Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 334
Raise high the cultural banner of our Party on this new journey in 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 education are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides a learning platform for all its lawyers in the form of micro-party classes, 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.
In October 2023, the Party Central Committee convened the National Conference on Propaganda, Ideology, and Culture, formally proposing and systematically elaborating on Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, thereby raising high the cultural banner of our Party on the new journey in the new era. The “Outline for Studying Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture,” compiled by the Central Publicity Department (hereinafter referred to as the “Outline”), comprehensively reflects Xi Jinping’s original contributions to the field of culture within the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and systematically elucidates the fundamental spirit, basic content, and essential requirements of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture. The “Outline” is notably characterized by its accurate viewpoints, fidelity to the original texts, concise and succinct presentation, comprehensive yet focused content, rigorous logic and clear organization, and refined, fluent prose that facilitates easy comprehension. It serves as an authoritative supplementary reading material for Party members, cadres, and the general public to study and grasp Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture. To truly understand and internalize Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, we must read the original works, study the original texts, and deeply comprehend their underlying principles. At the same time, it is also essential for the academic and theoretical communities to conduct systematic, scholarly, and theoretical research and interpretation of this thought, as well as to translate it into accessible language for the broader public—thus providing authoritative supplementary materials for the entire Party and society. The “Outline” was precisely developed in response to these needs of the entire Party and society, and its role is self-evident and beyond question. Therefore, taking the publication of the “Outline” as an opportunity, we must fully leverage its authoritative supporting function and continuously deepen our study and implementation of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture.
The Significant Importance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture
Deeply studying and comprehending the significant implications of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is the primary focus elaborated in the Preface of the Outline. The Preface serves as the general outline of the entire book and plays a pivotal, overarching role in guiding its content. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is the scientific guide and fundamental principle for building socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the new era—this is the Party Central Committee’s scientifically grounded assessment of the thought’s important status and crucial role.
First, the Outline elaborates on the historical context and conditions that gave rise to this idea. Marx and Engels once said that the true content of every epoch-making system is shaped precisely by the needs of the era in which it emerges. Faced with a new situation characterized by the intense exchange, integration, and clash of diverse ideas and cultures worldwide; confronted with the pressing task of promoting cultural renewal on the foundation of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization; challenged by the new mission of building a strong socialist culture in the new era; and confronted with the emerging characteristics of social thought and culture, Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture has emerged against the backdrop of the interplay and mutual influence between the strategic overall goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the unprecedented global changes unfolding over the past century. It has taken shape in the historical process of profound interaction between theoretical and practical innovation in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, originating from practice itself yet guiding and propelling practice forward continuously.
Second, the Outline elaborates on the historical process and practical foundation behind the formation of this guiding ideology. As Engels once said, “Where history begins, there too should the development of ideas begin.” Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee—with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core—has, from a strategic perspective concerning the Party’s future and destiny, national long-term stability and security, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation, profoundly recognized and grasped the crucial status and vital role of propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. It has consistently placed cultural development in a prominent position in state governance and administration, setting clear banners and directions, making overall plans and arrangements, getting to the root of issues, upholding fundamental principles while fostering innovation, and thus driving a comprehensive and fundamental transformation in the ideological sphere. In the practice of leading and promoting cultural development in the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has successively attended a series of important meetings, delivering a host of significant speeches and issuing a series of important instructions on various aspects of propaganda, ideological, and cultural work—including literary and artistic endeavors, the Party’s news and public opinion work, cybersecurity and informationization, philosophy and social sciences, ideological and political education in universities, and the inheritance and development of cultural heritage. He has creatively put forward a wealth of new ideas, new perspectives, and new judgments, thereby generating an exceptionally rich body of theoretical innovations by the Party in the cultural field.
Third, the Outline elaborates on the historical status and profound significance of this thought. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is a theoretical summation of the Party’s practical experience in leading cultural development in the new era. It represents a major achievement in upholding the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s outstanding traditional culture, thereby promoting innovation in Marxist cultural theory. This thought profoundly addresses fundamental questions concerning our country’s cultural development in the new era—such as what banner to raise, which path to take, which principles to uphold, and what goals to achieve. It enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory, forming the cultural component of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It provides a scientific guide for carrying out propaganda, ideological, and cultural work in the new era and embarking on a new journey, and offers Chinese wisdom for creating a new form of human civilization and guiding the development and progress of global civilization. The emergence of this thought marks a new height in our Party’s understanding of the laws governing socialist cultural development, demonstrates that our Party has attained a new level of historical and cultural confidence, and represents an important milestone in China’s cultural development. It has opened up a new realm for the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the cultural sphere and established a cultural banner for the Communist Party of China in the new era.
