Strengthen Political Guidance for Youth and Cultivate New Talents for the Party for the Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, during a collective conversation with the new leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, that efforts must be focused on strengthening political guidance for the vast majority of youth. This points the way forward and provides ideological guidance for the Communist Youth League to carry out the Party’s youth work on the new journey from a strategic perspective. We must deeply study and comprehend this, and resolutely implement it in the practice of youth work.

习近平总书记在同团中央新一届领导班子成员集体谈话时强调，要着力加强对广大青年的政治引领。这从战略上为共青团做好新征程上党的青年工作指明了前进方向，提供了思想遵循。我们要深入学习领会，坚决贯彻落实到青年工作实践中去。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that listening to the Party and following the Party has always been the political lifeblood to which the Communist Youth League adheres, and that the Party’s call and the League’s action has always been the political conviction of generations of Communist Youth League members. Where the Party’s flag points is where the League’s flag goes; this forms the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes the Communist Youth League from other youth organizations. Whether it can unite and lead the vast majority of youth to raise the Party’s flag, obey the Party’s command, and strive for the Party is the fundamental criterion for testing the effectiveness of the Communist Youth League’s work.

习近平总书记指出，听党话、跟党走始终是共青团坚守的政治生命，党有号召、团有行动始终是一代代共青团员的政治信念。党旗所指就是团旗所向，这形成了共青团区别于其他青年组织的根本特质。能否团结带领广大青年跟党举旗、听党指挥、为党奋斗，是检验共青团工作成效的根本性标准。

Strengthening political guidance for the vast majority of youth is a fundamental task for fulfilling the original aspiration and founding mission of the Communist Youth League. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that unswervingly following the Party and striving for the Party and the people is the original aspiration and founding mission of the Communist Youth League. The smoke of war during the New Democratic Revolution, the overcoming of difficulties during the period of socialist revolution and construction, the daring to venture and act during the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and the striving to take the lead in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics have tempered the political character of the Communist Youth League and highlighted the mission and responsibility of its members and youth. The 20th National Congress of the CPC sounded the clarion call to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. The Communist Youth League must focus on strengthening youth political guidance, firmly grasp the theme of youth work in the New Era, most broadly unite, organize, and mobilize youth, and strive to be the vanguard and commando force in the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

加强对广大青年的政治引领，是践行共青团初心使命的根本性任务。习近平总书记指出，坚定不移跟党走，为党和人民奋斗，是共青团的初心使命。新民主主义革命时期的战火硝烟、社会主义革命和建设时期的攻坚克难、改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期的敢闯敢干、中国特色社会主义新时代的挺膺争先，锤炼了共青团政治本色，凸显着团员和青年的使命担当。党的二十大吹响了以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的进军号。共青团要着力加强青年政治引领，把牢新时代青年工作的主题，最广泛地把青年团结起来、组织起来、动员起来，争当强国建设、民族复兴伟业的先锋队和突击队。

Strengthening political guidance for the vast majority of youth is a fundamental task for cultivating qualified builders and reliable successors for the Party. The Communist Youth League must resolutely implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important requirements, strengthen education on ideals and beliefs for the vast majority of youth, guide the vast majority of youth to establish the lofty ideal of communism, firmly uphold the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly establish the political conviction of listening to the Party and following the Party, set correct life goals in the historical trend of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, and lay the foundation for a lifetime of struggle.

加强对广大青年的政治引领，是为党培养社会主义合格建设者和可靠接班人的根本性工作。共青团要坚决贯彻习近平总书记的重要要求，加强对广大青年的理想信念教育，引导广大青年树立共产主义远大理想，坚定中国特色社会主义共同理想，坚定听党话、跟党走的政治信念，在强国建设、民族复兴的历史潮流中确立正确的人生目标，为一生的奋斗奠定基石。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Communist Youth League, as a school for the vast majority of youth to learn about socialism with Chinese characteristics and communism in practice, must proceed from a political perspective, start from the ideological level, and base itself on the characteristics of youth, helping them set aspirations early and set great aspirations, and deeply cultivate from the depths of their hearts trust in the Party, confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and faith in Marxism. This points the way for the Communist Youth League to carry out youth political guidance. Proceeding from a political perspective requires focusing on arming youth with the Party’s scientific theory, inspiring youth with the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission, guiding youth with the Party’s glorious banner, and shaping youth with the Party’s fine work style, forging loyalty to the Party, and continuously deepening youth’s political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with resolutely upholding the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the Two Upholds; starting from the ideological level requires focusing on guiding youth to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the 21st century, the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit of the times, leading youth to perceive the charm of truth, the power of practice, and the appeal of personality contained within it; basing itself on the characteristics of youth requires focusing on grasping the characteristics of contemporary youth, such as independent thinking, active thinking, broad interests, and wide vision, which are completely different from any previous era. Facing this group of “Generation Z,” “Internet Generation,” and “Digital Media Natives,” it is necessary to innovate methods and approaches, and carry out political guidance in step with the times.

