Deeply Understanding the Scientific Connotation and Practical Requirements of "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle"

On April 1, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping published an important article, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle," in the journal *Qiushi* [1]1 "Two major changes" refers to the "changes unseen in a century" in the global landscape and the changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society.. This article vividly embodies the lofty sentiment of "I will have no self, and I will not fail the people" of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, as well as its sense of responsibility and mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. It fully demonstrates that the ideals, convictions, nature, purpose, original aspiration and founding mission of Chinese Communists in the New Era are firm and unwavering. Deeply understanding the scientific connotation of "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" is of great guiding significance for accurately grasping the current situation and trends under the "two overall situations" [2]2 "Road of the examination" (赶考路) is a metaphor originating from Mao Zedong's speech before the CPC entered Beijing in 1949, likening the Party's governance to taking an examination; it is frequently used by Xi Jinping to describe the ongoing challenges of leadership. and for maintaining the strategic resolve to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

2024年4月1日，习近平总书记在《求是》杂志发表重要文章《必须坚持人民至上》，生动体现了以习近平同志为核心的党中央“我将无我，不负人民”的崇高情怀和为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的责任担当，充分彰显了新时代中国共产党人的理想信念、性质宗旨和初心使命是坚定如一的。深刻理解“必须坚持人民至上”的科学内涵，对于准确把握“两个大局”下的时与势，保持以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的战略定力，具有十分重要的指导意义。

It Contains Rich Marxist Philosophical Thinking

蕴含着丰富的马克思主义哲学思维观点

First, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" contains the dialectical unity of subject and object. Historical materialism holds that the masses of the people are both the "actors in the drama" and the "playwrights of history." Historical activity is the cause of the masses of the people; the masses of the people are the "creators of history." At the same time, "any liberation is the return of the human world and human relations to the human person himself." [3]3 This is a paraphrase of a passage from Marx's "On the Jewish Question" (1843). In the value relationship of the human person, the human person is both subject and object. When explaining "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle," General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that "the people are the creators of history, and the masses are true heroes," "the people's standpoint is the fundamental political standpoint of the Chinese Communist Party," and "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal of struggle." This profoundly reflects that Chinese Communists take historical materialism as the fundamental method for understanding and grasping history, and have a scientific and comprehensive understanding of the people's subject position. It is necessary both to respect the people's subject position, relying on the people for development, and to take the interests of the masses of the people as the highest value standard, developing for the people and sharing the fruits of development among the people. Taking enhancing the people's well-being, promoting the comprehensive development of the human person, and steadily advancing towards common prosperity as the starting point and ultimate goal of economic development thereby achieves the unity of the subject of development and the object of value.

第一，“必须坚持人民至上”蕴含着主体与客体的辩证统一。唯物史观认为，人民群众既是历史的“剧中人”，也是历史的“剧作者”。历史活动是人民群众的事业，人民群众是“历史创造者”，同时，“任何解放都是使人的世界即各种关系回归于人自身”。在人的价值关系中，人既是主体，又是客体。习近平总书记在阐释“必须坚持人民至上”时指出，“人民是历史的创造者，群众是真正的英雄”，“人民立场是中国共产党的根本政治立场”，“人民对美好生活的向往，就是我们的奋斗目标”。这深刻体现了中国共产党人将唯物史观作为认识把握历史的根本方法，对人民的主体地位有科学全面的认识。既要尊重人民主体地位，发展依靠人民，又要把人民群众的利益作为最高的价值标准，发展为了人民、发展成果由人民共享，把增进人民福祉、促进人的全面发展、朝着共同富裕方向稳步前进作为经济发展的出发点和落脚点，从而实现发展主体与价值客体相统一。

Second, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" contains the dialectical unity of theory and practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "When we talk about purpose, we say many things, but in the final analysis it is the one phrase 'serve the people,'" and "the Party's theory is a theory that comes from the people, is for the people, and benefits the people; the people's creative practice is the inexhaustible source of theoretical innovation." "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" is both a high-level theoretical summary of the entire Party's ideals, convictions, original aspiration and founding mission, nature, and purpose, and an important summation of the experience of the Chinese Communist Party's over one hundred years of struggle. At the same time, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" is the theoretical and practical requirement for adhering to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and continuously adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In this regard, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, "Adhering to the people-centered development thought is not an empty slogan; it must be implemented in every decision, deployment, and practical work," "As long as you go among the masses of the people, many problems that have puzzled you will suddenly become clear and you will find the answers," and "The Party sharing weal and woe, life and death with the people, always maintaining a flesh-and-blood connection with them, is the fundamental guarantee for the Party to overcome all difficulties and risks." "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" is an inevitable choice that respects the laws of history, containing the dialectical unity of theory and practice.

