Truly Mastering the Fundamental Skill of Marxism

On April 3, 2023, the work conference on the study and implementation of the theme education on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was convened in Beijing. At this conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the grand goal of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation is inspiring and motivating, and that our generation of Communists bears a glorious mission and a heavy responsibility. We must take this theme education as an opportunity to strengthen the theoretical armament of the Party’s innovation, continuously raise the entire Party’s level of Marxism, continuously improve the Party’s governing capacity and leadership level, unite our hearts and minds for the new journey, forge ahead with determination and courage, and strive in unity for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country and the comprehensive advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

2023年4月3日，学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育工作会议在北京召开。习近平总书记在这次会议上强调，强国建设、民族复兴的宏伟目标令人鼓舞、催人奋进，我们这一代共产党人使命光荣、责任重大。我们要以这次主题教育为契机，加强党的创新理论武装，不断提高全党马克思主义水平，不断提高党的执政能力和领导水平，为奋进新征程凝心聚力，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴而团结奋斗。

Make Real Efforts in Ideological Study

在思想学习上下功夫

Thought is the precursor of action; theory is the guide to practice. This theme education requires making real efforts to deepen and solidify the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thereby educating and guiding Party members and cadres to rectify the source and consolidate the foundation ideologically, continuously improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, [1] firm up the Four Confidences, [2] and achieve the Two Upholds. [3] Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that “ideals and convictions are the ‘calcium’ in the spirit of Communists; if Communists lack ideals and convictions, their spirit will be ‘calcium-deficient,’ and they will suffer from ‘osteomalacia.’” On the new journey, to overcome various predictable and unpredictable risks, challenges, difficulties, obstacles, and even stormy waves, to win the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, only by rallying under the banner of truth can we face the stormy waves without fear and march forward firmly and courageously. Only by using

思想是行动的先导，理论是实践的指南。这次主题教育要求在推动学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想上走深走实上下功夫，从而教育引导党员、干部从思想上正本清源、固本培元，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记反复强调，“理想信念是共产党人精神上的‘钙’，共产党人如果没有理想信念，精神上就会‘缺钙’，就会得‘软骨病’”。新征程上，要战胜各种可以预料和难以预料的风险挑战、艰难险阻甚至惊涛骇浪，夺取新时代中国特色社会主义的伟大胜利，实现中华民族的伟大复兴，唯有凝聚在真理的旗帜下，才能不惧惊涛骇浪，坚定勇毅前行。只有用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想改造主观世界，并将习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想深化、内化、转化为对党的创新理论的政治认同、思想认同、理论认同、情感认同，才能从思想上正本清源、固本培元，坚定对马克思主义的信仰、对中国特色社会主义的信念、对实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦的信心。

Deeply carrying out the study and implementation of the education campaign on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a major measure for implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and is of great significance for unifying the thinking of the entire Party, solving prominent problems existing within the Party, always maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the masses, and promoting the development of the Party and the state’s undertakings. To this end, we must adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic, proceeding from reality in everything, using the world outlook and methodology of dialectical materialism to scientifically understand and guide socialist modernization, earnestly applying materialist dialectics to confront contradictions, analyze contradictions, and resolve contradictions, thereby grasping the laws and winning the historical initiative.

深入开展学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育，是贯彻落实党的二十大精神的重大举措，对于统一全党思想、解决党内存在的突出问题、始终保持党同人民群众的血肉联系、推动党和国家事业发展，具有重要意义。为此，我们要坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，一切从实际出发，用辩证唯物主义的世界观和方法论来科学认识和指导社会主义现代化建设，切实运用唯物辩证法直面矛盾、分析矛盾、解决矛盾，进而把握规律，赢得历史主动权。

Make efforts in integrating theory with practice

在理论联系实际上下功夫

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly explained the general requirements for carrying out this education campaign: “This education campaign must firmly grasp the general requirements of ‘study the thought, strengthen Party spirit, emphasize practice, and establish new achievements.’” Studying the thought, strengthening Party spirit, emphasizing practice, and establishing new achievements embody the world outlook, epistemology, and methodology of historical materialism of a Marxist political party. Marxist epistemology emphasizes the holistic learning and cognitive process that combines understanding with practice, theory with reality, and the transformation of the subjective world with the transformation of the objective world, viewing the many processes of understanding and learning as a closely linked, mutually penetrating, and internally unified whole. This is the living soul of the education campaign’s learning.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是党和人民实践经验和集体智慧的结晶。习近平总书记对开展此次主题教育的总要求作出深刻阐释：“这次主题教育要牢牢把握‘学思想、强党性、重实践、建新功’的总要求。”学思想、强党性、重实践、建新功，体现了马克思主义政党历史唯物主义的世界观、认识论和方法论。马克思主义认识论注重认识与实践相结合、理论与实际相联系、改造主观世界与改造客观世界相统一的整体性学习和认识过程，将认识和学习的诸多过程看成一个紧密联系、相互贯通、内在统一的整体，这是主题教育学习的活灵魂。

