Doctrine Political Work

Deeply Study and Implement Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building | Persist in Using the Party's Innovative Theories to Forge Unity of Mind and Temper the Soul (凝心铸魂)

深入学习贯彻习近平党建思想丨坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂

PLA Daily (解放军报) 27 July 2026

Summary

The National Defense University's Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought published a doctrinal essay calling on PLA officers and soldiers to deepen 'political identification, ideological identification, theoretical identification, and emotional identification' with Xi Jinping Thought, framing theoretical arming as the prerequisite for absolute loyalty, combat readiness, and the 'Two Safeguards' (两个维护). The essay explicitly links classroom indoctrination to combat effectiveness, arguing that theoretical study must extend to training grounds and exercise fields rather than remain at the level of 'general declarations.' This is standard political work content from NDU; its value is as a record of how the institution frames the relationship between ideological conformity and warfighting capacity for the officer corps, not as evidence of a new policy line.

Translation

Persist in Using the Party's Innovative Theories to Forge Unity of Mind and Temper the Soul (凝心铸魂)

■ Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, National Defense University

Editor's Note

Emphasizing ideological Party-building and theory-based Party strengthening is a distinctive hallmark and glorious tradition of our Party. "Persisting in using the Party's innovative theories to forge unity of mind and temper the soul" — as one of the substantive elements of the "Fourteen Persists" (十四个坚持) within Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building — is both the core task of the Party's ideological construction and an important pathway for building a Marxist learning-oriented party. For the People's Army, studying and implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building requires firmly grasping this fundamental requirement, threading it throughout every process and aspect of the Party's construction within the military, and educating and guiding the broad ranks of officers and soldiers to, through study, reflection, practice, and comprehension, solidify their ideals and convictions, forge ironclad political loyalty, and strengthen their sense of mission and responsibility — so as to genuinely transform the results of theoretical arming into the immense force and concrete action of heeding the Party's command, training for war and preparing for combat, and fulfilling duties and responsibilities.

When theory is strong, direction becomes clear, hearts are united, and confidence is firm. Persisting in being guided by scientific theory and armed with scientific theory is the fundamental guarantee for a Marxist party to forever preserve its advanced nature and purity. To achieve unity of thought, will, and action across the entire Party, the most fundamental approach is to arm the entire Party with the Party's innovative theories. On the new journey, we must educate and guide the broad ranks of officers and soldiers to persist in using the Party's innovative theories to forge unity of mind and temper the soul, continuously forge the political character of absolute loyalty, consolidate the ideological foundation of unswerving commitment to strengthening the military, and genuinely transform the appeal of truth into the great practical force of a strong military that wins wars — providing solid support for the centenary effort to build the military and advancing toward a world-class military.

The advanced nature of a Marxist party is first and foremost manifested in the advanced nature of its ideology and theory. Faced with a complex and severe domestic and international situation and the arduous and heavy tasks of reform, development, and stability, persisting in using the Party's innovative theories to forge unity of mind and temper the soul — transforming them into a powerful weapon for reforming thought and guiding practice — is both a continuation of our Party's fine traditions for the new era and an inevitable requirement for ensuring that the great cause of building a strong nation and a strong military continues to achieve new victories.

An intrinsic requirement for a Marxist party to forever preserve its advanced nature and purity. Chairman Xi has pointed out: "Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for founding our Party and our nation. If we deviate from or abandon Marxism, our Party will lose its soul and lose its direction." As a Marxist party armed with scientific theory, our Party attaches great importance to the guiding role of scientific theory in Party building and in the development of the Party's cause. On the new journey, faced with complex and severe risks and challenges and a diverse and active ideological and cultural environment, only by persisting unremittingly in using the Party's innovative theories to transform the subjective world, sweeping away the dust of thought with the powerful force of truth, eliminating with a thorough spirit of self-revolution (自我革命精神) the harmful elements that erode the Party's healthy body, and carrying forward the advanced qualities of a Marxist party — only then can we ensure that the Party never changes its nature, never changes its color, never changes its flavor, and always maintains its powerful creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness.

