Establish and Improve the “First Agenda Item” System with a High Degree of Political Consciousness

On February 23, 2024, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued the *Opinions on Consolidating and Expanding the Results of the Thematic Education on Studying and Implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era* (hereinafter referred to as the *Opinions*). The *Opinions* propose establishing and improving the “first agenda item” system. When Party committees (Party groups) at all levels convene meetings of their standing committees (Party group meetings) or study sessions of the theoretical study center groups of Party committees (Party groups), they must earnestly study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and implement and carry them out in light of actual conditions. Establishing and improving the “first agenda item” system is an important lever for continuously strengthening the Party’s political construction, raising political standing and political capability, and intensifying the ideological tempering of Party cadres; it is an important means of effectively bringing into play the leading role of Party organizations at all levels. We must deeply understand the important significance of the “first agenda item” system, comprehensively grasp the political requirements for establishing and improving the “first agenda item” system, effectively and forcefully advance the implementation and carrying-out of the “first agenda item” system, and transform Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into a powerful driving force for guiding practice and advancing work.

2024年2月23日，中共中央办公厅印发《关于巩固拓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成果的意见》（以下简称《意见》）。《意见》提出，建立健全“第一议题”制度。各级党委（党组）召开常委会会议（党组会议）或党委（党组）理论学习中心组学习会，要认真学习习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和习近平总书记重要讲话，结合实际抓好贯彻落实。建立健全“第一议题”制度，是持续加强党的政治建设、提升政治站位和政治能力、强化党员干部思想淬炼的重要抓手，是切实发挥各级党组织的领导作用的重要手段。我们要深刻认识“第一议题”制度的重要意义，全面把握建立健全“第一议题”制度的政治要求，有力有效推进“第一议题”制度贯彻落实，将习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想转化为指导实践、推动工作的强大动力。

I. Deeply Understand the Important Significance of the “First Agenda Item” System

一、深刻认识“第一议题”制度的重要意义

Thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the fundamental requirement for opening up new prospects in the cause in the New Era and the new journey. The “first agenda item” system places political construction at the forefront of Party building; it is an important measure for implementing the Party’s central tasks and solving economic and social development difficulties, and has major significance for building a modern socialist country.

深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是新时代新征程开创事业发展新局面的根本要求。“第一议题”制度，把政治建设摆在党的建设首位，是落实党的中心任务、破解经济社会发展难题的重要举措，对于建设社会主义现代化国家具有重大意义。

The “first agenda item” system is a valuable experience from the Party’s century-long history of struggle. An important reason why the Chinese Communist Party has been able to weather hardships and continuously grow and strengthen is that our Party has always attached importance to building the Party ideologically and strengthening the Party theoretically. [1] During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly proposed “turning the whole Party into a big school” and pointed out that “grasping ideological education is the central link in uniting the whole Party to carry out great political struggles.” [2] During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party Central Committee issued documents such as the *Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening Theoretical Education*, emphasizing that “the whole Party’s systematic study of theory is better provided for than at any time in the past, and is also more urgently needed.” [3] During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, our Party especially emphasized combining new practices to strengthen theoretical armed force, continuously liberating and developing the social productive forces under the guidance of scientific theory, and providing institutional guarantees full of new vitality and material conditions for rapid development for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has inherited and developed our Party’s fine tradition of valuing and being good at learning, using the institutional arrangement of the “first agenda item” to provide a mechanism guarantee for unswervingly arming the mind, guiding practice, and advancing work with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further strengthening the political consciousness of the whole Party in arming the mind, guiding practice, and advancing work with scientific theory.

“第一议题”制度是我党百年奋斗历史的宝贵经验。中国共产党之所以能够历经艰难困苦而不断发展壮大，很重要的一个原因就是我们党始终重视思想建党、理论强党。在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东同志就鲜明提出“要把全党变成一个大学校”，并指出“掌握思想教育，是团结全党进行伟大政治斗争的中心环节”。在社会主义革命和建设时期，党中央发布了《中共中央关于加强理论教育的决定》等文献，强调“全党有系统地学习理论，比过去任何时候都有更好的条件，也更加迫切需要”。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，我们党特别强调要结合新的实践强化理论武装，在科学理论的指引下持续解放和发展社会生产力，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供充满新的活力的体制保证和快速发展的物质条件。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央继承和发扬我们党重视学习、善于学习的优良传统，以“第一议题”的制度安排，为坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作提供了机制保障，进一步强化了全党用科学理论武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作的政治自觉。

