To Comrade Deng Xiaoping[1]
(January 22, 1951)
Comrade Xiaoping, and inform Comrades Shushi, Zihui,[2] Zhongxun, Yibo, and Gaogang[3] on the same day:
The comprehensive report of January 8[4] has been received and read. The orientation is correct, the achievements are great, very gratifying.
Your first urban work conference was held with success, very good. If possible, before May 1 of this year, please convene another urban work conference to conduct in-depth study and make certain decisions on urban work, mainly on trade union work, the direction of leadership over industry and commerce, and the question of urban political power, so as to prepare materials for the discussion of trade union work at the Fourth Plenary Session. The Fourth Plenary Session is planned to be held in May; please arrange the work accordingly.

Mao Zedong, 1951.
Mao Zedong
January 22

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[1] Deng Xiaoping, then First Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] Shushi, i.e., Rao Shushi, then First Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Zihui, i.e., Deng Zihui, then Third Secretary of the Central-South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Zhongxun, i.e., Xi Zhongxun, then First Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Yibo, i.e., Bo Yibo, then First Secretary of the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Gaogang, i.e., Gao Gang, then Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
[3] Refers to Deng Xiaoping's report of January 8, 1951, to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee on the work of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in November and December. The report focused on the progress of the rural rent reduction and deposit refund campaign and the situation of the first urban work conference. The report stated that regarding rent reduction and deposit refund, the main task at present is still to prevent timidity and restraint, not daring to boldly mobilize the masses, and to prevent monopolization, substitution, and commandism, so as to avoid "half-cooked rice" and "turning back to graze." When the wave of deposit refunds passes and most have been refunded, promptly shift to sorting out, persuading the masses, and treating small and medium landlords differently. Regarding urban work, an urban work conference has been specially convened. The main gain of the conference is that from now on, we will strengthen the study and guidance of urban work. The conference emphatically criticized the relatively common thinking within the Party of looking down on workers, and clarified that relying on the working class should become the Party's guiding ideology, which should be implemented in all work and all departments.