Xi Jinping: Foster a widespread ethos of willingness to take responsibility, courage to take responsibility, and ability to take responsibility.

Pragmatic action strengthens the nation, while empty talk harms it. We must all keep this principle firmly in mind. Leading cadres at all levels must remain committed to serving the people with pragmatism and integrity, earnestly reform their work style, speak truthfully and deliver concrete results, dare to take initiative and assume responsibility, and ensure that their words are backed by action.
(Speech Delivered at the Central Economic Work Conference on December 15, 2012)

To employ people appropriately, we must adopt a comprehensive, historical, and dialectical approach in evaluating cadres, paying close attention to their consistent performance over time and to their entire body of work. With regard to those cadres who are courageous in taking responsibility, competent, steadfast in upholding principles, unafraid to offend others, and possess distinct personal characteristics, there often arise differing views on how they should be assessed; therefore, the organization must unequivocally speak up for them and ensure that justice is done. Equally challenging is how to accurately and reliably assess cadres’ political achievements. We need to improve assessment methods and tools, looking not only at development but also at foundational work; not only at visible results but also at underlying, long-term contributions. Indicators and actual outcomes related to improving people’s livelihoods, advancing social progress, and delivering ecological benefits should be made key components of the evaluation process. It is no longer acceptable to judge success solely by the rate of GDP growth. Regrettably, some cadres are accustomed to making decisions on a whim, pressing ahead with reckless vigor, and then simply walking away, leaving behind a mountain of unresolved problems. In the end, they continue to hold office and receive promotions without bearing any accountability. This will not do. As I have said, we must implement a system of accountability for such problems—and hold individuals accountable for life.
(Speech at the National Conference on Organizational Work, June 28, 2013)
“It is a lifelong shame for an official to shirk responsibility.” Cadres must be willing to shoulder responsibilities; the greater the sense of responsibility they demonstrate, the greater the achievements they can attain. We must not merely aspire to hold office without doing any real work, seek power without taking on accountability, or strive for fame without putting in the effort. County-level leaders are tasked with formulating and implementing comprehensive plans for reform, development, and stability that affect hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people, while managing countless intricate and interrelated affairs. This is a truly grand stage—just as you yourselves have noted, it is a “small post” bearing a weighty responsibility. The Party has entrusted cadres with such positions out of trust and high expectations; we must approach our duties with vigor and enthusiasm, determined to deliver tangible benefits to the people in the areas under our jurisdiction during our tenure. It is unacceptable for a leader to serve for one, two, or three years yet see no meaningful change in the county’s overall development, with each year merely repeating the same old story.
(Speech Delivered at the Symposium with Participants of the Training Program for County Party Secretaries at the Central Party School on January 12, 2015)
It is essential to combine strict management of cadres with sincere care for them: on the one hand, cadres must conscientiously fulfill all duties entrusted by the organization, strictly abide by the Party’s principles, discipline, and rules, refrain from abusing power or violating laws and regulations; on the other hand, we must provide political encouragement, practical support, adequate benefits, and psychological care, so that the vast majority of cadres can feel secure in their positions, lives, and careers, work with peace of mind and full confidence, take proactive action, and dare to assume responsibility. We must distinguish between mistakes and errors made by cadres in the course of advancing reform due to lack of experience or because they were pioneering pilot initiatives, and deliberate violations of discipline and law; between mistakes and errors arising from exploratory experiments where higher authorities have not yet set clear limits, and deliberate violations of discipline and law committed despite explicit prohibitions from superiors; and between unintentional blunders made in the pursuit of development and disciplinary or legal violations motivated by personal gain. In this way, we will protect those cadres who are upright in conduct, bold in taking initiative, and relentlessly striving for progress, thereby maximizing their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity, inspiring them to better lead the masses in pursuing entrepreneurship and development, ensuring the timely completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and continuously opening up new prospects for socialist modernization.
