"It Takes a Good Blacksmith to Forge Good Tools"

This expression was used by Xi Jinping on November 15, 2012, while he was being interviewed by domestic and international journalists covering the 18th CPC National Congress. As the governing party, the CPC must lead the people in building a better country and enable the people to live better lives. 

To take on this mission, the Party must strengthen itself, maintain its own advanced and incorruptible nature, maintain its flesh-and-blood ties with the people, constantly elevate its leadership and administrative standards, constantly improve its ability to resist corruption and risks, and constantly strengthen its ability to administer scientifically, democratically and in accordance with the law, so as to serve the people better. 

Unless it comprehensively exercises strict self-governance, the Party cannot be the "good blacksmith" who "forges good tools," and it will be unable to play its core leadership role. The "blacksmith" refers to the CPC, and the quality required comes from the firmly held ideals and beliefs of Party members. "It takes a good blacksmith to forge good tools" is a solemn commitment made by the Party to the people.

“打鐵還需自身硬”

“2012年11月15日，習(xí)近平在人民大會堂同采訪十八大的中外記者見面時(shí)，提到了這句話。中國共產(chǎn)黨在中國執(zhí)政，就是要帶領(lǐng)人民把國家建設(shè)得更好，讓人民生活得更好。要肩負(fù)起這個(gè)使命，中國共產(chǎn)黨就必須加強(qiáng)自身建設(shè)，保持自身的先進(jìn)性和純潔性，保持同人民群眾的血肉聯(lián)系，不斷提高領(lǐng)導(dǎo)水平和執(zhí)政水平，不斷提高拒腐防變和抵御風(fēng)險(xiǎn)能力，不斷提高科學(xué)執(zhí)政、民主執(zhí)政、依法執(zhí)政水平，更好為人民服務(wù)。不全面從嚴(yán)治黨，黨就做不到“打鐵還需自身硬”，也就難以發(fā)揮好領(lǐng)導(dǎo)核心作用。打鐵還需自身硬，這里說的打鐵的人，就是中國共產(chǎn)黨。打鐵還需自身硬，硬就硬在中國共產(chǎn)黨人有著堅(jiān)定的理想信念。“打鐵還需自身硬”，這是中國共產(chǎn)黨人對人民作出的莊嚴(yán)承諾。