Xi's Anti-Corruption Warning at CCDI Plenary - Qu Qingshan on Zunyi Conference Anniversary & the Importance of Xi as Core - National Data Infrastructure Guidelines - Wang Yi Visits Namibia
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
The lead story covers Xi Jinping’s speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CCDI of the CPC on Monday. Xi “emphasized that since the new era, the intensity of advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance and the fight against corruption has been unprecedented, with results being obvious to all. It is necessary to always maintain tenacious perseverance that the fight against corruption is always ongoing, maintain strategic determination and sustain a high-pressure stance, move forward without pausing for a single step or retreating even half a step. Efforts must be made to integrate the goals of ensuring that officials dare not be corrupt, cannot be corrupt, and do not want to engage in corruption, resolutely winning this tough, protracted, and comprehensive battle against corruption.” 他强调，新时代以来，推进全面从严治党和反腐败斗争力度之大前所未有，成效有目共睹。要始终保持反腐败永远在路上的坚韧执着，保持战略定力和高压态势，一步不停歇、半步不退让，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，坚决打好这场攻坚战、持久战、总体战.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in 2024, the Central Committee of the Party adhered to leading the social revolution through the Party’s self-revolution, consistently advancing the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and achieving new progress and results. The entire Party has gained a clearer understanding and stronger determination regarding the major issue of self-revolution. Solid efforts have been made in carrying out the Party discipline education campaign, with all Party members’ awareness of abiding by rules and discipline having been significantly enhanced; the fight against corruption has been intensified, eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption; deeply carried out concentrated rectification of unhealthy trends and corruption problems around the masses, addressing a large batch of prominent problems strongly reflected by the masses; the governance of the Party through systems and regulations has been further advanced, improving the Party’s ability to lead the fight against corruption and promote comprehensive and strict governance. 习近平指出，2024年，党中央坚持以党的自我革命引领社会革命，一以贯之推进全面从严治党，取得新的进展和成效。全党在自我革命这一重大问题上认识更加清醒、行动更加坚定；扎实开展党纪学习教育，全党同志遵规守纪意识明显增强；持续加大反腐败力度，铲除腐败滋生的土壤和条件；深入开展群众身边不正之风和腐败问题集中整治，解决了一大批群众反映强烈的突出问题；深化制度治党、依规治党，进一步提高了党领导反腐败斗争、推进全面从严治党的能力.
Xi Jinping emphasized that corruption is the greatest threat facing our Party, and the anti-corruption campaign is the most thorough form of self-revolution. In the new era, facing prominent problems in Party conduct, clean governance construction and anti-corruption struggle within the Party, we have adhered to the principles of resolutely opposing corruption wherever it exists and punishing corruption wherever it arises, continuously purifying the cadre ranks, safeguarding the Party’s image, consolidating the red country, securing the historical initiative to ensure the Party does not deteriorate, change color, or change flavor, and winning the historical initiative for the Party to unite and lead the entire people in the joint endeavor of building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation. 习近平强调，腐败是我们党面临的最大威胁，反腐败是最彻底的自我革命。进入新时代，面对党内党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的突出问题，我们坚持有腐必反、有贪必肃，不断纯洁干部队伍，维护了党的形象，巩固了红色江山，赢得了确保党不变质、不变色、不变味的历史主动，赢得了党团结带领全体人民为强国建设、民族复兴伟业共同奋斗的历史主动.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the current situation of the fight against corruption remains grim and complex. The existing corruption has not yet been eliminated, new cases continue to occur, and the task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption remains arduous and heavy. Understanding the fight against corruption requires adopting a historical perspective and a strategic vision, focusing on achieving the Party’s mission and tasks. The fight against corruption must remain unswerving; any hesitation and wavering, laxity and softness, or abandoning midway would constitute subversive mistakes. It is necessary to resolutely clarify various misconceptions, dispel ideological confusion, and further strengthen the determination and confidence in the fight against corruption. 习近平指出，当前反腐败斗争形势仍然严峻复杂。腐败存量尚未清除，增量还在持续发生，铲除腐败滋生土壤和条件任务仍然艰巨繁重。认识反腐败斗争，一定要有历史眼光、战略高度，着眼于实现党的使命任务。反腐败斗争必须坚定不移，任何犹豫动摇、松懈手软或半途而废，都将犯颠覆性错误。要坚决澄清各种错误认识，廓清思想迷雾，进一步坚定反腐败斗争的决心和信心.
