A Milestone of Monumental Significance in the Party’s History

The Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China, convened in Yan’an from April to June 1945, was an extremely important congress held during the Party’s period of the new-democratic revolution. This congress summed up the historical experience of the twists and turns in China’s new-democratic revolution over more than 20 years, formulated correct lines, programs and strategies, overcame erroneous ideas within the Party, established Mao Zedong Thought as the Party’s guiding ideology and wrote it into the Party Constitution, enabling the entire Party to achieve unprecedented unity on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and it was recorded in history as a “congress of unity, a congress of victory.”

1945年4月至6月在延安召开的中国共产党第七次全国代表大会，是党在新民主主义革命时期召开的一次极其重要的大会。这次大会总结中国新民主主义革命20多年曲折发展的历史经验，制定了正确的路线、纲领和策略，克服了党内的错误思想，确立毛泽东思想为党的指导思想并写入党章，使全党在马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想的基础上达到了空前的团结，作为“团结的大会，胜利的大会”而载入史册。

I

一

The convening of the Party’s Seventh Congress underwent long and full preparation. From the convening of the Party’s Sixth Congress in Moscow in 1928 to the convening of the Seventh Congress in 1945, a gap of 17 years intervened. In December 1937, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee decided to convene the Seventh Congress in the near future and established a preparatory committee chaired by Comrade Mao Zedong to be responsible for the congress’s preparatory work. However, later, due to the war environment and other conditions not being ripe, the convening of the Seventh Congress was postponed many times. To prepare for the congress’s convening, the secretariat of the Party’s Seventh Congress Preparatory Committee issued a notice requiring Party organizations in various localities to propagandize, orally and in writing, the importance and significance of convening the Seventh Congress for striving for victory in the War of Resistance; to strive to establish and expand local Party organizations nationwide in the struggle for the final victory of the War of Resistance; to select, cultivate and train outstanding Party cadres as candidates for delegates to the congress; and to prepare opinions and proposals for the congress, and so on.

党的七大的召开，经过了长期的充分的准备。从1928年在莫斯科召开党的六大，到1945年召开党的七大，其间相隔17年。1937年12月，中共中央政治局会议决定近期召集七大，并成立以毛泽东同志为主席的准备委员会，负责大会的筹备工作。但后来因战争环境及其他条件不成熟，七大的召开多次延期。为了筹备大会的召开，党的七大准备委员会秘书处发出通知，要求各地方党组织在口头上文字上宣传七大召集对于争取抗战胜利的重要性和意义；努力在争取抗战最后胜利的斗争中建立与扩大全国地方党的组织；选拔培养与训练党的优秀干部准备为出席大会代表的候选人；准备好大会的意见和提案，等等。

Whether the most outstanding Party delegates, most trusted by the Party membership and the masses, could be elected was a very important condition for ensuring the congress’s success. Therefore, in the election of delegates to the Party’s Seventh Congress, all localities followed the requirements put forward by the Party Central Committee and Comrade Mao Zedong: “On the basis of striving to develop and consolidate the Party, in accordance with democratic methods, conduct elections in a timely manner, so that those most outstanding cadres and Party members most trusted by the Party membership and the masses have the opportunity to be elected as delegates to the congress, enabling the Seventh Congress to gather the Party’s outstanding delegates in one hall and ensure the congress’s success.” The delegates elected from all localities were the most outstanding. Risking their lives and overcoming numerous difficulties, they converged on Yan’an from various enemy rear areas and the rear areas, preparing to attend the congress. The journey was perilous; some delegates were seriously wounded in enemy attacks, and some unfortunately died from bullet wounds or were captured and killed. To prevent such incidents from recurring, the Central Committee specifically issued a notice to all base areas, requiring troops to escort delegates to ensure their safe passage. For delegates from South China and other places, the journey to Yan’an was long and fraught with dangers; some delegates took over a year of long-distance marching to reach Yan’an, which Comrade Mao Zedong praised as having undergone a “Little Long March.” [1]1 “Little Long March”: A term used by Mao Zedong to describe the arduous journeys of delegates from remote areas to Yan’an for the Seventh Congress, likening their ordeals to a smaller version of the Long March (1934–1935).

能否选出最优秀的、最为党员群众所信托的党员代表，是保证大会成功的十分重要的条件。因此，各地在党的七大代表的选举中，都按照党中央和毛泽东同志提出的要求：“应在努力发展党与巩固党的基础之上，依照民主的方法，适时地进行选举，使那些最优秀的最为党员群众所信托的干部与党员有机会当选为大会的代表，使七次大会能够集全党优秀代表于一堂，保证大会的成功。”各地选出的都是最优秀的代表。他们冒着生命危险，克服重重困难，从各个敌后根据地和大后方集中到延安，准备出席大会。路途艰险，有的代表遭遇敌人袭击负重伤，还有的不幸中弹牺牲、被捕遇害。为避免再发生此类事情，中央专门给各根据地发出通知，要求派部队护送以保证过路代表安全。从华南等地赴延安路途遥远、险象环生，有的代表经过一年多的长途行军才抵达延安，被毛泽东同志誉为经过了一个“小长征”。

Because the congress was postponed, except for a few individuals who were transferred to work in Yan’an’s organs due to work needs, the majority of the Party’s Seventh Congress delegates were concentrated in the Central Party School for study. During this period, they participated in the Yan’an Rectification Movement, [2]2 Yan’an Rectification Movement: A Party-wide ideological education campaign (1942–1944) aimed at correcting dogmatism, sectarianism, and formalism, and establishing the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. studying the Party’s history and several documents comprehensively and deeply for the first time, and listening face-to-face to reports from Party leaders such as Comrade Mao Zedong. On February 1, 1942, the Central Party School opened, and Comrade Mao Zedong attended the opening ceremony and delivered the report “Rectify the Party’s Style of Work,” and on the 8th, he delivered the report “Oppose Party Formalism” at a Yan’an cadre meeting. The Rectification Movement was unfolded throughout the entire Party. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “To accomplish the task of defeating the enemy, we must accomplish this task of rectifying the Party’s style of work.”

