Editor’s note: This is the third part of a series on the historical document the CPC passed in the sixth plenary session of its 19th Central Committee.

History is the best teacher. The Communist Party of China is good at strengthening its theories and capacity by keeping on summarizing and drawing lessons from historical experience. The CPC’s new resolution sums up 10 valuable lessons which the Party has learned from its endeavors over the past century and will continue to cherish, enrich and optimize in the new era.

The latest resolution is an extension of the previous two, with the 10 lessons being supplementary to those summed up previously, ... It reveals a new understanding of the Party’s century-long endeavor, facilitates all Party members to concentrate on their current endeavors, and galvanizes them to take on the new journey

These 10 lessons are the fruits of the Party’s century-long persevering exploration, constituting a complete body of organically interconnected principles having an impact on the past, the present and the future. They explain the continuous success of the Party and the people in their endeavors, and will continue to guide their future endeavors. 

The first lesson is “upholding the Party’s leadership”, which is the fundamental reason the Chinese people have been able to transform their fate in modern times and achieve the great success we see today. 

The second lesson is “putting the people first”. The CPC has no special interests of its own; it does everything for the people and relies on people in everything it does. That is why the Party has maintained its inviolable strength. 

The third lesson is “keeping on advancing theoretical innovation”. The Party constantly seeks truths from facts and advances with the times, and has adapted the basic tenets of Marxism to China’s unique situation and China’s traditional culture. 

The fourth lesson is “staying independent”. The Chinese nation must choose its own path and rely on its own efforts to drive national development; while it draws on the useful experience of other countries; it should not indiscriminately copy their models. 

The fifth lesson is “staying on the Chinese path”. The Chinese nation must not go back to the rigidity and isolation of the past, nor take a wrong turn by abandoning its own system; it should feel out a right path dovetailing with the country’s actual situation, which is conducive to the country’s modernization. 

The sixth lesson is “maintaining a global vision”. The CPC cares about the future of humanity, and has correctly understood and handled China’s relations with the rest of the world in pursuing win-win and peaceful development.

The seventh lesson is “keeping on breaking new ground”. As innovation is an inexhaustible source of momentum for socioeconomic development, the CPC has demonstrated the courage and determination for carrying out reform, pioneering and innovating.

The eighth lesson is “keeping the spirit of never back down”. The CPC has always overcome the challenges it faced by keeping its fighting spirit, enhancing its spiritual strength, and leveraging willpower and all physical strengths.

The ninth lesson is “strengthening the united front”. The strategy of uniting all forces that can be united and leveraging all positive factors provides important assurances for the Party to defeat the enemies and rejuvenate the country. 

The 10th lesson is “be committed to self-reform”. The Party is great not because it has never made a mistake, but because it has always faced up to and rectified the mistakes it made, a trait that has helped the Party remain young, vigorous and distinct from other political parties. 

The latest resolution is an extension of the previous two, with the 10 lessons being supplementary to those summed up previously such as the “three fine styles of conduct” and “three important tools”. The resolution, which serves the purpose of connecting the past with the future, focuses on summing up the new lessons gained in advancing the cause of the Party and the nation in the new era. It reveals a new understanding of the Party’s century-long endeavor, facilitates all Party members to concentrate on their current endeavors, and galvanizes them to take on the new journey. 

The final part of the resolution, “The Communist Party of China in the New Era”, elaborates on what all Party members shall do to extend the Party’s success. These include never letting up until the goals are achieved; advancing the new development stage by applying new ideas, new concepts and new models; maintaining close ties with the people; and making sure there are always ready successors to carry on the Party’s endeavors. These requirements, together with its initial aspiration to serve the people well, plus its past achievements and historical experience, give a clear-cut answer to the fundamental questions of what the CPC is and what it tries to achieve.

As a long-term ruling party, the CPC will certainly put the 10 historical lessons into full play in governing the nation. They will guide China as it progresses toward national rejuvenation, and help Chinese people understand where China is leading to under the leadership of the CPC. 

The author is a veteran current affairs commentator. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.