The process of the development of understanding, fundamentally speaking, is a process of continuously discovering problems and solving problems. The reason why the Communist Party of China can unify thinking, unify steps, advance united and concerted, and lead the Chinese nation and the Chinese people to achieve great victories and brilliant achievements in revolution, construction, and reform lies in our Party’s adherence to Marxist guidance, solving both cognitive problems and guiding practical problems; solving both immediate problems and strategic problems.

认识发展的过程，从根本上说就是不断发现问题、解决问题的过程。中国共产党之所以能够统一思想、统一步调、团结一致向前进，带领中华民族和中国人民取得革命、建设、改革的伟大胜利和辉煌成就，就在于我们党坚持马克思主义指导，既解决认识问题，又指导实践问题；既解决现实问题，又解决战略问题。

“Study the thought, strengthen Party spirit” means to comprehensively and systematically grasp the basic viewpoints and scientific system of this thought, to properly understand the world outlook and methodology of this thought, to adhere to and apply the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through it, to consciously use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to guide all work, and to consciously practice this thought in practical work. Studying and deepening Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era lies in “emphasizing practice, establishing new achievements,” and in turning scientific thought into a powerful tool for transforming the subjective and objective worlds. Party members and cadres should consciously practice Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, using it to transform the objective world and promote the development of the cause. This is a significant way to test the results of learning and education. The political firmness and Party spirit firmness of Party cadres are inseparable from firmness in ideological theory. It can be seen that learning and education have important practical and strategic value. They are key measures for the Party to actively recognize, respond to, and seek change in the New Era, to solve various contradictions and problems existing in economic and social development and Party building, to prevent and defuse major risks, and to promote Chinese-path modernization to achieve new progress and new breakthroughs.

“学思想、强党性”就是要全面系统掌握这一思想的基本观点、科学体系，把握好这一思想的世界观、方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法，自觉用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指导各项工作，在实际工作中自觉践行这一思想。学习和深化习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在于“重实践、建新功”，在于把科学思想变成改造主观世界和客观世界的强大工具。党员和干部应自觉践行习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，用以改造客观世界、推动事业发展，这是检验学习教育成果的显著方式。党员干部在政治上的坚定、党性上的坚定，都离不开思想理论上的坚定。可见，学习教育有重要的实践价值和战略价值，是党在新时代积极识变应变求变，解决经济社会发展和党的建设中存在的各种矛盾问题，防范化解重大风险，推动中国式现代化取得新进展新突破的关键举措。

Only by educating and guiding the vast number of Party members and cadres to study the thought and see action, to establish a correct view of power, outlook on political performance, and view of the cause, and to enhance their sense of mission and honor; by actively mobilizing Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres to highlight a problem-oriented approach in practical work, to examine shortcomings, find gaps, and clarify directions, to always accept political physical examinations and mass supervision, to cultivate the habit and quality of cleaning political dust, and to correct deviations in thought and behavior anytime and anywhere, can we implement the Party’s ability for self-purification, self-improvement, self-renovation, and self-enhancement into the actual work of every Party comrade and in serving the people under the Party’s leadership, forever maintaining the Party’s vitality and purity.

我们只有通过教育引导广大党员、干部学思想、见行动，树立正确的权力观、政绩观、事业观，提高使命感和荣誉感；积极动员各级党组织和广大党员、干部在实践工作中突出问题导向，查不足、找差距、明方向，时刻接受政治体检和群众监督，养成打扫政治灰尘的习惯和素养，随时随地纠正思想上和行为上的偏差，才能使党的自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高能力落实到每位党员同志和党领导下为人民服务的实际工作中，永葆党的生命力和纯洁性。

Make efforts in concrete practice

在具体实践中下功夫

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, Marxism of the 21st century, and the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit. It has achieved a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, opened up a new realm of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and provided fundamental guidance for the development of the Party and the state’s undertakings in the New Era.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃，开辟了马克思主义中国化时代化新境界，为新时代党和国家事业发展提供了根本遵循。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the fundamental task of carrying out this education campaign is to adhere to the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action. The integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action embody the theoretical character of dialectical materialism and historical materialism that combines the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture. They are the fundamental principles for maintaining the vigorous vitality and exuberant vitality of Marxism. “This education campaign does not divide into stages or links.” At the work conference on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era education campaign, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward clear requirements for fully implementing key measures, emphasizing “the need to integrate theoretical study, investigation and research, promoting development, and inspection and rectification, organically merging them and advancing them as a whole,” once again clarifying the systematic and holistic nature of the methodology of this education campaign.