因大会延期，党的七大代表们除个别人因工作需要调到延安的机关工作，大多数人集中在中央党校学习。在此期间，他们参加了延安整风运动，第一次较为全面深入地学习党的历史和若干文献，面对面地听取毛泽东同志等党的领导人的报告。1942年2月1日中央党校开学，毛泽东同志参加开学典礼并作《整顿党的作风》报告，8日在延安干部会议上作《反对党八股》的报告。整风运动在全党普遍展开。毛泽东同志指出：“我们要完成打倒敌人的任务，必须完成这个整顿党内作风的任务。”

In the Rectification Movement, the first step was to carefully read the rectification documents designated by the Party Central Committee. The Party’s Seventh Congress delegates earnestly read the rectification documents, grasped the spiritual essence of the documents, and at the same time engaged in reflection and discussion with comrades. After the study of the documents came to an end, examinations were held. The examination questions, revised by Comrade Mao Zedong, included: What is dogmatism in the Party’s style of study? What are the most serious manifestations of dogmatism in the Party’s style of study that you have seen? Have you yourself ever committed the error of dogmatism in your studies and work? If so, in what aspects? How much have you corrected? What is empiricism in the Party’s style of study? What are the specific manifestations of the empiricist tendency in your work? Have you corrected it? How will you correct it in the future? After receiving the Central Committee’s decision on investigation and research, how have you used it to examine and transform or prepare to transform your work? Answering these both specific and sharp questions required combining scientific theory with one’s own concrete reality, undergoing serious and deep reflection, and strict dissection and introspection that touched the depths of the soul, before an answer could be given.

整风运动，精读党中央规定的整风文件是第一步。党的七大代表认真阅读整风文件，领会文件的精神实质，同时进行思考并和同志们讨论。学习文件告一段落后，进行了考试。经过毛泽东同志修改过的考试题目有：什么是党的学风中的教条主义？你所见到的党的学风中的教条主义最严重的表现是哪些？你自己在学习和工作中曾否犯过教条主义错误？如果犯过，表现在哪些方面？已经改正了多少？什么是党的学风中的经验主义？你在工作中经验主义偏向具体表现在哪些方面？已改正否？今后将如何改正？你接到中央关于调查研究的决定后，怎样根据它来检查并改造或准备改造你的工作？回答这些既具体又尖锐的问题，必须结合科学的理论和个人的具体实际，经过认真而深入地思考，触及灵魂深处地严格解剖和反省，才能给出答案。

After the Rectification Movement, after the repeated comparison of revolutionary victories and defeats, rectifying the style of study, rectifying the Party’s style, and rectifying the style of writing, the delegates recognized the serious harm of dogmatism, sectarianism, and formalism to the revolution. Combining Party history, they very seriously linked their own ideological reality and work reality, examined themselves, scrutinized whether they were loyal to the cause of the Party and the people, whether they had close ties with the masses, whether they could independently determine direction and responsibly solve problems in complex environments, whether they observed Party discipline, and so on, thereby clarifying some vague and confused ideas in their thinking, and making the Marxist ideological line of seeking truth from facts deeply rooted in the hearts of the people throughout the Party. Through repeated intra-Party discussions, the entire Party, especially senior cadres, gained a deeper understanding of the significance of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, of Comrade Mao Zedong’s correct leadership, and of the correct guidance of Mao Zedong Thought.

经过整风运动，经过革命胜利与失败的反复比较，整顿学风，整顿党风，整顿文风，代表们认识教条主义、宗派主义、形式主义对革命的严重危害，结合党史，十分认真地联系自己思想的实际、工作的实际，检讨自己，审视自己对党和人民事业是否忠诚，同群众是否有密切联系，在复杂的环境中能否独立决定方向并不怕负责任解决问题，是否遵守党的纪律，等等，澄清了思想上的一些模糊、糊涂观念，使实事求是的马克思主义思想路线在全党范围内深入人心。经过党内反复讨论，全党特别是高级干部对马克思主义中国化的意义，对毛泽东同志的正确领导和毛泽东思想的正确指导，有了更加深刻的认识。

The Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, [3]3 Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee: The Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the CPC, held in Yan’an from April 20, 1945, to prepare for the Seventh Congress. held to prepare for the Party’s Seventh Congress, adopted the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party,” [4]4 “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party”: An official Party document adopted in 1945 that summarized historical experiences and errors, particularly regarding the line struggles before the Zunyi Conference, and affirmed Mao Zedong Thought. which summarized the Party’s history and its experiences and lessons from after the founding of the Party, especially from the Fourth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee to before the Zunyi Conference, [5]5 Zunyi Conference: A pivotal meeting of the CPC in January 1935 during the Long March that established Mao Zedong’s leadership and corrected the military line of the earlier leadership. drew conclusions on certain major historical questions, enabled the entire Party, especially senior Party cadres, to reach consensus on the basic questions of the Chinese revolution, strengthened the Party’s unity on the basis of Mao Zedong Thought, and created sufficient conditions for the successful convening of the Party’s Seventh Congress.

