Author: Chen Shuguang, vice president and professor of Marxism College of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (National School of Administration)
The Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era contains a people-centered value position and adheres to the mass line, which embodies the fundamental purpose of our party to serve the people wholeheartedly and shows the people’s leaders’ firm people position and sincere feelings for the people. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The people’s position is the fundamental political position of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and it is a remarkable sign that Marxist political parties are different from other political parties." The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China’s Resolution on the Great Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Hundred Years’ Struggle, adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, profoundly explained "upholding the people first" as a valuable historical experience of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s hundred years’ struggle. Adhering to the people’s supremacy has laid a solid foundation for the Communist Party of China (CPC), created a century-old glory for the Communist Party of China (CPC), and created a bright future for the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is the root of our party’s invincible position.
People first is the fundamental position of Marxist political parties.
The people’s position is the fundamental position of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era. Adhering to the people’s supremacy is a main thread that runs through the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The whole party must bear in mind why the human problem is the touchstone to test the nature of a political party and a political power. Leading the people to create a better life is our party’s unswerving goal. We must always put the interests of the people in the supreme position, let the fruits of reform and development benefit all the people more fairly, and make continuous progress towards achieving common prosperity for all the people. " The question of why people are related to the fundamental position of a political party and also determines the fundamental nature of a political party.
People first is the fundamental position of Marxist political parties. Any political party has its specific fundamental position and represents the will and interests of a certain class. The proletarian political party is the product of the development of the proletarian movement to a certain stage, and it is the concentrated expression of the will and interests of the proletariat. In the communist party Declaration, Marx and Engels clearly pointed out the fundamental position of proletarian political parties: "All movements in the past were for the minority or for the benefit of the minority. The proletarian movement belongs to the vast majority of people and is an independent movement for the benefit of the vast majority of people. " Therefore, since its birth, Marxist political parties have stood firmly on the side of the whole proletariat, representing the interests of the proletariat and the broad masses of working people, and shouldering the political pursuit and historical mission of seeking interests for the overwhelming majority of people. As a Marxist political party, the Communist Party of China (CPC) was born under the guidance of Marxism. The nature and purpose of the proletarian party determine that the Communist Party of China (CPC) should take the realization of communism as its highest ideal, the people’s position as its fundamental political position, and serve the people wholeheartedly as its fundamental purpose.
The supremacy of the people is a remarkable sign that Marxist political parties are different from other political parties. Whether a political party has the people’s character or not depends on who the party lives for and benefits for. The most essential difference between proletarian political parties and all exploiting class political parties lies in whether they stand on the people’s side and always regard the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as their highest interests. For proletarian political parties, they only serve the proletariat. Apart from the interests of the proletariat and the working people, "there is no interest different from that of the whole proletariat". As the representative of the whole proletariat, all political activities of the proletarian party are for the benefit of the vast majority of people, and the ultimate goal is to lead the proletariat to liberate itself, and then liberate all mankind and realize everyone’s all-round and free development. However, all exploiting class political parties, no matter how self-proclaimed, always represent the interests of some people or minority interest groups. In the game between the interests of political parties and the interests of the whole people, the position of political parties is bound to stand on the position of a few social interest groups or privileged classes. As a representative of minority or interest group, the exploiting class political party will inevitably establish the rule of minority over majority in order to realize, maintain and consolidate the interest requirements and political will of a specific class, and eventually become a tool for the exploiting class to conquer and enslave the working people, thus moving towards the opposite of the broad masses of people.
Adhering to the people first is the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s consistent and fundamental political position. Since its founding, our Party has deeply engraved the people’s interests on its own banner, and established its initial intention and mission of seeking happiness for the people of China and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. Party constitution clearly stipulated that the Communist Party of China (CPC) was the vanguard of the working class in China and the people of Chinese and the Chinese nation, which determined that our party should always put the interests of the people in the highest position. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "communist party is a political party for the benefit of the nation and the people, and it has no self-interest in itself." General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed: "the Communist Party of China (CPC) always represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, shares weal and woe with the people, and has no special interests of its own, and never represents the interests of any interest group, any power group or any privileged class." As a loyal representative of the people’s interests, the Communist Party of China (CPC) insists on serving the people wholeheartedly, and has always been committed to improving people’s livelihood, enhancing people’s well-being and seeking happiness for the people, taking the realization of the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the starting point and the foothold of all the party’s actions; As a staunch defender of the people’s interests, the Communist Party of China (CPC) stood firmly behind the people, and consciously chose to stand on the side of the overwhelming majority in the interest tug-of-war between a few people and the overwhelming majority, in the interest game between capital logic and people’s logic, and consciously stood on the people’s side to think about problems, make decisions and do business; As a powerful executor of people’s interests,The Communist Party of China (CPC) has never forgotten that the people are the real masters of the country, and insists on doing everything for the people and relying on them. By winning the support of the people and giving full play to their intelligence and wisdom, it will unite great forces to promote social progress and change.
