By studying history, we gain clarity, build confidence, cultivate virtue, and put knowledge into practice. Standing at the historical juncture of the “Two Centenaries,” we look back on our journey of struggle past and gaze forward toward the path of vigorous advancement ahead.

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.

Cadres must dare to take responsibility and act decisively—this is both a political quality and an essential duty of public service. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized... At the opening of the 2024 Spring Semester Training Program for Middle- and Young-aged Cadres at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), important instructions were given, emphasizing that young cadres “must consciously be tireless fighters who dare to take responsibility and act boldly, proactively pursue reform and innovation, courageously engage in struggle and excel at it, willingly shoulder the heaviest burdens, tackle the toughest challenges, and skillfully handle the most delicate and sensitive issues. By directly confronting problems and creatively solving difficulties, they should continuously open up new horizons in their work.” This important statement not only profoundly reveals the sense of mission and spirit of responsibility that young cadres should possess, but also clearly outlines the direction and path for how young cadres can bravely assume responsibilities and excel in their actions.

Taking responsibility is essential for fulfilling one’s duties and is an indispensable quality for Party officials. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Taking responsibility and taking action are inseparable. To fail to act is to fail to take responsibility; to take action means to take responsibility. Engaging in any endeavor always involves risks. Precisely because there are risks, we need to step up and take responsibility.” Each generation has its own historical responsibilities and its own mission to shoulder. Building a modern socialist power and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a relay race. We must pass the baton from one generation to the next, with each generation striving to deliver outstanding results for the next. As reform advances to this stage, what matters more than mere understanding is resolve; what matters more than methods is taking responsibility. Courageously taking responsibility reflects both style and fortitude; skillfully taking responsibility reflects both competence and capability. Only by tempering their will through hard work and endurance, honing solid skills by tackling tough challenges, and strengthening their sense of mission and responsibility amid heavy burdens can young cadres live up to their duties and missions in this new era and on this new journey, and strive vigorously to carry forward the historic baton.

Taking responsibility and acting decisively is a spirit, a state of mind, and a heartfelt commitment. Only through practical action and taking on responsibilities can we overcome any challenge. In this new era and on this new journey, the bright prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are becoming increasingly clear. However, the tasks ahead are even more daunting, and the challenges even more severe. Achieving our grand goals will by no means be easy or accomplished with mere fanfare and superficial gestures. It is urgently necessary for young cadres to actively respond to the call of the times, firmly uphold their ideals and convictions, hone their skills and work styles, and become ever more courageous in assuming responsibility and ever more proactive and enterprising.

Thoughts guide action, and theory serves as a compass for practice. To dare to take responsibility and act decisively, the most fundamental requirement is to hold firm to our ideals and convictions. Young cadres must regard the persistent strengthening of theoretical education as a lifelong task, diligently studying the basic tenets of Marxism and its latest achievements in adapting Marxism to China’s contemporary context. In particular, they should thoroughly, comprehensively, and systematically study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They must deeply understand and internalize General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on encouraging cadres to take responsibility and act boldly. They should read original works frequently, study the original texts assiduously, and gain profound insights into the underlying principles. By doing so, they can strengthen their resolve, forge their souls, replenish their spiritual strength, and truly grasp the “why” behind taking responsibility. This will enable them to develop a strong political, ideological, and practical consciousness of daring to shoulder responsibilities and act decisively. They must always uphold the fundamental political stand of putting the people first, firmly establish a correct view of political achievements centered on benefiting the people, cultivate a deep sense of national and familial sentiment—“feeling the joys and sorrows of every household”—and consistently take the people’s aspiration for a better life as both the starting point and ultimate goal of their responsibilities and actions. They should regard taking responsibility and getting things done as a noble faith and a value pursuit, firmly embracing the sense of responsibility that “one day without doing anything makes one uneasy for three days.” They must address clearly the question of “for whom we take responsibility,” ensuring that they fulfill their duties conscientiously, perform their responsibilities diligently, remain loyal to the Party, dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the country, and serve the people faithfully.

“With responsibilities as heavy as mountains, only those who are truly capable can shoulder them.” Solid competence and high-level skills are the very foundation that enables Party members and cadres to bravely take on responsibilities and make contributions. Chinese-style modernization places new and higher demands on the abilities and qualities of cadres. Many young cadres, having just entered their posts not long ago, are facing numerous new situations and challenges, and urgently need to enhance their capacity to perform their duties effectively. We must always maintain a sense of urgency and anxiety about our own capabilities, actively adapt to the new era, new goals, new arrangements, and new requirements, update our knowledge, expand our competencies, and focus on improving our ability to promote high-quality development, serve the people, and prevent and resolve risks. We should consciously update our thinking, address our weak points in quality, and strengthen our areas of weakness. We should proactively intensify practical training at the grassroots level, actively engage in the forefront of reform, development, and stability, go to the front lines of major tasks and critical struggles, and immerse ourselves in challenging, complex environments and key, demanding positions to hone our skills and temper our resolve. Through weathering storms and gaining broad experience, we will build strong bones, develop robust talents, and acquire genuine expertise—thus laying a solid foundation and accumulating greater strength for better assuming responsibilities and making contributions.

Only by tackling the most daunting challenges can we aspire to achieve the loftiest goals. Young cadres must actively cultivate the courage to move forward all the more boldly in the face of adversity, nurture the perseverance that wears away stone with dripping water, and build up the tenacity to accumulate small steps and ultimately reach far-reaching destinations. They should strengthen their spirit of struggle, hone their ability to fight effectively, dare to confront problems head-on, bravely shoulder heavy burdens and take on tough battles, have the courage to tackle the toughest issues and the skill to handle the most sensitive tasks. They should focus on the most pressing “bottlenecks” in the transformation process, the weakest “shortcomings” in development, and the “benefits” most eagerly desired by the people. In critical moments, during times of crisis, and when confronted with major tasks, they must step forward without hesitation, go all out, and rise to the occasion. In these great struggles and tests, they should put their original aspirations and missions into practice and demonstrate their sense of responsibility and commitment.