为筹备党的七大而举行的党的六届七中全会通过《关于若干历史问题的决议》，对建党以后特别是党的六届四中全会至遵义会议前这一段党的历史及其经验教训进行总结，对若干重大历史问题作出结论，使全党特别是党的高级干部对中国革命基本问题的认识达到一致，增强了全党在毛泽东思想基础上的团结，为党的七大胜利召开创造了充分条件。

II

二

On April 23, 1945, the Party’s Seventh Congress was grandly opened in the Central Auditorium at Yangjialing in Yan’an. In his opening address, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that the great significance of the congress lay in its bearing on the fate of the entire 450 million people of China. This congress of ours must defeat Japanese imperialism and liberate the entire Chinese people. To defeat the Japanese aggressors and build a new China, we must unite the entire Chinese people, unite the people of the whole world, and strive for final victory. We should use all our strength to strive for a bright future and a bright destiny, and oppose another kind of dark future and dark destiny.

1945年4月23日，党的七大在延安杨家岭中央大礼堂隆重开幕。毛泽东同志在开幕词中指出，大会的重要意义在于关系全中国四亿五千万人民的命运。我们这个大会要打倒日本帝国主义，把全中国人民解放出来。要打败日本侵略者、建设新中国，要团结全中国人民、团结全世界人民、争取最后胜利。我们应当用全力去争取光明的前途和光明的命运，反对另外一种黑暗的前途和黑暗的命运。

Comrade Mao Zedong’s opening address was inspiring, and Comrade Zhu De’s speech also moved people deeply. Comrade Zhu De said: “This meeting has one characteristic: it is being held in a house we built ourselves. In the past, we rented other people’s houses to hold secret meetings.” This was a true portrayal of the Communist Party of China’s growth from small to large, from weak to strong over more than 20 years. According to the congress’s agenda, on April 24, Comrade Mao Zedong delivered the political report “On Coalition Government.” The report included five parts: the basic demands of the Chinese people; the international situation and the domestic situation; two lines in the War of Resistance; the policies of the Chinese Communist Party; and the entire Party unite and strive to accomplish the Party’s tasks. This 40,000-character report, extremely rich in content, was a programmatic document for the Chinese Communist Party to win the War of Resistance and establish a new China. The written report “On Coalition Government” was distributed to the delegates, and Comrade Mao Zedong also gave an oral report at the congress on the question of the line not expanded upon in the report, several policy questions, and several questions concerning the Party. During the Party’s Seventh Congress, Comrade Mao Zedong also delivered a conclusion on the discussion of the political report, speeches on the question of elections, and a closing address.

毛泽东同志的开幕词鼓舞人心，朱德同志的讲话也让人感慨万千。朱德同志说：“这次开会有一个特点，就是在我们自己修的房子里开会。过去是租的人家的房子秘密开会。”这是中国共产党20多年由小到大、由弱变强的真实写照。按照大会议事日程，4月24日毛泽东同志作《论联合政府》的政治报告。报告包括5个部分：中国人民的基本要求；国际形势和国内形势；抗日战争中的两条路线；中国共产党的政策；全党团结起来，为实现党的任务而斗争。这份4万字的报告，内容极为丰富，是中国共产党争取抗战胜利、建立新中国的纲领性的文件。《论联合政府》的书面报告印发给了代表，毛泽东同志在会上又就报告中没有展开的路线问题、几个政策问题、关于党内的几个问题作了口头报告。毛泽东同志在党的七大期间还作了关于讨论政治报告的结论、关于选举问题的讲话和闭幕词。

At the subsequent sessions of the congress, Comrade Zhu De delivered the military report “On the Battlefields of the Liberated Areas,” Comrade Liu Shaoqi delivered the “Report on the Revision of the Party Constitution,” and Comrade Zhou Enlai delivered the speech “On the United Front.” More than twenty comrades, including Ren Bishi, Chen Yun, Peng Dehuai, Zhang Wentian, Chen Yi, Ye Jianying, Yang Shangkun, Liu Bocheng, Peng Zhen, Nie Rongzhen, Lu Dingyi, and Ulanhu, also made speeches. These reports and speeches discussed the content and basic spirit of the Party’s political line, military line, and organizational line from various aspects, summarized the Party’s historical experience over more than twenty years, and put forward concrete opinions on the tasks and policies of various fronts. After in-depth discussion, the congress unanimously adopted the reports on political, military, and organizational matters, and passed the political resolution, the military resolution, and the new Party Constitution.

之后的会议中，朱德同志作《论解放区战场》的军事报告,刘少奇同志作《关于修改党章的报告》,周恩来同志作《论统一战线》的发言。还有任弼时、陈云、彭德怀、张闻天、陈毅、叶剑英、杨尚昆、刘伯承、彭真、聂荣臻、陆定一、乌兰夫等20多名同志作了发言。这些报告和发言从各个方面论述党的政治路线、军事路线、组织路线的内容和基本精神，总结党20多年的历史经验，并对各条战线的任务和政策提出具体意见。大会经过深入讨论，一致通过关于政治、军事、组织方面的报告，通过了政治决议案、军事决议案和新的党章。

