Educational Activity of "Three Stresses" (Study, Politics, Integrity)

From 1998 to 2000, the Party leadership and leading cadres at the county level and above carried out an education campaign on Party spirit and Party style with “stressing theoretical study, political awareness, and good conduct” as the main content. On November 8, 1995, during a visit to Beijing, Jiang Zemin pointed out, “According to the current situation of the cadres and the problems that exist, in the education of cadres, emphasis should be placed on stressing theoretical study, political awareness, and good conduct. The whole country should do so, and Beijing should take the lead all the more.” In October 1996, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee made the “Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Several Important Issues Concerning the Strengthening the Building of Socialist Spiritual Civilization”, deciding that the leading cadres at or above the county level should focus on carrying out an education campaign on Party spirit and style with stressing theoretical study, political awareness, and good conduct as the main content.

In November 1998, according to the new situation and tasks of the Party and government leadership team and leading cadres above the county level to put forward new and higher requirements, as well as a considerable part of the leading cadres do not meet the requirements of the situation and tasks of the current situation, the CPC Central Committee issued the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee on Carrying Out In-depth Party Spirit and Style Education” among Party and government leading groups and leading cadres at or above the county level with “stressing theoretical study, political awareness, and good conduct” as the main content.

Stressing theoretical study means to set an example in theoretical study, that is, to study Marxism, making great efforts in mastering the scientific system and the spiritual essence of Deng Xiaoping’s theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as in using theory to solve practical problems; Stressing political awareness means to set an example in political awareness, that is, making great efforts in implementing Party’s basic line, basic program and various principles and policies in a comprehensive, correct and active manner as well as in earnestly improving the quality and effectiveness of work; Stressing good conduct means to set an example in good conduct, that is, to uphold the Party spirit, Party principles, impartiality, integrity, consistency in words and deeds, and working hard on supporting the right and dispelling evil. The general requirements of the "Three-Stresses" education were: to promote the Party and government leading groups and cadres at or above the county level to study Deng Xiaoping Theory and the spirit of the 15th CPC National Congress, improve the political quality, strengthen the cultivation of the Party spirit, correct ideological style, and enhance the consciousness of transforming the subjective world while transforming the objective world. Specific requirements of the education campaign were to strive to gain effective results in the following four spheres: (1) Firm belief in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, improve political acumen and political discernment, adhere to the basic line of the Party without wavering, always keep in line with the Party Central Committee. (2) Fully implement the organizational, leadership and working systems that combine democracy and centralization, and strengthen the unity of the Party. (3) Conscientiously practice the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, adhere to the mass line of from the masses to the masses, correctly exercise power, maintain integrity and honesty, and close ties with the people. (4) Vigorously carry forward the good work style of seeking truth from facts, consistency of words and deeds, telling the truth, doing honest things, and being an honest person.

The two-year "Three-Stresses" education campaign involved 700,000 Party and government leaders and cadres. Carrying forward the spirit of the Yan'an Rectification Movement, a top-down, phased approach was adopted, combining criticism and self-criticism within the Party, so that the Party comrades, especially the leading cadres, received a profound education on the Party spirit and style. The main achievements of the "Three-Stresses" education campaign were as follows: generally receiving a profound Marxist education, clearly defined the direction of progress; generally enhanced political awareness, awareness of the overall situation, awareness of responsibility, improved the consciousness of the adhering to the Party's basic line and basic program and maintaining a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee; received a strict training of inner-Party life; generally strengthened the concept of the Party should supervise itself and confidence in doing a good job in Party building. The far-reaching impact of this "Three-Stresses" education on the cross century development of the Party and the country will be further demonstrated with the development of practice.