LEARN FROM HISTORY TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE

LEARN FROM HISTORY TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE*

November 11, 2021

At this plenary session, we have heard the work report of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, reviewed and adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, and made the decision to convene the 20th CPC National Congress. All items on the agenda have been completed.

This plenary session is held at a critical moment when our Party has celebrated its centenary and the fulfillment of the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society, and is moving on towards the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country. The central leadership’s decision to hold a plenary session to conduct a comprehensive review of the major achievements and historical experience of the Party over the past century is a solemn and strategic decision. It reflects the Party’s acute awareness of the value of the laws of history and their application, its commitment to fulfilling its founding mission and responsibilities, and its confidence in creating a better future. 

The Resolution reviews the Party’s journey, major achievements and experience over the past century, focuses particularly on the historic achievements and transformations in the undertakings of the Party and the state since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, and sets specific requirements for realizing the Second Centenary Goal. It is a guiding Marxist document. Like the two previous resolutions, this Resolution will also help build a broader consensus and stronger unity in will and action among all members, rally all the Chinese people, and lead them to draw lessons from history and forge ahead towards a brighter future through hard work and perseverance. It will exert a significant and far-reaching impact on upholding and advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

On behalf of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, I would like to make a few points on the study and implementation of the guiding principles made at the plenary session.

The Resolution represents a trove of philosophical wealth and covers knowledge in diverse fields. It is of great political, theoretical, strategic and guiding significance. Party committees and Party leadership groups at all levels should make it a major political task now and in the near future to launch extensive education campaigns designed to study, elucidate and disseminate the guiding principles of the plenary session. This will help us to unify thinking, build consensus, reinforce confidence, and boost morale. We must focus on studying these guiding principles to consolidate what we have achieved during the education campaign on CPC history. 

We should guide Party members, officials, and the public to build an accurate understanding of the themes and trends running through Party history, so that they will have a better understanding of our cause, firmer commitment to our ideals, higher standards of integrity, and greater determination to turn what has been learned into concrete actions. Through studying Party history, they will better understand the theories the Party espouses, work effectively, and achieve new successes.

First, we must understand the significance of reviewing the major achievements and historical experience of the Party over the past century. Summarizing historical experience is a good tradition of our Party. The theme of this plenary session was decided based on the “three needs” defined in the Resolution: the need to begin a new journey towards a modern socialist country after celebrating the centenary of the Party and to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era; the need to strengthen our commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence, and the Two Upholds and to ensure concerted action on our march forward; and the need to advance self-reform, improve the whole Party’s ability to solve problems and meet threats and challenges head-on, sustain vitality, rally the people, and lead them to fight for the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

We should ensure that the whole Party has a deep understanding of the significance of the review of the Party’s century-long history at this meeting, and a better grasp of the historical, theoretical and practical logic behind the capabilities of our Party, the practicality of Marxism, and the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Second, we must fully understand the role of the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission in all its endeavors over the past century. All the struggle, sacrifice and creation in which the Party has united and led the Chinese people over the past hundred years has served one purpose — to fulfill its original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinse people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. Our Party’s unwavering commitment to its original aspiration and founding mission is the fundamental reason why it has been able to win the people’s trust, stand out among all competing political forces since the mid-19th century, and achieve its great successes. 

Though we have set different goals and undertaken different tasks at different points in our history, they all serve the overarching objective of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. Today, we are closer than ever before to the goal of national rejuvenation, and more confident and more capable of making it a reality. At this new starting point, the whole Party must maintain strategic resolve, focus on the goal, and be conscious of matters of national significance. We should do our best to fulfill the duties of our generation on the journey towards the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Third, we must have a keen understanding of the historic achievements and transformations of Chinese socialism in the new era. This is of great importance to boosting confidence among all Party members and all the Chinese people, and inspiring them to redouble their efforts to uphold, implement and develop the Party’s theories, guidelines and policies in the new phase of development.

