Xin Xiangyang: Carrying Forward the Spirit of the Zunyi Conference [1] and Continuously Advancing the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism
In January 1935, the Zunyi Meeting, convened during the Long March, served as a life-and-death turning point in our Party's history. In June 2015, during a visit to the Zunyi Meeting site and its memorial hall in Guizhou, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Zunyi Meeting, as an important meeting of great transitional significance in our Party’s history, has left behind precious experience and important insights in terms of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete realities, persisting in following a path of independence, upholding a correct political line and policy strategy, and building a strong and mature central leadership collective. We must make good use of the historical experience of the Zunyi Meeting so that the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting will shine forever.” In February 2021, during an inspection tour in Guizhou, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “deeply perceive the original aspiration and founding mission of Communists from the spirit of the Long March and the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting, implement the general requirements for Party building in the New Era, seek truth from facts, persist in the truth, respond to changes scientifically, take the initiative to seek change, fix our sights on our goals, and forge ahead bravely to successfully walk the Long March of the New Era.” On the new journey of the New Era, we must earnestly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, inherit and carry forward the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting, and constantly open up new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
A strong leadership core is the fundamental requirement for advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism
Great causes require a strong leadership core. In October 1934, due to the erroneous leadership of "Left" dogmatism [1] within the Party, the fifth counter-campaign against "encirclement and suppression" [2] in the Central Revolutionary Base Area failed, leaving the Party and the Red Army facing an extremely grave crisis. The main forces of the Central Red Army set out from Yudu, Jiangxi, to begin the Long March. Because of "Left" errors in military command, the Central Red Army suffered repeated setbacks in the early stages of the Long March, with its numbers plummeting from over 86,000 at the start to just over 30,000. In the face of harsh facts, the Party Central Committee decisively adopted Comrade Mao Zedong’s suggestion to move toward Guizhou to open a new base area. To correct the errors of "Left" dogmatism and adventurism, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held an enlarged meeting in Zunyi, Guizhou, in January 1935. In mid-March, the Central Committee established a new "Three-Man Group" [3] composed of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Wang Jiaxiang. After the Zunyi Meeting, under the correct leadership of Comrade Mao Zedong, the "Left" line was gradually overcome politically, militarily, and organizationally, laying a solid foundation for the victory of the Long March and ultimately the Chinese Revolution. The most important historical experience of the Zunyi Meeting is that for our Party to lead the Chinese Revolution to success, it must have a correct Marxist line and a strong and powerful leadership core and central leadership collective formed in practice.
In November 1943, in a speech at the rectification mobilization meeting of the Northern Bureau Party School, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Since the Zunyi Meeting in January 1935, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee headed by Mao Zedong, our Party has thoroughly overcome 'Left' and Right opportunism within the Party, swept away the atmosphere of subjectivism, sectarianism, and stereotyped Party writing [4], and placed the Party’s cause entirely under the guidance of Sinicized Marxism-Leninism, namely Mao Zedong Thought. For nine years now, we have not only avoided mistakes but have been developing victoriously.” In April 1945, the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party adopted the Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party, which stated: The Zunyi Meeting “triumphantly terminated the rule of the 'Left' line in the Central Committee and saved the Party at that most critical moment. The Zunyi Meeting was entirely correct in its concentrated effort to rectify the military and organizational errors, which were of decisive significance at the time. This meeting inaugurated a new leadership of the Central Committee headed by Comrade Mao Zedong, and was the most significant historical turning point within the Chinese Party.” As the core of the first generation of the Party's central leadership collective, Comrade Mao Zedong set a glorious example for us in correctly treating Marxism and continuously advancing its Sinicization.
Selecting and establishing a strong and powerful leadership core and central leadership collective for the Party is the fundamental guarantee for the continuous development and victory of the cause of the Party and the people. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has had the courage to conduct theoretical exploration and innovation, founding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieving a series of historic accomplishments, and writing a glorious chapter in the history of the development of the Chinese nation and of humanity. General Secretary Xi Jinping is the primary founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; he is the helmsman of the country, the guide for the people's happiness, and the leader supported by the whole Party and loved by the people. On the new journey of the New Era, we must deeply grasp the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the Four Consciousnesses [5], bolster the Four Confidences [6], achieve the Two Upholds, and unite closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, striving to comprehensively advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.