The Scientific Connotation of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture
A deep and thorough understanding of the scientific essence of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is the primary focus elaborated in the main body of the Outline. The main body serves as the backbone and core of the entire book, constructing and narrating the theoretical framework and ideological system of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, and providing a detailed and comprehensive exposition of its fundamental content. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture boasts a complete system, rich内涵, and profound insights. It comprehensively expounds the status, role, goals, tasks, guiding principles, strategic pathways, and practical requirements for cultural development in the new era. It represents both groundbreaking advances in cultural theory and well-planned strategic deployments for cultural work—a scientific system that integrates theory with practice and seamlessly connects the two. “The ‘body’ refers to the series of significant innovative ideas it contains, which address a range of fundamental questions about cultural development in the new era and deepen our understanding of the underlying laws governing cultural development. ‘The ‘use’ refers to the array of strategic deployments it encompasses, fully outlining the basic framework and overall layout of propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, and clearly defining the roadmap and task list for cultural development in the new era.” The twelve aspects summarized and generalized in the Outline present Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture as a scientific system through a combination of headings and subheadings.
First, “building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding power”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on upholding the Party’s leadership in the cultural sphere, as outlined in the Outline. Upholding the Party’s leadership in the cultural sphere is a matter of great significance that concerns the future and destiny of the Party and the country. We must uphold the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, adhere to the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era proposed by Xi Jinping as our guide, remain committed to keeping pace with the times and fostering innovation, and ensure that we truly implement and strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership over propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, so that the Party’s banner will fly high and proud on the front lines of propaganda and ideological endeavors.
Second, “We must strive for both material prosperity and spiritual enrichment.” This is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping, as outlined in the Outline, emphasizing the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping stresses that a person without spirit cannot stand tall, and a country without spirit cannot become strong. Without the profound enrichment of the people’s spiritual world and the continuous strengthening of the nation’s spiritual strength, no country or nation can truly take its place among the world’s nations. Material prosperity and spiritual enrichment are both fundamental requirements for socialist modernization and the noble pursuit of Chinese-style modernization. We must adhere to the principle of “grasping both hands with equal emphasis and making both equally strong,” continuously consolidating the material foundations for a happy life for the people, constantly enriching their spiritual world, and promoting the all-round development of individuals.
Third, “the ‘two combinations’ are our greatest treasure for achieving success”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping, as summarized in the Outline, emphasizing the need to consistently integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s outstanding traditional culture. The “two combinations” are not only the fundamental approach for advancing theoretical innovation within the Party but also the only path for pioneering and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been forged under the guidance of Marxism and has also emerged from over five thousand years of Chinese civilization. The very proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and making it contemporary inherently dictates that we must never abandon Marxism—the soul and lifeline—and we must never abandon China’s outstanding traditional culture—the roots and foundation.
Fourth, “Promoting cultural prosperity and building a culturally strong nation”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on fulfilling the cultural mission of the new era, as outlined in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that, at this new historical juncture, we must continue to promote cultural prosperity and build a culturally strong nation through joint efforts, creating a new culture that belongs to our own era. We must uphold the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, develop advanced socialist culture, carry forward revolutionary culture, inherit China’s outstanding traditional culture, unleash the innovative and creative vitality of the entire nation’s culture, and strengthen the spiritual strength needed to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Fifth, “achieving spiritual independence and self-reliance”—this is an important statement on strengthening cultural confidence made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, as outlined in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that firmly upholding cultural confidence is a major issue that concerns the rise and fall of the nation, national cultural security, and the independence of the national spirit. To firmly uphold cultural confidence, we must unswervingly follow our own path, ground ourselves in the great historical and contemporary practices of the Chinese nation, summarize Chinese experience using Chinese principles, and elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory. We must neither blindly follow various dogmas nor simply copy foreign theories, thus achieving spiritual independence and self-reliance. We should be adept at drawing out the essence and drawing energy from the rich treasure trove of Chinese culture, maintaining high confidence in our own cultural ideals, cultural values, cultural vitality, and cultural creativity.
Sixth, “When the people have faith, the nation has strength, and the nation has hope”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on fostering and practicing the core socialist values, as summarized in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that core values are the spiritual bond upon which a nation depends for its cohesion and the common ideological and moral foundation of a country. We must regard fostering and promoting the core socialist values as a fundamental undertaking for rallying spirits, strengthening unity, and solidifying our foundations. We should focus on cultivating new-generation individuals who are capable of shouldering the great mission of national rejuvenation, with a firm commitment to ideals and convictions at the core. We must vigorously promote the spiritual lineage of the Chinese Communist Party, originating from the great spirit of Party building, and carry out in-depth publicity and education on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening-up, and the history of socialist development, reaching out to all sectors of society. We should uphold the spirit of patriotism, strengthen civic moral development, and foster a new ethos and new outlook suited to the times.
