How the Eight-Point Regulation Changed China

　　Why is a political party with over a century of history so full of vitality? Why is a large party with over 99 million members so closely united? Party conduct is an important observation point and a key entry point for decoding the governance of China in the new era.

　　On December 4, 2012, less than a month after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, at which the "Eight Points of Regulations on Improving Work Style and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses" were adopted. Improving investigation and research, streamlining meetings and activities, simplifying documents and briefings, regulating visits, improving security work, improving news reporting, strictly regulating the publication of documents, and practicing thrift... These eight points, totaling just over 600 words, established strict rules and hard standards for conduct, opening a new chapter in the Party's efforts to cleanse itself and promote integrity.

　　The improvement of conduct is an ongoing process; the implementation of the Central Eight Points of Regulations has no end. Not long ago, the Party Central Committee decided to launch a study and education campaign on the in-depth implementation of the Central Eight Points of Regulations throughout the Party from after the National People's Congress to July. This is an important measure to consolidate and deepen the achievements of the thematic education and Party discipline study and education, and to advance the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party; it is a necessary requirement to strengthen the Party-people and government-people relationship and consolidate the Party's governing foundation; and it is a strong guarantee for advancing Chinese-style modernization.

　　Setting an Example Through Actions

　　In November 2012, the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully convened, and the baton of history was passed to the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative. Significant achievements were made in the cause of the Party and the state after the reform and opening up. However, our Party clearly recognized that due to lax Party management and discipline, some Party members and cadres experienced serious crises of political belief; unhealthy practices prevailed in the selection and appointment of personnel in some localities and departments; formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance were rampant; and excessive eating and drinking was common among some leading cadres, causing great dissatisfaction among the people and seriously damaging the Party's image and prestige, as well as the Party-people and government-people relationship. General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly pointed out: "Problems in work style are absolutely not trivial matters. If we do not resolutely correct unhealthy practices and allow them to develop, they will become an invisible wall separating our Party from the people, and our Party will lose its foundation, its lifeblood, and its strength."

　　To forge strong steel, one must first be strong oneself. In the face of new circumstances and tasks, how should Party building be carried out? Where should efforts to improve conduct begin? How can the problem of "not knowing where to start" be solved? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Party Central Committee "decided to focus on the Eight Points of Regulations; the starting point must be to truly address and resolve this issue."

　　Why start with the Eight Points of Regulations? Can they be sustained and achieve results? At that time, there were questions among some cadres and the masses. Some people pointed out that "hundreds of documents couldn't control a single mouth" in the past, and worried that the Eight Points of Regulations would also be a "passing fad"; some Party members and cadres didn't take it seriously, thinking that "the momentum would soon pass."

　　In the face of the wait-and-see attitude regarding whether there would be a "shift in direction," and in the face of the pressure of a resurgence of unhealthy practices, General Secretary Xi Jinping, starting from the strategic height of promoting the Party's self-revolution and ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leader of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, made a series of important statements, pointing out the direction for continuously strengthening the dam of the Central Eight Points of Regulations and promoting the normalization and long-term effectiveness of efforts to improve conduct.

　　Regarding why the Central Eight Points of Regulations were formulated, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "Our efforts to rectify the "four winds" are to set an example through actions; we must truly address this issue and do so thoroughly." "In addressing the "four winds," we must first implement the Central Eight Points of Regulations; Party building must start with addressing the "four winds." After successfully completing one task, we move on to the next, so that people feel that we can get things done and that we do so seriously. Only in this way can we gain the trust of the people and the entire Party."

　　Regarding how to view the Central Eight Points of Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "The Central Eight Points of Regulations are not the highest standard, nor are they the ultimate goal; they are only the first step in improving our conduct, and they are the basic requirements that we, as Communists, should meet." "Regulations are regulations; the omission of the words 'trial implementation' is to show a firm attitude, indicating that these regulations are rigid." "These are not regulations for five or ten years, but long-term effective iron rules and hard standards."

