Hong Xiaonan and Liang Tongrui: The Great Founding Spirit of the Party and Chinese-path Modernization
By Hong Xiaonan and Liang Tongrui
The great founding spirit [1] is deeply rooted in the magnificent practice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in advancing Chinese-path modernization. On the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, revisiting the scientific connotation of the great founding spirit and profoundly understanding the dialectical relationship between the great founding spirit and Chinese-path modernization holds significant theoretical meaning and practical value. Doing so allows us to vigorously promote this spirit, continuously strengthen our spiritual force, and ensure that Chinese-path modernization remains steady and reaches far.
Writing a brand-new chapter in the construction of Chinese-path modernization through “upholding truth and staying true to ideals.” Chinese-path modernization is a modernization guided by the scientific theories of Marxism; Marxism is both the theoretical weapon and the guide to action for Chinese-path modernization. To stay true to ideals, we must remember that from the day of its founding, our Party established the struggle for communism as its program. We must remain firm in the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously pushing forward the great practice of struggling for these sublime ideals. Looking back at history, the reason our Party has been able to withstand setback after setback and rise again every time is, fundamentally, because the Party possesses lofty ideals and sublime pursuits. Facts powerfully prove that faith, belief, and confidence are paramount at all times. Strengthening this faith, belief, and confidence provides the powerful spiritual force for us to defeat all strong enemies, overcome all difficulties, and seize all victories. For over a century, the CPC has promoted the great founding spirit and built up the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists [2], providing powerful spiritual support for China’s modernization construction. In March 1949, at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Party, Mao Zedong issued a call to "steadily transform China from an agricultural country into an industrial country and build China into a great socialist state." On December 6, 1979, Deng Xiaoping pointed out when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ōhira: "The four modernizations we want to achieve are a Chinese-path four modernizations." Since the 18th National Congress [3], our Party has continued to move forward on existing foundations, continuously achieving innovative breakthroughs in theory and practice. We have successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization, deepened our understanding of its connotation and essence, summarized its Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles, and preliminarily constructed the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization. To uphold truth, we must continuously promote the power of Marxist truth, adhering to the "Two Combinations" [4] (integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture). We must use Marxism to observe, grasp, and lead the times, opening new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. We must consistently take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide to better advance the great practice of Chinese-path modernization and write its brand-new chapter.
Stimulating powerful momentum for the construction of Chinese-path modernization through “practicing the original aspiration and shouldering the mission.” Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been the shared dream of the Chinese people since modern times began. Countless people of vision and integrity sought this goal through various attempts, yet all ended in failure. The heavy responsibility of exploring the path to China’s modernization fell historically upon the shoulders of the CPC. Chinese Communists always remember where we came from, where we are going, and why we set out, continuously fortifying the original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation through practice. For over a century, all the struggles, sacrifices, and creations of the CPC in uniting and leading the Chinese people can be summarized into one theme: achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To achieve this, the CPC united and led the Chinese people in bloody battles and unyielding persistence, creating the great achievements of the New Democratic Revolution [5] and creating the fundamental social conditions for modernization. Through self-reliance and arduous struggle, we created the great achievements of socialist revolution and construction, laying the fundamental political prerequisites, valuable experience, theoretical preparation, and material foundation for modernization. Through liberating the mind and forging ahead with determination, we created the great achievements of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, providing the institutional guarantee full of new vitality and the material conditions for rapid development for Chinese-path modernization. Through self-confidence, self-reliance, and upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, we have coordinated the "Four Greats" [6] (the great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream), creating the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. This has provided Chinese-path modernization with more perfect institutional guarantees, a more solid material foundation, and a more proactive spiritual force. Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement obtained by our Party leading the people of all ethnic groups through long-term exploration and practice, involving immense hardships and great costs. Practice has proven that Chinese-path modernization is feasible, stable, and the only correct path toward building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.
