“People of a nation or a country have to know who they are, where they are from and to. Once a correct and definite answer is obtained, they are supposed to forge ahead unswervingly toward their mission,” Comrade Xi Jinping’s words inculcate us never to forget why we started so as to accomplish our mission. The original aspiration and mission of Chinese Communists are to seek happiness for the Chinese people and achieve rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These founding aspiration and mission are what inspire us to advance.
The answer of the question “where we come from” can be found in the history. With the advent of modern times, Chinese society became embroiled in intense upheavals; this was a time of Chinese people’s fierce struggles against the feudal rule and foreign aggression. It was in the midst of this, as Marxism-Leninism was integrated with the Chinese workers’ movements, that the Communist Party of China was born. Since its founding, this Marxist political party of China made the realization of Communism its highest ideal and its ultimate goal, and shouldered the historic mission of national rejuvenation. In different period of revolution, construction, and reform of China, our Party has been sticking to its fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people. Moreover, our Party has been seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation by establishing People’s Republic of China, founding the socialism with Chinese characteristics and bringing it to a new era. As a result, the Chinese nation, which since modern times began had endured so much for so long, has achieved a tremendous transformation: it has stood up, grown rich, and is becoming strong. No matter in what circumstances, our Party has never forgotten its founding mission, nor wavered in its pursuit, winning the support of Chinese people. All “going forward” requires us to remember the roads we have trudged on before. And we cannot forget the past even if we reach the distant and glorious future. At present, facing a world undergoing profound changes, and encountering risks and tests at home and abroad, the Party, in line with the new requirements of Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, must keep its original mission in mind and make every efforts to accomplish the Party’s historic mission in this period.
After making a good start, we should ensure that the cause achieves fruition. Once we forget our original mission and be away from the people, we will be abandoned by people. Comrade Mao Zedong once admonished the Party-- “the Communist Party is a political party that serves the interests of the nation and the people and, itself, by no means, scraps profits. Also, it should be overseen by the people and never betrays the will of the people”. The future of a political party or a government lies in the public support. We must guard against and correct with resolution what the people oppose and resent. One major reason of some Marxist political parties who lost ruling positions in their own countries is that they turned back to their original mission and detached from people. In face of the complicated governance environment, we, Party members and officials, must uphold Four Awareness (maintaining political integrity, thinking in terms of the big picture, following the leadership core, and keeping in alignment with the central Party leadership) and Four Confidence (full confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics). What’s more, we should have a deep understanding about the intricate Four Tests which will last for a long time, and be clear-headed about the acuteness and seriousness of Four Risks. By doing so, we are committed to practicing strict self-governance in every respect and promoting effective measures and systems to safeguard our original mission and forbid line-crossing behaviors.
Engels once said, "A political party that knows its own purpose, that finds the way to achieve it, that truly wants to do that, and that has the necessary tenacity to do so - will be invincible. " The Communist Party of China is exactly of this kind. Today, we are closer, more confident, and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality. As the Chinese saying goes, the last leg of a journey marks the halfway point. Achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park; it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there. Realizing our great dream demands a great struggle, a great project, and a great cause. All Party members and officials must stay true to our founding mission and carry out people-oriented development. Clinging to the righteous concepts of power, position, and integrity and making clear questions including who I am, who I serve, and who I rely on, we must give top priority to people’s interests and actively response to people expectations to a better life. As a result, we can make steady progress in ensuring people’s access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance. With this, we should see that our people will always have a strong sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.
The words of Comrade Xi Jinping are very enlightening: my plan for life is to contribute more to our people, so when I encounter new challenges or tests, Xintianyou (folk song in the northern part of Shaanxi Province) sung by both the elder and the young in Northern Shaanxi Plateau lingers in my mind.” It can be said that Xintianyou is the symbol of people-oriented spirit which drives the Party to overcome different challenges and tests. Today, there are still lots of obstacles ahead of us on our journey to seek happiness of Chinese people and rejuvenation of Chinese nation. We must keep on striving with endless energy to advance the great cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics from one victory to another.
(Rewritten by Li Xin, Edited by Shen Yuxi, Hu Sijia )
