ethic of cadres. Cadres must deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks, internalizing them in their hearts and putting them into practice. In their work, they must always adhere to a people-centered approach, bravely shoulder responsibilities and take action, and remain honest and upright. Only in this way can they win the heartfelt support and backing of the masses and write magnificent chapters worthy of both the Party and the people in the great new journey of our times.