Promoting the Development of New Quality Productive Forces through High-Quality Youth Talent Work

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Developing new quality productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and a key focal point for promoting high-quality development. We must continue to do a good job of writing the big article on innovation, and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.” Young people in the New Era[11] are an important force driving scientific and technological progress and industrial upgrading, bearing the great mission and responsibility of developing new quality productive forces. In January 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued the “Specific Measures for Further Strengthening the Cultivation and Use of Young Scientific and Technological Talents,” to further increase the training of young scientific and technological talents, broaden their growth space, and support them to “take the lead” and “play the leading role.”[1]1 “挑大梁” (take the lead) and “当主角” (play the leading role) are Chinese idioms used here to encourage young talents to assume major responsibilities and central roles. On the new journey, we must scientifically grasp the laws of youth work in the New Era, deeply implement the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, promote the deep integration of the talent chain with the innovation chain and industrial chain, transform talent advantages into innovation advantages and development advantages, and promote the development of new quality productive forces through high-quality youth talent work.

习近平总书记强调：“发展新质生产力是推动高质量发展的内在要求和重要着力点，必须继续做好创新这篇大文章，推动新质生产力加快发展。”新时代青年是推动科技进步和产业升级的重要力量，肩负着发展新质生产力的重大使命与担当。2024年1月，自然资源部印发《关于进一步加强青年科技人才培养使用的具体举措》，以进一步加大青年科技人才培养力度，拓宽青年科技人才成长空间，支持青年科技人才“挑大梁”“当主角”。新征程上，我们要科学把握新时代青年工作规律，深入实施人才强国战略，推动人才链与创新链、产业链深度融合，把人才优势转化为创新优势和发展优势，以高质量青年人才工作推动新质生产力发展。

In accordance with the requirements for developing new quality productive forces, smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, use, and reasonable flow of talent.

按照发展新质生产力要求，畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环，完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制

Youth are the most active and vibrant force in the entire society. They are energetic, quick-minded, and most creative, making positive and outstanding contributions to the Party’s central work in different historical periods such as revolution, construction, and reform. They are a new force for upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capability. On the new journey of Chinese-path modernization, we must break down institutional and mechanism obstacles to the growth and development of talent, and gather outstanding talents from all aspects into the cause of the Party and the people. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC,[8] the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on coordinating the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century — “the two overall situations”[7] — has made the major strategic choice that “we must take innovation as the primary driving force leading development,” placing talent work in a key position in the overall plan of governance, emphasizing adherence to giving priority to education development, achieving self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology, and letting talent lead the drive. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC[9] emphasized that we must adhere to science and technology as the primary productive force, talent as the primary resource, and innovation as the primary driving force, and deeply implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy. For the first time, education work, science and technology work, and talent work were considered as a whole and deployed integrally. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during the 11th collective study of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: “In accordance with the requirements for developing new quality productive forces, smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, use, and reasonable flow of talent.” In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee[10] proposed that “education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic supports for Chinese-path modernization,” and focused on building a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, making detailed arrangements for deepening the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent systems and mechanisms. At present, China already has a talent team with a huge scale, excellent quality, continuously optimized structure, and increasingly prominent role, but there is still a gap compared with the requirements for the development of new quality productive forces. We must grasp the strategic initiative, “in accordance with the requirements for developing new quality productive forces, smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, use, and reasonable flow of talent,” continuously optimize the talent cultivation model, create a better development environment for young people, and stimulate their innovative spirit and creativity.

青年是整个社会力量中最积极、最有生气的力量，他们朝气蓬勃，思维敏捷，最具创造活力，为革命、建设、改革等不同历史时期党的中心工作作出积极突出贡献，是坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的新生力量。中国式现代化建设新征程上，我们要破除人才成长发展的体制机制障碍，把各方面优秀人才集聚到党和人民事业中来。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央，立足统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，作出“我们必须把创新作为引领发展的第一动力”的重大战略抉择，把人才工作摆在治国理政大局的关键位置，强调坚持教育优先发展、科技自立自强、人才引领驱动。党的二十大报告强调，必须坚持科技是第一生产力、人才是第一资源、创新是第一动力，深入实施科教兴国战略、人才强国战略、创新驱动发展战略。首次将教育工作、科技工作、人才工作统筹考虑、整体部署。习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第十一次集体学习时强调：“要按照发展新质生产力要求，畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环，完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制。”2024年7月，党的二十届三中全会提出“教育、科技、人才是中国式现代化的基础性、战略性支撑”，并聚焦构建支持全面创新体制机制，对深化教育科技人才体制机制一体改革作出细化部署。目前，我国已经拥有一支规模宏大、素质优良、结构不断优化、作用日益突出的人才队伍，但与新质生产力发展要求相比还有差距。我们要把握战略主动，“要按照发展新质生产力要求，畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环，完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制”，持续优化人才培养模式，为青年人创造更好的发展环境，激发他们的创新精神和创造能力。

Strengthen and improve the youth work system with systematic thinking, and further strengthen the cultivation and use of young scientific and technological talents.

