Du Feijin*

Let the Spirit of Taking on Responsibility Release More Brilliant Light of the Era—On the Spirit of Taking on Responsibility of the Communist Party of China

Du Feijin*

The 95-year great struggle of the Communist Party of China indicates profoundly that the CPC has always been following the trend of history, taking on the historical responsibility, bold in making great sacrifices, and reflects the selfless and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility. This spirit comes from the Chinese national spirit, the truth of Marxism and the great practice of revolution, construction and reform. The new requirements of the era must be clear and definite and the connotation of the era must be grasped, enabling the spirit of taking on responsibility to release more brilliant light of the era. First, it is striving for and dedicating selflessly of the country, and taking on historical responsibility to achieve the country’s prosperity and strength. Second, it is serving the people, reducing difficulties and anxiety for the people and taking on historical responsibility to attain people’s well-being. Third, it is sharing cares and burdens for the Party, keeping loyalty to the Party, and taking on historical responsibility so that the Party can provide a strong leadership core for the continued development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC is expected to produce new and more excellent answers to history and the people.

the Communist Party of China; the spirit of taking on responsibility; light of the era

Throughout its 95 years of struggle, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has firmly relied on the people, overcome difficulties and obstacles time and time again, and won one victory after another. It has made great contributionsto history for the Chinese nation, realizing China’s great leap from thousands of years of feudal autocracy to democracy, from continuous decline to fundamental reverse of fate and steady development to prosperity and strength of the Chinese nation, from help Chinese people stand to become richer and stronger. The great struggle indicates profoundly that the CPC has been following the trends of history, taking on historical responsibilities, bold in making great sacrifices, and reflects the selfless and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility. The baton of history is passed on to today. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expounded in depth the CPC’s responsibilities to the nation, to the people and to the Party itself, as soon as he took office. He put forward that the people’s wish for a good life is our goal and we should realize the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation. In a Russian Television interview, he said that serving the people and fulfilling due responsibilities was a summary of his concept of governance. In a significant speech at the ceremony of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, he further proposed,“Stay true to mission” in eight aspects, all of which highlighted the spirit of taking on responsibility of the CPC. Under the new and complicated international situation and the arduous domestic tasks of reform, development and stability, it is imperative for Party members and cadres to have a deep understanding of the connotation of taking on responsibility from the height of promoting the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieving the “Two Centenary Goals” and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and consciously unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core. The spirit of taking on responsibility should be interpreted with practical actions, and release more brilliant light of the era.

1. The self l ess and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility of the CPC comes from the Chinese national spirit, the truth power of Marxism and the practice of revolution, construction and reform.

Taking on responsibility is a distinctive character of the Chinese Communists. The selfless and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility is an important manifestation of the advanced nature of the Party. On the occasion of national peril, the Party assumed the great cause of national rejuvenation with indomitable heroic courage, the historical mission of fighting for national independence and prosperity, and people’s liberation and well-being. It has written a magnificent epic and created a development miracle of human society during the 95-year struggle. There is no other political party in the world that is as bold in making a solemn commitment to all the people that it would lead people to create a happy life and unswervingly pursue common prosperity along the road of socialism, or as consistent in uniting and leading all the people to forge ahead toward the great goal. This selfless and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility is the distinctive feature of the great spirit of the CPC. The spirit of taking on responsibility of the CPC comes down in one continuous line with the patriotismimbued national spirit, and the truth power of Marxism and is refined in the great practice of revolution, construction and reform in which the Party led the people for 95 years.

