Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 19th, Title: Persistence in not forgetting the original intention and keeping in mind the mission—In-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thoughts Series 4 Commentary
Xinhua News Agency reporters Shi Yucen, Wang Peng, Wang Mingyu
On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping replied to Zhang Liansheng, a 102-year-old party member of Xinhua News Agency, emphasizing that "Communists in the new era must inherit the red gene, not forget their original aspirations, keep their mission in mind, perform their duties with due diligence, work hard, and write excellent answers on the new journey."
"Persisting in not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind" is an important content of Xi Jinping's Party Building Thought.
The original intention and mission of the Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. To thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping’s thoughts on party building, we must firmly grasp and persist in not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind, so that the original intention and mission can be firmly cast in the hearts of the majority of party members and cadres, and take root in the depths of their thoughts, and strive to write the chapter of the times on the new journey with eternal perseverance and unchanging pursuit.
“No matter how far we go, we can never forget the way we came.”
In the capital Beijing, the History Exhibition Hall of the Communist Party of China is magnificent.
Stepping into the exhibition hall, the gate of time slowly opened - the "Don't forget the original intention, keep the mission in mind" history exhibition of the Communist Party of China vividly reproduces the struggle of the Communist Party of China for the happiness of the people and the rejuvenation of the nation over the past 100 years.
In June 2021, on the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized when he visited here: "The one hundred years of our party is the one hundred years of being determined to fulfill its original mission, the one hundred years of laying the foundation and establishing the cause, and the one hundred years of creating glory and opening up the future."
The party's original intention and mission are a concentrated expression of the party's nature, purpose, ideals, beliefs, and goals of struggle. They inspire our party to persevere forever and forge our party to move forward with determination.
This is the historical wisdom learned from the magnificent century-old journey.
At a time when the country is in crisis and the nation is in peril, revolutionary pioneers step forward and are determined to open up a bright road for the suffering Chinese nation. For more than a hundred years, all the struggles, all sacrifices, and all creations that our party has united and led the Chinese people in can be summed up in one theme: realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
From Li Dazhao's grand vision of "newly creating the life of the nation and restoring its youth" to Fang Zhimin's solemn oath of "I long for the light; I begin to fight for the light"; from Jiao Yulu's deep feelings of "having all the people in his heart, except himself" to Kong Fansen's true confession that "the highest state of love for a Communist Party member is to love the people"...
The turbulent red chapter is filled with the sincerity and struggle of the Communists to stay true to their original aspirations and fulfill their mission. Relying on those sincere and indomitable struggles without regrets, our party has grown and grown again and again in extreme difficulties, and has risen resolutely in the face of adversity.
This is the innate and distinctive character of a Marxist party.
"The original intention of the Communists not only comes from the simple feelings for the people and the persistent pursuit of truth, but is also based on the scientific theory of Marxism."
More than 170 years ago, Marx and Engels used "two majorities" to point out the value orientation and fundamental nature of the proletarian party in seeking benefits for the people -
"All movements in the past were movements for a minority or for the benefit of a minority. The movement of the proletariat was an independent movement for the majority of the people and for the benefit of the majority of the people."
As a loyal believer in Marxism, the Communist Party of China clearly stated in its first program "recognition of the dictatorship of the proletariat" and clearly defined socialism and communism as its goals.
As a staunch practitioner of Marxism, the Communist Party of China has been able to get rid of the class limitations of all previous political forces in pursuing its own special interests since its birth, "sit upright on the side of the common people", and consciously shoulder the historical task of "seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation" on its shoulders.
This is a firm declaration of unswerving determination on the new journey.
At the beginning of 2020, the theme education of “Remain true to your original intention and keep your mission in mind” that lasted for more than seven months ushered in the acceptance moment.
"If our party wants to always gain the support and support of the people and write the eternal great cause of the Chinese nation, it must always keep in mind its original intention and mission," General Secretary Xi Jinping warned the entire party.
The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China included "never forget the original intention and keep the mission in mind" as the theme of the conference. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed to establish a system of not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put "never forget the original intention and keep the mission in mind" at the top of the "three musts"...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has continuously explored effective paths and institutional arrangements to consolidate its original mission, declaring that our party has never forgotten why it was founded, why it prospered, and why it is advancing.
As we move forward, we must not forget the path we have traveled. In the new era, Chinese Communists take the original intention as the rudder and the mission as the sail, and embark on an expedition of glory and dreams.
“This original intention and mission are the fundamental driving force that inspires Chinese Communists to keep moving forward.”
Xiongan, a modern new city stretches majestically on the Hebei Plain.
In March 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping came here. Facing the representatives of cadres and workers from the units settled in and under construction in Xiongan New Area, he sighed with emotion: "You are the first batch of pioneers. You obey the needs of the party and take action as soon as the order is given, and you have contributed to the coordinated development of Xiongan and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei."
In nine years, the Chinese Communists in the new era started writing with the spirit of a "millennium plan" and built the city on a "blank piece of paper." They not only strived to "be a trendsetter in national rejuvenation, reform and innovation," but also demonstrated their original intention of "building a new city so that the people can live a better life."
From Shikumen to Tiananmen, from Xingye Road to Fuxing Road... time and space change, but the original intention is still the same; as the years go by, the mission becomes stronger.
The original intention and mission anchor the consistent direction of progress.
In Linzhi, Tibet, the world-shaking hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River is advanced with high quality.
General Secretary Xi Jinping personally planned and promoted this "project of the century". The Communists were not afraid of hardships and dangers, bravely climbed to the top, and created miracles on the snow-covered plateau.