以系统思维健全完善青年工作体系，进一步加强青年科技人才培养使用

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, from the strategic height of the cause of the Party and the state being passed down from generation to generation[2]2 “薪火相传” (lit. “the torch is passed from one generation to another”) is a Chinese idiom indicating the continuation of a cause or tradition. and having successors, has incorporated the growth and success of youth into the overall layout of governance and national rejuvenation, attaching great importance to and vigorously promoting youth work. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Build a large-scale team of young scientific and technological talents.” On the new journey, we must implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, adhere to systematic thinking, accurately grasp the overall requirements and main tasks of the Party’s youth work in the New Era, guide youth to become the vanguard force for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and let youth bloom in the fiery practice of achieving high-quality development and advancing Chinese-path modernization.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从党和国家事业薪火相传、后继有人的战略高度，将青年成长成才纳入治国理政与民族复兴的总体布局，高度重视和大力推进青年工作。习近平总书记指出，“造就规模宏大的青年科技人才队伍”。新征程上，我们要贯彻落实党的二十大精神，坚持系统思维，准确把握新时代党的青年工作的总体要求和主要任务，引导青年成为实现中华民族伟大复兴的先锋力量，让青春在实现高质量发展、推进中国式现代化的火热实践中绽放绚丽之花。

Adhere to innovation-driven development and stimulate the innovation and creativity vitality of youth. To do a good job of youth work in the New Era, the core task is through institutional construction, focusing on promoting the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of youth work, and further improving the scientific, standardized, procedural, and normalized level of youth work. Youth work should focus on cultivating the innovative thinking of youth, encouraging them to dare to break through traditional constraints and explore unknown fields. By setting up innovation projects, holding innovation competitions, and other forms, provide a platform for youth to show themselves and exchange ideas, stimulating their innovation inspiration and creative potential. Creating a good atmosphere of openness, inclusiveness, and encouragement of innovation is an important guarantee for stimulating the innovation and creativity vitality of youth. Youth work should strive to build policy environment, institutional environment, and cultural environment conducive to the growth and success of youth, provide necessary support such as funds, technology, and information for youth innovation, so that they dare to innovate, are good at innovating, and enjoy innovating. Innovation is not a castle in the air;[3]3 “空中楼阁” (lit. “a castle in the air”) is a Chinese idiom meaning something unrealistic or groundless. it must be rooted in practice. Youth work should guide youth to go deep into the grassroots and the front line, understand national conditions and public sentiment, combine learned knowledge with practical problems, improve problem-solving ability through practice, and at the same time discover new problems and new opportunities in practice, promoting the transformation and application of innovation achievements.

坚持创新驱动，激发青年创新创造活力。做好新时代的青年工作，核心工作是通过制度建设，注重推进青年工作的系统性整体性协调性，进一步提高青年工作的科学化规范化程序化常态化水平。青年工作应着重培养青年的创新思维，鼓励他们敢于突破传统束缚，勇于探索未知领域。通过设立创新项目、举办创新大赛等形式，为青年提供展示自我、交流思想的平台，激发他们的创新灵感和创造潜能。营造开放包容、鼓励创新的良好氛围，是激发青年创新创造活力的重要保障。青年工作应努力构建有利于青年成长成才的政策环境、制度环境和文化环境，为青年创新提供必要的资金、技术、信息等支持，让他们敢于创新、善于创新、乐于创新。创新不是空中楼阁，必须根植于实践之中。青年工作应引导青年深入基层、深入一线，了解国情民情，将所学知识与实际问题相结合，通过实践锻炼提升解决问题的能力，同时也在实践中发现新问题、新机遇，推动创新成果的转化应用。

Promote integrated development and gather the youth force for developing new quality productive forces. Encourage youth to cross-field and cross-disciplinary exchanges and cooperation, promote the deep integration of new quality productive forces with traditional industries, and spawn new business forms and new models. By building platforms for industry-university-research-application cooperation, promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces, allowing youth to achieve the unity of self-worth and social value in the process of participating in innovation practice. At the same time, strengthen ideological and political education, guide youth to establish a correct worldview, outlook on life, and values, and integrate personal ideals into the overall situation of national development. In response to the needs of the development of new quality productive forces, implement more precise and effective talent cultivation plans, increase support for young scientific and technological talents and innovative talents, and provide them with more growth opportunities and development space. The core of new quality productive forces lies in innovation, and young talents are the main force of innovation. Through education, training, practice and other means, stimulate the innovative thinking and innovation ability of youth, encourage them to explore and practice in various fields of new quality productive forces, continuously break through technical bottlenecks, and promote scientific and technological progress. The development of new quality productive forces cannot be separated from the support and promotion of industry. It is necessary to promote the deep integration of young talents with industry, promote their in-depth understanding of industrial needs and development trends, and transform innovative achievements into actual productive forces. At the same time, encourage enterprises to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with young talents, and jointly promote the development of new quality productive forces.

