CARRY OUT THE GREAT STRUGGLE WITH MANY NEW FEATURES

CARRY OUT THE GREAT STRUGGLE WITH MANY NEW FEATURES*

July 2013-December 2016

I

When I was leading the work of drafting the report to the 18th CPC National Congress, I required the following addition: “Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics will be a long and arduous task, which requires us to carry out the great struggle with many new features.” The sentence speaks volumes about today’s realities. It lays special emphasis on the new characteristics of our times, which include challenges and opportunities we are going to meet.

(from the speech at a criticism and self-criticism meeting
among members of the Central Military Commission,
July 8, 2013)

II

Today, while carrying out the great struggle with many new features, the whole Party must bear in mind the admonition of Comrade Mao Zedong – “We must never follow the example of Li Zicheng.” We must adhere to the Two Musts, and remember the wisdom of our forebears that “one survives in hardship and adversity, and perishes in ease and comfort” so as to avoid the historical cycle of rise and fall. We must practice effective self-supervision and rigorous discipline, improve the Party’s ability to govern and lead, and strengthen its ability to cleanse, improve, renew and temper itself.

(from the speech at a meeting to mark the 120th anniversary
of the birth of Mao Zedong, December 26, 2013)

III

“A lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.” The hostile forces are using this logic to smear our Party and country and entice people to follow suit. They are definitely not willing to see China realize its national rejuvenation smoothly. That is why we have to remind the whole Party in earnest to get ready for the great struggle with many new features. This is a trial of strength over both hard power and soft power.

(from the speech at the second full assembly of the Fourth
Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee,
October 23, 2014)

IV

The cause that we are advancing – socialism with Chinese characteristics – is a pioneering endeavor, and our voyage forward will not be plain sailing. We must prepare ourselves for the great struggle with many new features. “A promising cause may seem simple at the beginning, yet proves great on completion.” We must always be sober-minded, maintain the spirit of enterprise and perseverance, and remember that empty talk harms the country, while hard work makes it flourish. We must continue to confront and overcome all difficulties and challenges headon on our journey forward, making the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics the way for our nation to achieve glory, to realize national rejuvenation, and to make new and greater contribution to humanity.

(from the speech at a Spring Festival gathering,
February 17, 2015)

V

At present, we are pushing forward the great struggle with many new features. Launching deeper reform of national defense and the armed forces is one important aspect of this struggle.

(from the speech at the Central Military Commission
Conference on Reforming the Armed Forces,
November 24, 2015)

VI

Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is an enduring and arduous task, and we must be prepared to fight the great struggle with many new features. Faced by many domestic and international problems, risks, and challenges now and in the future, we must not lower our guard. Potential problems, risks and challenges are interlinked and reinforce each other. If we do not take preventative measures or address them properly, they will add up, escalate and evolve, from minor ones to major ones, from regional ones to systemic ones, and from international ones to domestic ones. Problems in the economy, society, culture and the environment will transform into political challenges, eventually threatening the Party’s governance and state security.

China’s national and social security is the precondition for development that is innovation-driven, coordinated, green, oriented towards global progress, and beneficial to all. Without security and stability nothing will be accomplished. “Wise men take precautionary measures when disaster is brewing; intelligent people make estimations about imminent catastrophe.” We must be alert and cautious, and keep track of small changes that could lead to heavy losses. We should take the initiative and be prepared for risks and challenges in any form. This requires us to be ready for challenges in the fields of economy, politics, culture, society, diplomacy and the military. Every official at every level must take on the responsibility.

(from the speech at a study session on implementing the decisions
of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee,
attended by principal officials at the provincial and
ministerial level, January 18, 2016)

VII

In the new historic context, to better carry out the great struggle with many new features and advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must invest even more effort in the great new project of strengthening the Party. We must exercise full and rigorous governance over the Party to keep it competent and well-organized, preserve its progressive and wholesome nature, increase its creativity, cohesiveness and capabilities, improve its ability to lead and govern, and ensure the Party always exercises strong leadership in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(from the “Explanation of the ‘Guidelines for Internal Party
Activities Under New Circumstances’ and the ‘Regulations
of the Communist Party of China on Internal Scrutiny’”
delivered at the Sixth Plenary Session of the
 18th CPC Central Committee, October 24, 2016)

VIII

It will never be easy to realize the Two Centenary Goals in such a big country with a population of over 1.3 billion. As an ancient Chinese observed, “As you move on, the road ahead is bound to be strewn with difficulties and obstacles.” When we look back at the past, we can see that the Party and the people have followed a rough road during each of those periods over the past 95 years since the birth of the Party, 67 years since the founding of the PRC, and 38 years since the launch of reform and opening up. They have achieved successes by applying tremendous efforts and engaging in tenacious struggles. That is why I have emphasized that we should never indulge ourselves in the fantasy at any time that the modernization of China can be achieved by simply beating drums and gongs. In fact, every generation has to finish its leg of a journey on which it must overcome its share of difficulties and carry out the great struggle with many new features.

(from the speech at the Central Conference on Economic
Work, December 14, 2016)

* Excerpts from speeches made between July 2013 and December 2016.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)