"Launching the campaign of Party history learning and education throughout the whole Party members is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee based on the new starting point of the Party's century-old history. It is a major decision to coordinate the overall strategy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the unprecedented changes in the world in a century, and to mobilize the whole Party members and the whole nation to devote them with full confidence to building a modern socialist country in all respects."
At the beginning of the spring, General Secretary Xi Jinping expounded the great significance of launching the campaign, interpreted the key points and work requirements, and mobilized and arranged Party history learning and education comprehensively at the campaign of Party history study and education. General Secretary Xi's important speech, with a strategic perspective, broad vision and far-reaching thoughts, has pointed out the direction and provided a fundamental guideline for us to carry out this campaign.
History, the best textbook, records the rise and falls of a country and is the foundation for the lifeline and pursuit of a nation. History, reality and future are interlinked. History is the reality of the past while reality is the history of the future: people always move forward by building on what they have inherited from their predecessors. As Engels pointed out, "History is all we have." His statement profoundly reveals the political advantage of Marxist parties in summing up the lessons of history and leading revolutionary movements.
The history of the Communist Party of China (the CPC) is the most widely acclaimed chapter in China’s modern history and the most valuable spiritual treasure of the CPC. Our Party has always attached importance to the learning and education of Party history, focusing on inspiring the fighting spirit and pointing out the progressing direction through the Party's struggle and great achievements. Our Party has strengthened its conviction and pooled its strength through the Party's glorious traditions and fine style, and enlightened its wisdom and sharpened its character through the Party's practices, creations and historical experience. When making his report on "How to Study the History of the Communist Party of China" at the Central Study Group in March 1942, Comrade Mao Zedong straight forwardly pointed out, "One cannot do things better if he does not have a clear understanding of the Party history and the path it has taken." The CPC made in succession Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of our Party and Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of our Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, and profoundly summed up its valuable experience, mistakes and setbacks, thus promoting within our Party the unity both in thought and in its pursuit of a shared future. Looking back on the Party history, from the "Little Red Boat" that set sail from the South Lake to the "Great Ship" that cut through the waves in the new era, our Party has always been attaching great importance to studying and summing up its history, handing down and carrying forward its successful experience, and excelling in finding the right path by learning about the law governing the evolution of history. That’s why our Party was in a position to lead the Chinese people in such a tremendous transformation of the Chinese nation, which has stood up, become better off and grown in strength.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, being self-consciousness in terms of political orientation and actions, has placed the learning of Party history to an important status that concerns the overall situation of the Party and the state. General Secretary Xi has stood at the strategic height of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and delivered a series of important speeches on the correct learning, understanding, summarizing and application of Party history. In the meantime, he has systematically reviewed the glorious journey of our Party’s unity and leadership in Chinese people’s unremitting struggle and thoroughly summarized the theoretical achievements, valuable experience and great spirits of our Party at various historical periods. Furthermore, he has profoundly expounded on our Party’s great contributions to the Chinese nation, clearly demanded for a scientific grasp of the theme, main line, mainstream and essence of the Party history, unequivocally opposed historical nihilism, innovated the methods and means of Party history learning and education, and excelled at using the Party history to promote the development of its undertakings. These important statements profoundly reveal the law governing the evolution of history, thoroughly analyze the real problems and take the future development into in-depth consideration, thus reflecting our Party’s profound understanding of the importance and necessity of studying and applying its history. In addition, these statements are an important element of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and lay out fundamental rules for the whole Party to sum up its history, take a scientific approach to it and make full use of it. With this, efforts to make historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country have gained a strong underpinning.
China is currently at a critical period for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world is going through major changes unseen in a century. At the important moment of celebrating the centennial birthday of our Party, and at the critical juncture when the two centenary goals converge, it is timely and necessary for the whole Party members to focus on the learning and education of Party history. It is a natural element of keeping the mission firmly in mind, promoting the great historical cause of China’s national rejuvenation, remaining firm in the belief and conviction, upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, further deepening self-reform and forever preserving its vitality. Besides, this is of vital importance for the whole Party when it comes to strengthening their commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence, and the Two Upholds in the course of learning, thinking, practicing and realizing. Likewise, this is extremely meaningful for securing the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.
How can we learn the "compulsory course" of Party history? General Secretary Xi emphasized that all Party members should learn about the history of the CPC, so as to better understand communism, have full confidence in ideals and firm faith in communism, improve our moral standards and guide our work. Xi Jinping urged efforts from all Party members to study the Party’s history, understand its theories, do practical work and make new advances, thus to embark on a new journey in high spirit to fully build a modern socialist China and to welcome the Party’s centenary with outstanding achievements.
