Guide to Xi Jinping's Be a Good County Party Secretary Like Jiao Yulu

The book “Being a County Party Secretary Like Jiao Yulu” by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been published. This book includes six major speeches by Xi Jinping since the 18th CPC National Congress, focusing on county governance and how to be a good county Party secretary. These speeches are: “Be a County Party Secretary Like Jiao Yulu,” “Speech during the Inspection of Poverty Alleviation Work in Fuping County, Hebei Province,” “Speech during a Discussion with Principal Officials from Heze City and Its Counties and Districts,” “Speech at the Enlarged Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Lankao County Party Committee in Henan Province,” “Speech during a Report on the Campaign to Heighten Awareness of and Implement the Party's Mass Line in Lankao County and the Rest of Henan Province,” and “Speech When Meeting Outstanding County Party Secretaries from Across the Country.” These speeches are profound, rich in content, and deeply thoughtful. They provide significant guidance for promoting economic and social development in counties, county governance, the leading body at the county level, the development of Party organizations, strengthening and improving Party leadership in counties, and cultivating a high-quality contingent of officials, especially the team of county Party secretaries, to implement the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy.

Fully Understanding the Great Significance of County Governance and the Building of the Contingent of County Party Secretaries

Xi Jinping places great importance on county governance and the development of the contingent of county Party secretaries. Despite his busy schedule, he has had discussions with trainees from seminars for county Party secretaries, met with outstanding county Party secretaries nationwide, conducted in-depth inspections and research in counties, and delivered multiple major speeches. He pointed out that within our Party's organizational structure and the state governance structure, the county level is a crucial link that connects the higher and lower levels. It is a vital foundation for economic development, ensuring people's livelihoods, maintaining stability, and promoting long-term peace and stability in the country. It is also a basic training ground for officials to undertake work and succeed. He vividly summarized the greatest characteristic of county governance as being both “connected to the higher levels” and “connected to the grassroots.” That is, county officials must implement the Party's policies and the work plans of the central and provincial/municipal authorities. Moreover, they must lead towns, townships, and communities in promoting development and serve the people's lives. He emphasized that if the work at the county level is well done, it provides a solid foundation for the overall work of the Party and the country.

Governing a county well hinges on establishing a strong county Party committee, and the position of the county Party secretary is particularly important. From the perspective of the Party's governance of the country, Xi Jinping has profoundly expounded on the role of county Party committees and secretaries. He pointed out that county Party committees are the “frontline command” of governance for our Party, and the secretaries are the “commanders-in-chief.” This role is a crucial backbone in the Party's governance at the county level. Though not a high-ranking post, county Party secretaries are special in our system of governance. A county represents a basic, complete society—it may be small, but it has everything needed. As the saying goes, “Above, there are a thousand threads; below, there is one needle.” Whatever central institutions exist, counties typically have corresponding departments. The work at the county level encompasses politics, economy, culture, and all aspects of the people's lives, from their clothing, food, shelter, and transportation to their birth, aging, illness, and death. Being a county Party secretary carries significant responsibilities and pressures, and it is a role that is both highly honorable and very meaningful, yet also very challenging and a true test of one's abilities.

Xi Jinping's deep and insightful understanding of the functions, operations, and role of the county level and county Party secretaries is closely tied to his personal experiences. One truly understands only through practice. He once served as the Party secretary of Zhengding County and, in the book, frequently recounts his experiences from that time. He talks about conducting field research, planning and executing work, and engaging in grassroots work with farmers, speaking in a detailed and heartfelt manner. He is acutely aware of the importance of the county level. He stated that for over two thousand years since the Spring and Autumn Period, the county has been the basic unit of China's national structure, existing stably to this day. Throughout history, great importance has been placed on the selection and appointment of county-level officials, with historical figures like Tao Yuanming, Di Renjie, Bao Zheng, Wang Anshi, Hai Rui, and Zheng Banqiao having served as county magistrates. “Prime ministers arise from prefectures, and great generals emerge from the ranks.” He encourages county Party secretaries to start solidly at the county level and grow their capabilities.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Central Committee has, from the perspective of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, proposed and formed the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy. Implementing this strategy relies crucially on the grassroots level. Xi Jinping emphasized, “With their responsibilities growing and becoming more diversified, county governments now play an important role in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, in driving reform to a deeper level, in implementing the rule of law, and in strengthening Party self-governance.” New starting points, new situations, and new tasks have set forth new, higher requirements for how to govern counties well and how to be a good county Party secretary.

