One important lesson our Party has learned in strengthening Party building is to continuously summarize the historical experiences and successful practices that our Party has accumulated over a long period, while also innovating upon them in light of new situations, tasks, and practical requirements. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee—with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core—has taken the lead by formulating and implementing the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, adhering to a top-down approach and setting an example from the top down. As a result, Party conduct and government conduct have been thoroughly renewed, and social and public ethos have continued to improve, accumulating rich practical experience. Thoroughly summarizing these valuable lessons is of great significance for further deepening Party style construction on the new journey and for driving the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to greater depths.

We must adhere to the guiding principles of Marxist theories on strengthening the Party’s work style. Attaching great importance to work-style building is a political consciousness inherent in Marxist political parties. Marx once criticized the practice of emphasizing form over substance, arguing that such an approach deviates from dialectical materialism. When founding a new type of proletarian political party, Lenin stressed the need to strengthen the work style of the ruling party and repeatedly emphasized the importance of “combating bureaucracy and procrastination.” From the very moment of its founding, the Communist Party of China has inherited and carried forward the fine tradition of proletarian political parties in valuing work-style building. During the Land Revolution War period, the “Three Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention” were proposed to rally popular support; the Yan'an Rectification Campaign fought against the “Three Evil Trends,” thereby promoting unity across the Party; at the Seventh National Congress, the Party summarized three outstanding work styles that helped propel the Party forward. Since the reform and opening-up, the Party has continuously promoted work-style building, standardized cadre treatment, and underscored the relationship between the Party and the masses. The ideas on work-style building put forth by classical Marxist writers and successive central leadership collectives of the Communist Party of China have laid a solid theoretical foundation for the formulation of the spirit behind the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. As a move to establish trust through clear-cut actions in the new era, the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation did not emerge by chance. Rather, it was forged since the 18th National Congress of the Party under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, in response to new global, national, and Party conditions, and based on the Party’s high regard for work-style building. It represents both the inheritance and development of Marxist theories on strengthening the Party’s work style. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of original ideas centered on implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, thereby deepening our Party’s understanding of the regularities governing work-style building. In this new era and on this new journey, if the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people in waging great struggles, advancing great undertakings, and realizing great dreams, it must continue to improve the Party’s work style, always maintain the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and ensure that the Party consistently wins the support and endorsement of the people.

Uphold the fundamental principle of putting the people at the center. The promulgation of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations and the earnest implementation of these regulations and their detailed rules represent a crucial step that resonates with the aspirations of the people and precisely addresses their fervent expectations for strengthening the Party’s work style. General Secretary Xi Jinping cautioned the entire Party: “If we fail to govern the Party effectively or enforce discipline rigorously, and if the prominent problems within the Party—problems strongly reflected by the masses—are left unresolved, our Party will sooner or later lose its qualification to govern and inevitably be eliminated by history. This is by no means an alarmist warning.” He further emphasized: “Problems in work style are by no means trivial matters. If we do not resolutely correct unhealthy tendencies and allow them to fester unchecked, they will gradually build up into an invisible wall that separates our Party from the people. As a result, our Party will lose its roots, its lifeblood, and its strength.” At the heart of work-style issues lies the relationship between the Party and the people. The Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations serve as both an entry point and a rallying call for improving work style, constantly reminding Party members and cadres to further strengthen their sense of purpose, firmly establish a value orientation centered on serving the people and bringing them real benefits, and always connect with the masses with enthusiasm, integrate themselves genuinely into the masses, and serve the masses with passion. The masses have enthusiastically praised the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations, thereby further solidifying the close bond between the Party and the people and greatly enhancing the Party’s credibility and appeal among the masses.