Seventh, “Hold together tightly like pomegranate seeds”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on strengthening the sense of community for the Chinese nation, as summarized in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the sense of community for the Chinese nation is the very foundation of national unity. Strengthening this sense of community means guiding all ethnic groups to firmly establish a shared sense of common destiny, sharing both joys and sorrows, glory and disgrace, life and death, and fate. We must enhance cultural identity, build a common spiritual home for the Chinese nation, and cultivate and highlight cultural symbols and the image of the Chinese nation that are shared by all ethnic groups. We should deepen education on the practice of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, improve systems and policies that promote economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, and jointly carry forward Chinese culture, thereby fostering closer emotional ties among compatriots on both sides of the Strait. We must also provide ideological and cultural guidance to overseas Chinese communities and returned overseas Chinese and their families, and promote solidarity and concerted efforts among Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad.
Eighth, “Sing the Main Melody and Promote Positive Energy”—this is a key point distilled from the Outline, reflecting General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks on seizing the initiative in public opinion under informationized conditions and broadly building social consensus. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that doing well the Party’s news and public opinion work and fostering a sound public opinion environment are major undertakings for governing the country and ensuring national stability and security. To seize the initiative in public opinion, we must uphold the correct orientation of public opinion, prioritize positive publicity, grasp the timing, degree, and effectiveness, sing the main melody, promote positive energy, and consolidate and strengthen the mainstream ideological and public opinion forces driving us forward into a new era. We should also promote the integrated development of traditional media and emerging media, strengthen internet social governance in accordance with the law, and make cyberspace cleaner and more orderly.
Ninth, “Dedicate the finest spiritual nourishment to the people”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping, as summarized in the Outline, emphasizing the need to consistently uphold a people-centered approach to work. Putting the people at the center is the fundamental stance for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and it also serves as a clear guiding thread running through cultural development in the new era. We must take satisfying the people’s spiritual and cultural needs as both our starting point and ultimate goal, dedicating the finest spiritual nourishment to the people, ensuring that cultural development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people.
Tenth, “Safeguard the cultural treasures of the Chinese nation”—this is a key point distilled from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks on strengthening the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, as outlined in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that cultural relics and cultural heritage embody the genes and血脉 (lifeline) of the Chinese nation and represent irreplaceable, non-renewable resources of China’s outstanding civilization. We must hold deep reverence for history, culture, and ecology, and earnestly implement the Party Central Committee’s requirements to prioritize protection, strengthen management, tap into the value inherent in these treasures, ensure their effective utilization, and bring cultural relics to life. We must protect cultural heritage with the same care we would give our own lives, safeguarding the cultural treasures of the Chinese nation so that people, through the historical information carried by these cultural relics, can remember the vicissitudes of history, see the traces left by time, and preserve the cultural roots that bind us together.
Eleventh, “Presenting a China image that is credible, likable, and respectable”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on building China’s discourse and narrative system, as summarized in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that enhancing our country’s cultural soft power not only affects our country’s position in the global cultural landscape but also influences our international standing and global influence. We must uphold the stance of Chinese culture, accelerate the development of China’s discourse and narrative system, and strive to create new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that bridge East and West. We should distill and showcase the spiritual symbols and cultural essence of Chinese civilization, widely promote China’s propositions, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese solutions, tell China’s stories well, and effectively convey China’s voice, thereby presenting a China image that is credible, likable, and respectable.
Twelfth, “Jointly Building a Vibrant Garden of Civilizations Shared by All”—this is an important statement by General Secretary Xi Jinping on promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, as summarized in the Outline. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that civilizations become colorful through exchange and enriched through mutual learning. Exchange and mutual learning among civilizations serve as a vital driving force for advancing human civilization and fostering peaceful global development. We must respect the diversity of world civilizations, uphold a vision of civilization characterized by equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, and use cultural exchanges to transcend civilizational divides, mutual learning to overcome civilizational conflicts, and inclusiveness to surmount the notion of civilizational superiority.
Practical Requirements of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture
Deeply studying and comprehending the practical requirements of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is the main theme elaborated in the concluding section of the “Outline.” The concluding section serves as the book’s final chapter, emphasizing the proper methods for study, setting forth requirements for scientifically sound study content, outlining arrangements and deployments for the target audience and study steps, and brimming with hope and anticipation for the effectiveness of our learning efforts. A guiding banner points the way forward, and ideas unite our strength. Today, the world is undergoing a major shift unseen in a century, and culture is increasingly becoming a vital force in the competition for comprehensive national power. As the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation enters a critical period, culture is playing an ever more significant role as a powerful underpinning for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. Faced with these new circumstances and new tasks, we must continue to deepen our study and implementation of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, effectively translating our learning achievements into enhanced work efficiency, and constantly opening up new horizons in cultural development for the new era—thus providing robust ideological guarantees, powerful spiritual strength, and favorable cultural conditions for the great cause of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation.
