Place Political Cultivation at the Forefront of Party Spirit Cultivation

At present, the entire Party is carrying out a study and education campaign to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations [1]1 “补钙壮骨、强身健体” (literally “supplement calcium, strengthen bones, build up the body”) is a metaphorical expression in Chinese political discourse, meaning to fortify one’s ideological and political foundation., with "guiding Party members and cadres to temper their Party spirit and raise their ideological awareness" as one of its important objectives. When presiding over the民主生活会 [2]2 “纲举目张” (literally “when the main rope of a net is lifted, all the meshes open”) is a Chinese idiom from the philosophical text *Huainanzi*, used here to mean that grasping the key point (political cultivation) brings everything else into order. of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee from December 26 to 27, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Leading cadres must take tempering Party spirit and raising ideological awareness as a lifelong task, learning, understanding, and cultivating themselves until the end of their days. They must place political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, draw nourishment for Party spirit from the Party's innovative theories, and make studying, observing, and implementing the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline an important component of Party spirit cultivation." To temper Party spirit and raise ideological awareness, it is essential to place political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, consciously integrate the emphasis on politics throughout the entire process of Party spirit tempering, and continuously improve political judgment, political understanding, and political execution.

当前，全党正在开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育，“引导党员、干部锤炼党性、提高思想觉悟”是其中一项重要目标。习近平总书记2024年12月26日至27日在主持召开中央政治局民主生活会时强调：“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。”锤炼党性、提高思想觉悟，必须把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，自觉把讲政治贯穿于党性锻炼全过程，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。

I. An Inevitable Requirement for Strengthening Party Building in the New Era

一、加强新时代党的建设的必然要求

Political cultivation is the process by which Party members and cadres consciously engage in self-exercise and self-transformation in political life, raising their level of political understanding and the quality of their political thought. Placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation is an inevitable requirement for firmly establishing the political direction, implementing political tasks, and strengthening political responsibility under the new historical conditions.

政治修养是党员、干部在政治生活中自觉进行自我锻炼、自我改造，提升政治认识水平与政治思想品质的过程。把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，是在新的历史条件下坚定政治方向、落实政治任务、强化政治担当的必然要求。

Placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation is determined by the leading role that political construction plays in the Party building system. The Party's political construction is the fundamental construction of the Party, determining the direction and effectiveness of Party building. Emphasizing the leading position of political construction in the overall layout of Party building is the most distinctive feature of Party building since the New Era. The report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC proposed "placing the Party's political construction in the foremost position" and "taking the Party's political construction as the guide, firming up ideals, convictions, and purposes as the foundation, and mobilizing the entire Party's enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity as the focal point" to continuously improve the quality of Party building. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized strengthening the Party's political construction, strictly enforcing political discipline and political rules, and improving the political judgment, political understanding, and political execution of Party organizations and Party members and cadres at all levels. Only by continuously strengthening political cultivation can political standards and political requirements be effectively integrated throughout the Party's ideological construction, organizational construction, work style construction, discipline construction, and institutional construction, using political strengthening to lead and drive an overall improvement in the quality of Party building.

把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，是由政治建设在党建体系中起统领作用决定的。党的政治建设是党的根本性建设，决定党的建设方向和效果。注重政治建设在党的建设总体布局中的统领地位，是新时代以来党的建设的最鲜明特征。党的十九大报告提出，“把党的政治建设摆在首位”，“以党的政治建设为统领，以坚定理想信念宗旨为根基，以调动全党积极性、主动性、创造性为着力点”，不断提高党的建设质量。党的二十大报告强调，加强党的政治建设，严明政治纪律和政治规矩，提高各级党组织和党员干部政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。不断加强政治修养，才能切实把政治标准和政治要求贯穿党的思想建设、组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设以及制度建设始终，以政治上的加强引领带动党的建设质量全面提高。

Placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation is an inevitable requirement for fulfilling the missions and tasks of the New Era and the new journey. Looking back on the Party's history of more than one hundred years, emphasizing the tempering of 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 advancing from victory to victory. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Taking a clear stand on politics and ensuring the Party's unity and centralized, unified leadership is the lifeblood of the Party, and it is also the key to our Party becoming a century-old major party and creating century-spanning achievements." The 20th National Congress of the CPC mapped out the grand blueprint for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, with a great mission and arduous tasks. The more this is the case, the more necessary it is to have a contingent of cadres who are politically competent, meet the requirements of the New Era, and possess the ability to lead modernization efforts. It also requires Party members and cadres to firm up their ideals and convictions, persist in tempering Party spirit, and continuously enhance their capabilities. By placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, safeguarding the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, and forging a united, invincible, and mighty force, we can guide the great ship of our cause to sail victoriously toward the glorious shore.

