China Daily:
We know that the "old Tibetan spirit" and the "two roads spirit" are valuable spiritual assets of the people of all ethnic groups in the new era. During the peaceful liberation of Tibet, the "old Tibetan spirit" and the "two roads spirit" served as important rallying cries. Do the spirits have more profound connotations in the new era? How should Party members and cadres carry forward these spirits? Thank you.
Wu Yingjie:
The "old Tibetan spirit" was actually created under harsh circumstances by generations of Party members and cadres, including local ethnic minority cadres. Later, the essence of the spirit was summed up as being tough, brave, devoted, united and resilient. The "two roads spirit" is characterized by facing both hardship and death with great courage, and remaining tenacious and dedicated. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized on many occasions that when working on the plateau, the scarcest thing is oxygen, and the most precious thing is spirit. He requires the Party members and cadres, especially Tibetan cadres, to carry forward the "old Tibetan spirit" and the "two roads spirit", stay committed, spirited, and hardworking when working in the harsh high-altitude region, continuously increase their sense of responsibility and mission, and work to improve their ability and work style.
The "old Tibetan spirit" now has more new profound connotations. I think it mainly refers to putting the people at the center and doing our work well under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In the past, we stressed the importance of being able to endure hardship, showing perseverance, and staying united. The current conditions are no longer the same as those in the past. Now transportation is very convenient, and various medical, health care, and infrastructure facilities have undergone great changes. The key tasks now are to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the people-centered development philosophy under the new situation; improve people's livelihood and unite people; and maintain steady economic development and preserve the ecological environment. In this regard, we will continue to carry forward the sense of dedication, mission, and responsibility in accordance with the requirements of the Party Central Committee. We will remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind in Party history learning and education. We will hold firm to our ideals and convictions, fully implement the Party's mass line, address misconduct and refrain from formalism and bureaucracy. The Party members and comrades in Tibet should work together to strengthen our consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership and stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Despite the special geographical features in Tibet, we will continue to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments. We will exercise full and rigorous governance over the party and fight against corruption, stand firm to ideals and convictions, and fully implement Party discipline. We will uphold political integrity, carry forward the style of working hard and plain living, fulfill the Party's requirements, strengthen the enforcement of organizational discipline, ensure the principal status of the people, and adhere to the Party's commitment to serving the public good and exercising power in the interests of the people. Taking into account both domestic and international dynamics, we will bear in mind national priorities and make contributions without considering personal gains and losses. In fact, since the 18th CPC National Congress, in accordance with the requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping, our cadres stationed in villages and temples, and Party members of the post-80s and 90s have all worked on the front line of fighting against COVID-19 and have embodied the new connotation of the "old Tibetan spirit".