First, the spirit of taking on responsibility is the highlight of the patriotism-imbued national spirit in this era. In the course of more than five thousand years of development, the Chinese nation has formed a national spirit with patriotism as its core. The spirit of taking on responsibility, an important part of the national spirit, is deeply rooted in the outstandingcultural traditions of the Chinese nation. All the wise words and noble deeds of the ancient sages vividly interpret the patriotic feelings and intrinsic endowment of the spirit of taking on responsibility of the Chinese nation, like, “As Heaven keeps vigorous through movement, a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-improvement” in the Book of Changes, “I will work heart and soul for my country to the day I draw my last breath.” of Zhuge Liang, “To establish the heart of life for the world, to indicate a jointly followed direction for the people, to inherit the knowledge by former saints like Confucius and Mencius and to build foundations for permanent peace for future generations” of Zhang Zai, “Be the first to concern yourself with the affairs of state and the last to rejoice in personal happiness”of Fan Zhongyan, “Everyone will one day die; When my day comes, may my loyalty be inscribed in the pages of history.” of Wen Tianxiang, “The rise and fall of the country is everybody’s concern and business” of Gu Yanwu, “In line with the conviction that I will do whatever it takes to serve my country even at the cost of my own life, regardless of fortune or misfortune to myself” of Lin Zexu, “March forward courageously, in concert with the noble spirit and face death with indifference” of Sun Yat-sen. The spirit of the Chinese nation is deeply rooted in Chinese people’s blood. The CPC was born in modern times and in those early dark years the impoverished and enfeebled China was facing domestic troubles and foreign invasions. The Party is the inevitable product of the Chinese people’s tenacious struggle and indomitable exploration. Since its inception, the Party, with the fearless spirit of taking on responsibility, has assumed the future of the country and the destiny of the nation and people, shouldered the historical responsibility of the great rejuvenation of the nation, to lead China to rise from poverty and weakness and stride for national unity, prosperity and strength. History and practice show that Chinese Communists are the elite among the Chinese people, the conscious successors, best practitioners and vigorous advocators of the spirit of the Chinese nation. The spirit of taking on responsibility of the Party is the highlight and enhancement of patriotism-imbued national spirit in this era.

Second, the spirit of taking on responsibility comes from the truth power of Marxism. The Party always adheres to the Marxist principles as the guide, constantly advances the adaptation of Marxism to suit China, modernization and popularization of Marxism, which is the solid ideological foundation for the spirit of taking on responsibility. Marxism is an advanced and scientific theory, and a powerful ideological weapon for us to understand and transform the world. The scientific truth of Marxism enables our Party to transcend the limitations of all other political forces that came before it, which always sought to advance their own special interests, and fulfill the historical responsibility that other political forces in modern China failed to fulfill. Drawing from the scientific spirit of materialist dialectics, and from its selfless and fearless embrace, the CPC has led and advanced China’s revolution, construction, and reform, and achieved victories one after another. Marxism endows the spirit of taking on responsibility with great wisdom and courage to assume historical responsibility. The Party establishes Communism as its lofty ideal, and determines struggling for Communism and Socialism as its guiding principle. This lofty ideal and noble pursuit has inspired generation after generation of communists to fight courageously. During the revolutionary wartime, thousands upon thousands of martyrs laid down their precious lives for this ideal. In times of peace and construction, thousands upon thousands of builders set the national interest above their own for the ideal, bent their bodies and exhausted their energy for nationalprosperity and revitalization, and people’s happiness. The lofty ideal of Communism endows the spirit of taking on responsibility with powerful force to assume responsibility and sacrifice. Standing on the people’s side represents the fundamental political stance of the CPC, which acts as the significant mark to distinguish a Marxist political party from other political parties. Over the past 95 years, the CPC has stood together with the people in times good and bad, maintaining its close bond with them no matter what fate may bring. Apart from the interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, the Party has no special interests of their own. Standing on the people’s side endows the spirit of taking on responsibility with feelings for the people and placing people’s interests above all else, and the invariant core of unremitting struggle for the cause of the Party and the people.

