Political Capability Is the Primary Capability – A Deep Understanding of the Theoretical Connotation and Innovative Contribution of Political Capability

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Among the various capabilities needed by cadres to do their work well, political capability is the primary one.” [1]1 This quote is from Xi Jinping’s speech at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) in 2020, emphasizing the primacy of political capability among cadre competencies. This important original concept and signature concept, adhering to the Marxist political outlook, fully applies and deeply grasps the theoretical achievements of Marxist politics and the laws of political practice, inherits and promotes the Chinese cultural tradition of “esteeming the virtuous and employing the capable,” [2]2 “Esteeming the virtuous and employing the capable” (尚贤使能) is a classical Chinese concept from the pre-Qin period, notably promoted by the Mohist school, advocating for selecting officials based on merit and virtue rather than birth. and focuses on the Party’s political attributes, political mission, political goals, and political pursuits. It breaks through the theoretical framework of the modern Western competency model (also known as the “competency model”), which takes “knowledge, skills, self-concept, traits, motives,” etc., as its basic categories. It innovatively elevates capability to the political level and extends politics into the category of capability, achieving a high degree of unity between “political virtue” and “governance talent,” and between “good governance” and “effective rule,” from the two dimensions of politics and capability. This enriches and develops Marxist political theory and the theory of Party building, and innovatively develops modern political theory and competency theory. It provides a new entry point, support point, focal point, and landing point for strengthening the Party’s political construction and improving the Party’s overall leadership capability, long-term governance capability, and national governance capability. This important original concept and signature concept possesses both political height, academic depth, practical breadth, and cultural thickness, and is of great significance whether at the level of political theory or political practice, and whether at the level of political construction or political civilization.

习近平总书记指出：“在干部干好工作所需的各种能力中，政治能力是第一位的。”“政治能力”这一重要原创性概念标识性概念，坚持以马克思主义政治观为指导，充分运用、深刻把握马克思主义政治理论成果与政治实践规律，传承弘扬中国“尚贤使能”文化传统，聚焦党的政治属性、政治使命、政治目标、政治追求，突破以“知识、技能、自我概念、特质、动机”等为基本范畴的西方现代能力素质模型（也称“胜任力模型”）理论框架，开创性地把能力上升到政治层面、把政治拓展到能力范畴，从政治和能力两个维度上实现了“政德”与“治才”、“良政”与“善治”的高度统一，丰富发展了马克思主义政治理论和建党学说，创新发展了现代政治理论和能力素质理论，对于加强党的政治建设，提高党的全面领导能力、长期执政能力和国家治理能力，提供了一个全新的切入点、支撑点和发力点、落脚点。这个重要原创性概念标识性概念兼具政治高度、学理深度、实践广度、文化厚度，无论在政治理论还是政治实践层面，无论在政治建设还是政治文明层面，都具有重要意义。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a New Era, improving political capability has become particularly important and urgent. In the New Era, upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership, firmly supporting the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the Two Upholds, fully leveraging the Party’s political advantages, and consolidating the Party’s leadership and ruling status require continuously improving the Party’s political leadership capability. “Only with strong political capability can the whole Party consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in thought, politics, and action, and at any time and under any circumstances, ‘not be blinded by fleeting clouds’ and ‘remain calm amidst the chaos of flying clouds,’” [3]3 These poetic lines are from the Song dynasty poet Wang Anshi’s “Climbing Feilai Peak” and Mao Zedong’s poem “The PLA Captures Nanjing,” respectively, used here to evoke steadfastness in the face of adversity. always adhere to the correct political direction, always maintain our Party’s political character, always advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ensure that the red river and mountain never change color. [4]4 “Red river and mountain” (红色江山) is a metaphorical phrase in CPC discourse referring to the socialist political power established by the revolution. Coordinating the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the changes unseen in a century in the world, advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capability, and comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization require maintaining political sobriety, maintaining political resolve, enhancing political skills, firmly grasping and fully utilizing the decisive magic weapon for properly responding to risks and challenges, handling complex situations, and winning strategic initiative, successfully carrying out the great struggle with many new historical features, and propelling the ship of the Party’s and the country’s cause to ride the wind and waves, sailing steadily and far. Implementing the general requirements for Party building in the New Era and the Party’s organizational line in the New Era, deeply advancing the great new project of Party building in the New Era, and striving to build a high-quality cadre team capable of shouldering the heavy task of national rejuvenation require leading all aspects of Party building with political construction, continuously improving the political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution capability of Party organizations at all levels and the vast majority of Party members and cadres, unswervingly exercising comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and forever maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，提高政治能力显得尤为重要而紧迫。新时代坚持和加强党的全面领导，坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”，充分发挥党的政治优势，巩固党的领导地位、执政地位，要求不断提高党的政治领导力。全党“有了过硬的政治能力，才能做到自觉在思想上政治上行动上同党中央保持高度一致，在任何时候任何情况下都能‘不畏浮云遮望眼’、‘乱云飞渡仍从容’”，始终坚持正确政治方向，始终保持我们党的政治本色，始终沿着中国特色社会主义道路前进，确保红色江山永不变色。统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，要求时刻保持政治清醒、保持政治定力、增强政治本领，牢牢掌握和充分用好妥善应对风险挑战、应对复杂局面、赢得战略主动的制胜法宝，成功进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争，推动党和国家事业发展的航船乘风破浪、行稳致远。贯彻落实新时代党的建设总要求和新时代党的组织路线，深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，着力建设堪当民族复兴重任的高素质干部队伍，要求以政治建设统领党的建设各项工作，不断提高各级党组织和广大党员干部的政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，坚定不移全面从严治党，永葆党的先进性和纯洁性。

Improving political capability is an inevitable requirement for a Marxist political party to take a clear-cut stand on politics, and an inherent need for leading all aspects of Party building with political construction.

