BEIJING -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese President, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently made an important instruction on social work, highlighting that social work is a crucial component of the Party and state's operations. He noted that whether a good job can be done in social work is key to the Party's long-term governance, the nation's enduring stability, social harmony, and the well-being of the people. Since the beginning of the new era, the CPC Central Committee has made significant decisions and plans that have propelled social work to achieve notable milestones. Currently, China's social structure is undergoing profound transformations, notably with rapid advancements in emerging sectors. A large number of new economic and social entities are emerging, the demographic of groups in new forms of employment is expanding continuously, and as a result, social work is confronting fresh challenges and tasks, requiring relevant departments to shoulder new responsibilities and make new progress in this regard. We should follow the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guidance, fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, put the people first, practice the Party's mass line for a new era, unswervingly follow the path of social governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and improve social work systems and mechanisms. We should do a good job in Party building in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and groups in new forms of employment, and constantly strengthen the Party's appeal, cohesive force and influence in emerging sectors. Party building must be strengthened to lay a solid foundation for governance and government at the primary level. Work must be done to rally the support of the people and serve the people, so as to promote the high-quality development of social work in the new era.

Stressing that making sound efforts in social work is a shared responsibility of the entire Party, Xi called on Party committees (leading Party members groups) at all levels to shoulder their political responsibility, strengthen their work in organizing, leading and coordinating in this regard, and ensure that the Party Central Committee's decisions and arrangements concerning social work are properly implemented. Xi also called on local governments and relevant departments to take initiative in relevant work, cooperate with each other, and focus on both their professional work and their work in Party building, so as to create a strong synergy for social work. Social work-related agencies were urged to strengthen their self-development, enhance political responsibility, be brave in exploring in practice, fulfill their duties diligently, and make new contributions to building China into a strong country on all fronts and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

A central conference on social work was held in Beijing from Nov 5 to 6, and Xi's instruction was read out at the conference. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

Cai pointed out in his speech that Xi's important instruction is insightful, incisive and of political, ideological and guiding importance. The instruction points out the direction for doing a good job in social work in the new era, and it is crucial to thoroughly study and resolutely implement the instruction.

Cai observed that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has prioritized social work as an important task. General Secretary Xi has given a series of significant expositions on why and how social work should be strengthened, and put forth a range of new thoughts, viewpoints, and judgments. General Secretary Xi's important expositions on social work profoundly interpret the fundamental principles, value orientation, development direction, major tasks and basic support for social work in the new era. They are an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Cai stressed that it is imperative to implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee in an all-round way, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi's important expositions and instructions, profoundly understand the decisive significance of "Two Affirmations," resolutely act on "Two Upholds," have a thorough comprehension of the overall requirements for doing a good job in social work in the new era, and have a stronger sense of responsibility and mission to strive for new breakthroughs in social work in the new era. Cai stressed the necessity to reinforce Party building in emerging sectors as the top priority, strengthen coordination, and offer sector-specific guidance, with focused efforts on Party building among new economic organizations, new social organizations, and groups in new forms of employment, so as to expand the reach of Party's organization and the scope of its work, and promote the healthy development of emerging sectors.

He also urged continued efforts to promote Party building and reform in industry associations and chambers of commerce. He underscored the need to further guide primary-level governance and government through Party building, tackle the prominent issue of overburdened primary-level institutions, as well as further empower and unburden them in a coordinated manner. Cai also called for solid efforts to rally the support of the people and serve the people, apply and further develop the Fengqiao model for promoting primary-level social governance in the new era, advance a law-based approach in the work to handle public complaints in the form of letters and visits, widely solicit suggestions from the public, as well as advance the cause of volunteerism. It is imperative for Party committees at all levels to strengthen their leadership over social work, fulfill their political responsibilities, perfect the working system, and build a strong team of social workers to promote high-quality development of social work in a spirit of reform and innovation.

Li Ganjie presided over the meeting. Li Shulei, Chen Wenqing, and Mu Hong attended the meeting.

Those who delivered speeches included leading officials from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, Beijing Municipality, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Shaanxi provinces.

Those who also attended the meeting included leading officials from various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and cities specifically designated in the state plan, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, central Party and state departments, people's organizations, centrally-administered financial institutions, enterprises and universities.