Forging the will and character for the construction of Chinese-path modernization through “fearing no sacrifice and struggling heroically.” Fearing no sacrifice and struggling heroically are the most distinctive traits of Chinese Communists. The Party’s century-long history is a history of struggle where Chinese Communists followed one after another, disregarding their own safety; a history of pioneering that involved tackling tough problems and "climbing slopes and crossing ridges" [7]; and a history of focused endeavor, remaining true to the original aspiration and tempering ourselves as we move forward. Chinese Communists take devotion to the Party and the country and the fulfillment of their duties as their life goals. Unafraid of danger and ready to sacrifice, working hard and remaining unyielding, they fully demonstrate the selfless, fearless spirit of dedication and the indomitable spirit of struggle of Chinese Communists. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Our modernization is both the most difficult and the greatest." Chinese-path modernization is characterized by arduousness, complexity, and long-term duration. To advance Chinese-path modernization with the great founding spirit, we must always carry forward the spirit of fearing no sacrifice and struggling heroically, further comprehensively deepening reform and opening up to provide powerful momentum and institutional guarantees. "Advancing Chinese-path modernization is a pioneering undertaking without precedent; it will inevitably encounter various predictable and unpredictable risks, challenges, difficulties, and even stormy waves." We must "open up new realms for our cause through tenacious struggle." On the new journey in the New Era, all Party comrades must maintain the heroic spirit of "the greater the danger, the further one moves forward" and the high morale of "daring to command the sun and moon to bring a new day" [8]. We must promote the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit as its source, carry forward the red gene, continue the red bloodline, develop the spirit of struggle, temper struggle skills, strengthen the will to struggle, keep the correct direction of struggle, stand firm in our struggle position, and be both courageous and adept in struggle. In this struggle, we must continuously conquer the "Loushan Pass" and "Lazikou" [9] on the new journey, continuing to lead the great social revolution through the Party's great self-revolution. We must forge the will and character for constructing Chinese-path modernization, strive to advance its great cause, and work to create achievements worthy of the Party, the people, and the times.
Consolidating the majestic strength for the construction of Chinese-path modernization through “being loyal to the Party and living up to the people’s expectations.” Loyalty to the Party is a solemn promise every Party member makes when taking the admission oath; it is the primary political quality of Chinese Communists and an excellent quality every member must possess. Loyalty to the Party requires Communists to frequently measure themselves against the Party Constitution, regulations, and discipline, examining their ideals, beliefs, thoughts, and actions, constantly "dusting off" their minds to maintain their political character. The CPC was born for the people and thrives because of the people. The Party’s century-long history is one of being heart-to-heart with the people, breathing the same air, and sharing the same fate. The Party's foundation and strength lie in the people. The reason the CPC has grown strong, that socialism with Chinese characteristics has advanced, and that Chinese-path modernization has been able to embark on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country is precisely because the Party is full of deep affection for the people. It takes whether the people are satisfied, supportive, and happy as the starting point and ultimate goal of all thinking and action. The CPC always represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses of the people; it has no special interests of its own and never represents the interests of any interest group, power group, or privileged class. To promote the great founding spirit is to always adhere to "being loyal to the Party and living up to the people’s expectations," continuously tempering the political character of all Communists to be loyal, clean, and responsible, and forging the core force that leads the people. Chinese-path modernization is the common cause of all the people; we must persist in putting the people first, respect the people's principal position and pioneering spirit, and rely on the people to create grand historical achievements, thereby consolidating the majestic strength for advancing Chinese-path modernization.
Over the past century, the CPC has promoted the great founding spirit, leading the Chinese people to completely change their own historical destiny, creating the path of Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization. It has shattered the myth that "modernization = Westernization," demonstrated another picture of modernization, expanded the path choices for developing countries toward modernization, and provided a Chinese solution for humanity’s exploration of better social systems.
(The authors are respectively a professor at the School of Marxism, Dalian University of Technology, and a specially invited researcher at the Liaoning Provincial Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics) Source: China Social Science Network - China Social Science Journal, July 1, 2025. Web Editor: Tongxin