At the recently concluded National Party Building Work Symposium, Xi Jinping's thought on Party building was established as the fundamental guideline for strengthening the Party in the new era. This thought not only profoundly addresses the major issue of building a long-term Marxist ruling party but also provides ideological weapons for high-quality development across all industries. For the textile industry, how to transform Party building thought into a driving force for industrial upgrading has become a topic worth pondering.
The Intrinsic Link Between Party Building Thought and Industrial Resilience
As a key pillar of China's manufacturing sector, the textile industry's resilience has been tested in recent years by multiple challenges, from raw material price fluctuations to international trade frictions, rising labor costs, and tightening environmental standards. Xi Jinping's thought on Party building emphasizes "adhering to the Party's leadership" and "comprehensively governing the Party with strict discipline," which actually provides a methodology for corporate governance. Textile enterprises can enhance the scientific nature of decision-making and the cohesion of execution by strengthening Party organization construction, thereby maintaining strategic focus in an uncertain market environment.
Public data from the industry shows that in 2023, the industrial added value of textile enterprises above designated size grew by about 4.5% year-on-year, but profit growth was only 2.3%, reflecting the coexistence of cost pressure and weak demand. In this context, enterprises need to follow the "self-revolution" spirit advocated by Party building thought to promote internal reforms, optimize management processes, and reduce operating costs. For instance, some leading companies have closely integrated Party building with production by setting up Party member vanguard posts and organizing technical research teams, achieving a reduction in unit energy consumption of over 8%.
Practical Combination of Technological Innovation and Party Building Thought
The "scientific thinking method" in Xi Jinping's thought on Party building provides an epistemological foundation for technological innovation in the textile industry. The industry is transitioning from labor-intensive to technology-intensive, with smart manufacturing, green dyeing and finishing, and functional fabrics becoming competitive focal points. The thought emphasizes "understanding both the essence and the application," requiring enterprises to focus on both theoretical innovation and practical application in R&D.
China Customs data shows that in the first half of 2024, the export value of textile yarns, fabrics, and products decreased by 3.1% year-on-year, but exports of high-tech products like industrial textiles grew counter-trend by 12.6%. This contrast underscores the urgency of technological upgrading. Drawing on the "never forget the original intention, keep the mission firmly in mind" discourse in Party building thought, textile enterprises should adhere to the original intention of "building a manufacturing powerhouse" and concentrate resources on breakthroughs in key technologies, such as bio-based fibers and nano-coatings. Meanwhile, by establishing industry-university-research platforms under Party organization leadership, they can accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements from the lab to the production line.
Industry Responsibility and Commitment in a Global Perspective
"The key to running China's affairs well lies in the Party"—this judgment also applies to the international development of the textile industry. Against the backdrop of green trade barriers and supply chain restructuring, Chinese textile enterprises need to participate in global competition with a stronger sense of responsibility. The discourse in Xi Jinping's thought on Party building about "adhering to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee" suggests that the industry must form a unified action force when responding to changes in international rules.
From the perspective of industrial cluster reactions, regions like Keqiao in Shaoxing and Shengze in Suzhou have begun exploring a "Party building + industrial chain" model. Through joint Party committees, they coordinate upstream and downstream enterprises to jointly respond to new regulations like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This model not only reduces compliance costs for individual companies but also enhances the bargaining power of the entire region. Moreover, the "people-oriented sentiment" in Party building thought requires enterprises to respect local labor rights and environmental standards during overseas expansion, avoiding short-sighted behavior that could damage the overall reputation of "Made in China."