提高政治能力，是马克思主义政党旗帜鲜明讲政治的必然要求，是以政治建设统领党的建设各项工作的内在需要

Improving quality and capability, and solving “capability panic,” has always been a major issue to which Marxist political parties attach great importance. As early as 1922, when expounding on the New Economic Policy, Lenin pointed out: “We have enough, more than enough political power. We also possess sufficient economic means... What is needed here is only skill, but we lack this skill.” [5]5 This is a paraphrase of Lenin’s remarks on the need for administrative and economic skills during the New Economic Policy, as recorded in his works. During the Yan’an period, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly stated: “There is a kind of panic in our ranks, not economic panic, nor political panic, but capability panic.” [6]6 This quote is from Mao Zedong’s speech at the CPC’s Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee in 1938, addressing the need for cadres to improve their capabilities. To this end, Comrade Mao Zedong proposed “turning the whole Party into a big school” and called for “a learning competition across the whole Party.” In March 2013, in his important speech at the 80th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Central Party School, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “It can be predicted that on the road ahead, difficulties, risks, and challenges from all sides will certainly continue to appear. The key lies in whether we have the skill to overcome them, defeat them, and control them.” General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out: “Soft shoulders cannot bear hard burdens. Whether it is undertaking endeavors or overcoming difficulties, not only broad shoulders but also iron shoulders are needed; not only political excellence but also high capability is needed.” The more the Party’s and the country’s cause develops, the higher the capability requirements for leading cadres will inevitably be. Leading cadres must “strengthen the shortcomings in capability and the deficiencies in ability.” Among the quality and capability of leading cadres, political quality is the most core quality, and political capability is the primary capability, playing a commanding and overarching role, directly determining the improvement and application effect of other qualities and capabilities, and embodying and testing the level and effectiveness of leading all aspects of Party building with political construction.

提高素质能力，解决“本领恐慌”，历来是马克思主义政党高度重视的重大课题。早在1922年，列宁在阐述新经济政策时就指出：“我们有足够的、绰绰有余的政治权力，我们还拥有足够的经济手段”“这里所需要的只是本领，但我们缺乏这种本领”。延安时期，毛泽东同志明确指出：“我们队伍里边有一种恐慌，不是经济恐慌，也不是政治恐慌，而是本领恐慌。”为此，毛泽东同志提出“要把全党变成一个大学校”，号召“来一个全党的学习竞赛”。2013年3月，习近平总书记在中央党校建校80周年庆祝大会上的重要讲话中指出：“可以预见，在今后的前进道路上，来自各方面的困难、风险、挑战肯定还会不断出现，关键看我们有没有克服它们、战胜它们、驾驭它们的本领。”习近平总书记进一步指出：“软肩膀挑不起硬担子。无论是干事创业还是攻坚克难，不仅需要宽肩膀，也需要铁肩膀；不仅需要政治过硬，也需要本领高强。”党和国家事业越发展，对领导干部的能力要求必然越高，领导干部必须“补强本领上短板、能力上不足”。在领导干部的素质能力中，政治素质是最核心的素养，政治能力是第一位的能力，起着统领和管总作用，直接决定着其他素质能力的提升和运用效果，体现和检验着以政治建设统领党的建设各项工作的水平和实效。

Only with political clarity can there be conscious action; only with political firmness can one withstand tests; only with political excellence and high capability can great achievements be accomplished. The Party’s political construction is the fundamental construction of the Party. If the Party’s political construction is done well, the political direction, political stance, and political overall situation are grasped, and the Party’s political capability is improved, then Party building has its soul cast and its roots planted. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of original expositions on improving the Party’s leadership capability, governance capability, and governance capability, especially political capability. For example, focusing on upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership and consolidating the Party’s long-term ruling status, and comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, he emphasized strengthening the Party’s long-term governance capability construction, improving the Party’s leadership capability and governance level, and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capability; focusing on enhancing the political function and organizational function of Party organizations at all levels, he emphasized continuously improving the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness, pointing out that “the Communist Party of China has an incomparably strong leadership capability, organizational capability, and execution capability”; focusing on leading all aspects of Party building with political construction, while emphasizing improving political acumen and political discernment, he creatively proposed enhancing important concepts and major propositions such as “political skills,” “political leadership skills,” “political capability,” “political leadership capability,” “political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution capability,” “political self-control,” “political resolve,” and “political self-discipline.” Together with other original concepts and signature concepts such as “political soul, political loyalty, political responsibility, political examination, political inspection, political patrol, political supervision, political ecology, political culture,” these jointly constitute a theoretical system, academic system, and discourse system for political construction guided by the Marxist political outlook, possessing Chinese characteristics and the traits of the Communist Party of China, and rich in the characteristics of the New Era.

政治上清醒才能行动上自觉，政治上坚定才能经得起考验，政治过硬、本领高强才能成就伟业。党的政治建设是党的根本性建设，党的政治建设搞好了，政治方向、政治立场、政治大局把握住了，党的政治能力提高了，党的建设就铸了魂、扎了根。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记围绕提高党的领导能力、执政能力、治理能力特别是政治能力，作出一系列原创性论述。比如，着眼坚持和加强党的全面领导、巩固党的长期执政地位，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，强调要加强党的长期执政能力建设，提高党的领导能力和执政水平，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化；着眼增强各级党组织的政治功能和组织功能，强调不断提高党的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力，指出“中国共产党具有无比坚强的领导力、组织力、执行力”；着眼以政治建设统领党的建设各项工作，在强调提高政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力的同时，创造性提出增强“政治本领”“政治领导本领”“政治能力”“政治领导力”“政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力”“政治自制力”“政治定力”“政治自律”等重要概念、重大命题，与“政治灵魂、政治忠诚、政治担当、政治体检、政治考察、政治巡视、政治监督、政治生态、政治文化”等其他原创性概念标识性概念一起，共同构成一个以马克思主义政治观为指导、具有中国特色和中国共产党特质、富有新时代特点的政治建设理论体系、学术体系、话语体系。

Taking a clear-cut stand on politics is the fundamental requirement of our Party as a Marxist political party and the most distinctive essential feature of Chinese Communists. During the New Democratic Revolution period, Comrade Mao Zedong continuously emphasized the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, proposing the fundamental principle of building the Party ideologically and building the army politically. During the Socialist Revolution and Construction period, Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized that political work is the lifeline of all economic work. During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, on the one hand, believed that “socialist modernization is the biggest politics for us at present” and “economic work is the biggest politics at present, and economic issues are political issues that override everything else,” and on the other hand, believed that “to achieve the four modernizations in China, we must adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles in ideology and politics.” [7]7 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are the four fundamental principles for socialist modernization in China: upholding the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.

