Only by Daring to Gnaw “Hard Bones” Can One Create “Hard Political Performance”

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China: “Our Party upholds and develops the spirit of fearing no sacrifice and fighting valiantly. For the people, the country, the nation, and for its ideals and convictions, it has hacked a path through brambles and thorns and forged ahead. No matter how powerful the enemy, how treacherous the road, or how severe the challenge, it has always been fearless and never retreated. With an iron will that remains unshakable no matter how the storm rages, it has inspired the entire people to march from victory to victory.” [1]1 This speech was delivered on July 1, 2026, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. When a difficult task arises, does one rise to the challenge or take a detour? The 105-year history of our Party repeatedly gives the same answer: only by gnawing through those “hard bones” that cannot be bypassed or avoided can one truly open up the development situation, win the initiative in work, and create solid political performance.

习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立105周年大会上的重要讲话中指出：“我们党坚持和发扬不怕牺牲、英勇斗争的精神，为了人民、国家、民族，为了理想信念，披荆斩棘、砥砺前行，无论敌人如何强大、道路如何艰险、挑战如何严峻，总是毫不畏惧、绝不退缩，以任凭风雨来袭、我自岿然不动的钢铁意志鼓舞全国人民不断从胜利走向胜利。”难事当前，是迎难而上还是绕道而行？我们党105年的历史反复给出同一个答案：唯有啃下那些绕不开、躲不过的“硬骨头”，才能真正打开发展局面、赢得工作主动、创造过硬政绩。

Contradiction is the source and driving force of the development of things. Amid complex and changing circumstances, there is always one contradiction that occupies a dominant position, prescribing and constraining the direction and trend of development. Gnawing “hard bones” is essentially about precisely grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction in the development of things. The reason “hard bones” are so crucial lies in their core position within the system of contradictions; they are the key affecting overall development. Such difficult problems often affect the whole body when one part is touched. [2]2 A Chinese idiom meaning that a change in one part affects the whole situation. If they remain unresolved, various supporting tasks will find it difficult to achieve tangible results or breakthroughs. If they can be precisely cracked, many derivative problems will be readily solved. Gnawing “hard bones” must adhere to dialectical thinking and make good use of the method of contradiction analysis. One must both keep the overall situation in mind and grasp the general trend, accurately identifying the principal contradiction whose resolution “activates the entire chessboard with one move,” and also delve into details and strike directly at the crux, identifying the principal aspect of the contradiction and making precise efforts to achieve a breakthrough.

矛盾是事物发展的源泉和动力。在纷繁复杂的局面中，总有一种矛盾居于支配地位，规定制约着事物发展的方向和趋势。啃“硬骨头”，本质就是精准抓住事物发展的主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面。“硬骨头”之所以至关重要，根源在于其处于矛盾体系的核心位置，是影响全局发展的关键。这类难题往往牵一发而动全身，一旦悬而不决，各项配套工作便难以落地见效、实现突破；倘若能被精准破解，诸多衍生问题便会迎刃而解。啃“硬骨头”必须坚持辩证思维，用好矛盾分析法，既要胸怀大局、把握大势，精准识别“一子落而满盘活”的主要矛盾，也要深耕细节、直击要害，找准矛盾的主要方面，精准发力突破。

The 105-year journey of struggle of our Party is a magnificent epic of facing the difficult problems of the times head-on, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the mission, and persistently tackling tough challenges. At every key juncture of historical transition, our Party has always dared to gnaw the hardest bones and shoulder the heaviest burdens. At present, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. Facing problems such as “bottleneck” technologies, [3]3 A term used in China for key technologies that are controlled by foreign countries and restrict China’s development, especially in high-tech fields like semiconductors. we must be even more daring to gnaw “hard bones,” with extremely strong conviction, confidence, and great courage and sense of responsibility, discard rigid thinking, break down interest barriers, and strive to open up a new situation for Chinese-path modernization, making new and greater contributions to achieving the second centenary goal. [4]4 The goal of building China into a great modern socialist country by the middle of the 21st century, following the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021.