From the Perspective of Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects:

The comprehensive promotion of economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement all rely on the grassroots level for implementation. The measurement for moderate prosperity lies in the rural areas. Xi Jinping emphasized that the most arduous and heavy tasks in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects are in rural areas, especially impoverished regions. Now, with only five or six years remaining to achieve the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the performance of county-level governments and county Party secretaries, who directly face the rural and particularly the impoverished frontlines, will directly impact the achievement of this goal. Party committees and governments at all levels must care for and support the rural people in developing production and improving their lives, becoming the backbone and leaders that guide them out of poverty and towards prosperity.

From the Perspective of Deepening Reform in All Respects:

The overall plan and reform measures proposed at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee need to be implemented at the grassroots level through county-level governments and Party secretaries, reaching the very ends of the administrative network. Xi Jinping has set clear requirements for how county-level governments should implement comprehensive reform, emphasizing that county governance is a crucial link in modernizing China's system and capacity for governance. For comprehensive reform, county-level entities must understand their roles, act without waiting or hesitating, be willing to tackle tough challenges, and dare to venture into uncharted territories. They should maintain a problem-oriented approach, take proactive actions, think creatively, and actively promote reform.

From the Perspective of Comprehensive Law-Based Governance:

The foundation of comprehensive law-based governance lies at the grassroots level. Xi Jinping emphasized that the focus of fully promoting comprehensive law-based governance should be placed at the grassroots, leveraging the grassroots Party organizations as strongholds in this endeavor. It is crucial to educate and guide grassroots Party members and officials to enhance their legal awareness and improve their ability to handle matters in accordance with the law, ensuring that the tasks and measures proposed at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee are implemented at the grassroots level. He specifically stated that county Party secretaries should be role models in studying, abiding by, and applying the laws, and should be adept at planning for local governance with the rule of law. You must always remember that the red line of the law is not to be crossed, and the principles of the law are not to be violated. In decision-making and planning, you must make sure that measures are feasible, that they do not contravene the law, that they are supported by the law, and that they follow statutory procedures. We must think about the consequences of violating the law, so as to conscientiously promote and safeguard the rule of law.

From the Perspective of Ensuring Full and Strict Self-Governance of the Party:

County authorities have a more direct connection with the people, and their poor conduct will directly harm the interests and feelings of the people. The people judge our Party by judging the county leadership, particularly the Party secretary. Bad conduct by a Party secretary will tarnish the Party's image in the eyes of the locals. Xi Jinping reminds officials to strictly discipline themselves and maintain a good image and credibility among the people. He references the Tacitus Trap, indicating that if we lose the correct mass viewpoint, fail to stay firmly on the side of the people, and deviate from the mass line, the people will no longer respect or trust our authorities. When that day comes, it will endanger the Party's foundation and position of governance.

“When the counties are governed, the country is at peace.” “If the foundation is not solid, the building trembles.” These two statements emphasized by Xi Jinping highlight the strategic importance of county governance in the overall development of our endeavors. He pointed out, there are more than 2,800 counties, cities, districts, and banners in China. If the Party committees, governments, and officials in each place can adhere to the Party's purpose, closely connect with the people, and lead the people in implementing the Party and state's policies well, we can remain stable regardless of any storms that come our way.

We are engaged in a great struggle with many new historical characteristics, striving to achieve the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation. The vast majority of tasks related to reform, development, and stability are at the grassroots level. The main responsibility for implementing the Party and state's policies lies at the grassroots level, and the frontline for dealing with risks and challenges is also at the grassroots level. We must deeply understand the guiding principles from Xi Jinping's speeches and fully recognize the significant importance of county governance and the development of a contingent of county Party secretaries.

Learning from and Promoting the Jiao Yulu Spirit, and Consciously Practicing the Four Principles and the Four Musts for County Party Secretaries

How can one be a good county Party secretary? This is a question Xi Jinping has thoroughly explained. He clearly pointed out that Jiao Yulu, through his actions, has set a glorious example for Party members and county Party secretaries. If you are a county Party secretary, be one like Jiao Yulu.

