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Scientific Outlook on Development and China's Economic Reform and Opening-up

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Scientific Outlook on Development and China's Economic Reform and Opening Up is the final research output of a major project funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (Project No. 05&ZD004), chaired by Professor Cheng Enfu. It was designated a key publication for the "Theme Publishing" initiative by the General Administration of Press and Publication to welcome the 18th National Congress of the CPC, and is a "Eleventh Five-Year" national key book.

This work systematically traces the developmental trajectory of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It provides a profound analysis of the contemporary background and theoretical connotations of the Scientific Outlook on Development [1], a major strategic thought proposed by the Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary. The book elucidates the inherent laws and essential requirements of China's socialist economic reform, opening up, and socio-economic development in the New Period [2], fully reflecting the latest explorations of the central leadership since the 16th National Congress regarding the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In accordance with the requirements of the Scientific Outlook on Development and centering on the objectives of scientific socio-economic development, opening up, and reform, the book proposes a series of important viewpoints. These include the "four-pillar" (四主型) economic system model, mechanisms for regulating income distribution, regional coordination mechanisms, a system of national regulation with Chinese characteristics, a state-led system for protecting labor rights, strategies for independent innovation and intellectual property, and a path for ecologically sustainable development. It comprehensively reflects the inherent essence and requirements of the Scientific Outlook on Development regarding economic construction.

About the Author

Cheng Enfu, born in Shanghai in 1950, is currently a Member of the CASS Academic Division, a member of the Academic Division Presidium, and Director of the Academic Division of Marxist Studies. He serves as the President of the Institute of Marxism Studies, professor, and doctoral supervisor. He is a recipient of the Special Government Allowance from the State Council and was a deputy to the 11th National People's Congress. He has delivered lectures at collective study sessions of the Central Policy Bureau and has frequently attended symposiums convened by central leaders.

He serves as the President of the World Association for Political Economy (WAPE)—a global academic organization—as well as President of the Chinese Association for the History of Foreign Economic Theories and the Chinese Association for the Study of Economic Laws. He is a Chief Expert for the National Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project and a judge for the National Social Science Fund. He holds honorary or guest professorships at over ten universities, including Saint Petersburg University in Russia and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

His research and teaching focus primarily on Chinese and foreign economics and Marxist theory. He pioneered the "Five-Process Method" for a new system of modern political economy and has uniquely proposed a series of theoretical and policy ideas, including "the new monism of value based on living labor," "the new economic man theory," "the dual constraint theory of resources and demand," "the theory of reciprocal movement between equity and efficiency," "the theory of intellectual property advantage," "the theory of fundamental contradictions in contemporary economy," and "the three-stage theory of socialism." His works have been cited thousands of times, and he enjoys high prestige in international and domestic circles of political economy and Marxist studies.

He has published over 400 articles in domestic and foreign journals and has authored or co-edited more than 20 books. His solo works include An Analysis of Western Property Rights Theory and The Three-Stage Theory of Socialism. He has served as editor-in-chief for Modern Political Economy (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced levels), the five-volume History of Marxist Economic Thought, Economic Methodology, and Cultural Economics.

Table of Contents

Part One: The Scientific Outlook on Development and Economic Reform Introduction Chapter 1: Thoughts on Economic Reform within the Scientific Outlook on Development

