Reposted | The General Office of the CPC Central Committee Issues the "Work Plan on Vigorously Promoting Investigation and Research Throughout the Party"

The full text of the “Work Plan on Vigorously Promoting Investigation and Research Throughout the Party” is as follows.

To deepen the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee has decided to launch extensive investigation and research throughout the Party as an important component of the thematic education campaign being carried out across the Party, thereby paving the way for a good start and steady progress in the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country. The following work plan is hereby formulated.

I. Significant Importance

Investigative research is a treasured tradition of our Party. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to investigative research. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that investigative research is the foundation for planning and the key to success: without investigation, there can be no authority to speak; without investigation, there can be no power to make decisions. Correct decision-making cannot do without investigative research, and equally, the effective implementation of those decisions also hinges on it. Investigative research is the living source of genuine insights and the essential skill for doing our work well. We must vigorously promote the practice of investigative research throughout the Party. These important instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly underscore the utmost significance of investigative research and provide the fundamental guidance for the entire Party to vigorously engage in investigative research and perform all tasks effectively.

Currently, China’s development faces new strategic opportunities, new strategic tasks, a new strategic stage, new strategic requirements, and a new strategic environment. The world is undergoing a major shift unseen in a century, which is accelerating its evolution. Uncertainty and unpredictable factors are on the rise, and domestically, we are confronted with numerous deep-seated contradictions in reform, development, and stability—contradictions that cannot be avoided or bypassed. Various risks, challenges, and difficult issues are more severe and complex than ever before. There is an urgent need to conduct thorough investigations and studies to grasp the essence and underlying laws of these phenomena, and to identify effective approaches and pathways for overcoming these challenges. Launching a vigorous campaign of investigation and research across the entire Party is an essential requirement for thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, for deeply appreciating the truth and practical power of this important thought, for profoundly understanding the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments,” and for resolutely upholding the “Two Safeguards.” It is also a concrete practice for meeting the tests and challenges ahead on the new journey in the new era and for advancing Chinese-style modernization. Moreover, it is a vital means of remaining clear-headed and firm in addressing the unique challenges faced by a large party, responding effectively to the “Six Hows” questions, transforming work styles, strengthening ties with the masses, enhancing our capacity to perform duties, and reinforcing our sense of responsibility.

II. General Requirements

We must vigorously promote investigation and research throughout the Party, adhering firmly to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guiding principle, fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party, and focusing closely on the implementation of the Party’s theories, lines, principles, policies, and major decisions and deployments made by the Party Central Committee. We should vigorously carry forward the Party’s glorious traditions and fine work styles, emphasize both problem-oriented and goal-oriented approaches, and encourage all Party members and cadres—especially leading officials—to take the lead in conducting thorough investigations and research. We must continuously deepen our understanding and grasp of the Party’s innovative theories, be adept at using these theories to study new situations, solve new problems, summarize new experiences, and explore new patterns. We should roll up our sleeves and get down to practical work, devise effective measures, and pursue tangible results. In this way, investigation and research efforts will be closely integrated with central tasks and decision-making needs, better serving scientific decision-making, enhancing the Party’s governance capacity and leadership level, and contributing to the fulfillment of our missions and tasks in the new era and on the new journey.

To vigorously promote investigation and research throughout the Party, we must firmly uphold the Party’s mass line—going to the masses and coming from the masses—deepen our emotional bonds with the people, sincerely listen to their voices, authentically reflect their aspirations, and genuinely care about their hardships. We must consciously learn from the masses and from practice itself, drawing correct insights from the people’s creative practices, and transforming the Party’s sound propositions into the masses’ conscious actions. We must adhere to seeking truth from facts, uphold Party principles, proceed entirely from reality, closely link theory with practice, listen to the truth, gain a clear understanding of the actual situation, hold fast to truth while correcting errors, be straightforward and honest, report both good news and bad, and never rely solely on books or superiors but always on reality itself. We must adopt a problem-oriented approach, sharpen our awareness of problems, dare to face up to them, and excel at identifying them. With solving problems as our fundamental goal, we must thoroughly grasp the situation, accurately pinpoint the issues, and come up with practical solutions, continuously proposing new ideas and methods that truly address existing challenges. We must remain committed to overcoming difficulties and tackling tough problems, carry forward the spirit of struggle, enhance our ability to struggle, bravely venture into uncharted waters and break through intractable obstacles, pressing forward despite difficulties and meeting challenges head-on, and turning our research findings into tangible results that propel our work and help us surmount obstacles. We must uphold a systemic perspective, conduct thorough investigations at the grassroots level, among the masses, and in real-life settings, gaining a deep understanding of the situation. We must grasp the relationships among the whole and the part, the immediate and the long-term, the macro and the micro, the principal contradiction and the secondary one, the special and the general. We must think ahead, plan holistically, and promote all undertakings of the Party and the state in an integrated manner.

