“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.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee has earnestly strengthened disciplinary construction and elevated adherence to discipline and observance of rules to an even more prominent position. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized, in various settings, the importance of Party members and cadres strictly upholding discipline and rules. At the opening ceremony of the training program for middle- and young-aged cadres at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) in the spring semester of 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping issued important instructions, stressing the need to firmly oppose formalism and bureaucratism, resolutely combat privileged thinking and privileged behavior, and always maintain the political integrity and incorruptibility characteristic of Communists. For young cadres, maintaining integrity and incorruptibility hinges on holding firm to the bottom line—the bottom line of discipline and rules. Throughout their growth and development, young cadres must regard "upholding discipline, observing rules, and clearly defining the bottom line" as a lifelong task.

“Disciplinary violations often begin with the breakdown of rules and regulations.” Under the requirement of comprehensively enforcing strict Party governance, discipline and rules have become the guiding thread running through the building of Party conduct and integrity. However, some young cadres still exhibit a weak awareness of discipline and the law, casually dismissing rules and regulations altogether. Looking at cases of disciplinary and legal violations involving young cadres investigated in recent years, it’s clear that problems among these young cadres usually stem from their failure to uphold rules and abide by discipline in the first place. For instance, some young cadres neglect to study disciplinary and legal knowledge, merely going through the motions during warning education sessions. Others harbor侥幸 (lucky) mentalities, finding ways to exploit loopholes in the system and evade oversight. Still others selectively adhere to discipline and rules, thinking that “as long as things look okay on the surface, that’s good enough” or that “it’s okay to relax a bit behind closed doors.” At root, all these behaviors reflect a genuine failure to internalize the concept of discipline. It is urgently necessary for young cadres to enhance their awareness of discipline, strictly uphold the bottom line of discipline, and develop a high degree of self-consciousness in complying with rules and regulations.

Only when we harbor a sense of awe can we speak with caution and act with restraint. Our Party is a Marxist political party organized around revolutionary ideals and iron discipline; strict discipline is both a glorious tradition and a unique advantage of the Party. Upholding rules and regulations is a crucial test of Party members’ and cadres’ Party spirit. To uphold rules and stay within the boundaries, we must first cultivate a sense of reverence. Reverence marks the beginning of self-discipline and sets the limits for our behavior. Young cadres must firmly hold onto the bottom line of laws and discipline, cultivate a sense of awe and remain ever vigilant. They should intensify their study of Party discipline and the law, enhance their awareness of discipline and the rule of law, and consciously confine their power within the cage of institutional constraints. They must be strict with themselves, maintain a high degree of vigilance in their thinking, and show no compromise whatsoever in their actions. We must strengthen education among young cadres on political principles and views on power, ensuring they preserve their political integrity and honesty, exercising power justly, legally, for the people, and with integrity. Young cadres must constantly compare their conduct against the Party Constitution and Party discipline, clearly recognizing what they should not do and what they absolutely cannot engage in. They must start by being rigorous and disciplined even in small matters and minor details, consciously purifying their “social circles” and “networks of relationships,” and truly internalizing discipline and rules in their hearts and externalizing them in their actions.

Young cadres must strictly abide by discipline and rules—this requires not only self-awareness and self-discipline but also the support of organizational education, management, and supervision. We must place disciplinary development in an even more prominent position, strengthen regular disciplinary education, and step up management and oversight. It’s crucial to deeply understand that strict management is, in fact, a form of genuine care and concern, and we must truly manage and protect young cadres effectively. We should intensify the education, supervision, and management of young cadres, firmly hold Party committees (Party leading groups) accountable for their primary responsibilities, and clearly define specific tasks such as integrity education, daily management, supervision and inspection, disciplinary enforcement and accountability, and responsibility implementation. This will help make the education and management of young cadres more concrete and effective. We must continuously deepen, solidify, and refine warning and educational efforts, encouraging young cadres to develop the habit of working and living in an environment characterized by supervision and constraints. Of course, regarding any confusion or difficulties young cadres may encounter during their growth, the organization must promptly identify these issues and show genuine care and attention, ensuring that young cadres can devote more energy and effort to their work and entrepreneurial endeavors.

“If you want to know whether something is straight, you must use a plumb line; if you want to know whether something is round or square, you must rely on rules and standards.” The establishment of rules and standards requires the continuous improvement of legal and regulatory frameworks. We must adhere to a reform-oriented approach in our work, strengthen institutional innovation, identify key areas of integrity risks, and refine our systems in a targeted manner to enhance their rigidity. For critical positions, we should implement regulations that clearly delineate responsibilities, assign duties according to specific posts, and establish tiered management systems, thereby preventing excessive concentration of power and reducing the risk of corruption. We must also improve the system of transparency in the exercise of power, establish feedback mechanisms for power operations, and effectively enhance the supervisability of power. We should proactively develop accountability lists, clarify responsibilities at each post, and ensure that “where there is power, there must be responsibility; where power is exercised, responsibility must be borne; and where responsibility is neglected, accountability must follow.” Furthermore, we should continue to refine existing legal and regulatory frameworks, abolish those that no longer fit the current situation, and strive to build a comprehensive and well-rounded institutional framework.

Moreover, we must foster a positive atmosphere for young cadres to engage in work and entrepreneurship, establish a sound orientation in personnel selection, and ensure that those who are eager to work, capable of working, and successful in their endeavors have ample opportunities and platforms. This will inspire young cadres to adopt a proper mindset toward public service, strive diligently to get things done, and remain proactive and ambitious. We must truly transform adherence to discipline and compliance with rules into a conscious and spontaneous practice among young cadres as they pursue their work and entrepreneurship.