He then called for maintaining the “spirit of reform and strict standards” for Party governance in the new era, and “ensure the implementation of the arrangements of the 20th Party Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promote the steady and long-term development of Chinese-style modernization.” 习近平强调，新时代新征程，必须坚持用改革精神和严的标准管党治党，努力取得更大成效，确保党的二十大和二十届三中全会部署落地落实，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心，推动中国式现代化行稳致远.
Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to promote the specificity, precision and normalization of political supervision. Maintaining a high degree of alignment/consistency with the Party Central Committee must be reflected in both words and actions. In terms of ideology, it is necessary to unremittingly strengthen the Party’s innovative theoretical armament, accurately grasp the Party Central Committee’s goals, positioning and deployment requirements for reform and development in this region, department and domain, ensuring unity in thought and consistency in direction. Politically, it is necessary to adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, strictly enforce political discipline and political rules, and absolutely forbid engaging in the ‘seven types of conduct’ to ensure consistency between words and actions, with orders being followed and prohibitions strictly observed. In terms of actions, it is necessary to adhere to making the implementation of the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee the focus of political supervision, and work together to drive reform breakthroughs and promote high-quality development. 习近平指出，要推进政治监督具体化、精准化、常态化。同党中央保持高度一致必须说到做到。思想上，要坚持不懈强化党的创新理论武装，准确把握党中央对本地区本部门本领域改革发展的目标定位和部署要求，确保思想统一、方向一致。政治上，要坚持党中央集中统一领导，严明政治纪律和政治规矩，决不允许搞“七个有之”，确保言行一致、令行禁止。行动上，要坚持把党中央各项决策部署落实情况作为政治监督重点，合力推动改革攻坚、促进高质量发展.
Xi Jinping emphasised that strengthening the Party’s discipline construction is a regular task and that it is necessary to guide Party members and cadres to transform external discipline into self-discipline, internalising it as daily and unconscious standards of behavior. A regularised and long-term discipline education mechanism should be established, ensuring that discipline education runs through the entire growth cycle of cadres and is integrated into the whole process of organizational management. Strictly enforce the Party’s discipline, accurately apply the ‘four forms’, adhere to seeking truth from facts, neither being unjust or indulgent, identify and address problems early when they are nascent, prevent minor issues from growing, and unify strict management and supervision with encouragement of responsibility, enabling cadres to innovate reforms and pursue achievements while complying with regulations and discipline. 习近平强调，加强党的纪律建设是一项经常性工作，要引导党员、干部把他律转化为自律，内化为日用而不觉的言行准则。建立常态化长效化的纪律教育机制，使纪律教育贯穿干部成长全周期、融入组织管理全过程。严格执行党的纪律，准确运用“四种形态”，实事求是、毋枉毋纵，抓早抓小、防微杜渐，把从严管理监督和鼓励担当作为统一起来，使干部在遵规守纪中改革创新、干事创业。
Xi Jinping pointed out that we must deeply promote the simultaneous investigation and treatment of both formalism and corruption. Always adhere to zero tolerance, treat the eight-point central regulations as iron rules and hard limits, seriously investigate and punish the ‘four winds’ problems that defy discipline and undergo hidden mutations, supervise Party members and cadres to resolutely oppose privileged thinking and phenomena, and firmly establish correct views of power, performance, and career. Always maintain high-pressure posture against corruption, focus on grasping and investigating key problems, key areas, and key targets, deepen the simultaneous investigation of both taking and giving bribes, and resolutely eliminate systemic corruption risks and hidden dangers. Enhance the effectiveness of using cases to promote reform and governance, promote the improvement of the constraints and supervision mechanisms for the allocation and operation of power, and enrich effective methods for preventing and controlling new types of corruption and hidden corruption. Adhere to the integration of rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and fighting corruption, use ‘joint investigation’ to severely punish intertwined problems of unhealthy work styles and corruption, use ‘joint treatment’ to eliminate common roots of unhealthy work styles and corruption.” 习近平指出，要深入推进风腐同查同治。始终坚持零容忍，把中央八项规定作为铁规矩、硬杠杠，严肃查处顶风违纪、隐形变异的“四风”问题，督促党员、干部坚决反对特权思想和特权现象，树牢正确权力观、政绩观、事业观。始终保持反腐败高压态势，对重点问题、重点领域、重点对象着重抓、着力查，深化受贿行贿一起查，坚决清除系统性腐败风险隐患。增强以案促改促治实效，推动完善权力配置运行的制约和监督机制，丰富防治新型腐败和隐性腐败有效办法。坚持正风肃纪反腐相贯通，以“同查”严惩风腐交织问题，以“同治”铲除风腐共性根源.