Since its 18th National Congress, our Party has led the people in breaking new ground while keeping to the right path in a spirit of self-reliance and confidence, achieving a range of theoretical, institutional and practical outcomes. These have all been summed up in the Resolution in the form of 10 clarifications and 13 areas of achievements. They are also expounded in the sections concerning the historic significance of and historical experience from the Party’s century-long endeavors, and its development in the new era.

They should be digested fully and systematically, so as to help us strengthen our political acumen, understanding and capacity to deliver, and to better uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Fourth, we must have an in-depth understanding of the experience of our Party’s struggle over the past century. The valuable historical experience summed up as 10 imperatives in the Resolution is an interrelated and complementary whole. It encapsulates theory and practice based on our strenuous and unending struggle under the leadership of the Party over the past century. It must be cherished, upheld and advanced with the times. 

We should study and implement it together with the Nine Musts I proposed at the ceremony marking our Party’s centenary on July 1, 2021. We should use our past experience to judge the current situation, forecast the future, and respond proactively, so that we can better observe, understand and steer the trends of our times. We should make it the basis for our decisions and actions so as to gain the initiative and advantage in our work and prepare ourselves for the future with resolve, mettle and ability. We should make it the criterion to distinguish between right and wrong on major political issues, and use it as a yardstick when deciding our future direction and handling matters of principle. We should make it the guide to strengthening our commitment to the Party, learn to apply its Marxist viewpoint and methodology to transform the subjective world, develop firm ideals and convictions, and build up the political, ideological and ethical awareness of Party members and officials — particularly leading officials.

Fifth, we must fully understand the requirements for learning from history to create a brighter future. “To understand the present, one should first know the past because without the past there is no present.” A review of the past will help the whole Party to improve its judgment and its grasp of the present world. We will thereby be more sober-minded and determined in our current work, more focused in achieving our set goals, and bolder and stronger on our march forward into the future. 

We must adhere to the Party’s underlying theories, basic guidelines, and fundamental principles, and further theoretical, practical, institutional, cultural and other innovations. We must make relentless and resolute efforts to advance the cause of the Party and the people, and never let up until we reach our goals, bearing in mind that the last leg of the journey marks the halfway point only. We must maintain close ties with the people, stand alongside them, resolve the imbalances and insufficiencies in our development, and address the people’s most pressing difficulties and greatest concerns, so as to better realize, safeguard and advance the fundamental interests of all the people and promote common prosperity. We must be more mindful of potential risks, and remain unyielding against all odds as we forge ahead. Nothing could ever deter or crush us. We must face up to the Four Tests, overcome the Four Risks, and continue to advance the great new project of strengthening the Party in the new era.

Comrades,

Since the Party’s 18th National Congress, I have called on all Party members to draw wisdom and strength from the Party’s struggle. I have shared my thoughts on studying and summarizing Party history on a number of important occasions, particularly at the ceremonies marking the 95th anniversary and the centenary of the Party, and at the preparatory meeting for the education campaign on CPC history. Here I would like to highlight a few points.

First, we must have firm confidence in the Party based on its history and hold fast to our ideals and convictions. I have said, “In today’s world, if any party, nation or people deserves to be confident, it is the CPC, the PRC, and the Chinese nation.” This confidence, together with the sobriety and maturity of a century-old major political party, is fully demonstrated in the Resolution passed at this plenary session. The Resolution reviewed the Party’s magnificent journey over the past hundred years and summarized its outstanding contribution to the Chinese people, the Chinese nation, Marxism, and to the progress of humanity as a whole. Its impressive achievements have been derived from the endeavor, dedication and sacrifice of generations of Chinese Communists inspired by their ideals and convictions. Each and every one of us should take pride in this. 

One hundred years ago, when our Party had just been founded, few could ever have imagined the historic success it has achieved today. Through the hard struggle over the past century, our Party has led the people in profoundly changing the course of China’s modern history, transforming the future of the Chinese people and nation, and altering the global landscape and development trends.

