How to understand the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from "irreversible" to "unstoppable"?
Question: Zhu Hongjun Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Anhui University of Finance and Economics
At the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process; at the meeting commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. May I ask, how should we understand the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation moving from "irreversible" to "unstoppable"?
Interpretation: Dong Zhenhua Director and Professor of the Department of Scientific Socialism, Central Party School (National Academy of Governance)
The transition of the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from "irreversible" to "unstoppable" signifies that this great cause, grounded in historical necessity, has further coalesced into an unstoppable and majestic force. This major judgment is not only a summary of the past but also a declaration for the future. It vividly demonstrates our strategic focus and confidence, firmly expresses our faith and determination, and profoundly reveals the "success code" of the Chinese path.
Standing at the forefront of the times, the Communist Party of China is our most reliable backbone for achieving great undertakings
The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centennial Struggle points out: "The Communist Party of China is the core force leading our cause. The reason the Chinese people and the Chinese nation were able to reverse their historical fate after the dawn of modern times and achieve today’s great accomplishments is, most fundamentally, due to the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China." It is precisely because we have always persisted in the Party's centralized and unified leadership that we were able to achieve great historical turning points, open the new period of reform and opening up and the new journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and successfully respond to a series of major risks and challenges while overcoming countless hardships and obstacles.
Looking at the entire world and the history of human civilization, no political force has been able to profoundly drive the historical development process of a nation like the Communist Party of China. In modern times, after its "sunset splendor" [1], China was teetering in the wind and rain, isolated and self-enclosed, impoverished and weak. Bullied and carved up by imperialist powers, it gradually sank into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society; the Chinese people suffered untold miseries and the children of China endured great humiliation. From that time on, the great Chinese people never gave up their struggle. For the sake of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, countless people with lofty ideals fought bloody battles, explored various schemes, and tried to establish various political parties, but none could solve the problems of national independence and people's liberation. The salvos of the October Revolution brought Marxism to China, and the Communist Party of China, armed with advanced theory, emerged at the historic moment, resolutely shouldering the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. From then on, the face of the Chinese revolution took on a completely new look; the struggle of the Chinese people for national independence, people's liberation, national prosperity, and people's happiness had a "backbone" [2], and the Chinese people shifted from being passive to being proactive in spirit.
For over a hundred years, our Party has integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, leading the people to complete the New Democratic Revolution, establishing the New China, and laying the political foundation for building socialism in China. We completed the socialist revolution, established the basic socialist system, and achieved great successes in socialist construction; we carried out the new great revolution of reform and opening up, successfully creating and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. On this path, our country has developed rapidly, the Chinese nation has caught up with the trends of the times in great strides, and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has revealed unprecedented bright prospects. China took only a few decades to complete the industrialization process that took developed countries several centuries, creating the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. The Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong, and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible.
The reason our country's socialist modernization construction has achieved world-renowned accomplishments and our society has maintained long-term stability is that, under the leadership of the Party, the people of the whole country have rallied around a common ideal, thinking with one mind and working toward one goal. This constitutes the most reliable support for using the certainty of being "unstoppable" to deal with all uncertainties. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is by no means something that can be achieved easily with the "beating of drums and clashing of cymbals" [3]; it will inevitably face various risks, challenges, and even tempestuous waves. As long as we have the Communist Party of China to exercise overall leadership and coordinate all parties, we will certainly be able to navigate complex situations, overcome hardships and obstacles, and realize the great dream.
Accurately grasping the general trend of the times, using Marxism to observe, grasp, and lead the times
The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: "Why the Communist Party of China works and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works, and especially because Marxism that has been Sinicized and adapted to our times works." It is precisely because we have the guidance of the scientific theory of Marxism and continuously promote theoretical innovation in combination with new realities—allowing the Party to master the powerful force of truth—that we can make accurate strategic judgments, scientific plans, and hold the initiative at major historical junctures, leading our cause from victory to even greater victory.
