Successful Exploration of Party Building in New Period

One full year has passed since the launch of "three-stress" education (stressing theoretical study, political awareness and good conduct) among Party and government leading bodies and leading cadres at or above the county level. At present, the concentrated education at the two levels-provincial or ministerial, and prefectural or departmental-has come to an end of a stage, the "three-stress" education will soon be carried out comprehensively at the county (or city) level.

Over the past year, the "three-stress" education has been developing in depth from point to area and from the upper to the lower level. Many leading bodies and leading cadres have experienced notable changes. Ideologically, they have further reinforced their ideal and conviction in building socialism with Chinese characteristics through concentrated and in-depth study of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, particularly through linking this education with the brilliant achievements scored in the past 50 years since the founding of New China and the 20 years since the launch of the reform and opening drive, and with the three major political struggles against the barbaric action of US-led NATO's bombing of Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, against Lee Teng-hui's nasty trick of splitting the motherland and against the rampant activities of the Falun Gong heretic organizations. Politically, they have enhanced their awareness of politics, the whole situation and responsibility, further heightened their consciousness in comprehensively and correctly implementing the Party's basic theory, basic line and basic program, and their firmness in keeping identity with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core. In the style of work, they have further strengthened their sense of serving the people wholeheartedly, inspired their pioneering spirit and enhanced their abilities to repel the corrupting influence. In discipline, they have further strengthened their awareness of upholding Party spirit and principle, their self-consciousness of implementing the Party system of democratic centralism and their sense of responsibility for safeguarding unity. In short, we are happy to see that the ongoing "three-stress" education has been proceeding smoothly and healthily, the Party's combat effectiveness and cohesive force have been enhanced, and leading bodies and leading cadres have taken on a completely new mental outlook, thus giving a great impetus to the various fields of work related to reform, development and stability. Of course, we should also clearly see the existence of gaps and deficiency.

Retrospect of the past year's practice reveals that the ongoing "three-emphasis" education has provided many important experiences worth being summarized and promoted for Party building in the new period. The main ones are summed up as follows: It is necessary to vigorously promote the Marxist style of study characterized by linking theory with practice. Studying Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory must always be based on educating and raising the level of cadres; it is necessary to persistently set high standard and strict demand on cadres, guide them to correctly know themselves, constantly stimulate their inherent motive force of improving their own qualities; it is necessary to firmly believe in and rely on the masses, fully promote democracy and carry out open-door rectification in a guided and planned way; it is necessary to take up and properly use the weapon of criticism and self-criticism, and conduct active and healthy ideological struggle; it is necessary to strengthen leadership from top to bottom, clearly define responsibilities, particularly necessary to give full play to the role of the principal leaders or the first responsible persons and the role of the inspection groups. These experiences are of important significance to further successfully carrying out Party building, particularly ideological and political building among leading bodies and leading cadres in the future.

Facts are most convincing. The practice of the past year's "three-stress" education fully shows that the decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core is perfectly correct and highly necessary. The decision is about carrying out concentrated "three-stress" education among Party and government leading bodies and leading cadres at or above the county level in the spirit of rectification; the Party Central Committee's guiding principle, basic requirement and methods and steps for the "three-stress" education are realistic and effective. Practice also fully shows that the Party's fine style of linking theory with practice, cementing close ties with the masses and conducting criticism and self-criticism still has strong vitality under the new historical conditions.

The concentrated "three-stress" education now under way in the whole Party is a creative exploration of far-reaching significance and successful practice in solving the two major historical questions-raising the leading and ruling level of the Party, and enhancing its ability to repel corrupting influence and resist risks, and in promoting the new great project of Party building.

The "three-stress" education has both embodied the spirit of rectification and the principle of strictly managing the Party, it has both absorbed historical experiences and discarded past "left" practices; it has also both inherited past fine tradition and successful experiences relating to Party building, and has made new creation and development and so has the distinguishing characteristics of the times. We believe that along with the in-depth development of the "three-stress" education, this creative exploration will increasingly demonstrate its practical and theoretical significance.

As we review the past and look forward to the future, we are aware that the new great project of Party building faces a heavy task and a long way to go. In the new year, the whole Party must act on the plan and requirement of the Party Central Committee, continue to regard the "three-stress" education as the most important task in Party building, and make earnest efforts to grasp it firmly and properly.

(People's daily 2000/01/06)