A Brilliant Document Interpreting the Fundamental Purpose of the Communist Party of China — Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Publication of "Serve the People"

Among the outstanding works that shine brightly in the history of human thought, there can be voluminous masterpieces such as *The Iliad* and *The Odyssey* or *Capital*, as well as short, refined gems rich in content, profound in meaning, and far-reaching in influence, such as Comrade Mao Zedong's "Serve the People," which is fewer than eight hundred characters in length. Over the past 80 years, the five characters "serve the people" [1]1 Mao Zedong, “Serve the People,” September 8, 1944. have become the motto of Chinese Communists, like a lighthouse radiating brilliant light, illuminating the path of selfless dedication of Chinese Communists to seek happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

在人类思想史上熠熠生辉的杰出作品，可以是卷帙浩瀚的鸿篇巨制，如《荷马史诗》、《资本论》，也可以是内涵丰富、微言大义且影响深远的短小精品，如毛泽东同志不足八百字的《为人民服务》。80年来，“为人民服务”五个大字成为中国共产党人的座右铭，如同光芒万丈的灯塔，照亮了中国共产党人为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴的无悔奉献之路。

I. Radiating the Truth of Marxism

一、闪耀着马克思主义的真理光芒

Great thoughts always elevate people's ideological realm with the power of truth, transcending the vulgar and moving toward the beautiful. An important reason why "Serve the People" remains ever fresh and shines brightly is that it perfectly interprets the fundamental purpose of the Communist Party of China and embodies the Marxist view of history, view of political parties, and sense of public servanthood.

伟大的思想，总是以真理的力量提升人的思想境界，脱俗向美。《为人民服务》之所以能够历久弥新、熠熠生辉，一个重要原因是它完美地诠释了中国共产党的根本宗旨，体现了马克思主义的历史观、政党观和公仆意识。

It embodies the view of history centered on the masses. In the article "Serve the People," Comrade Mao Zedong said, "We serve the people." Why should Communists serve the "people" rather than those so-called noble "sages"? This is determined by the mass view of history, which belongs to historical materialism. Before the birth of Marxism, the view of history centered on sages and worthies had long prevailed in the history of human thought. It held that history was created only by nobles, worthies, wise men, and outstanding figures—those capable of stealing secret thoughts from God—while ordinary people merely needed to apply the revelations leaked by them. This view of history determined that people must prostrate themselves at the feet of God and heroic figures, allowing themselves to be manipulated. Marx and Engels profoundly demonstrated that the history of social development is the history of the masses of the people engaged in production, and that "with the deepening of historical activity, the ranks of the masses will inevitably expand." [2]2 Li Dingming (1881–1947): a non-Party progressive and a representative of the gentry in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region; his proposal on “streamlining administration and simplifying troops” was adopted by the CPC in 1941. Whether it is technological innovation, cultural development, or institutional change, none can be separated from the broad participation of the masses of the people, nor from their labor and creation. The Marxist mass view of history points out the correct path of relying on the people to advance history and provides the theoretical foundation for the Communist Party's purpose of "serving the people." In Comrade Mao Zedong's writings, the word "people" appears everywhere. He believed that Communists also have a God in their hearts, "and this God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people." [3]3 The War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950–1953): the Chinese name for the Korean War, in which Chinese “volunteers” fought alongside North Korea against UN forces led by the United States. If Communists work hard and serve the people wholeheartedly, they can move the masses of the Chinese people to devote themselves to the Party's cause. General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "The common people are heaven; the common people are earth. Forgetting the people and departing from them would make us like water without a source or a tree without roots, and we would accomplish nothing." Serving the people means conforming to the original aspiration and founding mission of Communists and conforming to the objective laws of the development of human history.

体现了群众史观。在《为人民服务》一文中，毛泽东同志说“我们是为人民服务的”。共产党人为什么要为“人民”服务而不去为那些所谓高贵的“圣贤”服务？这是由属于历史唯物主义的群众史观决定的。在马克思主义诞生前，人类思想史上长期流行的是圣贤史观，认为历史只是由贵人、贤人、智者、杰出人物，即有本事从上帝那里窃取隐秘思想的人们创造的，平凡的人只需应用他们所泄露的天机。此种历史观决定了人们要匍匐于上帝和英雄人物的脚下，听任摆布。马克思和恩格斯深刻论证了社会发展的历史是从事生产的人民群众的历史，“随着历史活动的深入，必将是群众队伍的扩大”。无论是科技革新、文化发展还是制度更迭，都离不开人民群众的广泛参与，离不开人民群众的劳动与创造。马克思主义的群众史观指明了依靠人民推动历史前进的人间正道，为共产党人“为人民服务”的宗旨提供了理论基础。在毛泽东同志的著作中，随处可见“人民”二字。他认为，共产党人心中也有个上帝，“这个上帝不是别人，就是全中国的人民大众”。共产党人努力工作，全心全意为人民服务，就能够感动全中国的人民大众投身于党的事业。习近平总书记说：“老百姓是天，老百姓是地。忘记了人民，脱离了人民，我们就会成为无源之水、无本之木，就会一事无成。”服务人民，就是顺应了共产党人的初心使命，就是顺应了人类历史发展的客观规律。