The “first agenda item” system is an inevitable requirement for implementing the Party’s central tasks. Comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the Party’s central task clearly proposed by the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and is the long-cherished historical aspiration of our Party uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Currently, solving various difficulties in the practice of building a strong country, overcoming risks and challenges on the journey of national rejuvenation, and adhering to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unify thought, unify will, and unify action are of more prominent importance than at any time in the past. On the new journey, only by adhering to the “first agenda item” system and unswerv

“第一议题”制度是落实党的中心任务的必然要求。以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，是党的二十大明确提出的党的中心任务，是我们党团结带领全国各族人民孜孜以求的历史宏愿。当前，破解强国建设实践中的各种困难，战胜民族复兴征程上的风险挑战，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想统一思想、统一意志、统一行动，比以往任何时期都具有更为突出的重要性。新征程上，坚持“第一议题”制度，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，才能充分发挥中国特色社会主义制度的政治优势和组织优势，用思想统一推动行动统一，最大限度凝聚起推进中国式现代化建设的磅礴力量，筑牢国家繁荣富强、人民幸福安康、社会和谐稳定的物质基础，更好地落实新时代新征程党的中心任务。

The “first agenda item” system is a practical necessity for solving the problems of economic and social development. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was formed and has continuously developed by taking root in the soil of reality, responding to the needs of practice, and answering the questions of the times. At present, China’s development has entered a period in which strategic opportunities and risk challenges coexist, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors have increased. The complexity of the problems faced in comprehensively building a modern socialist country and the difficulty of solving them have markedly increased, and the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development remains prominent. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rich in content, broad and profound, covering all fields including economic and social development, and is the master key for us to solve the problems of economic and social development. Only by adhering to the “first agenda item” system and using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to command the overall situation of development can we continuously solve development problems, strengthen development advantages, enhance development momentum, and provide ideological and theoretical guarantees for Chinese-path modernization.

“第一议题”制度是破解经济社会发展难题的现实需要。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是在扎根现实土壤、回应实践需求、回答时代课题中形成和不断发展的。当前，我国发展进入战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定和难预料因素增多的时期。全面建设社会主义现代化国家所面临问题的复杂程度、解决问题的艰巨程度明显加大，发展不平衡不充分问题仍然突出。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想内涵丰富、博大精深，涵盖经济社会发展等各个领域，是我们破解经济社会发展难题的总钥匙。坚持“第一议题”制度，用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想统领发展全局，才能不断破解发展难题、厚植发展优势、增强发展动能，为中国式现代化建设提供思想理论保障。

II. Comprehensively Grasp the Political Requirements for Establishing and Improving the “First Agenda Item” System

二、全面把握建立健全“第一议题”制度的政治要求

Only with theoretical clarity can there be political firmness. The key to establishing and improving the “first agenda item” system is to continuously strengthen the Party’s political construction, to treat studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the primary task, the top priority, and a long-term requirement, grasping it firmly and earnestly, and effectively enhancing the political consciousness of theoretical arming.

理论上清醒，政治上才能坚定。建立健全“第一议题”制度，关键是要持续加强党的政治建设，把学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为首要任务、头等大事和长期要求抓紧抓实，切实增强理论武装的政治自觉。

Deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments.”[1] The great transformations of the New Era are fundamentally due to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s role at the helm, and

深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义。新时代的伟大变革，根本在于习近平总书记掌舵领航，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。“两个确立”是我们做好一切工作的信心之本，是战胜一切艰难险阻的胜利之源，是应对一切不确定性的最大确定性，必须倍加珍惜、坚定维护、长期坚持。坚持“第一议题”制度，就是要以理论武装为重要抓手，坚定政治方向，不断增强坚持“两个确立”、做到“两个维护”的思想自觉、政治自觉、行动自觉，做习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的坚定信仰者、忠实践行者。

Scientifically grasp the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Upholding the “First Agenda Item” system means earnestly studying and grasping the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, observing the era, grasping practice, and leading development, transforming it into a powerful ideological weapon for remolding the subjective and objective worlds, and effectively providing scientific guidance for advancing practice. It is necessary both to be adept at using this worldview and methodology to correctly handle a series of major relationships, stimulate development momentum and vitality, and promote Chinese-path modernization to achieve new progress and breakthroughs; to be adept at using this worldview and methodology to analyze the international situation, employ strategic thinking to correctly handle various complex international relations, and actively promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations; and also to be adept at using this worldview and methodology to deeply advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, providing a strong political guarantee for comprehensively building a great modern socialist country.

