We should not only be able to handle politics, handle military affairs, handle Party affairs, and handle culture, we should also be able to handle the economy. If we are capable in every field but incompetent in economics, then we would be a bunch of useless people, would be overthrown by the enemy, and would be doomed to perish.

The common people support the Communist Party because we represent the demands of the nation and the people, but if we cannot solve economic problems, if we cannot establish new-style industries, if we cannot develop the productive forces, the common people will certainly not support us.

If we Communist Party members do not concern ourselves with industry, do not concern ourselves with the economy, and do not know how to do any other useful work, and are completely ignorant and incapable in these matters, only able to do a kind of abstract “revolutionary work,” such revolutionaries are worthless. We should oppose these empty revolutionaries and learn all kinds of technical knowledge for China’s industrialization.

Quoted from Li Xiannian: “Strive to Learn Economic Work Well”
(Renmin Ribao, July 14, 1952)