Knowledge and Action Forum | Let Youth Shine Through Striving and Hard Work
● Integrate personal ideals into the great cause of strengthening the military, strive to run well the critical leg of the relay race that belongs to our generation, and let youth shine through striving and hard work.
In his important speech at the rally celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Chairman Xi offered these words to Chinese youth in the new era: "Integrate personal pursuits into the cause of the Party and the country, seize every moment and not squander your prime years, run well the historical relay race on the new journey, pave the road with youth, and let ideals shine!" At present, the effort to achieve the centenary goal of army-building has entered a critical stage of decisive victory and hard fighting, with tight timelines and heavy tasks. Young officers and soldiers of the military must have the courage to take responsibility and the boldness to act, integrate personal ideals into the great cause of strengthening the military, strive to run well the critical leg of the relay race that belongs to our generation, and let youth shine through striving and hard work.
Temper the character of loyalty. Absolute loyalty to the Party is the foremost political quality of a revolutionary soldier and the political soul of a revolutionary soldier. Looking back at history — from the gunshot that opened the Nanchang Uprising, to the red flags unfurling across Jinggang Mountain; from the arduous trek of the Long March of ten thousand li, to the resistance against foreign aggression in the War of Resistance Against Japan; from the north-and-south campaigns of the War of Liberation, to defending the homeland in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea — generation after generation of young officers and soldiers wrote, through sacrifice and dedication, a hymn of absolute loyalty to the Party, and created immortal achievements worthy of the era, worthy of the Party, and worthy of the people. Loyalty to the Party stems from theoretical clarity and firmness of faith. Young officers and soldiers must persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge unity of mind and soul, with emphasis on studying Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, mastering the Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods contained therein, solidly laying the foundation of faith, replenishing the calcium of the spirit, and steadying the helm of thought — ensuring that loyalty to the Party is never adulterated, that following the Party's command admits no discounting, and continuously strengthening the consciousness of dedicating oneself to the Party without reservation. Loyalty to the Party is not a momentary declaration but a lifelong commitment. Young officers and soldiers must internalize listening to the Party and following the Party in their hearts and externalize it in their actions — going wherever the Party directs, doing whatever the Party calls for — and embody loyalty to the Party in concrete actions of sharing the Party's concerns and fulfilling one's duties to the Party.
Strengthen the sense of mission and responsibility. Each generation bears its own historical responsibilities; each generation carries its own mission and responsibility. At present, the great changes unseen in a century are accelerating, our country's security situation faces numerous challenges, and various foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and challenges have increased markedly. Time waits for no one; history waits for no one. Only by tempering strength of will through enduring hardship, forging war-winning capabilities through overcoming difficulties, and strengthening the sense of mission and responsibility by bearing heavy burdens with full awareness can young officers and soldiers shoulder the mission tasks entrusted by the era. They must always keep the enemy situation in mind, always keep their eyes on the adversary, firmly establish the thinking of soldiering for war, training for war, and leading troops for war, focus all thoughts on fighting, and direct all work toward fighting. Adhere to the principle that troops train the way wars are fought and train hard in whatever fighting requires; on the training ground, dare to challenge limits and break through bottlenecks, undergo repeated tempering and repeated forging, and develop "trump card" skills (杀手锏) capable of defeating the enemy with a single blow. Keep a close eye on cutting-edge technologies and disruptive technologies, boldly venture into "no-man's land" (无人区), dare to gnaw on "hard bones" (硬骨头), continuously break through critical "chokepoint" (卡脖子) technologies, and use science and technology empowerment to raise the contribution rate to winning. Thoroughly rectify the chronic ailments of peacetime (和平积弊), develop a strong combat style, and with the fighting spirit of "fearing neither hardship nor death" (一不怕苦、二不怕死) and the blood and courage of "seeking nothing but victory, sparing nothing for victory" (除了胜利一无所求、为了胜利一无所惜), ensure that at any time and under any circumstances, upon a single order, the mission is not dishonored and all tasks assigned by the Party and the people are resolutely completed.
Commit to sustained struggle. Advancing on the journey of military strengthening, the broad ranks of young officers and soldiers need not only lofty aspirations but, even more, diligent and earnest practice. Struggle is not a slogan spoken aloud but the gritting of teeth on the training ground, the pursuit of excellence in tackling tasks, and the quiet perseverance at ordinary posts. "Model of the Era" (时代楷模) Wang Ji, through long-term commitment, cultivated deeply in a "niche track" (冷门赛道): when key algorithms were lacking, he developed them himself; when core tools were absent, he built them himself; using high-level scientific research achievements, he installed one reliable "safety lock" after another on the nation's critical weapons. The spirit of Wang Ji — grounded in his post, feet planted firmly on the ground, quietly plowing forward — is worthy of our emulation. Yet in reality, some comrades aim too high while their hands fall short; they are unwilling to keep their feet on the ground and work hard with their heads down, habitually taking shortcuts, and in the end waste their prime years and accomplish nothing. The cause of military strengthening is fought and forged through hard work. One must firmly believe that "daily progress fears not a journey of ten million li" (日日行不怕千万里), focus on primary responsibilities and principal duties, and stand grounded in the realities of one's post — whether stationed at a sentry post on the snow-covered frontier, or at a position deep in mountains and deserts; whether operating high-precision advanced weapons and equipment, or engaged in day-after-day logistical support — always maintain enthusiasm and pursue excellence, with the dedication of "work in one field, love one field, master one field" (干一行、爱一行、钻一行), refining through repetition and breaking through in perseverance. Be willing to serve as "paving stones" (铺路石) and "tree planters" (栽树人); do more work that has long cycles and slow results but lays foundations and benefits the long term; with the breadth of mind that "success need not be achieved by me" (功成不必在我) and the responsibility that "success will certainly have my part" (功成必定有我), carry on the struggle, strive with full force, and write the youthful answer sheet of serving the country through military service.
Discipline oneself, uphold integrity, and guard against corruption. Young officers and soldiers have grown up in an era of information explosion and pluralistic values — broad in vision and active in thinking, but still limited in experience and relatively lacking in the resolve to resist various temptations and tests. On the road ahead, there are flowers and applause, but also hidden reefs and dangerous shoals. Temptations of fame and gain and the erosion of unhealthy tendencies exist at all times; if the ideological line of defense relaxes even slightly, it becomes very difficult to resist various temptations and tests. Young officers and soldiers must engrave Party discipline and national law upon their hearts and build a solid defensive line against corruption and degeneration deep within. Always maintain a sense of reverence (敬畏之心) — reverence for the organization, reverence for responsibility, reverence for law and discipline — never disturbed by external things, never moved by temptation, ensuring upright conduct through inner clarity. Frequently engage in self-warning and self-reflection. Regularly ask oneself: Are ideals and convictions firm? Is the fulfillment of duties in place? Is adherence to discipline resolute? Is clean and honest self-discipline conscious? Only by daring to self-reflect and being diligent in self-reflection can one promptly brush away the dust of thought and remove the grime of behavior. Pay attention to small matters and minor conduct. "Neglecting small actions will ultimately harm great virtue" (不矜细行，终累大德). If gaps in small matters and minor conduct are not promptly repaired, over time quantitative change will bring about qualitative change, causing the line of defense of clean and honest self-discipline to fall. Young officers and soldiers must always maintain a clear head — not relaxing self-discipline on the grounds that "minor matters are of no consequence," not excusing themselves with "this will be the last time," not indulging themselves on the grounds that "no one will know" — and strive and struggle on the journey of building a strong country and a strong military with the qualities of loyalty, integrity, and responsibility, letting youthful dreams bloom and achieving a brilliant life.