Officials, especially younger officials, must undergo strict theoretical and political studies and be tempered by practice. You should enhance your capability and meet challenges head-on, and work tenaciously towards the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The emergence and development of Marxism and socialist countries are stories of hardship and struggle. The Communist Party of China, the People's Republic of China, the reform and opening-up policy and socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era all came into being, developed and grew in strength in the course of this struggle.

Today's world is in the midst of great changes that have not been seen in a century. The great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream are flourishing under the Party's leadership. The tasks of advancing reform, promoting development, and maintaining stability are arduous. We are facing a historic opportunity and also a series of major risks and tests. To achieve the goals and targets set by the Party, we must enhance our capability and meet challenges head-on.

Achieving national rejuvenation is no easy task. It will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there. Realizing this great dream demands a great struggle. The tests we face on the way forward will only become more complex as we press on, and we must be prepared to crest unimaginable waves.

The struggle on all fronts is not short-term but long-term, extending across the whole process of realizing the Second Centenary Goal. We must enhance the Four Consciousnesses, reinforce the Four-sphere Confidence, and ensure the Two Upholds. Furthermore, we need to strengthen our will to confront the grim challenges that lie in front of us; we must steel ourselves, take proactive action, and dare to fight and win.

We Communists have a clear direction, stance and principle in our struggle, and the general direction is to uphold CPC leadership and the socialist system. We must fight resolutely and successfully against any risks and challenges that endanger Party leadership, the socialist system, the sovereignty, security and development interests of our country, our core national interests and principles, the fundamental interests of our people, the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We should be clear-headed, take a firm stance, and stay on the right course in major struggles. In the face of any major test, we should be "unperturbed by the cloud that obscures our vision" and remain steadfast while "riotous clouds sweep past."

(Source: Extract from Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony of a program for younger officials at the Central Party School [National Academy of Governance] during its 2019 semester, September 3, 2019.)

Two Centenary Goals

The Two Centenaries is a set of goals advanced by Chinese President Xi Jinping following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in 2012. The First Centenary Goal is to "build a moderately prosperous society in all respects" by 2021, the centenary of the founding of the CPC. The Second Centenary Goal is to "build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious" by 2049, the centenary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Four Consciousnesses

The Four Consciousnesses refer to maintaining political commitment, thinking in terms of the general picture, following the core leadership of the CPC Central Committee, and acting in accordance with its requirements.

Four-sphere Confidence

The Four-sphere Confidence refers to confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Two Upholds

The Two Upholds refer to firmly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and firmly uphold the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership.

(The explanations are extracted from the third volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" and Xinhua News Agency)

This episode is presented by Luo Laiming.