It embodies the Marxist view of political parties. Marx and Engels pointed out: "The proletarian movement is the independent movement of the immense majority, in the interests of the immense majority," [4]4 Huang Yanpei (1878–1965): a prominent non-Party educator and political figure; his advice influenced the decision to use the name “Chinese People’s Volunteers” rather than regular army troops. revealing the essential attribute of the Communist Party as the vanguard of the proletariat. In the article "Serve the People," Comrade Mao Zedong vividly interpreted the Marxist view of political parties. He said: "Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution." This revolutionary battalion is the faithful representative of the greatest interests of the Chinese people and the entire Chinese nation. It is a political party that seeks interests for the people and the nation, and it itself has no private interests to pursue. All activities, all statements, and all policies of Communists are aimed at seeking benefits for the people. They must take wholehearted service to the people as the highest criterion and take satisfying the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people as the starting point and ultimate goal, rather than seeking any narrow personal privileges or the private interests of small groups. As General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: The Communist Party of China "shares weal and woe and life and death with the people,

体现了马克思主义的政党观。马克思和恩格斯指出：“无产阶级的运动是绝大多数人的，为绝大多数人谋利益的独立的运动”，昭示了共产党作为无产阶级先锋队的本质属性。在《为人民服务》一文中，毛泽东同志生动地诠释了马克思主义的政党观。他说：“我们的共产党和共产党所领导的八路军、新四军，是革命的队伍。”这个革命的队伍，是中国人民最大利益和整个中华民族利益的忠实代表，是为人民为民族谋利益的政党，本身决无私利可图。共产党人的一切活动，一切言论，一切方针政策，都是为人民谋福利，都必须以全心全意为人民服务为最高准则，以满足最广大人民群众的根本利益为出发点和落脚点，而不是为了谋取任何狭隘的个人特权、小集团私利。诚如习近平总书记所言：中国共产党“与人民休戚与共、生死相依，没有任何自己特殊的利益，从来不代表任何利益集团”。中国共产党真正地摆脱了以往政治力量追求自身特殊利益的局限，不仅相信人民群众是真正的英雄，而且把为人民谋幸福作为初心和使命，把全心全意为人民服务当作宗旨。

It embodies the public servant consciousness of steadfastly acting as the people's attendants. In summarizing the experience of the Paris Commune, Marx and Engels emphasized that the public officials of the Commune are "servants of society" and "attendants," and must never become "masters of society." In a letter, Engels referred to the cadres of the proletarian political party as the people's "servants." The "heavenly duty" of Communists is to be good attendants and serve the people. Comrade Mao Zedong repeatedly admonished the entire Party: "All our working cadres, regardless of their rank, are the people's attendants, and everything we do is to serve the people." Comrade Mao Zedong demanded that Party members and leading cadres be "primary school students" learning from the masses and "old oxen" serving the people, calling on "all Communists, all revolutionaries, and all revolutionary literary and art workers to learn from the example of Lu Xun, to be the 'ox' for the proletariat and the masses, bending their backs to the task until their dying day." The purpose of serving the people requires Party members and cadres to remember that they are one among the ordinary working people, and must never become bureaucratic officials of society, nor become overlords riding on the backs of the masses.

体现了坚定做人民勤务员的公仆意识。在总结巴黎公社经验时，马克思、恩格斯强调，公社的公职人员是“社会公仆”和“勤务员”，而决不能成为“社会主人”。恩格斯在一篇通信中把无产阶级政党的干部称为人民的“仆人”。共产党人的“天职”，就是做好勤务员，为人民服务。毛泽东同志多次告诫全党：“我们一切工作干部，不论职位高低，都是人民的勤务员，我们所做的一切，都是为人民服务。”毛泽东同志要求党员领导干部做学习群众的“小学生”、做为人民服务的“老黄牛”，号召“一切共产党员，一切革命家，一切革命的文艺工作者，都应该学鲁迅的榜样，做无产阶级和人民大众的‘牛’，鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已”。为人民服务的宗旨，要求党员、干部牢记自己是普通劳动人民中的一员，决不能成为社会的官僚，不能成为骑在人民群众头上的老爷。