A practical need for advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation. A nation that seeks to stand at the forefront of the times cannot go a single moment without correct ideological guidance. At present, our country is in a critical period for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The speed of change in the situation and environment, the weight of the tasks of reform, development, and stability, the number of contradictions, risks, and challenges, and the magnitude of the tests our Party faces in governing the country are all unprecedented. The more critical the moment, the more we are in a phase of tackling hard problems, the more we must rely on correct ideological guidance and scientific theoretical leadership to ensure that the cause of the Party and the state always advances in the correct direction. Only by persisting in using the Party's innovative theories to forge unity of mind and temper the soul — unifying thought, will, and action — can we effectively resolve difficult problems, guard against risks, and meet challenges, continuously open up new horizons for the development of our cause, and gather the immense force of the whole nation working as one to advance the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation.

The fundamental guarantee for ensuring the People's Army forges an indestructible military soul (铸牢军魂) and fulfills its mission. "Without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement." Over nearly a hundred years, the reason the People's Army has been able to grow from nothing, from small to large, from weak to strong, is precisely because of the correct guidance of scientific theory. At present, our military is at a historical juncture in the strategic transition of the new "three-step" approach to national defense and military modernization. The mission tasks borne by the troops are arduous and heavy, and new and higher demands have been placed on the political quality, comprehensive capabilities, and conduct and image of officers and soldiers. Only by unwaveringly persisting in arming officers and soldiers with the Party's innovative theories can we forge the political character of absolute loyalty, solidify political convictions as firm as bedrock, and ensure that when the Party and the people need us, we can be called up, move into action, and win — resolutely completing the mission tasks of the new era entrusted by the Party and the people.

Clarity and firmness in theory is the fundamental prerequisite for ensuring correct political stance, ideological direction, and conscious action. In the new era, persisting in using the Party's innovative theories to forge unity of mind and temper the soul requires, as a key task, guiding the broad ranks of officers and soldiers to achieve an organic unity of political identification, ideological identification, theoretical identification, and emotional identification — on the basis of a profound grasp of the historical inevitability, scientific truth, and powerful practical force of those theories.

Deepening political identification (政治认同). Political identification is the most fundamental form of identification; it concerns direction and the path. Deepening political identification means genuinely and wholeheartedly supporting and upholding the Party's leadership, resolutely safeguarding the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, and always maintaining a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core in terms of political stance, political direction, political principles, and the political path. For revolutionary soldiers of the new era, this means firmly upholding the "Two Establishments" (两个确立), resolutely achieving the "Two Safeguards" (两个维护), implementing the system of Chairman of the Central Military Commission responsibility, and maintaining the political consciousness of steadfastly heeding the Party's command, safeguarding the core, and aligning with and following the core — always listening to the Party and following the Party, forever preserving the political character of a revolutionary soldier.

Deepening ideological identification (思想认同). Ideological identification is the result of theoretical arming and also the precursor to political practice. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in the new great practice of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and has demonstrated powerful truth-force and unique ideological appeal in guiding and advancing practice. Deepening ideological identification means profoundly comprehending the great significance of the times, the lofty pursuit of values, and the profound spiritual core contained within this thought. Officers and soldiers must be educated and guided to deeply experience the appeal of truth and the great practical force demonstrated by the Party's innovative theories — drawing from the original ideas, transformative practices, breakthrough progress, and landmark achievements that have guided the development of the new era — and to unify thought and elevate their horizons through returning to the source and strengthening the foundation (正本清源、固本培元).

Deepening theoretical identification (理论认同). The deeper theory is studied, the further understanding advances. The foundation of theoretical identification lies in a thorough academic understanding, a logically profound grasp, and sufficient practical verification of scientific theory. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a rigorously logical and systematically scientific theoretical system. The most direct and effective method for deepening theoretical identification is to carefully and deeply read the original texts and writings. Officers and soldiers must be persistently educated and guided to study the originals as written, to study in a timely and ongoing manner, to study in connection with reality, and to study with integrated comprehension — using the Party's innovative theories as a "telescope," "microscope," and "fluoroscope" — so as to continuously strengthen their practical capacity to analyze complex situations, resolve real-world difficulties, grasp the laws of development, and advance the cause of military strengthening, through the integration of study, thought, and application, and the unity of knowledge, conviction, and action.