(Speech delivered at the Special Seminar for Principal Leading Cadres at the Provincial and Ministerial Levels on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, January 18, 2016)
On this new journey, the road ahead will by no means be smooth; we will confront numerous major challenges, significant risks, substantial obstacles, and profound contradictions. Therefore, leading cadres must demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and commitment. They must not only possess the broad shoulders to shoulder responsibilities but also the genuine competence to deliver results. They should be bold in upholding political principles while also adept at doing so; they should be steadfast in pursuing development while also skilled at advancing it; they should be courageous in driving reform while also proficient in implementing it; they should dare to confront contradictions and problems head-on while also being adept at resolving them; and they should have both the conscious determination to get things done and the capability to do so effectively and achieve concrete outcomes.
(Speech delivered at the first collective study session of the 19th CPC Central Politburo on October 27, 2017)
We must establish a positive incentive system that champions practical action, encourages accountability, and provides strong encouragement and support. After all, the very essence of being a cadre is to put “doing” first—this is both a professional requirement and the fundamental duty of public service. Recently, the Party Central Committee issued the “Opinions on Further Inspiring Cadres to Demonstrate New Commitment, Take on New Responsibilities, and Achieve New Success in the New Era,” which has been met with an enthusiastic response; we must ensure its thorough implementation. As the saying goes, “The one who knows how to employ people will surely enable those with talent to exert their full capabilities and those with insight to deploy their strategic acumen.” The greatest incentive for cadres lies in adopting the right orientation in personnel selection: making good use of a single individual can inspire a whole cohort. We must promptly and boldly appoint those cadres who dare to take responsibility, are courageous in assuming accountability, excel in getting things done, and have achieved outstanding results, so that they see clearly: as long as they genuinely work hard, are capable of delivering results, and succeed in their tasks, the organization will never overlook their contributions. At the same time, we must resolutely and decisively remove from their posts those cadres who fail to act, ensuring that “official slicks”—those who merely go through the motions, drift through life, or seek positions for personal gain—do not gain the upper hand or reap undue benefits.
(Speech at the National Conference on Organizational Work, July 3, 2018)
It is both a political virtue and a fundamental duty of Party cadres to dare to assume responsibility and take action. Party cadres must demonstrate political commitment by remaining loyal to the Party, sharing its concerns, fulfilling their duties for the Party, and delivering benefits to the people; they must also uphold a sense of responsibility by guarding their respective areas of work with accountability, ensuring that they are fully responsible and strive to fulfill their responsibilities to the utmost. They should be bold in standing up to major right-and-wrong issues, courageous in confronting difficulties when faced with contradictions, resolute in stepping forward during crises, willing to accept responsibility for mistakes, and unwavering in combating unhealthy tendencies and corrupt practices. In the selection and appointment of personnel, we must clearly emphasize and prioritize a culture of taking responsibility: whether cadres dare to shoulder heavy responsibilities, are willing to get things done, and have the ability to deliver results must be taken as key criteria for identifying capable cadres, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and determining rewards, punishments, promotions, and demotions. The substantive outcomes of what cadres have accomplished, the extent of their contributions, and whether these achievements are recognized by the organization and the masses must serve as the fundamental basis for selecting and appointing cadres—choosing those who are accountable, courageous in assuming responsibility, adept at getting things done, and whose performance stands out.
(Speech Delivered at the Tenth Collective Study Session of the 19th CPC Central Politburo on November 26, 2018)
Only when organizations dare to take responsibility will cadres have the confidence to do so. While strengthening accountability, we must also encourage innovation and adopt a tolerant attitude toward mistakes. After all, exploration is bound to involve risks, and in the course of getting things done, errors are bound to occur—just as the more dishes one washes, the greater the likelihood of breaking some. We must accurately assess the nature and impact of any mistakes, steadfastly uphold the “three distinctions” I have outlined, and effectively safeguard cadres’ enthusiasm for taking initiative and getting things done.
