BEIJING — President Xi Jinping asked senior officials to consistently uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the “great new project of Party building.”

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the opening of a workshop attended by newly-elected members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, as well as provincial and ministerial-level officials, on Jan 5.

The workshop is focused on the study and implementation of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Xi said that CPC Central Committee members and provincial and ministerial-level officials are “crucial” to the sound governance of the Party and the country.

He called on the officials to raise their political awareness, adopt a historical perspective, reinforce theoretical thinking, think in big-picture terms and improve their knowledge and intellectual attainments, so as to think and understand major theoretical and practical issues with broader perspectives.

“Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era must be upheld consistently as it is both the achievement and continuation of the people’s great social revolutions led by the CPC,” Xi said. “Both history and reality have proved that a long historical process is needed for a social revolution to be declared a final victory.”

“We can grasp the essence of many problems only by looking back the path we have taken, comparing it with others’ path and looking to the road ahead—understanding where we came from and where are going,” he said.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics does not drop from the sky, but comes out of 40 years of reform and opening up and the practice of exploration since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China nearly 70 years ago, Xi said.

It is also the result of the 97-year practice of the people’s great social revolutions under the CPC leadership, the 170-plus-year historical process during which the Chinese nation has become prosperous from decline, and the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization in the past 5,000-plus years, he added.

“It is extremely difficult to achieve this outcome,” the President said. The success of scientific socialism in China is of great importance for Marxism, scientific socialism and socialism across the world. It is most fundamental for the CPC to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics so as to realize its historic mission in the new era, Xi said.

“To remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, we should not forget that we are communists and revolutionaries and should not lose revolutionary spirit,” Xi said.

“The success yesterday does not mean that we can be always successful, and the glory of the past does not mean that the future can always be glorious,” Xi said, adding that CPC members are like exam-takers and their results will be reviewed by the people.

All members of the Party should keep the revolutionary spirit and be brave to ensure the 97-year social revolutions achieve prosperity and enduring peace and stability, Xi said.

“The Party must not take pride in victory nor retreat from difficulty,” Xi said, urging efforts for a more powerful of truth to be heard from socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party should have the courage to carry out self-reform and become stronger in order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, he said. “To have the courage to carry out self-reform and conduct strict self-governance is the most distinctive part of our Party’s character.”

The great new project of Party building plays a decisive role in realizing the country’s great cause and dream, he added.

The CPC should promote social revolutions led by the Party by self-reform, and build the Party into a vibrant Marxist governing party that is always at the forefront of the times, enjoys the wholehearted support of the people, has the courage to reform itself, and is able to withstand all tests, Xi said.

He urged the Party to consolidate basis, innovate, grasp the key points and judge from the overall situation to push forward the great new project of Party building in the new era.

It is not easy to stay ready to protect against potential dangers in time of peace, to maintain the hard-working and motivated spirit in time of success, or to keep modest and frugal and remain true to the original aspiration after one coming into power, Xi said.

Neither is it effortless to exercise strict discipline to officials and prevent and fight corruption at ordinary time or to follow the tide of the times and respond to the wishes of the people at the junctures of significant changes.

“To remain at the vanguard of the times, the backbone of the nation, and a Marxist governing party, our Party must always hold itself to the highest standards,” he said.

Xi said the senior officials, also known as the “key few,” are crucial to Party governance. He told them to have firm convictions and take the lead to embrace deep belief in and faithfully practice communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He required the officials to take a clear political stand in ideology and to uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, implement the Party’s political line and strictly observe the Party’s political discipline and rules in practice.

He asked them to enhance their sense of responsibility, strengthen their caliber and abilities, and improve their work style and conduct, urging them to serve the people wholeheartedly.

Action against the practice of formality for formality’s sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance must be carried out persistently, he said.

Xi said officials should strengthen ethics and pursue healthy interests to keep up with the high standards of clean governance and self-discipline.

He stressed that the more achievements China makes, the more prudent and prepared officials should become to avoid making strategic and subversive mistakes.

Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said when presiding over the workshop’s opening ceremony that Xi’s remarks expounded the consistency in sticking to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, in “the great new project of Party building”, and in increasing sense of precaution and prevention against risks and challenges.

“The words are significant in guiding us to thoroughly understand and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and understand and grasp ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’,” Li said.

Other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng also attended the workshop.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening of a workshop attended by newly-elected members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, as well as provincial and ministerial-level officials, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan 5, 2018. The workshop is focused on the study and implementation of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress. [Photo/Xinhua]