Adhering to the people’s supremacy is the root of the party’s invincible position
General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The people are the creators of history and the people are real heroes. The magnificent history of the development of the Chinese nation was written by Chinese citizens! The profound Chinese civilization was created by Chinese people! The timeless spirit of the Chinese nation is cultivated by the people of Chinese! The Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up, getting rich and becoming strong, which was fought by the people of Chinese! " One of the important reasons why the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era has been widely recognized and firmly supported by the broad masses of the people is that he has always adhered to the people-centered fundamental political stance.
Marxist historical materialism holds that the people are the main body of history, the creators of social material wealth and spiritual wealth, and the decisive force of social change, which fully affirms the decisive role of the people in promoting the process of social and historical development. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader emphasized: "The people are the creators of history and the fundamental force that determines the future and destiny of the party and the country." Without the people, history would be impossible. Looking back on the history of the party in the past century, the key to the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s growing from small to large, from weak to strong, and to Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s cause is that our party has always put the people at the top of its mind, insisted on doing everything for the people and relying on them, and United and led the people to overcome difficulties and obstacles in different historical periods of revolution, construction and reform. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The century-old history of our party is a history of practicing the party’s initial mission, and it is a history in which the party and the people are heart-to-heart, breathing together and sharing a common destiny."
During the period of the new democratic revolution, the Communist Party of China (CPC) led the people of China in an arduous struggle at the critical juncture of national life and death and in the face of the tragic fate of oppression and humiliation of the broad masses of people. It is precisely because we always put the interests of the people in the first place, persist in advancing and retreating together with the people, and always believe in and rely on the people that our party can win the support and support of the people and complete the great historical task of national independence and people’s liberation. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Communist Party of China (CPC) bravely shouldered the heavy burden, led the people to complete the socialist revolution and eliminate all exploitation systems with the mission of getting people out of poverty and becoming masters of their own affairs as soon as possible, and achieved the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation, and achieved a great leap forward in the socialist society for a big eastern country with a poor and large population. In the new period of reform, opening up and socialist modernization, in order to get people out of poverty, get rich as soon as possible, and meet the people’s growing material and cultural needs, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has given full play to the people’s pioneering spirit around the liberation and development of social productive forces, stimulated their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity in developing the cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, and greatly enhanced their well-being. Socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era. With the transformation of major social contradictions, the Communist Party of China (CPC) actively responded to people’s demands, led the people of China to overcome difficulties and eliminate absolute poverty, and explored ways to achieve common prosperity for all people. The Communist Party of China (CPC) people with the supreme leader comrades as the main representative put forward "The people-centered development thought emphasizes that we must persist in implementing the party’s mass line in all activities of governing the country, take the people’s longing for a better life as the goal, and rely on the people to create great historical achievements. Under the scientific guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, our party has focused on the vital interests and major concerns of the people, continuously promoted the construction of economic, political, cultural, social and ecological civilization, and devoted itself to sharing the fruits of reform and development with all the people, so as to enhance their sense of acquisition, happiness and security.
History has fully proved that the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s century-long struggle has always run through a distinct people’s stand. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Our Party comes from the people, lives for the people, and prospers because of the people. We must always be close to the people, share joys and sorrows with the people, and unite with the people." The people are the fundamental foundation for the birth and development of the Communist Party of China (CPC). With the support of the people, the party has a magic weapon to defeat all enemies. The people are the fundamental guarantee for the party to overcome all difficulties and obstacles. With the trust of the people, the party has the courage to overcome all difficulties; The people are the fundamental support for the party to be in power for a long time. With the wisdom of the people, the party has the power to govern and rejuvenate the country. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "History has created the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the people’s exploration and struggle, and our party has United and led the people to create a new historical glory of Chinese civilization with a long history." Adhering to the people’s supremacy has made the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s century-old glory, and it is also the root of the party’s invincible position.
Adhering to the people first requires correctly handling the relationship between the party and the people.
