Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: Qiushi | Byline: Qiushi Editorial Department (《求是》杂志编辑部), Qiushi | October 15, 2026

Governance of the Party, rejuvenation of the Party, and strengthening of the Party cannot do without the guidance of thought. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Party has adhered to the principle that the Party must manage itself and enforce strict self-governance. It has addressed the major era topic of what kind of long-term ruling Marxist party we should build and how to build such a party, putting forward a series of new concepts, ideas, and strategies. This has formed the Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, providing fundamental guidance for strengthening the Party's governance in the new era.

管党治党、兴党强党，一刻也离不开思想的引领。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持党要管党、全面从严治党，围绕建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党这个重大时代课题，提出一系列新理念新思想新战略，形成习近平党建思想，为加强新时代党的建设提供了根本遵循。

Comprehensive and strict Party self-governance is an ongoing journey. On January 12, 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, titled "Advancing Full and Strict Party Self-Governance with Higher Standards and More Practical Measures." In this significant article, General Secretary Xi emphasized the need to "persistently advance full and strict Party self-governance," and deeply elaborated on three major issues: more resolute and forceful implementation of the central government's major decision-making and deployments, more scientific and effective containment of power within institutional frameworks, and more clear and determined advancement of anti-corruption efforts. These points are of great guiding significance for further tightening and implementing Party building work, continuously improving and strengthening our Party. It is essential to deeply understand the core tenets and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building by studying this important article, and to implement the central government's decisions and deployments on full and strict Party self-governance with higher standards and more practical measures, constantly opening up new horizons for Party governance and strengthening the Party. The 15th Five-Year Plan period must be approached with a sense of self-revolution, ensuring that we continue to advance in an integrated manner so officials do not dare, are unable, and have no desire to be corrupt.

全面从严治党永远在路上。2026年1月12日，习近平总书记在二十届中央纪委五次全会上发表重要讲话，《以更高标准、更实举措推进全面从严治党》一文是讲话的主要部分。在这篇重要文章中，习近平总书记强调要“持之以恒推进全面从严治党”，并深刻阐述了更加坚决有力地贯彻落实党中央重大决策部署、更加科学有效地把权力关进制度笼子、更加清醒坚定地推进反腐败斗争三个重大问题，这对于进一步抓紧抓实党的建设各项工作，不断把我们党治理好、建设强，具有重要指导意义。要结合学习习近平总书记这篇重要文章，深入领会习近平党建思想的核心要义和实践要求，以更高标准、更实举措落实党中央关于全面从严治党的决策部署，不断开创管党治党、兴党强党新局面。

Fully recognize the significant and far-reaching guiding significance of General Secretary Xi's thoughts on Party building.

充分认识习近平党建思想重大而深远的指导意义

The power of an idea often requires the refinement through practice and the test of history to increasingly reveal its truth radiance.

一种思想的力量，往往要经过实践的淬炼、历史的检验，才能愈发展现其真理光芒。

During the period before the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), significant achievements were made in the new great project of Party building. At the same time, a series of long-standing and newly emerged prominent contradictions and problems urgently needed to be addressed. At that time, many within the Party and society were deeply concerned about the future of the Party and the country. In response to this situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared to the Chinese and foreign journalists during the meeting with the members of the 18th Central Political Bureau Standing Committee: "We must adhere to the principle that the Party must manage itself and enforce strict self-governance, and effectively address the prominent issues within the Party."

党的十八大之前的一个时期，党的建设新的伟大工程取得显著成效，同时一系列长期积累及新出现的突出矛盾和问题亟待解决，当时党内和社会上不少人对党和国家前途忧心忡忡。面对这样的形势，习近平总书记在十八届中央政治局常委同中外记者见面时掷地有声地宣示：“坚持党要管党、从严治党，切实解决自身存在的突出问题”。

Words must be followed by actions. Since then, starting from the Central Political Bureau and strict enforcement among leading officials, the screws of governing the Party and administering the country have been tightened. Party conduct and government conduct, as well as social climate, have continued to improve. Once, "hundreds of documents couldn't control a mouth," with public-funded eating and drinking and extravagance persistently recurring; now, the spirit of the Central Eight Provisions has taken root, with "waste on the tongue," "crooked winds in clubs," and "corruption on wheels" effectively curbed, and the "four winds" issues in the vicinity of the people have become fewer. Once upon a time, some places had a corrupt political environment, with instances of buying and selling official positions, and vote-buying elections causing various hidden rules to dishearten officials and worry the people; now, the climate of selecting and appointing personnel has significantly improved, the political ecology has become increasingly clear, and more officials are focusing their efforts on getting things done, earning the trust of the people through hard work. Once upon a time, some grassroots party organizations were weak and disorganized, making it difficult for the public to find the right people or channels to handle matters, with policies benefiting the people getting stuck at the "last mile." Now, the role of grassroots party organizations is better realized, with someone to handle matters for the people and help them in times of need. The party's banner flies high at the frontlines. Once, some places and departments experienced systemic and collapse-style corruption, leading many to doubt whether anti-corruption efforts could be sustained. Today, with coordinated efforts against high-ranking officials ("tigers"), mid-level officials ("flies"), and fugitives ("foxes"), the integrated push to ensure no one dares, cannot, and does not want to engage in corruption yields increasingly evident results. The confidence and satisfaction of the people in the party's efforts to build integrity and combat corruption continue to rise.