The problem of absolute poverty has been historically solved, China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national strength have leapt to a new level. Chinese-style modernization has taken a new solid step, and the new journey to the second centenary goal has achieved a good start... The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has promoted historic achievements and changes in the cause of the party and the country, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process!
The original intention and mission indicate the goal of struggle through hardships and hardships.
"The people's yearning for a better life is our goal." In November 2012, when General Secretary Xi Jinping took office, he began to write the "answer sheet" for the new era with some sincere and simple words.
From the goal of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society in which "no one is missing" to taking solid steps to promote common prosperity for all people; from further comprehensively deepening reforms where "the people call for reforms and responding to reforms", to building the rule of law that "strives to make the people feel fairness and justice in every legal system, every law enforcement decision, and every judicial case"... In the new era, we have consistently adhered to the people-centered value orientation.
The original intention and mission reveal the confidence to create great achievements.
March 12, 2026, Great Hall of the People. The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress voted to adopt a resolution on the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.
More than 50 symposiums were held to listen to the suggestions of private enterprises, experts and scholars, frontline workers, and departments in various regions, and we conducted online consultations with the society, and fully listened to the opinions and suggestions of key groups such as flexible employment personnel, youth, migrant workers, and disabled people, as well as enterprises...
This five-year plan, which is basically a link between the past and the future in the process of realizing socialist modernization, fully absorbed social expectations, expert opinions, and grassroots experience during the preparation process, so that "golden ideas from the masses" can be transformed into "golden keys to development."
Our party is born for the people and prospers because of the people. The party has its foundation, blood and strength in the people.
The people's "little cart" launched the miracle of victory in the Huaihai Campaign, the people's "little shovel" set off the magnificent construction boom of New China, the people's "big contract" opened the historical curtain of rural reform, and the people's "great unity" built a solid line of defense against all kinds of risks and challenges...
Looking back on the past, our party has relied closely on the people, surmounted one obstacle after another, and achieved victory after victory; looking to the future, our party continues to leverage the creative power of hundreds of millions of people and stride forward on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.
"On the new journey, we will be more determined and conscious of our original intention and mission, and create a better future."
"This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The party's cause requires generations of people to continue to fight."
On the occasion of the International Children's Day in 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote back to the red scarf commentators of the Young Pioneers of the National Memorial Hall of the Communist Party of China and the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall, encouraging them to "run the historical relay race well on the new journey."
In October 2017, shortly after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping led the new members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to pay homage to the site of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Red Boat on South Lake in Jiaxing. He issued a great call to the whole party to "never forget the original intention, keep the mission in mind, and always strive" at the place where dreams set sail.
Across time and space, the original intention and mission are passed down from generation to generation.
"Remaining true to our original aspiration and keeping our mission firmly in mind is not a matter of a while, but a matter of a lifetime." Standing at the intersection of history and the future, Chinese Communists in the new era keep their original aspirations, shoulder their mission, and move forward bravely.
On the new journey, we must deepen self-revolution and refine our original aspiration and mission——
On the eve of the New Year in 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a New Year’s message, profoundly stating that “we must forge ahead with our original aspiration and mission, persevere and work hard for a long time, and continue to answer the ‘cave dwelling question’ in Yan’an.”
At present, as the national rejuvenation reaches a critical stage, the danger of violating the original intention and mission and shaking the foundation of the party is lurking. The "four major tests" and "four dangers" facing the party have existed for a long time. We cannot lose our revolutionary spirit and fighting spirit amidst the cheers and praises. We must make it a lifelong task for all party members and cadres to not forget the original intention and keep the mission in mind.
Not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind, we must always maintain the awareness to face up to problems and the courage to turn the blade inward, constantly enhance the party's ability to self-purify, self-perfect, self-renovate, and self-improvement, ensure that the party does not degenerate, change color, or taste stale, and lead the giant ship of China to move steadily on the right course.
On the new journey, it is even more important to stand firm on the people’s side and maintain our original aspiration and mission——
"The times are the test takers, we are the test takers, and the people are the test takers." General Secretary Xi Jinping used this vivid and profound metaphor to define the value orientation of the Chinese Communists who put the people first and benefit the people.
Government thrives when it complies with the people's will, and fails when it goes against the people's will. Whether party members and cadres have changed their original aspirations and whether they remember their mission firmly must be evaluated by the masses and tested by practice.
Not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind, we must follow the party's mass line in the new era, always maintain flesh-and-blood ties with the people, always breathe, share fate, and heart-to-heart with the people, take realizing, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the starting point and foothold, know the people's sentiments, resolve the people's worries, relieve the people's grievances, and warm the people's hearts, win the trust of the people with practical results, and build the deepest mass foundation for the party's long-term governance.
On the new journey, we must strengthen our practical responsibilities and fulfill our original mission——
Achieve political achievements for the people and achieve political achievements through hard work. At present, learning and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political performance are carried out throughout the party.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" has begun with a pragmatic and enterprising attitude. "The issue of the concept of political performance is a fundamental issue, related to building the party for the public and governing for the people."
Stepping into a new journey, the new stage of development, the importance of missions and tasks, and the complexity of the external environment have put forward higher requirements for fulfilling the original aspiration and mission.
The majority of party members and cadres must firmly establish and practice a correct view of political performance, insist on building the party for the public, benefiting the people, making scientific decisions, and working hard, strive to create achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, and write new answers to fulfill the original mission with new achievements.
Only by not forgetting the original intention can we make steady and long-term progress, and only by keeping our mission in mind can we open up the future.
On the new journey of comprehensively promoting the construction of a powerful country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization, the Communists of the new era will keep their original mission in mind, strengthen their confidence, and work hard. They will surely lead the people to create new historical achievements and create new and greater glory.