Third, the spirit of taking on responsibility comes from refining the practice of revolution, construction and reform. The spirit of taking on responsibility of the Party was formed and developed in the great practice of the revolution, construction, and reform by a substantial number of Chinese communists and the people of all ethnic groups. It has become purer after being refined by great practice and deeply reflects the advanced nature and purity of the communists. Be it the extraordinarily times in the flames of war, the construction period with boundless enthusiasm and burning passion, or the vigorous era of reform surging high and sweeping forward, thousands and thousands of Chinese communists always adhere to the principle that the country, the nation and the people is supreme and lead the masses to work hard and perseveringly, and interpret their responsibilities in the different historical periods. These continuous struggles gave birth to a multitude of heroes, and the spirit of taking on responsibility has been further manifested. Countless heroes sacrificed their lives for national independence and people’s liberation, like Peng Pai, Luo Yinong, Fang Zhimin, Xia Minghan, Liu Hulan, Dong Cunrui, and Jiang Zhuyun. QiuShaoyun, Huang Jiguang, and Yang Gensi died to protect our homes and defend our country. The older generation of scientists like Qian Xuesen, Deng Jiaxian, Li Siguang, and Hua Luogeng overcame many obstacles and returned to serve the motherland in the most difficult times. The advanced model characters like Lei Feng, Wang Jinxi, Jiao Yulu and Shi Chuanxiang struggled hard amid difficulties and made selfless contributions to the country. These heroes of different times established a spiritual monument of the courage of fulfillment and sacrifice. In these continuous struggles, the plentiful and substantial results have constantly made new practical footnotes for the spirit of taking on responsibility. Our Party united and led the Chinese people to complete the New Democratic Revolution, achieving national independence and people’s liberation, establishing the People’s Republic of China, to complete the socialist revolution, establishing the basic system of socialism, eradicating all exploitation systems, advancing the socialist construction, to launch the great new revolution of reform and opening-up, realizing great liberation and development of social productive forces, greatly enhancing the vitality of social development, significantly improving people’s lives, markedly growing overall national strength and significantly improving our international status, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation shows an unprecedented prospect.

2. The new requirements of the era must be clear and definite and the connotation of the era must be grasped.

Selflessness and fearlessness are the essence ofthe spirit of taking on responsibility of the Party. It is the inexhaustible source for the spirit of taking on responsibility to adhere to Marxism as our guiding ideology, and fight for communism and socialism. It is the invariant core of the spirit of taking on responsibility to place the Party’s principles and missions and people’s interests in the first place, and regard the country, the nation and the people as supreme, have the courage to fulfill responsibility, to contribute and to sacrifice. At the same time, the specific requirements of the spirit of taking on responsibility develop with the changes of the times, and varies as per the requirements of practice. Today, our country is standing at a new historical starting point, and the decisive stage in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the critical point of comprehensively deepening reform, and the important node in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The “Two Centenary Goals” and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation are calling the communists to carry forward the spirit of taking on responsibility and forge ahead. As pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping, “Our responsibility is to rally and lead the entire Party and the people of all China’s ethnic groups in taking on this task, and continuing to pursue the goal of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, so that China can stand firmer and stronger among the world’s nations, and make new and greater contributions to mankind.”Today, in carrying forward the spirit of taking on responsibility it is most fundamental to take the baton of history. Only in this way, can we ensure that the Party is always the firm leadership core guiding the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and lead the Chinese people to achieve the glorious dream of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation following the Chinese path.