　　Regarding how to implement the Central Eight Points of Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "The most important thing is to ensure implementation; what is said must be done, and what is done must be effective." "If we cannot even implement and uphold the Central Eight Points of Regulations, what will we do with eighteen or twenty-eight regulations?" "We must persistently and continuously work on this; if ten years is not enough, then twenty years; if twenty years is not enough, then thirty years, until it truly becomes ingrained in our culture."

　　Small incision, great effect. Using the Central Eight Points of Regulations as a starting point and a call to action, a series of effective and powerful measures aimed at rectifying unhealthy practices have been frequently launched, and the combined effects of a series of policy measures aimed at improving conduct have been unprecedented. The formulation and implementation of the Central Eight Points of Regulations has become a demonstration of the Communist Party of China's commitment to setting an example in the new era, allowing the people to see tangible results and changes.

　　Leading by Example to Promote Party Conduct and Social Morality

　　At the end of 2024, in Zhongnanhai, Beijing, the annual Central Political Bureau Democratic Life Meeting was held. An important item on the agenda was to hear a report on the implementation of the Central Eight Points of Regulations by the Central Political Bureau in 2024.

　　The 18th Central Political Bureau used the Eight Points of Regulations as a starting point to promote the improvement of conduct, breaking the deadlock. The first meetings of the 19th and 20th Central Political Bureaus both studied the content of conduct improvement and further deepened and refined it. Important meetings such as the annual Central Plenary Sessions, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Plenary Sessions, and Central Political Bureau Democratic Life Meetings have all made specific deployments and put forward clear requirements for the implementation of the Central Eight Points of Regulations and strengthening conduct improvement. The centralized study and education campaigns carried out throughout the Party since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China have all included improving work style and maintaining close ties with the masses as important content, continuously improving the Party's system and mechanisms for conduct improvement.

　　At the beginning of the implementation of the Eight Points of Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping started with the Central Political Bureau: "Party conduct and discipline building must start with leading cadres, and leading cadres must start with central leaders." "Those who are good at prohibiting things should first prohibit themselves, and then others." "Comrades of the Central Political Bureau must start with me."

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has gone deep into the grassroots and the front lines, his footprints covering the vast expanse of the country, and his figure always among the people. Wherever he goes, General Secretary Xi Jinping always strictly adheres to the Central Eight Points of Regulations, traveling lightly, practicing thrift, leading by example, and setting a model for the whole Party. From his first inspection trip to Guangdong after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, where he did not clear roads, close roads, or lay out red carpets, to his inspection of the troops, dining in the navy canteen, holding a tray and queuing up with the soldiers to get food, and eating at a shared table; from the dinner menu during his 2012 inspection of Fuping County, Hebei Province, and the meal expense receipts from his 2014 inspection of Lankao County, Henan Province, to his visits to 14 contiguous impoverished areas across the country... General Secretary Xi Jinping has set an example and led by example with his actions.

　　Top-down implementation has effectively guided and promoted the Party's adherence to the spirit of the eight-point regulation. Practice has shown that our Party keeps its word. What is said must be done, and what is promised must be fulfilled. Starting with areas where the public is most dissatisfied, we resolutely oppose formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, purging the dust from our thoughts, the ills from our conduct, and the stains from our actions. We have rectified "waste on the tip of the tongue," "improper practices in clubs," and "extravagance on wheels," cleaned up excessive office space, public funds for dining and tourism, etc., seriously investigated and publicized cases of leading cadres violating regulations on banquets and drinking, curbing some long-standing bad practices, and rectifying some long-standing stubborn problems. Starting with what the people most expect, we have carried out special rectification of "half-finished projects," "prestige projects," and irresponsibility, inaction, and arbitrary actions. There is less extortion, less indolence, and fewer "hands-off" leaders. There is more simplicity, more service awareness, and more pragmatism. Party members and cadres have boosted their morale and determination to work hard, wholeheartedly pursuing development and solving problems for the people, continuously advancing the cause of benefiting the people.