旗帜鲜明讲政治是我们党作为马克思主义政党的根本要求，是中国共产党人最鲜明的本质特征。在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东同志不断强调党对军队的绝对领导，提出了思想建党、政治建军的根本原则；在社会主义革命和建设时期，毛泽东同志强调政治工作是一切经济工作的生命线。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平同志一方面认为“社会主义现代化建设是我们当前最大的政治”“经济工作是当前最大的政治，经济问题是压倒一切的政治问题”，另一方面认为“我们要在中国实现四个现代化，必须在思想政治上坚持四项基本原则”。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has always attached importance to political issues and highlighted political requirements. As early as during his work in Zhengding, he proposed that cadres should be "politically sharp and innovative in work." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has placed great emphasis on the Party's political construction, stressing that "political issues are always fundamental major issues" and that Party members and cadres must "adhere to using the Marxist political outlook to examine, transform, and improve themselves," being adept at seeing problems from a political perspective. "To improve political capability, a very important point is to be good at analyzing and solving problems from a political perspective. Only by analyzing problems from a political perspective can one see the essence; only by solving problems from a political perspective can one grasp the fundamentals." In November 2013, during an inspection in Shandong, Xi Jinping emphasized that leading cadres at all levels must focus on leading the tough battle of comprehensively deepening reform, strengthen study and practice, and strive to improve their ideological and political capability, mobilization and organizational capability, and capability to handle complex contradictions. The introduction of the concept of "ideological and political capability" laid the foundation for the original and iconic concept of "political capability": in December 2015, at the thematic democratic life meeting of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on the "Three Stricts and Three Honests," Xi Jinping pointed out the need to "be good at observing, analyzing, and solving problems from a political perspective," and that "political capability must be strong, and ideological steadfastness, strategic steadfastness, and moral steadfastness must be particularly solid, able to withstand great winds and waves." In February 2017, at the opening ceremony of a seminar for principal leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level on studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping emphasized that leading cadres should focus on improving their political capability, making their political capability match the leadership responsibilities they hold. In October 2020, at the opening ceremony of the training class for young and middle-aged cadres at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of complex situations and arduous tasks, we must cultivate new opportunities amidst crises and open up new prospects amidst changes. Cadres, especially young cadres, must improve "seven capabilities," the first of which is "political capability." In May 2023, while listening to the work reports of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, Xi Jinping pointed out that to enhance wisdom through learning, "first, one must enhance political capability." These important expositions profoundly clarify the process of generating the concept of political capability as the "capability of primary importance," its important status and significance, its rich connotation and essence, its practical requirements for the times, and its internal logical relationship with other political concepts and quality capabilities. They provide scientific guidance for using political construction to lead all aspects of Party building and for implementing the requirement of clearly and explicitly emphasizing politics.

习近平总书记历来重视政治问题，突出政治要求。早在正定工作期间，就提出干部“政治上要敏锐、工作上要创新”。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视党的政治建设，强调“政治问题，任何时候都是根本性的大问题”，党员干部必须“坚持以马克思主义政治观对照自己、改造自己、提高自己”，善于从政治上看问题，“提高政治能力，很重要的一条就是要善于从政治上分析问题、解决问题。只有从政治上分析问题才能看清本质，只有从政治上解决问题才能抓住根本。”2013年11月，习近平总书记在山东考察时强调，各级领导干部要着眼于领导好全面深化改革这场攻坚战，加强学习和实践，努力提高思想政治能力、动员组织能力、驾驭复杂矛盾能力。“思想政治能力”概念的提出，为“政治能力”这一原创性概念标识性概念的提出奠定了基础：2015年12月，习近平总书记在十八届中共中央政治局“三严三实”专题民主生活会上指出，要“善于从政治上观察、分析、解决问题”，“政治能力要强，思想定力、战略定力、道德定力要特别过硬，经得起大风大浪考验”。2017年2月，习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻十八届六中全会精神专题研讨班开班式上强调，领导干部要注重提高政治能力，使自己的政治能力与担任的领导职责相匹配。2020年10月，习近平总书记在中央党校（国家行政学院）中青年干部培训班开班式上指出，面对复杂形势和艰巨任务，我们要在危机中育先机、于变局中开新局，干部特别是年轻干部要提高“七种能力”，第一种就是“政治能力”。2023年5月，习近平总书记在听取陕西省委和省政府工作汇报时指出，以学增智，“一要提升政治能力”。这些重要论述，深刻阐明了政治能力作为“第一位”能力的概念生成过程、重要地位意义、丰富内涵要义、时代实践要求以及与其他政治概念、素质能力之间的内在逻辑关系，为以政治建设统领党的建设各项工作、把旗帜鲜明讲政治的要求落到实处提供了科学指引。

Political capability, the most fundamental of which is political leadership, the most critical of which are political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, and the most basic of which are political self-control and political steadfastness.

政治能力，最根本的是政治领导力，最关键的是政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，最基础的是政治自制力、政治定力

As a basic concept of political science, politics is the core part of the superstructure established on a certain economic base and the concentrated expression of the economic interests and demands of social members. Marxist political science is based on yet transcends the general connotation of politics. It scientifically reveals the class essence of politics using the methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, clarifying that politics, as the core component of the superstructure, is the concentrated expression of the class interests and demands of social members, and scientifically answers how Communists "see problems from a political perspective." Xi Jinping, applying the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, has not only creatively proposed the scientific concept of "political capability" but also systematically expounded the scientific connotation of this concept. It is a synthesis of the Chinese Communists' clear political orientation, scientific thinking method, quality and capability standards, and specific practical approaches for "analyzing and solving problems from a political perspective." It is the concentrated embodiment of the Marxist worldview and methodology at the level of political construction. Its core connotation has multiple levels, including macro, meso, and micro perspectives, and is divided into narrow and broad categories. It covers all levels of Party organizations and Party members and cadres, involves various fields, aspects, and different angles, and varies in emphasis and difference depending on the occasion, object, context, time period, and matter. This reflects strong theoretical systematicity, practical relevance, and work guidance.

