The Essence of the Work Style Issue Is a Matter of Party Spirit

Party spirit and work style are inseparable. Party spirit is the inner foundation of work style, and work style is the external manifestation of party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The essence of the work style issue is a matter of party spirit.” Party spirit is the cornerstone for Party members and cadres to establish themselves, pursue their careers, articulate their words, and cultivate their virtue, and it is also the fundamental basis for our Party to maintain its advanced nature and purity. When party spirit is pure, work style is upright; when party spirit is impure, work style is incorrect. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has begun its breakthrough by formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulations of the Central Committee, persistently improving conduct and enforcing discipline, rectifying the “Four Forms of Decadence”[1]1 A reference to the contrast between the Communist Party’s clean, mass-line governance in its Yan’an base area and the corrupt, bureaucratic rule of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) based in Xi’an during the 1930s-40s. with the spirit of driving a nail, and successively carrying out a series of centralized study and education activities, pushing the Party’s work style construction deeper and more solidly, and continuously forming and developing a political ecosystem within the Party that is upright and clean.

党性与作风密不可分。党性是作风的内在根基，作风是党性的外在表现。习近平总书记指出：“作风问题本质上是党性问题。”党性是党员、干部立身、立业、立言、立德的基石，也是我们党始终保持先进性和纯洁性的根本所在。党性纯洁则作风端正，党性不纯则作风不正。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从制定实施中央八项规定开局破题，持之以恒正风肃纪，以钉钉子精神纠治“四风”，先后开展一系列集中学习教育，推动党的作风建设走深走实，风清气正的党内政治生态不断形成和发展。

The work style of cadres is a barometer for the people to observe and evaluate the Party’s conduct

干部作风是人民群众观察评价党风的晴雨表

The Party’s work style concerns the Party’s image, concerns the support or opposition of the people, and concerns the survival or extinction of the Party.

党的作风关系党的形象，关系人心向背，关系党的生死存亡。习近平总书记深刻指出，“干部作风是人民群众观察评价党风的晴雨表”，告诫全党“人民群众最痛恨腐败和不正之风”。党员干部与群众打交道，其工作态度、办事效率、生活作风会直接影响到群众对党组织的信任。比如，在乡村振兴工作中，驻村干部是否真正深入基层真抓实干，是否真正与群众同吃同住同劳动，群众都切实看在眼里。党的作风正，人民的心气顺，党和人民就能同甘共苦，我们的事业就会蓬勃发展。反之，如果不注重作风建设，听任不正之风侵蚀党的肌体，就会像一座无形的墙把党和人民群众隔开，党就会失去根基、失去血脉、失去力量。

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has always attached great importance to strengthening work style building. During the Yan’an period, through the work style innovation of “seeing only public servants, not officials,” our Party enabled the masses to perceive the essential difference between the old and new political parties, ultimately “defeating the Xi’an work style with the Yan’an work style.” [1]1 A reference to the contrast between the Communist Party’s clean, mass-line governance in its Yan’an base area and the corrupt, bureaucratic rule of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) based in Xi’an during the 1930s-40s. An important reason why our Party has united and led the people to achieve great successes in revolution, construction, and reform is that our Party has cultivated and adhered to a whole set of glorious traditions and fine work styles in long-term practice.

中国共产党自成立以来，始终高度重视加强作风建设。延安时期，我们党通过“只见公仆不见官”的作风革新，让群众看到新旧政党的本质差异，最终“用延安作风打败西安作风”。我们党团结带领人民取得革命、建设、改革的伟大成就，很重要的一条就是我们党在长期实践中培育并坚持了一整套光荣传统和优良作风。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, targeting work style issues of close concern to the people, has drawn red lines for work style with “institutional iron rules,” leading from the top to promote the building of the Party’s work style throughout the Party without slackening, without stopping, and setting out anew. It has curbed some unhealthy tendencies that had long gone unchecked, and corrected some stubborn and chronic maladies that had persisted for years. The cadre work style, this “barometer,” measures the waxing and waning of popular sentiment and gauges the depth of the foundation of governance. Only by maintaining the high degree of consciousness that “work style building is always on the way and never has a rest” can we ensure that the Party’s image in the hearts of the people remains forever like a bright red flag, fluttering forever in the wind.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央针对人民群众密切关注的作风问题，以“制度铁规”划出作风红线，以上率下推进全党作风建设不松劲、不停步、再出发，刹住了一些长期没有刹住的歪风，纠治了一些多年未除的顽瘴痼疾。干部作风这个“晴雨表”，量出的是民心的阴晴圆缺，测出的是执政的根基深浅。只有保持“作风建设永远在路上，永远没有休止符”的高度自觉，才能确保党在人民群众心中的形象始终如鲜红旗帜，永远迎风飘扬。