Deepening emotional identification (情感认同). Theory can only produce visible results when it enters the mind and the heart. For the broad ranks of officers and soldiers, the cultivation of emotional identification is deeply rooted in personal practical experience, a profound sense of the achievements of development, and a strong resonance of genuine feeling. Officers and soldiers must be inspired by the major achievements of the Party and state cause since the new era and by the great practice of strengthening and revitalizing the military; they must be moved by vivid role models who have taken root at the grassroots level and rendered meritorious service; and they must be rallied by the organization's meticulous care and warmth — so that theoretical arming carries greater emotional warmth, ideological depth, and practical force.

III

Practice is inexhaustible, theoretical innovation is inexhaustible, and theoretical arming likewise has no end. Studying the Party's innovative theories cannot remain at the level of general declarations and the transmission of concepts; it must closely align with the actual ideological conditions of officers and soldiers, the actual conditions of unit building, and the actual conditions of preparing for and fighting wars — genuinely transforming the results of theoretical arming into a powerful driving force for clearing away ideological confusion, consolidating the will to strengthen the military, and improving the quality and effectiveness of training and war preparation.

Resolving the question of "what one joins the Party to do," and forging political loyalty. Party membership is first and foremost a political identity. Joining the Party is not about gaining an honor or a credential; it is about choosing a faith and assuming a responsibility. For military Party member cadres, loyalty to the Party and heeding the Party's command is the foremost political requirement. The important function of theoretical arming is to clarify academically "why loyalty is required," to recognize historically "where loyalty comes from," and to specify through practice "where loyalty is manifested." Through in-depth study of the Party's innovative theories, military Party member cadres must be guided to understand the original aspiration and mission from the Party's nature and purpose, to grasp the root and lineage of the military soul from the history of the Party's leadership in the development and growth of the People's Army, and to clarify their responsibilities and duties from the practice of military strengthening in the new era.

Resolving the question of "what one enlists to do," and shouldering mission and responsibility. Soldiers are born for war; the military is first and foremost a fighting force. If theoretical arming remains only at the level of classroom indoctrination and note-taking, it will be difficult to genuinely transform it into the hard combat power of a strong military that wins wars. The Party's innovative theories must be used to arm the minds of officers and soldiers, to clearly recognize the intrinsic logic that connects one's post to one's combat position, one's duties to one's mission, and one's personal growth to the cause of military strengthening — continuously strengthening the sense of urgency (忧患意识), eliminating complacency, sweeping away the accumulated ills of peacetime, and keeping the string of fighting taut. Theoretical study must be persistently extended to the front lines of training and war preparation and focused on combat effectiveness building; the classroom of theoretical arming must be expanded to the training ground, the exercise field, and the forefront of missions — guiding officers and soldiers to clarify direction through deep theoretical study, temper their capabilities through genuine training and realistic exercises, and forge their fighting spirit (血性) through major tests.

Resolving the question of "what one leads as a commander to do," and emphasizing exemplary leadership. Leading cadres, as the "critical minority" (关键少数), have theoretical arming results that directly bear on the quality and effectiveness of military-strengthening practice. The Party's innovative theories must be used to arm the minds of leading cadres, guiding them to study deeply and comprehend carefully, to truly believe and faithfully act — to profoundly understand that the power in their hands comes from the Party and the people, and that the responsibility on their shoulders concerns the generation of combat effectiveness in their units — continuously strengthening their political commitment of wholehearted allegiance to the Party, their mission commitment of daring to fight and being certain of victory, and their responsibility commitment of leading and cultivating soldiers. The depth of theoretical arming must be transformed into clear thinking on planning for and focusing on war, a solid work style of building for war, strict standards for rectifying conduct and enforcing discipline, and effective measures for leading and cultivating soldiers. The disconnect between study and application, and the inconsistency between knowledge and action, must be resolutely eliminated. The results of theoretical study must genuinely be reflected in breaking through the bottleneck problems constraining the improvement of combat effectiveness, and in comprehensively raising the level of unit building and the capacity for war preparation and fighting.

