Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 364
To improve work style, we must return to simplicity and strengthen the foundation while cultivating the essence.
“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.
Currently, the entire Party is conducting in-depth study and education to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations, which reflects our Party’s firm determination to persistently improve our work style. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “issues of work style are fundamentally issues of Party spirit,” and further stated, “Belief is the root; work style is its manifestation. When the root is upright, the manifestation will coalesce; when the root is corrupt, the manifestation will inevitably fall apart.” Work style reflects our image and quality, embodies our Party spirit, and ultimately, it is the Party spirit itself that plays the decisive role. Strengthening and improving our work style—and enhancing our Party spirit—is of paramount importance. We must focus on returning to simplicity, consolidating our foundations, and nurturing our roots. We need to guide Party members and cadres continuously to strengthen their Party spirit and elevate their ideological awareness, thereby solidifying the ideological underpinnings for thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations and sustainably improving our work style.
First, deeply understand that Party spirit is “the greatest virtue,” and enhance your awareness of consciously improving work styles.
“For leading cadres, Party spirit is the greatest virtue.” General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Party spirit for Party members and cadres, pointing out that “today, most problems among cadres stem from shortcomings in ‘virtue’ and from weak Party spirit.” Only those who cultivate great virtue can achieve great undertakings. Virtue holds foundational significance—not only for individuals, but also for political parties and society as a whole. The first priority in both one’s conduct and actions is to uphold virtue and cultivate oneself. In a certain sense, strengthening one’s Party spirit is precisely a process of upholding virtue, cultivating oneself, and rectifying one’s heart. Party members and cadres—especially leading cadres—must consciously strive to embody great virtue, uphold public morality, and strictly practice personal integrity, thereby elevating their ideological horizons and shaping a pure character.
The Party spirit of the Communist Party of China is the concentrated embodiment of the advanced nature and purity of a Marxist political party. For members of the Communist Party of China, Party spirit is the specific characteristic manifested in each individual member—the very foundation upon which they establish themselves, build their careers, articulate their views, and cultivate their moral integrity. General Secretary Xi Jinping once shared a touching story: During the Long March across the snow-capped mountains, a comrade died of frostbite while wearing only thin, old clothes. The commander ordered that the quartermaster be summoned to ask why he hadn't provided the frozen comrade with a cotton-padded coat. But the comrade in the ranks, tears streaming down his face, quietly told the commander that the comrade who had frozen to death was none other than the quartermaster himself. Reflecting on this incident, the General Secretary exclaimed: “The quartermaster would rather freeze to death himself than take a warmer garment for himself—what a sublime spiritual realm!” Although Party spirit may seem intangible, it reveals its tremendous power at critical moments. It is precisely through the selfless dedication of countless advanced individuals endowed with strong Party spirit and a high degree of political awareness that our Party has won one arduous and extraordinary struggle after another, uniting and leading the people steadily from victory to victory.
Just as a strong physique requires long-term training, robust Party spirit also calls for constant cultivation, rigorous practice, continuous reflection, and steady progress. Lenin pointed out: “The Party is the advanced, conscious vanguard of the class,” and “Our task is to safeguard the Party’s firmness, thoroughness, and purity. We must strive tirelessly to elevate the status and role of Party members—elevate them again and again.” For Marxist political parties, advanced character and purity will not naturally endure over time. For Communist Party members, the cultivation of Party spirit will not automatically improve with increasing years of Party membership, nor will it naturally rise with promotion to higher positions. History and reality have proven that whenever a Marxist political party loses its advanced character and purity, it will inevitably head toward failure. The “four major tests” and “four dangers” facing our Party are long-term and acute; the factors undermining the Party’s advanced nature and eroding its purity are complex. Therefore, Party members and cadres must, with a spirit of self-revolution, continuously remove impurities, eliminate harmful influences, and guard against contamination. They must always stand firmly on matters of right and wrong, face trials and tribulations without fear, and remain steadfast in the face of all kinds of temptations, thus forever preserving the political integrity of Communists.