II. How to Practice the Fundamental Purpose of Serving the People Wholeheartedly

二、如何践行全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨

At the Seventh National Congress of the Party in 1945, "serving the people" was written into the Party Constitution, and "serving the people wholeheartedly" became the fundamental purpose, code of conduct, and value goal of the Communist Party of China. Comrade Mao Zedong believed that the Communist Party "must serve the people wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly or with two-thirds or three-quarters of a heart." In the article "Serve the People," Comrade Mao Zedong taught us how to achieve serving the people. His main points are:

在1945年党的第七次全国代表大会上，“为人民服务”被写入党的章程，“全心全意为人民服务”成为中国共产党的根本宗旨、行为准则与价值目标。毛泽东同志认为，共产党“要全心全意为人民服务，不要半心半意或者三分之二的心三分之二的意为人民服务”。在《为人民服务》一文中，毛泽东同志教导我们如何做到为人民服务。其主要观点是：

Selfless dedication and fearlessness of sacrifice for the interests of the people. The most precious thing for a person is life, and life belongs to a person only once. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "We should try to reduce unnecessary sacrifices as much as possible." At the same time, he also pointed out: "All men must die, but death can vary in significance. The ancient Chinese writer Sima Qian once said: 'Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.' To die for the interests of the people is weightier than Mount Tai, but to die for the fascists, for those who exploit and oppress the people, is lighter than a feather." When the nation was humiliated, the people suffered, and civilization was tarnished, Communists, in order to save the nation from peril and lift hundreds of millions of compatriots from suffering, were willing to be ground to dust. This revolutionary spirit of sacrifice and dedication for the interests of the people is by no means a momentary or fleeting emotional impulse, but is deeply rooted in profound love for the people and boundless loyalty to the Party; it is a carefully considered rational choice and an unwavering adherence to faith, without regret even after repeated trials. Countless revolutionary martyrs such as Li Dazhao, Fang Zhimin, Xia Minghan, Jiang Zhuyun, Liu Hulan, Huang Jiguang, and Qiu Shaoyun defended the interests of the people with their lives, falling under the knives, gallows, and gunfire of the enemy. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Where there is struggle there is sacrifice, and death is a common occurrence. But when we think of the interests of the people and the suffering of the majority, dying for the people is a worthy death." Comrade Mao Zedong personally wrote the elegiac couplet "Pay tribute to Comrade Zhang Side, who died for the interests of the people" for Zhang Side, praising his death as weightier than Mount Tai, great and glorious. Communists must dare to dedicate everything, including life itself, for the interests of the people; only this is thorough and truly wholehearted service to the people.

为了人民的利益而无私奉献，不怕牺牲。人最宝贵的是生命，生命属于人只有一次。毛泽东同志指出：“我们应当尽量地减少那些不必要的牺牲。” 同时，他又指出：“人总是要死的，但死的意义有不同。中国古时候有个文学家叫做司马迁的说过：‘人固有一死，或重于泰山，或轻于鸿毛。’为人民利益而死，就比泰山还重；替法西斯卖力，替剥削人民和压迫人民的人去死，就比鸿毛还轻。”当国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘之际，共产党人为拯救民族危亡，使亿万同胞脱苦难，粉身碎骨也心甘。这种为了人民的利益而牺牲奉献的革命精神，绝不是一时、一瞬的感情冲动，而是深深植根于对人民深沉的热爱和对党的无限忠诚之中，是一种深思熟虑的理性选择和九死不悔的信仰坚守。李大钊、方志敏、夏明翰、江竹筠、刘胡兰、黄继光、邱少云等无数革命先烈，用生命捍卫人民的利益，牺牲在敌人的屠刀、绞架和炮火下。毛泽东同志指出：“要奋斗就会有牺牲，死人的事是经常发生的。但是我们想到人民的利益，想到大多数人民的痛苦，我们为人民而死，就是死得其所。”毛泽东同志亲笔为张思德题写了“向为人民利益而牺牲的张思德同志致敬”的挽联，称赞他的牺牲重于泰山，伟大而光荣。共产党人必须敢于为了人民的利益奉献出包括生命在内的一切，这才是彻底的真正的全心全意为人民服务。