“A promising cause may seem simple at the beginning, yet proves great on completion.” Looking back at the 5,000-year history of China, we can see that no political force other than the CPC could have so profoundly advanced the historic progress of the Chinese nation. Throughout China’s history there were times of prosperity amid the constant changes of dynasty, but nothing changed the fact that the people were ever subject to exploitation and oppression. After the Revolution of 1911, more than 300 quasi-party political organizations “took it in turns to enter the stage”, each with their own political program. Our people, however, continued to live in misery and humiliation in the same weak, poor and fragmented country tyrannized by Western invaders. Comrade Mao Zedong once observed, “All other ways have been tried and failed.” “Day by day, conditions in the country got worse, and life was made impossible. Doubts arose, increased, and deepened.” Only under the leadership of the CPC was our country able to end poverty and weakness and march towards modernization. Only the leadership of the CPC allowed our nation to rise from stagnation and move towards the bright prospects of rejuvenation, freed our people from exploitation and oppression, and made them masters of their own destiny. It is self-evident that without the CPC we would not have founded the People’s Republic of China, or created a happy life for the Chinese people. Still less would we have been able to look forward to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Party was chosen by history and the people, and it has proved worthy of their choice.

The historic successes of our Party and the contribution it has made have also proved invaluable to the rest of the world. Around July 1 this year, when we celebrated the centenary of the Party, we received over 1,500 congratulatory messages and letters from more than 600 political parties and organizations from over 170 countries. The CPC and World Political Parties Summit held later in the same month was attended by the leaders of more than 500 political parties and organizations from over 160 countries, and a total of more than 10,000 other representatives. 

Our nation has achieved rapid economic growth and lasting social stability under the leadership of the Party, a remarkable achievement by any standard. We have also pioneered a Chinese path to modernization and created a new model for human progress. These unprecedented endeavors solve many problems hindering social development, and abandon the Western modernization model that involves polarization, the dominance of capital, prevailing materialism, and traditional expansionism. They pave a new route to modernization for developing countries and offer Chinese solutions to humanity’s search for better social systems. 

The Chinese Communists’ historic achievements and fighting spirit are their source of confidence. “Apparently easy success is achieved through strenuous efforts.” Looking back, what difficulties or challenges have we not encountered? During the period of the Great Revolution (1924-1927), the Party membership plunged from over 60,000 to about 10,000. The failure caused by “Leftist” dogmatism as represented by Wang Ming inflicted heavy losses on our forces in the revolutionary bases and areas controlled by the Kuomintang, which almost destroyed the fruits of the revolution. The decade-long turmoil of the Cultural Revolution brought the worst setbacks and losses to the Party, the nation, and the people since the founding of the PRC. But with the people’s support, our Party always emerged from difficulties, corrected its own mistakes, survived every desperate situation, and advanced towards a brighter future. It has become stronger and more mature through all these trials and tribulations. We should build greater confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of Chinese socialism through reflecting on the Party’s past, and forge ahead with unremitting efforts in the face of all difficulties.

Second, we must reinforce our Party’s political foundations in pursuit of unity and solidarity. Unity and solidarity are our Party’s lifelines and the keys to our historic achievements over the past century.

We have always kept our political foundations strong by guiding Party members and officials to increase their political awareness and hold to the correct political direction and stance. All Party members and officials have been required to closely follow the Party’s political guideline with unified thinking, an iron will, coordinated action, and strong combat effectiveness.

Our Party has grown mature and strong over a long course.

In the early days of the revolution it lacked a functional central leadership to unite the Party as one, resulting in repeated frustrations, and at some points even jeopardizing the cause.

The Zunyi Meeting in 1935 laid the groundwork for establishing the leading position within the Central Committee of the correct Marxist line chiefly represented by Mao Zedong. The first generation of the Party’s collective central leadership with Mao at the core started to take shape, ensuring success in the Party’s later endeavors.