Xi Jinping emphasized it is necessary to strengthen the primary responsibility and supervisory responsibility for comprehensively governing the Party with strict discipline. The Party committee must take the initiative to grasp and manage, the discipline inspection commission must carry out its specialized supervisory duties well, focus on its main responsibilities, and perform its primary tasks. All responsible entities must know their responsibilities, take responsibility, and fulfill their duties. It is necessary to optimize the responsibility implementation and evaluation mechanisms, and precisely and scientifically hold accountable those who fail in their duties and responsibilities. 习近平强调，要强化全面从严治党主体责任和监督责任。党委要主动抓、主动管，纪委要把专责监督履行好，聚焦主责、干好主业，各责任主体都要知责、担责、履责。要优化责任落实考评机制，对失职失责精准科学问责.
Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to continue to promote the extension of comprehensive and strict Party governance to the grassroots level. Party committees at all levels, especially municipal and county Party committees, should take the rectification of unhealthy practices and corruption around the masses as an important and routine task, making it tangible and perceptible to the people. We must deepen the reform of the grassroots supervision system and mechanism, combine discipline inspection and supervision with grassroots inspections, and coordinate supervision from all aspects. Implement a long-term mechanism to reduce the burden on the grassroots by rectifying formalism, allowing grassroots cadres to have more energy to focus on implementation. 习近平指出，要持续推动全面从严治党向基层延伸。各级党委特别是市县党委要把整治群众身边不正之风和腐败问题作为重要任务常态化地抓，让老百姓可感可及。要深化基层监督体制机制改革，把纪检监察同对基层巡察结合起来、同各方面监督统筹起来。落实整治形式主义为基层减负长效机制，让广大基层干部有更多精力抓落实.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are an important force in advancing the Party’s self-revolution, and that the Party and the people have full trust and high expectations for this team. We must deepen the reform of the disciplinary inspection and supervision system, adhere to combining authorization and control of power, and put power in the cage of institutional regulations. We must focus on strengthening the standardization, legalization and regularization of discipline inspection and supervision work, and continuously improve the ability to rectify conduct, ensure discipline and fight corruption. We must consolidate and expand the results of the thematic education campaign and education rectification, adhere to ‘those who forge iron must themselves be strong’, strengthen strict management and supervision, build an iron army of disciplinary inspection and supervision that is loyal, clean, responsible, and dares to struggle and is good at struggle. 习近平强调，纪检监察机关是推进党的自我革命的重要力量，党和人民对这支队伍充分信任、充满期待。要深化纪检监察体制改革，坚持授权和控权相结合，把权力关进制度的笼子。要着力加强纪检监察工作规范化法治化正规化建设，不断提高正风肃纪反腐能力。要巩固拓展主题教育和教育整顿成果，坚持打铁必须自身硬，强化严格管理监督，打造忠诚干净担当、敢于善于斗争的纪检监察铁军.