Xi Jinping has a special affection for Jiao Yulu. He emotionally stated that his generation grew up deeply influenced by Jiao Yulu's deeds. For decades, these deeds have remained in his mind, and Jiao Yulu's image has stayed in his heart. Learning from the virtuous and aspiring to be like them, he always uses Jiao Yulu as a model to measure himself against. Whenever he steps onto the land of Lankao, he feels very emotional. Seeing the paulownia trees that Jiao Yulu planted back then evokes strong feelings of remembrance and reflection.

To learn and promote the Jiao Yulu Spirit, we must first clarify what exactly we are learning and promoting. Xi Jinping once summarized the Jiao Yulu Spirit as follows: “Stay close to and love the people; work hard; seek truth from facts; face difficulties head-on; and selflessly dedicate.” In his “Speech at the Enlarged Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Lankao County Party Committee in Henan Province,” he further emphasized, from the perspective of implementing the Party's mass line, that Jiao Yulu's touching deeds and lofty spirit have several key points particularly worth learning and promoting. First is the sentiment of being a public servant who “has the entire people in his heart, but never himself.” Second is the pragmatic attitude of always seeking the truth, embodied in the saying “eating food chewed by others has no taste.” Third is the fighting spirit of “daring to change the sun and moon for a new sky” and “revolutionaries must be heroes in the face of difficulties.” Fourth is the moral character of being hard-working, plain-living, and always maintaining integrity and public-mindedness, “never seeking special treatment at any time.” He also stressed that to learn and promote the Jiao Yulu Spirit, we must clarify how to learn and promote it, achieving the six principles: “study deeply, reflect carefully, and act earnestly.”

Being a county Party secretary like Jiao Yulu is a high standard. Standards determine quality. How can this be achieved today? Xi Jinping proposed the Four Principles and the Four Musts for County Party Secretaries as the basic guidelines for being a county Party secretary like Jiao Yulu in the New Era.

The Four Principles for County Party Secretaries are: be loyal to the Party, be of service to the people, be aware of responsibilities, and be strict with discipline. These are outlined in “Be a County Party Secretary Like Jiao Yulu.”

Always be loyal to the Party

Loyalty to the Party is a crucial standard for a county Party secretary. To evaluate how well a county Party secretary is performing, this is the primary criterion. A county Party secretary must remember that they are the county Party secretary of the CPC, that the Party has assigned them this role, and they must always remember they are a member of the Party, never forgetting their duties and responsibilities to the Party. Xi Jinping emphasized that being loyal to the Party is concrete, not abstract. It involves resolutely responding to the Central Committee's initiatives, implementing its decisions, and preventing what its prohibits; and never circumventing policies from the top, never disobeying orders or ignoring prohibitions, and never never engaging in perfunctory enforcement of the Central Committee's decisions and plans.

Always be of service to the people

County Party secretaries are leaders directly facing the grassroots people and must be concerned with the people and work for their benefit. In this position, one must have the passion and ambition to work and achieve, but it is crucial to establish a correct view of political achievements. Work should always be carried out with the people's interests in mind, and one must never undertake wasteful showcase projects to prop up their own image. Conducting thorough investigations and research should be a basic skill: engaging with the grassroots, the people, and real situations to understand circumstances and seek advice from the people. Xi Jinping particularly pointed out that being of service to the people requires maintaining good conduct. County Party secretaries should set an example in Party and government conduct, striving to be diligent, pragmatic, and people-oriented, and consciously resisting and correcting the Four Malfeasances of meaningless formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance.

Always be aware of responsibilities

Officials must have a sense of responsibility. The extent of one's responsibility determines the scale of their achievements, and the amount of responsibility taken determines the extent of their success. Responsibility means doing one's job with dedication and diligence. Once a work plan is decided, it must be pursued diligently from start to finish, firmly preventing superficial and temporary efforts. One should have the mindset of “contributing their share to their cause without claiming credit for its success” and see a good blueprint through to the end. No matter what we do, we must have this kind of patience and endurance in order to reap long-term benefits. Xi Jinping severely criticized the erroneous behavior of official nonfeasance and the negative view that “being an official is not easy.” He emphasized that county Party secretaries must always be aware of and take on their responsibilities, having the courage to face difficulties head-on, and truly becoming the vanguard that leads the people in overcoming risks and challenges.

