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To remain true to our original aspiration and founding mission, leadership organs and leading officials must make the running. Leadership organs are important bodies in state governance and leading officials, small in number but holding key positions in state and Party undertakings, are like weather vanes for the whole Party and society. "The rulers' virtue is like wind, and commoners' virtue like grass, which always bends in the direction of the wind." This means leading by example is far more effective than simply issuing orders or prodding people into action. Leadership organs and leading officials must lead the charge in this education campaign.

"If we fail to lead by example, others will neither trust nor follow us." Leadership organs and leading officials have always been the first to charge forward, which is the key to our Party's success. In the years of revolutionary war, "Charge!" and "Follow me in the charge!" were two orders with a world of difference. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, thanks to a large number of exemplary officials like Jiao Yulu, Gu Wenchang, Yang Shanzhou and Zhang Fuqing, our Party is able to lead the people to make new progress in every field. Leadership organs and leading officials must fully understand the responsibilities with which they have been entrusted, keep sober-minded, and regularly examine and improve themselves.

This year will witness the end of our battle against poverty, success in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the conclusion of the 13th Five-year Plan. We are confronted with increasing external challenges, mounting downward pressure on the economy, and the formidable task of striking a balance between reform, development and stability. The more complicated the situation is, the more it needs leadership organs and leading officials to maintain their resolve and press forward; the more arduous the tasks are, the more it needs them to lead by example, do solid work and shoulder their responsibilities. All leadership organs and leading officials must enhance the Four Consciousnesses, improve the Four-sphere Confidence, and ensure the Two Upholds, leading the people to overcome difficulties on our way forward, and satisfying the Party and the people with good performance.

(Source: Extract from Xi Jinping's speech at the conference reviewing the Aspiration and Mission education campaign, January 8, 2020.)

Four Consciousnesses

The Four Consciousnesses refer to maintaining political commitment, thinking in terms of the general picture, following the core leadership of the CPC Central Committee, and acting in accordance with its requirements.

Four-sphere Confidence

The Four-sphere Confidence refers to confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Two Upholds

The Two Upholds refer to firmly upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and firmly uphold the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized unified leadership.

(The explanations are extracted from the third volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" and Xinhua News Agency)

This episode is presented by Ning Yan.