In his remarks, Li Xi said that Xi’s speech “with a lofty historical perspective, deeply grasped the basic laws of the anti-corruption struggle, deeply analyzed the current situation of the anti-corruption struggle, put forward clear requirements for resolutely fighting the tough, protracted, and comprehensive battle against corruption, and made strategic arrangements for deepening the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.” The speech was “far-sighted, profound, confronted problems directly, and was striking in clarity/would arouse even the apathetic”. “It has provided important guidance for deepening the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the fight against corruption.” He added:
It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, enhance the four consciousnesses, strengthen the four self-confidences, and achieve the Two Safeguards, strengthen confidence, dare to struggle, conscientiously perform the political responsibility of comprehensive and strictly Party governance, and promote the integration of the goals of ensuring that officials dare not be corrupt, cannot be corrupt, and do not want to engage in corruption, and unswervingly advance the anti-corruption struggle in depth. 李希在主持会议时指出，习近平总书记的重要讲话，充分肯定过去一年全面从严治党新进展新成效，以高远的历史眼光深刻把握反腐败斗争基本规律，深刻分析当前反腐败斗争形势，对坚决打好反腐败斗争攻坚战、持久战、总体战提出明确要求，对深入推进全面从严治党作出战略部署。讲话高瞻远瞩、思想深邃、直面问题、振聋发聩，为深入推进全面从严治党和反腐败斗争提供了重要遵循。要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记重要讲话精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，坚定信心、敢于斗争，认真履行全面从严治党政治责任，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，坚定不移把反腐败斗争向纵深推进.
Next, there’s a report on Xi and Botswana President Duma Boko congratulating each other on the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties. Xinhua says:
Xi said that “China-Botswana relations have always maintained a good momentum of development, and the two countries have become good friends who treat each other equally and good partners who develop hand in hand. Xi said he firmly believes that as long as the two countries adhere to sincere friendship, solidarity and cooperation, the development path of China-Botswana relations will surely become wider, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation will surely be brighter. 2025 marks the opening year for the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi said. He said standing on a new starting point, he is ready to work together with Boko to further strengthen mutual political trust, resolutely support each other’s major concerns, jointly advance each other’s modernization drive, and open a new chapter in the China-Botswana strategic partnership.”
The two other reports on the page are about Wang Huning and Zhao Leji meeting with the visiting President of the Congress of Peru Eduardo Salhuana. Xinhua’s report on Zhao’s meeting with him says:
“Noting that deepening China-Peru friendly cooperation is the common expectation of the two peoples, Zhao said that the legislative bodies of the two countries should contribute to promoting the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations. The NPC of China is willing to work with the Congress of Peru to strengthen exchanges between high-level officials, special committees, bilateral friendship groups and more, deepen mutual learning on governance experience, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and support each other in pursuing development paths suited to their respective national conditions, he said. Chancay port in Peru, a landmark China-Peru cooperation project, will help promote the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road between China and Peru as well as China and Latin America, Zhao said, adding that it is hoped that the Congress of Peru will continue to support the construction of the port. ‘China and Peru have carried out fruitful cooperation in fields such as energy, mining, infrastructure construction and communications, and are actively exploring ways to expand cooperation on digital economy, green development and artificial intelligence. It is hoped that the legislatures of the two countries will jointly create a sound legal environment for China-Peru practical cooperation,’ Zhao said.”
The report on Wang’s meeting with him says:
Wang “said China is willing to make joint efforts with Peru to push for more achievements in China-Peru relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples, and the CPPCC is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Peru to make contributions to promoting the joint advance of the two countries on the road of national modernization.”
Page 2: There’s a report on the new guidelines for the construction of national data infrastructure.