III. Survey Content

We must vigorously promote investigation and research throughout the Party, closely focusing on fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and driving high-quality development. We should go straight to the heart of the problems, conduct thorough sorting of issues and comprehensive identification of difficult challenges, and make concerted efforts to remove bottlenecks, blockages, and sticking points in implementation. Party committees (leading groups) at all levels should, based on their respective functions and responsibilities, concentrate on strategic investigations that address overarching issues, policy-oriented investigations aimed at solving complex problems, forward-looking investigations into new situations in the new era, follow-up investigations into major work projects, dissection-style investigations of typical cases, and supervisory investigations designed to ensure effective implementation. They should highlight key priorities, get straight to the point, and determine specific investigation topics in light of actual conditions. These primarily cover 12 areas.

1. The main situation and key issues regarding the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments, as well as General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and directives on the work in this region, department, and field.

2. Major issues in implementing the new development philosophy, establishing a new development pattern, and promoting high-quality development; advancing high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology; expanding domestic demand, deepening supply-side structural reform, building a modern industrial system, fully implementing the “two unwavering commitments,” attracting and making effective use of foreign investment, and comprehensively advancing rural revitalization—covering the key situations and priority issues in these areas.

3. Coordinate development and security, ensuring the safety of food, energy, industrial and supply chains, production, food and pharmaceutical products, public health, and other critical areas; and proactively identify and address major situations and key issues in preventing and resolving significant economic and financial risks.

4. Major issues in the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening-up, reforms in key areas and critical links, as well as the main situations and priority issues in promoting high-level opening-up to the outside world.

5. Major issues in the comprehensive governance of the country according to law, including the improvement of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, the promotion of law-based administration, the enforcement of strict and impartial justice, and the building of a society governed by the rule of law—covering key situations and priority issues.

6. The challenges facing the ideological sphere, as well as the key situations and priority issues in promoting cultural self-confidence and strength, building a strong socialist culture, guiding public opinion and the media, and comprehensively governing the internet.

7. Major issues in promoting common prosperity and enhancing people’s well-being, as well as the key situations and priority challenges in consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation, narrowing the development gaps between urban and rural areas and among regions, and reducing income disparities.

8. The issues that the people care about most—those that are most immediate and practical—especially the specific concerns and difficulties faced by the public in areas such as employment, education, healthcare, childcare, elderly care, and housing.

9. Identify gaps and shortcomings in firmly establishing and practicing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” and address key situations and priority issues in advancing the construction of a Beautiful China, protecting the ecological environment, and safeguarding ecological security.

10. Major issues in maintaining social stability, shortcomings in disaster prevention, mitigation, relief efforts, and the handling of major sudden public emergencies; key situations and priority issues in addressing internal contradictions among the people under the new circumstances and strengthening overall prevention and control of social security.

11. Major issues in comprehensively enforcing strict Party governance include the weakening, hollowing out, and dilution of Party leadership; insufficient political and organizational functions of Party organizations; lack of vigor and drive in getting things done and starting ventures; failure to take responsibility or act decisively; inadequate capacity to respond to “black swan” and “gray rhino” events and to prevent and resolve risks; as well as persistent problems such as formalism, bureaucratic practices, privileged thinking, and privileged behavior.

12. Long-standing, intractable problems within this region, department, and unit that have remained unresolved for a long time.

IV. Methodological Steps

Carry out extensive investigation and research throughout the Party, following six steps.

(1) Enhance awareness. Party committees (leading party groups) at all levels should, through study sessions of theoretical study centers and reading classes, organize Party members and cadres to thoroughly study and grasp General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remarks on investigation and research, as well as his important speeches, instructions, and directives concerning their respective regions, departments, and fields. They should carry forward and uphold the fine tradition of earlier generations of revolutionary leaders who conducted in-depth investigations and studies at the grassroots level, thereby strengthening their ideological, political, and practical consciousness in conducting investigation and research.

(2) Develop a plan. Party committees (leading party groups) at all levels shall, based on the content of their research and in light of the actual conditions of their respective regions, departments, and units, extensively solicit opinions from all relevant parties and develop specific plans for investigation and research. These plans should clearly define the research topics, methods, and work requirements, as well as coordinate and rationally determine the timing, location, and personnel involved in the research. The principal officials of the party committee (leading party group) shall personally take charge of developing these plans.

