Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 357
Forge a strong work ethic to unite and inspire powerful momentum, and write a new chapter in Party building for the new era.
“Theoretical cultivation is the core of the comprehensive quality of Party members and cadres. Theoretical maturity is the foundation for political maturity, and political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity.” For Party members and cadres, fostering a fine academic ethos and strengthening theoretical training are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides all its lawyers with learning opportunities in the form of micro-party classes, thereby enhancing their ideological and political awareness as well as their spirit of learning and inquiry. By establishing a long-term educational mechanism, the firm has created a new platform for self-education and self-improvement.
On the new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, the Party’s conduct-building has always served as the spiritual banner guiding the course of our times. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “The Party’s conduct is the Party’s image; it affects the hearts and minds of the people and determines the Party’s very survival or demise.” From the red gene of the “good conduct of cadres in the Soviet areas” to the Central Government’s Eight-Point Regulations of the new era, which have earned trust through action; from the historical lesson that the “Yan’an style” defeated the “Xi’an style,” to the practical innovations of using excellent Party conduct to lead social and public ethos—Party conduct-building has consistently resonated in step with the development of the Party’s cause.
I. The Profound Implications of Party Style Construction in the New Era
The Party’s work style is the external manifestation of the Party members’ and cadres’ moral cultivation. It reflects their attitudes and behavioral patterns in thought, work, and daily life, and serves as a practical expression of their worldview, outlook on life, and values. In the new era, the Party’s work-style development is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It both carries forward the fine traditions of “linking theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism,” while also imbuing these traditions with contemporary significance—emphasizing integrity and honesty, pragmatism and responsibility, and pioneering innovation. The Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations address specific issues such as investigation and research and meeting activities, using “small entry points” to drive “major transformations,” thereby concretizing the work-style development into actionable and supervisable codes of conduct. At its core, the key principle is to always maintain the Party’s flesh-and-blood bond with the people, transforming the value concept of “the people first” into concrete actions that serve the masses, and using “small matters” of work style to leverage “big issues” of public sentiment.
Improving the Party’s work style is not only a tough battle but also a protracted one. From combating “waste on the tip of the tongue” to rectifying “formalism at our fingertips,” from tackling “unhealthy practices in clubs and social venues” to curbing “extravagance on wheels”—since the advent of the new era, the Party Central Committee has adopted a “nailing down” spirit to strengthen work-style building, continuously promoting positive and healthy changes in both Party and government conduct.
II. The Contemporary Value of Strengthening Work Style Construction in the New Era
The building of the Party’s work style serves as a political safeguard for addressing risks and challenges. At present, the world is undergoing accelerated transformations unseen in a century, and the tasks of reform, development, and stability are both daunting and complex. From the “sky ladder” in the “cliffside village” during poverty alleviation to the “last mile” in grassroots governance; from tackling critical technological bottlenecks to developing “new-quality productive forces” tailored to local conditions—every step forward depends directly on the work style of Party members and cadres. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: “The greater the risks, the more challenges we face, and the heavier the tasks, the more we must strengthen the Party’s work style.” A fine work style is the spiritual bond that unites the hearts of Party members and the people; it is the driving force that inspires cadres to take responsibility and act boldly; and above all, it serves as an important barrier for preventing and resolving major risks.
The building of Party conduct is a crucial support for advancing Chinese-style modernization. 2025 marks the concluding year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, leaving just ten years until China basically achieves socialist modernization by 2035. Faced with the deep waters of reform—where "the further one goes, the steeper the rapids become"—and confronted with the people’s growing expectations for a better life, we must, through sound work styles, break free from the shackles of formalism and bureaucratic practices, liberate cadres from “futile chores,” and enable them to focus their energy on core tasks such as high-quality development, grassroots governance, and improving people’s livelihoods. Historical experience has shown that whenever the cause of the Party and the country enters a critical stage, the building of Party conduct invariably becomes a powerful tool for breaking impasses and forging ahead—from the “Two Musts” to the “Three Musts”; from the “Eight-Point Regulations” to the in-depth study and education on the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations—Party conduct has always served as the banner guiding our era forward.