The guidelines set 2029 as the date for completing the building of the main structure of China’s national data infrastructure. The plan proposes the creation of a unified national ‘ledger’ of data, establishing a nationally integrated distributed data directory covering entities such as government, industries, and enterprises, as well as national, provincial, city, and county levels, supporting orderly data circulation and shared applications across levels, regions, systems, departments, and operations. It encourages the creation of high-quality datasets in sectors such as agriculture, industry, transportation, finance, natural resources, health, education, science and technology, civil aviation, and meteorology. 《指引》提出形成全国数据“一本账”，建立覆盖政府、行业、企业等主体及国家、省、市、县等层级的全国一体化分布式数据目录，支撑跨层级、跨地域、跨系统、跨部门、跨业务的数据有序流通和共享应用。支持农业、工业、交通、金融、自然资源、卫生健康、教育、科技、民航、气象等行业领域打造高质量数据集.
The report further explains:
“National data infrastructure is a new type of infrastructure that provides services for data collection, aggregation, transmission, processing, circulation, utilization, operation, and security for society from the perspective of releasing the value of data elements. It is an organic whole integrating hardware, software, model algorithms, standards and specifications, and mechanism design. Under national coordination, national data infrastructure is jointly constituted by various types of data infrastructure including regional, industry, and enterprise. Network facilities and computing power facilities are closely related to national data infrastructure, and through iterative upgrades, continuously support the circulation and utilization of data.” 国家数据基础设施是从数据要素价值释放的角度出发，面向社会提供数据采集、汇聚、传输、加工、流通、利用、运营、安全服务的一类新型基础设施，是集成硬件、软件、模型算法、标准规范、机制设计等在内的有机整体。国家数据基础设施在国家统筹下，由区域、行业、企业等各类数据基础设施共同构成。网络设施、算力设施与国家数据基础设施紧密相关，并通过迭代升级，不断支撑数据的流通和利用.
The report also quotes an official from the National Data Bureau as saying that according to estimates, a 10% increase in data flow will drive GDP growth by 0.2%, and the average promotion rate of data flow to profit growth across industries is about 10%.
Page 3: Two reports to note. First, Indonesia has become a full BRICS member. China’s MoFA issued a statement on this. Xinhua reports:
“Indonesia, as a major developing country and an important force in the Global South, highly recognizes the BRICS spirit and has taken an active part in ‘BRICS Plus’ cooperation. The spokesperson said Indonesia’s official entry into BRICS serves the common interests of BRICS countries and the Global South, adding that ‘we believe that Indonesia will make active contribution to the development of BRICS.’ The spokesperson said BRICS is a main platform for promoting solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and a major force driving the reform of the global governance system, and BRICS countries are always committed to multilateralism, fairness and justice, and common development. BRICS’s latest addition follows the historic trend of the collective rise of the Global South. China stands ready to work with Indonesia and other BRICS members to jointly build a more comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive partnership, advance the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and make greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind, the spokesperson added.”
Second, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba on Monday. Xinhua reports:
“Despite the geographical distance, the bond between China and Africa has remained strong, Wang said. The China-Africa relationship has withstood the test of changing global circumstances and is showing new promising prospects, he said, stressing that China remains a trustworthy partner for Africa, consistently prioritizing Africa in its overall diplomatic strategy. For 35 years, Chinese foreign ministers have made Africa the destination of their first overseas visit of each year, a tradition that reflects China’s unwavering commitment, Wang said, adding that this tradition will continue because strengthening China-Africa cooperation is more crucial than ever for the world, and their joint development symbolizes the rise of the Global South and the growing influence of justice. Namibia, an important member of the African family, is also a comprehensive strategic cooperation partner of China, he noted. At the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed 10 partnership action plans to jointly advance modernization and announced that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. This has charted the course for the future development of China-Africa relations, Wang said, noting that China is ready to work with Namibia to implement the 10 partnership action plans, helping Namibia accelerate its modernization process. Acknowledging Namibia’s unique resources and vast development potential, Wang said that the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) Party of Namibia has adopted a people-centered governance philosophy and guided the country along a development path suited to its national conditions. China is willing to strengthen exchanges on governance with Namibia and deepen cooperation in various fields to achieve common development, Wang said.”