作为政治学的基本概念，政治是建立在一定经济基础之上的上层建筑的核心部分，是社会成员经济利益及其要求的集中体现。马克思主义政治学基于同时又超越了政治的一般内涵，以辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的方法论科学揭示了政治的阶级本质，阐明政治作为上层建筑的核心组成部分，是社会成员阶级利益和要求的集中体现，科学回答了共产党人如何“从政治上看问题”。习近平总书记运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的世界观和方法论，不仅创造性提出了“政治能力”这个科学概念，而且系统性论述了这一概念的科学内涵，是中国共产党人“从政治上分析问题、解决问题”的鲜明政治导向、科学思想方法、能力素质标准、具体实践途径的集大成，是马克思主义世界观和方法论在政治建设层面的集中体现。其核心内涵有宏观、中观、微观等多个层面，分狭义和广义不同范畴，覆盖党组织和党员干部各层级，涉及各领域各方面不同角度，并且因场合、对象、语境、时段、事项的不同而有所侧重、有所差异，体现了很强的理论系统性、现实针对性、工作指导性。

For example, focusing on strengthening the Party's political construction, it emphasizes the need to "closely adhere to the people's hearts as the greatest politics, making winning the people's hearts and minds, gathering the people's wisdom and strength an important focal point." Regarding "implementing the Party's political construction into the construction of the cadre team," it emphasizes "the need to continuously improve the ability of leading cadres at all levels, especially senior cadres, to grasp the direction, grasp the general trend, and grasp the overall situation, and the ability to distinguish political right from wrong, maintain political steadfastness, control the political situation, and prevent political risks." Based on the New Era and new journey, adapting to changes in the world and new progress in the work of the Party and the state, and responding to new challenges brought by the development of the situation and tasks, it proposes to enhance "eight kinds of abilities," including the ability to learn and the ability to provide political leadership. Based on the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, it requires leading cadres at all levels, especially senior cadres, to keep in mind the "greatest concerns of the state," continuously improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, and continuously improve their political capability, strategic vision, and professional level in grasping the new development stage, implementing the new development philosophy, and constructing the new development pattern. Focusing on preventing political risks, it emphasizes the need to forge a political discerning eye, continuously improve political acumen and political discernment, observe and analyze situations to grasp political factors, plan and promote work to implement political requirements, and handle and solve problems to prevent political risks.

比如，着眼加强党的政治建设，强调要“紧扣民心这个最大的政治，把赢得民心民意、汇集民智民力作为重要着力点”；针对把“党的政治建设落实到干部队伍建设上”，强调“要不断提高各级领导干部特别是高级干部把握方向、把握大势、把握全局的能力，辨别政治是非、保持政治定力、驾驭政治局面、防范政治风险的能力”；立足新时代新征程，适应世界的变化，适应党和国家工作的新进展，应对形势和任务发展带来的新挑战，提出要增强学习本领、政治领导本领等“八种本领”；立足中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，要求各级领导干部特别是高级干部必须心怀“国之大者”，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，不断提高把握新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局的政治能力、战略眼光、专业水平；聚焦防范政治风险，强调必须炼就政治慧眼，不断提高政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力，观察分析形势把握政治因素、筹划推动工作落实政治要求、处理解决问题防范政治风险。

Political leadership is the most fundamental political capability. It is mainly manifested as the political command and leading ability, political absorption and cohesion ability, ability to take overall command and coordinate all parties, planning and decision-making ability, ability to govern scientifically, democratically, and according to law, and national governance ability, all centered on upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership and consolidating the Party's long-term ruling position, correctly formulating and effectively implementing the Party's political program, line, principles, policies, strategic goals, and tasks. Together with ideological guiding power, mass organizational power, and social appeal, political leadership embodies and tests the Party's political capability and governance level in exercising overall leadership. Upholding and strengthening the Party's leadership lies first in upholding and strengthening the Party's political leadership and enhancing the Party's political leadership. Use strong political leadership to lead and enhance ideological guiding power, mass organizational power, and social appeal, continuously improving the Party's ability to set direction, plan overall situations, formulate policies, and promote reform, ensuring that the Party always takes overall command and coordinates all parties. Enhancing the Party's political leadership, the most important thing is to take upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee as the primary task of the Party's political construction, and to take the consciousness and ability to firmly support the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds" as the primary political consciousness and political capability. At the same time, it is necessary to focus both inside and outside the Party, concentrate on the great cause, take root in the land of China, fully leverage the Party's political advantages, organizational advantages, and advantages in close ties with the masses, more actively and extensively organize, publicize, gather, serve, and thereby lead the masses, uniting the broad masses of the people around the Party to jointly create the great cause of rejuvenation and realize the great dream.

政治领导力是最根本的政治能力。主要体现为围绕坚持和加强党的全面领导、巩固党的长期执政地位，正确制定、有效实施党的政治纲领、路线方针政策、战略目标任务的政治统领和引领能力、政治吸纳和凝聚能力、总揽全局协调各方能力、谋划规划和决断决策能力、科学民主依法执政能力、国家治理能力等。政治领导力与思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力一起，共同体现和检验着党实行全面领导的政治本领和执政水平。坚持和加强党的领导，首要在坚持和加强党的政治领导，增强党的政治领导力，以强大的政治领导力来统领提升思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力，不断提高党把方向、谋大局、定政策、促改革能力，确保党始终总揽全局、协调各方。增强党的政治领导力，最重要的是把坚持党中央权威和集中统一领导作为党的政治建设的首要任务，把坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”的意识和能力作为首要的政治意识、政治能力。同时，必须着眼党内党外，聚焦伟大事业，根植中国大地，充分发挥党的政治优势、组织优势、密切联系群众的优势，更加积极主动、广泛有效地组织群众、宣传群众、凝聚群众、服务群众进而领导群众，把广大人民群众团结凝聚在党的周围，共创复兴大业、共圆伟大梦想。

Political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution are the most critical political capabilities. In December 2020, while presiding over the democratic life meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping clearly stated: "For our Party to always remain true to its original aspiration and founding mission and to advance the cause of the Party and the people for a long time to come, it must enhance political consciousness, be good at seeing problems from a political perspective, be good at grasping the political overall situation, and continuously improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution." This was the first time Xi Jinping proposed and specifically elaborated on "political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution." Since then, he has repeatedly emphasized and expounded on this, not only profoundly clarifying the core essence and inherent laws of political capability but also precisely grasping the key elements, key links, and key requirements for improving political capability. This provides a scientific guide for clearly and explicitly emphasizing politics, precisely and scientifically emphasizing politics, and effectively and forcefully emphasizing politics.