Further perceiving the power of great ideas and enhancing the political consciousness to equip the whole Party with the theoretical innovation. Ideas are power. Over the past century, our Party has been sticking to the unity of emancipating minds and seeking truth from facts and the unity of remaining firm to our aspirations and principles and keeping to the right path and making innovations, and it constantly opens up new prospects for the development of Marxism, thus bringing into existence Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and providing scientific and theoretical guidance for the development of the Party and the people. It’s necessary to educate and guide the whole Party to learn from its extraordinary past so as to understand how Marxism has profoundly changed China and the world, perceive the power of Marxism both in truth and in practice and deepen the understanding of how the Marxism that is already adapted to the Chinese context can still continue in congruence with the Marxism and advance with the times in the meantime. In particular, we are supposed to learn and fully understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a new era in the context of the historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th CPC National Congress. Furthermore, efforts must be made to equip the whole Party with this important idea and use the theories to guide its practice and advance its work.
Further understanding the laws and trends of history and taking the initiative in the cause of the Party and the country. Our Party has always made full use of the basic tenets of Marxism to analyze and get to know the historical trend, handled the relationship between China and the world in a proper manner, and made good use of every historical opportunity. We ought to educate and guide all Party members to bear in mind the strategic landscape of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the once-in-a-century major shift in the world landscape, to establish a macro conception of history, analyze the mechanism for changes and explore the law governing the evolution of history from the past history, the current trend and the international changes, as well as put forward adaptive strategies to make our work systematic, prescient and creative.
Further deepening the understanding of the nature and purpose of the Party and upholding the spirit of a Marxist political Party. People represent the nation, and nation is made up of people: the survival of a Party depends of the support of its people. Throughout its 100-year history, the Party has been staying true to its original aspiration and founding mission, and it has been of one mind with the people, breathed the same breath as the people, and shared weal and woe with the people. We should educate and guide all Party members to have a deep understanding of the nature of our Party, keep in mind that the people come before all else and strive to help the people fulfill their desire for a better life . Besides, we should work to ensure that the gains of reform and development benefit all our people in a fair way and that more notable and substantial progress will be made in achieving common prosperity for everyone. Furthermore, the Party should cement the unity of 1.4 billion Chinese people to create an unstoppable force to push forward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Further summarizing the Party’s past experience and improving its ability to address risk and challenges. One important reason why our Party has gone from strength to strength is that it keeps summing up its experience and improving its skills and ability to deal with risks, rise to challenges and turn the corner. In order to better cope with all kinds of foreseeable and unforeseeable challenges in development, we need to gain from the history the inspiration for defeating enemies and winning the victory. Additionally, we ought to summarize and make use of the Party’s abundant experience of responding to challenges in different historical periods, make efforts, mentally and professionally, to prepare for changes in the external environment over a fairly long period of time, raise the awareness of struggle, enrich our experience, build our ability and improve the Party’s capacity for governance. It is of vital importance to educate and guide the whole Party by summing up the lessons of history and focusing on solving the problems in terms of Party building, so as to constantly improve the Party’s capacity for leadership and governance and enhance its ability to resist corruption and withstand risks.
Further carrying forward the revolutionary spirit and maintaining the spirit of hard work. To accomplish the glorious century-old history of CPC takes generations after generations of our Party members who have been fighting courageously and persistently, among whom are revolutionary martyrs who are determined to die, heroes who tenaciously struggle and advanced models who selflessly dedicate themselves, thus bringing the great spirits into existence, building up the spiritual pedigree of the CPC members and providing abundant nourishment for us to build and strengthen the Party. We ought to guide and educate all Party members to carry forward the traditions from revolutionary times, maintain the brave spirit of the revolutionaries, and march toward a brand-new journey.
Further strengthening the solidarity and unity of the Party, and ensuring that the whole Party march in unison. Taking a clear-cut political stand as well as safeguarding the Party’s unity and solidarity is the CPC’s lifelines, and the key to its endeavors of building a large political Party with a 100-year history and making historic achievements. We should educate and guide the whole Party to learn its history, both positive and negative, and to be firmly aligned with the CPC Central Committee. Besides, we must constantly improve their political judgment, understanding and execution, closely follow the CPC Central Committee in terms of the thinking, political stand and actions, and bring together the strength of the whole Party.
Launching a campaign on the Party history learning and education among all Party members is an essential event in the Party’s political life. General Secretary Xi Jinping required that "the whole Party members must attach great importance to it, improve political consciousness, base on realities, keep to the right path and make innovation so as to perform various tasks of study and education with high standard and quality." The consolidation for leadership of CPC asked Party committees (leading Party groups) at various levels to take the primary responsibility and the major leading comrades to lead by example in order to effectively implement the arrangements and requirements of the CPC Central Committee. It is imperative to establish a correct view of the Party’s history, precisely understand the mainstream of the Party’s historical development and unequivocally oppose historical nihilism. Besides, efforts must be made to combine Party history learning with summing up experience, responding to reality, advancing our work and solving practical problems. It is also necessary that we highlight the importance of innovation in methods and means, carry forward the Marxist style of study and resolutely overcome pointless formalism and bureaucratism.
It takes one century to fulfill the original goal and mission, lay a foundation of pioneering work and create a brilliant future. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and follow the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, the centurial CPC will be able to better sum up historical experience, understand the laws of history, take historical initiative, and continue to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era!