First, it is striving and dedicating selflessly for the country, and taking on responsibility of history to achieve the country’s prosperity and strength. Backwardness made us vulnerable to attack, whereas only development makes us strong. National prosperity is the premise of national rejuvenation, the support of people’s happiness, and heavy responsibility on the shoulders of the communists. Since the reform and opening-up, our economy has been developing rapidly, and the comprehensive national strengthening has been increased at a high speed. China has become the second largest economy, the largest goods trading country, the second largest service trading country, the major country in foreign investment, the country with the largest foreign exchange reserves, and the most important engine for world economic growth and is now ranked first in the contribution to global economic growth. However, the problem of being large but not strong economy of China is still prominent and the extensive mode of development has not been fundamentally reversed. The issue remains the same: That China is still in the primary stage of socialism and will continue to be so for a considerable period of time to come. The principal contradiction in Chinese society that the evergrowing material and cultural needs of the people are unable to be met by China’s underdeveloped social production has not changed. The international status of our country as the largest developing country remains the same. We are facing a series of contradictions and problems when planning for development today. From an international perspective, the international financial crisis has not yet subsided, slow recovery of the global economy leads to sluggish external demand. With further promotion of worldwide multiple polarization, economic globalization, social informatization and the world economy has entered a transition period, and science and technology is brewing a new breakthrough. This fast-changing world offers opportunities and challenges that will determine the future development of China and test the wisdomand courage of the ruling party regarding whether we can overcome the difficulties and seize the opportunity to catch the express train of the new science and technology revolution. From a domestic perspective, with the growth of our economy, our economic development has entered the New Normal, the requirements for transformation and upgrading have become more urgent, the difficulty to maintain sustained healthy economic growth has been greatly increased, energy resources and environmental constraints have become restrictive and more severe, and reform is facing a hard nut to crack. All kinds of contradictions are intertwined. It is also a big test for the ruling party whether we can maintain a good situation, let economic development further step up and become more efficient, fairer and create more sustainable development. With this arduous task, it is normal for many cadres to work seven days per week and work day and night all the year round, engage in daily work with high degree of tension, and work wholeheartedly but ignore themselves and their family members. Is it hard? Yes, indeed. But it is much happier than sacrifice at any time in the revolutionary wartime. Is it exhausting? Yes, indeed. But it is worth our hard work for a new world of development. The spirit of taking on responsibility of the era is reflected in the forms like exerting all one’s strength and wisdom, attending office morning and night, and selfless dedication instead of charging the enemy lines. We should overcome all the difficulties, make pioneering renovations, have the courage to reform and become better and better at reforming, and spare no effort to contribute all our strength to national prosperity and rejuvenation and people’s well-being.

