Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and delivers an important speech. The meeting of criticism and self-criticism, themed on studying the Party's history, stressed carrying forward the Party's great founding spirit and upholding its historical experience from the endeavors over the past century. The meeting was held from Dec 27 to 28. [Photo/Xinhua

Political Bureau meeting hails his role as helmsman in leading CPC, nation

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has underlined the need for stronger confidence in the Party's history, heightened unity and enhanced fighting spirit, for the CPC to respond to various foreseeable and unforeseeable challenges.

Speaking during a two-day meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee－the Party's core leadership－on Monday and Tuesday, Xi highlighted the Party's history as the most vivid and convincing textbook.

He underscored that the CPC will take a stronger initiative in the future as it gains a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of the course and pattern of history and gains wisdom from history.

The meeting reviewed a report on practicing the eight-point frugality rules and a report on solving the problem of formalism and reducing the burden at the grassroots level.

The meeting focused on the theme of amplifying the CPC's founding spirit, fully understanding the historical experience of the Party's century of struggle, shoring up confidence in history, remaining true to original aspirations and missions and living up to responsibilities on the new and testing journey.

Members of the Political Bureau spoke one after another at the meeting. They examined their own record and those of their colleagues, and shared their thoughts and insights.

They hailed Xi's role as the helmsman in leading the Party and State in securing historic achievements and experiencing historic transformations.

The meeting called for unremitting efforts to improve the Party's work style, highlighting risks in the recurrence of the practices of formalism and bureaucratism.

It is important to continue with self-reform, implement the Party's eight-point frugality rules, address the practices of formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, and reduce the burden at the grassroots level, they said.

Xi underscored at the meeting that unswerving confidence in the Party's history is instrumental for the CPC to face new tests and deliver outstanding performances.

The CPC has been committed to seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation over the past century and promoting progress and common good in the world, which provided the Party with the greatest source of confidence in its history, he said.

It also endowed the Party with confidence to stay in power over the longer term and to lead the people to continue marching forward, Xi said.

The Party can now say with pride that it is worthy of the choice of history and the people, he said.

He highlighted the need to build consensus among the whole Party and society on an authentic understanding of history, and help Party members and the people, especially young people, to shore up their confidence in history.

The Party's life lies in its unity, and political unity must always come first, he said.

Xi stressed the necessity to summarize and properly use the Party's fighting experience, think about worst-case scenarios, be ever ready to protect against potential dangers in time of peace and enhance its fighting spirit in the new historic circumstances.

He called on members of the Political Bureau to remain true to their original aspirations and missions, think less of personal gains and losses and always give priority to the cause of the Party and the people.

They must always stay close to and share happiness and woe with the people, firm up their ideals and beliefs and obtain the political wisdom to tell right from wrong, he said.

Xi stressed that the Party's 20th National Congress next year would be the top political agenda in the work of the Political Bureau, and it is important for its members to fulfill their responsibilities faithfully with a strong sense of political responsibility and their historical mission.

With the Party undergoing a leadership transition this year and next year, he urged senior officials to strictly abide by discipline and rules and comply with the arrangements of Party organizations.

Source:China Daily