The “form” of work style ultimately stems from the heart. Whether we can effectively address issues related to work style is a crucial yardstick for gauging whether Communists firmly uphold their Marxist faith, remain steadfast in their ideals and convictions, and forever preserve their loyalty to both the Party and the people. When our inner selves are purified and our aspirations are lofty, we will naturally and consciously maintain an excellent work style. Conversely, if our faith wavers, we deviate from our original purpose, and we lose our Party spirit, problems in our work style are bound to arise. Therefore, improving work style cannot be limited to addressing specific issues in isolation; rather, it must start from the “heart” and focus on cultivating the heart itself. We must educate and guide Party members and cadres to always keep the Party at heart and wholeheartedly devote themselves to the Party, constantly asking ourselves: What is the Communist Party of China, and what does it aim to achieve? What is a Communist Party member, and what should a Communist Party member strive to accomplish? By continually strengthening our Party spirit, raising our awareness, and elevating our moral standing, we can turn the process of improving work style into one of pursuing the greater good, upholding noble principles, and seeking the greater self—thus forging an excellent work style through strong Party spirit.
Firmness in Party spirit is inseparable from firmness in theory. For Party members and cadres, strengthening theoretical training and continuously drawing nourishment for Party spirit from the Party’s innovative theories—lifelong learning, lifelong cultivation—will lay a solid foundation for unwavering Party spirit. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is imbued with firm faith in Marxism and steadfast conviction in socialism and communism. It vividly embodies the political character, value pursuits, and spiritual demeanor of contemporary Chinese Communists. Party members and cadres must consciously use this thought to transform their inner world, elevating their ideological horizons and enhancing their Party spirit through study, reflection, practice, and deep understanding, thus preventing unhealthy tendencies and evil influences from taking root and attaching themselves.
Second, at its core, Party spirit is a question of stance. We must strengthen and improve our work style by standing firmly on the positions of both the Party and the people.
General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “At its core, Party spirit is a question of stance. Whether Communist Party members are thinking about issues, conducting research, making decisions, or getting things done, they must always stand on the standpoint of the Party and the people—and never put personal interests first. This is the fundamental principle of Party spirit for Communist Party members.” A good work style stems from strong Party spirit. The ultimate yardstick for measuring the strength of Party spirit is whether one acts in the public or private interest. When one stands firmly on the “public” standpoint of the Party and the people, one’s Party spirit will naturally be strong; when one stands on the “private” standpoint of personal interests, one will inevitably harbor many distracting thoughts. In other words, whenever one acts with a public heart and exercises power impartially, one will naturally not view the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation as a “restraint,” but rather as a basic requirement that every Communist Party member should fulfill.
The people’s standpoint is the fundamental stance of a Marxist political party. From the moment its founding, the Communist Party of China has always shared weal and woe with the people and stood firmly by their side through thick and thin. During the Long March, when the Red Army passed through Shazhou Village in Rucheng County, Hunan Province, three female Red Army soldiers stayed overnight at the home of an elderly woman named Xu Jiexiu. Before leaving, they cut their only blanket in half and left half of it for the old woman. The old woman said, “What is the Communist Party? The Communist Party is the kind of people who, even if they have only one blanket themselves, will still cut it in half to give to the common folks.” Such a relationship is one of genuine mutual trust and heartfelt connection—a bond that is not only deeply sincere but also invincible. On November 3, 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the villagers of Shibadong Village in Xiangxi, Hunan Province. When faced with the question from an elderly villager named Shi Batsan—“How should I address you?”—he replied warmly, “I am a servant of the people.” These simple words reflect the profound sentiment of putting the people first and underscore the unchanging original aspiration of Communist Party members. As time passes, our devotion remains as steadfast as ever. For over a century, Communist Party members have never forgotten that they are among the people, not apart from them, and certainly not above them. The Party’s enduring bond with the people—walking together through thick and thin, sharing life and death—is the fundamental guarantee that enables the Party to overcome all difficulties and risks.