The election work of the Seventh National Congress of the CPC [6]6 The Seventh National Congress of the CPC was held from April 23 to June 11, 1945 in Yan’an. It was the first congress held after a 17-year interval and is considered a congress of unity and victory, formally establishing Mao Zedong Thought as the Party’s guiding ideology. was conducted after full deliberation. The list of candidates was first proposed by each delegation group, and after full discussion, a preliminary election was held. Then a formal list of candidates was put forward, and finally a secret ballot election was conducted. Holding an election in such a democratic manner was the first time in the history of the Party congress. Three principles were adhered to in the election: first, comrades who had made mistakes in the past should not be cast aside; as long as they acknowledged their mistakes and were determined to correct them, they could still be elected; second, the “mountain strongholds” [7]7 “Mountain strongholds” (山头) is a term used within the CPC to describe factional or regional groupings that formed naturally due to the dispersed, rural nature of the revolutionary base areas. formed by the Chinese revolution in the long-term dispersed rural environment should be both acknowledged and taken care of, while also being reduced and eliminated; advanced representatives of the Party from all localities and all fields should be elected; third, it was not required that every member of the Central Committee be versed in all aspects of knowledge, but it was required that the Central Committee as a whole be versed in all aspects of knowledge; therefore, comrades with knowledge and talents in different fields should be elected. In the end, the Seventh National Congress of the CPC elected a new Central Committee composed of 44 full members and 33 alternate members.

党的七大选举工作经过充分酝酿，候选人名单先由各代表团小组提出，经过充分讨论后进行预选，再提出正式候选人名单，最后举行无记名投票选举。以这样的民主方式进行选举，在党的代表大会历史上是第一次。选举中坚持了三个原则：一是对过去犯过错误的同志，不要一掌推开，只要承认错误，决心改正错误，还可以入选；二是对于中国革命在长期分散的农村环境中形成的“山头”，既要承认和照顾，又要缩小和消灭，要把各个地方、各个方面的党的先进代表人物都选进来；三是不要求每一个中央委员都通晓各方面知识，但要求中央委员会通晓各方面知识，因而要把有不同方面知识和才能的同志选出来。最终，党的七大选举产生由中央委员44人、候补中央委员33人组成的新的中央委员会。

On June 11, the Seventh National Congress of the CPC held its closing ceremony, and Comrade Mao Zedong delivered the closing speech. He highly evaluated the historical role of the Seventh Congress, saying that we had held a very good congress, a victorious congress, and a united congress. He called on the entire Party, with the spirit of “the Foolish Old Man who removed the mountains,” [8]8 “The Foolish Old Man who removed the mountains” (愚公移山) is a Chinese fable about perseverance. Mao Zedong used it in his closing speech to the Seventh Congress to urge the Party and people to persist in the revolution despite immense difficulties. to join with the people of the whole country, be resolute, fear no sacrifice, surmount every difficulty, and strive for victory. Finally, all delegates sang the stirring “Internationale” with great vigor, and Comrade Peng Dehuai, the executive chairman of the congress, loudly announced the victorious conclusion of the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The assembly hall resounded with prolonged applause. The delegates were all very excited and inspired, standing there, unwilling to leave.

6月11日，党的七大举行闭幕式，毛泽东同志致闭幕词。他高度评价七大的历史作用，说我们开了一个很好的大会，一个胜利的大会，一个团结的大会；号召全党要以“愚公移山”的精神，和全国人民一起，下定决心，不怕牺牲，排除万难，去争取胜利。最后，全体代表高唱雄壮的《国际歌》，大会执行主席彭德怀同志高声宣布中国共产党第七次全国代表大会胜利闭幕。会场上响起经久不息的掌声。代表们都非常激动而振奋，站在那里，不愿离去。

On June 19, the First Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC was held in Yan’an. It elected Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Ren Bishi, Chen Yun, Kang Sheng, Gao Gang, Peng Zhen, Dong Biwu, Lin Boqu, Zhang Wentian, and Peng Dehuai as members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee; elected Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi as members of the Secretariat of the Central Committee; and elected Comrade Mao Zedong as Chairman of the Central Committee, Chairman of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, and Chairman of the Secretariat of the Central Committee. The new Central Committee elected by the Seventh National Congress of the CPC was a strong leading collective with high prestige, capable of uniting the entire Party.

6月19日，党的七届一中全会在延安召开第一次会议，选举毛泽东、朱德、刘少奇、周恩来、任弼时、陈云、康生、高岗、彭真、董必武、林伯渠、张闻天、彭德怀等同志为中央政治局委员；选举毛泽东、朱德、刘少奇、周恩来、任弼时等同志为中央书记处书记；选举毛泽东同志为中央委员会主席、中央政治局主席、中央书记处主席。党的七大选举产生的新的中央委员会，是一个具有很高威信的、能够团结全党的坚强的领导集体。

After returning to their respective localities, the delegates earnestly conveyed the spirit of the Seventh National Congress of the CPC and strove to implement the political line formulated by the congress: boldly mobilize the masses, expand the people’s forces, and, under the leadership of our Party, defeat the Japanese aggressors, liberate the people of the whole country, and build a new-democratic China. At the same time, in accordance with the political, economic, and cultural programs for a new-democratic state formulated by the Seventh Congress, they strove for the grand goal of realizing China’s industrialization. The delegates firmly believed in what Comrade Mao Zedong had pointed out: “We are capable of accomplishing our great political tasks.” The call issued by the Seventh Congress became the conscious action of the delegates: “Thousands upon thousands of martyrs have heroically sacrificed their lives for the interests of the people; let us hold high their banner and march forward along their bloodstained path!” “A new-democratic China will soon be born; let us welcome this great day!”