Serious and earnest inner-Party political life is the “purifier” for cleansing the Party’s work style

严肃认真的党内政治生活是纯洁党风的“净化器”

The Communist Party of China has always regarded inner-Party political life as the main platform for Party organizations to educate and manage Party members and for Party members to temper their Party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Long-term practice has proven that serious and earnest inner-Party political life is an important magic weapon for our Party to uphold its nature and purpose, maintain its advanced nature and purity, a ‘golden key’ for resolving inner-Party contradictions and problems, a ‘great furnace’ for the vast number of Party members and cadres to temper their Party spirit, and a ‘purifier’ for cleansing the Party’s work style.” This important exposition profoundly reveals the great significance of serious and earnest inner-Party political life for purifying the Party’s work style and forging an ironclad contingent. The “Party work style purifier,” by continuously filtering out harmful components, removing harmful substances, and promoting self-repair, ensures the health of the Party’s organism. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the vast number of Party members and cadres have armed their minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, continuously strengthening the “Four Consciousnesses,” [2]2 The Four Consciousnesses: 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. firming up the “Four Confidences,” [3]3 The Four Confidences: confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. and achieving the “Two Upholds,” [4]4 The Two Upholds: uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole; uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. building a solid foundation of faith, replenishing the calcium of the spirit, and steadying the helm of thought.

中国共产党始终将党内政治生活作为党组织教育管理党员和党员进行党性锻炼的主要平台。习近平总书记强调：“长期实践证明，严肃认真的党内政治生活是我们党坚持党的性质和宗旨、保持先进性和纯洁性的重要法宝，是解决党内矛盾和问题的‘金钥匙’，是广大党员、干部锤炼党性的‘大熔炉’，是纯洁党风的‘净化器’。”这一重要论述深刻揭示了严肃认真的党内政治生活对于净化党风、锻造过硬队伍的重大意义。“党风净化器”通过持续过滤不良成分、清除有害物质、促进自我修复，确保党的肌体健康。党的十八大以来，广大党员干部以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装头脑，不断增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵。

From the Gutian Congress establishing the principle of “building the Party ideologically,” [5]5 The Gutian Congress (December 1929) was a landmark meeting of the Red Army that established the principle of Party building on an ideological foundation, emphasizing political work and opposing non-proletarian ideas within the Party. to the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee deliberating and adopting the *Norms for Inner-Party Political Life under the New Situation*; [6]6 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee (October 2016) focused on comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, issuing new norms for inner-Party political life. from advocating a political situation of “having both centralism and democracy,” to emphasizing “enhancing the political nature, contemporary relevance, principled nature, and militant character of inner-Party political life, and comprehensively purifying the inner-Party political ecosystem,” the Party’s historical practice has proven that the more critical the historical juncture, the more necessary it is to unleash the purifying effect of inner-Party political life. Serious and earnest inner-Party political life and a pure and healthy inner-Party political ecosystem are the soil for generating the Party’s fine work style, the source of power for the Party’s vigorous vitality, and important conditions for maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity and enhancing the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. On the new journey of the New Era, facing the “Four Tests” [7]7 The Four Tests: tests of governance, reform and opening up, the market economy, and the external environment. and the “Four Dangers,” [8]8 The Four Dangers: dangers of lack of drive, incompetence, disconnection from the people, and corruption. we must always implement the “purifier” of inner-Party political life in practice, ensuring that the Party is always the most reliable backbone of the Chinese people.

从古田会议确立“思想建党”原则，到党的十八届六中全会审议通过《关于新形势下党内政治生活的若干准则》；从倡导“又有集中又有民主”的政治局面，到强调“增强党内政治生活的政治性、时代性、原则性、战斗性，全面净化党内政治生态”，党的历史实践证明，越是重大历史关头，越需要发挥党内政治生活的净化作用。严肃认真的党内政治生活、纯净健康的党内政治生态，是党的优良作风的生成土壤，是党的旺盛生机的动力源泉，是保持党的先进性纯洁性、提高党的创造力凝聚力战斗力的重要条件。新时代新征程，面对“四大考验”“四种危险”，要始终将党内政治生活这个“净化器”落到实处，确保党始终是中国人民最可靠的主心骨。

Firming up ideals and convictions is the foundation for maintaining and developing the Party’s fine work style

坚定理想信念是保持和发扬党的优良作风的根本

Conviction is the root, work style is the form; when the root is upright, the form gathers; when the root is not upright, the form will inevitably scatter. To maintain and develop the Party’s fine work style, firming up ideals and convictions is the foundation. The Communist Party of China takes Marxism as its foundation for building the Party, the realization of communism as its highest ideal, and wholeheartedly serving the people as its fundamental purpose. This is the “root” of Communists. Without these, it is like a tree without roots.

