Settling Old Accounts Is a Responsibility of Governance

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that political performance “is embodied not only in immediate and visible achievements, but also in latent achievements that lay foundations, increase momentum, and benefit the long term; it is embodied not only in resolving current contradictions, but also in resolving problems left over from history,” emphasizing that “we must put a stop to the practice of new officials ignoring old accounts and to ‘image projects’ and ‘vanity projects’.” [1]1 “Image projects” (形象工程) and “vanity projects” (政绩工程) are pejorative terms for projects undertaken primarily to enhance an official’s personal reputation or career prospects rather than to serve genuine public needs. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition points the way for the vast number of Party members and officials to serve the people diligently and pragmatically. The responsibility of governance and the commitment to serving the people cannot be interrupted by changes in official positions. Only by settling old accounts can the continuity of the cause’s development be maintained and the trust of the masses be won; this is the responsibility of governance that leading officials should shoulder.

习近平总书记指出，政绩“既体现在即期见效的显绩上，也体现在打基础、增后劲、利长远的潜绩上；既体现在解决现实矛盾上，也体现在解决历史遗留问题上”，强调“杜绝新官不理旧账和‘形象工程’、‘政绩工程’”。习近平总书记的重要论述为广大党员干部躬身为民、勤政务实指明了方向。治理的责任、为民的承诺，不能因干部职务调整而中断。理好旧账，才能赓续事业发展、赢得群众信任，是领导干部应该扛起的为政之责。

Bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental purpose of governance. Old accounts are unfinished undertakings for the people’s livelihood, linked to the urgent concerns and difficulties of countless households and to the bottlenecks and obstacles in the development of enterprises. In reality, a small number of Party members and officials are keen on engaging in “short, flat, and fast” “bonsai projects,” [2]2 “Short, flat, and fast” (短平快) is a colloquial term originally from volleyball, used here to describe projects that are quick to implement and show immediate results but lack depth or sustainability. “Bonsai projects” (盆景工程) refers to showcase projects that are small-scale, superficial, and designed only for display. while bypassing or even turning a blind eye to the “tough nuts” left by their predecessors that bear on the vital interests of the masses. This mentality of “avoiding trouble” reflects an indifference to the safety and well-being of the masses. If old accounts are allowed to accumulate layer by layer like “passing the parcel in a drumbeat,” [3]3 “Passing the parcel in a drumbeat” (击鼓传花) is a traditional Chinese game in which a flower is passed around while a drum beats; when the drum stops, the person holding the flower must perform a task. Here it is a metaphor for shifting problems from one official to the next without resolution. it will not only trap grassroots governance in a cycle of inefficiency but also severely deplete the credibility of the Party and the government. Settling old accounts means both clearing “historical debts” and repairing the reputation among the masses. The interests of the masses must be placed first, old accounts must be seen as a list of livelihood issues, and every effort must be made to resolve difficulties for the masses, truly being responsible to history and to the people.

造福于民，是为政的根本目的。旧账是未竟的民生事业，连着千家万户的急难愁盼，连着企业发展的堵点难点。现实中，少数党员干部热衷于搞“短平快”的“盆景工程”，对前任留下、事关群众切身利益的“硬骨头”绕道而行，甚至视而不见。这种“避事”心理，折射出的是对群众安危冷暖的漠视。如果任由旧账如“击鼓传花”般层层积压，不仅会让基层治理陷入低效循环，更会严重透支党和政府的公信力。理旧账，既是在清理“历史欠账”，也是在修复群众口碑。必须把群众利益放在第一位，把旧账看作民生问题清单，千方百计为群众排忧解难，真正做到对历史负责、对人民负责。

The reason some Party members and officials do not settle old accounts lies in a deviation in their understanding of the relationship between visible achievements and latent achievements, and between old accounts and new accomplishments. They believe that settling old accounts is “a thankless task” and that “the credit goes to the predecessors.” In reality, visible achievements and latent achievements, old accounts and new accomplishments, have never been separate. The process of settling old accounts is also a process of investigation and research, through which one can ascertain the real situation, gauge public opinion, grasp the essence of problems through surface contradictions, and identify the key factors constraining development. Only by identifying weaknesses and shortcomings can measures be tailored to local conditions and specific issues, laying the foundation for blazing a new path of development and making new accomplishments. Settling old accounts is not only about resolving problems left over from history but also about clearing obstacles for the cause and accumulating momentum for development, which can leave long-term “dividends” for future development. Party members and officials should take up the baton with the broad-mindedness of “success does not have to be mine,” [4]4 “Success does not have to be mine” (功成不必在我) is a frequently cited phrase in Chinese political discourse, emphasizing selfless dedication to long-term goals over personal credit. tackle tough issues with the sense of responsibility of “success must have me in it,” [5]5 “Success must have me in it” (功成必定有我) is a complementary phrase stressing the individual’s active responsibility in achieving success. break new ground and make new accomplishments by gnawing on “tough nuts,” lay foundations for those who come after, and accumulate strength for future development.

