Resolute efforts to maintain Party self-discipline essential guarantee for country's rejuvenation: China Daily editorial

As the Communist Party of China commemorated the momentous occasion of its 104th anniversary on Tuesday, it called upon its more than 100 million members to remain vigilant to the challenges the Party faces, particularly those emerging from within.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, on Monday underscored the need for resolute efforts to advance full, rigorous Party self-governance to forge good conduct. Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing.

That the Party has advanced full, rigorous self-governance in the new era through forging good conduct and combating graft these years is a strong guarantee for the country's modernization under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core.

Looking to the future, as Xi emphasized, advancing Chinese modernization is a formidable task, and the Party faces an exceptionally complex governance environment, making it all the more necessary to maintain a heightened sense of self-reform.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has upheld strict rules and strong constraints, focused on rectifying undesirable work styles — unnecessary formalities, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance — through education campaigns and a series of rectification actions.

Party discipline education has been thoroughly implemented, greatly raising awareness of rules and discipline among all Party members. Efforts to combat corruption have been intensified to eradicate the breeding ground and conditions for corruption. Concrete actions have also been taken to address misconduct and corruption at the grassroots level, resolving many of the most pressing issues that cause grave public concerns. These efforts have clearly improved the overall effectiveness of Party governance and gathered tremendous positive energy for the country's development.

But the anti-corruption situation remains grave and complex. The backlog of corruption has not yet been eradicated, and new cases continue to arise. The task of eliminating the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption remains arduous.

To understand the importance of the fight against corruption, the Party must have a historical perspective and strategic vision, and focus on its mission and tasks. It should remain steadfast in combating corruption. Any hesitation, laxity or abandonment will lead to catastrophic mistakes.

The CPC, as the ruling party of a country with a very large population, not only boasts huge advantages in accomplishing major tasks and creating great achievements, but also faces great challenges in governing the Party and the country.

So the Party should unswervingly continue its self-reform. In particular, as Xi said, the exercise of power must be well-regulated and resolute efforts must be made to address violations of the law and Party discipline. Party discipline must be turned from strict requirements into concrete actions, allowing ironclad rules to show their "iron teeth", thus sending a clear signal to the entire Party of unwavering strictness and zero tolerance, creating a strong deterrent effect.

As Xi urged, all leading officials at all levels must shoulder the responsibility for Party self-governance, and Party organizations at all levels should face problems head-on, ensure that rectifications are thoroughly carried out, resolutely curb various unhealthy tendencies, and improve mechanisms to maintain sound Party conduct on a long-term basis.

The rising uncertainties and risks associated with China's internal and external development environment are acute reminders that the whole Party must remain sober-minded and determined to continuously advance Party governance in the new era.

All Party members should resolutely oppose privilege-seeking mindsets and practices and develop a firm and correct attitude toward power, performance evaluation and the Party's cause. It is thus necessary to always maintain a tough stance against corruption, focus on and investigate key issues, areas and targets, investigate those who take bribes and also those who offer them, and resolutely eliminate the hidden risks of institutional corruption.

Party building in the new era is undoubtedly a systematic project with the enhancement of the Party's political building as the overarching task.

The systems for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance should include a well-connected and efficient organizational system, an education system that enables Party members to maintain firm ideals and convictions, a supervision system that applies targeted measures and addresses both symptoms and root causes, a scientific, comprehensive and practical institutional system, and a clear and well-defined accountability system, as Xi said in an article published in the Qiushi Journal in February.

Standing at a new starting point, the whole Party should stay alert and be determined to tackle the challenges that a large party like the CPC faces.

These endeavors are conducive to the Party burnishing its image, strengthening its governance capabilities and consolidating its support among the people. They will also help it gain the historical initiative to ensure that it remains true to its nature, conviction and character. And so secure the historical initiative for the Party to unite and lead all the people in the pursuit of modernization.