Second, is serving the people and excluding difficulty and anxiety for the people, taking on historical responsibility to attain people’s wellbeing. People are the creators of history, while the masses are the real heroes. People’s well-being is included in the meaning of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is our Party’s unswerving goal to lead the people to create a happy life. Since the founding of our Party, the people have been placed in the highest position and the Party adheres to the fundamental tenet of wholeheartedly serving the people. The Party led the people to overthrow the “three big mountains” (imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, which weighed like mountains on the backs of the Chinese people before liberation) and establish a new China, launch a socialist transformation and construction, which lays a fundamental premise for the people’s wellbeing. Over 30 years of reform and opening-up the Party united and led the people to create a Chinese miracle of accomplishing people’s well-being. More than 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty and China’s contribution rate to global poverty reduction is more than 70%. Gross national income per capita has grown from $190 to $7,880, and China has moved from a low-income country to a upper-middle-income country. The living standard of 1.3 billion Chinese people has achieved a qualitative leap. All these have been recognized as “unprecedented achievements in human history.”However, we must be aware that, as the largest developing country in the world, China still has tens of millions of poor people, and it is our unshakable responsibility to help lift them out of poverty and enter a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The problem of unbalanced development has arisen in the socialist market economy, and the regional gap, the gap between urban and rural areas and the income gap reduce people’s happiness, and sense of gain. We must make great efforts to reverse this situation and provide a solution. People still have many specific demands to be satisfied in employment, health, education and social security. In short, there is a gap between our work and people’s expectations for a better life. Today, theresponsibilities on our shoulders for people’s wellbeing are not reduced due to our great achievements. Therefore, we cannot be pleased with ourselves. Instead, we should set people’s expectations as our goal, hold it in hand and put it into action, with an even stronger sense of responsibility and mission. As requested by General Secretary Xi Jinping, we should seize the most concerned, most direct and most practical issues of people’s interests, seize the people most in need of care, complete one task after another year after year, move forward with perseverance. We should be able to suffer grievance and assume the responsibility for people’s wellbeing. The tasks are arduous and complex, involving a wide range, affecting the interests of many people. It is normal to be misunderstood by the masses. We should be patient and careful in persuasion. We should bear unfair and scolding words by people, rather than leave the masses disappointed. We should be able to unswervingly work for them despite of their misunderstandings. In the revolutionary wartime, the communists would rather sacrifice their lives to protect the masses. In peacetime, what is the point of suffering from injustice for the Party members and cadres? We should keep in mind that the people are kind-hearted with sharp eyes. Finally, we would obtain understanding and support of the masses as long as we work wholeheartedly for them. Third, we should assume the historical mission to share cares and burdens for, and keep loyal to, the Party, and ensure that the CPC remains the firm leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in an important speech during the celebration assembly for the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China,“China’s success hinges on the CPC. The leadership of the CPC constitutes the most essential attribute of Chinese socialism, and the greatest strength of this system. The foundation and lifeblood of the CPC and the country, and the interests and wellbeing of all Chinese people, boil down to upholding and improving the leadership of the CPC.” It is the fundamental guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to ensure that the Party remains the firm leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has been proved by practice that our Party adheres to a scientific theory with distinctive advanced characteristics. It does everything for the people’s benefits and serves the people wholeheartedly. It is able to withstand a variety of risks and challenges, and becoming mature and self-confident, it has always been the core force leading the people of all ethnic groups, and adhering to the socialist development with Chinese characteristics of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Under the leadership of the Party, we have made remarkable achievements, of which we have every reason to be proud. However, we must be aware that under the new situation, our Party faces many severe challenges, and there are many problems to be solved. In particular, some Party members and cadres are corrupt, divorcing from the masses, applying formalism, and excessive bureaucracy. Great efforts must be made to resolve these problems. Meanwhile, the Party is facing long-term and complex tests in ruling, reform and opening-up, market economy, and external environment, incompetence, alienation from the masses, passiveness and corruption. As a result, it is of significance and urgency to promote selfpurification, self-improvement, self-innovation, and self-enhancement. Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has intensified an all-out effort to comprehensively govern the Party with strict discipline. As a result, the conduct of the Party and the government has created a new atmosphere, and the advanced nature and purity of the Party has been further strengthened, andthe fight against corruption has built up irresistible momentum. These have won the wholehearted support of the people. However, joint efforts of all Party members are expected, and needed, to maintain the Party’s advanced nature of purity, as each communist is a cell of the Party body as a whole and each is a banner for the Party. The power of the Party is united by the power of all the Party members. The image of the Party is represented specifically by each member. The governance mission of the Party relies on the fruitful work of thousands and thousands of Party members, and the answer to the people is prepared by all members of the Party. Therefore, each Party member carries the mission of the Party, the country and the people, and assumes the responsibility of keeping loyalty to the Party, sharing cares and burdens and undertaking obligations for the Party. It is imperative for us to enhance the sense of urgency, discuss issues related to the Party, and concern for the Party, and put specific actions like love, concern and defending the Party, and efforts for the prosperity of the Party into all aspects of work and life. We should effectively improve our work style, keep close ties with the masses, and be closely attached to the people, and unite and pursue a common endeavor.