我们党105年的奋斗征程，是一部直面时代难题、勇担使命重任、持续攻坚克难的壮阔史诗。在每个历史转折的关键节点，我们党始终敢于啃最硬的骨头、挑最重的担子。当前，中华民族伟大复兴进入不可逆转的历史进程，面对“卡脖子”等问题，我们必须更加敢于啃“硬骨头”，以极强的信念信心和极大的勇气担当，摈弃固化思维、破除利益藩篱，努力开创中国式现代化新局面，为实现第二个百年奋斗目标作出新的更大贡献。

In practical work, every time a “hard bone” is gnawed, a new “hard political performance” is created. Solid political performance conforms to the general trend of the times, responds to the Party’s call, adheres to a people-centered approach, focuses on problems with determined and practical action, tackles difficulties, achieves breakthroughs, and is sufficiently solid and durable to withstand the test of time and practice. Gnawing “hard bones” is not a quick battle that can be won overnight, but a protracted war that requires persistent and cumulative effort. Only by striking one hammer blow after another and working one term after another, resolving risks and hidden dangers and accumulating development advantages through continuous hard work, can a leapfrog breakthrough from quantitative change to qualitative change be achieved.

在实际工作中，每啃下一块“硬骨头”，就是新创造一项“硬政绩”。过硬的政绩，顺应时代大势、响应党的号召、坚持以人民为中心，聚焦问题笃行实干、攻坚克难、实现突破，足够坚实、足够持久，经得起时间沉淀和实践检验。啃“硬骨头”不是一蹴而就的速决战，而是久久为功、日积月累的持久战。唯有一锤接着一锤敲、一茬接着一茬干，在持续攻坚中化解风险隐患、积累发展优势，方能实现从量变到质变的跨越式突破。

“Hard bones” exist not only in grand narratives but also in ordinary practice. Huang Wenxiu, [5]5 Huang Wenxiu (1989–2019) was a Party official who died in a flash flood while working in poverty alleviation in Guangxi. She was posthumously awarded the title “Role Model of the Times.” abandoning the prosperity of the city and rushing to the front line of poverty alleviation, running through the mountains and fields, taking root at the grassroots, and keeping the people in her heart, interpreted the original aspiration and founding mission with her fervent youth, gnawing the “hard bone” of decisively eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind. Zhang Guimei, [6]6 Zhang Guimei (b. 1957) is a teacher who founded the first free high school for girls in poverty-stricken areas of Yunnan. She was awarded the title “Role Model of the Times” and the July 1 Medal. long holding fast in the mountains and devoting herself to consolidating the foundation of education, dragging her frail and sick body to deeply cultivate the three-foot podium and founding a free high school for girls, lighting up the dream of schooling for girls in mountainous areas, gnawed the “hard bone” of breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty. The “Role Models of the Times” [7]7 A national honorary title awarded by the CPC Central Committee to individuals who exemplify the Party’s values and make outstanding contributions. have different posts, but with the same perseverance, responsibility, and dedication, they have forged extraordinary achievements in ordinary positions, vividly interpreting the lofty character of Communists in the New Era of tackling difficulties and benefiting the people.

“硬骨头”既在宏大叙事中，也在平常实践里。黄文秀放弃城市繁华、奔赴脱贫一线，奔走山野、扎根基层、心系群众，用滚烫青春诠释初心使命，啃下的是决胜脱贫、不落一人的“硬骨头”；张桂梅长期坚守大山、倾力教育固本，拖着病弱身躯深耕三尺讲台、创办免费女子高中，点亮山区女孩求学梦想，啃下的是阻断贫困代际传递的“硬骨头”……“时代楷模”岗位不同，却用同样的坚守、担当与奉献，在平凡岗位铸就不凡实绩，生动诠释了新时代共产党人攻坚克难、为民造福的崇高品格。

Forging ahead on the new journey, the vast number of Party members and cadres should take the role models as mirrors and align with the benchmarks, based on their own posts, focus on work blockages, governance difficulties, and people’s livelihood pain points, conduct in-depth research, make scientific plans, and work hard in a down-to-earth manner, gnawing one “hard bone” after another, conquering one “Loushan Pass” and “Lazikou” after another, [8]8 References to two key battles during the Long March (1934–1935): the crossing of Loushan Pass and the capture of Lazikou, used metaphorically to mean overcoming major obstacles. and with the spiritual realm of “achievement need not be in my tenure, but achievement must have my contribution,” [9]9 A well-known saying in Chinese political discourse, emphasizing dedication to long-term goals over personal credit. display their talents, demonstrate their value, and create solid political performance through the tempering of time and the honing of practice.

奋进新征程，广大党员干部当以楷模为镜、向标杆看齐，立足本职岗位，聚焦工作堵点、治理难点、民生痛点，深入调研、科学谋划、埋头实干，啃下一块块“硬骨头”，征服一个个“娄山关”“腊子口”，以“功成不必在我、功成必定有我”的精神境界，在时间淬炼、实践磨炼中施展才干、彰显价值、创造过硬政绩。

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