To be courageous in correcting errors for the sake of the people’s interests. Whether one can truly serve the people wholeheartedly is also reflected in the attitude adopted toward criticisms and opinions offered by the masses. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out in the article “Serve the People”: “If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized,” and “No matter who points them out, we will correct them. If you are right, we will correct our mistakes. If what you propose is beneficial to the people, we will act upon it.” [1]1 Mao Zedong, “Serve the People,” September 8, 1944. During the Yan’an period, the Party and the anti-Japanese democratic government accepted the proposal of non-Party personage Li Dingming [2]2 Li Dingming (1881–1947): a non-Party progressive and a representative of the gentry in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region; his proposal on “streamlining administration and simplifying troops” was adopted by the CPC in 1941. on streamlining administration and simplifying troops. On the eve of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, [3]3 The War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950–1953): the Chinese name for the Korean War, in which Chinese “volunteers” fought alongside North Korea against UN forces led by the United States. the Party and the people’s government gave full consideration to the opinions of non-Party personage Huang Yanpei [4]4 Huang Yanpei (1878–1965): a prominent non-Party educator and political figure; his advice influenced the decision to use the name “Chinese People’s Volunteers” rather than regular army troops. and decided to send troops to Korea under the name of “volunteers.” Communists are open-minded because, regardless of their rank, they are servants of the people. Everything Communists do is to serve the people, and there is nothing bad that they are unwilling to discard. If one has genuine feelings for the people and is selfless at heart, one will focus on whether one’s actions are beneficial to the people, rather than calculating personal gains, losses, or face. Thus, one can recognize one’s own shortcomings and deficiencies, treat criticisms and opinions from all sides with an open mind, and promote the greater and faster development of the people’s cause.

为了人民的利益而勇于修正错误。是否能够真正全心全意为人民服务，还体现在对人民群众给予的批评意见采取何种态度上。毛泽东同志在《为人民服务》一文中指出：“我们如果有缺点，就不怕别人批评指出”，“不管是什么人，谁向我们指出都行。只要你说得对，我们就改正。你说的办法对人民有好处，我们就照你的办”。延安时期，党和抗日民主政府接受了党外人士李鼎铭先生关于精兵简政的提议。抗美援朝前夕，党和人民政府充分考虑党外人士黄炎培先生的意见，决定以“志愿军”名义出兵朝鲜。共产党人虚怀若谷，是因为他们不论职位高低，都是人民的勤务员，共产党人所做的一切，都是为人民服务，没有什么不好的东西舍不得丢掉。如果对人民群众有真感情、心底无私，就会着眼于所做之事是否对人民群众有利，而非计较个人得失、面子多寡，因而能够认识自身的缺点和不足，虚心对待各方面的批评和意见，促进人民的事业获得更大更快的发展。

To work with all one’s heart and strength for the people’s interests. Comrade Mao Zedong said in “Serve the People”: “Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by our Party are revolutionary ranks. Our ranks are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people’s interests.” [5]5 Mao Zedong, “Serve the People,” September 8, 1944. Striving to work for the people is the touchstone for testing whether one has achieved serving the people. Apart from tests on the battlefield or at the execution ground, serving the people wholeheartedly is more often manifested in willingly undertaking the most difficult and arduous work for the people’s interests, and doing one’s utmost to complete every ordinary revolutionary task well. Zhang Side [6]6 Zhang Side (1915–1944): a soldier of the Eighth Route Army who died while burning charcoal in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region; his death prompted Mao’s speech “Serve the People.” fought in battles, was wounded, reclaimed wasteland, spun yarn, and burned charcoal. Whether serving as a soldier or a squad leader, he was always consistent, proceeding from the needs of the people in everything. Comrade Zhou Enlai worked tirelessly for the Party and the people’s cause throughout his life, diligently governing for the people and devoting himself utterly to the people until his last breath. Even in his final moments, he still wore a badge inscribed with “Serve the People.” As he said, “One should strive like an ox, unite as one, and serve the people until death.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping, in answering a foreign journalist’s question, highly praised Comrade Zhou Enlai’s spirit of striving to serve the people: “Premier Zhou was a person who worked diligently and uncomplainingly all his life. His daily working hours always exceeded 12 hours, sometimes more than 16 hours, and this was the case throughout his life.” [7]7 Deng Xiaoping, interview with Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci, August 21 and 23, 1980. Now, the smoke of revolutionary war has dissipated, but the great struggle with new historical features continues. The Party still faces a series of major challenges, major risks, major obstacles, and major contradictions—arduous tests. This requires that on the new journey, in concrete work practice, we better implement the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly.

为了人民的利益而尽心竭力工作。毛泽东同志在《为人民服务》一文中说：“我们的共产党和共产党所领导的八路军、新四军，是革命的队伍。我们这个队伍完全是为着解放人民的，是彻底地为人民的利益工作的。”努力为人民工作，是检验是否做到了为人民服务的试金石。除了枪林弹雨或刑场考验外，全心全意为人民服务更多地表现在为了人民的利益而乐于承担最困难、艰苦的工作，竭尽所能地把每一份平凡的革命工作做好。张思德打过仗、负过伤，也开过荒、纺过纱、烧过炭，无论是当战士还是当班长，他都始终如一，一切从人民的需要出发。周恩来同志一生为党和人民的事业呕心沥血，勤政为民，鞠躬尽瘁。直至生命的最后一刻，他仍然佩戴着“为人民服务”的像章。正如他说的，“应该像牛一样努力奋斗，团结一致，为人民服务而死”。邓小平同志在答外国记者提问时，高度评价周恩来同志努力为人民服务的精神：“周总理是一生勤勤恳恳、任劳任怨工作的人。他一天的工作时间总超过12 小时，有时在16小时以上，一生如此。” 现在，革命战争的硝烟散去了，但具有新的历史特点的伟大斗争仍在继续，党仍旧面临着一系列重大挑战、重大风险、重大阻力、重大矛盾的艰巨考验。这就要求我们在新征程上，在具体工作实践中，更好把全心全意为人民服务的宗旨落到实处。