Always be strict with discipline

Xi Jinping solemnly reminded county Party secretaries to always be aware that their power is granted by the Party and the people. It is exercised to serve the Party and the people, and must be used in the public interest, to help the Party to govern, to work for the nation, and to benefit the people. We must properly use the power of office in accordance with the law, in a fair manner, and for clean governance. Use power to fulfill your statutory duties, and never abuse power beyond the scope of your responsibility. We must act conscientiously as if we were treading on thin ice, and standing on the edge of an abyss. There must be a barrier to limit us in what we say and do, and we must properly handle the relationships between public and private interests, personal favors and the law, and interests and the law.

Xi emphasized that clean governance and self-discipline are the principles for Communists in official positions. Once in office, we must always discipline yourselves, resist the temptations of power, money and sex, and be upright, clean and honest in governance. The county Party secretary, a public figure with power in the county, should uphold morality and integrity, constantly inspecting all aspects of their lives, and playing a role in fostering a healthy and positive social atmosphere in the county.

The Four Musts for County Party Secretaries are: maintaining political awareness, trailblazing development, being friends with the people, and leading the leading body. This was proposed in the speech “Meeting with Outstanding County Party Secretaries from Across the Country.”

“Maintaining political awareness” means being absolutely loyal to the Party, consistently keeping in alignment with the Party Central Committee in terms of thinking, political integrity, and actions, consciously adhering to the Party's discipline and rules, and always remaining clear-headed and steadfast in position. “Trailblazing development” means adapting to and leading the new normal of economic development, grasping and following the fresh progress of deepening reform, and responding to the new expectations of the people. “Being friends with the people” means always caring for, loving, and serving the people, and being the first to worry about county affairs and the last to enjoy. “Leading the leading body” means consistently taking the lead in all matters, setting an example in every respect, and truly demonstrating leadership through actions.

Xi Jinping also put forward specific requirements for county Party secretaries to improve their conduct and play a demonstrative role, considering the actual characteristics of counties. He said: “Having been a county Party secretary, I understand the specific characteristics of county-level work. Pay attention to these issues. First, correctly understand and handle interpersonal relationships, ensuring both warmth and adherence to principles. Second, determine to reduce social engagements and maintain a healthy working and living style. Third, be genuine and practical in both conduct and work and never allow for falsities, exaggeration, or empty talk. Fourth, remain highly vigilant against all forms of corruption and temptation, preventing minor issues from becoming major problems.” Here, he particularly emphasized the importance of adhering to the Three Stricts and Three Honests (strictness in cultivating one's moral character, using power, and disciplining oneself; honesty in one's decisions, business, and behavior), pointing out that these requirements are the most basic political qualities and principles of conduct for Communists, as well as the foundation for self-cultivation, governance, and achieving success for Party members and officials.

Jiao Yulu is a model for county Party secretaries and the entire Party. Xi Jinping's call to learn from and promote the Jiao Yulu Spirit has a deeper significance. He pointed out that the Jiao Yulu Spirit, along with the spirit of Jinggangshan, Yan'an, Lei Feng, and Hongqi Canal, are all coexisting. Every nation needs such spirit to constitute its powerful source of strength, and such spirit will never be outdated, no matter how times progress. The Jiao Yulu Spirit will always be a valuable intellectual treasure of our Party. He said, “Lankao is the birthplace of the Jiao Yulu Spirit. At that time, I wanted to connect with Lankao, one important consideration was to advocate the whole Party to learn from and promote the Jiao Yulu Spirit in line with the characteristics of the times. I hope that by learning from and promoting this spirit, we can provide powerful positive energy for developing the Party and the people's cause and realizing the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation.

Strengthening the Party, effectively managing the tasks of reform, development, and stability, and successfully combating poverty alleviation and development

The county Party secretary should embrace and promote the Jiao Yulu Spirit, practicing the Four Principles and Four Musts for County Party Secretaries. This commitment should ultimately manifest in bolstering and refining the Party's leadership at the county level, enhancing county governance, promoting reform, development, and stability, and continuously uplifting the lives of the people, particularly those facing challenges. Xi Jinping advised county Party secretaries that assigning officials to such roles entails trust and significant responsibility. They should execute their duties with enthusiasm and genuinely serve the people during their tenure.