代表们回到各地，认真传达党的七大精神，努力贯彻党的七大制定的政治路线：放手发动群众，壮大人民力量，在我党的领导下，打败日本侵略者，解放全国人民，建立一个新民主主义的中国。同时，按照党的七大制定的新民主主义国家的政治、经济、文化纲领，为实现中国工业化的宏伟目标而奋斗。代表们坚信毛泽东同志所指出的，“我们是能够完成我们的伟大政治任务的”。党的七大发出的号召成为代表们的自觉行动：“成千成万的先烈，为着人民的利益，在我们的前头英勇地牺牲了，让我们高举起他们的旗帜，踏着他们的血迹前进吧！”“一个新民主主义的中国不久就要诞生了，让我们迎接这个伟大的日子吧！”

III

三

With the joint efforts of the entire Party and the people of the whole country, and under the guidance of the guiding ideology of the Party established by the Seventh National Congress of the CPC—Mao Zedong Thought—the Chinese new-democratic revolution, after entering the period of the War of Liberation, swept away the enemy like a whirlwind rolling up a mat, annihilated the reactionary troops of the Kuomintang, overthrew the reactionary Kuomintang government, and overthrew the three great mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism. In October 1949, it proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China, realizing the great leap of China from thousands of years of feudal autocratic politics to people’s democracy, and also greatly changed the world political pattern, inspiring the struggle for liberation of the oppressed nations and oppressed peoples of the world. The Seventh National Congress of the CPC is a milestone of monumental significance in the Party’s history, marking the maturity of our Party politically, ideologically, and organizationally, and leaving us with many important revelations.

在全党和全国人民的共同努力下，在党的七大所确定的党的指导思想——毛泽东思想的指引下，中国新民主主义革命进入解放战争时期后，横扫千军如卷席，消灭国民党反动派军队，推翻国民党反动政府，推翻帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义三座大山，在1949年10月宣告中华人民共和国的成立，实现了中国从几千年封建专制政治向人民民主的伟大飞跃，也极大地改变了世界政治格局，鼓舞了全世界被压迫民族和被压迫人民争取解放的斗争。党的七大在党的历史上具有重要里程碑意义，标志着我们党在政治上思想上组织上走向成熟，给我们留下了诸多重要启示。

First, we must uphold the unity and solidarity of the Party, ensuring that the Party always remains a strong leading core. Comrade Mao Zedong had a famous saying in his political report to the Seventh National Congress of the CPC: “The experience of the three revolutions [the Great Revolution, the Agrarian Revolution, and the War of Resistance Against Japan], especially the experience of the War of Resistance Against Japan, has given us and the Chinese people this confidence: without the efforts of the Chinese Communist Party, without the Chinese Communist Party as the mainstay of the Chinese people, China’s independence and liberation are impossible, and China’s industrialization and agricultural modernization are also impossible.” Without the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, it would be impossible to achieve national independence and people’s liberation, impossible to completely end the history of old China as a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, impossible to completely end the history of a tiny minority of exploiters ruling over the vast majority of working people, impossible to completely end the history of old China as a sheet of loose sand, and impossible to completely abolish the unequal treaties imposed on China by foreign powers and all imperialist privileges in China. History proves that our country and our nation have been able to achieve today’s achievements and enjoy today’s international status precisely because of the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. In the face of the current complex and volatile international situation and the arduous and heavy tasks of reform, development, and maintaining stability, upholding the Party’s leadership is a major principle issue that must not be ambiguous or shaken. We must uphold the principle that the Party must supervise itself and govern itself strictly and comprehensively, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

第一，必须坚持党的团结统一，确保党始终成为坚强的领导核心。毛泽东同志在党的七大的政治报告中有一段名言：“三次革命（指大革命、土地革命和抗日战争）的经验，尤其是抗日战争的经验，给了我们和中国人民这样一种信心：没有中国共产党的努力，没有中国共产党人做中国人民的中流砥柱，中国的独立和解放是不可能的，中国的工业化和农业近代化也是不可能的。”没有中国共产党领导，实现民族的独立、人民的解放不可能，彻底结束旧中国半殖民地半封建社会的历史不可能，彻底结束极少数剥削者统治广大劳动人民的历史不可能，彻底结束旧中国一盘散沙的局面不可能，彻底废除外国列强强加给中国的不平等条约和帝国主义在中国的一切特权，也是不可能的。历史证明，我们的国家、我们的民族能取得今天这样的成就，能有今天这样的国际地位，都是因为有中国共产党的领导。在当前复杂多变的国际形势和艰巨繁重的改革发展稳定任务面前，坚持党的领导是绝不能含糊和动摇的重大原则问题。必须坚持党要管党、全面从严治党，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。

The unity and solidarity of the Party are the guarantee of victory; only with concerted action can victory be achieved. Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized: “Within the Party, within the revolutionary ranks, we have a policy, which is unity, unity on the basis of principle.” “You know, a contingent is often not very neat and tidy, so we must often call out ‘dress ranks, left dress, right dress, center dress.’ We must dress ranks to the benchmark of the Central Committee, to the benchmark of the congress. Dressing ranks is the principle; deviations are actual life; when there are deviations, we call out ‘dress ranks.’” Why must we dress ranks? In the final analysis, it is for the unity of the entire Party. In order to make our Party more united, unified, strong, and powerful, and always remain the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments [9]9 The Two Establishments (两个确立) refers to the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. and resolutely achieve the Two Upholds [10]10 The Two Upholds (两个维护) refers to upholding Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee., and continuously advance the great new project of Party building in the New Era. Only in this way can we ensure that the Party, after being tempered and tested a thousand times, remains vigorous and energetic, can properly handle the risks and tests it faces, and ensure that our Party always stays at the forefront of the times in the historical process of profound changes in the world situation, and always remains the mainstay of the people of the whole country in the historical process of responding to various domestic and international risks and challenges.

