Strengthen Commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-Sphere Confidence, and the Two Upholds* 

October 25, 2017-May 31, 2019

I 

Political leadership is crucial to the CPC Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. When we assess the caliber and capabilities of Party members and officials, especially those in high positions, we will judge in the first place whether they are politically resolute and reliable. A purposeful and trustworthy official must have the Four Consciousnesses, keep in line with the Central Committee in thinking, action and political orientation, uphold the authority of the Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, resolutely implement the Central Committee's decisions and plans in all their work, and not engage in political maneuverings.

Every member of the Central Committee must take a clear political stance. They must apply strict requirements to themselves as a Marxist statesman, adopt an appropriate political perspective, enhance political awareness, and undertake political responsibilities. They need to improve their political abilities, particularly the ability to set the direction, to grasp the general trend, to manage the overall situation, to maintain their political resolve, to cope with political issues, and to prevent political risks.

When planning future developments, formulating policies and measures, training officials, or implementing plans, we must aim to strengthen our Party's status as the ruling party in order to further the cause of the Party and the people. We must abide by political discipline and rules, fully observe the regulations on intra-Party political activities, ensure the implementation of the Central Committee's policies and decisions, make sure local interests submit to overall interests, and guarantee the right political orientation in all our work.

(from the speech at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC 

Central Committee, October 25, 2017)

II 

Upholding the CPC Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership is the prerequisite for bolstering overall Party leadership. Full and strict implementation of the Central Committee's decisions within the Party is crucial to the future of our Party and the country, and to the fundamental interests of all the people of China. Members of the Political Bureau must be clearly aware of this.

The report to the 19th CPC National Congress incorporates a focus on reinforcing the Party's political foundations into the general requirements for strengthening our Party for the new era, and makes it our primary task in promoting political progress to ensure that the whole Party defers to the Central Committee and upholds its authority and centralized, unified leadership. This stems from the wealth of experience we have accumulated through the process of revolution, economic development and reform, and is one of the founding principles of a mature Marxist ruling party. Members of the Political Bureau must take this principle as an essential political norm and a fundamental political requirement, endorse it in our thinking, safeguard it in our political philosophy, comply with it in organizational arrangements, and follow it in our actions. We must remain highly consistent with the Central Committee in political stance, orientation, principles and path, and uphold its authority. This is a test of our Party spirit; it is our Party's most fundamental political discipline and rule. 

(from the speech at a meeting of criticism and self-criticism among 

members of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC 

Central Committee, December 25-26, 2017)

III

It is a primary requirement to uphold CPC leadership. We must be clear and steadfast in this stance, rather than being hesitant, vague, evasive, or diffident. To uphold Party leadership, the most fundamental thing is to safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership. In the Four Principles of Deference¹ provided in the Party Constitution, what is most essential is that all organizations and members of the Party defer to the National Congress and the Central Committee. Among the Four Consciousnesses underlined by the Central Committee, upholding the authority of the Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership is pivotal. None of these are empty slogans.

Our officials should not simply express their compliance verbally, but must put it into action. The Central Committee requires that officials at all levels, high-ranking ones in particular, take a clearcut political stance and stay loyal to the Party. This means they must conscientiously consider and plan their work in accordance with the Central Committee's overall plans, respond promptly to its calls, fully implement its decisions, and put a stop to anything it prohibits. The implementation of the Central Committee's decisions and plans should be unconditional. There should be no unauthorized alterations or any attempt to "negotiate the terms". 

(from the speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 19th CPC 

Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, January 11, 2018)

IV 

The Party exercises overall leadership over all endeavors across the country. The primary requirement in adhering to Party leadership is to uphold the CPC Central Committee's authority and centralized, unified leadership. This is the paramount principle in maintaining Party leadership, and we must never equivocate or waver at any time and in any situation. We require the whole Party to hold in the highest regard the Party Constitution, and improve the Four Consciousnesses. We must improve the institutions and mechanisms for upholding Party leadership, and strengthen the Party's ability and resolve to chart the course, craft overall plans, design policies, and promote reform. Resolute efforts should be made to prevent any weakening of CPC leadership and any failure to strengthen the Party in any locality or local authority, and ensure that the whole Party maintains a high degree of unity with the Central Committee in thinking, action and political orientation. 