政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力是最关键的政治能力。习近平总书记2020年12月在主持中共中央政治局民主生活会时明确提出：“我们党要始终做到不忘初心、牢记使命，把党和人民事业长长久久推进下去，必须增强政治意识，善于从政治上看问题，善于把握政治大局，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。”这是习近平总书记首次提出并具体阐释“政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力”，此后又多次作出强调和论述，不仅深刻阐明了政治能力的内核本质和内在规律，而且精准抓住了提高政治能力的关键要素、关键环节、关键要求，为旗帜鲜明讲政治、精准科学讲政治、有力有效讲政治提供了科学指南。

Political judgment is the starting point for speaking of politics. Forging a political discerning eye, distinguishing political right from wrong, and grasping the correct political direction are the primary requirements for improving political capability. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that to enhance political judgment, one must take national political security as the paramount, the people as the weightiest, and adherence to and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics as the foundation, and strengthen the ability to scientifically grasp changes in the situation, accurately identify the essence of phenomena, soberly distinguish right from wrong in behavior, and effectively resist risks and challenges; he emphasizes the need to be adept at thinking about fundamental, overall, and long-term issues concerning the overall work of the Party and the state, to strengthen strategic, systematic, and forward-looking research and planning, so as to maintain an especially clear mind and especially sharp eyes on major issues and key links, to be adept at discovering political problems from routine affairs, at detecting political signs from tendencies and nascent issues, and at grasping political logic from complex and contradictory relationships, and to steadfastly maintain an unwavering political stance and an unswerving political direction. This requires Party cadres to continuously improve political foresight, acumen, and discernment, to be adept at observing and analyzing problems from a political perspective, judging development trends, identifying the essence of things, distinguishing major issues of principle, grasping the overall situation and trends, making precise judgments, preventing and defusing risks, ensuring that all work always maintains the correct direction, and forming a sound political orientation, political influence, and political effect.

政治判断力是讲政治的出发点，炼就政治慧眼、明辨政治是非、把准政治方向是提高政治能力的首要要求。习近平总书记指出，增强政治判断力，就要以国家政治安全为大、以人民为重、以坚持和发展中国特色社会主义为本，增强科学把握形势变化、精准识别现象本质、清醒明辨行为是非、有效抵御风险挑战的能力；强调要善于思考涉及党和国家工作大局的根本性、全局性、长远性问题，加强战略性、系统性、前瞻性研究谋划，做到在重大问题和关键环节上头脑特别清醒、眼睛特别明亮，善于从一般事务中发现政治问题，善于从倾向性、苗头性问题中发现政治端倪，善于从错综复杂的矛盾关系中把握政治逻辑，坚持政治立场不移、政治方向不偏。这就要求党员干部不断提高政治预见性、敏锐性和鉴别力，善于从政治上观察分析问题、研判发展趋势、甄别事物本质，明辨大是大非，把握大局大势，作出精准研判，防范化解风险，确保各项工作始终保持正确方向，形成好的政治导向、政治影响、政治效果。

Political comprehension is the foothold for speaking of politics and is the key capability for Party cadres to understand and implement the Party’s theoretical line, principles, and policies and the spirit of the Party Central Committee. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that to improve political comprehension, one “must deeply study and thoroughly integrate the spirit of the Party Central Committee, persist in using the spirit of the Party Central Committee to analyze the situation and advance work, and always maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee.” This requires Party cadres to keep up with studying the spirit of the Party Central Committee and the important speeches, instructions, and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping, to have a clear understanding of the “great affairs of the state” [12]12 "Governance through moral harmony" (道洽政治), "promoting the Way and nurturing rectitude" (弘道养正), and "observing human culture to transform the world" (观乎人文，以化成天下) are classical Chinese allusions emphasizing the moral and cultural foundations of governance. and the great plans of the Party, to clarify and base themselves on their own responsibilities and positions, to always pay attention to what the Party Central Committee is concerned about and emphasizing, to be adept at grasping the intention and requirements of the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments from a political perspective, to be adept at using scientific theory and the spirit of the Party Central Committee to analyze changes in the situation and tasks, plan and advance work, to deeply understand and correctly comprehend the political intent, strategic judgment, overall planning, far-reaching considerations, and practical requirements of the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments, to base themselves on reality, thoroughly integrate them, and creatively transform them into specific policy measures for advancing work, ensuring always to maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in thought, politics, and action.

政治领悟力是讲政治的立足点，是党员干部理解与贯彻党的理论路线方针政策和党中央精神的关键能力。习近平总书记指出，提高政治领悟力，就“必须对党中央精神深入学习、融会贯通，坚持用党中央精神分析形势、推动工作，始终同党中央保持高度一致”。这就要求党员干部跟进学习党中央精神和习近平总书记重要讲话重要指示批示精神，对“国之大者”、党之大计了然于胸，明确和立足自身的职责定位，始终关注党中央在关心什么、强调什么，善于从政治角度把握党中央决策部署的用意和要求，善于用科学理论和党中央精神分析形势任务发展变化、谋划推动工作，深刻认识和正确领会党中央决策部署的政治意图、战略判断、整体谋划、深远考量和实践要求，立足实际、融会贯通，创造性地转化为推进工作的具体政策措施，确保始终在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。

Political execution is the落脚点 [13]13 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. for speaking of politics and is the direct embodiment and ultimate test of political capability. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that to improve political execution, one must “frequently benchmark and align with the spirit of the Party Central Committee, effectively ensure resolute response to what the Party Central Committee advocates, resolute implementation of what the Party Central Committee decides, and resolute non-action on what the Party Central Committee prohibits, resolutely uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, ensure not to fall behind or deviate, and fully and faithfully implement the spirit of the Party Central Committee.” This requires Party cadres to, from the perspective of the overall work of the Party and the state and from a political standpoint, embody the implementation of the spirit of the Party Central Committee in the practice of planning major strategies, formulating major policies, deploying major tasks, and advancing major work, to strengthen a sense of responsibility, to know responsibility in the heart, bear responsibility on the shoulders, and fulfill responsibility in action, to implement fully and faithfully, implement with vigor and speed, implement with truth-seeking and pragmatism, and implement with bold action and effectiveness, ensuring that all decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee take effect on the ground.

政治执行力是讲政治的落脚点，是政治能力的直接体现和最终检验。习近平总书记指出，提高政治执行力，就是“要经常同党中央精神对表对标，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，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，做到不掉队、不走偏，不折不扣抓好党中央精神贯彻落实”。这就要求党员干部从党和国家工作大局、从政治上把贯彻党中央精神体现到谋划重大战略、制定重大政策、部署重大任务、推动重大工作的实践中去，强化责任意识，知责于心、担责于身、履责于行，不折不扣抓落实、雷厉风行抓落实、求真务实抓落实、敢作善为抓落实，保证党中央各项决策部署落地见效。

Political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution are both mutually distinct, each with its own emphasis, and internally linked, mutually conditional. In speaking of politics, they embody the high unity of the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, the high unity of “knowing, believing, and acting” and “how to see,” “how to think,” and “how to do,” and the high unity of political consciousness, political stance, political thinking, political capability, and political behavior, constituting a logically rigorous, dialectically unified, progressively advancing, and mutually supporting whole.