Apart from reportedly supporting the “one-China principle”, Mbumba also said that “Namibia supports the three global initiatives proposed by Xi, namely the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and looks forward to continued mutual support and collaboration with China in international and regional affairs to safeguard shared interests.”
Wang also met with President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Page 4: A report informs that data from the State Taxation Administration indicates that in the first 11 months of 2024, China implemented tax and fee reductions and refunds totalling 2.2979 trillion yuan to support technological innovation and the development of the manufacturing sector.
policies supporting increased technology investment and achievement transfer, such as additional R&D expense deductions and other policies, resulted in tax reductions, fee cuts, and tax refunds of 803.6 billion yuan;
policies aimed at fostering high-tech enterprises and emerging industries resulted in tax reductions of 337.3 billion yuan.
policies supporting the high-quality development of manufacturing, such as the additional VAT deduction for advanced manufacturing enterprises and the VAT credit refund, contributed to tax and fee reductions and refunds of 968.3 billion yuan.
国家税务总局最新数据显示，2024年前11个月，我国支持科技创新和制造业发展的主要政策减税降费及退税22979亿元。分政策类型来看，支持加大科技投入和成果转让的研发费用加计扣除等政策减税降费及退税8036亿元；支持培育发展高新技术企业和新兴产业的政策减税3373亿元；支持制造业高质量发展的先进制造业企业增值税加计抵减和留抵退税等政策减税降费及退税9683亿元.
Page 6: There’s a brief report (English report) on the launch of a high-speed train connecting Xi’an to Hong Kong.
Page 10: It’s no coincidence that Qu Qingshan’s piece commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Zunyi Conference is published today as the CCDI plenary continues in Beijing. Qu reminds us that the conference was a “vital turning point (是一个生死攸关的转折点)” in the Party’s history and process.
Qu writes that the CCP’s history during the New Democratic Revolution period lasted for 28 years. This period can be divided into two halves of 14 years each, with the Zunyi Conference lying in the middle. In the first 14 years, our Party made one right-leaning mistake and three ‘left-leaning’ mistakes, leading to two major setbacks in the Chinese revolution: one being the failure of the Great Revolution and the other being the failure of the fifth counter-’encirclement and suppression’ campaign in the Central Revolutionary Base, forcing the Red Army to undertake a strategic retreat. In the latter 14 years, starting from the Zunyi Conference, our Party rose again, united and led the people to overcome one difficulty after another and triumph over one challenge after another. First, it achieved victory in the Long March, survived the most difficult period, and pioneered a new phase of the Chinese revolution. Subsequently, it successively achieved victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation, overthrew the ‘three mountains’ of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic-capitalism, and finally established the People’s Republic of China, achieving national independence and people's liberation, inaugurating a new era in Chinese historical development. 我们党在新民主主义革命时期的历史共有28年，这28年以遵义会议为界，正好可以划分为前14年和后14年。前14年，我们党犯了一次右倾、三次“左”倾的错误，中国革命遭受了两次重大挫折，一次是大革命的失败，一次是中央革命根据地第五次反“围剿”的失败，红军被迫进行战略转移；后14年，从遵义会议开始，我们党重新奋起，团结带领人民克服了一个又一个艰险、战胜了一个又一个挑战，先是取得了长征的胜利，度过了最艰难的时期，开创了中国革命新局面，尔后又陆续取得了抗日战争的胜利、解放战争的胜利，推翻帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义三座大山，最终建立中华人民共和国，实现了民族独立、人民解放，开启中国历史发展的新纪元.
