Young cadres should be qualified for their positions both in virtue and talent.

Recently, the journal "Qiushi" published "Striving to Grow into Talents Loyal and Reliable to the Party and the People, Capable of Shouldering the Responsibilities of the Era," an important speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) youth and middle-aged class. In this speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that young cadres must become pillars of talent, matching both virtue and ability to their positions. This is a clear requirement for young cadres in light of the development of the Party and the country’s cause in the new era and new journey, providing direction for their growth.

There have been many discussions on the standards for selecting and employing people throughout history. Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty said in "Zizhi Tongjian · Zhou Ji I," "Talent is defined as being perceptive and resolute; virtue is defined as being upright and moderate." "A sage is one who possesses both talent and virtue; a fool lacks both; a gentleman’s virtue surpasses his talent; a petty person’s talent surpasses his virtue." From this, it can be seen that in ancient China, virtue was prioritized in selecting people. If both virtue and talent could not be achieved, "virtue would be chosen over talent." Selection and employment require emphasis on both virtue and talent, which are dialectically unified and indispensable. Our Party has formed the principle of "both virtue and talent, with virtue as the priority" in cadre work, emphasizing both but placing virtue first. Zhou Enlai pointed out: "The standards for selecting cadres include political standards and work ability, both indispensable, with political trustworthiness being the prerequisite." In his important speech at the 2015 National Party School Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping quoted Sima Guang: "Talent is the resource of virtue; virtue is the commander of talent." He also cited a popular saying: "Having both virtue and talent is genuine; having virtue without talent is second-rate; lacking both is worthless; having talent without virtue is poisonous." From the practice of cadre work, problems with young cadres mainly arise from "virtue," specifically weak Party character. For Party members and cadres, Party character is the greatest virtue. "Those who plant trees must nurture the roots; those who cultivate virtue must nurture the heart." Only by tempering strong Party character and truly matching virtue to position can we prevent phenomena where some cadres are "good cadres today and prisoners tomorrow," and prevent young cadres from "just starting their careers and already going astray."

What kind of virtue should young cadres possess? They must understand great virtue, uphold public virtue, and strictly observe private virtue, firmly establishing correct views on power, achievements, and career. How to judge whether young cadres’ virtue matches their position? When assessing virtue, one must look at both "major matters" and "minor details," observing whether they can maintain political composure in major political tests, establish a firm sense of purpose, take extreme responsibility for their work, endure hardship before enjoying benefits, bravely shoulder heavy tasks in urgent, difficult, and dangerous missions, and resist various temptations. A person’s virtue is neither innate nor unchanging; it requires continuous cultivation through work practice and life experience. For young cadres, this means integrating life ideals into the Party and the people’s cause, making the struggle for the people’s happiness their greatest happiness, frequently "dusting off ideological dust," reflecting on "the harm of greed," and often "breaking the thief in the heart," ensuring no wrongful thoughts or actions inside or outside, never indulging, crossing boundaries, or violating rules under any circumstances, maintaining a righteous heart and clear path, cherishing virtue and self-respect, and always sustaining the enduring motivation to work hard and benefit the people.

Soft shoulders cannot bear heavy burdens; only those with both virtue and talent can accomplish things. Facing the complex situation and arduous tasks of reform, development, and stability, it is urgent to cultivate young cadres’ ability to solve practical problems by seizing opportunities in crises and opening new prospects amid changes. Improving this ability requires young cadres to value theoretical literacy more, firmly grasp Marxism as their essential skill, and learn and apply Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, including its worldview and methodology, as the "master key" for researching and solving problems. Party organizations should place young cadres on the front lines of reform, development, and stability, in harsh and complex environments and critical challenging posts to temper them through strict ideological refinement, political training, practical exercises, and professional training. In complex and severe struggles, they should experience hardships, broaden their horizons, strengthen their resilience, and develop real skills and hard abilities through intense practice. They should continuously improve political capability, research ability, scientific decision-making, reform and breakthrough skills, emergency response, mass work, and implementation ability, daring to face problems directly, being good at solving them, and courageous in overcoming difficulties.

"Cultivating talents and building scholars is the foundation of the nation." Training and developing an outstanding team of young cadres with both virtue and talent concerns the "major affairs of the nation" and the Party’s grand plan. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, young cadres are both leaders and are growing through this process. The new era is full of opportunities; young cadres must carry forward the spirit of historical initiative, temper political character loyal to the Party and the people’s cause, and develop strong skills capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the era. They should strive to become pillars of talent matching both virtue and ability, contributing and taking responsibility in advancing the great process of Chinese-style modernization.

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