Marxism and Reform and Opening-up
The relationship between Marxism and Reform and Opening-up is a fundamental theoretical and practical issue in the process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the Third Plenary Session of its 11th Central Committee [1], our Party has insisted on combining the basic tenets of Marxism with the concrete reality of contemporary China and the characteristics of our times. In doing so, it has realized a second historic leap in the Sinicization of Marxism [2], forming the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and leading the great cause of Reform and Opening-up and socialist modernization toward continuous success.
To understand the internal logic between Marxism and Reform and Opening-up, we must first recognize that Reform and Opening-up is a practice guided by Marxism. Only by adhering to the scientific guidance of Marxism can Reform and Opening-up maintain the correct political orientation. Reform is not a change in the nature of the socialist system, but rather the self-improvement and development of that system. It aims to liberate and develop the productive forces while fundamentally changing the economic structures and other systems that constrain their growth. Throughout this process, our Party has consistently upheld the four cardinal principles [3], ensuring that Reform and Opening-up does not stray onto the old path of closed-off rigidity or the "evil path" of changing our political colors [4].
Simultaneously, Reform and Opening-up provides an inexhaustible source of vitality for the development of Marxism. Marx and Engels once noted that their theory was not a dogma, but a guide to action. Real life is the only standard for testing truth. The practice of Reform and Opening-up has broken through the shackles of traditional, ossified understandings of socialism, allowing us to rethink "what socialism is and how to build it" from the perspective of the primary stage of socialism [5]. By adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, our Party has successfully handled the dialectical relationship between the "fundamentals" (shou-zheng) and "innovation" (chuang-xin), ensuring that Marxism always advances with the times.
In the New Era, as we face profound changes unseen in a century, the interplay between theory and practice has become even more critical. Reform and Opening-up remains the "key move" [6] that determines the fate of contemporary China. We must continue to use the scientific worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to analyze the new contradictions in our society. Only by deeply integrating Marxist theory with the specific challenges of the current stage can we promote high-quality development and provide a solid theoretical foundation for the realization of common prosperity and Chinese-path modernization.