III. Nurturing Generations of Outstanding Chinese Communists

三、哺育了一代又一代优秀的中国共产党人

The article “Serve the People” has nurtured generation after generation of Chinese Communists. From leading the Chinese revolution to building dreams in the New Era, serving the people wholeheartedly has been deeply integrated into the bloodline of Chinese Communists, guiding them to strive continuously and unceasingly for the people’s interests.

《为人民服务》一文哺育了一代又一代中国共产党人。从领导中国革命，到筑梦新时代的征程，全心全意为人民服务已经深深融入中国共产党人的血脉，指引着中国共产党人为人民的利益接续奋斗，永不停歇。

Fighting bloody battles and facing death unflinchingly for the people in the era of revolutionary war thick with gunpowder smoke. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out in “Serve the People”: “The Chinese people are suffering; it is our duty to save them, and we must struggle hard. In struggle, there will be sacrifices, and death is a common occurrence.” Countless Chinese Communists, for national independence and the people’s freedom and liberation, threw themselves into the hail of bullets, writing glorious chapters of fearless sacrifice. Within the Party’s ranks, there were many sons of wealthy families who, relying on their prominent family status and extraordinary personal talents, could have lived a life of plenty. But they accepted the scientific theory of Marxism, firmly believed that “for the vast majority” was the true meaning of life, and unhesitatingly devoted themselves to the cause of seeking happiness for the laboring masses. Peng Pai, [8]8 Peng Pai (1896–1929): a leader of the peasant movement in Guangdong Province and a founder of the Chinese Soviet Republic; executed by the Kuomintang. the “King of the Peasant Movement,” resolutely burned his own land deeds, declared that all fields belonged to the tillers, and embarked on the revolutionary path of serving the people, dying a heroic death at the age of 33. Whether it was the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army soldiers [9]9 The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army: a guerrilla force led by the CPC fighting the Japanese occupation of Manchuria (1931–1945). fighting bitterly against the Japanese aggressors in the mountains and rivers of the northeast, or the Red Detachment of Women [10]10 The Red Detachment of Women: a women’s communist guerrilla unit active on Hainan Island during the Chinese Civil War (1927–1950); later the subject of a famous ballet. resisting oppression and seeking liberation in the coconut groves of Hainan Island; whether it was the Red Rock martyrs [11]11 Red Rock martyrs: CPC members and sympathizers imprisoned and executed by the Kuomintang in the Zhazidong and Baigongguan prisons in Chongqing in 1949, shortly before the communist takeover. in the Zhazidong prison who achieved immortality in the flames, or the unknown young Red Army soldiers who lie buried forever in the snowy mountains and grasslands; whether it was Liu Hulan, [12]12 Liu Hulan (1932–1947): a young CPC member executed by the Kuomintang in Shanxi Province; Mao Zedong praised her with the inscription “a great life, a glorious death.” who faced the enemy’s executioner’s scythe without changing expression or flinching, or Dong Cunrui, [13]13 Dong Cunrui (1929–1948): a PLA soldier who sacrificed himself by using his body to support a explosive charge to destroy a Kuomintang bunker during the Chinese Civil War. who used his own body to prop up a explosive charge and used his own life to open a path of victory for the people’s liberation cause—all were practitioners of serving the people wholeheartedly during the revolutionary war years. To die for the people is to die a worthy death. Their names and heroic deeds will forever be praised by the people.

在硝烟弥漫的革命战争年代为人民浴血奋战，视死如归。毛泽东同志在《为人民服务》一文中指出：“中国人民正在受难，我们有责任解救他们，我们要努力奋斗。要奋斗就会有牺牲，死人的事是经常发生的。”无数的中国共产党人为了民族独立和人民的自由解放，投身枪林弹雨中，书写了不怕牺牲的可歌可泣的辉煌篇章。党的队伍里，有不少富家子弟，原本可以凭借显赫的家庭地位和个人超凡的才华，过上丰衣足食的生活，但他们接受了马克思主义的科学理论，坚信“为了绝大多数人”才是生命的真谛，义无反顾地投身为劳苦大众谋幸福的事业。“农民运动大王”彭湃毅然决然地烧毁自家田契，宣布田地全部归耕种者所有，走上了为人民服务的革命道路，壮烈牺牲时年仅33岁。无论在黑山白水之间与日本侵略军周旋苦斗的东北抗联官兵，还是在海南岛椰林反抗压迫、追求解放的红色娘子军；无论在烈火中永生的渣滓洞监狱的红岩烈士，还是长眠在雪山草地的不知名的红军小战士；无论是面对敌人铡刀面不改色心不跳的刘胡兰，还是用自己的身躯托举炸药包、用自己的生命为人民解放事业开辟胜利道路的董存瑞，都是革命战争年代全心全意为人民服务的践行者。为人民而死，死得其所。他们的名字和英勇事迹，永远为人民所称颂。