History and our experience have proved that the unity and solidarity of the Party determine the future of the Party and the people and secure the fundamental interests of the nation. They are our foundation and must be ensured at all times and under all circumstances.

To govern the world’s biggest political party and most populous country, we must uphold the Party’s centralized, unified leadership and the Central Committee’s authority, and ensure that the Party exercises overall leadership and coordinates work in all areas.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have addressed problems of weakened, ineffective and marginalized measures in upholding Party leadership that had existed for some time, and called on the whole Party to take responsibility in upholding the Party’s centralized, unified leadership. With constant improvements in the Party’s leadership system, the whole Party has become more unified in thinking, with greater political solidarity and more concerted action.

The Resolution adopted at this plenary session reiterates the importance of strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the Central Committee, requiring the whole Party to act consistently with the Central Committee and remain united and iron-willed on its march forward.

Unity and solidarity require absolute loyalty from all Party members.

Loyalty to the Party is the political character essential to China’s Communists. It should be sincere, unconditional and absolute, allowing no room for maneuver.

All Party members, especially leading officials, must remain fully aligned with the Central Committee in political stance, orientation, principle, and path. They must be loyal to the Party and the people, to the Party’s ideals and convictions, to its original aspiration and founding mission, to its organization, and to its theories, guidelines and policies. They must strictly observe the Party’s political discipline and rules, and uphold the Central Committee’s centralized, unified leadership in thinking, action and political principles.

Loyalty to the Party is not an empty slogan and cannot be perfunctory. It calls for action in executing the Central Committee’s decisions and plans, in performing one’s duties diligently and effectively, and in following discipline and rules in daily life. Party members must respond promptly to the Central Committee’s calls, fully implement its decisions, and put a stop to anything it prohibits. This should be unconditional, and no deviation is allowed. All Party members should stay on the right track and join their forces to forge a strong synergy. 

Third, we must have a keen sense of responsibility and build the will and ability to continue the great struggle.

An ancient Chinese philosopher observed, “The weak-minded cannot be wise; the dishonest cannot succeed.”

Founded amid domestic turmoil and foreign aggression, our Party has been tempered through numerous tribulations and grown strong by surmounting difficulties. It does not fear powerful enemies or any threat or challenge; it has the courage to fight and the mettle to win.

To fulfill its historic duty to the cause of the Party and the people, it has never flinched before formidable enemies or backed down in the face of severe challenges on its path. It fears no sacrifice or setback.

In the revolutionary wars, the Party took on the mission of national independence and people’s liberation, and fought fearlessly against domestic and foreign enemies.

Opposing imperialism and feudalism, it brought the Great Revolution to a climax. Getting back to its feet after suffering bloody massacres, it launched the armed struggle and the Agrarian Revolution (1927-1937). For the greater good of the nation, the CPC formed a united front with the Kuomintang to resist Japanese aggression. In the subsequent civil war started by Kuomintang reactionaries, it defeated 8 million Kuomintang troops. In its 28 years of struggle, the Party made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of the people. 

After 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was founded, our Party faced severe tests and challenges from inside and outside its organizations, at home and abroad, both natural and manmade. With a strong sense of mission and great courage, our Party made the correct choices at critical junctures, unflinchingly stood up to all tests, and led the people in a determined struggle to victory. Under its leadership, the Chinese nation has stood up, become better off, and grown in strength.

In the 1950s, under provocation and the threat of force from the imperialist US, the richest and most powerful country in the world, the Party’s central leadership faced a critical choice — whether to send troops to aid Korea. Mao Zedong said it was one of the toughest decisions he had ever made in his lifetime.

Determined to “throw one hard punch now to avoid taking a hundred punches in the future”, the central leadership made the historic decision to aid Korea against US aggression and defend the new-born PRC, even though it would hamper domestic reconstruction. By making this necessary move, China stopped the foreign aggressors at its doorstep and secured its national borders.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, during a period of dramatic change in Eastern Europe, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union collapsed, and the Soviet Union disintegrated, dealing a severe blow to world socialism. Political turmoil also occurred in our country in the late spring and early summer of 1989.

