II. Guidelines and Objectives for Promoting Socialist Ethical and Cultural Progress

(4) In accordance with the historical task of the Party in the primary period of socialism, and on the basis of experience since the founding of the People's Republic of China, particularly since the country's reform and opening-up, the promotion of socialist ethical and cultural progress must take as its guides Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics; adhere to the basic line and policies of the Party; strengthen ideological and ethical progress; boost educational, scientific and culture; arm people's minds with scientific theories; guide them correctly in public opinion; inspire them with excellent literary works; train socialist citizens who have lofty ideals, moral integrity, a good education and a strong sense of discipline; raise the ideological, ethical, scientific and cultural quality of the entire nation; and unite and motivate the people of various nationalities to build China into a modern socialist country, which is prosperous and strong, democratic and civilized. That is the general guiding ideology and also the overall requirements of promoting ethical and cultural progress.

(5) Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the result of the combination of the cardinal principles of Marxism-Leninism and China's current practical conditions and characteristics of the times, the inheritance and development of Mao Zedong Thought, the Marxism of contemporary China, the fundamental guidelines of our Party to various kinds of work in the new periods, and the powerful ideological pillar for the revitalization of the Chinese nation. The comprehensive, correct and active adherence to the policy and its implementation fundamentally guarantee that our Party and country can withstand risks and tests in accomplishing socialist modernization.

Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics contains extremely abundant concepts concerning the advancement of ethical and cultural progress. Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed that the socialist country which we are going to build should not only have a high-degree of material civilization, but also advanced social ethics and culture. Only by doing a good job in both civilizations, can it be said that socialism with Chinese characteristics has been built. In going in for modernization, efforts must be made to keep economic development as the central task, and equal importance should be attached to both aspects for stressing only one aspect is not enough.

Ethical and cultural advancement consisting of the promotion of ethics, ideology, education, science and culture is emphasized, and the masses of people and officials should be taught to have ideals, moral integrity and to be well-educated and self-disciplined. Particularly, the youth and younger generations should be well educated.

Emphasis must be placed on adherence to Marxism. Belief in Marxism is our ideological motivating power, and seeking truth from fact is the essence of Marxism. The emancipation of the mind, and reform and opening-up must be carried out in the entire process of socialist modernization. The adherence to the four cardinal principles, and the struggle against bourgeois liberalization, must also permeate the entire process of socialist modernization, for liberalization will precisely lead China to the capitalist road, and undermine the political situation which is marked by stability and unity.

It is stressed that reform and opening-up are the hope for solving China's problems, but in implementing the reform and opening-up, some bad things will also occur to influence our people. We should solve the problem by means of education and law. Stress is placed on inheriting and developing the nation's outstanding cultural traditions and the Party's fine traditions, while absorbing and drawing on all achievements of human civilization, fighting against the remnant influences of feudalism and resisting the corrosive influence of bourgeois decadent ideas.

Respect for knowledge and talents, and the training of large contingents of outstanding scientists, educationists, literary artists and other specialists are stressed. Comrades working in ideological, cultural and educational fields should all be "soul engineers" of humanity. Emphasis should be placed on ideological and political work, and the contingents engaged in the work must never be weakened. To deal with incorrect ideological tendencies, persuasion and education should be adopted generally, and criticism and self-criticism be conducted instead of using oversimplified, crude methods or being indifferent. It is emphasized that the Party should strengthen its leading role in promoting ethical and cultural progress. It cannot be slackened even for a single day, and the work must proceed from concrete things. The key lies in the improvement of the Party's style of work and the exemplary role of officials.

The practice since the reform and opening-up has shown that acquiring a deep understanding of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and conscientiously implementing Deng Xiaoping's thinking on promotion of ethical and cultural progress will make it possible for us to work according to the will of the people and the demands of the times, so that ethical and cultural progress will continue to advance.

(6) The ethical and cultural progress which we are promoting is one with economic development as the central task together with adherence to the four cardinal principles and reform and opening-up. It is also the way to inherit and carry forward the fine traditions and embody the spirit of the times, on the basis of setting foot in China and facing the world.

In the coming 15 years, the major goals in promoting China's ethical and cultural progress are: to firmly establish the common ideal of building socialism with Chinese characteristics for the whole nation; to form an unswerving belief in the Party's basic line; to bring about a marked improvement in the quality of people which focuses on their ideological and ethical attainments, scientific and educational standards, and their awareness of democracy and the law; to achieve a marked improvement in the quality of the citizens' cultural lives, which is positive and healthy, rich and colorful, and mainly serves the people; to achieve a marked improvement in urban and rural civilizations featuring a good social atmosphere, public order and living environment; and to achieve the coordinated growth of material civilization and ethical and cultural progress across the country.