第二，“必须坚持人民至上”蕴含着理论与实践的辩证统一。习近平总书记指出，“我们讲宗旨，讲了很多话，但说到底还是为人民服务这句话”，“党的理论是来自人民、为了人民、造福人民的理论，人民的创造性实践是理论创新的不竭源泉”。“必须坚持人民至上”既是全党理想信念、初心使命和性质宗旨在理论上的高度概括，也是中国共产党百余年奋斗史的重要经验总结。同时，“必须坚持人民至上”是坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化的理论要求与实践要求。对此，习近平总书记强调，“坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，不是一句空洞口号，必须落实到各项决策部署和实际工作之中”，“只要走到人民群众中去，很多百思不得其解的问题就能豁然开朗、找到答案”，“党与人民风雨同舟、生死与共，始终保持血肉联系，是党战胜一切困难和风险的根本保证”。“必须坚持人民至上” 是尊重历史规律的必然选择，蕴含着理论与实践的辩证统一。

Third, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" contains the dialectical unity of historicity and contemporaneity. As early as the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Chinese Communists represented by Comrade Mao Zedong clearly expressed the founding purpose of the Party as "serving the people," creatively proposed the democratic concept of "letting the people supervise the government," and constructed the political system of the people's democratic dictatorship. Entering the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping further pointed out, "The masses are the source of our strength; the mass line and the mass viewpoint are our heirlooms." [4]4 "Heirloom" (传家宝) is a common Chinese Communist Party metaphor for a valuable tradition or method passed down through generations. Comrade Jiang Zemin's "Three Represents" important thought emphasized "always representing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people." Comrade Hu Jintao, based on the overall situation of the Party's and the country's undertakings in the new century and new stage, proposed the scientific development concept of "people-oriented," further expanding the theoretical connotation and practical requirements of "people as subject." Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again sounded the strong voice of the times for "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle," and put forward a series of new thoughts and viewpoints, such as "the country is the people, and the people are the country; to secure the country and govern the country, what is secured is the people's hearts," "people first, life first," "development for the people, development relying on the people, and development results shared by the people," and "taking benefiting the people as the most important outlook on political performance." This not only consistently inherits the people's standpoint within the spiritual lineage of the Chinese Communist Party but also carries out innovative development in combination with the practice of the times.

第三，“必须坚持人民至上”蕴含着历史性与时代性的辩证统一。早在新民主主义革命时期，以毛泽东同志为代表的中国共产党人就明确表达了“为人民服务”的立党宗旨，并创造性提出了“让人民来监督政府”的民主观，建构了人民民主专政的政治制度。进入改革开放与社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平同志进一步指出，“群众是我们力量的源泉，群众路线和群众观点是我们的传家宝”。江泽民同志的“三个代表”重要思想强调“始终代表最广大人民的根本利益”。胡锦涛同志立足新世纪新阶段党和国家事业发展全局，提出了“以人为本”的科学发展观，进一步拓展了“人民主体”的理论内涵与实践要求。进入新时代，习近平总书记再次发出“必须坚持人民至上”的时代强音，并提出“江山就是人民、人民就是江山，打江山、守江山，守的是人民的心”“人民至上、生命至上”“发展为了人民，发展依靠人民，发展成果由人民共享”“要把为民造福作为最重要的政绩”等一系列新思想新观点。这不仅一以贯之地继承了中国共产党精神脉络里的人民立场，而且结合时代实践进行了创新性发展。

It Reveals the Political Logic of the Chinese Communist Party's Long-Term Governance