In response, our Party relied on the people and took resolute measures to win a life-and-death battle, showing strong resolve and historic commitment. We withstood the sanctions of the West, and kept to the correct path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and reform and development.

Deng Xiaoping said, “So long as socialism does not collapse in China, it will always hold its ground in the world.” 

I also said, “If CPC leadership and Chinese socialism had collapsed in that domino reaction or for any other reason, socialism would again have stumbled in the dark for a prolonged period, which would certainly have blocked the Chinese nation’s journey towards rejuvenation.”

History is a continuous progression divided into different stages. Each stage creates a particular mission, and each generation has a certain responsibility.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have been fully aware that upholding and developing Chinese socialism in the new era will be an arduous task but a great social transformation. Hostile forces will not sit back and let us achieve national rejuvenation smoothly.

This is why I have emphasized on many occasions that we must carry out the great struggle with many new features. We must be prepared to make even greater efforts, and keep guard against and defuse major risks at all times.

Over the past few years, we have adopted proactive and preemptive strategies to deal with risks and challenges, taking resolute measures to tackle those that threaten the Party’s governing status and the stability of state power, or undermine the country’s core interests and the people’s fundamental interests. In defusing the major threats that could have delayed or interrupted China’s rejuvenation process, we have shown great determination and courage, solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved, and accomplished many things that were wanted but never done.

We have undergone these experiences together, which are fully summarized in the Resolution. 

Our Party has fought to create history, and will continue to fight to win the future.

On the new journey, we will only face more daunting tests and unimaginable turbulence in a prolonged struggle to complete the Second Centenary Goal.

Confronted by major risks and powerful opponents, it is unrealistic to think confrontation can be avoided, nor will it help to fear it or evade it.

“Those skilled in warfare make sure they are invincible and miss no chance of overwhelming their enemies.”

Meeting challenges head-on is the only way to survive, to develop, and to win dignity. Retreat, compromise or concession will only lead to defeat and humiliation.

We must understand the features of this great struggle and be clear on our targets. We must be courageous, stick to the right pathway, maintain the initiative, understand how to fight, and build up the spirit and capacity to do it. We are determined to overcome all difficulties by effectively addressing challenges, defusing risks, removing obstacles, and solving problems on the way forward, and we are resolved to win this great new struggle in the new era.

Fourth, we must remain committed to self-reform to ensure our Party never betrays its nature and mission.

In my speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC, I pointed out that the Party has never represented any individual interest group, power group, or privileged stratum.

The Resolution adopted at this plenary session reiterated that point.

This is a response to any attempt to divide our Party from the people or set the people against our Party by those with ulterior motives, and also a reminder to the whole Party that we must remain firm and clearheaded: For whom do we govern, for whom do we exercise power, and for whom do we seek benefit? 

Ours is a very large party with a long history, and we have governed this country for a long time. How can we break the historical cycle of rise and fall? Mao Zedong offered the first answer to the question in Yan’an back in 1947. He said, “The government will not dare slacken its effort only under the people’s scrutiny.” 

Now, after a century of exploring the path, especially with a new approach since the 18th CPC National Congress, our Party has given the second answer: by carrying out self-reform.

The courage to engage in self-reform is a distinctive feature that differentiates our Party from other political parties. 

Mao Zedong said, “Conscientious practice of self-criticism is still another hallmark distinguishing our Party from all other political parties.”

It is this character that has enabled our Party to rise time and again at critical moments, to bring order out of chaos after making mistakes, and to become a Marxist party that still stands strong despite setbacks.

For any political party, remembering the founding mission and never having a change of heart, even in toughest times, is always the most difficult part.

“Selflessness in governance creates social equity.” Our Party has no interests of its own – this is the source of our courage and strength in self-reform.

