Independence and self-reliance.

This phrase was originally proposed during the Anti-Japanese War period. Faced with Japanese imperialist aggression and the Nationalist government's passive resistance policy, the Communist Party of China put forward the principle of "independence and self-reliance." At that time, China was in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society with a weak economic foundation and limited external assistance, necessitating reliance on its own strength for the War of Resistance Against Japan and base area construction. This principle emphasized maintaining the Party's independence within the united front, relying on mass forces in economic construction, and developing people's armed forces in military struggle.

"Independence" emphasizes maintaining autonomous decision-making power in political, economic, and military aspects without being controlled or interfered with by external forces; "self-reliance" refers to relying primarily on the strength and wisdom of one's own people for construction and development rather than depending on external assistance. This concept embodies the Chinese nation's spirit of continuous self-improvement, emphasizing that internal factors are the fundamental driving force for development, while external conditions only function through internal factors.

In 1942, in a cave dwelling in Yangjialing, Yan'an, Mao Zedong first comprehensively proposed the concept of "independence and self-reliance" while summarizing the experiences of the Chinese revolution. At that time, facing economic blockade and military encirclement by the Nationalists, life for Yan'an soldiers and civilians was extremely difficult. Mao Zedong was deeply moved when he saw local masses and government personnel launching the Great Production Movement, reclaiming wasteland for farming, and spinning and weaving. In his speech at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art, he pointed out: "We advocate self-reliance. We hope for foreign aid, but we cannot depend on it. We rely on our own efforts and the creativity of all soldiers and civilians." This thought was subsequently widely practiced in various anti-Japanese base areas, becoming an important principle guiding Chinese revolution and construction.

This thought has had profound influence on modern Chinese history. During the Anti-Japanese War, it guided various base areas in launching the Great Production Movement to overcome economic difficulties. In the early years of the People's Republic, facing Western blockade, it promoted the establishment of a complete industrial system. After the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960s, this spirit enabled the development of "two bombs and one satellite," establishing China's status as a major power. After reform and opening up, this thought evolved into a strategy combining "bringing in" and "going out," maintaining both opening up to the outside world and development autonomy. In the new era, major strategies such as "Made in China 2025" and independent chip research and development are contemporary embodiments of this thought.

1. Cultivate independent personality: Establish critical thinking, avoid blind obedience to authority, and maintain rational judgment capabilities 2. Enhance core competencies: Focus on deep cultivation in professional fields to form irreplaceable competitive advantages 3. Build resource networks: Construct diversified support systems while maintaining autonomy 4. Develop contingency plans: Prepare plan B to ensure development continuity when facing uncertainties 5. Strengthen psychological resilience: Cultivate perseverance when facing difficulties and creativity in problem-solving 6. Emphasize long-term accumulation: Understand the law of quantitative to qualitative change, achieving breakthrough development through continuous effort 7. Balance openness and autonomy: Maintain one's own characteristics and independence while absorbing excellent external experiences