党的团结统一是胜利的保证，只有步调一致才能得胜利。毛泽东同志强调：“在党内，在革命队伍内，我们有一条方针，就是团结，在原则基础上的团结。”“要知道，一个队伍经常是不大整齐的，所以就要常常喊看齐，向左看齐，向右看齐，向中看齐。我们要向中央基准看齐，向大会基准看齐。看齐是原则，有偏差是实际生活，有了偏差，就喊看齐。”为什么要看齐？归根到底还是为了全党的团结。为了使我们党更加团结统一、坚强有力，始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心，必须深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义、坚决做到“两个维护”，不断推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程。只有这样，才能保证党能够历经千锤百炼仍然朝气蓬勃，应对好面临的风险考验，确保我们党在世界形势深刻变化的历史进程中始终走在时代前列，在应对国内外各种风险挑战的历史进程中始终成为全国人民的主心骨。

Second, it is necessary to keep pace with the times, continuously advance theoretical innovation, and use scientific theory as a guide to action. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for the founding of the Party and the state by the Communist Party of China, and it is also the soul and banner of the Party. During the process of Marxism’s dissemination in China, there once emerged an erroneous tendency to dogmatize and sanctify Marxism and the instructions of the Communist International, which brought serious losses to the Chinese revolution. The Chinese Communists, represented by Comrade Mao Zedong, adhered to integrating the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete realities of China, made a theoretical summary of a series of original experiences accumulated through arduous exploration and enormous sacrifice, blazed the correct revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing state power by armed force, and founded Mao Zedong Thought. The establishment of Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding ideology of the Party and its inclusion in the Party Constitution was an important contribution of the Seventh National Congress of the CPC. From then on, the entire Party had a solid theoretical foundation for achieving political and ideological unity. Mao Zedong Thought provided a powerful spiritual pillar for uniting the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Mao Zedong Thought has educated several generations of Chinese Communists; the large number of cadres it cultivated not only played an important role in the New Democratic Revolution, the socialist revolution, and the socialist construction period, but also played an important role in initiating and building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new historical period,” and “Mao Zedong Thought is our Party’s precious spiritual asset and will guide our actions for a long time to come.”

第二，必须与时俱进、不断推进理论创新，用科学理论作为行动指南。马克思主义是中国共产党立党立国的根本指导思想，也是党的灵魂和旗帜。马克思主义在中国传播过程中，曾经出现过将马克思主义和共产国际指示神圣化教条化的错误倾向，给中国革命带来严重损失。以毛泽东同志为代表的中国共产党人，坚持把马克思列宁主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，对经过艰苦探索、付出巨大牺牲积累的一系列独创性经验作了理论概括，开辟了农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的正确革命道路，创立了毛泽东思想。确立毛泽东思想为党的指导思想并写进党章，是党的七大的重要贡献。从此，全党就有了在政治上、思想上取得一致的牢固的理论基础。毛泽东思想为凝聚全党和全国各族人民提供了强有力的精神支柱。习近平总书记强调，“毛泽东思想教育了几代中国共产党人，它培养的大批骨干，不仅在新民主主义革命、社会主义革命、社会主义建设时期发挥了重要作用，也为新的历史时期开创和建设中国特色社会主义发挥了重要作用”，“毛泽东思想是我们党的宝贵精神财富，将长期指导我们的行动”。

Why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics can work is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works, and because Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times works. The Communist Party of China adheres to the unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, and the unity of consolidating the foundation and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground. In the great practice of the New Era, it continuously opens up new frontiers in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, further proposing to integrate the basic principles of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. Using the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, it observes the era, grasps the era, and leads the era, continuously deepening the understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society, and establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This is the latest theoretical achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, and it is the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the twenty-first century. On the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively and systematically grasp the basic viewpoints and scientific system of this important thought, correctly understand its worldview and methodology, adhere to and apply the stance, viewpoint, and method that run through it, achieve the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, and take concrete actions and seek practical results in unswervingly using this important thought to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work.

中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行。中国共产党坚持解放思想和实事求是相统一、固本培元和守正创新相统一，在新时代伟大实践中不断开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界，进一步提出把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，用马克思主义的立场观点方法，观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，不断深化对共产党执政规律、社会主义建设规律、人类社会发展规律的认识，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。这是马克思主义中国化的最新理论成果，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义。新时代新征程上，必须全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，全面系统掌握这一重要思想的基本观点、科学体系，把握好这一重要思想的世界观、方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法，做到学思用贯通、知信行统一，在坚定不移用这一重要思想武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作上见行动、求实效。

Third, it is necessary to adhere to coming from the masses and going to the masses, and to serve the people wholeheartedly. The masses are the creators of history. The Communist Party of China has always represented the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people, sharing weal and woe and life and death with the people. At the Seventh National Congress of the CPC, Comrade Mao Zedong listed “the style of maintaining close ties with the masses” as one of the Party’s three fine work styles. Proceeding from the Party’s nature and purpose, he proposed in the political report “On Coalition Government”: “Serving the people wholeheartedly, never for a moment separating ourselves from the masses; proceeding from the interests of the people in everything, not from the interests of individuals or small groups; and the unity of being responsible to the people and being responsible to the leading organs of the Party—these are our starting points.” When delivering the “Report on the Revision of the Party Constitution,” Comrade Liu Shaoqi pointed out: “The Party’s mass line is our Party’s fundamental political line and also our Party’s fundamental organizational line.” The Party Constitution adopted at the congress systematically expounded the issue of the Party’s mass line for the first time, namely, “Chinese Communists must have the spirit of serving the Chinese people wholeheartedly, and must establish broad ties with the worker masses, the peasant masses, and other revolutionary people.” Thereafter, “everything for the masses, relying on the masses in everything, coming from the masses, and going to the masses” became the fundamental working line of the Communist Party of China, gathering the inexhaustible and never-ending support and endorsement of the masses during the revolutionary war years.