The building of the Party’s work style is an effective way to maintain the Party’s close and vital bond with the people. At present, the principal social contradiction in our country has transformed into the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and the reality of unbalanced and inadequate development. The masses now have higher expectations for fairness, justice, integrity, and efficiency. The Party’s work style serves as the “window” through which the masses observe both the Party and the government. A fine work style enables the masses to genuinely feel that the Party is serving the people wholeheartedly, thereby strengthening their trust in the Party. On the other hand, if Party members and cadres adopt improper conduct—such as shirking responsibility, passing the buck, or failing to act—the legitimate demands of the masses will be difficult to address. This not only exacerbates social contradictions but may also erode the Party’s authority and credibility among the masses.
III. Practical Approaches to Strengthening Work Style Development in the New Era
Strengthen the ideological foundation by arming ourselves with theory. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Belief is the root, and style is its manifestation. When the root is upright, the manifestation will coalesce; when the root is flawed, the manifestation will inevitably fall apart. Upholding and carrying forward the Party’s fine style fundamentally requires firming up our ideals and convictions.” To carry out in-depth study and education on the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations, we must encourage Party members and cadres to thoroughly study and deeply understand the Selected Excerpts from Xi Jinping’s Discourses on Strengthening the Party’s Work Style, and transform the “Two Upholds” into a political consciousness of fulfilling duties and responsibilities. Through platforms such as the “Three Meetings and One Class” and themed Party days, we should integrate style education into the entire process of Party-member cultivation, guiding cadres to cultivate their “inner learning” and replenish their “calcium,” thereby eliminating at the ideological source the breeding ground for the “Four Winds.”
Build a long-term mechanism through institutional innovation. Adhere to the combination of “immediate rectification” and “long-term establishment,” and continuously improve the system for strengthening work style: establish a dynamic monitoring mechanism for the “Four Winds” issues, leveraging big data to precisely identify hidden and evolving problems; refine the cadre assessment and evaluation system, incorporating work-style performance as a core indicator in selection, appointment, and recognition of outstanding individuals; and deepen the long-term mechanism for reducing burdens at the grassroots level, genuinely relieving cadres of unnecessary constraints and empowering them. As General Secretary Xi Jinping put it, “It is in persistence that we see normalcy; we must rely on institutional development to achieve lasting effectiveness.” Only by firmly tightening the institutional “cage” can good work styles become something that Party members and cadres take for granted in their daily lives.
Forge a solid work style through self-revolution. Leading cadres must demonstrate the “leading goose effect,” setting an example from top to bottom—each level leading by example and driving others forward with practical actions. We must uphold the integrated approach of strengthening Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline, investigating and addressing both作风建设 (work style) issues and corruption problems in tandem. Any violation of discipline that comes to light must be promptly and severely dealt with. At the same time, we should vigorously promote the fine traditions of “hard work and striving for truthfulness and pragmatism.” Through cautionary cases and inspiring role models, we can foster an atmosphere of valuing practical action and rejecting empty rhetoric.
Standing at a new historical juncture, the Party’s efforts to strengthen its work style bear a new mission for the new era. From the “groundbreaking move” of formulating the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations to the “deepening strategy” of carrying out study and education, from the integrated promotion of “daring not to be corrupt, being unable to be corrupt, and having no desire to be corrupt” to the systematic establishment of the “three-no” mechanism, the Party’s work-style building in the new era is writing a brand-new chapter in comprehensively enforcing strict Party governance. Drawing wisdom from the century-long history of the Party and honing our political integrity in the great tests of our times, as we look ahead, we must remain clear-headed and steadfast—always “on the road”—and persistently reinforce and thoroughly implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations. With a sound work style, we will boost morale, rally strength, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuing to compose a glorious chapter of “China’s governance” on the new journey.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 358: The Intrinsic Logic and Practical Requirements for Deepening the Reform of the Party Building System
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Episode 356: We Must Never Slacken in Cultivating Party Spirit for Even a Moment.