政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，既相互区别、各有侧重，又内在联系、互为条件，在讲政治上体现了马克思主义立场、观点、方法的高度统一，体现了“知、信、行”和“怎么看”“怎么想”“怎么干”的高度统一，体现了政治意识、政治立场、政治思维、政治能力、政治行为的高度统一，构成一个逻辑严密、辩证统一、层层递进、相互支撑的整体。

Political self-control and political steadfastness are the most fundamental political capabilities. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that young cadres must “consciously strengthen political training, enhance political self-control, and always be ‘clear-headed persons’ and ‘honest persons’ in politics.” To enhance political self-control, one must cultivate political steadfastness, strictly observe political discipline and political rules, and effectively achieve political self-discipline. Political steadfastness is fundamentally embodied in political loyalty and the steadfastness of faith, belief, and confidence, and in political consciousness, political self-confidence, and political self-discipline. If one is not loyal or honest to the Party, if one’s faith, belief, and confidence are not firm or steadfast, if one is not politically conscious, self-confident, or self-disciplined, political capability is out of the question. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that political direction is the primary issue concerning the survival and development of the Party, and it concerns the Party’s future, destiny, and the success or failure of its cause. To improve political capability, one must first grasp the correct political direction, adhere to the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China and China’s socialist system. We must take ideal and belief education as a strategic task of ideological construction, maintain the political steadfastness of the entire Party in the pursuit of ideals, and consciously become steadfast believers and loyal practitioners of the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In his speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection [14]14 The Two Upholds (两个维护) refers to upholding the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole,, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that at any time and under any circumstances, leading Party cadres must stand firm and be reliable politically, be loyal and honest to the Party, be of one mind and one heart with the Party Central Committee, strictly observe political discipline and political rules, continuously enhance political steadfastness, discipline steadfastness, moral steadfastness, and anti-corruption steadfastness, and transform the “Four Consciousnesses” [15] into concrete actions of listening to the Party’s command and fulfilling duties for the Party. A deep understanding of these important expositions allows us to recognize more clearly: to achieve the “Two Upholds” [16], one must embody both a high degree of rational recognition and emotional identification, and possess the political steadfastness and political capability for resolute maintenance; to improve political capability, one must not only improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution but also enhance political self-control, maintain political steadfastness, and strengthen political self-discipline, always ensuring no confusion in politics, no regression in thought, no bewilderment in faith, no loss of spirit, and no wavering in conviction.

政治自制力、政治定力是最基础的政治能力。习近平总书记强调，年轻干部要“自觉加强政治历练，增强政治自制力，始终做政治上的‘明白人’、‘老实人’”。增强政治自制力，必须涵养政治定力，严守政治纪律和政治规矩，切实做到政治自律。政治定力根本体现在政治忠诚度和信仰信念信心上，体现在政治自觉、政治自信、政治自律上。如果对党不忠诚不老实，信仰信念信心不笃定不坚定，政治上不自觉不自信不自律，政治能力就无从谈起。习近平总书记指出，政治方向是党生存发展第一位的问题，事关党的前途命运和事业兴衰成败。提高政治能力，首先要把握正确政治方向，坚守共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想，坚持中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度。我们要把理想信念教育作为思想建设的战略任务，保持全党在理想追求上的政治定力，自觉做共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想的坚定信仰者、忠实实践者。习近平总书记在十九届中纪委二次全会上的讲话中强调，任何时候任何情况下，党的领导干部在政治上都要站得稳、靠得住，对党忠诚老实、与党中央同心同德，严守政治纪律和政治规矩，不断增强政治定力、纪律定力、道德定力、抵腐定力，把“四个意识”转化成听党指挥、为党尽责的实际行动。深刻领会这些重要论述，我们能够更加清醒地认识到：做到“两个维护”，既要体现高度的理性认同、情感认同，又要有坚决维护的政治定力和政治能力；提高政治能力，既要提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，还要增强政治自制力、保持政治定力、强化政治自律，始终做到政治上不糊涂、思想上不滑坡、信仰上不迷茫、精神上不迷失、信念上不动摇。

To improve political capability, one should adhere to the joint exertion of “theoretical nourishment,” “Party spirit cultivation,” “practical training,” “cultural enrichment,” and “political examination,” and continuously strengthen ideological tempering, political training, practical exercise, professional training, and long-term cultivation.

提高政治能力，应坚持“理论滋养”“党性修养”“实践培养”“文化涵养”“政治体检”共同发力，持续强化思想淬炼、政治历练、实践锻炼、专业训练、长期修炼

The consciousness and capability of speaking of politics do not arise naturally or out of thin air; they need to be cultivated and enhanced through long-term tempering, training, exercise, cultivation, and continuous learning, thinking, practicing, and comprehending. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Capability is not something that can be achieved

讲政治的意识和能力不会与生俱来、凭空产生，需要在长期的淬炼历练锻炼训练修炼、持续的学思践悟中培育提升。习近平总书记强调：“能力不是一劳永逸、一蹴而就的，必须持续升级、不断扩容。”中国共产党的本领和能力，是在矢志为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的长期奋斗历程中生长出来的，是在伟大实践中“持续升级、不断扩容”的。各级领导干部的政治能力，是日积月累积淀出来的、久久为功培育出来的、扎根实践磨炼出来的、以文化人涵养出来的，各级党组织、每一名党员干部都应同向发力、同时发力，浚源涵林、培元固本，持续锻造政治上的纯钢、好钢。

Forging the soul and consolidating the foundation with “theoretical nourishment”: enhancing political capability in deeply studying and comprehending the Party’s innovative theories. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Studying theory is in fact a kind of political responsibility and historical responsibility.” Whether it is enhancing political judgment, political comprehension, or political execution, or strengthening political self-control and maintaining political resolve, the fundamental approach lies in intensifying the study of political theory, mastering the basic principles of Marxism — the telescope and microscope of politics — absorbing political nutrients, firming up political convictions, increasing political identification, raising political standing, discerning the political direction, strengthening political awareness, and reinforcing political consciousness. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must thoroughly understand, grasp, and implement the Party’s innovative theories, master the Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods, and consolidate the ideological foundation for daring to struggle and being good at struggle. Only with theoretical clarity can we be politically steadfast, and only then can we have the confidence and