“When the Party’s work style is upright and the people’s morale is high, the Party and the people can share both joy and hardship together.” “If we fail to resolutely correct unhealthy tendencies and allow them to run rampant, they will gradually build an invisible wall that separates our Party from the masses. As a result, our Party will lose its roots, its lifeblood, and its strength.” General Secretary Xi Jinping used vivid and figurative metaphors to profoundly underscore that the crux of the issue of work style lies in the relationship between the Party and the people. The Party’s work style is closely tied to its image and determines whether the people support or oppose it. Only by staying farther away from unhealthy practices can the Party and the people draw ever closer to each other. Whether it was the “Three Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention” proposed during the Jinggangshan period, the large-scale rectification campaign launched during the Yan'an era, or the “Two Musts” put forward at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Party, throughout the Party’s history, one important goal of continuously strengthening work style has been to educate and guide the entire Party to always maintain a close, flesh-and-blood bond with the people.
From the very outset of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “If we ourselves feel a bit uncomfortable or inconvenienced, the people will feel a bit more comfortable and satisfied—and our own sense of fulfillment will be enhanced.” Since the advent of the new era, taking the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation as both an entry point and a rallying cry, a sweeping transformation in work style—purging the corrupt and promoting integrity—has swept across the Chinese land. The General Secretary has led by example, traveling from the icy mountains of the north to the shores of the South China Sea, from the tranquil plains and waterways to the desolate deserts and gobi, from rural communities to frontier outposts. He has braved both cold and heat, endured countless hardships, traveled light and simply, and streamlined official receptions. He has asked about people’s livelihoods and well-being, closely observed their sentiments and aspirations, setting a shining example for the entire Party in improving work styles and strengthening ties with the masses. Focusing on the “Four Winds” issues—those most strongly criticized by the public—we have tackled each problem one by one, standardized practices in every relevant field—from curbing waste at the dining table and corruption involving official vehicles to stamping out unhealthy trends in private clubs—to vigorously addressing the prominent problems of formalism and bureaucratic practices. As a result, many long-standing, deeply entrenched malpractices that had previously seemed intractable have been effectively eliminated. Consequently, Party conduct and government integrity have been thoroughly renewed, and both Party morale and public confidence have been greatly boosted. According to a 2024 survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, 94.9% of respondents expressed positive views on the effectiveness of implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. By focusing intently on eradicating the deep-rooted evils and unhealthy tendencies that affect people’s comfort and satisfaction, our Party has won the support and trust of the masses through concrete actions aimed at relieving their worries, alleviating their grievances, and warming their hearts. These efforts have powerfully nurtured the deep and heartfelt bond between the Party and the people, firmly consolidating the Party’s governing foundation.
Ultimately, our Party’s persistent efforts to implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation aim to foster new achievements in style of work, thereby safeguarding the Party’s advanced nature and purity, continuously winning the trust and support of the people, and providing strong guarantees for further deepening reform in a comprehensive manner and advancing Chinese-style modernization. In the new context, strengthening the Party’s style of work hinges most critically on staying closely connected with the people—the very lifeline of the Party. On the one hand, we must continually deepen our emotional bonds with the masses, adhering to the principle of coming from the masses and going back to them, sharing both joys and hardships with the people, experiencing both saltiness and blandness together, and striving to ensure that the public sees only public servants, not officials. On the other hand, we must enhance our ability to serve the people, firmly grasp the characteristics and underlying principles of mass work, and effectively and realistically follow the mass line for the new era. We should embody our commitment to keeping the people at heart and showing genuine concern for the masses throughout every aspect of our duties and responsibilities. We must widely solicit the opinions of the people, voluntarily accept their oversight, and earnestly ensure that good deeds are done well, practical matters are handled effectively, and difficult issues are resolved satisfactorily.
III. Take learning and education as an opportunity to further strengthen Party spirit and rectify work style.
“The formulation and implementation of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation is a move by our Party to establish trust and credibility in the new era,” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized. “We must persistently and steadily carry this effort forward—ten years may not be enough, so let’s go for twenty; twenty years may still not suffice, so let’s aim for thirty. Only when we’ve truly transformed it into a widespread cultural norm can we use a sound Party style to guide social and public ethos.” Issues related to work style are stubborn and tend to recur. Strengthening and improving work style cannot be achieved overnight or through a single, decisive effort; much less can it be a fleeting fad that starts strong but quickly fizzles out. Work-style building has a starting point but no end; we must put in sustained and long-term efforts, embody the spirit of driving nails home, dare to tackle deep-rooted problems, and have the courage to take on the toughest challenges.