信念是本，作风是形，本正而形聚，本不正则形必散。保持和发扬党的优良作风，坚定理想信念是根本。中国共产党以马克思主义为立党之本，以实现共产主义为最高理想，以全心全意为人民服务为根本宗旨。这就是共产党人的本。没有了这些，就是无本之木。

It can be said that ideals and convictions are the spiritual genes of the Party’s fine work style, and the Party’s fine work style is the realistic projection of ideals and convictions. From the arduous struggle work style of “red rice and pumpkin soup” during the Jinggangshan period, to the self-reliance spirit of “we ourselves get things done, ample food and clothing” during the Yan’an period, their core is the unswerving adherence to communist faith. Behind the historical conclusion that “the victory of the Huaihai Campaign was pushed by the common people with small carts” [9]9 A famous phrase describing how millions of ordinary peasants used handcarts to transport supplies for the Communist forces during the Huaihai Campaign (1948-49), a decisive battle of the Chinese Civil War. lies the high unity of the Communists’ strict work style of “not taking a single needle or thread from the masses” with the ideal and conviction of “fighting for the people to win the world.”

可以说，理想信念是党的优良作风的精神基因，党的优良作风是理想信念的现实投射。从井冈山时期“红米饭、南瓜汤”的艰苦奋斗作风，到延安时期“自己动手、丰衣足食”的自力更生精神，其内核都是对共产主义信仰的不懈坚守。“淮海战役的胜利是老百姓用小车推出来的”这一历史结论的背后，是共产党人“不拿群众一针一线”严明作风与“为人民打天下”理想信念的高度统一。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Firming up ideals and convictions is not empty; it must target specific problems that may be faced.” In the battle against poverty, the deeds of Huang Wenxiu, who “interpreted her original aspiration with her life,” [10]10 Huang Wenxiu (1989-2019) was a Party official who died in a flash flood while working in poverty alleviation in Guangxi; she was posthumously hailed as a model Party member. are a vivid example of ideals and convictions transforming into a pragmatic work style. The old hero Zhang Fuqing, who hid his merits and fame for over sixty years, and none of whose three children relied on his connections for schooling or employment, stems from the conviction of “Communist Party members cannot enjoy privileges,” embodying the traditional work style of Communists “bearing hardships first and enjoying pleasures last.” [11]11 Zhang Fuqing (1924-2022) was a war hero who concealed his military honors for decades and worked in remote poverty-stricken areas; he was celebrated as a model of selfless dedication. “The key to measuring whether a cadre has ideals and convictions lies in whether they are loyal to the Party. Leading cadres must be loyal, clean, and responsible, with loyalty always being the first priority.” The loyalty of Communists is manifested in strictly observing the Party’s political discipline and political rules, being a sensible and honest person in politics. Party members and cadres must strictly place every word and action under the constraints of the Party’s discipline and rules, always remembering that their first identity is that of a Communist Party member, and their first duty is to work for the Party, being loyal to the organization, sharing the same heart and mind with the Party at all times, and earnestly achieving a resolute response to what the Party Central Committee advocates, resolute implementation of what the Party Central Committee decides, and resolute refusal to do what the Party Central Committee prohibits.