　　"With the eight-point regulation implemented, party conduct and discipline have been revitalized. The eight-point regulation has become a landmark measure in changing the political and social landscape." Party conduct and government conduct have been completely renewed, and social and public morality continues to improve. Our Party has won the trust and support of the people with its improved conduct. A 2024 National Bureau of Statistics survey shows that 94.9% of respondents affirmed the effectiveness of the implementation of the spirit of the eight-point regulation. "It's easier to get in," "They greet you with a smile, and their attitude has improved," "Procedures have been simplified, and things are more convenient," "Cadres are more energetic, and we have a backbone"... People sincerely praise: "The eight-point regulation has changed China!"

　　Continuously transforming conduct into custom

　　In June 2021, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the "Never Forget Our Original Aspiration, Always Keep Our Mission in Mind" exhibition at the China Communist Party History Exhibition Hall.

　　In front of the exhibition panel on the eight-point regulation, General Secretary Xi Jinping stopped and examined it carefully: "Now, the eight points here—simplifying meetings and activities, improving security work, improving news reporting, and practicing thrift—are all doing well, but we must reiterate and enforce them..." The General Secretary firmly stated: "The eight-point regulation must be consistently implemented."

　　This year is the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and an important year for further comprehensively deepening reforms. It puts forward new and higher requirements for the party organizations at all levels to correctly judge the situation, scientifically plan reforms, broadly unite forces, and promote the implementation of reforms, as well as for the mental state, ideology, quality, ability, and image of the vast number of party members and cadres. The heavier the task, the more we must strengthen party conduct and discipline, using good conduct to inspire morale, stimulate fighting spirit, establish a good image, and win the hearts of the people, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core that the people wholeheartedly support and trust, leading the people to continuously achieve new and greater victories.

　　Based on this, the Party Central Committee decided to launch a study and education campaign throughout the Party to thoroughly implement the spirit of the eight-point regulation. General Secretary Xi Jinping personally planned and determined the theme of the study and education, delivered important speeches, and made important instructions, pointing the way for the study and education campaign. During his inspection tour of Guizhou and Yunnan from March 17 to 20, the General Secretary repeatedly mentioned the important considerations behind the Party Central Committee's decision to launch this study and education campaign: "In recent years, the eight-point regulation has indeed brought about fundamental changes, and the atmosphere has been completely renewed. Most of the previously intractable problems have been resolved. At the same time, we must see that some places have become lax, some areas still have blind spots and loopholes, and some bad practices have rebounded. Like driving in nails, we need to drive them in a few more times, and work tirelessly to transform conduct into custom." The General Secretary specifically instructed: "Party organizations at all levels must deeply understand the significance of this decision by the Party Central Committee, focus on the theme, organize the study and education in a simple and practical manner, and avoid formalism, as formalism itself is what the eight-point regulation opposes." The whole Party must effectively unify its thoughts and actions with the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments, and effectively implement the various tasks and arrangements of the study and education.

　　We must consciously enhance our sense of responsibility and urgency in study and education, linking it to the specific practices of building conduct and discipline in our respective regions, departments, and units, and thoroughly studying General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on strengthening party conduct and discipline and the spirit of the eight-point regulation and its implementation rules, grasping the relevant disciplinary punishment regulations, and laying a solid ideological and political foundation for identifying problems and carrying out concentrated rectification.

　　We must adhere to focusing on the theme and being simple and practical, promoting learning, investigation, and rectification as a whole, integrating it into daily work and grasping it regularly, comprehensively and thoroughly identifying problems in implementing the spirit of the eight-point regulation and its implementation rules, strengthening warning education in light of actual conditions, forging party spirit, and raising ideological awareness, ensuring that learning is of high quality, investigation is forceful, and rectification is effective.

　　We must adhere to simultaneously grasping party spirit, party conduct, and party discipline, and the interconnection of rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption, integrating strengthening party spirit, strictly observing discipline, and forging conduct, and promoting party members and cadres to enhance their determination, cultivate good habits, and establish a new atmosphere of practical work and dedication, using excellent conduct to unite hearts and minds and work hard for development.

　　The wind is fair, and the sails are full. Along the way, the eight-point regulation has cleared away the murky and accumulated small achievements into great ones, using small breakthroughs to drive major changes, transforming contemporary China. On the new journey, continuously implementing the spirit of the eight-point regulation and deepening conduct and discipline building will surely provide a strong guarantee for promoting Chinese-style modernization.