言出必行，说到做到。自那时起，从中央政治局做起、从领导干部严起，管党治党的螺丝越拧越紧，党风政风和社会风气持续向好。曾经，“几百个文件管不住一张嘴”，公款吃喝、铺张浪费屡禁不止；如今，中央八项规定精神深入人心，“舌尖上的浪费”、“会所中的歪风”、“车轮上的腐败”得到有力遏制，群众身边的“四风”问题少了。曾经，一些地方政治生态污浊，买官卖官、拉票贿选时有发生，形形色色的潜规则让干部寒心、群众揪心；如今，选人用人风气明显好转，政治生态日渐清朗，越来越多的干部把心思用在干事上，凭实干赢得群众信任。曾经，一些基层党组织软弱涣散，群众办事找不到门、找不到人，惠民政策卡在“最后一公里”；如今，基层党组织作用得到更好发挥，群众办事有人管、困难有人帮，党的旗帜在基层一线高高飘扬。曾经，有的地方和部门发生系统性塌方式腐败，不少人对反腐败能否深入持久心存疑虑；如今，“打虎”、“拍蝇”、“猎狐”多管齐下，不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐一体推进的成效日益显现，人民群众对党风廉政建设和反腐败工作的信心和满意度持续提升。

In the 14 years since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), though but a moment in the long course of history, significant and transformative changes have occurred under the revolutionary forging of the Party. What was the driving force behind these changes? Fundamentally, it was the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. As a key component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building provides powerful tools and action guidelines to address major theoretical and practical issues in Party building in the new era, guiding and ensuring the governance of the country.

党的十八大以来的这14年，在历史长河中不过一瞬；对中国共产党来说，这14年间却在革命性锻造中发生了有目共睹的深刻变化。靠的是什么？根本就在于以习近平同志为核心的党中央领航掌舵，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。作为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的党建篇，习近平党建思想为破解新时代党的建设重大理论和实践问题，以“中国共产党之治”引领保障“中国之治”，提供了有力武器和行动指南。

Practice is the source of living water for theory. The historic and pioneering achievements of the new era's full and strict Party self-governance are largely due to our Party's reliance on the vast and sweeping practice of Party management and governance. We have summarized, thought about, and elevated our understanding while continuously guiding new practices. Starting with the formulation and implementation of the Central Eight Provisions to break the deadlock, we clarified the overall requirements for Party building in the new era; placing the political construction of the Party at the top of the agenda in the overall construction of the Party, while insisting on combining ideological building and institutional governance; establishing an organizational system that is vertically integrated and effectively executed, and forging a high-quality and capable cadre team that is loyal, clean, and assumes responsibility; persistently rectifying conduct and discipline, and combating corruption with a zero-tolerance attitude... A series of major measures have been successively implemented and gradually deepened, effectively driving the transformation of Party management and governance from lenient, soft, and weak to strict, rigorous, and firm. This has achieved a qualitative leap from practical exploration to theoretical elevation. In essence, Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building has emerged in response to the questions of the times, formed through the mutual promotion and progress between practice and cognition, deeply reflecting the Party's and the country's profound concerns for their own and the nation's future and destiny, and systematically summarizing and elevating the practical experiences of full and strict Party self-governance in the new era.

实践是理论的源头活水。新时代全面从严治党之所以能够取得历史性、开创性成就，很重要的一点就在于我们党立足波澜壮阔的管党治党实践，边总结、边思考、边升华，及时把成功经验和有效做法上升为规律性认识，又反过来指导新的实践。从制定和落实中央八项规定开局破题，到明确新时代党的建设总要求；从把党的政治建设摆在党的建设统领位置，到坚持思想建党和制度治党同向发力；从健全上下贯通、执行有力的组织体系，到锻造忠诚干净担当的高素质干部队伍；从持之以恒正风肃纪，到以零容忍态度反腐惩恶……一系列重大举措接续发力、逐步深化，有力推动管党治党从宽松软走向严紧硬，实现了从实践探索到理论升华的质的飞跃。可以说，习近平党建思想是在回应时代之问、在实践与认识的互促共进中形成的，饱含着百年大党对自身和国家前途命运的深沉忧思，是对新时代全面从严治党实践经验的系统总结和理论升华。

Each principle has its century of emergence. From the historical perspective of the development of Marxist political party building, and from the contemporary global context of political party systems, we can gain a deeper understanding of the epochal value and significant importance of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. Marxist classical writers, based on specific historical conditions, were unable to systematically address the question of how a proletarian party can achieve long-term governance after seizing power. The responsibility for answering this major issue fell historically on the shoulders of Chinese Communist Party members. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is grounded in the new historical position of the party's governance in the new era, integrating Marxist basic principles with China's specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. This thought system constructs a complete theoretical framework for party building under conditions of long-term governance. This thought both upholds the most fundamental and core content of Marxist party-building theory and summarizes and inherits the achievements and theoretical outcomes of our party building. In the process of studying new situations and solving new problems, it adheres to innovation while maintaining the essence, constantly renewing itself, and enriches and develops Marxist party-building theory with a series of original and timely ideas. The power of truth transcends national boundaries. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building looks to the development of the world's political party systems, deeply analyzing the rise and fall of political parties worldwide, and profoundly summarizing and drawing lessons from the experiences and lessons of Marxist political parties. These thoughts provide valuable references for the construction of Marxist political parties globally. Many international figures evaluate that Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building not only guides the "world's largest party" toward becoming the "world's strongest party," but also break through some people's illusions about the Western political system and theories, contributing Chinese wisdom to the development and progress of world political civilization.