  1. Unifying reform orientation with economic development goals
  2. Unifying the improvement of basic systems with institutional innovation
  3. Unifying the improvement of market systems with the refinement of the macro-regulation system
  4. Increasing "the two ratios" and promoting distributive equity [3] Chapter 2: Historic Reform and the Search for Development Models
  5. Grasping the connotations of reform: An analysis of the socio-economic structural system
  6. The commonality of reform and transformation: The return to a commodity-market economy
  7. The nature of reform and the trends of transformation: Different choices for target reform models Chapter 3: The Institutional Model of China's Economic Development: The Socialist Market Economy
  8. Distinguishing between two meanings of "economic model"
  9. Creating a new model: Dual explorations in theory and practice
  10. Interpreting the China Model and its comparison with other models Chapter 4: Characteristics and Connotations of China's Economic System Model: The "Four-Pillar" Model
  11. Economic institutional characteristics and connotations of the China Model
  12. Realizing "sound and rapid" [4] economic development and improving the China Model Chapter 5: Consolidating the Basic Economic System that Lays the Foundation for Scientific Development
  13. Adhering to the basic economic system of the primary stage of socialism [5]
  14. Theoretical reflections on the current status of the dominant position of public ownership
  15. Seizing favorable opportunities to revitalize the public-ownership economy
  16. Unswervingly and scientifically advancing the adjustment and reform of the state-owned economy Chapter 6: Building an Income Distribution System Embodying the Historic Integration of Efficiency and Equity
  17. Emphasizing income distribution and deepening reform of the distribution system
  18. The fundamental guiding principle for straightening out distribution relations: Letting the fruits of development benefit all people
  19. Implementing the systematic project of equitable distribution through deepening reform
  20. Placing high importance on the distribution of labor income
  21. Building a state-led system for protecting the rights and interests of enterprise employees Chapter 7: Reform and Improvement of the Modern Market Economy System
  22. Refining and regulating a unified national market
  23. Improving the modern market economy system Chapter 8: Construction and Improvement of a National Regulation System with Chinese Characteristics
  24. Basic characteristics of the national regulation system with Chinese characteristics and the target system of macro-regulation
  25. A new regulatory mechanism "based on market regulation and led by state regulation"
  26. Improving the fiscal and taxation system and exerting its regulatory functions
  27. Financial regulation and financial supervision
  28. National regulation of the urban housing market

Part Two: The Scientific Outlook on Development and Economic Opening Up Introduction Chapter 9: Thoughts on Economic Opening Up within the Scientific Outlook on Development

  1. Basing strategies on coordinating internal and external needs; enhancing the capacity to manage opening up
  2. Expanding the horizons of opening up; enhancing the awareness of all-directional opening up
  3. Accelerating independent innovation; enhancing international competitiveness
  4. Persisting in independent opening up; building an open economic system
  5. Ensuring national economic security; effectively responding to the risks of opening up Chapter 10: Developing Independent and Open Foreign Trade
  6. The relationship between globalization and the nation-state from the perspective of the Scientific Outlook on Development
  7. Periodic characteristics and dynamic interests of China's foreign trade
  8. Empirical analysis of China's foreign trade and international direct investment
  9. Forcefully responding to US currency and trade wars
  10. The trade-driving effect of FDI and China-US trade disputes
  11. Strategic adjustment of China's foreign trade structure
  12. Import substitution and export orientation from the perspective of coordinating internal and external needs and independent opening up Chapter 11: Financial Opening and Industrial Security
  13. The stages of financial opening during the Reform and Opening Up period
  14. Capital account liberalization and national financial security
  15. Financial opening and the security of the manufacturing industry
  16. Financial opening and the security of the service industry
  17. Policy recommendations for financial opening and industrial security Chapter 12: The "New Strategy for Opening Up" to Transform the Pattern of Foreign Economic Development
  18. Problems facing China's traditional open economy
  19. Strategic choices for accelerating transformation: Six areas of appropriate control and active enhancement

Part Three: The Scientific Outlook on Development and Economic Development Introduction Chapter 13: Promoting Sound and Rapid Development with the Scientific Outlook on Development

  1. Basic thoughts on economic development within the Scientific Outlook on Development
  2. Comprehensively implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development to achieve sound and rapid development
  3. Correctly handling the "six major relationships" in persisting with scientific development Chapter 14: Adhering to an Industrial Development Strategy of Independent Innovation
  4. Independent innovation as the fundamental path to rapid and leapfrog development
  5. Creating and cultivating advantages in intellectual property
  6. Implementing the development strategy for intellectual property
  7. Creating an industrial development mode led by independent intellectual property rights Chapter 15: Taking the Urbanization Path with Chinese Socialist Characteristics
  8. General meaning of the urbanization path and Chinese characteristics
  9. Building mechanisms for coordinating urban and rural development; advancing China's urbanization
  10. The key to China's urbanization is solving the "Three Rural Issues" [6]
  11. Two research reports on regional urbanization practices Chapter 16: Adhering to the Socialist Direction of New Rural Construction
  12. Promoting the development of the collective economy in New Rural Construction
  13. Paying attention to certain "tendency-based" issues in New Rural Construction
  14. Two research reports on New Rural Construction Chapter 17: Promoting Coordinated Regional Economic Development
  15. Theoretical innovation in Chinese regional development
  16. Properly handling several relationships in regional development Chapter 18: Actively Advancing Sustainable Development
  17. Guiding sustainable development with Marxism
  18. China's path toward building an ecological civilization

References