以“理论滋养”铸魂固本：在深入学习领悟党的创新理论中提高政治能力。习近平总书记指出：“学习理论实际上是一种政治担当、历史担当。”无论是增强政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，还是增强政治自制力、保持政治定力，根本都在加强政治理论学习，掌握马克思主义基本原理这个政治上的望远镜和显微镜，吸收政治养分，坚定政治信念，增进政治认同，提高政治站位，认清政治方向，增强政治意识，强化政治自觉。习近平总书记指出：“要学懂弄通做实党的创新理论，掌握马克思主义立场观点方法，夯实敢于斗争、善于斗争的思想根基，理论上清醒，政治上才能坚定，斗争起来才有底气、才有力量。”习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义，集中体现了我们党的政治意志、政治立场、政治主张，是指导我们改造主观世界和客观世界，从政治上观察、分析和处理问题的强大思想武器。提高政治能力，必须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，深刻把握这一重要思想的政治意义、政治考量、政治要求，进一步坚定政治信仰，汲取政治力量，提高政治素养，树立马克思主义政治观、实践观、群众观、阶级观、发展观、矛盾观，树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观和权力观、事业观、政绩观、地位观、利益观，切实做到以学铸魂、以学修德、以学增智、以学赋能；在学思用贯通、知信行统一中，深刻理解党的性质宗旨、理想信念、纲领路线和方针政策，坚定对马克思主义的信仰、对中国特色社会主义的信念、对中华民族伟大复兴的信心，不断增强对党的创新理论的政治认同、思想认同、理论认同和情感认同，以思想高度统一确保政治统一、行动统一，全面提升与推进中国式现代化相适应的政治能力、领导能力、工作能力。

Build the foundation with "Party spirit cultivation": improve political ability through rigorous Party spirit cultivation and serious intra-Party political

以“党性修养”夯基打底：在严格的党性修炼、严肃的党内政治生活中提高政治能力。习近平总书记指出：“讲政治最根本就是要讲党性”，并强调“全党同志特别是高级干部要加强党性锻炼，不断提高政治觉悟和政治能力，把对党忠诚、为党分忧、为党尽职、为民造福作为根本政治担当，永葆共产党人政治本色。”党性修养是政治能力的“压舱石”，党内政治生活是淬炼党性的“大熔炉”，是提升政治能力的基本途径和重要平台。党性强了，讲政治的意识和能力才会有根底；“炉火”烧旺了，才能锻造过硬的政治素质和政治本领。提高政治能力，必须常态化开展党性教育、党史学习教育和党纪学习教育，加强和规范党内政治生活，严格执行《关于新形势下党内政治生活的若干准则》，认真召开民主生活会和组织生活会，提高“三会一课”质量，落实谈心谈话、民主评议党员和主题党日等制度，坚持和完善重温入党誓词、党员过“政治生日”等政治仪式，完善和落实民主集中制的各项制度，充分用好批评和自我批评这个锐利武器，开展积极健康的思想斗争，使党内生活庄重、严肃、规范，体现政治性、时代性、原则性、战斗性，坚决防止和克服党内政治生活不讲原则、平淡化庸俗化随意化的倾向，努力达到“红脸出汗”“排毒治病”“补钙壮骨”“增智赋能”的目的。

"Tempering the blade through practical cultivation": raising political capability through rigorous and solid political training, political tempering, and practical exercise. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "To raise political steadfastness and political capability, one must rely on study, and even more so on political tempering and practical exercise." To be a clear-sighted person in politics, one must have strong political capability; Party member leading cadres must strengthen political tempering and accumulate political experience. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: "A knife must be sharpened on a stone; a person must be trained through affairs. Without weathering storms and seeing the world, it is difficult to become a great talent." Practice is the touchstone for testing political capability and also the training ground for raising political capability; major tasks and the front line of struggle are the main battlefield for testing and honing political capability. Only by actively weathering storms, seeing the world, and strengthening one's backbone in the practice of completing urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy tasks, and by strengthening political tempering and political training, undergoing political tests and political examinations in real combat, can one be tempered into steel, have the blade sharpened, and truly forge the hard spine, iron shoulders, and true skill of political

以“实践培养”淬火开刃：在严格扎实的政治训练、政治历练、实践锻炼中提高政治能力。习近平总书记指出：“提高政治定力和政治能力，要靠学习，更要靠政治历练和实践锻炼。”做政治上的明白人，政治能力要强，党员领导干部必须加强政治历练、积累政治经验。习近平总书记强调：“刀要在石上磨、人要在事上练，不经风雨、不见世面是难以成大器的。”实践是检验政治能力的试金石，也是提高政治能力的练兵场，重大任务、斗争一线是检验和磨砺政治能力的主战场，只有主动在完成急难险重任务的实践中经风雨、见世面、壮筋骨，在真刀真枪的实战中加强政治历练和政治训练、经受政治考验和政治检验，才能淬火成钢、开刃出锋，真正练就政治担当的硬脊梁、铁肩膀、真本事。习近平总书记指出：“长期以来，我们党有一个光荣传统和优良作风，就是党叫干啥就干啥、党让去哪就去哪，哪里有事业哪里就是家，没有二话、毫无怨言。”党员干部要把火热的实践作为提高政治能力最大的舞台、最好的课程，在贯彻执行党中央决策部署、应对重大斗争和突发事件、完成急难险重任务中强化政治历练和专业训练，把握正确政治方向，防范政治风险，发扬斗争精神、增强斗争本领，不断提升做到“两个维护”的能力。提高政治能力，归根到底是提高为人民服务、推动事业发展的能力。要注重在密切联系群众、真情服务群众中体悟和讲好民心民生这个最大的政治，在立足本职干事创业中体悟和践行推进中国式现代化这个最大的政治，不断提高从政治和全局上认识和处理问题的思维能力、实践能力、领导能力、专业能力、履职能力。要有不畏爬山之艰、闯关之难、涉滩之险的勇气和担当，积极向大事、难事、急事请战，主动到重大斗争一线去，在改革发展稳定工作中愿挑最重的担子、能啃最硬的骨头、善接烫手的山芋，在全面从严治党上敢于较真碰硬，在维护国家核心利益上敢于针锋相对，使自身的政治经验、政治智慧更丰富，政治本领更高强，政治底气更充足。