把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，是完成新时代新征程使命任务的必然要求。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。习近平总书记指出：“旗帜鲜明讲政治、保证党的团结和集中统一是党的生命，也是我们党能成为百年大党、创造世纪伟业的关键所在。”党的二十大擘画了全面建设社会主义现代化国家、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟蓝图，使命重大任务艰巨。越是这个时候，越是需要有一支政治过硬、适应新时代要求、具备领导现代化建设能力的干部队伍，越是要求党员、干部坚定理想信念，坚持锤炼党性，不断增强本领。把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，形成万众一心、无坚不摧的磅礴力量，方能引领伟大航船胜利驶向光辉彼岸。

Placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation is an urgent need for the New Era to solve the unique problems of a large party. As the world's largest Marxist ruling party, our Party must always maintain sobriety and firmness in solving the unique problems of a large party in order to consistently win the people's support and consolidate its long-term ruling position. General

把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，是新时代解决大党独有难题的迫切需要。我们党作为世界上最大的马克思主义执政党，要始终赢得人民拥护、巩固长期执政地位，必须时刻保持解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定。习近平总书记深刻警示全党：“如何始终不忘初心、牢记使命，如何始终统一思想、统一意志、统一行动，如何始终具备强大的执政能力和领导水平，如何始终保持干事创业精神状态，如何始终能够及时发现和解决自身存在的问题，如何始终保持风清气正的政治生态，都是我们这个大党必须解决的独有难题。”善于从政治上看问题、善于把握政治大局，才能解决好这些独有难题。这就要求党员、干部加强党性修养，特别是要把政治修养摆在首位，站稳立场、把准方向、忠诚于党，不断推进党的自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高，为推进中国式现代化事业发展提供坚强保障。

II. Political Cultivation Is the Fundamental Cultivation for Party Cadres

二、政治修养是党员干部的根本性修养

Party spirit cultivation is the foundation of a Communist Party member’s standing. Strengthening Party spirit cultivation is not only a required course for every Party member but also an important guarantee for the Party to maintain vigorous vitality and strong combat effectiveness. Party spirit cultivation encompasses many aspects; political cultivation determines the direction and effect of Party spirit cultivation and is the fundamental cultivation for Party cadres.

党性修养是共产党员的立身之本。加强党性修养不仅是每个党员的必修课，也是党保持旺盛生命力和强大战斗力的重要保障。党性修养包括多个方面，政治修养决定着党性修养的方向和效果，是党员干部的根本性修养。

Political cultivation is the foundation for maintaining and strengthening the Party’s advanced nature and purity. Political issues are always fundamental issues of great importance. Political attribute is the primary attribute of a political party, embodying the essential differences between parties and determining their future and destiny. Advanced nature and purity are the fundamental characteristics of a Marxist political party. Over the great course of more than a century, the Communist Party of China, with its firm faith, lofty mission, far-sighted vision, and broad-mindedness, has always been at the forefront of the times, fully demonstrating an advanced nature and purity that distinguish it from other political parties. This advanced nature and purity of the Party will not be achieved overnight, nor will it be secured once and for all. Only by persistently strengthening political cultivation, constantly eliminating all factors that harm the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and constantly eradicating all viruses that erode the Party’s healthy organism, can we consolidate the foundation of the Party’s advanced nature and purity, ensure that the Party does not change its nature, color, or character, and ensure that the Party always remains a strong leading core in the historical process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.

政治修养是保持和加强党的先进性和纯洁性的基础。政治问题，任何时候都是根本性的大问题。政治属性是政党的第一属性，体现着政党的本质区别，决定着政党的前途命运。先进性和纯洁性，是马克思主义政党的根本特征。在百余年的伟大历程中，中国共产党以坚定的信仰、崇高的使命、远大的目光、宽广的胸怀，始终走在时代前列，充分呈现出区别于其他政党的先进性和纯洁性。党的这种先进性和纯洁性不会一蹴而就，更不会一劳永逸。只有锲而不舍地加强政治修养，不断清除一切损害党的先进性和纯洁性的因素，不断清除一切侵蚀党的健康肌体的病毒，才能筑牢我们党的先进性和纯洁性的根基，确保党不变质、不变色、不变味，确保党在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的历史进程中始终成为坚强领导核心。

Political cultivation is a fundamental issue concerning the Party’s political construction. Only by analyzing problems from a political perspective can we see their essence; only by solving problems from a political perspective can we grasp the fundamentals. As a Marxist political party, our Party’s prominent feature and advantage is its emphasis on politics. Political construction concerns major issues such as the Party’s banner and direction, whether the Party’s ideals and beliefs can be upheld over the long term, the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership, the Party’s long-term governance capacity, and whether the Party can forever maintain its vitality. Emphasizing political construction is the fundamental guarantee for our Party to govern and manage the Party and to avoid making subversive mistakes; it must never be ambiguous or wavered upon at any time. Strengthening political cultivation enables one to enhance the ability and skill to see problems from a political perspective and to grasp the overall political situation, to strengthen the bones and nourish the body [n], to cultivate the courage for self-revolution, to enhance the capacity for self-purification, to improve the political immunity for detoxification and sterilization, and to continuously strengthen the consciousness and resolve to advance the Party’s political construction.