科学把握习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的立场观点方法。坚持“第一议题”制度，就是要认真学习把握习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，观察时代、把握实践、引领发展，将其转化为改造主观世界和客观世界的强大思想武器，切实为推动实践提供科学指引。既要善于运用这一世界观和方法论正确处理一系列重大关系，激发发展动力和活力，推进中国式现代化取得新进展新突破，又要善于运用这一世界观和方法论分析国际形势，运用战略思维正确处理各种复杂的国际关系，积极推动文明交流互鉴，还要善于运用这一世界观和方法论深入推进全面从严治党，为全面建成社会主义现代化强国提供坚强政治保障。

Give play to the exemplary and leading role of leading cadres. Leading cadres are the “key minority” in the development of the Party and the state’s cause, and they serve as a weathervane for the entire Party and society. To properly implement the “First Agenda Item” system, the emphasis lies on the “key minority” of leading cadres. Leading cadres must treat the implementation of the “First Agenda Item” system as a political task, earnestly fulfill their responsibilities as the primary responsible persons, lead by example and set a precedent. They must not only take the lead in learning one step further and delving one level deeper, but also comprehend the core essence and grasp the spiritual substance. The Party organization’s leading group must earnestly fulfill its leadership responsibilities, integrate with reality, promote work through study, transform “pure learning” into “combining learning with application,” and use the “key minority” to demonstrate and drive the “overwhelming majority,” forming a good atmosphere of the upper level setting an example for the lower level and overall linkage.

发挥领导干部的示范带头作用。领导干部是党和国家事业发展的“关键少数”，对全党全社会都具有风向标作用。落实好“第一议题”制度，重在领导干部这个“关键少数”。领导干部要把落实“第一议题”制度作为政治任务，切实履行第一责任人职责，以身作则、率先垂范，既要做到先学一步、学深一层，又要领悟核心要义、把握精神实质。党组织班子要认真履行领导责任，结合实际、以学促干，化“单纯学习”为“学用结合”，以“关键少数”示范带动“绝大多数”,形成以上率下、整体联动的良好氛围。

III. Effectively and Efficiently Implement the “First Agenda Item” System

三、有力有效落实“第一议题”制度

The value of theory lies in guiding practice. Upholding the “First Agenda Item” system aims to guide practice and promote work. It is necessary to adhere to the combination and mutual promotion of theory and practice, promoting the standardization, normalization, and effectiveness of the “First Agenda Item” system.

理论的价值在于指导实践。坚持“第一议题”制度，目的在于指导实践、推动工作。要坚持理论与实践相结合、相促进，推动“第一议题”制度规范化、常态化、实效化。

Elevate political standing and promote the integration of study and application. The “First Agenda” system must be understood from the political height of the Party’s governance of the country, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, strictly aligned and benchmarked against the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and implemented without any discount. In terms of understanding, adhere to a mode of thinking that unifies the problem-oriented, goal-oriented, and results-oriented approaches: know “what to study” in terms of objectives, understand “how to study” in terms of methods, grasp “why to study” in terms of thinking, and comprehend “how to apply” in practice, endowing the “First Agenda” with clear political attributes, rich learning content, scientific development thinking, and solid learning outcomes. In practice, insist on placing the “First Agenda” on the foundation of promoting development, integrating study and application, using knowledge to guide action, and embodying the goals, tasks, strategic layout, and key measures of the “First Agenda” in advancing all work with high standards and quality. Use the actual results of high-quality development to stimulate the long-term effectiveness of the “First Agenda,” so that scientific theory is truly transformed into a powerful force for strengthening ideals, tempering Party spirit, guiding practice, and advancing work.

提高政治站位，促进学用结合。要站在党治国理政的政治高度认识“第一议题”制度，以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，严格与党中央的决策部署对标对表，不折不扣抓好落实。在认识上，要坚持问题导向、目标导向、效果导向相统一的思想方法，在目标上知道“学什么”，在方法上搞懂“怎么学”，在思想上弄通“为何学”，在实际中明白“如何用”，赋予“第一议题”明确的政治属性、丰富的学习内容、科学的发展思路、扎实的学习成效。在实践上，要坚持把“第一议题”放在推动发展的基点上，学用结合、以知促行，把“第一议题”的目标任务、战略布局和重点措施，高标准高质量体现于推动各项工作中，以高质量发展的实际成效激发“第一议题”长效发力，使科学理论真正转化为坚定理想、锤炼党性和指导实践、推动工作的强大力量。

