On November 18, Counsellors’ Office of the State Council (COSC) held a briefing on the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress. Gao Yu, Secretary of Party Group and Chairman of the COSC, briefed about the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress to all Party members and officials of the COSC and China Central Institute for Culture and History (CCICH). Zhao Bing, member of Party Group, Vice Chairman of the COSC presided over the meeting.

At the meeting, Gao delivered a speech, interpreting the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress in the following aspects: the theme and major achievements of the Congress, the work in the past five years and the great changes in the first decade of the new era, adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, Chinese path to modernization, the goals and tasks of building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, upholding the overall Party leadership and exercising full and strict governance over the Party, and tackling risks and challenges, etc.

Gao pointed out that at the 20th CPC National Congress an array of major achievements were made politically, theoretically and practically, major guiding policies and strategic plans were drawn up for the cause of the Party and the country on the new journey in the new era, which were of key importance to the continuation of the Party and state and the future of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and were of great significance for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Gao called on all Party members to acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; to bear in mind the country’s most fundamental interests; to strengthen consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; to stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and to uphold the core position of the General Secretary on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and uphold the Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. All Party members should steadfastly forge ahead in the direction guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and always be aware of staying in close unison in both thoughts and deeds with the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core.

Gao Yu, Secretary of Party Group and Chairman of the COSC, was giving a report

Gao stressed that Party organizations at all levels and all Party members and cadres must further elevate their political stance, have a deep understanding of the significance of studying, publicizing and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, make it the foremost political task at present and for a period to come, and ensure that a higher political stance should be taken, higher standards set and actions taken more consciously. All Party members must firmly grasp the major significance of the work of the past five years and the great transformation of the first ten years of the New Era, the world view and methodology of the Thought of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, the mission and task of promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people through the Chinese path to modernization, the important demand of leading a great social revolution through a great self-revolution, and unity and struggle as the requirements of the times. While following the strategic instructions on completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, comprehensively expanding in-depth reform, and comprehensively promoting law-based governance, all Party members should study the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress exactly as it is, in combination with practice in a comprehensive way, so as to gain a deep and thorough understanding. All Party organizations must also strengthen leadership, see responsibilities are fulfilled, set high standards and strict requirements, substantially promote the studying, publicity and implementation of the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress with a high sense of political responsibility and a strong sense of mission, and ensure that solid headway will be made.

Gao required that we must combine study, reflection and application, and align our knowledge, conviction and action with the implementation of the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, conscientiously lay out plans to promote the work of the COSC and CCICH. Counsellors, researchers and research fellows should be organized to carry out in-depth investigation and research, make proposals actively, and give high-quality advice by focusing on the key tasks determined at the 20th CPC National Congress and on the major decisions and instructions of the CPC Central Committee. Researchers should be mobilized to give full play to their expertise, carry out research in culture and history and artistic creation, to tap valuable resources in China’s fine traditional culture, and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s excellent traditional culture. All Party members should thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, adopt pragmatic approaches, make solid efforts enthusiastically, strive to break new ground in the development of the COSC and CCICH on the new journey, and steadfastly implement the decisions and instructions of the CPC Central Committee with high morale.