(Authors: Xu Di, Ma Benxiang)

Original Chinese

坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂 ■国防大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心编者按注重思想建党、理论强党，是我们党的鲜明特色和光荣传统。“坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂”，作为习近平党建思想“十四个坚持”的内涵要义之一，既是党的思想建设的核心任务，也是建设马克思主义学习型政党的重要途径。对于人民军队而言，学习贯彻习近平党建思想，必须牢牢把握这一根本要求，将其贯穿于军队党的建设全过程各方面，教育引领广大官兵在学思践悟中坚定理想信念、铸牢政治忠诚、强化使命担当，切实把理论武装成效转化为听党指挥、练兵备战、履职尽责的磅礴力量与实际行动。理论强，才能方向明、人心齐、底气足。坚持以科学理论引领、用科学理论武装，是马克思主义政党永葆先进性和纯洁性的根本保证。实现全党思想、意志、行动的统一，最根本的就是用党的创新理论武装全党。新征程上，我们必须教育引导广大官兵坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，不断铸牢绝对忠诚的政治品格，夯实矢志强军的思想根基，切实把真理魅力转化为强军胜战的实践伟力，为攻坚建军百年、奋进强军一流提供坚实支撑。一马克思主义政党的先进性，首先体现为思想理论上的先进性。面对复杂严峻的国内外形势和艰巨繁重的改革发展稳定任务，坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，将其转化为改造思想、指导实践的有力武器，既是我们党优良传统的时代延续，更是确保强国强军伟大事业不断取得新胜利的必然要求。马克思主义政党永葆先进性和纯洁性的内在要求。习主席指出：“马克思主义是我们立党立国的根本指导思想。背离或放弃马克思主义，我们党就会失去灵魂、迷失方向。”作为用科学理论武装起来的马克思主义政党，我们党高度重视科学理论对党的建设和党的事业发展的引领作用。新征程上，面对纷繁复杂的风险挑战和多元活跃的思想文化环境，唯有坚持不懈用党的创新理论改造主观世界，以真理的强大力量涤荡思想灰尘，以彻底的自我革命精神清除侵蚀党的健康肌体的有害因素，将马克思主义政党的先进特质发扬光大，方能确保党永远不变质、不变色、不变味，始终保持强大的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力。推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的现实需要。一个民族要走在时代前列，就一刻不能没有正确思想指引。当前，我国正处于实现中华民族伟大复兴关键时期，形势环境变化之快、改革发展稳定任务之重、矛盾风险挑战之多、对我们党治国理政考验之大，前所未有。越是关键之时，越是攻坚阶段，越要以正确思想指导、以科学理论引领，确保党和国家事业始终沿着正确方向前进。只有坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，统一思想、统一意志、统一行动，才能有效解难题、防风险、迎挑战，不断开辟事业发展新天地，凝聚起万众一心推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的磅礴力量。确保人民军队铸牢军魂、履行使命的根本保证。“没有革命的理论，就不会有革命的运动。”近百年来，人民军队之所以能够从无到有、从小到大、从弱到强，正是因为有科学理论的正确指引。当前，我军正处在国防和军队现代化新“三步走”战略转进的历史关口，部队肩负的使命任务艰巨繁重，对官兵政治素养、综合能力和作风形象提出了新的更高要求。唯有毫不动摇坚持用党的创新理论武装官兵，才能锻造绝对忠诚的政治品格、强固坚如磐石的政治信仰，确保在党和人民需要时拉得出、上得去、打得赢，坚决完成党和人民赋予的新时代使命任务。二理论上的清醒与坚定，是确保政治立场、思想方向、行动自觉的根本前提。新时代坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，关键在于引导广大官兵在深刻把握其历史必然性、科学真理性、强大实践力的基础上，实现政治认同、思想认同、理论认同、情感认同的有机统一。