第三，必须坚持从群众中来、到群众中去，全心全意地为人民服务。人民群众是历史的创造者。中国共产党始终代表最广大人民根本利益，与人民休戚与共、生死相依。在党的七大上，毛泽东同志将“和人民群众紧密联系在一起的作风”作为党的三大优良作风之一，从党的性质和宗旨出发，在《论联合政府》的政治报告中提出：“全心全意地为人民服务，一刻也不脱离群众；一切从人民的利益出发，而不是从个人或小集团的利益出发；向人民负责和向党的领导机关负责的一致性；这些就是我们的出发点。”在作《关于修改党章的报告》时，刘少奇同志指出：“党的群众路线，是我们党的根本的政治路线，也是我们党的根本的组织路线。”大会通过的党章第一次系统地阐述了党的群众路线问题，即“中国共产党人必须具有全心全意为中国人民服务的精神，必须与工人群众、农民群众及其他革命人民建立广泛的联系”。此后，“一切为了群众，一切依靠群众，从群众中来，到群众中去”成为中国共产党的根本工作路线，在革命战争年代汇聚起人民群众源源不断、永不枯竭的拥护和支持。

Whether weak or strong, whether in favorable or adverse circumstances, the Communist Party of China has always steadfastly adhered to its original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. It has united and led the people through countless hardships and enormous sacrifices, overcoming one seemingly insurmountable difficulty after another, and creating one miracle after another that has amazed the world. It is precisely because of its unwavering adherence to its original aspiration and founding mission that our Party has always maintained strong political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal. The Communist Party of China is rooted in the people, its blood flows from the people, and its strength comes from the people. Only by maintaining close ties with the masses, sincerely serving the people, and sincerely caring for and solving the sufferings of the people can our Party win the support of the masses, consolidate its mass foundation, and remain invincible forever.

不论是弱小还是强大，不论是顺境还是逆境，中国共产党都始终坚守为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的初心和使命，团结带领人民历经千难万险、付出巨大牺牲，攻克了一个个看似不可攻克的难关，创造了一个个举世惊叹的人间奇迹。正是因为对初心和使命坚守不移，我们党才始终保持强大的政治领导力、思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力。中国共产党根基在人民、血脉在人民、力量在人民。只有保持和人民群众的密切联系，真心诚意为人民服务，真心诚意关心和解决人民群众的疾苦，我们党才能赢得人民群众的拥护，夯实群众基础，永远立于不败之地。

Fourth, it is necessary to uphold truth, correct errors, have the courage to engage in self-criticism, and carry out self-revolution. Looking back at the Party’s history, our Party has always consciously carried out self-revolution while promoting social revolution, repeatedly taking up the scalpel to excise its own malignant tumors, and repeatedly solving its own problems, thereby leading great social changes. At the Seventh National Congress of the CPC, when discussing the congress reports and speeches, the delegates spoke freely, either specifically summarizing the experiences and lessons of their own regions, departments, or units in the revolutionary struggle, or conducting in-depth criticism of past errors within the Party, especially the errors of “Left” dogmatism, from the desire for unity. Comrades who had made mistakes also engaged in self-criticism, mostly reviewing and summarizing work experiences and lessons based on their own personal experiences, explaining the correctness of the Party’s line and policies since the Zunyi Conference, while also examining themselves. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that a factual and concrete analytical attitude should be adopted towards comrades who had made mistakes, seeing both the mistakes they had made and fully affirming their contributions to the Party and the revolution. At the Seventh National Congress of the CPC, the heartfelt and sincere self-criticism of the delegates was entirely from the standpoint of the Party and the people, strictly demanding of themselves according to the requirements of Communist Party spirit, reflecting the high degree of consciousness of Communists in upholding truth and correcting errors.

第四，必须坚持真理、修正错误，勇于开展自我批评，进行自我革命。回顾党的历史，我们党总是在推动社会革命的同时，自觉进行自我革命，一次次拿起手术刀来革除自身的毒瘤，一次次解决自身问题，从而引领伟大的社会变革。在党的七大上，代表们在讨论大会的报告和发言时畅所欲言，或具体总结本地区、本部门、本单位在革命斗争中的经验教训，或对过去党内所犯错误，特别是“左”倾教条主义错误，从团结的愿望出发，深入开展批评。犯过错误的同志也进行自我批评，内容大多数是以亲身经历，回顾总结工作经验及教训，说明遵义会议以来党的路线、方针的正确性，同时也检查自己。毛泽东同志指出，对犯错误同志采取实事求是的具体分析的态度，既看到他们所犯错误，又充分肯定他们为党为革命做出的贡献。在党的七大上，代表们发自内心的由衷而真诚的自我批评，完全是站在党和人民的立场，按照共产党员党性的要求严格要求自己，体现出共产党人坚持真理、修正错误的高度自觉性。