Adhere to a problem-oriented approach. The formulation and implementation of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation itself is a powerful and pragmatic measure aimed squarely at identifying, focusing on, and addressing specific problems. The achievements in style-of-work building in the new era are evident to all; yet, violations committed in defiance of regulations still occur from time to time. The “Four Winds” issues have donned “invisibility cloaks” and resorted to “deceptive tactics,” allowing various hidden and disguised forms of misconduct to fester quietly and gradually. The dam of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation has been painstakingly built—let us cherish it all the more, continuously inspect and maintain it, and reinforce its foundations. Party organizations at all levels should take the opportunity of conducting study and education to thoroughly and comprehensively identify shortcomings and problems in implementing the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation. We must address whatever problems exist, prioritize tackling those that are most prominent, promptly investigate and rectify them, and ensure immediate correction upon detection, thereby driving solutions to existing problems and restoring sound conduct and ethos.
We must simultaneously strengthen Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline. Party spirit is the fundamental cornerstone. Only when Party members and cadres possess strong Party spirit can they maintain firm political stances and unwavering resolve, and only then can they genuinely and fundamentally preserve the political integrity of Communists—resisting corruption and staying pure at all times—from within outward. This, in turn, will naturally enhance their initiative in upholding Party discipline and fostering a sound Party style, thereby ensuring that Party discipline remains strict and Party conduct remains upright. Party conduct is the outward manifestation. The state of Party members' and cadres' work styles directly reflects the strength of their Party spirit and the rigor of Party discipline; a fine Party conduct can nourish and promote Party spirit and help safeguard and reinforce Party discipline. Party discipline serves as the guarantee. The stricter the Party discipline, the better Party spirit can be protected and honed, and the easier it becomes to foster a positive Party conduct. Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline form an organic whole. Party members and cadres must identify gaps by measuring themselves against the requirements for Party conduct, trace the root causes by comparing themselves with the standards for Party spirit, and clarify specific measures by aligning themselves with the requirements for Party discipline. They must integrate strengthening Party spirit, strictly observing discipline, and refining work styles into daily life and turn them into habitual practices.
We must consistently integrate strict management and supervision with encouragement of responsibility and initiative. Rectifying conduct and enforcing discipline is not about stifling people’s vitality or making them hesitant and timid; rather, it’s about setting clear directions, establishing sound rules, fostering a positive atmosphere, and strengthening immunity—thereby creating a political environment that is both vigorous and healthy, and conducive to getting things done and achieving success. Party organizations at all levels should adhere to the principle of combining strict management with genuine care, and giving equal weight to incentives and constraints, so as to better inspire the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the vast number of party members and cadres. As party members and cadres, on the one hand, we must hold ourselves to high standards, properly balancing public versus private interests, justice versus personal gain, hardship versus pleasure, and closeness versus integrity—and absolutely must never cross the bottom line set by discipline. On the other hand, we must strive for higher professional aspirations: not only developing broad shoulders but also forging iron ones, boldly taking on hardships, difficulties, responsibilities, heavy burdens, and risks, and ensuring that we act with integrity and courageously.
We must steadfastly rely on culture to nurture people. Though culture permeates silently and subtly, it possesses the power to wear away stone drop by drop. To ensure that the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation becomes a widespread practice and norm, and to guide Party members and cadres in transforming external disciplinary requirements into self-disciplined aspirations, we cannot do without the nourishment of an integrity-based culture. By cultivating a solid foundation of integrity and public service throughout the Party, fostering a cultural environment characterized by clean governance and impartial exercise of power, and guiding Party members and cadres at large to refine noble qualities such as putting the public interest above personal gain and willingly dedicating themselves to others, we can nurture a spiritual realm marked by self-restraint, dedication to public duty, and unwavering integrity. By upholding and promoting correct values—including loyalty and honesty, openness and forthrightness, fairness and impartiality, seeking truth from facts, and striving hard—our Party as a whole will surely be imbued with a refreshing breeze and brimming with upright ethos.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Episode 363: Cultivating the Habit of Self-Reflection and Self-Motivation