习近平总书记指出，共青团作为广大青年在实践中学习中国特色社会主义和共产主义的学校，要从政治上着眼、从思想上入手、从青年特点出发，帮助他们早立志、立大志，从内心深处厚植对党的信赖、对中国特色社会主义的信心、对马克思主义的信仰。这为共青团做好青年政治引领指明了工作路径。从政治上着眼，就要着力用党的科学理论武装青年，用党的初心使命感召青年，用党的光辉旗帜指引青年，用党的优良作风塑造青年，铸牢对党忠诚，不断深化青年对坚决捍卫“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”的政治认同、思想认同、理论认同、情感认同；从思想上入手，就要着力引领青年学习贯彻好习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，这一中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，带领青年感悟蕴含其中的真理魅力、实践伟力和人格张力；从青年特点出发，就要着力把握当代青年思想独立、思维活跃、兴趣广泛、视野开阔等与以往任何一个时代都迥然不同的特点，面对这群“Z世代”“网生代”“数媒土著”，应当创新方式方法，与时俱进开展政治引领。

Deeply grasp the theoretical logic, guide youth to deeply study the Party’s innovative theories, inspire youth to think more profoundly, and forge political firmness with theoretical clarity. We must persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate the soul, and carry out thematic education for the vast majority of League members and youth on a regular and long-term basis. We must respect the laws of youth ideological growth, allowing youth, through mutual inspiration, exchange and analysis, and learning combined with reality, to gradually understand how the Party’s innovative theories grasp the essence of things, how they manifest scientificity, people-centeredness, practicality, and developmental nature, thereby gaining feelings, thoughts, and insights, and realizing the Party’s greatness from the thoroughness of theory. We must delve into the essence of thought, striving to enable youth to skillfully use the positions, viewpoints, and methods of the Party’s innovative theories to analyze problems, learn to grasp the mainstream and main line amidst various trends of thought, choose the “great affairs of the state” in value pursuits, and consciously listen to the Party and follow the Party in their youthful struggle.

深刻把握理论逻辑，引领青年深入学习党的创新理论，启发青年想得更深刻，以理论清醒铸就政治坚定。要坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，常态化、长效化开展面向广大团员和青年的主题教育。要尊重青年思想成长规律，让青年在互相启发、交流辨析、结合实际的学习中，逐渐明晰党的创新理论是如何抓住事物根本的，是如何彰显科学性、人民性、实践性和发展性的，从而有所感、有所思、有所悟，从理论的彻底中体悟党的伟大。要深入思想精髓，努力使青年善于运用党的创新理论的立场观点方法分析问题，学会在各种思潮中把握主流主线，在价值追求中选择“国之大者”，在青春奋斗中自觉听党话、跟党走。

Fully elucidate the historical logic, guide youth to study Party history and inherit the red gene, lead youth to see more profoundly, and forge political faith with a sense of mission. The Party’s history is a history of struggle, cleaving through waves and forging ahead, vividly interpreting the original aspiration and founding mission of Communists and erecting a glorious spiritual monument. Looking back at Party history, during the time when the country was precarious and the nation was in crisis, the group of young people on the boat at South Lake chose to create the world and dare to be the first; the group of young people on Jinggangshan chose to rely on the masses and work hard; the group of young people on the Long March chose to firm up ideals and not fear sacrifice… “Observing the present, one should learn from the past; without the past, there is no present.” [1]1 A classical Chinese proverb from the *Zengguang Xianwen* (Augmented Collection of Wise Sayings), a Ming-dynasty compilation of proverbs, emphasizing the importance of learning from history. Party history contains self-evident factual logic, runs through a deep and enduring red bloodline, and contains deeply moving spiritual power. Youth should be enabled to firm up political faith and forge feelings for family and country by grasping historical laws and drawing on historical experience, deeply understand their historical mission, make correct value choices, and thereby shoulder the era’s responsibility of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

