In order to ensure the successful accomplishment of the various tasks of this year, comrades of the whole Party, particularly leading cadres at all levels, must get hold of the overall situation and grasp the key points. This is an important work requirement as well as an important way of thinking.

Taking hold of the overall situation and grasping key points means having in mind the Party's overall arrangements of the three major tasks in the new century, firmly gripping the central task of economic construction, properly handling the relations between reform, development and stability and striving to make breakthroughs in such major issues as economic restructuring, increasing farmers' income, promoting reform of State-owned enterprises and perfecting the social security system, so as to give a fillip to the all-round work.

What is an overall situation? The overall situation does not mean all, but means a kind of the situation and pattern as a whole, it is the trend and orientation of the development of things. To get hold of the overall situation, one must stand at the height of the overall situation to observe, consider and handle questions. Economic globalization and the development of science and technology have brought ever-closer relations between the various aspects of economic and social life. Mistake made in one link of a certain department may possibly affect the whole situation.

Taking hold of the overall situation requires that not only comrades assuming the leading responsibility for the whole situation have the whole situation in minds, but also comrades bearing leading responsibility for the local situation and even comrades at their specific posts should have the whole situation in their minds, they should examine the work under their charge by placing it in the whole situation and handle problems from the angle of the overall situation.

The overall situation and the local situation are relative. A locality has its own overall situation, so has a department, but in relevance to the overall situation of the whole country, they are all local situation. Speaking from a long-term and fundamental perspective, local interest and overall interest are identical. The more the economy develops and the more society progresses, the local interest and the overall interest will become more identical. But the local situation invariably has its relative independent interest, it is not that local interest and whole interest are identical at any time and under any circumstance. Deepening structural reform, expanding opening to the outside world and readjusting the economic structure-- all involve the interests of various localities and departments.

Some measures are practical from a local perspective, but are unpractical from the whole perspective; or unfeasible from a local perspective, but feasible from a whole perspective. We must consciously subordinate local interest to the overall interest, so as to ensure the smooth implementation of the 10th Five-year Plan, and guarantee the accomplishment of the various tasks set by the central authorities.

Grasping the key points is the working method we have always emphasized and upheld. In the face of arduous and heavy tasks, a multitude of pieces of work and intricate and complicated situations, we should all the more uphold this working method. The key point is the strategic point that has a bearing on the overall situation, and is the hinge that decides the whole situation.

Getting hold of the overall situation should embody and ensure the grasping of key points. Leading cadres at various levels should put the gravity of their attention on the problems and work which are most important and decisive to the overall situation. When one has grasped the key and properly gripped the hinge, one will be able to take hold of the entire chain and have the initiative in one's own hands to tackle the work related to the overall situation.

Ascending a height makes it possible to enjoy a distant view. Only when we stand at the height of China's all-round economic and social progress in the new century and at the height of economic globalization, can we scientifically judge the situation, accurately grasp the world's feature and nature of the times and correctly solve key issues and major problems that affect the whole situation. As there are primary and secondary contradictions, so there are heavy and light pieces of work. Only when breakthroughs are made in major issues and in key work, can an impetus and a push be given to the overall situation, so that our work in various fields can become more coordinated, more impressive and more fruitful.

(People's Daily 01/07/2001)