习近平总书记指出：“坚定理想信念不是空泛的，要针对可能面对的具体问题。”在脱贫攻坚战中，黄文秀“用生命诠释初心”的事迹正是理想信念转化为务实作风的鲜活例证。老英雄张富清深藏功名六十多年，家中三个儿女，没有一个人靠他的关系上学找工作，这源于“共产党员不能享特权”的信念坚守，体现了共产党员“吃苦在前、享受在后”的传统作风。“衡量干部是否有理想信念，关键看是否对党忠诚。领导干部要忠诚干净担当，忠诚始终是第一位的。”共产党人的忠诚，体现为严守党的政治纪律和政治规矩，做政治上的明白人、老实人。党员干部要把自己的一言一行严格置于党的纪律规矩约束下，始终牢记自己的第一身份是共产党员，第一职责是为党工作，做到忠诚于组织，任何时候都与党同心同德，切实做到党中央提倡的坚决响应，党中央决定的坚决执行，党中央禁止的坚决不做。

Tempering Party spirit and strengthening political cultivation is a lifelong subject for Party members and cadres

锤炼党性、加强政治修养是党员干部的终身课题

The Communist Party of China regards the Party’s political construction as the fundamental construction of the Party, emphasizing that political cultivation is the core of Party spirit cultivation and the fundamental cultivation of Party members and cadres. Reviewing our Party’s history of over a hundred years, attaching importance to tempering Party spirit and strengthening political cultivation is not only an important tradition for strengthening Party building, but also an important experience for continuously enhancing the Party’s cohesion and continuously moving from victory to victory. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Leading cadres must take tempering Party spirit and improving ideological awareness as a lifelong subject, learning, cultivating, and improving until old age. Political cultivation must be placed at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, drawing nourishment for Party spirit from the Party’s innovative theories, and regarding the study, compliance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline as important content of Party spirit cultivation.” All Party members must maintain political sobriety and firmness at all times, continuously improving political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution ability. They must continuously strengthen Party spirit exercise, constantly enhance Party spirit cultivation, achieving the state of having the Party in mind, having the people in mind, having responsibility in mind, and having discipline in mind.

中国共产党将党的政治建设作为党的根本性建设，强调政治修养是党性修养的核心，是党员干部的根本性修养。回顾我们党百余年的历程，重视锤炼党性、加强政治修养，既是加强党的建设的重要传统，也是不断提高党的凝聚力、不断从胜利走向胜利的重要经验。习近平总书记强调：“领导干部要把锤炼党性、提高思想觉悟作为终身课题，活到老、学到老、修养到老。要把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，从党的创新理论中汲取党性滋养，把学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪作为党性修养的重要内容。”全体党员要时刻保持政治上的清醒和坚定，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。要始终加强党性锻炼，不断增进党性修养，做到心中有党、心中有民、心中有责、心中有戒。

One must draw nourishment for Party spirit from the Party’s innovative theories, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and deeply study and understand them, internalizing them as one’s own thought and guide to action, thereby continuously strengthening and enhancing one’s own cultivation of Party spirit. Making the study, observance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline an important component of Party spirit cultivation ensures that every Party member regards the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline as a “mirror carried on the person,” forging an indestructible body through the “integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action.” [12]12 “Integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action” (学思用贯通、知信行统一) is a standard CPC formulation urging Party members to combine study, reflection, and practice, and to align knowledge, conviction, and conduct. At the same time, it is necessary to improve and perfect the intra-Party supervision mechanism, strengthen supervision over Party member leading cadres, and ensure that all Party members maintain a high degree of alignment with the Party Central Committee in political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path. Tempering a strong Party spirit is only in progress, never completed; from the day every Party member and cadre joins the Party, they must abide by the oath of admission to the Party, take strengthening Party spirit cultivation and sharpening loyal character as a lifelong task, and constantly cultivate and refine it within strict intra-Party political life. Only in this way can a strong Party spirit be tempered and a sound political ecosystem be promoted.

要从党的创新理论，尤其是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中汲取党性滋养，深入学习理解并将其内化为个人的思想和行动指南，从而不断加强和提升自身的党性修养。把学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪作为党性修养的重要内容，确保每一位党员都能把党章党规党纪作为“随身镜”，在“学思用贯通、知信行统一”中锻造金刚不坏之身。同时，要健全完善党内监督机制，加强对党员领导干部的监督，确保全体党员在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上始终同党中央保持高度一致。锤炼坚强党性只有进行时，没有完成时，每名党员干部从入党的那一天起，就要恪守入党誓词，把加强党性修养、砥砺忠诚品格作为终身课题，在严格党内政治生活中常修常炼，如此才能锤炼坚强党性，推动形成良好政治生态。

(Author bios: Hong Xianghua, Deputy Director and Professor of the Scientific Research Department, Central Party School (National Academy of Governance); Zhang Guangze, Doctoral Candidate, School of Marxism, Shandong University)

（作者简介：洪向华，中共中央党校（国家行政学院）科研部副主任、教授；张光泽，山东大学马克思主义学院博士研究生）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心