The greatness of the Communist Party of China lies not in never making mistakes, but in never concealing its faults, daring to face problems directly, having the courage to engage in self-revolution, and possessing an extremely strong capacity for self-repair. To adhere to the Party’s nature, purpose, original aspiration, and founding mission, it is necessary to always represent the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people and seek no personal gain; it is necessary to possess a thoroughgoing spirit of self-revolution, to be able to seek the fundamental and the great, to uphold truth and correct errors, and to dare to examine oneself and constantly reflect on one’s own faults; it is necessary not to conceal one’s faults or gloss over mistakes, and to promptly discover and resolve various contradictions and problems arising from changes in the situation and tasks, the external environment, and the Party membership itself. The ideals our Party pursues are lofty and sacred, and the missions it shoulders are arduous and heavy. Only by examining itself with the requirements of the times, alerting itself with a strong sense of urgency, and forging itself with the spirit of self-revolution, and continuously improving its leadership and governance capabilities, can the Party ensure that it never changes its nature, color, or flavor, and always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is the source of confidence for the Communist Party of China in being able to propose self-revolution and to advance self-revolution.

中国共产党的伟大不在于不犯错误，而在于从不讳疾忌医，敢于直面问题，勇于自我革命，具有极强的自我修复能力。坚持党的性质宗旨、初心和使命，就要始终代表最广大人民根本利益，不谋私利；就要具有彻底的自我革命精神，能够谋根本、谋大利，能够坚持真理、修正错误，敢于检视自身、常思己过；就要不讳疾忌医、不文过饰非，及时发现和解决因为形势任务、外部环境变化和党员队伍自身变化带来的各种矛盾和问题。我们党追求的理想崇高而神圣，肩负的使命艰巨而繁重，只有以时代发展的要求审视自己，以强烈的忧患意识警醒自己，以自我革命精神锻造自己，不断提高领导能力和执政水平，才能确保党始终不变质不变色不变味，始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。这是中国共产党能够提出自我革命、能够推进自我革命的底气所在。

Fifth, it is necessary to be vigilant in peace, prepare for danger in times of safety, dare to struggle, and dare to win. After the founding of the CPC, it united and led the Chinese people in many arduous and extraordinary struggles, achieving hard-won results. The path forward is full of hardships and challenges, so it is necessary to always maintain a sober mind ideologically, be vigilant in peace, prepare for danger in times of safety, dare to struggle, and dare to win. Comrade Mao Zedong reminded the entire Party at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC: We have not yet won victory; there are still difficulties ahead; we must be cautious and modest, not arrogant or impatient; the entire Party must strengthen unity. Our difficulties are also a real and objective existence. Comrade Mao Zedong also listed 17 difficulties, proposing to “prepare to deal with extraordinary difficulties and extraordinary adverse situations.” [16]16 The Seventh National Congress of the CPC was held in Yan’an from April to June 1945. Mao Zedong’s speech listing 17 difficulties was part of his concluding remarks at the congress, emphasizing preparedness for potential setbacks even as the Party anticipated victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. This requires carrying forward the spirit of daring to struggle and daring to win, firmly believing that “we will surely win.” Because “pig iron is forged into steel only after countless hammerings.” The CPC has also continuously experienced wind and rain, been tempered through a thousand trials, and gradually developed and grown stronger in the process of overcoming numerous difficulties.

第五，必须居安思危、未雨绸缪，敢于斗争、敢于胜利。中国共产党成立后，团结带领中国人民进行了许多艰苦卓绝的斗争，取得了来之不易的成绩，前进道路上充满艰辛和挑战，必须在思想上始终保持清醒头脑，居安思危、未雨绸缪，敢于斗争、敢于胜利。毛泽东同志在党的七大上提醒全党：我们现在还没有胜利，前面还有困难，必须谨慎谦虚，不要骄傲急躁，全党要加强团结。我们的困难，也是现实而客观的存在。毛泽东同志还列举了17条困难，提出要“准备对付非常的困难，对付非常的不利情况”。这就需要发扬敢于斗争、敢于胜利的精神，坚信 “我们一定要胜利”。因为“毛铁炼成钢，是要经过无数次的敲打的”。中国共产党也是在实践中不断经历风吹雨打、千锤百炼，在战胜重重困难的过程中逐步发展、壮大起来的。

To build a great modern socialist country in all respects, it is necessary to always maintain the distinct political character of daring to struggle and the heroic spirit of fearless courage, to tenaciously strive and forge ahead. Today, we are closer to, more confident in, and more capable of achieving the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history, but at the same time, we must be prepared to make more arduous and strenuous efforts. On the new journey, it is necessary to strengthen our awareness of potential dangers, always be vigilant in peace, not fear strong enemies, dare to struggle, not fear risks, forge ahead, courageously overcome all risks and challenges, and with a more vigorous posture, tirelessly strive to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

全面建成社会主义现代化强国，必须始终保持敢于斗争的鲜明政治品格和英勇无畏的英雄气概，顽强拼搏，砥砺前行。今天，我们比历史上任何时期都更接近、更有信心和能力实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标，但同时也必须准备付出更为艰巨、更为艰苦的努力。在新的征程上，必须增强忧患意识、始终居安思危，不畏强敌、敢于斗争，不惧风险、砥砺前行，勇于战胜一切风险挑战，以更加昂扬的姿态，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业不懈奋斗。

(Author: Researcher at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee)

（作者：中央党史和文献研究院研究员）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心