‘Absolute loyalty’: China’s Xi Jinping tells Politburo to toe party line ‘under all circumstances’
- Chinese president urges top leaders to ‘form a harmony in the symphony’ during two-day self-criticism session
- He also calls on officials to remember that ‘local interests are subordinate to national interests’
“Under all circumstances, we should resolutely toe the party’s line and form a harmony in the symphony conducted by the party,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua. “[We] must never deviate from the notes.”
He added that all officials must uphold “absolute loyalty” to the party and genuinely “love the party” and have concern for it at every moment.
Xi commented on each member’s remarks and gave clear instructions for them to follow, the report added.
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed that all Politburo members from outside Beijing convened for the meeting. All attendees wore masks even when speaking, with the exception of Xi.
At the session, Xi called on officials to always bear in mind the bigger picture of the country’s interests and uphold the idea that “local interests are subordinate to national interests”.
Xi also urged them to create conditions to allow grass roots officials to speak the truth about the situation on the ground.
Politburo members said they would continue to gain a deeper understanding of the 20th party congress and the “Two Establishes” – a concept that boils down to loyalty to Xi.
The term refers to establishing Xi’s status as the party’s “unquestionable core leader” and establishing his political doctrine as the “guiding principles for a new era”.