Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 356
We must never relax our efforts to strengthen Party spirit.
“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 style and strengthening theoretical education 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.
“Conducting thorough political check-ups and carrying out analyses of Party spirit are crucial pathways for us to sweep away political dust and enhance our Party spirit cultivation.” A certain unit, in conjunction with deepening political retraining, is guiding Party members and cadres to conscientiously uphold higher standards and stricter requirements in their Party spirit development by engaging in self-examination, mutual examination among Party members, organizational inspections, and assistance from the masses—focusing on such aspects as politics, ideology, organization, work style, and discipline.
President Xi emphasized: “What determines how a person behaves is their moral character; what determines how a Party member behaves is their Party spirit.” Party spirit is an inherent, essential characteristic of a political party. It not only represents and reflects the overall image of the Party but also manifests itself as the specific qualities of individual Party members—it is a quality that every single member of the Party possesses. If we say that Communist Party members are made of special stuff, then this special stuff is precisely the unique Party spirit that distinguishes them. Party spirit serves as the cornerstone for Party officials and cadres in establishing themselves, building their careers, articulating their views, and cultivating their moral integrity; it is the very soul of a Communist Party member. Since Party members bear the surname “Party,” they must always put Party spirit first.
Opening the century-long history of the Party, we see countless instances of passionate dedication and courageous strides forward. Throughout it all, the firm party spirit of Chinese Communists has shone brightly and remained ever-present. From the resolute righteousness of revolutionary martyr Liu Bojian—“To live is to serve China; to die is to serve China”—to the unwavering commitment of “Father of the Two Bombs” Deng Jiaxian, who “unraveled the secrets of the atomic bomb using the most rudimentary methods,” and further to the broad-mindedness of Jiao Yulu, the exemplary county party secretary, who “held all the people in his heart but kept himself entirely out of sight”—unwavering faith and strong party spirit have always been the inexhaustible source of strength that keeps our Party thriving and relentlessly striving forward.
History and reality have repeatedly shown that the issue of Party spirit is of paramount importance for Marxist political parties—it not only affects the growth of Party members and cadres but also influences the development of both the Party and the country. When Party spirit is strong, the Party can march in step and unite as one, forging itself into a “solid piece of steel.” But when Party spirit is weak, egoism and liberalism run rampant, and the Party becomes fragmented and utterly lacking in fighting capacity. The cases of some Party members and cadres who have violated rules, discipline, and laws also demonstrate that without the solid foundation of Party spirit, all other aspects cannot stand firm or remain stable—and will inevitably lead to corruption and moral decay.
Among all virtues under heaven, loyalty is supreme. Loyal devotion to the Party is the paramount political quality of a Communist Party member. Without loyalty to the Party, one possesses not a shred of Party spirit. Our armed forces are the people’s army created and led by the Party—a militant organization tasked with carrying out the Party’s political missions. For the People’s Army, loyalty begins with unwavering allegiance to the Party. Only by deeply appreciating our original aspirations and mission, reaffirming our commitment to loyalty, and treating the thorough and comprehensive implementation of the system of responsibility vested in the Chairman of the Central Military Commission as the highest political requirement to be upheld and the strictest political discipline to be maintained, can we ensure that the entire military, at all times and under all circumstances, resolutely obeys the command of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and President Xi, and remains absolutely loyal, utterly pure, and utterly reliable.
“Those who plant trees must nurture their roots; those who cultivate virtue must nourish their hearts.” Political cultivation is the most fundamental form of self-cultivation. To “nurture the roots” and “nourish the heart,” the first priority is to enhance one’s political cultivation. When political cultivation is strong, it can guide and inspire cultivation in all other areas. But if political cultivation falters or loses its direction, cultivation in other areas will also lose its meaning. When the roots are strong, the tree thrives; when the foundation is solid, the tree stands firm. To strengthen Party spirit, we must grasp the fundamental principles, stay true to the right direction, and hold fast to the soul of our Party. We must consciously place political cultivation at the very forefront of Party spirit cultivation, uniting our hearts and forging our souls, strengthening the foundation and consolidating our roots, tightening the “switch of thought,” and solidifying the “soul of Party spirit,” so that we may better uphold our original aspirations and forever preserve our true character.
Without rules and regulations, people will fall into disrepair; without rules and regulations, a party will descend into chaos. Whether a Party member possesses strong Party spirit is critically judged by their adherence to discipline and observance of rules and regulations. Practice has proven that issues of style and discipline are merely the “surface,” while Party spirit is the “core.” To enforce strict Party discipline, we must first strengthen Party spirit. Only when Party members have strong Party spirit can they wholeheartedly and consistently abide by Party discipline, maintaining consistency between words and deeds and ensuring that their outward conduct mirrors their inner convictions. Without strict discipline, the cultivation of Party spirit would be difficult to achieve effectively. To master the essential lessons for Communists, we must take the opportunity of thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation as a catalyst, guiding Party officials and members to learn about discipline, understand discipline, clearly recognize discipline, and strictly observe discipline. By honing their inner strength and enhancing their moral cultivation, they should firmly uphold bottom lines, never cross red lines, and never touch high-voltage wires—thus truly solidifying the foundation upon which they build their lives and careers.
“Dedicated to extraordinary endeavors, one must possess an extraordinary spirit and extraordinary sense of responsibility.” Whether a Party member or cadre can proactively step up, dare to fight, and excel in struggle is the truest measure of their Party spirit and work style. Achieving a successful conclusion to the “14th Five-Year Plan” for our armed forces, striving toward the centenary of the founding of the military, and advancing toward building a world-class military—these tasks involve an unprecedented scope, immense difficulties in overcoming obstacles, and numerous risks and challenges. It is precisely in times of hardship and peril that one’s sense of responsibility and fighting spirit are most vividly demonstrated. We must never shy away from difficulties, nor evade our duties; instead, we must temper our will, refine our Party spirit, and forge an iron backbone. We must dare to draw our swords against powerful adversaries, boldly confront risks and challenges, and courageously shoulder responsibility when faced with thorny issues. Only through tenacious struggle can we open up new horizons for the development of our strong military cause.
Party members are not born that way; party spirit cannot be innate, nor can it ever be achieved once and for all. “Live to old age, keep learning throughout life, and cultivate oneself until the end of life”—all Party members and cadres should regard enhancing their party spirit as a lifelong task, persevering with sustained effort and continuous dedication. They should constantly refine themselves, practice diligently, reflect frequently, and make progress steadily. They should diligently sweep away the “dust of thought,” ponder deeply on the dangers of greed, and consistently overcome the “inner demons.” Let self-discipline, self-reform, and self-cultivation become second nature, so that they can truly believe wholeheartedly, uphold their principles steadfastly, and act in accordance with them for their entire lives.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 357: Pooling Strong Momentum Through Excellent Conduct and Writing a New Chapter in Party Building for the New Era
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 355: Strengthening Work Style Development Lies in Turning It into a Common Practice (In-depth Study and Implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)