(Speech Delivered at the Tenth Collective Study Session of the 19th CPC Central Politburo on November 26, 2018)
We must properly balance integrity with a sense of responsibility and accountability, and we must never use the fight against corruption as an excuse for inaction or failure to fulfill our duties. Only by maintaining personal integrity, moral purity, and strong resolve can we ensure that we are both motivated and capable of getting things done—and that we deliver results without compromising principles. We must integrate integrity with responsibility, and diligence with clean governance, daring to take on the heaviest burdens, tackle the toughest challenges, and step up to the plate when the going gets tough. We must uphold the new-era standards for good cadres: we must not be politically obtuse or muddleheaded in our work; we must not be idle, complacent, or indifferent; we must not shirk responsibility, pass the buck, or lack ambition; and we must not abuse our power for personal gain or degenerate into corruption.
(Speech at the Conference on Party Building in Central and State Organs, July 9, 2019)
Today, among some Party members and cadres, problems of unwillingness to take responsibility, fear of taking responsibility, and inability to take responsibility exist to varying degrees. Some adopt a “nice-guy” attitude, seek to be “peaceful officials,” or simply “go with the flow,” worrying that “the more you wash the dishes, the more likely they are to break”; they believe in “planting more flowers and fewer thorns, and keeping one’s hands off when difficulties arise,” thinking that “to avoid making mistakes, it’s better not to do anything at all.” Others act like “clay statues in a temple—unable to withstand wind and rain”: when faced with conflicts, they panic; when confronted with struggle, they shrink back. How can such behavior still be worthy of a Communist? Failure to shoulder responsibility and to act not only prevents success but also inevitably leads to harm and delays major undertakings.
Great trees cannot grow in a greenhouse, and those who slack off will never accomplish grand undertakings. All Party members and cadres must hone their abilities and strengthen their resolve through trials and exposure to the wider world, cultivating the unyielding backbone, iron shoulders, and genuine competence needed to step up and deliver. They must put “daring” first and “action” at the forefront, courageously assume responsibility and skillfully get things done, charging ahead and making outstanding contributions in effectively addressing major challenges, guarding against major risks, overcoming major obstacles, and resolving major contradictions.
(Speech Delivered at the Summary Conference on the Thematic Education Campaign “Staying True to Our Original Aspiration and Keeping Our Mission Firmly in Mind” on January 8, 2020)
Responsibility and action are inseparable: to fail to act is to fail to take responsibility, and to act means to shoulder that responsibility. Undertaking any task inherently carries risks; there is no such thing as a perfectly smooth, trouble-free path in this world. It is precisely because risks exist that we must step up and take responsibility. If every job were so easy that anyone could do it, what would be the point of responsibility at all? Often, the more one shies away from challenges, the more likely problems are to arise; the more one tries to sidestep conflicts, the more they pile up and block the way. On the contrary, only by being willing to go all out, daring to forge ahead and get things done—by making the resolute decision to “go straight into the tiger’s lair, even knowing there are tigers there”—and by tackling issues head-on with real effort can we truly resolve contradictions and overcome difficulties.
(Speech Delivered at the Opening Ceremony of the 2021 Autumn Semester Training Program for Middle- and Young-Sized Cadres at the Central Party School [National Academy of Governance] on September 1, 2021)
Uphold the principle of combining strict management with genuine care, strengthen all-round management and routine oversight of cadres, implement the “three distinctions,” and motivate cadres to dare to take responsibility and act proactively.
(Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022)
Comprehensive and rigorous Party governance and encouraging dedication and proactive action are inherently unified; they are not mutually exclusive. Rigor does not mean stifling initiative, causing people to be overly cautious and hesitant, or turning the Party into a stagnant pool of apathy and inaction. Rather, it means clarifying direction, establishing rules and regulations, fostering a healthy political atmosphere, and strengthening the Party’s immune system—thereby cultivating a clean and upright intra-Party political environment, creating a favorable setting for getting things done and starting businesses, and further mobilizing the entire Party’s enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity.