Working hard and striving for strength for the people amid fervent construction. In the vigorous socialist revolution and construction, numerous heroic model figures emerged who served the people, making tremendous sacrifices to lay the material foundation for the country’s prosperity and strength and the people’s happiness and well-being. PLA soldier Lei Feng [14]14 Lei Feng (1940–1962): a PLA soldier celebrated as a model of selfless service; the subject of a nationwide propaganda campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1963. resolved to be a never-rusting screw in the revolutionary cause, fulfilling his life’s promise: “Human life is limited, but serving the people is unlimited. I want to devote my limited life to the unlimited ‘serving the people’.” With his short life of 22 years, he composed an eternal hymn to “serving the people.” “Iron Man” Wang Jinxi, [15]15 Wang Jinxi (1923–1970): a celebrated oil worker known as “Iron Man,” a key figure in the development of the Daqing Oilfield in the 1960s. with his tenacious will of “would rather live twenty years less to get the big oil field” and “if conditions exist, go ahead; if not, create conditions and go ahead,” and his service spirit of “being an old ox for the Party and the people all one’s life,” together with the first generation of oil workers in New China, threw off the label of China being poor in oil and backward. Jiao Yulu, [16]16 Jiao Yulu (1922–1964): Party secretary of Lankao County, Henan Province, who died of illness while leading efforts to combat natural disasters; later promoted as a model official. while serving as the Party secretary of Lankao County, worked despite illness and led the masses to successfully control the sandstorms. Precisely because he had the people in his heart, he could “appear before the masses when they were in the greatest difficulty, and care for and help the masses when they most needed help,” thus becoming a good example for county Party secretaries. These outstanding sons and daughters of the Party interpreted what it truly means to serve the people wholeheartedly, and their spiritual character has condensed into an eternal mark of an era.

在火热建设中为人民艰苦奋斗，发奋图强。在热气腾腾的社会主义革命和建设中，涌现出众多为人民服务的英雄模范人物，为奠定国家繁荣富强、人民幸福安康的物质基础作出了巨大牺牲。解放军战士雷锋立志为革命事业做一颗永不生锈的螺丝钉，实现了“人的生命是有限的，可是，为人民服务是无限的，我要把有限的生命，投入到无限的‘为人民服务’之中去”的人生诺言，用22岁的短暂生命谱写了一曲“为人民服务”的永恒赞歌。 “铁人”王进喜以“宁肯少活二十年，拼命也要拿下大油田”，“有条件要上，没有条件创造条件也要上的”顽强意志和“为党和人民当一辈子老黄牛”的服务精神，同新中国第一代石油工人一道，甩掉了我国贫油落后的帽子。焦裕禄在担任兰考县委书记期间，带病坚持工作，带领群众成功治理了风沙。正因为他心中装着人民，才能够“在群众最困难的时候，出现在群众的面前，在群众最需要帮助的时候，去关心群众，帮助群众”，因而成为县委书记的好榜样。党的这些优秀儿女诠释了什么是真正的全心全意为人民服务，他们的精神品格凝结成一个时代的永恒印记。

Maintaining the resolve to serve the people and selflessly dedicating oneself amid the tide of reform. Since reform and opening up, China’s economic structure and social relations have undergone earth-shaking changes, and value orientations have also shown diversified characteristics. How to withstand temptations, maintain resolve, and strengthen the conviction to serve the people in the face of various risks and challenges is no simple matter. Many Communists have withstood the tests, allowing the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly to be extended in the new period and the new century. Beijing bus conductor Li Suli [17]17 Li Suli (born 1962): a Beijing bus conductor recognized as a national model worker for her dedicated service in the 1990s. said: “Every bus route has a terminus, but serving the people has no terminus.” For over a decade, she remained the same in her ordinary post, providing careful and thoughtful service to passengers with genuine feelings and dedication, and was hailed as “the old people’s crutch, the blind person’s eyes, the outsider’s guide, the patient’s nurse, and the masses’ close friend.” Kong Fansen, [18]18 Kong Fansen (1944–1994): a CPC official who served twice in Tibet and died in a car accident while on duty; posthumously celebrated as a model of dedication to the people. former Party secretary of the Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, entered Tibet twice. Whenever the Party called and the people needed him, he stepped forward, dedicating his passion and even his life to the people of Tibet. “The highest realm of a Communist’s love is to love the people”—this was Kong Fansen’s favorite saying and the principle he always followed. These advanced models who emerged in the era of reform and opening up fully demonstrated the contemporary style of serving the people.