Qu adds:
So, why did such a tremendous historical transformation occur before and after the Zunyi Conference? What are its profound historical reasons and internal logic? Regarding this, the ‘Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century’ adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party made a profound summary: The Zunyi Conference ensured that “Comrade Mao Zedong was confirmed as the de facto leader of the Central Committee and the Red Army. The meeting laid the groundwork for establishing the leading position within the Central Committee of the correct Marxist line chiefly represented by Comrade Mao Zedong, as well as for the formation of the first generation of the central collective leadership with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core. The meeting opened a new stage in which the Party would act on its own initiative to address practical problems concerning the Chinese revolution, and saved the Party, the Red Army, and the Chinese revolution at a moment of greatest peril.” 那么，为什么遵义会议前后会发生如此天翻地覆的历史巨变呢？其深刻的历史原因和内在逻辑是什么呢？对此，党的十九届六中全会审议通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》进行了深刻总结和揭示，这就是：遵义会议“事实上确立了毛泽东同志在党中央和红军的领导地位，开始确立以毛泽东同志为主要代表的马克思主义正确路线在党中央的领导地位，开始形成以毛泽东同志为核心的党的第一代中央领导集体，开启了党独立自主解决中国革命实际问题新阶段”.
And then he writes this:
“The history of the Party shows that the issue of having a core is of paramount importance. The core is the banner, the core is the direction, and the core is the strength. Marxism tells us that the core arises from practice, the core represents the people, the core guides the way forward, and the core is the choice of history and the people.” 党的历史表明，核心问题至关紧要，核心就是旗帜，核心就是方向，核心就是力量。马克思主义告诉我们，核心来自于实践，核心代表人民，核心指引前进方向，核心是历史和人民的选择.
“The development of history has its inherent logic and essential laws. The materialist conception of history holds that the masses create history. Great figures embody the will of the people and are faithful representatives of the fundamental interests of the masses. Great figures do not appear out of thin air, but are produced in practice and are the product of history and the times. It is no accident that Comrade Mao Zedong became the core of the first generation of the central leadership of our Party. During the Great Revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong conducted a profound analysis of the structure of Chinese society and the class situation and engaged in deep thought on issues such as the nature, targets, tasks, and driving forces of the Chinese revolution. After the failure of the Great Revolution, he thoroughly summarized the experiences and lessons of the revolutionary struggle, proposing the idea that ‘political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’; organized and launched the Autumn Harvest Uprising in the border regions of Hunan and Jiangxi and led the uprising forces to Jinggangshan, where he directed the establishment of China’s first rural revolutionary base. This laid the foundation for the correct revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing power through armed struggle. He emphasized that the ‘textbooks’ of Marxism must be studied, but must be combined with China’s actual conditions. He proposed, ‘what is the true iron bastion? It is the masses, it is the millions of masses who sincerely support the revolution.’ Comrade Mao Zedong’s profound analytical power of China’s revolutionary situation, deep insight into historical development trends, and scientific judgment of the direction of the era’s progress have been tested by practice and verified by history. 历史的发展有其内在的逻辑和本质的规律。唯物史观认为，人民群众创造历史。伟大人物凝聚了人民的意志，是人民群众根本利益的忠实代表。伟大人物不是凭空出现的，而是在实践中产生的，是历史和时代的产物。毛泽东同志之所以能成为我们党的第一代中央领导集体的核心，绝不是偶然的。大革命时期，毛泽东同志对中国社会形态和阶级状况进行了深刻分析，对中国革命的性质、对象、任务和动力等问题进行了深入思考。大革命失败后，他深刻总结革命斗争的经验教训，提出了“枪杆子里面出政权”，组织发动湘赣边秋收起义，并带领起义的部队上了井冈山，领导创建了中国第一个农村革命根据地，开辟了农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的正确革命道路。他强调，“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的，但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合。”他提出，“真正的铜墙铁壁是什么？是群众，是千百万真心实意地拥护革命的群众。”毛泽东同志对中国革命形势的深刻分析力、对历史发展趋势的深邃洞察力、对时代前进方向的科学判断力，得到了实践的检验和历史的验证.
