'Mass line' campaign another Long March for CPC

In October 1934, a force of the Red Army led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) kicked off a two-year arduous march from China's south to Yan'an in the northwest.

The military expedition of over 12,500 km-long journey allowed the spark of communism in China survive the civil war, and as time went by it regained vigor, leading to the founding of the People's Republic.

Eighty years have passed but the spirit of the "Long March" still encourages the CPC to overcome difficulties and make new achievements in its work. It also inspired other campaigns that kept the Party's integrity and nature at the levels they were at during the Long March.

The 80th anniversary of the Long March coincided with the end of a CPC's campaign called "mass line" in this October. It refers to a guideline under which CPC officials and members are required to prioritize the interests of the people and exercise power on their behalf.

Based on arrangements made at the 18th National Congress of the CPC in November 2012, the Party has tried to clean up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance, promoting closer ties between Party members and the people.

Mao Zedong once said the Long March was a manifesto, a publicity team and a seeding machine. The change brought about by the mass line campaign among the Party's more than 86 million members has been no less than that of the Long March.

The Party suffered major defeat in 1934. However, the Red Army did not died out, but instead built its spirit during the Long March. Before the "mass line" campaign, an unhealthy political culture pervaded in China. Corruption and decadence in the morals of officials resulted in increasing social complaints.

The campaign has, as the Party said, righted Party members' ideologies and thoughts, curbing their privilege consciousness and reiterating the communist party's fundamental purpose -- serving the people.

The campaign also addressed many practical problems, such as waste in catering, public vehicles and travel, as well as excessive meetings and paper work. Over 70,000 officials were punished for violating policies for thrift.

Through the campaign, the state made a series of systems to regulate public spending, officials' lifestyles and many other aspects to solidify the results after the campaign ended.

It is also a clean-up of intra-Party relations. Party members were required to make face-to-face criticism to others and themselves, discussing shortcomings and problems so that they can address issues and enhance comradeship.

"Only by integrating with the people and providing benefits for the people can the Party remain constantly invincible. Only by preparing for danger in safe times and making progress with bravery can the Party keep ahead of the times," Xi Jinping, general secretary of CPC Central Committee, said at the beginning of the campaign.

Like the Long March, the mass line campaign has strengthened the Party's ability in overcoming difficulties, and thus renewed the Party to make further contributions to the people and the Chinese nation.