Nourishing the source and cultivating the foundation through "cultural cultivation": improving political capability in the process of developing a positive and healthy intra-Party political culture and fostering a clean and upright political ecosystem. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "Political culture is the soul of political life and exerts a subtle and profound influence on the political ecosystem." Since ancient times, China has possessed fine political traditions such as "governance through moral harmony," "promoting the Way and nurturing rectitude," and "observing human culture to transform the world," [12]12 "Governance through moral harmony" (道洽政治), "promoting the Way and nurturing rectitude" (弘道养正), and "observing human culture to transform the world" (观乎人文，以化成天下) are classical Chinese allusions emphasizing the moral and cultural foundations of governance. where politics and culture are deeply integrated and mutually influential. Fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, advanced socialist culture, a positive and healthy intra-Party political culture, and a clean and upright political ecosystem are the sunlight, rain and dew, air, soil, and living source that nourish and cultivate political capability. For example, among the various elements of political culture, political ideals determine political height, political beliefs determine political intensity, political emotions determine political warmth, political character determines political purity, political integrity determines political endurance, political will determines political resilience, and political values determine the degree of political advancement. Together, they play a role in nourishing the source and replenishing the vital energy in purifying the political ecosystem and cultivating political capability. To improve political capability, we must adhere to the Two Integrations, [13]13 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. strengthen cultural confidence, enhance the construction of intra-Party political culture, focus on drawing political wisdom and political virtue nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit red genes from revolutionary culture, advanced socialist culture, and intra-Party political culture, draw spiritual strength, cultivate deep feelings for the people, temper political character, promote values such as loyalty and honesty, fairness and uprightness, seeking truth from facts, and clean governance, and allow the political beliefs, political concepts, political values, and political spirit advocated by the Party to penetrate the minds and hearts of Party cadres, becoming the profound foundation and inner support of political capability.

以“文化涵养”浚源培元：在发展积极健康的党内政治文化、涵养风清气正的政治生态中提高政治能力。习近平总书记指出：“政治文化是政治生活的灵魂，对政治生态具有潜移默化的影响。”中国自古就有“道洽政治”“弘道养正”“观乎人文，以化成天下”等优良政治传统，政治与文化深度融合、相互影响。中华优秀传统文化、革命文化、社会主义先进文化和积极健康的党内政治文化，风清气正的政治生态，是浸润滋养政治能力的阳光、雨露、空气、土壤和源头活水。比如，在政治文化诸要素中，政治理想决定政治高度，政治信仰决定政治强度，政治情感决定政治温度，政治品格决定政治纯度，政治诚信决定政治长度，政治意志决定政治韧度，政治价值决定政治先进程度，它们在净化政治生态、培育政治能力方面，共同发挥着源头涵养、元气补养作用。提高政治能力，必须坚持“两个结合”、坚定文化自信，加强党内政治文化建设，注重从中华优秀传统文化中汲取政治智慧、政德养分，从革命文化、社会主义先进文化和党内政治文化中传承红色基因、汲取精神力量、厚植人民情怀、锤炼政治品格，弘扬忠诚老实、公道正派、实事求是、清正廉洁等价值观，让党所倡导的政治信念、政治理念、政治价值、政治精神深入党员干部的头脑和内心，成为政治能力的深厚底蕴和内在支撑。

Guarding the foundation and holding the bottom line through "political check-ups": improving political capability in the process of deepening political inspections, strengthening political supervision, substantiating political assessments, and strictly enforcing political discipline. Enhancing political self-control, maintaining political resolve, and ensuring that one does not rust, fade, deteriorate, or change in nature politically are the bottom-line requirements for improving political capability. To this end, it is necessary to permanently maintain political purity and health through precise, effective, normalized, and long-lasting "political check-ups." Deepening political inspections, strengthening political supervision, substantiating political assessments, and strictly enforcing political discipline are not only important measures and inevitable requirements for advancing the Party's self-revolution and strengthening the Party's political construction but also necessary means and effective methods for conducting political check-ups. To improve political capability, we must deepen political inspections, strengthen political supervision, substantiate political assessments, and strictly enforce political discipline, urging Party organizations at all levels and the vast majority of Party cadres to uphold the Party's overall leadership at a political height, grasp and strengthen Party building firmly and effectively in terms of political requirements, focus and deepen the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in terms of political positioning, and highlight political standards and political scrutiny in selecting and appointing personnel. Making the Two Upholds [14]14 The Two Upholds (两个维护) refers to upholding the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, the fundamental task of "political check-ups," we must focus on strengthening supervision and inspection of the implementation of the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies, the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and directives; strengthen supervision and inspection of the study, compliance, and implementation of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline, especially strict adherence to the Party's political discipline and political rules; strengthen political supervision to ensure the implementation of systems; and enhance the political consciousness of the Two Upholds. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "Adhere to placing political standards first, and do a thorough and solid job in assessing the political quality of cadres, highlighting the need to pass the political and integrity checks." [15] In selecting and appointing personnel, we must do a good job of political check-ups, strengthen political scrutiny and political quality assessment, always maintain political acumen and political discernment, promptly identify and remove political double-dealers, and ensure the Party's ruling security.

以“政治体检”守本兜底：在深化政治巡视、强化政治监督、实化政治考察、严明政治纪律中提高政治能力。增强政治自制力，保持政治定力，确保政治上不生锈、不褪色、不变质、不变味，是提高政治能力的底线要求。为此，必须通过精准有效、常态长效的“政治体检”，永葆政治上的纯洁健康。深化政治巡视、强化政治监督、实化政治考察、严明政治纪律，既是推进党的自我革命、加强党的政治建设的重要举措和必然要求，也是进行政治体检的必要手段和有效方法。提高政治能力，必须深化政治巡视、强化政治监督、实化政治考察、严明政治纪律，督促各级党组织和广大党员干部在政治高度上坚持党的全面领导，在政治要求上抓住抓紧、抓强抓好党的建设，在政治定位上聚焦聚力、纵深推进全面从严治党，在选人用人上突出政治标准和政治把关。把做到“两个维护”作为“政治体检”的根本任务，重点加强对党的理论和路线方针政策、党中央重大决策部署、习近平总书记重要指示批示精神贯彻落实情况的监督检查，加强对学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪特别是严守党的政治纪律和政治规矩情况的监督检查，强化政治监督保障制度执行，增强“两个维护”的政治自觉。习近平总书记指出：“坚持把政治标准放在首位，做深做实干部政治素质考察，突出把好政治关、廉洁关。”选人用人必须抓好政治体检，强化政治把关和政治素质考察，时刻保持政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力，把政治上的两面人及时辨别出来、清除出去，确保党的执政安全。

(The author is the Vice President in charge of daily operations of the China Executive Leadership Academy Yan'an)

（作者为中国延安干部学院分管日常工作的副院长）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