有的党员干部之所以不理旧账，原因在于对显绩与潜绩、旧账与新功的关系出现了认识偏差，认为理旧账“出力不讨好”“功劳算在前人身上”。实际上，显绩与潜绩、旧账与新功从来不是割裂的。解决旧账的过程，也是调查研究的过程，从中可以察实情、摸民意，可以透过表面矛盾抓住问题本质，找到制约发展的关键因素。只有摸清了短板弱项，才能因地制宜、因事施策，为蹚出一条发展新路、建立新功奠定基础。理旧账，不仅是解决历史遗留问题，更是在为事业清障、为发展积势，能够为未来发展留下长远“红利”。党员干部要以“功成不必在我”的胸怀接过接力棒，以“功成必定有我”的担当解决棘手事，在啃下“硬骨头”中破局开路、建立新功，为后人打下基础，为未来发展积蓄力量。

The difficulty of settling old accounts lies in their complex causes and intertwined contradictions; relying solely on personal enthusiasm can easily lead to a situation of “having the will but not the means.” To make new officials settle old accounts, it is also necessary to focus on improving relevant systems and strengthening their implementation, turning settling old accounts from a “multiple-choice question” into a “required question.” In recent years, many localities have made useful explorations in this regard: establishing rigid constraint mechanisms for handover upon leaving office, turning “oral handovers” into “account transfers”; promoting the normalization and itemization of resolving historical problems, breaking the mindset of lazy governance; incorporating the resolution of historical problems into the evaluation system for political performance, establishing a closed loop of responsibility. These institutional practices both compel incumbents to abide by rules and uphold the bottom line, and clarify the responsibilities of successors. Through a “combination punch” of rigid constraints and positive incentives, a good atmosphere for undertaking the cause is formed, where “the predecessors plant trees and the successors continue to tend them.” [6]6 “The predecessors plant trees and the successors continue to tend them” (前人栽树、后人续护) is a variation of the common saying “the predecessors plant trees, the successors enjoy the shade” (前人栽树，后人乘凉), adapted here to emphasize ongoing maintenance rather than passive enjoyment. It is necessary to further improve the full-chain mechanism of departure audits, responsibility transfer, and lifelong accountability. On the one hand, we must take tough action against “officials who do nothing” and “shirk responsibility”; on the other hand, we must improve the incentive mechanism, support and encourage Party members and officials who dare to gnaw on “tough nuts,” and let doers stand out.

解决旧账之难，难在成因复杂、矛盾交织，单凭个人热情易陷于“有心无力”的境地。要使新官理旧账，还要着力完善相关制度、强化制度执行，让理旧账从“选择题”变成“必答题”。近年来，多地在这方面进行了有益探索：建立离任交接刚性约束机制，让“口头交接”变为“账目移交”；推动解决历史遗留问题常态化、清单化，破除懒政思维；将化解历史遗留问题纳入政绩考核评价体系，建立起责任闭环。这些制度实践既倒逼在任者讲规矩、守底线，也使继任者明确责任。通过刚性约束与正向激励的“组合拳”，形成“前人栽树、后人续护”的干事创业良好氛围。要进一步健全离任审计、责任移交、终身追责的全链条机制，一方面，对“为官不为”“甩锅推责”动真碰硬；另一方面，完善激励机制，为敢于啃“硬骨头”的党员干部撑腰鼓劲，让实干家脱颖而出。

Governance values constancy; rule requires continuity. A good blueprint can only become a beautiful reality if it is grasped to the end and carried through from start to finish. Party members and officials should adopt a higher political standpoint, integrate their personal actions into the overall cause of the development of the Party and the state, and, like running a relay race, continue to pass the baton one after another. With an indomitable posture, a sense of responsibility that dares to take on the task, and persistent practical work, they should transform the “problem list” into the masses’ “happiness bill,” [7]7 “Happiness bill” (幸福账单) is a rhetorical term contrasting with “problem list” (问题清单), suggesting that resolving issues directly translates into tangible benefits and satisfaction for the people. delivering an excellent performance report.

政贵有恒，治须有常。好的蓝图，只有一抓到底、善始善终，才能成为美好现实。党员干部应以更高的政治站位，将个人所为融入党和国家事业发展大局，像跑接力赛一样，一棒一棒接着干下去，以一往无前的姿态、舍我其谁的担当、锲而不舍的实干，把“问题清单”转化为群众的“幸福账单”，交出一份优异的履职答卷。