Ensuring success in China begins with effectively managing the affairs of the CPC. For efficient county governance, it is crucial to fortify and enhance the Party's leadership at the county level. Xi Jinping has emphasized the necessity of strengthening the Party at the grassroots level and solidifying the Party's governance foundation as fundamental components of social governance and grassroots development. He stressed the importance of increasing the influence and appeal of grassroots Party organizations among the people. During the campaign to heighten awareness of and implement the mass line, particular emphasis was placed on strengthening the Party at the grassroots level, especially on improving conduct. Party committees at all levels were urged to consistently make routine, meticulous, and sustained efforts to educate on conduct, carry out strict political activities within the Party, and reinforce the sense of purpose to ensure that Party members and officials fulfill their roles as servants of the people.

Xi Jinping has presented numerous significant statements regarding how to effectively manage county governance and advance various aspects of reform, development, and stability. In his “Speech at the Enlarged Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Lankao County Party Committee in Henan Province,” he stressed the importance of accurately grasping the characteristics and patterns of county governance, comprehensively deepening reform efforts, and promoting balanced and sustainable development. Firstly, he underscored the importance of integrating the goals of strengthening counties and enriching the people. This entails not only effectively concentrating resources to undertake major initiatives and enhancing the overall economic strength and competitiveness of counties but also focusing on incentivizing urban and rural residents to engage in entrepreneurial activities, increase income, strive for prosperity, and continuously elevate the living standards of both urban and rural populations. Secondly, he emphasized the synergy between reform and development, highlighting that transforming developmental potential into advantages fundamentally depends on the success of reform initiatives. He emphasized the necessity for meticulous planning, bold experimentation, and the pursuit of innovative pathways in county-level reform endeavors. Thirdly, he advocated for the seamless connectivity between urban and rural areas, stressing the establishment of an integrated urban-rural planning and implementation framework at the county level. This entails facilitating the extension of urban infrastructure into rural areas, expanding the coverage of urban public services to rural regions, and fostering the spread of urban modernization to rural areas.

In his “Speech during a Discussion with Principal Officials from Heze City and Its Counties and Districts,” Xi Jinping outlined strategies and requirements for effectively promoting economic and social development in underdeveloped areas. He emphasized the imperative of advancing reform to provide robust momentum for development, firmly anchoring development quality and efficiency to enhance sustainability, resolutely prosecuting the battle against poverty alleviation to continually ameliorate the livelihoods of impoverished populations, and prioritizing Party development efforts to cultivate a high-quality contingent of officials.

Xi Jinping has particularly emphasized the imperative of waging the battle against poverty alleviation as a crucial task in county governance, reflective of his deep concern for this significant issue. He remarked, “How to support and assist them in leading better lives is a question I frequently ponder.” “My experiences of working in rural areas have instilled in me a natural empathy for the impoverished. As life improves, my concern for the people in impoverished regions only grows.” Shortly after assuming the role of General Secretary, Xi Jinping conducted inspections of poverty alleviation work in Fuping County, Hebei Province, and subsequently conducted multiple specialized investigations in impoverished areas. He unequivocally stated that the purpose of these visits was to see who truly need help and ensure that our poverty alleviation initiatives reach them.

Xi Jinping's statements on poverty alleviation and development are profoundly extensive, with nearly every speech in the compilation addressing this theme. The “Speech during the Inspection of Poverty Alleviation Work in Fuping County, Hebei Province” is particularly focused on this crucial issue.

First, Xi Jinping deeply elaborated on the importance of poverty alleviation and emphasized the need to enhance the sense of responsibility and mission in carrying out this work. He pointed out that poverty alleviation is a strategic and political issue that affects the overall situation and requires the full attention of the Party. Whether the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects can be achieved on schedule largely depends on the effectiveness of poverty alleviation efforts. Achieving the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is incomplete without ensuring moderate prosperity for impoverished areas and the poverty alleviation and prosperity of their populations. There is a need to increase the sense of urgency and take concrete actions rather than just shouting slogans. Efforts must be made without delay to ensure that no region or group is left behind. Furthermore, from the perspective of reflecting the essence of socialism and the Party's fundamental nature and purpose, he highlighted the significance of poverty alleviation. He stated that eliminating poverty, improving people's livelihoods, and achieving common prosperity are essential requirements of socialism and an important embodiment of the Party's commitment to serving the people wholeheartedly.