3. Vigorously promote the spirit of taking on responsibility of the Communist Party of China, produce more excellent answers for the people and history

Today, we are closer to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any other time in history, and we are more confident and capable of achieving this goal than at any other time in history. But we should realize that we have a long way to go to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The road ahead is not smooth, so we should be ready to cope with various difficulties and challenges, and launch many great struggles with new historical features. Mao Zedong put forward the saying, “Go to the capital to sit an examination,”This test is by no means over, and it is continuing right now. Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC, the spirit of taking on responsibility has been vigorously promoted by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, stressing that the leading cadres should have the courage to assume responsibilities, which is of strong practical relevance. First, it is put forward for the realization of “Two Centenary Goals.”At present, facing the unprecedented opportunities and challenges, the Party Central Committee has pointed out that the scientific path is to constantly put forward the realization of “Two Centenary Goals,” that is, to advance the overall layout of promoting balanced economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress, to promote the layout of “Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy” in a coordinated way, and improve people’s well-being, national prosperity, strength and beauty. We should persist in putting economic construction as the central task, adhering to lead the new normal economic development with new principles, making efforts to promote the supply side structural reform; and speed up the formation of an institutional environment in which innovation is revered, coordination is emphasized, green development is advocated, openness is fostered, and sharing is encouraged, so as to bolster our country’s economic strength and overall national strength. The path is clear, the blueprint is ready and the tasks are arduous and urgent. Party members and cadres at all levels should carry forward the spirit of taking on responsibility, have the courage to assume the heavy burden of reform and development, so that the bright blueprint will come true. Second, it is put forward for the phenomenon of “the act of omission” of a few cadres. The mainstream of our cadres is good,but it does have a small number of people, who are unwilling to take on responsibility, do not dare to take on responsibility, and incapable of taking on responsibility. Seemingly, “the act of omission” is a small individual issue only with a few individuals, but in actuality, it jeopardizes both the cause of the Party and the people and the image of the Party. To solve this problem, rules and regulations are to be established to run the Party strictly, meanwhile, Party members and cadres should improve their ideological consciousness, political character, ability and quality, and therefore the spirit of taking on responsibility should be vigorously carried forward.

First, we should make Party members and officials develop a firm and correct worldview and a firm and correct attitude toward power and career. The spirit of taking on responsibility is the inheritance of the spirit of the Chinese nation, reflecting the outlook on the world, power and career of Marxism on the spiritual level. With the outlook on the world, power and career of Marxism and persisting in the people’s position, the Party members and cadres will naturally generate the selfless and fearless spirit of taking on responsibility. If the outlook wavers, or we hold an outlook on the world, power and career of non-Marxism, it will become unavoidable to be unwilling to take on responsibility, dare not to take on responsibility and be incapable to take on responsibility. So, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Whether a cadre has the spirit of taking on responsibility, loyalty and diligence, capability for fulfillment, and sense of responsibility is a critical part to test if each leading cadre really represents the advanced nature and purity of the communists.”This prompts us to carry forward the spirit of taking on responsibility It is the most important to make sure that each Party member really believes, understands and uses Marxism, and firmly establishes the outlook on the world, power and career of Marxism. For this issue, General Secretary Xi Jinping had a profound exposition on the 2010 autumn semester opening ceremony of the Central Party School, “To establish a correct world outlook, leading cadres must strengthen the communist ideal and the socialist belief with Chinese characteristics, and consciously integrate their life pursuit and values and goals into the struggle for national prosperity and rejuvenation and the wellbeing of the people. Marxist outlook of power is summed up as: Power is endowed by the people and is to be used for the people. Whatever position the leading cadres are in, they are obliged to serve the people and place the people’s interests in the highest position for employing the power. The people’s satisfaction should be set as the basic standard for the exercise of power, and fair employment and fair service are required as well. The outlook on the career of the Chinese communists is to fight for the interests of the people, for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With Marxist outlook on the world, power and career established, we will become spiritually noble, open and broad minded, rich in life, indifferent to fame and wealth, selfless and fearless, make wholehearted devotion to public duty and march forward courageously. We will be able to realize that we can realize that the exercise of power and responsibility are closely linked, power is in nature responsibility and fulfillment. Our power is entrusted by the Party and the people, and can only be used for sharing cares and burdens of the Party, serving the country and seeking profit for the people. Only in this way, can we fight unswervingly and confidently for the interests of the people and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and focus our energy and talent on every piece of work, be it in favorable or unfavorable circumstances.”