(3) Conduct research and investigation. Members of leading teams at the county-level and above, each taking the lead on one research topic, shall also carry out special investigations into the most pressing challenges and difficulties encountered in their respective fields or areas of work. It is essential to adhere to a locally adapted approach and comprehensively employ various methods such as symposiums and interviews, random field visits, questionnaire surveys, expert surveys, sample surveys, and statistical analyses. We should make full use of modern information technologies—including the internet and big data—to enhance the scientific rigor and effectiveness of our research. We must go deep into grassroots units such as rural areas, communities, enterprises, hospitals, schools, new economic organizations, and new social organizations, gain a thorough understanding of the actual situation, accurately identify problems, solicit advice from the masses, and draw insights from practical experience. We need to shift our perspective, immerse ourselves among the people, listen carefully to their concerns, worries, and deep-seated anxieties, and identify gaps and shortcomings in our work. By examining typical cases, we should analyze problems, pinpoint their root causes, and draw broader lessons to implement targeted improvement measures. We must strengthen supervision and research efforts to ensure that tasks are genuinely implemented and that problems are truly resolved.

(4) Deepen research. Thoroughly review and compile the findings from the surveys, applying the worldview, methodology, and underlying principles and perspectives embedded in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to conduct in-depth analysis, robust argumentation, and scientifically informed decision-making. In particular, for issues that are widespread and systemic, those involving deep-seated, critical challenges related to reform, development, and stability, as well as long-standing difficult cases and persistent, deeply rooted problems, we must conduct exhaustive research, pinpoint the root causes and crux of the issues. On this basis, the leading team should exchange information on their survey findings, deliberate on targeted countermeasures, and formulate clear approaches, strategies, and policy initiatives to address these issues and boost work progress, ensuring that every problem has practical and effective solutions.

(5) Addressing Issues. For the problems identified and reported during the research, systematically sort through them to create a problem list, a responsibility list, and a task list. For each issue, clearly outline the corresponding solutions, responsible units, responsible individuals, and completion deadlines. For issues that can be resolved in the short term, take immediate corrective actions and get things done right away. For issues that are temporarily difficult to resolve and require ongoing efforts, set clear goals, maintain relentless focus, and see matters through to the end—never letting up until the problems are fully resolved, nor releasing control until they are thoroughly addressed.

(6) Follow-up inspections and return visits. Party committees (leading party groups) at all levels shall establish a checklist for the application and implementation of research findings, and strengthen supervision, follow-up, and effectiveness assessment of the completion status of research topics and the resolution of identified issues. Leading cadres shall conduct regular return visits to those who were surveyed and to the entities responsible for addressing the issues, paying close attention to identifying and resolving any new problems that may arise.

V. Job Requirements

(1) Strengthen organizational leadership. Party committees (Party groups) at all levels must attach great importance to investigation and research, make specific arrangements, and ensure that each stage—such as scheme design, process implementation, and supervision and effectiveness assessment—is carried out in a scientific and precise manner. The principal person in charge of the Party committee (Party group) shall assume overall responsibility for promoting and implementing investigation and research within their respective regions, departments, and units; other members of the leading team shall each take responsibility for the investigation and research work within their respective areas of responsibility and subordinate units. Leading cadres should take the lead in conducting investigation and research, improve research methodologies, set an example by leading from the top, and serve as role models.

(2) Strictly enforce work discipline. Investigative research must strictly adhere to the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation and its implementing rules, traveling light and simply, practicing thrift, and avoiding layers of accompanying personnel. We should adopt the “four noes and two straights” approach, conducting more field investigations in places and units where difficulties are greatest, public opinion is concentrated, and work progress has stalled, thus preventing biased, preferential investigations that favor affluent areas over impoverished ones. We must strengthen the overall coordination of investigative research, avoiding clustered, multiple, and redundant surveys that place additional burdens on the grassroots level. We must resolutely combat formalism and bureaucracy, refraining from superficial, showy, or perfunctory investigations that fail to delve deeply into issues. On the basis of thorough investigation, we must deepen our research efforts, ensuring that we do not engage in excessive data collection with insufficient analysis, or propose solutions and recommendations that fail to address real problems. Those who violate requirements for improving work style and regulations on integrity and self-discipline will be held strictly accountable according to rules and discipline.

(3) Uphold coordinated and integrated advancement. For issues that manifest at the grassroots level but have their root causes at higher levels, and for those involving multiple regions or departments, we must promote solutions through coordinated efforts between upper and lower levels and with an overall, holistic approach. We should strike a balance between addressing immediate needs and planning for the long term; identify and summarize effective practices and successful experiences from investigation and research; refine and establish long-term mechanisms for investigation and research; and ensure that investigation and research become routine tasks for Party members and cadres, thus fostering a widespread culture of such practice throughout the Party and yielding tangible results.

(4) Intensify publicity efforts. Fully leverage party newspapers, party journals, television stations, radio stations, and online platforms, adopting a wide variety of publicity formats and methods to vigorously promote the significance of conducting extensive investigations and studies, as well as the specific measures and tangible results achieved by various regions, departments, and units in this regard. This will help build consensus and mobilize strength for carrying out extensive investigations and studies, thereby fostering a strong and vibrant atmosphere.

Source: Xinhua News Agency