充分阐释历史逻辑，引领青年学习党史传承红色基因，带领青年看得更深远，以使命感召坚定政治信仰。党的历史是一部劈波斩浪、奋力前行的拼搏史，生动诠释了共产党人的初心使命，矗立起光辉的精神丰碑。回眸党史，在国家风雨飘摇之时、民族危机存亡之际，南湖游船上的那群青年人选择开天辟地、敢为人先，井冈山上的那群青年人选择依靠群众、艰苦奋斗，长征路上的那群青年人选择坚定理想、不怕牺牲……“观今宜鉴古，无古不成今。”党史中蕴含着不辩自明的事理逻辑，贯穿着深远绵延的红色血脉，蕴含着感人至深的精神力量，应当让青年在把握历史规律、汲取历史经验中坚定政治信仰、熔铸家国情怀，深刻认识历史使命，作出正确的价值选择，从而担当起以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的时代责任。

Clearly demonstrate the practical logic, guide youth to perceive the great achievements of national development, help youth feel more strongly, and build political confidence through achievement education. As the movement of heaven is full of power, so the gentleman makes himself strong and unremitting. [2]2 A classical allusion from the *I Ching* (Book of Changes), specifically the commentary on the hexagram *Qian* (The Creative), often used to encourage self-improvement and resilience. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the Chinese people to promote historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the state. The achievements in economic development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural prosperity, and social transformation in the New Era are the most vivid and convincing materials to help youth strengthen the Four Confidences. We must carry out achievement education for the vast majority of youth, strengthen publicity and display, build experience platforms, broaden international horizons, and guide youth to understand the development achievements of the New Era comprehensively and from multiple angles through comparisons between past and present and international comparisons, especially to deeply understand the socialist path, theory, system, and culture with Chinese characteristics that support these achievements, thereby enhancing their ambition, backbone, and confidence in striving with the Party.

清晰展示现实逻辑，引领青年感悟国家发展伟大成就，帮助青年感触更强烈，以成就教育树立政治自信。天行健，君子以自强不息。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领中国人民推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。新时代经济发展、科技创新、文化繁荣、社会变革等方面的成就，是帮助青年坚定“四个自信”最鲜活、最具说服力的素材。要面向广大青年开展成就教育，加强宣传展示，搭建体验平台，拓宽国际视野，引导青年在今昔对比、国际比较中全方位、多角度认识新时代发展成就，特别是深刻认识支撑这些成就的中国特色社会主义道路、理论、制度和文化，从而增强跟党奋斗的志气、骨气和底气。

Clearly point out the practical logic, guide youth to make contributions in social practice, inspire youth to act more resolutely, and build political consciousness through personal participation. The Communist Youth League, as a school for the vast majority of youth to learn about socialism with Chinese characteristics and communism in practice, should guide youth to hone their professional skills in practice, focus on improving the match between practical content and professional knowledge, enable youth to draw nourishment from practice based on their own disciplines, enrich their ideological cognition, and forge real skills and hard abilities in the process of solving practical problems; guide youth to realize the value of life in practice, focus on improving the fit between practical platforms and the overall situation of the central task, actively build platforms in various fields such as scientific and technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, social services, and defending the borders, allowing youth to gain a sense of value and meaning in the process of dedication; guide youth to build political consciousness of listening to the Party and following the Party in practice, focus on improving the coupling degree between practical education and theoretical learning, pay attention to playing the role of organizational leadership, exemplary leadership, and peer drive, stimulate youth’s initiative and enthusiasm to devote themselves to the fiery practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and use practice to test, consolidate, and bring into play the effectiveness of ideological arming.

明确指出实践逻辑，引领青年在社会实践中青春建功，激励青年干得更笃定，以躬身参与筑牢政治自觉。共青团作为广大青年在实践中学习中国特色社会主义和共产主义的学校，应当引领青年在实践中锤炼专业本领，聚焦提升实践内容与专业知识的匹配度，使青年立足自身学科，不断从实践中汲取养分、丰富思想认知，在解决现实问题的过程中锻造真本领和硬功夫；引领青年在实践中实现人生价值，聚焦提升实践载体与中心大局的契合度，在科技创新、乡村振兴、绿色发展、社会服务、卫国戍边等各领域各方面主动搭建平台，让青年在奉献过程中获得价值感和意义感；引领青年在实践中筑牢听党话、跟党走的政治自觉，聚焦提升实践育人与理论学习的耦合度，注重发挥组织带领、榜样带头、朋辈带动的作用，激发青年投身全面建设社会主义现代化国家火热实践的积极性和主动性，以实践来检验、巩固、发挥思想武装成效。

(The author is the Secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of Nanjing University)

（作者系南京大学团委书记）

Online Editor: Zhang Jian

网络编辑：张剑