To achieve these objectives, we must establish a leadership system and working mechanism featuring unified leadership of Party committees, management by major Party and government officials and with division of responsibilities in all fields to overcome the negligence of ethical and cultural progress in practical work. We must, emphasizing the principles concerning construction, strive to combine the long-term objectives and periodic tasks and do a better job in the coming five years. Proceeding from the situation as a whole, we should conscientiously solve the problems which draw the concern of officials and the masses of people alike. Firstly, we should firmly stop the passive, corruptive phenomena existing among Party and government departments and officials, and further carry forward the Party and government's fine traditions of forging close links with the masses, and being diligent, pragmatic and honest in performing official duties. Secondly, we must resolutely put to right wrongdoings in some trades that harm the interests of the masses, fight against counterfeit goods and frauds and cheating, vigorously foster the fine spirit, including dedication to work, and offering convenience and fine services to the masses. Thirdly, we should eradicate social evils of pornography, gambling and drug addiction, oppose feudal superstitious activities, and form civilized, healthy and science-upholding social tendencies. Fourthly, we must resolutely prohibit any action that creates and spreads cultural garbage, promote the mass production of fine ideological products and develop a preliminarily prosperous and orderly cultural market. And fifthly, we will firmly improve public security and the environment which is polluted, disorderly and poor in some places in an effort to build more civilized villages, towns and cities.

All localities and departments should work out detailed plans and implement these plans successfully in accordance with overall requirements, so that we will be able to enter the 21st century with an entirely new look in terms of the socialist ethics and culture.

III. Striving to Improve the Ideological and Ethical Quality of the Whole Nation

(7) Socialist ideology and ethics embody, in a concentrated way, the nature and orientation of the building of culture and ethics, and play a tremendously dynamic role in promoting social, political and economic development. In the whole process of reform and opening-up and the modernization drive, the basic tasks for ideological and ethical progress are: adhering to education in patriotism, collectivism and socialism, vigorously advancing progress in social morality, professional ethics and family virtues, and guiding people to foster the common ideal of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and correct outlooks on the world, life and values. We are at present building and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, with the ultimate goal of realizing communism, and we should conscientiously promote socialist and communist ideology and ethics in the whole society. In the meantime, we should combine the requirement for an advanced nature with that for the nature of wide representation, and encourage and support all ideologies and ethics that are conducive to emancipation and development of socialist social productive forces; to national reunification, unity of all nationalities and social progress; to pursuance of the true, the good and the beautiful; to resistance of the false, the bad and the ugly; to the encouragement of healthy trends; and to the performance of civil rights and obligations and endeavors for a good life with honest work, so as to unite and guide the Chinese people to make progress in an active way and continuously improve the ideological and ethical quality of the whole nation.

(8) In promoting ideological progress, it is essential to arm the whole Party and educate cadres and the people with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, especially Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must firmly grasp the essence of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, focus on the basic questions of what socialism is and how to build socialism, keep to the principle of integrating theory with practice, and promote the in-depth development of learning, studying, and publicizing the theory. We must guide cadres and the people to correctly understand the law of social development, and the nation's destiny and future, clear up erroneous concepts and vague understandings on the issue of socialism and bear firmly in mind faith in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(9) Patriotism has always been a banner for the unity in the struggles of the Chinese people. In modern China, patriotism and socialism have been integrated with the great practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It also serves as a strong driving force to encourage people across the country to strive for national revitalization. Education in patriotism must be conducted in a deep-growing and protracted way to help people see the truth that only socialism can save and develop China, and to enhance in the whole society the national spirit of self-respect, self-confidence and self-support, which regards devotion to building and defending the socialist motherland as the greatest glory, and damage to national interests and dignity as the greatest shame.

The great achievements and the grand goal of the modernization drive, the history of modern and contemporary China, the history of the Communist Party of China and basic national conditions, the fine traditions of the Chinese nation and revolutionary traditions, unity of all nationalities and reunification of the motherland, and national defence and security should be taken as the main contents of patriotic education in the new era. And the mass media, publications, films and television, art performances and classroom teaching should be used as forms of education. Important commemorative days, major historical events and social activities, national flag-raising ceremonies and singing of the national anthem should be taken as opportunities for vigorously promoting patriotism. All localities should enhance their efforts in building bases for patriotic education, and the state will designate a number of key bases in this regard.

Education programs designed to strengthen national unity and safeguard the reunification of the motherland will stress adherence to the Party policies on nationalities and religion and the propagation of Marxist views on nationalities and religion.