习近平总书记指出，开展这次主题教育，根本任务是坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一。学思用贯通、知信行统一贯彻了马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的理论品格，是保持马克思主义的蓬勃生机和旺盛活力的根本原则。“这次主题教育不划阶段、不分环节”，在学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育工作会议上，习近平总书记对全面落实重点措施提出明确要求，强调“要把理论学习、调查研究、推动发展、检视整改贯通起来，有机融合、一体推进”，再次明确了此次主题教育方法论的系统性和整体性。

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a powerful ideological weapon for transforming the subjective and objective worlds. To integrate theoretical study, investigation and research, promoting development, and inspection and rectification, we must apply the Party’s innovative theory to the major strategic deployments proposed by the 20th National Congress of the CPC, to realize Chinese-path modernization and create a new form of human civilization. Adhering to the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, to forge the soul through learning, to enhance wisdom through learning, to correct conduct through learning, and to promote work through learning, means transforming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into a powerful force for strengthening ideals and convictions, tempering Party spirit and conduct, guiding practice, and promoting achievements. If the entire Party always maintains unified thinking, firm will, and strong combat effectiveness, we will surely be able to create historical achievements on the new journey of building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是改造主观世界和客观世界的强大思想武器，把理论学习、调查研究、推动发展、检视整改贯通起来，就要把党的创新理论运用到贯彻落实党的二十大提出的重大战略部署中，去实现中国式现代化，创造人类文明新形态。坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一，以学铸魂、以学增智、以学正风、以学促干，就是要把习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想转化为坚定理想信念、锤炼党风党性和指导实践、推动功业的强大力量。全党始终保持统一的思想、坚定的意志、强大的战斗力，我们就一定能在建设社会主义现代化国家、实现中华民族伟大复兴新征程上创造历史伟业。

Contemporary China is undergoing the most grand and unique civilizational development and practical innovation in human history. Persisting in arming the entire Party, guiding practice, and advancing work with the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is an important experience of our Party in creating history and achieving brilliance. “The reason why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics works is ultimately because Marxism works.” In the New Era, the tasks of reform, development, and stability are unprecedentedly heavy, the contradictions, risks, and challenges are unprecedentedly complex, and the tests of governance are unprecedentedly profound. We must continuously improve our ability to use Marxism to analyze and solve practical problems, and continuously improve our ability to use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to guide us in meeting major challenges, resisting major risks, overcoming major obstacles, resolving major contradictions, and solving major problems, thereby winning the historical initiative and creating new and greater miracles on the new journey of building a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

当代中国正在经历人类历史上最为宏大而独特的文明发展和实践创新，坚持用马克思主义中国化时代化最新成果武装全党、指导实践、推动工作，是我们党创造历史、成就辉煌的一条重要经验。“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行。”新时代改革发展稳定任务之重、矛盾风险挑战之繁、治国理政考验之深前所未有。我们必须不断提高运用马克思主义分析和解决实际问题的能力，不断提高运用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指导我们应对重大挑战、抵御重大风险、克服重大阻力、化解重大矛盾、解决重大问题的能力，从而赢得历史主动，在强国建设、民族复兴新征程上创造新的更大奇迹。

Every time the Party’s theoretical innovation advances one step, theoretical arming must follow one step, and work practice must advance another step. Carrying out thematic education is both theoretical study and spiritual baptism, and it is even more about practical implementation. We should calm our minds to read the original works, study the original texts, and comprehend the principles, drawing the original theoretical core from the original texts of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly understanding the profound ideological essence, and practicing the practical character of seeking truth from facts. This inherently requires that leading cadres and

党的理论创新每前进一步，理论武装就要跟进一步，工作实践必须再进一步。开展主题教育既是理论学习，也是精神洗礼，更在实践躬行。我们应当静下心来读原著、学原文、悟原理，从习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的原著原文中，汲取原汁原味的理论内核，悟透博大精深的思想精髓，践行实事求是的实践品格。这内在地要求广大党员领导干部，要将习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想进行整体把握、融会贯通，真正通晓理论精髓、掌握精神要旨，从而把创新理论变成改造主观世界和客观世界的强大思想武器，进而带领亿万人民不断开创中国特色社会主义和中华民族伟大复兴事业发展新局面。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