政治修养是事关党的政治建设的根本性问题。从政治上分析问题才能看清本质，从政治上解决问题才能抓住根本。我们党作为马克思主义政党，讲政治是突出的特点和优势。政治建设事关党举旗、定向的大问题，事关党的理想信念能否长久坚持，事关党中央权威和集中统一领导，事关党的长期执政能力，事关党能否永葆生机活力。注重政治建设是我们党管党治党、避免犯颠覆性错误的根本保证，任何时候都不能含糊和动摇。加强政治修养，方能提高善于从政治上看问题、善于把握政治大局的能力和本领，补钙壮骨、强身健体，培养自我革命勇气、增强自我净化能力、提高排毒杀菌政治免疫力，不断增强推进党的政治建设的自觉性和坚定性。

Political cultivation determines the direction and effect of Party spirit cultivation. Political cultivation is the core of Party spirit cultivation, determining its direction and effect. On the one hand, only when political cultivation is strong can Party spirit cultivation set a proper standard, forge a firm soul, and take deep root. If Party spirit cultivation is neglected, other aspects of cultivation will find it difficult to achieve the expected results. If political cultivation goes wrong or loses its direction, cultivation in other aspects will also lose its meaning. On the other hand, whether it is enhancing theoretical cultivation, ideological and moral cultivation, or improving cultural knowledge and professional competence cultivation, as well as work style and organizational discipline cultivation, the focus and ultimate goal are all to strengthen political cultivation, and thereby continuously temper and elevate Party spirit cultivation. Placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, starting from political cultivation and taking political cultivation as the guide, grasps the fundamental issue of Party spirit cultivation, producing an effect like lifting the main rope of a net to bring out all the meshes [n], achieving twice the result with half the effort.

政治修养决定党性修养的方向和效果。政治修养是党性修养的核心，决定着党性修养的方向和效果。一方面，政治修养强了，党性修养才能立好标、铸牢魂、扎住根。不注重党性修养，其他各方面的修养就难以取得预期成效。如果政治修养出了问题、迷失了方向，其他方面修养也会失去意义。另一方面，无论是提升理论修养、思想道德修养，还是提高文化知识和业务能力修养、作风和组织纪律修养，着眼点和落脚点都是加强政治修养，进而不断淬炼和升华党性修养。把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，从政治修养入手，以政治修养为引领，就抓住了党性修养的根本性问题，对于加强党性修养有着纲举目张、事半功倍的效果。

III. Tempering Party Spirit and Strengthening Political Cultivation Are a Lifelong Task for Party Cadres

三、锤炼党性、加强政治修养是党员干部的终身课题

Political cultivation cannot be achieved once and for all; it must be pursued, practiced, and elevated through painstaking effort, hard effort, genuine effort, and sustained effort. Only by unswervingly placing political cultivation at the forefront of Party spirit cultivation, treating it as a lifelong task—learning, cultivating, and refining oneself until old age—can one lay a solid foundation for Party spirit cultivation.

政治修养不会一劳永逸，必须下苦功夫、硬功夫、真功夫、久功夫去追求、去实践、去提升。坚定不移地把政治修养摆在党性修养的首位，作为终身课题，活到老、学到老、修养到老，方能筑牢党性修养的坚实基石。

Temper the political character of loyalty to the Party. Opening the Party Constitution, loyalty to the Party is a clear duty; recalling the oath of admission to the Party, loyalty to the Party is a solemn commitment. Loyalty to the Party tests the political stance, political direction, political conviction, political character, and political capability of a Communist Party member; it is the most crucial and core criterion for measuring the political cultivation of Party members and cadres. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Loyalty to the Party is not abstract but concrete, not conditional but unconditional; it must be embodied in loyalty to the Party’s faith, loyalty to the Party organization, and loyalty to the Party’s theory, line, principles, and policies.” Always maintain a high degree of alignment with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in political stance, political direction, political principle, and political path; unremittingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to solidify the soul and anchor the mind; take the Party’s banner as one’s banner, the Party’s will as one’s will, and the Party’s mission as one’s mission. Continuously strengthen Party consciousness, remembering that one’s first identity is that of a Communist Party member and one’s first duty is to work for the Party, so as to be loyal to the organization and share the same heart and mind with the Party at all times. Consciously align and compare oneself with the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, and with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, ensuring that everyone thinks in unison, exerts effort in the same direction, and advances in step.