(10) Fostering a hard-working and pioneering spirit in the whole nation is an important ideological guarantee for the accomplishment of socialist modernization. China, a developing country with relatively backward economy and culture, is still in an initial stage of development. Great pioneering work calls for a great pioneering spirit. Even if great economic developments are achieved and people's living standards greatly improved, such a spirit should be retained and carried forward. Education in a hard-working and pioneering spirit should be carried out among cadres and the people in an in-depth and protracted way to guide them to correctly understand the national conditions and the protracted, arduous nature of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, to firmly establish the concept of building up the country and doing everything through thrift and hard work, and vigorously promote the spirit of hard work, making vigorous efforts, facing up to any challenge, and constantly striving to become stronger. Party and governmental bodies at all levels, as well as all enterprises and institutions should practise strict economy, combat waste, curb extravagance, and strictly forbid all activities that encourage ostentation and extravagance, such as by parading wealth, or squandering public funds.

(11) The building of socialist ethics should take service to the people as its nucleus, collectivism as the principle, and love for the motherland, the people, labour, science and socialism as the basic requirements, and education in social moral standards, professional ethics and family virtues should be carried out so as to form in all aspects of society a relationship among people that is characterized by unity and mutual help, equality and affection and common progress.

Service to the people is the concentrated embodiment of socialist ethics. Under the circumstances of developing a socialist market economy, greater efforts should be made to foster among all the people the spirit of serving the people and of collectivism, advocate respect and care of the people, loving the collective, caring for public benefits, assistance for those in need, or in trouble, performing more good deeds for the people and society, and oppose and resist the worship of money, hedonism and individualism. In economic activities, the State will act to protect the interests of the enterprises and individuals in accordance with the law, encourage people to obtain just economic benefits through lawful business and honest work, and guide people to be responsible for society and the people, correctly handle the relations among the State, collective and individuals, and be opposed to petty cliquism, departmental selfishness, seeking private gain at public expense and harming others to benefit oneself. Efforts should be made to strictly prevent the rules on commodity exchanges in economic activities from being introduced into the political life of the Party and the political activities of government departments and institutions.

Efforts should be made to comprehensively enhance the build-up of socialist morals, energetically promote public social morals of being civilized and polite, taking joy in helping others, protecting the environment, and observing the law and disciplines, vigorously promote the professional ethics of love for one's own post and dedication to one's own career, being honest and faithful to one's words, impartially performing one's duties and functions, serving the masses, and contributing to society, and go all out to promote family virtues of respect for the aged and loving the young, equality between men and women, harmony between husband and wife, industry and thrift in household management and neighbourhood unity. At present, priority should be given to promoting progress in professional ethics, and rectifying unhealthy tendencies in all professions.

(12) Stepping up education in ideology and ethics among the youth and youngsters is a major issue that concerns the destiny of the nation. We should help the young people foster lofty ideals and nurture fine moral qualities. Schools at various levels and of various types should implement in an all-round way the Party's policies on education, adhere to the socialist orientation in running schools, strengthen work in moral education, and strive to train builders and successors of socialism with an all-round development in moral, intellectual and physical and other aspects. In view of the different features of colleges, middle schools and primary schools, we should earnestly consolidate and improve the curricula based on ideology, ethics and political theories, combine the dissemination of knowledge with the molding of temperaments and the fostering of fine behavioural habits, combine the development of individuals with the future of our nation and the needs of society, to form an atmosphere that upholds love for the Party and the nation, care for the collective, respect for teachers, diligence in studies, unity and mutual help, and observing of laws. Active efforts should be made to organize students to take part in productive labor and social practices to help them understand society and know the real conditions of the country, so as to increase their sense of responsibility in building up and revitalizing China. Measures should be taken to fully tap the role of the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers in uniting and guiding the broad masses of young people, to thoroughly carry out activities like the "Hope Project," "Young Volunteers" and "Hand in Hand," and to carry forward the spirit of mutual care and taking pride in helping others. Importance should be attached to the positive role of veterans in educating young people. The whole Party and society should pay attention to progress in ideology and the moral standards of young people, and schools, families and society should work in close co-operation to create a good environment for the healthy growth of young people.

(13) The formation, consolidation and development of socialist ethics and moral standards should rely on education as well as the legal system. The socialist legal system reflects the will of the people. Efforts should be made to carry out education in abiding by the constitution and laws among all the people and to spread legal knowledge, bolster concepts of democracy and legal system, make them understand citizens' rights and obligations as well as laws relevant to their work and lives, enable them to act, discipline themselves and safeguard their legal rights and interests in accordance with laws, and make them able to use the legal "weapon" to fight against illegal and criminal activities. Relevant laws, rules and regulations should be improved to enhance the legal protection of all aspects of social life and punish and crack down on illegal activities harmful to society. Efforts should also be made to ensure that enforcement of law must be strict and law-breakers be punished. Educational, legal and administrative means and public opinion should be comprehensively applied to standardize and nurture fine behavioural habits, restrain and curb uncivilized behaviour, and form a social atmosphere for upholding justice, encouraging benevolence and combating evil.