Second, he explored the approaches to poverty alleviation and development, emphasizing the need for confidence and the right path. He stated that with confidence, even barren land can turn into gold. By leveraging favorable conditions and advantages, effectively utilizing state poverty alleviation funds, attracting social investment in poverty alleviation, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of officials and the people, and committing to hard work, it is possible to change the current situation. To advance poverty alleviation and promote economic and social development, it is crucial to have a good strategy and approach. Efforts should be based on local realities, tailored to specific conditions, with clear plans and accurate identification of breakthrough points. Whether it involves agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, or ecological tourism, it is essential to harness the comparative advantages of each area, ensuring that development in impoverished regions is solidly based on their inherent strengths.

Third, he highlighted three key areas of work. He emphasized three key phrases, summarized as the “three tightly holds on”:

1. Tightly holding on to development as the primary task for enabling impoverished regions to escape poverty and achieve prosperity by finding the right path for development based on local conditions.

2. Tightly holding on to the development of rural public service systems as the basic guarantee, firmly maintaining the bottom line.

3. Tightly holding on to education as the fundamental solution for poverty alleviation, ensuring that children from impoverished families receive a good education and do not lose at the starting line.

Xi pointed out that the poverty problem is a longstanding issue that cannot be solved overnight, and breaking the cycle of poverty requires sustained and unwavering efforts. To carry out poverty alleviation effectively, it is essential to demonstrate the perseverance of leaving marks on stones and gripping iron until it leaves a trace, embodying the spirit of driving nails and pursuing efforts persistently and continuously.

Fourth, focus on the development of rural Party branches. The development of rural areas and the prosperity of farmers primarily depend on the Party branches. Xi Jinping has put forward four requirements for rural grassroots Party branches to play their role as bastions of combat. Firstly, policies must be implemented faithfully. Secondly, the actual situation must be thoroughly understood. Thirdly, Party branches must be solidly developed. Fourthly, unity must be truly consolidated. He also encouraged, “When you do your work well and solidly, we will have a solid foundation for our work at the central level, and we can also rest assured.”

Fifth, clarify the leadership responsibility for the fight against poverty alleviation. Xi Jinping pointed out: The Party and the state regard poverty alleviation as a major task, and leaders at all levels in impoverished areas must concentrate on this work wholeheartedly and lead the people in changing their circumstances through arduous struggle. Leaders at all levels, especially the principal Party and government officials in areas with prominent poverty issues, must conscientiously fulfill their leadership responsibilities, with particular emphasis on poverty alleviation and development. Officials at all levels should shift the focus of their work to the grassroots level, develop a firm grounding in reality and a deep engagement with grassroots movements and the public, carefully study the practical problems faced in poverty alleviation and development, and creatively carry out their work.

Xi Jinping's important statements on poverty alleviation and development are filled with deep affection and great concern for revolutionary old areas, underdeveloped areas, and people living in difficult conditions. He often quotes the famous poem by Zheng Banqiao:

When I hear the rustles of bamboo leaves outside my study,

I feel it is the wails of hungry people;

For petty county officials like us,

Every concern of the people weighs in our heart.

This reminds and encourages Chinese Communists to have such feelings for the suffering of the people. Leaders at all levels must recognize the responsibilities they bear, possess the kind of innate love for the people like Jiao Yulu, bravely shoulder the historic task of leading the people out of poverty and into prosperity, resolutely wage the battle against poverty alleviation, ensure that by 2020, impoverished areas and people will enter a moderately prosperous society along with the rest of the country, and lay a solid foundation for the final realization of the the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed: the key to achieving the various objectives set forth at the 18th CPC National Congress lies within the Party, and ultimately with the people. Central to this notion is the imperative to cultivate a large high-quality contingent of officials, which includes Party secretaries who possess the qualities encapsulated in the Four Principles and Four Musts for County Party Secretaries. These directives are not only aimed at county Party secretaries but also extend to Party officials at all other levels. It is imperative for all Party members and officials, especially county Party secretaries, to deeply implement the core principles outlined in General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of significant speeches. They should also study the book entitled Be a County Party Secretary Like Jiao Yulu and conscientiously align their efforts with the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy. Through earnest participation in the Three Stricts and Three Honests special education initiative, they should endeavor to be county Party secretaries like Jiao Yulu and become exemplary officials who are trusted by both the Party and the people. Only in this way can they meet the high expectations and responsibilities entrusted to them by the Party Central Committee.