From the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, various political forces and ideological trends took turns on the stage of Chinese history, and many people with lofty ideals launched reform and revolutionary movements one after another in search of hope for national rejuvenation; these efforts all eventually ended in failure. The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, broke the superstition regarding the Soviet revolutionary experience, broke through the shackles of dogmatism, persisted in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China’s specific realities, and provided a theoretical synthesis of a series of original experiences accumulated through arduous exploration and great sacrifice. This achieved a great leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, laying a solid ideological and political foundation for winning the great victories of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, and for establishing the New China and the socialist revolution. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, our Party persisted in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, founded Deng Xiaoping Theory, and formed the "Three Represents" important thought and the Scientific Outlook on Development. We continuously promoted the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, ensuring the Party's guiding ideology advanced with the times and continuously pushing forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have had the courage to conduct theoretical exploration and innovation. With a brand-new perspective, they have deepened their understanding of the laws of governance by a communist party, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society, founding Xi Jinping $Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era$, achieving a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. The cause of the Party and the state has achieved historical achievements and undergone historical changes, pushing our country onto a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.
In the century-plus since its founding, our Party has always held high the scientific theoretical banner of Marxism, adhered to the fine tradition of ideological Party building and strengthening the Party through theory, relied closely on the people to innovate and test theory, and persisted in ensuring theory advances with the times and breaks new ground. By using developing Marxism to guide new practices, we have been able to continuously overcome various risks and challenges, correct errors, write soul-stirring historical chapters, and achieve one "miracle on earth" after another. Practice has fully proved that Marxism is our "true scripture" [4]. As long as we are brave enough to continuously advance theoretical innovation in combination with new practices and skillful at using new theories to guide new practices, we will certainly be able to let Marxism demonstrate an even more powerful and persuasive force of truth on the land of China, lighting the bright future of great rejuvenation with the light of truth.
Taking the people's heart as our own, effectively coalescing the powerful synergy of hundreds of millions of people to advance Chinese-path modernization
"The country is its people and the people are the country" [5]. Historical materialism for the first time scientifically elucidated the role of the masses in the development of social history, pointing out that all material and spiritual wealth of human society is, in the final analysis, created by the masses. Historical activity is the cause of the masses; the masses are the masters of history and the true heroes. The cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the cause of the people; without the active participation of hundreds of millions of people, socialist modernization cannot be realized. Leading the people to create a happy life is the unswerving goal of our Party; comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the great mission our Party shoulders. We must always persist in development for the people, development relying on the people, and development fruits shared by the people, so as to coalesce a powerful force of unity and struggle for the solid advancement of Chinese-path modernization.
We must adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, taking the realization of the people’s aspirations for a better life as the starting point and goal of modernization construction. We have vigorously promoted the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity, focused on maintaining and promoting social fairness and justice, and achieved substantive progress in common prosperity for all people. We persist in the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively developing whole-process people's democracy to ensure the people fully express their will and exercise their democratic rights. We vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, stimulating the cultural innovation and creative vitality of the entire nation, strengthening the spiritual force for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and continuously enriching the people's spiritual world. We firmly establish and practice the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," planning development from the height of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and unswervingly following a path of civilized development featuring productive growth, affluent life, and sound ecology to continuously meet the people's ecological needs. We continuously realize development for the people, development relying on the people, and development fruits shared by the people, allowing the achievements of modernization to benefit all people more extensively and fairly.
Seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation is the starting point and goal of our Chinese-path modernization. Only by adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and persisting in development for the people, by the people, and for their benefit, can we have a correct view of modernization and transcend the trap of Western modernization's "one-dimensional man." The masses are the source of the Party's strength and the root of victory. A fundamental reason why our Party has been able to lead the people to achieve great accomplishments in revolution, construction, and reform is that our Party has always been deeply rooted among the masses, who provide our Party with inexhaustible wisdom and strength. As long as we rely closely on the people, respect their pioneering spirit, and pool the wisdom and strength of all people, we will surely be able to gather the majestic force to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Walking on the correct path, firmly grasping the country's future and the nation's destiny in our own hands
Direction determines the future, and the path determines destiny. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese-path modernization is the only correct path for building a strong country and national rejuvenation; it is a path that works and is steady." Chinese-path modernization is the socialist modernization path with Chinese characteristics that our Party has led the people of all ethnic groups in exploring and successfully walking. It follows the laws of social development, persists in approaching problems, making decisions, and handling affairs based on national conditions, and maintains independence. It is the broad road for us to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Modernization is not something that can be made to work by simply "taking" it or "copying the gourd to draw the ladle" [6]; if not handled well, one may "try to draw a tiger but end up with a dog" [7], falling into various modernization traps and resulting in profound lessons of failed modernization construction. There is no fixed model for the path to modernization; what fits oneself is best, and one cannot "cut the feet to fit the shoes" [8]. Our country’s population of over 1.4 billion is entering a modern society as a whole; such a large-scale, arduous, and complex practice of modernization has never been seen in human history. There is no ready-made experience to draw on, no fixed model to follow, and it is even less possible to rely on other countries to realize it. The development path and methods of promotion must necessarily have their own characteristics and must rely on our own independent exploration.
