Xi Story: Fostering and mentoring young officials

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and the opening ceremony of its 2023 spring semester in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Every year since 2019, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has allocated time in his busy schedule to give lectures to young and middle-aged officials attending study sessions at the Party's highest academy.

"I have come to and addressed the opening ceremony of every term of the study sessions, with the purpose of having heart-to-heart talks with you and express my expectations on you," said Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, facing young and middle-aged officials attending the 2021 autumn session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance).

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting in June 2018, deliberating and discussing opinions on strengthening the fostering and selection of outstanding young officials. Since spring 2019, the central Party school has organized six study sessions for young and middle-aged officials.

The study sessions usually last at least four months and are designed especially for department- and bureau-level officials and some from the county and division level.

Xi has given six lectures at study sessions for young and middle-aged officials, covering themes such as improving capabilities and morality of officials.

After more than two years, Liu Zhen, president of Xiyuan Hospital under the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, still remembers his first lesson at the school.

"During the over-two-hour lecture, Xi presented theoretical knowledge and offered practical guidance by sharing his own experience," Liu recalled.

"Everyone was impressed by Xi's understanding of young cadres and his care for the effectiveness of training," Liu said.

Xi's speeches at the study sessions shed light on different subjects, and pointed out the direction for the growth of young officials. Xi told young officials that they should understand that ideals and beliefs are a lifelong commitment, requiring them to carry forward the fighting spirit and improve their ability to solve practical problems.

The Party School of the CPC Central Committee is the highest institution for training high- and middle-ranking Party officials and Marxist theoreticians. The school's history dates back to the school of Marxism and Communism set up in March 1933.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has given 10 lectures to officials at the provincial and ministerial levels, in addition to the six to young and middle-aged officials at study sessions organized by the central Party school.

Between 2007 and 2012, when Xi concurrently served as president of the central Party school, he attended campus events, held meetings with the academy's committee and listened to reports, and made instructions on the work of the academy for dozens of times.

Notably, Xi addressed 19 new semester opening ceremonies of the central Party school and lectured the first class with a special topic each time. A book has been compiled based on these lectures, which is now essential reading for every student admitted to the school.

The CPC has built a Party school system from the central to the local level, which Xi acknowledges as one of the Party's most important political advantages and the main channel to educate and train the Party's officials.

Xie Chuntao, vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), said that the emphasis Xi puts on the work of Party schools comes from his profound understanding of their functions.

"Xi has made a series of discourses and instructions on the work of Party schools," said Xie. "Following Xi's instructions, the central Party school has strengthened theoretical education, Party consciousness education and ability training for officials."

Addressing a meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the top Party school and the opening ceremony of its 2023 spring semester on Wednesday, Xi stressed Party schools should stay true to their founding mission of fostering talent for and contributing wisdom to the Party.

Xi called on Party schools to play an active role in fostering key officials for governance who are capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation.