“The issue of the view on political achievements is a fundamental one, bearing on the Party’s commitment to serving the public good and governing for the people.” In his important article “Establishing and Practicing a Correct View on Political Achievements,” recently published in the journal Qiushi, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphatically underscored the importance of this perspective, profoundly elucidating its intrinsic connection to the Party’s nature,宗旨, and original aspiration and mission, thereby providing scientific guidance for all Party members and cadres to correctly understand and grasp this critical issue.

The view of political achievements reflects the nature and purpose of the Party and is vital to the very foundation of its governance. As an advanced Marxist party, our Party has no special interests of its own and never represents the interests of any interest group, power clique, or privileged stratum; rather, it consistently stands for the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. This dictates that our Party must regard serving the people and bringing them well-being as its paramount political achievement. Only by steadfastly taking whether the people have truly benefited, whether their lives have genuinely improved, and whether their rights and interests have been effectively safeguarded as the crucial yardstick for evaluating all our work can we ensure that development stays on course and remains true to its intended direction. Over the past century and more, our Party has waged revolution, pursued construction, and spearheaded reform, continuously advancing Chinese‑style modernization. As a result, the lives of the Chinese people have progressed from absolute poverty to moderate prosperity and are now steadily moving toward common prosperity, enabling all Chinese people to share in happiness and glory as they advance the historic cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Practice has amply demonstrated that it is precisely because our Party has always placed the people’s happiness at the forefront, prioritized their interests, and fulfilled its original aspiration and mission through concrete actions and tangible results that it has won the sincere support and endorsement of the people, ensuring that the Party’s governing foundation remains rock‑solid.

The way officials view their achievements serves as a touchstone for assessing their Party spirit and integrity, and it bears directly on the Party’s style and public image. Only when their outlook on performance is sound can Party members and cadres truly immerse themselves among the people, approach their work with genuine affection for the masses, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people in thought and action. Only then can they bring a positive mental state to their endeavors, ensure that all tasks are carried out effectively and yield tangible results, refuse to bow before difficulties, dare not shrink from danger, and press forward undeterred in the face of setbacks. Only then can they eschew vanity, avoid chasing empty fame, and refrain from pursuing hollow accomplishments; consciously reject formalism and bureaucratism, and cultivate an ethos of truth‑seeking pragmatism, responsibility, and decisive action. Along the way, from Jiao Yulu, who “kept the entire people in his heart but left no room for himself,” to Gu Wenchang, who declared, “If I cannot tame the winds and sands, let them bury me,” to Yang Shanzhou, who vowed, “As long as life endures, my service to the people shall never cease,” and on to Liao Junbo, who insisted, “Be at the scene rather than in the conference room,” and Huang Wenxiu, who dedicated herself to serving where the people needed her most—generation after generation of exemplary Party members and cadres, widely admired by the masses, have not only delivered concrete achievements that stand the test of history, but have also, through their steadfast conduct, upheld the Party’s sterling image.

The view of political achievements is closely linked to the vision of development and determines the effectiveness of development. When there are blind spots in one’s vision of development, one is likely to fall into misconceptions in one’s approach to political achievements; and when there are deviations in the latter, the former will inevitably stray from a scientific path. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that, in the new era, pursuing development requires steadfastly implementing the new development philosophy and promoting high‑quality economic growth. Advancing high‑quality development entails not only a transformation of the mode of development but also a fundamental shift in both the vision of development and the conception of political achievements. Only by cultivating a correct outlook on political achievements can we properly balance stability and progress, establishment and dismantling, the superficial and the substantive, symptoms and root causes, and the immediate and the long term, and consciously integrate the new development philosophy into every stage of economic and social development. In recent years, many localities, drawing on their own realities, have leveraged their strengths while addressing their weaknesses, forging distinctive paths of high‑quality development. Their tangible results demonstrate that only with a sound outlook on political achievements and a well‑aligned vision of development can we achieve development that is both beneficial, high‑quality, and sustainable.

At present, we have entered a critical phase in which the basic realization of socialist modernization is being consolidated and comprehensive efforts are being intensified. To accomplish the economic and social development goals and tasks set for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must contend with an increasingly complex environment and address a growing number of deep-seated contradictions—tasks that cannot be successfully undertaken without a sound view of political achievements. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “In the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, whether formulating plans or organizing their implementation, a correct view of political achievements is essential. As leadership teams at the provincial, municipal, county, and township levels undergo successive transitions, emphasizing this view is particularly pertinent.” It must be recognized that, at present, some localities and units still face rather prominent problems in the political‑achievement outlook of their leadership teams and leading cadres, which have adverse implications for economic and social development. Launching study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements aims to educate and guide the entire Party—especially leadership teams and leading cadres at all levels—to deeply appreciate the pernicious consequences of deviations and misalignments in this regard, to genuinely cultivate and put into practice a sound view of political achievements, and to win the trust of the people and rally their support through tangible results. We must fully recognize the paramount importance of fostering and upholding a correct view of political achievements; earnestly and thoroughly raise our ideological awareness; conscientiously and effectively rectify outstanding problems; and rigorously establish sound systems and norms, thereby translating the outcomes of this study and education into concrete, measurable progress in promoting high-quality development.

Source: Qiu Shi Website