To understand and implement Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the new era, we must firmly grasp the fundamental political position of people first. Adhere to the fundamental position of people first, the people-centered value orientation, take enhancing people’s well-being, promoting people’s all-round development and steadily advancing towards common prosperity as the starting point and end result of economic and social development, and profoundly reflect the essence of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Always maintain flesh-and-blood ties with the people, always want to be together with the people, share weal and woe, continue to make unremitting efforts to realize the people’s yearning for a better life, and strive for greater glory for the party and the people." The core of upholding the people’s supremacy is to properly handle the relationship between the party and the people. The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people depend on each other for life and death and share weal and woe, and we will never allow the party and the people to be separated and opposed.
The Communist Party of China (CPC)’s party spirit and people’s nature have always been consistent and unified. Party spirit is the inherent nature of a political party and the highest and most concentrated expression of class nature. Adhering to party spirit means defending the political interests and class interests of political parties. People’s nature means people’s overall interest demand, collective will expression and right demand. Adhering to the people’s nature means defending the fundamental interests of the people and realizing, safeguarding and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "In essence, upholding party spirit means upholding people’s nature, and upholding people’s nature means upholding party spirit, which lies in people’s nature, and there is no party spirit divorced from people’s nature, and there is no people’s nature divorced from party spirit." As a proletarian political party, the nature of Marxist political party determines that the Communist Party of China (CPC) always represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China, and the interests of the party and the people are consistent and unified. For the Communist Party of China (CPC), the party’s position is the people’s position, and the party’s interests are the people’s interests. As General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The party has no special interests except the people’s interests, and all its work is to achieve, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people."
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people live and die together. From the people’s point of view, the people are inseparable from the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). "People" is not the mechanical sum of individual, but a social community organized by social relations. To pursue the fundamental interests of the whole, we must rely on a political party with strong organizational power and leadership, which takes the fundamental interests of the people as its own goal, otherwise it will become fragmented, unable to unite the collective will, and difficult to achieve its own interests. History and practice have fully proved that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a political party that can always represent the interests of the people and gather the strength of the broad masses of the people. Only by adhering to the leadership of the party and following the party wholeheartedly can the broad masses of the people safeguard, realize and develop their own interests. From the Party’s point of view, the Communist Party of China (CPC) cannot do without the support of the people. The relationship between the party and the people is fish and water, blood and meat. The Supreme Leader General Secretary pointed out: "If we forget the people and leave them, we will become passive water and trees without roots, and we will accomplish nothing." For more than 100 years, from the arduous revolutionary era, to the era of socialist construction, to the era of reform and opening up, and to the creation of a brilliant new era in Socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Communist Party of China (CPC) people have been able to forge ahead all the way and create brilliant achievements in Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s cause by relying on the people’s trust and support for the party and by constantly absorbing the wisdom and strength of the people.It is the people who have made the Communist Party of China (CPC). General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The greatest political advantage of the party is to keep close contact with the masses, and the greatest danger after the party is in power is to be divorced from the masses." On the new journey, to ensure that the party’s cause is stable and far-reaching, and the people’s interests are constantly developing and growing, we must always maintain the flesh-and-blood ties between the party and the people.
Handle the relationship between the party and the people well, and put the fundamental position of the supreme leader Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s thought of people first in the new era into the concrete practice of governing the country. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "To succeed in any great cause, we must find the foundation from the people, gather strength from the people, and accomplish it by the people together." The cause of socialist modernization needs people, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is even more inseparable from the people. the Communist Party of China (CPC) upholds the concept of people first, adheres to the Do not forget your initiative mind, and insists on relying on the people in everything. The party leads the people to advance the great cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, respects the people’s dominant position, ensures that the people are masters of their own affairs, and insists on asking the people about politics, needs and plans. Adhere to the mass line, go deep into the masses to conduct extensive investigations and studies, and be good at summing up experience and drawing wisdom from the concrete practice of the masses; Fully respect the people’s initiative, fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the people, give full play to their collective strength, and ensure that the great cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics always advances along the right track. The Communist Party of China (CPC) should always take the people’s yearning for a better life as its goal, focus on solving the practical problems that people are most concerned about, fully meet the all-round and diversified needs of the people in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological aspects, focus on solving the problem of insufficient imbalance in development, promote the common prosperity of all people on the basis of comprehensively improving the level of economic development, and promote the fruits of reform and development to benefit all people more fairly.Promote people’s all-round development while enhancing people’s well-being. On the new historical journey, only when the people of the Communist Party of China (CPC) always adhere to the people first and unite and lead the people of China to strive for a better life, can we gather the majestic strength of more than 1.4 billion people in China and finally win the great victory of Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