We must remain committed to addressing the most prominent problems in the field of style of work. Governing and administering the Party faces new situations and new tasks, especially as the “Four Winds” problem remains particularly acute, placing new demands on Party building. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “After the 18th National Congress of the CPC, when the Party Central Committee discussed how to strengthen Party building, it realized that we needed to tackle the issue of ‘tigers eating the sky—without knowing where to begin.’ Later, we decided to focus on the Eight-Point Regulation, ensuring that once we started addressing this issue, we would truly bite into it and digest it thoroughly.” This fully demonstrates the Party Central Committee’s political wisdom of achieving great results with minimal effort and its strategic foresight of “seeing the whole leopard from a single spot.” The reason for choosing this particular approach is that, from a practical standpoint, it is precisely the formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance occurring around us that the broad masses of the people detest most deeply and report most strongly. At the same time, these issues are also the easiest triggers for undermining the relationship between the Party and the people, as well as between cadres and the masses. For the vast majority of Party members and cadres, the process of moral degeneration often begins with indulging in food, drink, entertainment, and leisure; the “Four Winds” serve as a breeding ground for corruption. The Central Government’s Eight-Point Regulation was introduced precisely to address the “Four Winds” problem. These “Four Winds” often hide in small matters and specific details. By focusing on these minor issues and paying close attention to even the smallest details, the Eight-Point Regulation has effectively enhanced the precision of Party governance and administration, thereby achieving tangible results in strengthening the Party’s style of work.

We must adhere to the approach of “setting an example and leading by example.” Focusing on the new situation and new tasks facing the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with a clear awareness of the unique challenges confronting a large party, with the determination to leave tangible footprints and make lasting changes, has set an exemplary standard and led by example in fully implementing and rooting the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly pointed out: “Leading cadres at all levels must set an example and take the lead; what we say, we must do; what we promise, we must deliver. The members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee will start with myself.” Immediately after the issuance of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, the Central Committee made it clear that implementation must begin with the Political Bureau itself—those who ask others to do something must first do it themselves, and those who forbid others from doing something must resolutely refrain from doing it themselves. “We will use a sound Party style to drive positive social trends and foster a new ethos for our times.” During the implementation process, General Secretary Xi Jinping has united and led the Political Bureau to take the initiative in setting rules and setting examples. They have rigorously aligned themselves with the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation and its detailed implementation rules, ensuring full and unwavering compliance. Starting from the Party Central Committee and extending to senior Party officials, they have provided step-by-step guidance and set examples, thus promoting the seamless implementation of the main responsibility and supervisory responsibility for comprehensively enforcing strict Party governance across the entire chain. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s personal commitment has produced remarkable results within the Party and society, earning widespread trust and credibility. Under his leadership, the whole Party, the armed forces, and people of all ethnic groups across the country have launched a sweeping transformation aimed at purging corruption and fostering integrity. Leading cadres at all levels have resolutely responded to the call of the Party Central Committee, earnestly addressing prominent problems in their own conduct. Each level leads by example, setting standards for the level below, and consciously taking the lead as role models. At the same time, special attention has been given to the “key few”—particularly to the “principal leaders”—raising higher standards and strengthening supervision over them. By leveraging the powerful “lead goose effect,” we are encouraging Party organizations and Party members to consciously uphold the Party’s nature and purpose, actively oppose the “Four Winds,” and take the lead in establishing a new ethos.

We must adhere to sound institutional safeguards. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee has started by setting rules and regulations, first issuing the Eight-Point Regulation and subsequently introducing a series of related systems. All levels of Party organizations, in accordance with the spirit of the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, have formulated and revised a number of working and management systems aimed at strengthening ties with the masses and standardizing the exercise of power. The institutional cage is becoming ever tighter; the supervisory system covering cadres’ work and daily life has been basically established and perfected. The next step is to ensure strict enforcement.” As an important regulation for governing and disciplining the Party, the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation is closely linked with other internal Party regulations, together providing solid and reliable institutional support for comprehensively enforcing strict Party governance. In order to implement the spirit of the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, the Party Central Committee and Party committees at all levels have effectively promoted the implementation of a series of specific systems. They have successively issued a number of important internal Party regulations, including the "Detailed Implementation Rules of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee for Implementing the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation," the "Regulations on Practicing Frugality and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs," the "Guiding Opinions on Comprehensively Promoting the Reform of the Official Vehicle System," the "Regulations on the Management of Domestic Official Receptions in Party and Government Organs," and the "Administrative Measures for Funds Used for Temporary Overseas Official Trips." Meanwhile, in internal Party regulations such as the "Code of Conduct for Integrity and Self-Discipline of the Communist Party of China" and the "Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China," requirements put forward since the 18th National Congress—such as implementing the spirit of the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation and combating the “Four Winds”—have been translated into disciplinary provisions, providing crucial support for deepening the implementation of the spirit of the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. At the same time, the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Several Major Issues Concerning the Comprehensive Promotion of the Rule of Law" emphasizes the importance of ensuring coherence and coordination between internal Party regulations and national laws, enhancing the enforceability of internal Party regulations, and using these regulations to truly put the Party’s principle of managing the Party and exercising strict governance into practice, thereby encouraging Party members and cadres to take the lead in complying with national laws and regulations. This comprehensive, multi-level, and three-dimensional institutional framework further deepens and expands the connotation and scope of the spirit of the Party Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, clearly defining red lines for proper conduct and firmly establishing a tight and effective institutional framework that ensures the sustained and long-term improvement of Party style.