(Speech at the First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on October 23, 2022)
Turning the grand blueprint outlined at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China into a beautiful reality requires leading cadres at all levels to step up and take responsibility. Leading cadres at all levels must dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the Party, work tirelessly day and night, and fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the Party and the people with a sense of constant vigilance and a vigorous spirit of proactive commitment and action. It is essential to actively foster a favorable environment that encourages initiative and entrepreneurship, dare to stand by those who take responsibility, hold accountable those who are responsible, and provide support to those who get things done; to be adept at identifying, cultivating, and employing cadres who are both willing and able to assume responsibility and deliver results; and to make concerted efforts to remove all obstacles that impede cadres from stepping up and performing their duties, so that a culture of willingness, courage, and competence in taking responsibility becomes firmly established.
(Speech at the Democratic Life Meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on December 26 and 27, 2022)
Party discipline serves both an educational and constraining function and a safeguarding and incentive role. Party discipline and the drive to accomplish tasks and start businesses are intrinsically unified. Discipline not only sets clear red lines and boundaries that must never be crossed, but also provides a firm code of conduct for Party members and cadres to carry out their duties with integrity and boldness. By observing rules and discipline, one enjoys ample freedom and broad scope for achieving success and making contributions. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee should set an example and lead by example: they must not only be models of compliance with rules and discipline and of striving to accomplish tasks and start businesses, but also establish a clear orientation that bolsters and encourages those who dare to take responsibility and act decisively, thereby fostering a vibrant atmosphere of vigorous progress and relentless pursuit of excellence.
(Speech at the Democratic Life Meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on December 26 and 27, 2024)
The “four undesirable work styles” are stubborn and recurrent, requiring unwavering determination and perseverance to wage both decisive battles and protracted campaigns. We must steadfastly implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct, promote the institutionalization and long-term effectiveness of style-of-work development, and harness a fine work style to unite hearts and minds, encourage practical action, and continuously open up new prospects for the cause. We need to enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of style-of-work education, with particular emphasis on educating and guiding newly promoted cadres, young cadres, and those in key positions. We must establish and improve mechanisms for routinely identifying and resolving problems, carry out genuine rectification and remediation, and consistently send a strong signal that we will see every issue through to the end and enforce strict discipline without compromise. We should strengthen oversight and disciplinary enforcement, ensure rigorous day-to-day supervision by Party organizations, effectively leverage public oversight, and promptly investigate and severely punish any violations committed in defiance of regulations. Finally, we must fulfill the political responsibility for improving conduct, hold ourselves strictly accountable and rigorously manage those under our jurisdiction, forge a sound work style through ironclad rules, and motivate Party members and cadres to strive for success, take on responsibilities, and deliver benefits to the people.
(Instructions on Promoting the Institutionalization and Long-Term Effectiveness of Style-of-Work Improvement, August 2025)
The Party’s self-revolution and economic and social development are closely linked, mutually reinforcing, and mutually beneficial. By carrying out the Party’s self-revolution—promoting a new ethos of integrity and uprightness, addressing deep-rooted problems and chronic ills, fostering a sound political environment, inspiring cadres to step up and take responsibility, and rallying the people’s hearts and strength—we can continuously inject positive energy into economic and social development.
(Speech Delivered at the Second Plenary Session of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on October 23, 2025)
Leading cadres must dare to assume responsibility: while in their posts, they should focus on their duties and fulfill their responsibilities, proactively taking on heavy and difficult tasks within the scope of their authority. They must squarely face difficulties, contradictions, and potential risks, rise to challenges, and overcome obstacles through determined effort. They must uphold Party principles, clearly distinguish right from wrong, dare to struggle, and take a firm stand on major issues and matters of principle.
(Speech at the Democratic Life Meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on December 25 and 26, 2025)