(from the speech at the CPC's National Conference on 

Organizational Work, July 3, 2018)

V 

Our Party was established in line with the Marxist principle of creating a political party, with a complete setup consisting of the central, local and grassroots units. This gives us a great strength that no other political party in the world possesses. The Central Committee, like the brain and main part of a body, must be the sole authority that makes the final decisions, so that it can control the subordinate parts just as "the body employs the arms and the arms employ the fingers without any difficulty, then the country runs as a whole"².

The fundamental task of local Party organizations is to ensure the full and strict implementation of the Central Committee's decisions and plans, and to act or cease to act as ordered by the Party. CPC leadership groups have a special position in the Party's structure. They must carry out the decisions and plans of the Central Committee and higher Party organizations, and do everything required in setting the direction, managing the overall situation, and guaranteeing implementation.

All Party members, especially those in official positions, must strengthen their Party identity and their commitment to the Party. They must keep in line with the Party in thinking, follow its political orientation, defer to its orders in their work, and uphold the Party from the heart. 

 (from the speech at the CPC's National Conference on 

Organizational Work, July 3, 2018)

VI 

The Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence³, and the Two Upholds⁴ are not abstract but concrete requirements. Officials, particularly high-ranking ones, should examine, make demands of, and review themselves, checking if their deeds accord with their thoughts. They must firmly and fully implement the decisions and plans of the Central Committee. They must strictly observe political discipline, and have a clear-cut and staunch stance on major matters of principle. They should be selfless and properly maintain the Central Committee's authority. They must say no to misconduct such as interference for personal gain by central leaders' family members, relatives, immediate staff, and close associates, and reject importuning by any person who claims a special relationship with central leaders. 

(from the speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC 

Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, January 11, 2019)

VII 

We should quicken our pace in making our Party more of a learning-oriented Marxist party, and nurturing a love of learning in our people, with studying and putting into practice the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the top priority. In this process, we should combine theory with reality, comprehend the fundamentals, seek truth, and understand the reasons and logic behind things. Strengthening their commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, the Four-sphere Confidence, and the Two Upholds, all Party members and officials should improve themselves against the standards of being loyal, upright and responsible, foster a pioneering spirit, and increase their abilities, so that in terms of thinking, ability and action they can keep abreast of the times, our cause, and the requirements of the Central Committee. 

(from the preface to the reading materials for the fifth group of 

trainee officials, written on February 27, 2019)

VIII 

This education campaign calls for strengthening our Party with sound political philosophy and theories, integrating our learning, thinking and practice, and seeking unity between what we know, what we believe in, and how we behave. Party members and officials are encouraged to study in a systematic way, to reflect on what they have learned, and to connect knowledge with reality. It is crucial for them to enhance the Four Consciousnesses, reinforce the Four-sphere Confidence, and ensure the Two Upholds. We should also try to guide them to strengthen their beliefs, reinforce the marrow of their faith, and maintain the correct way of thinking. 

(from the speech at the Conference on the Aspiration and Mission 

Education Campaign, May 31, 2019)

* Excerpts from speeches made between October 25, 2017 and May 31, 2019.

Notes 

¹ This means that individual Party members defer to Party organizations, the minority defers to the majority, lower-level Party organizations defer to higher-level Party organizations, and all organizations and members of the Party defer to the National Congress and the Central Committee of the Party. 

² Lü Zhong: Records of Major Events of the Dynasty (Lei Bian Huang Chao Da Shi Ji Jiang Yi). Lü Zhong (dates unknown) was a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). 

³ This refers to confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. 

⁴ This refers to upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)