As an unprecedented undertaking, Chinese-path modernization has solved many difficult problems in the development of human society. It has abandoned the old Western paths of capital-centered modernization, polarized modernization, materialistic-expansionist modernization, and modernization through external expansion and plunder, thereby expanding the pathways for developing countries to achieve modernization. Through promoting Chinese-path modernization, our country’s level of economic development has achieved a historical leap; new-type industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization have been promoted simultaneously; significant progress has been made in technological self-reliance and strength; and people's living standards have improved significantly. Absolute poverty has been historically eliminated, and ecological environmental protection has undergone historical, transitional, and comprehensive changes. Practice proves that the path of Chinese-path modernization is not only correct and feasible but will also surely be steady and successful.
As long as we follow the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, persist in and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, gather the majestic strength of millions of people acting as one to overcome difficulties, firmly grasp the destiny of China's development and progress in our own hands, and unswervingly follow this broad road, we will surely be able to both develop ourselves and benefit the world, continuously pushing forward the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Time and momentum are on our side; we stand on the right side of history and consistently stand on the side of human progress.
The world today is experiencing great changes unseen in a century [9], yet time and momentum are on our side. This is the source of our composure and confidence, as well as our determination and faith. The noble cause of human peace and development is bound to prevail. As long as we consistently stand on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, we will surely be able to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with all the progressive forces of the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out:
"Persisting in peaceful development, seeking our own development while resolutely safeguarding world peace and development, and better safeguarding world peace and development through our own development to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity—this is a prominent feature of Chinese-path modernization." We adhere to cooperation rather than confrontation, openness rather than isolation, and mutual benefit and win-win results rather than zero-sum games. We resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and resolutely oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism. This is the profound answer of the Chinese path to the questions of the times [10], and it injects powerful ideological and practical force into the promotion of the cause of human peace and development.
The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and a party that struggles for the cause of human progress. Everything we do is to seek happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and peace and development for humanity. We unify the thousand-year grand enterprise [11] of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the noble cause of committing to human peace and development into the cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. We have proposed and actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, focusing on solving the practical problems facing the world today and achieving the peaceful and sustainable development of human society. Retaining Great Unity [12] as the goal, we uphold the concept of win-win cooperation, reject the law of the jungle, eschew power-based hegemony, transcend zero-sum games, and have opened a new developmental path of win-win cooperation, joint construction, and shared benefits.
We seek not only rejuvenation for the nation but also Great Unity for the world. We are based on Chinese soil to find solutions to Chinese problems, while also utilizing a concern for all under heaven [13] to actively respond to the universal concerns of people in all countries, providing new ideas and solutions for solving common problems facing humanity, and making new and greater contributions to human development. "He who shares the world’s benefits with the people of the world will win the world" [14]. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a righteous cause that shares interests with the whole world. A righteous cause will inevitably win the support of the people of the world and proceed without being defeated.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized:
"In today's world, if any political party, any country, or any nation has reason to be confident, then the Communist Party of China, the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese nation have the most reason to be confident." The power of truth, the power of the people, the power of faith, the power of morality, and the power of practice have coalesced into a powerful historical force for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. They have gathered into an unstoppable historical torrent of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, signaling the bright prospects for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Source: Study Times [15] September 29, 2025 Web Editor: Huihui