揭示了中国共产党长期执政的政治逻辑

First, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" embodies the scientific grasp of the laws of development of human society. Any theory that is divorced from the people is pale and feeble; any theory that does not benefit the people has no vitality. In the long river of human historical development, Marxism for the first time stood on the people's standpoint to explore the laws of development of human society, and from the perspective of historical materialism found the path for humanity to truly achieve freedom and liberation. History has repeatedly proven that the masses of the people are the main force in historical development and social progress. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "Our Party deeply recognizes that Chinese-path modernization is the cause of hundreds of millions of people themselves, and the people are the main body of Chinese-path modernization. We must firmly rely on the people, respect the people's creative spirit, and pool the wisdom and strength of all the people to continuously advance Chinese-path modernization." "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" means respecting the people's position as the main body of history, unifying the struggle for lofty ideals with the pursuit of interests for the broadest masses of the people. It fully embodies the consistency of adhering to respecting the laws of social development and respecting the people's position as the main body of history, reveals the historical origins and future direction of scientific socialism, and interprets the inherent development logic of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

第一，“必须坚持人民至上”体现了对人类社会发展规律的科学把握。一切脱离人民的理论都是苍白无力的，一切不为人民造福的理论都是没有生命力的。在人类历史发展的长河中，马克思主义第一次站在人民立场去探索人类社会发展规律，从历史唯物主义出发找到了人类真正实现自由解放之路。历史反复证明，人民群众是历史发展和社会进步的主体力量。进入新时代，习近平总书记指出，“我们党深刻认识到中国式现代化是亿万人民自己的事业，人民是中国式现代化的主体，必须紧紧依靠人民，尊重人民创造精神，汇集全体人民的智慧和力量，才能推动中国式现代化不断向前发展”。“必须坚持人民至上”就是尊重人民历史主体地位，把为崇高理想奋斗与为最广大人民谋利益统一起来，充分体现了坚持尊重社会发展规律和尊重人民历史主体地位的一致性，揭示了科学社会主义的历史源流与未来走向，诠释了中国特色社会主义道路的内在发展逻辑。

Second, "Must Adhere to the People-Supreme Principle" embodies the scientific grasp of traditional people-oriented thought. "The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is solid, the state is peaceful" [5]5 This is a classical Chinese saying from the *Book of Documents* (《尚书》), a foundational Confucian text. is a classic exposition of China's people-oriented thought, reflecting the ancient sages' profound understanding of the fundamental position of the people. The history of the rise and fall of ancient Chinese dynasties shows that enriching the people, benefiting the people, and educating the people have always been the keys to long-term national stability and security. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "The Chinese Communist Party is rooted in the people, its blood flows from the people, and its strength comes from the people," "The people are our Party's greatest confidence in governance, the solid foundation of our republic, and the fundamental basis for strengthening our Party and rejuvenating our country," and "Deeply root the growth of political wisdom and the enhancement of the ability to govern the country in the creative practice of the people, so that the genuine insights put forward in various aspects can all be applied to governing the country." These important discussions fully embody the Chinese Communist Party's integration of the Marxist view of the people with traditional Chinese people-oriented thought, and its profound and sober understanding of the laws governing a communist party's long-term governance.

第二，“必须坚持人民至上”体现了对传统民本思想的科学把握。“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”是我国民本思想的经典阐述，体现了古代先哲对于人民基础性地位的深刻认识。中国古代王朝兴衰更替的历史表明，富民、利民、教民始终是国家长治久安的关键。习近平总书记指出，“中国共产党根基在人民、血脉在人民、力量在人民”，“人民是我们党执政的最大底气，是我们共和国的坚实根基，是我们强党兴国的根本所在”，“把政治智慧的增长、治国理政本领的增强深深扎根于人民的创造性实践之中，使各方面提出的真知灼见都能运用于治国理政”。这些重要论述充分体现了中国共产党将马克思主义人民观与中国传统民本思想相结合，对共产党长期执政规律有深刻清醒的认识。

Third, "must adhere to putting the people first" is a scientific grasp of the laws governing socialist modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "Whether a modernization path can ultimately be viable and stable depends on whether it adheres to a people-centered approach. Modernization must not only be measured by indicators and data on paper, but also by the happiness and well-being of the people." Marxism holds that the proletarian party has a natural unity of sentiment and interest with the masses of the people; the *Communist Manifesto* unequivocally states that Communists "have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole." Adhering to putting the people first makes it possible to establish the broadest possible united front, to inspire, encourage, and rally people with the beautiful vision of Chinese-path modernization, to unite all forces that can be united, to stimulate the initiative and creativity of the entire society and the whole nation, and to rely on the people to create historic achievements. At the same time, adhering to putting the people first means adhering to a people-centered development philosophy, striving to safeguard and improve people's livelihoods, striving to solve the pressing, difficult, anxious, and expectant problems of the people, and ensuring that the fruits of Chinese-path modernization construction benefit all the people more and more fairly. Therefore, the Party's line, principles, and policies can win the support and endorsement of the broadest masses of the people, thereby continuously advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