在改革大潮中保持为人民服务的定力，无私奉献。改革开放以来，中国经济结构和社会关系发生了翻天覆地的变化，价值取向也呈现出多元化特征。如何在各种风险挑战面前经得住诱惑、保持住定力，坚定人民服务的信念，并不是件简单的事。许多共产党人经受住了考验，让全心全意为人民服务的宗旨在新时期、新世纪得到延伸。北京公交售票员李素丽说：“每一条公共汽车的线路都有终点站，但为人民服务没有终点站”。她在平凡的岗位上十几年如一日，用真情和奉献为乘客提供细心、周到的服务，被誉为“老人的拐杖，盲人的眼睛，外地人的向导，病人的护士，群众的贴心人”。西藏自治区原阿里地委书记孔繁森，两次进藏。在党的召唤面前，在人民需要的时候，他都挺身而出，将一腔热血甚至于生命，奉献给了藏区人民。“一个共产党员爱的最高境界是爱人民”，这是孔繁森最喜爱的一句话，也是他一直奉行的准则。这些改革开放时代涌现出来的先进楷模，充分展现了为人民服务的时代风貌。

IV. Outstanding Inheritors and Interpreters of the Purpose of Serving the People in the New Era

四、新时代为人民服务宗旨的优秀传承者和诠释者

At the meeting between the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists, General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "Each of us has a limited amount of time to work

在党的十八届中央政治局常委同中外记者见面时，习近平总书记说：“每个人的工作时间是有限的，但全心全意为人民服务是无限的。责任重于泰山，事业任重道远。”2014年2月7日，他在接受俄罗斯电视台专访时说：“我的执政理念，概括起来说就是：为人民服务，担当起该担当的责任。”党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央，坚持“人民对美好生活的向往，就是我们的奋斗目标”，始终与人民心心相印、与人民同甘共苦、与人民团结奋斗，夙夜在公，勤勉工作，向历史、向人民交出一份全心全意为人民服务的优秀答卷。

Adhere to a people-centered approach. To adhere to a people-centered approach, the entire Party must practice the fundamental tenet of serving the people wholeheartedly, implement the mass line of the Party throughout all activities of governance, take the people's aspiration for a better life as the goal of struggle, and rely on the people to create historic achievements. The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization" adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China [19]19 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China: A major meeting of the CPC Central Committee held in July 2024, focused on comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. clearly states: "Adhere to a people-centered approach, respect the people's principal position and pioneering spirit, respond to the people's calls with reforms, ensure that reforms are for the people, rely on the people, and that the fruits of reform are shared by the people." Focusing on building a high-level socialist market economy system, focusing on developing whole-process people's democracy, focusing on building a socialist cultural power, focusing on improving the quality of people's lives, focusing on building a beautiful China, focusing on building a higher-level peaceful China, and focusing on improving the Party's leadership level and long-term governance capacity — all these adhere to taking the continuous satisfaction of the people's growing needs for a better life as the goal and destination of development, all put into practice the tenet of serving the people wholeheartedly, and embody the sense of purpose of "serving the people."

坚持以人民为中心。坚持以人民为中心，全党必须践行全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，把党的群众路线贯彻到治国理政全部活动之中，把人民对美好生活的向往作为奋斗目标，依靠人民创造历史伟业。党的二十届三中全会通过的《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》，明确提出“坚持以人民为中心，尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，人民有所呼、改革有所应，做到改革为了人民、改革依靠人民、改革成果由人民共享”。聚焦构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，聚焦发展全过程人民民主，聚焦建设社会主义文化强国，聚焦提高人民生活品质，聚焦建设美丽中国，聚焦建设更高水平平安中国，聚焦提高党的领导水平和长期执政能力，都是坚持把不断满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要作为发展的目标和归宿，都是将全心全意为人民服务的宗旨落到实处，体现了“为人民服务”的宗旨意识。

Adhere to putting the people first, putting life first. Putting the people first has been written into the resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's hundred years of struggle. Most importantly, under the leadership of the Party, China has lifted hundreds of millions of rural poor out of poverty, creating a miracle in the history of human poverty reduction. True qualities shine in times of crisis. Whether in earthquake relief or epidemic response, the Communist Party of China has always adhered to putting the people first and life first, placing the safety and health of the people's lives above all else, ensuring that the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security in the New Era is continuously enhanced. "The interests of the motherland are as heavy as a mountain; for the people, I willingly shed blood and sweat" — this is a line from the "Song of Patriotic Dedication" popular in the military, expressing the sincere feelings of the people's army, which is entirely for the motherland and the people. When natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, low temperatures, rain, snow, and ice harm the production and life of the people, it is the people's soldiers who march towards danger, risking their lives, building towering dikes to protect the lives and property of the people.