锤炼对党忠诚的政治品格。翻开党章，对党忠诚是明确的义务；重温入党誓词，对党忠诚是庄严的承诺。对党忠诚，检验的是共产党员的政治立场、政治方向、政治信念、政治品格、政治能力，是衡量党员、干部政治修养最关键、最核心的标准。习近平总书记强调：“对党忠诚，不是抽象的而是具体的，不是有条件的而是无条件的，必须体现到对党的信仰的忠诚上，必须体现到对党组织的忠诚上，必须体现到对党的理论和路线方针政策的忠诚上。”始终在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，以党的旗帜为旗帜、以党的意志为意志、以党的使命为使命。不断强化党的意识，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。自觉同党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略对标对表，同党中央决策部署对标对表，保证心往一处想、劲往一处使，步调一致向前进。

Enhance political capability through political tempering. Only with political clarity can one act consciously; only with political firmness can one withstand trials. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Among all the capabilities of leading cadres, political capability is the primary one.” Political tempering is both the “touchstone” for testing political cultivation and the “training ground” for strengthening political cultivation. Be adept at observing and handling problems from a political perspective, transforming the explicit requirement of taking a clear political stand into an internal initiative; take a clear stand on major issues of principle, and fear nothing in the face of political storms and trials. Persist in taking the improvement of political capability as the primary task, running it through the entire process of ideological tempering, political tempering, practical tempering, and professional training, striving to make one’s political capability match the responsibilities of one’s position, and earnestly shoulder the political responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people.

在政治历练中提升政治能力。政治上清醒才能行动上自觉，政治上坚定才能经得起考验。习近平总书记强调：“在领导干部的所有能力中，政治能力是第一位的。”政治历练既是检验政治修养的“试金石”，也是加强政治修养的“练兵场”。善于从政治上观察和处理问题，把旗帜鲜明讲政治从外部要求转化为内在主动，在大是大非面前旗帜鲜明，在政治风浪考验面前无所畏惧。坚持把提高政治能力作为第一要务，贯穿到思想淬炼、政治历练和实践锻炼、专业训练全过程，努力使自己的政治能力与担任的工作职责相匹配，切实担负起党和人民赋予的政治责任。

Strengthen the political responsibility of fulfilling one’s duties. Daring to take responsibility and being willing to bear burdens best reflects the political cultivation of Party members and cadres. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that Party cadres must have the political responsibility of being loyal to the Party, sharing the Party’s concerns, fulfilling duties for the Party, and seeking well-being for the people. To this end, one must have the work drive of “crossing one mountain only to climb another peak, leaping one ditch only to cross another ravine,” striving to be an actor who rises and acts, not a talker who sits and debates; bravely be a fighter who overcomes difficulties, not a clay Buddha who fears wind and rain. Firmly establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance; do both tangible things that the people can see, touch, and benefit from, and good things that pave the way, lay foundations, and benefit the long term for future generations; do both achievements that are visible and those that are hidden. Maintain a striving posture of forging ahead with determination, daring to be the first, and facing difficulties head-on; strengthen practical tempering, be the “ant on a hot pan” [3]3 “Ant on a hot pan” (热锅上的蚂蚁) is a Chinese idiom describing a state of extreme anxiety and restlessness, used here to mean being placed in a difficult or pressured situation to gain experience. several times over, undergo tempering in urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy tasks, and fulfill one’s duties with a sense of responsibility that is always on one’s mind and a spirit of active responsibility.

强化履职尽责的政治担当。敢于负责、勇于担当，最能体现党员、干部的政治修养。习近平总书记多次强调，党的干部要有对党忠诚、为党分忧、为党尽职、为民造福的政治担当。为此，要有“过了一山再登一峰，跨过一沟再越一壑”的工作劲头，争做起而行之的行动者，不做坐而论道的清谈客，勇当攻坚克难的奋斗者，不当怕见风雨的泥菩萨。牢固树立和践行正确政绩观，既要做让人民群众看得见、摸得着、得实惠的实事，也要做为后人做铺垫、打基础、利长远的好事，既要做显绩，也要做潜绩。保持锐意进取、敢为人先、迎难而上的奋斗姿态，加强实践锻炼，多当几回“热锅上的蚂蚁”，在急难险重任务中经受摔打，以时时放心不下的责任感、积极担当作为的精气神履好职尽好责。

(Author: Vice President of Suqian University, Professor at the School of Marxism, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

（作者：宿迁学院副校长，南京航空航天大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online Editor: Tongxin

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