第三，“必须坚持人民至上”是对社会主义现代化建设规律的科学把握。习近平总书记指出：“现代化道路最终能否走得通、行得稳，关键要看是否坚持以人民为中心。现代化不仅要看纸面上的指标数据，更要看人民的幸福安康。”马克思主义认为无产阶级政党在感情和利益上与人民群众具有天然的统一性，《共产党宣言》旗帜鲜明地表示共产党人“没有任何同整个无产阶级的利益不同的利益”。坚持人民至上，可以建立最广泛的统一战线，以中国式现代化的美好愿景激励人、鼓舞人、感召人，团结一切可以团结的力量，激发全社会全民族的积极性创造性，依靠人民创造历史伟业。同时，坚持人民至上就是坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，着力保障和改善民生，着力解决人民急难愁盼问题，让中国式现代化建设成果更多更公平地惠及全体人民。因此，党的路线方针政策可以获得最广大人民的拥护与支持，从而推动中国特色社会主义事业不断发展。

It points out the practical requirements for comprehensively building a modern socialist country through Chinese-path modernization.

指明了以中国式现代化全面建设社会主义现代化国家的实践要求

First, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires firmly establishing the political stance that the roots lie in the people. People-centeredness is the most distinctive political character of Marxism. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "People's democracy is the lifeblood of socialism and an essential requirement of comprehensively building a modern socialist country." Under the new historical conditions, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires that the vast majority of Party cadres and members always analyze problems from the perspective of historical materialism, grasp the basic laws of historical progress, uphold "the interests of the people above all else," and clearly recognize that "in comprehensively building a great modern socialist country, the people are the decisive force." All work of the Party must not only accurately grasp the general trend of the times but also conform to the needs and expectations of the people. The Party itself must forever maintain the spirit of self-revolution and deeply advance the great project of Party building in the New Era. Leading cadres at all levels must continuously improve their political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, always accept the criticism and supervision of the people, and constantly enhance their ability and level to serve the people.

第一，“必须坚持人民至上”需要牢固树立根基在人民的政治立场。人民性是马克思主义最鲜明的政治品格。习近平总书记指出，“人民民主是社会主义的生命，是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的应有之义”。在新的历史条件下，“必须坚持人民至上”要求广大党员干部始终用历史唯物主义的观点分析问题，把握历史前进的基本规律，秉持“人民的利益高于一切”，明确“全面建成社会主义现代化强国，人民是决定性力量”。党的一切工作既要准确把握时代大势，又要顺应人民的需求和期待。党自身要永葆自我革命精神，深入推进新时代党的建设伟大工程。各级领导干部要不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力和政治执行力，始终接受人民的批评和监督，不断提高服务人民的能力和水平。

Second, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires continuously developing whole-process people's democracy on the new journey of modernization. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC creatively identified "developing whole-process people's democracy" as an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization, stating that "whole-process people's democracy is the essential attribute of socialist democratic politics, and is the broadest, most genuine, and most effective democracy." On the new journey of modernization, whole-process people's democracy is the direction of the political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "Must adhere to putting the people first" requires unwaveringly developing whole-process people's democracy, expanding democratic channels, enriching democratic forms, expanding the people's orderly political participation, implementing democratic elections, democratic consultations, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic supervision according to law, perfecting the institutional system for the people to be the masters of the country, realizing the will of the people, safeguarding the rights and interests of the people, fully stimulating the initiative, creativity, and activity of all the people, and ensuring that the Party and the state can hear the voices of the people in every link of decision-making, execution, supervision, and implementation.

