Comment on the Resolution Concerning the Technological Innovation and Technological Revolution Movement
(23 January 1960)

Comrade Wang Li:
Please take a look at this document. In my opinion, it can be forwarded in the name of the Central Committee to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, as well as to the Party committees of all medium-sized cities nationwide, for study and reference in handling matters.

Mao Zedong
23 January

--- Notes

[1] This refers to the "Resolution of the Taiyuan Municipal Committee on Launching a Technological Innovation and Technological Revolution Movement Centered on Mechanization and Semi-Mechanization" (summary), published in *Situation Bulletin* No. 17, compiled and printed by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on 11 January 1960. Its contents are as follows: 1. Taiyuan’s preliminary plan for industrial output value in 1960 represents a 47.2% increase over 1959, with some factories and mines projected to increase by 1 to 5 times. For this reason, many units are requesting a large increase in labor force in 1960. This thinking of relying solely on increasing the number of workers to increase production must be resolutely overcome. Taiyuan’s degree of mechanization and industrial labor productivity are relatively low compared to the national average, but it possesses a certain industrial base and technical force. As long as favorable conditions are fully utilized and various effective measures are adopted, it is entirely possible to reduce or even eliminate manual operations, gradually achieve mechanization, and rapidly raise labor productivity. 2. Immediately launch a mass technological innovation and technological revolution movement centered on vigorously promoting mechanization and semi-mechanization, and through this movement, increase labor productivity by 50%. The specific requirements and measures are: (1) From December 1959 to the end of June 1960, in two steps, raise the city’s degree of mechanization and semi-mechanization from 42% to 65%–70%. (2) The unfolding of this technological innovation and technological revolution should proceed from the following aspects: 1. All units using manual operations should vigorously promote semi-mechanization and even mechanization. 2. All units that have already achieved semi-mechanization should strive to develop towards mechanization and automation. 3. Target weak links in production, improve and self-manufacture key equipment, in order to balance production capacity on the basis of an advanced level. 4. Fully utilize existing equipment and raise utilization rates. 5. Improve techniques, tools, and equipment. 6. Strengthen political, cultural, and technical training for workers; strengthen scientific research, comprehensively utilize materials, and reduce consumption; improve design, enhance product quality; expand product variety, and increase output value. 7. Improve labor organization, reduce non-production personnel, and strengthen coordination. 8. Systematically summarize and disseminate proven and effective advanced experiences. 3. In order to rapidly set off an upsurge of the movement throughout the city and achieve practical results as quickly as possible, the following points must be ensured: (1) Party committees at all levels must strengthen leadership and vigorously launch mass movements. (2) Concentrate forces to tackle key technologies that cost little, yield quick results, and urgently need to be resolved in production, striving to produce practical results in production as quickly as possible. (3) Adhere to the policy of "walking on two legs," overcoming ideas such as emphasizing foreign over indigenous, focusing only on the large and neglecting the small, and simply reaching out for funds. (4) Implement the method of "five fixings"—fixing projects, measures, personnel, time, and periodic inspections—and organize implementation through graded responsibility. (5) Pay attention to technical appraisal, finalization, and dissemination work, and set pacesetters, integrating technological innovation with labor competitions of comparing, learning, catching up, and helping. 4. Fully promote the spirit of communist coordination.
On 30 January 1960, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China forwarded this document.