Editor's note: Li Zhiyong, a professor at the Department of Scientific Socialism of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, spoke to the official newspaper of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, about the key message in the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, and elaborated on the significance of the "six musts". Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

The book documents how the Central Committee of the CPC has brought together the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and led them toward building a modern socialist country in all respects in the face of grave international circumstances as well as the challenging tasks of advancing reform and development while ensuring stability at home.

It presents the latest achievements made in efforts to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and the country's fine traditional culture and to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

The book reflects the wisdom the CPC Central Committee has provided to promote the establishment of a community with a shared future for humanity, and is an authoritative work which embodies the recent accomplishments of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

It starts with the Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC. In the report, a science-based method was put forward for continuing to promote theoretical innovation, that is, the Party must put people first, must maintain self-confidence and stand on its own feet, must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, must adopt a problem-oriented approach, must apply systems thinking and maintain a global vision.

These "six musts" epitomize the stances, viewpoints and methods of the Thought.

Only if Party members gain an accurate command of the stances, viewpoints and methods of the Thought, including the "six musts", can they better understand the essence of the Thought, have right thinking and methods for doing things, keen vision of situations, and the ability to analyze issues profoundly.

The book has 18 thematic sections. The first section elaborates on the characteristics of Chinese modernization and its essential requirements and major principles. It also explains the contributions Chinese modernization has made to the world and the major issues that need to be addressed when advancing it.

The second section and the third section explain Xi's thoughts on comprehensively deepening reform and opening-up.

The following sections explain the arrangements for work in various areas, including economic development, education, science and technology, social development, ecological conservation, national security, "one country, two systems", national reunification and diplomacy.

The last section expounds on Xi's thoughts on Party building and its self-reform.

A careful study of the book is an important step for arming Party members and educating the people, providing guidance on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is especially important to note the new opinions, thoughts and strategies put forward in the book.

Studying the Thought through the book, as well as the previous four volumes, is for application and turning it into a powerful intellectual tool.

In particular, Party members should transform the Thought's worldview and methodology as well as the stances, viewpoints and methods running through it into their own ideological tool, internalizing them in their hearts and manifesting them in their actions.

In the process, Party members should also be good at applying the Thought in observing, understanding and steering the trends of the times, better implement the national rejuvenation strategy within a wider context of the once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world, have a profound insight into time and momentum as well as crisis and opportunity, and actively identify, respond to and steer changes.