Consciousness of the Need to Maintain Political Integrity, Think in Big-Picture Terms, Follow the Leadership Core, and Keep in Alignment

Consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, upholding the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership is an important concept put forward at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on January 29, 2016. It is referred to as "four consciousnesses". Consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity mainly refers to political thoughts, political views, attitudes towards and evaluations of political phenomena. All Party members must follow correct political stance, always adhere to their faith in Marxism, their faith in socialism and communism with Chinese characteristics, and maintain their absolute loyalty to the Party and the people. Consciousness of the need to think in big-picture terms is mainly to consciously view and think from the overall situation of the Party and country, resolutely carry through the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and ensure smooth implementation of decrees of the CPC Central Committee. Consciousness of the need to follow the leadership core is to uphold the leadership of the Party, resolutely follow the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and firmly safeguard the prestige of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core. Consciousness of the need to keep in alignment is to consciously align with the CPC Central Committee, align with the Party's theories, lines, principles and policies, and align with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee on reform, development and stability, internal affairs, diplomacy, national defense, and governance of the Party and country, so that the cause of the Party and country advances in the right direction. Keeping in alignment is a major event concerning the political direction, and is a Party spirit requirement rather than a general character requirement.

The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee emphasized that the Party’s leadership is the greatest advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The key to strengthening the Party’s leadership is to uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee. We must strengthen the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment, and consciously maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core in thought, politics, and action, so that the Party can be more unified and stronger and always be the firm leadership core guiding the cause of Chinese socialism. The “four consciousnesses” are the basic requirements for all Party cadres under the new circumstancesin the new era.