A circular issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) lays out the plan for a society-wide publicity and education campaign on the histories of the CPC, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the reform and opening-up, and socialist development (“four histories”) to mark the centenary of the founding of the CPC.
The circular stresses the following requirements for conducting the campaign:
1. Holding high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
2. Following the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, 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.
3. Fully implementing the guiding principles of the 19th CPC National Congress and the second through fifth plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee.
4. Strengthening the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership.
5. Reinforcing the confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
6. Upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, as well as the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership.
The campaign aims to popularize the history of the CPC, with the focus on the grassroots level and the ordinary people’s hearts and minds, and guide the public to deeply realize the great achievements the CPC has made for the country and nation, full-heartedly appreciate the Party’s original aspiration and tenet of always serving the people, learn the major theoretical achievements of the Party in adapting Marxism to China’s conditions, inherit and pass down the great spiritual legacy forged in the long-lasting struggles of the Party, and unswervingly follow the Party’s leadership to make remarkable contributions to building China into a modern socialist country in all aspects.
The circular makes clear that the campaign must be centered on studying, publicizing, and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which requires an accurate understanding of the theoretical, historical, and practical logic of the very thought and a constantly growing identification with it on the political, intellectual, theoretical, and emotional levels. To that end, it’s necessary to thoroughly learn and understand the major views of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the “four histories,” with extra attention paid to the timely, systematic, and practice-oriented study of the guiding principles of his important speeches delivered on the mobilization meeting on Party history learning and education and the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC. The underlying significance of the publicity and education campaign on the “four histories” must be fully grasped, and the campaign should focus on the coherence and compelling logic of its educational content, so that the people, especially the young people, could realize why the CPC can be so successful, why Marxism works, and why the socialism with Chinese characteristics is a right choice, and deepen their understanding and grasp of the Party’s history and theories.
The circular notes that various activities of publicity and education should be carried out across the country. First, conduct reading activities such as the “Recommended Books about the Achievements over the Past One Hundred Years,” “Revolutionary Classics Celebrating the Centenary of the CPC,” “Enhance Overall Qualities and Become Role Models,” as well as other special reading and learning programs of literature on Party building. Second, deliver lectures at the grassroots level. Extensive grassroots-level lecture tours should be organized to explain important principles with stories from everyday life. Public lectures on the current situation and lectures on the “four histories” should be held, with Party members in positions of leadership the first choice for making these lectures. Third, promote the study through experiences. The meanings of the red culture should be further explored, with red-culture exhibitions, red-culture travel routes, and learn-and-experience routes rolled out. In addition, solemn and educational ceremonies and activities and social practice activities that bring information about culture, science and technology, and hygiene to the countryside should be conducted. Fourth, pay tributes to revolutionary martyrs, honoring them with tomb-sweeping, flower presentation, eulogy reading, and viewing objects that tell their life stories on such commemorative occasions as the Martyrs’ Day and traditional festivals. The campaign of “Finding Relatives for Martyrs” and “Red Flag in My Heart,” a competition of red-culture tour guides, will be launched to carry forward their heroic spirits. Fifth, learn from role models. An intensive publicity campaign will be conducted about the 100 outstanding revolutionary heroes, 100 outstanding role models in socialist construction, and 100 outstanding pioneers of the times, as will be activities to learn from recipients of honors and commendations from the Party and the state and other role models of the times. Visits will be paid to the homes of veterans, aged Party members, aged model civilians that had supported the frontline CPC troops, and the families of revolutionary martyrs to solve their difficulties in life. Sixth, carry out activities to preserve red family traditions. Give full play to the leading role of civil families and families cultivated under the “Five Family Virtues” program (which encourages respect for the law, diligent study, family planning, domestic harmony, and industrious and thrifty management of the household), and tell the stories about family traditions through lecture tours, themed exhibitions, flash mobs, and group telling of family stories. Seventh, raise public awareness of the importance of national defense. Lecture tours will be organized in the theme of “A New Journey toward a Strong Country: Building a Strong Military with the Concerted Efforts of the Army and the People.” Barracks open days will be held, and great importance will be attached to the military training of university and high school students. Red research and study will be conducted based on national defense education bases to increase public awareness of the importance of national defense. Eighth, launch popular cultural activities. Art exhibitions, screenings of excellent films and TV series, exhibitions of online literary and artistic works, and knowledge and speech contests will be held. Cultural projects for the people will be implemented innovatively. Singing performances themed “A Folk Song for the Party,” square dance performances, and village Spring Festival galas will be held.
The circular stresses that all regions and departments should always keep in the right direction, develop an accurate view of history and understanding of the major theme and nature of the “four histories,” and unequivocally oppose historical nihilism. The youth should be given a high priority in the campaign, with education programs tailor-made for them according to their characteristics and habits, so as to foster in them a steadfast love for the Party, the country, and socialism, and pass down the revolutionary spirit from generation to generation. In addition, the forms of the activities should be diversified, patriotism education bases fully utilized, and highly-quality exhibitions held. Both the form and content of the activities should be carefully planned to increase the appeal of the “four histories” campaign. Online cultural products and literary and art works that are down to earth, popular among ordinary people, and with great potential to go viral should be created for the Internet, especially integrated media.
Overall planning and coordination should be enhanced to organically combine the publicity and education campaign on the “four histories” with the campaign on Party history learning and education and the themed mass publicity and education campaign “Always Follow the Party,” so that they can benefit from each other. The eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct and the rules for its implementation must be strictly adhered to, especially their parts about formalities for formalities’ sake and bureaucratism. Last but not least, safety management must be stepped up, with thorough COVID-19 prevention and control measures in place to ensure a safe and orderly campaign.