Persist in learning with unwavering determination. “Persistence” means maintaining long-term commitment and uninterrupted effort. Deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is a long-term political task—a process that calls for continuous advancement, constant learning and renewal, and ongoing deepening. We must remain persistent and strive diligently over the long term. We need to keep making steady efforts to achieve comprehensive study, thorough comprehension, and effective implementation, truly ensuring that learning, thinking, and application are seamlessly integrated and that knowledge, belief, and action are unified. We must profoundly grasp the scientific truth and value embedded in Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, the powerful spiritual strength it embodies, the profound cultural情怀 it exudes, and the distinct practical character it demonstrates.
Grasp the essence of learning. The “essence” refers to the worldview and methodology that run through the theory itself. In studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, we must firmly grasp its worldview and methodology, and consistently uphold and effectively apply the standpoints, perspectives, and methods embedded within it. As an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture not only offers profound insights, strategic planning, and scientific arrangements, but also teaches us the correct standpoints and effective methods. The standpoints, perspectives, and methods that permeate Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture are precisely those put forward in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: we must uphold the people-centered approach, maintain confidence and self-reliance, adhere to upholding the correct principles while promoting innovation, adopt a problem-oriented approach, embrace a systemic perspective, and keep our eyes on the world at large. These “Six Must Upholds” represent the most critical, fundamental, and core elements of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture. To study this thought thoroughly, we must first deeply understand and master these standpoints, perspectives, and methods, comprehensively and accurately grasping the principles, theories, and philosophical underpinnings contained within Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture. We must go beyond merely understanding the words themselves to truly comprehend their deeper meanings; beyond simply knowing what is said to understanding why it is said. Only then can we genuinely elevate our ideological and theoretical level at a deeper level, more consciously use this thought to guide us in addressing practical problems, and continuously enhance our ability and competence to grasp the laws governing cultural development and to advance the building of a culturally strong nation.
Learn it in a comprehensive and systematic way. “System” refers to recognizing and mastering the holistic nature of interconnected relationships among things. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is a systematic and complete organic whole. Its twelve aspects, each with its own emphasis yet mutually supportive, together form an organic entity that is interconnected and seamlessly integrated. To study this thought, we must place it within the historical context of the Party’s theoretical development and grasp it within the scientific framework of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We should comprehensively and systematically understand the internal logical relationships of this thought—accurately grasping its key concepts and expressions while strengthening our ability to perceive it in a systematic, holistic, and coordinated manner. We must thoroughly study and fully comprehend its scientific system, essential essence, and practical requirements, ensuring that we achieve a holistic understanding and seamless integration of the entire body of thought.
Keep pace with learning in a timely manner. “Keeping pace” means closely monitoring the innovation and development of theory. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture is an ever-evolving, open intellectual system characterized by its commitment to keeping up with the times while staying true to fundamental principles and innovating creatively. It also embodies a broad-minded approach that embraces diverse perspectives and draws from various sources. As the practice of building socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the new era continues to deepen and expand, this thought will undoubtedly become richer, more developed, and more refined, demonstrating even greater power of truth and practical effectiveness. We must persist in keeping pace with learning, ensuring that our study, understanding, and actions all keep step with the times.
Learn by connecting to practice. “Practice” refers to the various practical activities undertaken by people. When studying theory, it is essential to connect it with actual practice. As Mao Zedong once pointed out, the arrows of Marxism-Leninism must be aimed at and used to hit the target of China’s revolutionary cause. If we fail to clarify this point, our Party’s theoretical level will never improve, and China’s revolution will never achieve victory. Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture upholds the organic unity of Marxism’s scientific nature and its practicality; it is enriched and developed in the process of studying and solving problems, and it matures and becomes more refined as it drives and guides practice. In studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, we must carry forward the Marxist academic style of linking theory with practice, strengthen our problem-oriented and practice-oriented approaches, closely align with the strategic goals and key tasks for cultural development in the new era, closely address the prominent issues facing China’s cultural development, and closely tie our efforts to the actual conditions of our own region, department, and unit. We should take the initiative, think deeply and creatively, and propose innovative measures for implementation. Only then can our study yield tangible results—transforming spiritual strength into material power and becoming a powerful driving force for high-quality development of China’s cultural construction.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
