Marxism and the Sixty Years of New China
Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which our Party and state are founded; it is the "soul" and "banner" that guides the continuous advancement of our cause. The sixty-year history of the People's Republic of China is, in essence, a history of the continuous integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the concrete realities of China’s construction and reform. It is a history of the Sinicization of Marxism developing in depth, and a history of Marxism exerting a powerful guiding role in the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
In the process of leading the revolution, construction, and reform, our Party has consistently prioritized the theoretical building of Marxism. Looking back at the historical process of the past sixty years, the Sinicization of Marxism has undergone a magnificent journey. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party combined the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China’s specific realities to explore a path for socialist construction suitable for China’s conditions. This enriched and developed Mao Zedong Thought, providing the theoretical preparation and practical foundation for the subsequent opening of the new historical period of reform and opening up. Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee [1], our Party has continued to seek truth from facts, persisted in the liberation of the mind [2], and progressively formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This system includes Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents [3], and the Scientific Outlook on Development [4]. This theoretical system constitutes the latest achievement in the Sinicization of Marxism and serves as the correct theoretical guidance for the continuous victory of the cause of the Party and the people.
The historical experience of the past sixty years has proven that we must consistently uphold the guiding position of Marxism. Only Marxism can save China, and only Marxism can develop China. This is a historical conclusion and the choice of the people. In the contemporary era, upholding the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the true adherence to Marxism. At the same time, we must maintain a dialectical unity between upholding Marxism and developing Marxism. We must be adept at using the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to analyze and solve the new situations and problems arising in the practice of reform and opening up. We must "break new ground while upholding the fundamentals" [5], ensuring that Marxism always maintains its vigor and vitality.
Currently, China's development is at a new historical starting point. Faced with a complex and volatile international environment and the arduous tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability, the importance of strengthening Marxist theoretical research and construction has become increasingly prominent. We must take the study and implementation of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics as a strategic task. We must further promote the project of Marxist theoretical research and construction (Marxist Project) [6], continuously innovating theoretical perspectives and deepening our laws of governance: the law of CPC governance, the law of socialist construction, and the law of the development of human society. Only by arming the entire Party with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism can we provide a solid ideological and theoretical guarantee for the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.