坚持人民至上，生命至上。人民至上，被写入党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议中。尤为重要的是，在党的领导下，中国实现了数亿农村贫困人口的脱贫，创造了人类减贫史上的奇迹。危难时刻显身手。无论是抗震救灾，还是抗击疫情，中国共产党都始终坚持人民至上、生命至上，把人民群众生命安全和身体健康放在第一位，确保新时代人民的获得感、幸福感、安全感不断增强。“祖国的利益重如山，为民甘洒血和汗”，这是军队中流行的《爱国奉献歌》的一句歌词，道出了人民军队一切为了祖国和人民的赤子情怀。在洪涝、台风、地震、山体滑坡、低温、雨雪冰冻等自然灾害给人民群众生产生活带来危害时，是人民子弟兵向险而行，舍生忘死，筑起一道道守护人民生命财产安全的巍巍长堤。

Adhere to sharing the fruits of reform and development with the people, ensuring and improving people's livelihoods through development. Serving the people is concrete, not abstract. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China [20]20 The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: The Party congress held in November 2012 that marked the beginning of the Xi Jinping era and the launch of the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up., the Communist Party of China has adhered to comprehensively deepening reform and opening up, using heart, emotion, and effort to solve the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the masses, ensuring that the fruits of reform and development are shared by all the people, to better meet the people's growing needs for a better life, and "promote more obvious substantive progress in the comprehensive development of people and common prosperity for all people." People's livelihoods are no small matter. The Party Central Committee has adopted a series of powerful measures, continuously investing and improving in areas of people's livelihoods such as education, healthcare, employment, and social security. Vigorously promoting educational equity, striving to ensure that every child can enjoy fair and quality education; continuously improving the medical security system, raising the level of medical services, providing comprehensive and full-cycle health services, striving to ensure that the people can afford and receive good medical treatment; attaching great importance to ecological and environmental protection, adhering to green development, and striving to create a livable ecological environment for the people, etc. Through efforts, people's lives have been greatly improved, the world's largest education system, social security system, and medical and health system have been established, and continuous progress is being made towards the goal of common prosperity. The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization" sets up a special chapter on "Improving the Institutional System for Ensuring and Improving People's Livelihoods," making detailed strategic arrangements for how the Party and government practice the tenet of serving the people wholeheartedly.

坚持改革发展成果由人民共享，在发展中保障和改善民生。为人民服务是具体的，不是抽象的。党的十八大以来，中国共产党坚持全面深化改革，用心用情用力解决好群众急难愁盼问题，确保改革发展成果由全体人民共享，以更好地满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，“推动人的全面发展、全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展”。民生无小事。党中央采取了一系列有力措施，在教育、医疗、就业、社会保障等民生领域持续投入和改进。大力推进教育公平，努力让每个孩子都能享有公平而有质量的教育；不断完善医疗保障体系，提升医疗服务水平，提供全方位全周期的健康服务，力争让人民群众看得起病、看得好病；高度重视生态环保，坚持绿色发展，着力为人民创造宜居的生态环境等。经过努力，人民生活得到极大改善，建成了世界最大规模的教育体系、社会保障体系、医疗卫生体系，向着共同富裕的目标不断迈进。《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》，设立“健全保障和改善民生制度体系”专章，对党和政府如何践行全心全意为人民服务的宗旨，作出详尽的战略部署。

In summary, serving the people wholeheartedly has a starting point but no end. Over the past 80 years, "serving the people" has been integrated into the Party's bloodline, becoming an indelible spiritual gene of Chinese Communists, nurturing generation after generation of outstanding Communists, increasingly showing the brilliance of truth, and will continue to guide Chinese Communists to better serve the people wholeheartedly, and continuously push forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

总之，全心全意为人民服务，只有起点，没有终点。80年来，“为人民服务”已融入党的血脉，成为中国共产党人永不磨灭的精神基因，培育了一代又一代优秀的共产党人，愈来愈显示出真理的光芒，将继续指引着中国共产党人更好全心全意为人民服务，不断把新时代中国特色社会主义事业推向前进。

(The authors are a professor at the School of Marxism, Tsinghua University; and a doctoral student at the School of Marxism, Tsinghua University)

（作者系清华大学马克思主义学院教授；清华大学马克思主义学院博士研究生）

Online editor: Zhang Jian

网络编辑：张剑