促进融合发展，汇聚发展新质生产力的青年力量。鼓励青年跨领域、跨学科交流合作，推动新质生产力与传统产业深度融合，催生新业态、新模式。通过搭建产学研用合作平台，促进科技成果向现实生产力转化，让青年在参与创新实践的过程中实现自我价值和社会价值的统一。同时，加强思想政治教育，引导青年树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，将个人理想融入国家发展大局之中。针对新质生产力发展的需求，实施更加精准有效的人才培养计划，加大对青年科技人才、创新人才的扶持力度，为他们提供更多的成长机会和发展空间。新质生产力的核心在于创新，而青年人才正是创新的主力军。要通过教育、培训和实践等多种方式，激发青年的创新思维和创新能力，鼓励他们在新质生产力的各个领域进行探索和实践，不断突破技术瓶颈，推动科技进步。新质生产力的发展离不开产业的支撑和推动。要促进青年人才与产业的深度融合，推动其深入了解产业需求和发展趋势，将创新成果转化为实际生产力。同时，也要鼓励企业加强与青年人才的合作与交流，共同推动新质生产力的发展。

Optimize the mechanism for talent flow and allocation, and strengthen the management of young innovative talents. By solidly promoting the improvement of the youth work system, strive to forge a team of “experts”[4]4 “行家里手” is a Chinese idiom meaning an expert or connoisseur in a specific field. in promoting youth work who care about the vast number of youth, take youth as the foundation, deeply rooted in youth, fully rely on youth, and do everything for youth. Promote the free and orderly flow of talent resource elements in a wider range of different fields, departments, industries, and regions, achieving optimal allocation. Strengthen supervision over the flow of young innovative talents to prevent brain drain and waste, ensuring that talent resources are fully utilized. Guide young scientific and technological talents to gather in key areas and key positions, implement more active, open, and effective talent policies, and attract more young talents to invest in the development process of new quality productive forces. As future builders and successors, young people in the New Era shoulder the important mission of leading future development. Through continuous learning, practice, and innovation, young talents will continuously promote the progress and development of new quality productive forces, laying a solid foundation for high-quality economic and social development. It is necessary to strengthen education and guidance, through curriculum setting, teacher training, etc., to enhance the scientific literacy and technical ability of youth. Make the young generation actively devote themselves to the country’s scientific and technological innovation, write papers on the land of the motherland,[6]6 “把论文写在祖国的大地上” (write papers on the land of the motherland) is a well-known saying by Xi Jinping, urging scientists and promote the country’s high-quality development. The vast number of young people should respond to the call of the times for talent, grasp opportunities and challenges, be brave to take responsibility, inject more youthful strength into accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, and help achieve my country’s high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement.

优化人才流动与配置机制，加强青年创新人才管理。通过扎实推动健全青年工作体系，努力锻造一支心系广大青年，以青年为本，深深植根青年、充分依靠青年、一切为了青年的推动青年工作的“行家里手”队伍。推动人才资源要素在不同领域、不同部门、不同行业、不同地区等更广泛的范围内自由有序流动，实现优化配置。加强对青年创新人才流动的监管，防止人才流失和浪费，确保人才资源得到充分利用。引导青年科技人才向重点领域和关键岗位集聚，实施更加积极、开放、有效的人才政策，吸引更多青年人才投入新质生产力发展进程。新时代青年作为未来的建设者和接班人，他们肩负着引领未来发展的重要使命。通过不断学习、实践和创新，青年人才将不断推动新质生产力的进步和发展，为经济社会的高质量发展奠定坚实的基础。要加强教育引导，通过课程设置、师资培训等方式，提升青年的科学素养和技术能力。使青年一代积极投身祖国科技创新，把论文写在祖国的大地上，推进国家高质量发展。广大青年要响应时代人才呼唤，要把握机遇与挑战，勇于负责，为加快发展新质生产力注入更多青春力量，助力实现我国高水平科技自立自强。

“Young talents are the source of living water[5]5 “源头活水” (lit. “living water from the source”) is an idiom originating from a poem by the Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi (1130–1200), used here to describe young talents as a continuous and vital source for strategic talent. for the country’s strategic talent force.” On the new journey, we must place the policy focus of cultivating the country’s strategic talent force on young scientific and technological talents, through systematic top-level design, give young talents more trust, better help, and stronger support, support young talents to take the lead and play the leading role;[1]1 “挑大梁” (take the lead) and “当主角” (play the leading role) are Chinese idioms used here to encourage young talents to assume major responsibilities and central roles. we must further improve policy support and incentive measures, so that young scientific and technological talents can settle down, feel at ease, be content in their careers, and empower the development of new quality productive forces.

“青年人才是国家战略人才力量的源头活水。”新征程上，我们要把培育国家战略人才力量的政策重心放在青年科技人才上，通过系统谋划顶层设计，给予青年人才更多的信任、更好的帮助、更有力的支持，支持青年人才挑大梁、当主角；要进一步完善政策支持和激励措施，让青年科技人才安身、安心、安业，赋能新质生产力发展。

(Authors: Wei Ziping, Teacher at the School of Public Management and Law, Anhui University of Technology; Ding Ning, Undergraduate at the School of Public Management and Law, Anhui University of Technology)

（作者：韦子平，安徽工业大学公共管理与法学院教师；丁宁，安徽工业大学公共管理与法学院本科生）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