We must steadfastly uphold ideological cultivation as the internal driving force. By aligning with the Party’s tasks in specific historical periods and conducting concentrated Party-wide education campaigns, we can enhance the ideological and political awareness of Party members and cadres—especially leading officials—and address prominent problems within the Party. This approach has proven highly effective in strengthening the Party’s self-construction. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee has successively organized a series of educational activities, including the Practice Campaign on the Party’s Mass Line, the Special Education Campaign on “Three Stricts and Three Honests,” the Study and Education Campaign on “Two Studies and One Action,” the Thematic Education Campaign on “Staying True to Our Original Aspiration and Keeping Our Mission Firmly in Mind,” the Study and Education Campaign on Party History, the Thematic Education Campaign on Studying and Implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Education Campaign on Party Discipline, and the Education Campaign on Deeply Implementing the Spirit of the Central Government’s Eight-Point Provisions. Each of these concentrated Party-wide education campaigns has consistently integrated the implementation of the spirit of the Central Government’s Eight-Point Provisions throughout, requiring that compliance with these provisions serve as the starting point for all activities. This further emphasizes the importance of style building, resolutely opposing formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance, focusing on addressing the most pressing issues raised by the people, and enhancing our ability to carry out mass work under the new circumstances.

We must steadfastly uphold strict disciplinary enforcement to safeguard the lifeline of style-building. Effectively eradicating unhealthy practices within the Party is no easy task; it requires rigorous discipline enforcement and educational punishment as safeguards. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The guiding principle behind formulating rules in this regard is strictness—reflecting the Party’s commitment to governing itself strictly and exercising strict governance over the Party, actively responding to the expectations of the people, and playing a leading role in shaping Party conduct, government conduct, and even the overall social ethos.” Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, we have consistently enforced strict discipline and rigorously investigated violations of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. Disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies at all levels, as well as inspection and巡察 institutions, have kept a close watch on violations of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. We have shown zero tolerance toward such malpractices as private use of official vehicles, misuse of public funds for dining and entertainment, and food waste—issues that have drawn strong public complaints. We promptly warn about and correct emerging trends and tendencies, and we strike hard and impose severe penalties on those who deliberately violate discipline, continuously strengthening the bulwark of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. We also maintain tight oversight, fully leveraging the roles of intra-party supervision and public oversight. We rigorously investigate and swiftly address problems identified during routine supervision, and have established a monthly reporting system for handling violations of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. In particular, before holidays, we combine integrity education for Party members and public officials with intensified inspections and supervision during the holiday period. By maintaining strict oversight in everyday life, we have made it a regular practice for disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies at all levels to consistently implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. We adhere to a strategy that addresses both symptoms and root causes, launching special rectifications targeting common issues uncovered during supervision and inspection, improving working mechanisms, and making concerted efforts to eliminate the conditions that allow unhealthy practices to continue spreading.