Adhere to a problem-oriented approach and maintain close connection with reality. Problems are the voice of the times; answering and guiding the resolution of problems is the fundamental task of theory. Make good use of the “First Agenda” system to deeply study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, forming an organic interaction between practical innovation and theoretical innovation, and promptly discovering and resolving contradictions and problems in economic and social development. Always insist on centering on the core tasks and serving the overall situation, adhere to a problem-oriented approach and focus on practical results, truly situating oneself, one’s work, and one’s responsibilities within the process, discovering, raising, studying, and solving problems through study. Strengthen problem awareness, focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, urgent and difficult problems of the people, major problems in international changes, and prominent problems faced in Party building. In adhering to the “First Agenda” system, continuously propose new concepts, new ideas, and new methods that truly solve problems. Maintain a sober mind and sharp vision, use innovative thinking to face and resolve various problems encountered in progress, promote breakthrough explorations in practice, and continuously open up new prospects in work through discovering and solving problems.

坚持问题导向，密切联系实际。问题是时代的声音，回答并指导解决问题是理论的根本任务。要用好“第一议题”制度，深入学习领会习近平总书记重要讲话和重要指示精神，形成实践创新和理论创新的有机互动，及时发现和解决经济社会发展中的矛盾和问题。要始终坚持围绕中心、服务大局，坚持问题导向、注重实效，真正把自己摆进去、把工作摆进去、把职责摆进去，在学习中发现问题、提出问题、研究问题、解决问题。要增强问题意识，聚焦实践遇到的新问题、改革发展稳定存在的深层次问题、人民群众急难愁盼问题、国际变局中的重大问题、党的建设面临的突出问题，在坚持“第一议题”制度中不断提出真正解决问题的新理念新思路新办法。要保持清醒头脑和敏锐眼光，以创新性思维去面对和解决前进中的各种问题，去推动实践的突破性探索，在发现问题和解决问题中不断开创工作新局面。

Improve institutional mechanisms and innovate methods and approaches. Institutions are fundamental and long-lasting. On one hand, focus on perfecting and improving; on the other hand, focus on institutional implementation, fully leveraging the guiding and driving role of the “First Agenda” system for development. Party organizations at all levels must, from the perspective of institutional constraints, make the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era the “First Agenda.” Use “immediate” study to enhance the consciousness of implementing the “First Agenda,” use “regular” study to ensure the normalization of implementing the “First Agenda,” and use “diversified” study to highlight the targeted nature of implementing the “First Agenda.” By enriching learning content, innovating learning methods, and standardizing learning management, improve learning outcomes. Closely determine the learning content of the “First Agenda” based on practical requirements, and strictly test the learning outcomes of the “First Agenda” around practical results. Form a work system of study and research, supervision and project initiation, establishing ledgers, promoting implementation, supervision and inspection, assessment and evaluation, and rectification and improvement. Use “process-based” methods to form a closed loop for agenda items, ensuring that every matter has a result and every item receives a response; use “ledger-based” methods to implement promotion measures, clarify responsibility divisions, and ensure that the implementation and handling of matters can be tracked and traced; use “supervision-based” methods to strengthen the rigid execution of implementation measures, enhance guidance and supervision, and focus on summarizing experiences, discovering problems, and urging rectification. Truly make Xi Jinping

完善制度机制，创新方式方法。制度是管根本、管长远的。要一手抓健全完善，一手抓制度执行，充分发挥“第一议题”制度对发展的引领与推动作用。各级党组织要从制度约束上，把学习习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为“第一议题”，以“即时化”学习增强落实“第一议题”的自觉性，以“经常化”学习保证落实“第一议题”的常态性，以“多样化”学习凸显落实“第一议题”的针对性，通过丰富学习内容、创新学习方式、规范学习管理，提高学习效果。密切结合实践要求确定“第一议题”学习内容，紧紧围绕实践结果检验“第一议题”学习成效，形成学习研究、督办立项、建立台账、推进落实、督促检查、考核评估、整改提升的工作制度，以“流程化”形成议题闭环，确保事事有着落、件件有回应；以“台账制”落实推进措施，明确责任分工，确保办理落实情况可跟踪、可追溯；以“抓督促”强化落实举措的刚性执行，加强指导督导，着力总结经验、发现问题、督促整改，真正使习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为“第一议题”的首修课、必修课，在实践中成为推动高质量发展的“金钥匙”和“定盘星”。

Online editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