It is because of this that we have regularly examined our conduct and reflected on mistakes from a purely materialist perspective. It is because of this that we have been able to overcome attempts by individual interest groups, power groups, and privileged strata to corrupt us. We have been able to seek out and punish Party members who have done wrong under the influence of these groups.

Ours is a great party not because we do not make mistakes, but because we never conceal mistakes. We face up to them and reform ourselves.

We have upheld truth in the guiding principles, correcting mistakes such as the Right opportunist leadership of Chen Duxiu after the failure of the Great Revolution (1924-1927), the “Leftist” mistakes of rash action and adventurism during the Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-1937), the “Leftist” dogmatism during Wang Ming’s leadership when the Party was headquartered in Yan’an (1935-1948), and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) which was completely repudiated after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978.

Through the Yan’an Rectification Movement, the campaigns to improve Party conduct and the campaign against the “three evils” in the early years of the PRC, the Party-wide rectification, and the many education campaigns following the launch of reform and opening up, we have addressed prominent problems of unwholesome thinking, organization and conduct, and lack of political commitment.

We have resolutely fought corruption. Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were given capital sentences in the early 1950s. Prioritizing the battle against corruption and the fight to improve Party conduct since 1978, we have established a framework for preventing and punishing corruption, and forged a strong resistance to corruption among officials.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have shown unprecedented courage and resolve in implementing full and rigorous internal governance, and developed a complete set of rules and regulations for the Party to cleanse, improve, renew and temper itself.

In response to the Seven Malpractices and other prominent problems undermining the Party’s image, authority, and ties with the people, we have enforced strict discipline, supervision and accountability, and focused on key senior officials to make our Party stronger.

Just as it takes a heavy dose of medicine to treat a serious disease and stringent laws to address disorder, we have been determined to “take out tigers”, “swat flies”, and “hunt down foxes”, removing potential dangers in the Party, the state, and the military even though it means pain for the time being.

How many of the world’s political parties can match our resolve and scale in fighting corruption? Some extol the multiparty rule of the West and their separation of powers, refusing to believe that our Party is capable of thorough self-reform. But reality has taught them otherwise.

Our Party has won wide acclaim for its achievements over the past hundred years. We cannot lose ourselves in self-congratulation; we should carry on with self-reform. As an ancient Chinese philosopher said, “One should not be seduced by praise, nor should one fear opprobrium.”

All Party members must always be ready for self-reform, and be aware that there is no end to full and rigorous governance of the Party. We must not feel complacent about our progress so far. The major corruption cases recently investigated have warned us that we should never slacken our efforts in improving Party conduct and fighting corruption. Members of the Central Committee and Party officials at all levels should keep a clear head, and know the real situation regarding thinking, conduct, organization, and clean governance in the Party. We must have the courage to face up to problems and carry out self-reform through vigorous self-examination.

If you are sick, go to the doctor. Take medicine if needed, and have surgery if necessary.

We will not hold back on punishing corruption. Whoever commits a crime will be investigated, and we will turn a blind eye in no case. We will not relent in cleansing the viruses that damage the health of the Party and undermine its progressive and wholesome nature.

There will be no leniency for anyone who damages the interests of the country and the people, encroaches upon the Party’s governing foundations, or weakens the socialist state power. There will be no tolerance for anyone trying to form political factions, cliques, or interest groups inside the Party.

When we celebrate our centenary, we must keep alert against the possibility that as an organization we might one day become fragile and feeble.

We must not forget the setbacks in our past, or the times we lost our way, or the hard lessons of the governments around the world that have failed due to complacency. We cannot be halfhearted or soft-handed in dealing with our problems – that will only lead to our demise. We should guide social transformation with self-reform and advance self-reform through social transformation, to ensure that the Party continues to exercise strong leadership in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Comrades,

This plenary session is about to conclude. The whole Party must carry forward our great founding spirit, work hard to achieve further successes on the journey towards the Second Centenary Goal, and bring still greater glory to the Party and the people.

* Speech at the second full assembly of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee.

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