Second, we should adopt appropriate ways and means, face problems directly and have the courage to adhere to principles. With the spirit and courage of taking on responsibility, the propermeans should be grasped as well. The core is to face problems directly, have the courage to explore, adhere to principles, and be conscientious and responsible. Problems are the horns of the times, the outstanding performance of contradictions as well as a breakthrough to the situation. There are only four years left to achieve the goal of a moderately prosperous society in all respects in the year 2020. The good situation of development can be maintained and further expanded and the established objectives can be achieved by facing problems directly, aiming at and chasing the problems, keeping opening in front of tough problems, coping with contradictions and boldly taking responsibility despite of risks. Party members and cadres face a multitude of problems, like the new trend of reform and development so as to resolve the major issues of the department and unit locally for the sake of long-term development, the new expectations of the masses so as to resolve the outstanding problems, as well as the transformation of the subjective world so as to resolve problems of a certain tendency, sign and potential in way of thinking and work style. In this sense, the attitude towards problems acts as the touchstone and tests for whether Party members and cadres have the spirit of taking on responsibility. The ability to solve problems is definitely required as well as facing problems directly. For this purpose, we must strengthen learning, improve Party spirit, advance the theory and knowledge, and then enhance fulfillment ability like situation judgment , scientific decision-making, organization and coordination, to know the subordinates well enough to assign them jobs commensurate with their abilities, mass work , and respond to emergencies. We must uphold innovation, keep the indomitable courage and the spirit open to new situations, and have the courage to think, to do and to bear, and work creatively for the course of the Party and the people. We must stick to principles and be conscientious and responsible, be bold in taking a clear-cut stand and seriously tackle tough problems. We should act as demanded by General Secretary Xi Jinping, “Have the courage to take resolute actions in the face of major issues , to tackle difficulties head-on in the face of conflicts, to step forward in the face of crises, to admit their share of mistakes and to resolutely fight against misconduct.” We should be the tough grass and true gold of the era.

Third, we should be in pursuit of lofty realms and take on extraordinary responsibility with selfless dedication. The spirit of taking on responsibility varies. The state attained is the measure of the spirit, instead of the specific position the member is in. Jiao Yulu was the Secretary of the county Party Committee. In the eyes of some people, it is not a position of high level. The secretary is responsible for the development of a county, while there are several thousand of administrative divisions at the county level or above it, let alone other Party and government departments at the same level or at the higher level. But Jiao Yulu interpreted the spirit of taking on responsibility of the communists by his selfless dedication of life. He had the servant feelings, “keeping all the people in the heart except himself,” the realistic style with explorations,“accumulating hands-on experience and collecting information,” fighting spirit, “dare to make sun and moon shine in new skies,” and “act as a hero in face of difficulties,” and moral sentiments of hardworking and plain-living, integrity and public-spirited and,“do not engage in privilege at any time.”

It is this extraordinary spirit of taking on responsibility that makes the Jiao Yulu Spirit, named after him, become a precious spiritual wealth of the Party, and studied and admired by thousands and thousands of Party members. It is pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping that one cannot be fearless without selflessness, and the spirit of taking on responsibility cannot go without selflessness.one’s career relies on one’s responsibility, and one’s achievements rely on the responsibility he fulfills. Today, it is necessary to fulfill great responsibility with selfless dedication, to give full play of the spirit of taking on responsibility. We should adhere to the Three Stricts and Three Honests; maintain the right worldview, outlook on life, and values; be mindful of the Party, the people, their responsibilities, and the rules; and regard selfless contribution to the causes of the Party and people as their highest aspiration in life.

(Translator: Huang Yan; Editor: Xiong Xianwei)

This paper has been translated and reprinted with the permission of Deng Xiaoping Research, No. 5, 2016.

*Du Feijin, senior editor, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee，former chief editor of Guangming Daily.