We must steadfastly promote sustained and long-term efforts with the spirit of driving nails home. Problems in work style are stubborn and tend to recur; cultivating a sound work style is no easy task and cannot be achieved once and for all, nor can we eradicate bad work habits overnight. At no time should we let our guard down. We must maintain strictness and pragmatism, keep up the momentum continuously, and pursue our efforts with the determination to leave clear marks wherever we step and to leave indelible impressions wherever we grip. We must see things through from start to finish, ensuring that our efforts yield tangible results and avoid ending strong but petering out halfway. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “To ensure that all regulations targeting leading cadres are truly implemented, we must carry forward the ‘nailing-down’ spirit—emphasizing persistence, turning it into a conscious practice, and making it a habit.” From shortly after the conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Party when the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation was formulated and issued, to the first meetings of the Political Bureau of the 19th and 20th Central Committees of the Party, reviewing and adopting detailed implementation rules for the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation has consistently been an important agenda item. Since the advent of the new era, the Party Central Committee has, at every special juncture, further refined and redeployed the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, sending a strong signal of unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of improving the Party’s work style. Transforming customs and fostering a positive atmosphere takes time, and implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation is bound to be a tough and protracted battle. During the democratic life meeting held by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee from December 24 to 25, 2020, as it reviewed the “Report on the Implementation of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation by the Political Bureau in 2020” and the “Report on Continuously Addressing Formalism and Deepening Efforts to Alleviate Burdens at the Grassroots Level,” it emphasized that the root causes of the “Four Winds” problem remain uneradicated and the underlying conditions persist. Therefore, we must maintain the firm resolve of never letting go of the saddle or loosening the reins, adopt the tenacity of repeatedly tackling problems and persistently following up on solutions, and implement the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation and its detailed implementation rules, combat the “Four Winds,” and carry out measures to relieve burdens at the grassroots level with the spirit of driving nails home, thus establishing and perfecting long-term mechanisms. Implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation with the “nailing-down” spirit demonstrates the Chinese Communist Party’s determination to remove obstacles and eliminate malpractices. It reflects the Party’s vivid practice of comprehensively enforcing strict governance over the Party, taking the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation as a crucial entry point, and sends a powerful signal of continued efforts to rectify conduct and enforce discipline.

We must steadfastly foster a sound political atmosphere through the cultivation of an integrity-based culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to “nurture a positive and healthy intra-party political culture” and “strengthen the building of an integrity-based culture for the new era.” In putting the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations into practice and promoting the formation of a sound political and cultural ecosystem, we have placed great importance on drawing wisdom and nourishment from China’s outstanding traditional culture. By integrating the ancient political tradition of “governing the country starts with governing officials” with the contemporary demands of style-of-work building, we have constructed an integrity-based cultural ecosystem with Chinese characteristics. Guided by the principle of “enriching integrity through culture and transforming people through integrity,” we have developed a systematic integrity-based cultural initiative covering Party conduct, government conduct, public ethos, social norms, and family traditions. Through mechanisms such as integrity education bases and study tours focused on classical texts, we enable the exemplary words and deeds found in historical sites to become the conscious actions of Party members and cadres, thereby helping them achieve self-purification and self-renewal when dealing with the relationships between public and private interests, as well as between hardship and happiness. This practice of embedding the genes of China’s outstanding traditional culture into the construction of a modern political ecosystem not only strengthens the ideological defenses of Party members and cadres against corruption and degeneration but also provides profound cultural support for the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. As a result, integrity-based culture has become a vital source of nourishment for the effective implementation and rooting of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations, fostering a positive trend within the Party characterized by the appreciation, enjoyment, and pride in integrity.

We must unswervingly advance the new journey of self-revolution through reform and innovation. The 20th National Congress of the Party profoundly summarized the historic achievements made over the past decade in comprehensively enforcing strict governance over the Party, further calling on the entire Party to remain ever vigilant and firm in addressing the unique challenges faced by a large party. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must always remain clear-headed and steadfast in tackling the unique challenges confronting a large party, and carry the Party’s great self-revolution through to the end.” The Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation broke ground by addressing the most pressing issues of work style that the masses had strongly voiced, precisely targeting and effectively rectifying the persistent “Four Winds” problems, thereby genuinely meeting the expectations of the people and laying a solid foundation for comprehensively enforcing strict governance over the Party. This has enabled the Party to take firm steps toward self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-enhancement, ensuring that it always maintains its close bond with the people. With an even better work style and higher fighting spirit, the Party will continue to lead the country’s various undertakings steadily forward. The Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation has become a significant milestone in the Party’s ongoing pursuit of self-revolution, providing strategic guidance and practical pathways for the Party’s self-revolution in the new era, and vividly embodying the distinct character of Chinese Communists—our courage to engage in self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-enhancement.