Persisting in the "Two Combinations" is the fundamental path for advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism
Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which we found and develop our Party and country. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “The great strength of Marxism-Leninism lies in its integration with the concrete revolutionary practice of various countries. For the Communist Party of China, it is a matter of learning how to apply Marxist-Leninist theory to China’s specific circumstances.” In his speech at the rally commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: “The victory of the Long March teaches us that only by mastering scientific theory can we grasp the correct direction of progress; only by basing ourselves on reality and opening up a path of progress independently can we continuously move toward victory. The road traveled by the Long March not only crossed thousands of mountains and rivers but also surmounted the erroneous ideological obstacle of treating Marxism as an immutable dogma. The fundamental experience and enlightenment given to us by the Long March is that we must persist in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and unswervingly follow the path of revolution, construction, and reform that fits China's national conditions.” The Zunyi Meeting was a great victory for Marxism in China and a great victory for Sinicized Marxism, fully demonstrating the great power of persisting in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete realities. Comrades such as Mao Zedong, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun, who attended the Zunyi Meeting, were not only proletarian revolutionaries and outstanding leaders of the CPC but also the finest members of the Chinese nation. At the meeting, they were single-mindedly devoted to the Party, the Red Army, and the Chinese Revolution, without the slightest consideration for personal gain or loss, maintaining an open mind, unity, and inclusiveness. This both reflected the power of Marxist truth and displayed the ideological wisdom of fine traditional Chinese culture.
The "Two Combinations" [7] is a scientific summary of our Party's historical experience of a century of struggle and is the greatest "magic weapon" for our success. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Only by combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture, and by persisting in the application of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, can we correctly answer the major questions posed by the times and practice, and consistently maintain the exuberant vitality and vigorous energy of Marxism.” Persisting in the "Two Combinations" is the fundamental path for continuing to advance the Party’s theoretical innovation and opening up new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism in the New Era. On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, persist in the "Two Combinations," carry forward the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting, uphold a correct political direction, and constantly answer brand-new questions encountered in practice, leading practical innovation with theoretical innovation to write a new chapter in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Persisting in seeking truth from facts is the fundamental prerequisite for advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism
Seeking truth from facts is the fundamental viewpoint of Marxism and the fundamental requirement for Chinese Communists to understand and transform the world. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “‘Facts’ are all the things that exist objectively; ‘truth’ is the internal link between objective things, namely, their laws; and ‘to seek’ means we go and study.” In his important speech at the symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: “Comrade Mao Zedong applied dialectical materialism and historical materialism to the entire work of the proletarian party, and in the long and arduous struggle of the Chinese revolution and construction, he formed a stance, viewpoint, and method with the distinct characteristics of Chinese Communists, embodied in the three basic aspects of seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence.” Persisting in seeking truth from facts means going deep into reality to understand the true nature of things, persisting in the truth and correcting errors for the sake of the people's interests, and continuously advancing theoretical innovation based on practice.
As early as 1930, Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized the need to correct "book worship" [8] that is divorced from actual conditions, stressing that "no investigation, no right to speak," and explicitly putting forward the "ideological line of Communists creating new situations through struggle." It was precisely because of the failure to persist in starting from reality in all matters that the Red Army failed to win the fifth counter-campaign against "encirclement and suppression" and was forced to begin the strategic shift. The Zunyi Meeting criticized the erroneous military line and pointed out that its ideological root was "Left" dogmatism, which was seriously divorced from China's reality and the reality of war. After the Zunyi Meeting, the series of victories achieved by the Red Army—especially the "Four Crossings of the Chishui River" [9]—made more and more officers and soldiers realize the importance and scientific nature of the thesis advocated by Comrade Mao Zedong: "The victory of the Chinese revolutionary struggle depends on Chinese comrades understanding Chinese conditions." Persisting in starting from reality and walking one’s own path gradually became the consensus of the whole Party.
Seeking truth from facts is a distinctive feature of the Zunyi Meeting and an important experience of its success. More than a century of Party history tells us: whether in the past, present, or future, we must persist in starting from reality in all matters, integrate theory with practice, and test and develop truth through practice. On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. We must persist in the principle that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, constantly answer the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, speak the truth, forge new paths, and perform new feats. We must deeply explore the laws of building Chinese-path modernization and achieve new victories in theoretical and practical exploration.
Persisting in independence is the fundamental principle for advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism
Independence is the soul of the Chinese national spirit and an important principle upon which we found our Party and country. Although the Zunyi Meeting directly solved military and organizational problems, more importantly, it fundamentally solved the problem of independence—that is, whether the CPC’s leadership of the Chinese Revolution should follow every command of the Comintern and "Left" dogmatists, or whether it should truly carve out its own path under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and based on China’s national conditions. The Zunyi Meeting made our Party realize further that only by combining the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete realities of the Chinese Revolution and independently solving a series of major problems concerning the future and destiny of the Chinese Revolution can final victory be achieved. In a 1963 conversation with foreign guests, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly pointed out: “Truly understanding independence began with the Zunyi Meeting, which criticized dogmatism. The dogmatists said everything in the Soviet Union was right and failed to combine Soviet experience with Chinese reality.”