And then Qu writes:
“The materialist view of history also holds that every person has a certain role in the development of history, but the nature and magnitude of their role differ. Great figures usually stand higher and see farther than ordinary people, are able to concentrate collective wisdom, listen to the voice of the people, conform to the trends of the times, grasp the laws of history, propose and solve major historical tasks, and guide the direction of historical progress. Therefore, their role is unique and special, and they can play an accelerating and promoting role in the development of history.” 唯物史观还认为，每个人在历史发展中都有一定作用，但作用的性质、大小不一样。伟大人物通常比一般人站得高、看得远，能够集中集体的智慧，倾听人民的呼声，顺应时代的潮流，把握历史的规律，提出和解决重大历史任务，指引历史前进的方向，因而他的作用是独特的、特殊的，他能对历史的发展起到加速的推动作用.
The examples he gives for this are the success of Mao’s strategies through the first to third anti-encirclement and suppression campaigns in the Central Revolutionary Base Area. He argues that Zhou Enlai and Zhu De sustained Mao's tactics during the fourth campaign too, and achieved victory. But Li De or Otto Braun and others deviated from these during the fifth campaign and thus suffered defeat. Consequently, “due to the erroneous leadership of ‘left’ dogmatism” several revolutionary bases were lost.
The lessons from the failure of the fifth counter-encirclement and suppression campaign were painfully profound! At the critical juncture and key moment of historical transition, the Party chose Mao Zedong, the Red Army chose Mao Zedong, the Chinese revolution chose Mao Zedong, and history and the people chose Mao Zedong. This chapter of history concerning the Party and the Red Army must not be forgotten but should be remembered forever! 第五次反“围剿”失败的教训惨痛啊！在历史的转折关头和关键时刻，党选择了毛泽东，红军选择了毛泽东，中国革命选择了毛泽东，历史和人民选择了毛泽东。对于党和红军的这段历史，我们不应该忘记，而应该永远铭记!
He then talks about 2012, with the 18th Party Congress being historic, and marking a new historical orientation for the Party. In other words, “after long-term efforts, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era.”
“Since the beginning of the new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with a great spirit of historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, coordinated the domestic and international situations, implemented the Party’s basic theories, line, and strategies, and taken charge of the great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream, adhered to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, issued a series of major policies, launched a series of major initiatives, advanced a series of major works, overcome a series of major risks and challenges, solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved and accomplished many things that were wanted but never got done, and promoted historic achievements and historic shifts in the cause of the Party and the country.” 历史的脚步走到了2012年。这一年在中国共产党的历史上不同寻常，我们党召开了第十八次全国代表大会。党的十八大标注了我国发展新的历史方位。这就是：经过长期努力，中国特色社会主义进入了新时代。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央，以伟大的历史主动精神、巨大的政治勇气、强烈的责任担当，统筹国内国际两个大局，贯彻党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略，统揽伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，出台一系列重大方针政策，推出一系列重大举措，推进一系列重大工作，战胜一系列重大风险挑战，解决了许多长期想解决而没有解决的难题，办成了许多过去想办而没有办成的大事，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革.
“In the practice of governing the country, General Secretary Xi Jinping, with the magnificent spirit, foresight, and grand strategy of a Marxist statesman, thinker, and strategist, has calmly handled various complex situations, effectively responded to various domestic and foreign risks and challenges, fully demonstrated outstanding political wisdom, strong strategic determination, intense mission responsibility, deep feelings for the people, and superior leadership skills, winning the heartfelt support of the entire Party, military, and people of all ethnic groups, receiving high praise from the international community, becoming the widely supported and well-deserved core of the Party, people’s leader, and commander-in-chief of the military.” 在治国理政实践中，习近平总书记以马克思主义政治家、思想家、战略家的恢弘气魄、远见卓识、雄韬伟略，从容驾驭各种复杂局面，有效应对国内外各种风险挑战，充分展现了卓越的政治智慧、坚强的战略定力、强烈的使命担当、深厚的为民情怀、高超的领导艺术，赢得了全党全军全国各族人民衷心拥护，受到国际社会高度赞誉，成为众望所归、当之无愧的党的核心、人民领袖、军队统帅.
He then quotes the third history resolution again, saying:
“The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation.”
He also doubles down on the Two Establishments as the “greatest certainty, confidence and guarantee for the Party and the people to deal with all uncertainties.”