增进政治认同。政治认同是最根本的认同，关乎方向和道路。增进政治认同，就是要发自真心支持拥护党的领导，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，始终在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。对于新时代革命军人而言，就是要做到坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，坚定听党指挥、维护核心、看齐追随的政治自觉，做到永远听党话、跟党走，永葆革命军人政治本色。增进思想认同。思想认同是理论武装的结果，也是政治实践的先导。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想植根于坚持和发展中国特色社会主义新的伟大实践，在指导实践、推动实践中展现出强大真理力量和独特思想魅力。增进思想认同，就是要深刻领悟这一思想中蕴含的重大时代意义、崇高价值追求和深邃精神内核。要教育引导官兵从引领新时代发展的原创性思想、变革性实践、突破性进展、标志性成果中，深切体悟党的创新理论所展现的真理魅力和实践伟力，在正本清源、固本培元中统一思想、提升境界。增进理论认同。理论学深一层，认识就更进一步。理论认同的根基，在于对科学理论的学理透彻理解、逻辑深刻把握和实践充分检验。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是一个逻辑严谨、系统科学的理论体系，增进理论认同最直接、最有效的办法，就是认真、深入地阅读原著原文。坚持不懈教育引导官兵原原本本学、及时跟进学、联系实际学、融会贯通学，以党的创新理论为“望远镜”“显微镜”“透视镜”，在学思用贯通、知信行统一中，不断增强分析复杂形势、破解现实难题、把握发展规律、推动强军事业的实际能力。增进情感认同。理论只有入脑入心，才能见行见效。对广大官兵而言，情感认同的培育，深深植根于切身的实践体悟、发展成就的深刻感知和真挚情感的强烈共鸣。要用新时代以来党和国家事业取得的重大成就、强军兴军的伟大实践激励官兵，用扎根基层、建功立业的鲜活榜样感召官兵，用组织无微不至的关怀与温暖凝聚官兵，使理论武装更具情感温度、思想深度和实践力度。三实践无止境，理论创新无止境，理论武装也没有止境。学习党的创新理论，不能停留于一般表态和概念传达，而要紧贴官兵思想实际、部队建设实际、备战打仗实际，切实把理论武装的成效变成廓清思想迷雾、凝聚强军意志、提升练兵备战质效的强大动力。解决好“入党干什么”的问题，铸牢政治忠诚。党员身份首先是政治身份，入党不是获得一种荣誉、一种资历，而是选择一种信仰、承担一份责任。对军队党员干部来说，忠诚于党、听党指挥，是第一位的政治要求。理论武装的重要作用，就是要在学理上弄清“为什么忠诚”、在历史中认清“忠诚从哪里来”、在实践中明确“忠诚体现在哪里”。要通过深入学习党的创新理论，引导军队党员干部从党的性质宗旨中理解初心使命，从党领导人民军队发展壮大的历史中把握军魂根脉，从新时代强军实践中明确责任担当。解决好“当兵干什么”的问题，担起使命责任。军人生来为战，军队首先是战斗队。理论武装如果只停留在课堂灌输、笔记摘抄，就难以真正转化为强军胜战的硬实力。必须用党的创新理论武装官兵头脑，深刻认清岗位连着战位、职责连着使命、个人成长连着强军事业的内在逻辑，不断强化忧患意识、摒除懈怠心理、扫清和平积弊、绷紧打仗之弦。要坚持将理论学习向练兵备战一线延伸、向战斗力建设聚焦，把理论武装的课堂拓展到训练场、演兵场、任务最前沿，引导官兵在深学理论中明晰方向、在真训实练中淬炼本领、在重大考验中砥砺血性。解决好“为将干什么”的问题，注重示范引领。领导干部作为“关键少数”，其理论武装成效直接关系强军实践质效。必须用党的创新理论武装领导干部头脑，引导其深学细悟、真信笃行，深刻领悟手中权力来自党和人民，肩上责任关乎部队战斗力生成，不断强固铁心向党的政治担当、敢打必胜的使命担当、带兵育人的责任担当。要将理论武装的深度转化为谋战务战的清晰思路、抓建为战的扎实作风、正风肃纪的严格标准、带兵育人的有效举措。坚决杜绝学用脱节、知行不一，切实把理论学习成效体现到破解制约战斗力提升的瓶颈问题上，体现到全面提高部队建设水平和备战打仗能力上。（执笔人：许迪、马本祥）