In November 2021, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century (hereinafter referred to as the Resolution), which pointed out: “In January 1935, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held the Zunyi Meeting during the Long March. This meeting effectively established Comrade Mao Zedong’s leadership over the Party Central Committee and the Red Army, began to establish the leadership of the correct Marxist line—represented primarily by Comrade Mao Zedong—within the Party Central Committee, began the formation of the Party’s first generation of central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong as its core, and opened a new stage in which the Party independently solved the practical problems of the Chinese Revolution. It saved the Party, the Red Army, and the Chinese Revolution at the most critical moment. Subsequently, it enabled the Party to defeat Zhang Guotao’s splittism [10], successfully complete the Long March, and open up a new situation for the Chinese Revolution.” The Resolution also listed "persisting in independence" as one of the ten pieces of valuable historical experience accumulated by the CPC in its century of struggle.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) relied on independence and self-reliance to achieve the glorious successes of the past; it must likewise rely on independence and self-reliance to navigate its current path and continue achieving new and greater successes in the future. The Report to the 20th CPC National Congress emphasized: "The successful path of the Party’s century-long struggle was explored and opened up by the Party leading the people through independence and self-reliance. The Chinese chapters of Marxism have been practiced by Chinese Communists relying on their own strength. A fundamental point running through all this is that China’s problems must be approached from China’s basic national conditions and answered by the Chinese people themselves." On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in our firm faith in Marxism and our firm belief in socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must strengthen our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture [11]. We must keep pace with the times, adapt to the development of practice, guide new practices with new theories, and constantly propose new concepts, ideas, and methods that truly solve problems. With a more proactive sense of historical responsibility and creative spirit, we must make new contributions to the development of Marxism, allowing contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism to radiate an even more brilliant light of truth.
Upholding the Party's Unity and Unification is the Fundamental Guarantee for Promoting the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism
Guaranteeing the unity and unification of the Party is the lifeblood of the Party and an important condition for ensuring the creation of the Party’s theory and the development of its cause. During the Long March [12], the Red Army faced vicious and brutal pursuing enemies, harsh and adverse natural environments, and intense struggles against erroneous ideas within the Party. Under these circumstances, strengthening the Party’s unity and unification was a matter of life and death for the Party and the Red Army. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The victory of the Long March achieved unprecedented unity of the whole Party and the Red Army on the basis of pursuing and persisting in the truth. Without this great ideological and political unity, the victory of the Chinese Revolution would have been impossible." During the Long March, Comrade Mao Zedong conducted heart-to-heart talks with Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, and several Red Army cadres, performing extensive and meticulous ideological work. He gained the recognition and support of most central leaders, including Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De, creating favorable conditions and timing for the convening of the Zunyi Conference [13]. To fully promote democracy and listen to opinions from all sides, the Zunyi Conference was expanded in scale. In addition to members and alternate members of the Political Bureau following the Central Red Army on the Long March, the main leaders of the Red Army Headquarters, various army groups, and the Secretary-General of the Central Committee also attended. Otto Braun [14] and his interpreter were also present. At the meeting, comrades spoke their minds freely and actively carried out criticism and self-criticism. The vast majority of comrades, including Chen Yun, Liu Shaoqi, Nie Rongzhen, Liu Bocheng, Li Fuchun, and Peng Dehuai, opposed the "Left" opportunist military line [15] and actively supported Comrade Mao Zedong's correct propositions. After full discussion, the meeting drafted the Resolution of the Central Committee on the Summation of the Opposition to the Enemy's Five "Encirclement and Suppression" Campaigns [16] based on the majority opinion. After being reviewed and approved by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, the resolution was sent to all branches for study and discussion, further consolidating the will of the Party and the army. On June 10, 1945, in "On the Election of Alternate Members of the Seventh Central Committee," Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "The Zunyi Conference was a turning point and had a tremendous impact on the Chinese Revolution. However, everyone should know that without Comrades Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian) and Wang Jiaxiang breaking away from the third 'Left' opportunist line, the Zunyi Conference could not have been a success. Comrades credit the successes to me, but those two must never be forgotten." In February 1962, in his speech at the Enlarged Working Conference of the Central Committee, Comrade Deng Xiaoping noted: "After the Zunyi Conference, under the leadership of Comrade Mao Zedong, our Party established a sound system of Party life. For example: democratic centralism; the method of 'unity—criticism—unity'; the principles of 'blame not the speaker but be warned by his words' [17], 'learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the sickness to save the patient' [18]; 'criticism should be strict, but treatment should be lenient,' avoiding excessive struggle and merciless blows; and maintaining plain living, hard work, modesty, and prudence, and so on." The Zunyi Conference stands as a glorious example of adhering to and implementing democratic centralism and maintaining the Party's unity and unification; it also laid a solid foundation for the innovation and development of Mao Zedong Thought and its eventual establishment as our Party's guiding ideology.
Both history and reality prove that the Party's unity and unification are where the future and destiny of the Party and the people lie, and where the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in the country reside. They must not be blurred or shaken at any time or under any circumstances. On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in taking Xi Jinping Spirit of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide. We must consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in ideology, politics, and action. We must continuously improve our political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, ensure the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and ensure that the Party plays its role as the leadership core in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties. We must maintain the Party's unity and unification, build a stronger and more powerful Marxist party, and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to overcome all difficulties and obstacles, creating new and greater miracles on the Long March of the New Era.
(The author is the President and Researcher of the Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Executive Editor: Zhang Ji Source: Qiushi Journal (Hongqi Wengao), Issue 1, 2025