第二，“必须坚持人民至上”需要在现代化新征程上不断发展全过程人民民主。党的二十大报告创造性地将“发展全过程人民民主”确定为中国式现代化的本质要求，指出“全过程人民民主是社会主义民主政治的本质属性，是最广泛、最真实、最管用的民主”。在现代化新征程上，全过程人民民主是中国特色社会主义政治发展的方向。“必须坚持人民至上”要求毫不动摇地发展全过程人民民主，拓展民主渠道，丰富民主形式，扩大人民有序政治参与，依法实行民主选举、民主协商、民主决策、民主管理、民主监督，健全人民当家作主制度体系，实现人民意志，保障人民权益，充分激发全体人民的积极性主动性创造性，确保党和国家在决策、执行、监督落实各个环节都能听到来自人民的声音。

Third, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires extensively pooling the wisdom and strength of the people in the united struggle to create historic achievements. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, "United struggle is the only way for the Chinese people to create historic achievements," and "unity is strength; only with unity can there be victory." The historic changes and historic achievements in the cause of the Party and the state are inseparable from the wisdom, creativity, and hard work of hundreds of millions of people. On the new journey of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires a clear recognition that the domestic and international situation remains severe under the intertwining of two major changes [1]1 "Two major changes" refers to the "changes unseen in a century" in the global landscape and the changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society., and that on the path forward, the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will inevitably face a series of risks, challenges, and difficulties. Therefore, it is necessary to fully stimulate the historical initiative of all the people, extensively pool the wisdom of the people, maximize the mobilization of the people's strength, enhance vigilance against potential dangers, prevent and resolve various major risks and challenges, unswervingly develop new quality productive forces, promote high-quality development, achieve common prosperity for all the people, and continuously create new historic achievements.

第三，“必须坚持人民至上”需要在开创历史伟业的团结奋斗中广泛凝聚民智民力。习近平总书记强调，“团结奋斗是中国人民创造历史伟业的必由之路”，“团结就是力量，团结才能胜利”。党和国家事业发生历史性变革、取得历史性成就离不开亿万人民的智慧创造与勤劳付出。在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的新征程上，“必须坚持人民至上”要清醒认识到，两大变局交织下国内国际形势依然严峻，在前进的道路上，中华民族复兴的伟大事业必然会面临一系列风险、挑战和难题。因此，必须充分激发全体人民的历史主动精神，广泛汇聚民智，最大程度激发民力，增强忧患意识，防范化解各类重大风险挑战，坚定不移发展新质生产力，推动高质量发展，实现全体人民共同富裕，不断创造新的历史伟业。

Fourth, "must adhere to putting the people first" requires insisting on taking the people as the graders of the era's answer sheet. The people are not only the creators of history but also the witnesses of history, and moreover, the evaluators of historical achievements. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "Whether all our work is effective ultimately depends on whether the people have truly received tangible benefits, whether their lives have truly improved, and whether their rights and interests have truly been safeguarded," and "the Party's governance level and effectiveness are not determined by itself; they must and can only be judged by the people." On the new "road of the examination" [2]2 "Road of the examination" (赶考路) is a metaphor originating from Mao Zedong's speech before the CPC entered Beijing in 1949, likening the Party's governance to taking an examination; it is frequently used by Xi Jinping to describe the ongoing challenges of leadership., when the people call, the Party responds; the expectations of the people are the "required questions" for the Party. "Must adhere to putting the people first" requires that the vast majority of Party cadres and members establish a correct view of power, an outlook on political performance, and a view of the cause, take doing things for the people and bringing well-being to the people as the most fundamental goal of political performance, focus on the pressing, difficult, anxious, and expectant problems of the masses, handle them one by one, take how many good and practical things have been done for the common people as an important standard for testing political performance, continuously answer each test question posed by each era correctly and satisfactorily, and submit a satisfactory answer sheet to the people.

第四，“必须坚持人民至上”需要坚持把人民作为时代答卷的阅卷人。人民既是历史的创造者，也是历史的见证者，更是历史功绩的评价者。习近平总书记指出，“检验我们一切工作的成效，最终都要看人民是否真正得到了实惠，人民生活是否真正得到了改善，人民权益是否真正得到了保障”，“党的执政水平和执政成效都不是由自己说了算，必须而且只能由人民来评判”。在新的“赶考”路上，民有所呼，我有所应，人民群众的期待就是党的“必答题”。“必须坚持人民至上”就是要求广大党员干部树立正确的权力观、政绩观、事业观，要把为民办事、为民造福作为最根本的政绩目标，围绕群众急难愁盼问题一件接着一件办，把为老百姓办了多少好事实事作为检验政绩的重要标准，接续答对答好每个时代出的每道考题，给人民交出一份满意的答卷。

Online Editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