This article, written by Our Commentator, is about further discussion on strengthening and improving the ideological-political work. Following are excerpts of this commentary.

Conscientiously studying the characteristics and law governing the ideological-political work under the new situation, actively opening up new ways, exploring new methods and creating new experiences-These are an important content of the Party Central Committee's decision to strengthen and improve the ideological-political work. It is of important significance in further enhancing the purposefulness and effectiveness of the ideological-political work, maintaining its vitality and vigor and providing spiritual impetus and ideological guarantee for reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive in a more effective way.

The reason why we emphasize innovation is that profound changes are taking place in our times. The relationship of interests is being readjusted, the life style is changing, and the trend of the diversification of the organizational form of society, and the method of work post and employment is becoming increasingly clear. The mutual agitation of various domestic and foreign thoughts and cultures inevitably produce profound changes in people's ideology and conception. At the same time, as the reform has entered the stage of tackling major and difficult problems, development is in a crucial period, the deep-seated problems accumulated over a long time in economic and social life have gradually revealed themselves, contradictions among the people present a fairly complicated situation, we will still encounter difficulties and risks of one kind or another in our way forward. Under the new circumstance, our ideological-political work cannot repeat old methods and modes in an oversimplified way, there must be new breakthroughs and new explorations.

In opening up new ways and exploring new methods, we must correctly handle the relationship between inheritance and innovation. Over the long-term revolution and construction practice, particularly since the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), our Party has accumulated rich experiences, formed correct policies and principles and created a series of practical and effective methods for strengthening and improving the ideological-political work. All this is our valuable wealth which must never be discarded. But we should notice that, compared to the development of our times and the needs of our cause, and to the intricate and complex changes in our real life under the new circumstance, there exist many aspects of inadaptability in our ideological-political work. For example, the coverage of ideological-political work is not widely in place, the purposefulness of this work is not strong, concepts and methods are lagging, as well as the weakness and feebleness and the fear of difficulty resulted therefrom. This requires that on the basis of inheriting and carrying forward the fine tradition, we should emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, be determined to make progress and make innovation and improvement in the content, form and method of our ideological-political work.

In opening up new ways and exploring new methods, we must intensify our awareness of practice and the masses, fully respect the pioneering spirit of the people, be good at discovery, and concentrate and spread the practical and effective methods. In the past few years, the various regions and departments have accumulated new experiences in strengthening and improving the ideological-political work, for example: extensively launching mass activities to promote cultural and ethical progress, actively organizing mass cultural and sporting activities, residing the ideological-political work in their efforts to do more practical work and in mass activities, and enlighten the masses to strive for self-education and self-improvement. Various regions and departments should firmly establish the concepts of practice and the masses, go deep into reality and the grass-roots level, conduct thorough investigation and study and, from the practices of reform and construction and from the vivid and rich social life, strive to broaden their train of thought, seek ways and means and make constant summary and perfection.

In innovating our ideological-political work, we must adapt ourselves to the situation, closely follow the heels of the times, conscientiously study the favorable and unfavorable factors brought on the ideological-political work by the development of the socialist market economy, study the intellectual demands and concept of value of the people of different strata and study new mechanisms, new channels and new methods for the ideological-political work, so as to promote the socialization and institutionalization of the ideological-political work. We must energetically guide the cultural market and cultural consumption, and help the broad masses of the people to establish a scientific, civilized and healthy life style. We must give full play to the important role of the mass media in ideological and political education, adhere to the principles of unity, stability and stimulation of efforts, and conduct mainly positive publicity campaign, so that the ideological-political work can more effectively cover the whole society. We should intensify the restraint functions of law, policy and management, be good at infiltrating correct thinking and concept and moral sentiment into the laws and regulations and the management systems of various trades and professions.

Intensifying scientific and technological consciousness and accelerating the updating of the carrier and means of the ideological-political work are of important significance to strengthening and improving the ideological-political work.

Under the new situation, the ideological-political work is faced with both opportunities for development and grim challenges. We must fully understand the importance and urgency in strengthening and improving the ideological-political work, reinforce our confidence, inspire our enthusiasm, seize opportunities, meet challenges and constantly open up new situations in the ideological-political work.