Li Jie: Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform Must Adhere to Integrity and Innovation
The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization" (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision"), deliberated and adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, scientifically summarizes the valuable experience of comprehensively deepening reform since the start of reform and opening up, and particularly in the New Era. It proposes major principles for further comprehensively deepening reform, one of which is to "uphold the fundamentals and break new ground." General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "We are engaged in a great cause without precedent. Only by upholding the fundamentals can we avoid losing our way or making subversive errors; only by breaking new ground can we grasp and lead the times." To uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must remain unswerving in adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics, keep pace with the times, adapt to the development of practice, maintain a prominent problem-oriented approach, and advance innovation in theory, practice, institutions, culture, and all other aspects from a new starting point.
To uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must adhere to the correct political direction and remain unswerving in adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics
The path is the lifeblood of the Party; the question of the path is the primary issue concerning the success or failure of the Party's cause. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of Chinese social development. It is a scientific socialism rooted in Chinese soil, reflecting the will of the Chinese people, and adapting to the requirements of the progress of China and the times. It is the only path toward achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Reform and opening up is a "magic weapon" [1] for the cause of the Party and the people to catch up with the times in long strides. The reason socialism with Chinese characteristics possesses such vigorous vitality is precisely because it is a socialism that implements reform and opening up. Only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism, thereby powerfully advancing Chinese-path modernization.
Reform is the self-perfection and development of the socialist system. Perfecting and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a dynamic process that must continuously evolve alongside the development of practice. Only by further comprehensively deepening reform, continuously improving existing institutions, persistently advancing institutional innovation to fill institutional gaps, and constantly perfecting systems and mechanisms in all areas can we better adapt to the needs of new fields and new practices, providing a powerful impetus and institutional guarantee for Chinese-path modernization. Socialism with Chinese characteristics emerged from reform and opening up, and it will surely grow and strengthen through reform and opening up. During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, China caught up with the times in long strides by relying on reform and opening up. Since the 18th national congress of the Party, the cause of the Party and the country has achieved historical achievements and undergone historical transformations, also by relying on reform and opening up. On the new journey of the New Era, creating a new situation for Chinese-path modernization must still rely on reform and opening up. We must recognize very clearly that reform and opening up has a direction, a stance, and principles. Our reform is a reform that continuously advances on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; we will neither take the old path of being closed and stagnant nor the crooked path of changing flags and banners [2]. We must remain unswerving in adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The "Decision" clarified the general goal of further comprehensively deepening reform: to continue perfecting and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the state governance system and capacity. By 2035, we will have finished building a high-level socialist market economy system in all respects, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics will be further improved, the modernization of our state governance system and capacity will be basically achieved, and socialist modernization will be basically realized. This will lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century. This general goal is in the same strain as the general goal for comprehensively deepening reform determined at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, and it connects with the strategic deployments made at the 20th CPC National Congress, clarifying the goal-orientation and political direction for further comprehensively deepening reform. To further comprehensively deepen reform while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, we must be guided by this general goal, remain unswerving in adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics, and carry the reform through to the end.
To uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must keep pace with the times and lead the trends of the times
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Recognizing the general trend of world development and following the tide of the times is an extremely important task that is always new. For China to develop, it must follow the world's tides of development." Since the day of its founding, our Party has always attached great importance to judging and grasping the era. Being adept at conforming to, keeping pace with, and leading the times is a distinct advantage of our Party.
The founding and consolidation of the People's Republic of China was a product of conforming to the great tide of the times. The historic decision made at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee to shift the focus of the work of the Party and the state to economic construction and to implement reform and opening up was based on the Party's profound insight into the trends of the times. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made a top-level design for comprehensively deepening reform, initiating a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform with systematic and integrated design in the New Era, and creating a brand-new situation for China's reform and opening up; this, too, was the result of keeping pace with the times and conforming to the trends of the times. In further comprehensively deepening reform, to uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must keep in mind the overall strategy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world's changes unseen in a century. We must establish a grand perspective on history, analyzing the mechanisms of evolution and exploring historical laws from the long river of history, the tides of the era, and the global winds and clouds. We must propose corresponding strategies and tactics, accurately identifying changes, scientifically responding to changes, and proactively seeking changes. By winning the initiative amidst changing circumstances, we can enhance the scientific, foresighted, proactive, and creative nature of further comprehensively deepening reform, and always maintain the historical initiative [3] in the development of the cause of the Party and the country on the new journey of the New Era.
To uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must adapt to the development of practice and maintain a prominent problem-oriented approach
The viewpoint that practice comes first embodies the essence of Marxism. Problems are the voice of the times and the wind vane of the development of practice; answering and guiding the solution of problems is the fundamental task of theory. Problems are the manifestation of contradictions within things. Emphasizing the adaptation to the development of practice and maintaining a prominent problem-oriented approach means acknowledging the universality and objectivity of contradictions; it means being adept at taking the recognition and resolution of contradictions as a breakthrough point to open up new situations in our work.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Social existence determines social consciousness. The reason the theories, lines, principles, and policies proposed and implemented by our Party at the current stage are correct is precisely because they are all based on the social existence of China's current era. The overall deployment for comprehensively deepening reform made at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proceeded from China’s current social existence—that is, from the sum of China's current social material conditions, which is to say, from China’s basic national conditions and developmental requirements." The current and future period is a critical period for comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. In this critical period, the pressures and challenges facing China's development are unprecedented. They cannot be dodged or bypassed; we must overcome difficulties and forge ahead. Proceeding from China's basic national conditions and developmental requirements, we must focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, the urgent anxieties and expectations of the masses, major problems in the shifting international landscape, and prominent problems facing Party building. We must strengthen investigation and research, accurately grasp objective reality, truly master the underlying laws, and constantly propose new concepts, ideas, and methods that truly solve problems. We must reform what should be reformed and can be reformed thoroughly and effectively, and once a course is decided upon, grasp it unswervingly.
The "Decision" provides an in-depth analysis of the new situations and problems facing the advancement of Chinese-path modernization. Adapting to developmental needs, conforming to the expectations of the masses, and responding to risks and challenges, it proposes more than 300 important reform measures covering all aspects of advancing Chinese-path modernization. These important reform measures all involve systems, mechanisms, and institutional levels. Some are improvements and enhancements of past reform measures, while others are newly proposed based on practical needs and pilot explorations. They will certainly play a leading and breakthrough role in conforming to the development of practice and highlighting a problem-oriented approach.
To uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must advance innovation in theory, practice, institutions, culture, and all other aspects from a new starting point
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Only the reformers progress, only the innovators grow strong, and only those who reform and innovate prevail." To further comprehensively deepen reform and advance Chinese-path modernization, we must gain a profound insight into the general trends of world development, accurately grasp the common aspirations of the masses, deeply explore the laws of economic and social development, and continuously expand the breadth and depth of our understanding. We must dare to say new things that our predecessors did not say and dare to do things that our predecessors did not do. We must continuously advance innovation in theory, practice, institutions, culture, and all other aspects, so that reform can better embody the character of the times, grasp underlying laws, and be full of creativity.
Innovation is the soul of a nation's progress, an inexhaustible driving force for a country's prosperity, and the deepest national endowment of the Chinese nation. Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground is an essential requirement of reform. We must profoundly realize that grasping innovation is grasping development, and planning for innovation is planning for the future. We must explore boldly in practice and promote the development of our cause through innovation. The important ideological viewpoints, major strategic deployments, and major reform measures proposed in the "Decision" centrally embody innovation in theory, practice, institutions, culture, and all other aspects. They profoundly reflect the inherent requirements of the Marxist ideological and working method of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground. For example, the "Decision" proposes that "a high-level socialist market economy system is an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization," profoundly revealing the inner relationship between the two. It proposes that "scientific macro-control and effective government governance are inherent requirements for leveraging the advantages of the socialist market economy system," further deepening the understanding of the law of "giving full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and better playing the role of the government." It proposes that "education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic pillars of Chinese-path modernization," unifying these three elements within the construction of a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, which fully reflects our Party's profound insight into the essence and laws of innovation, and so forth. These important ideological viewpoints have significant theoretical innovation value and deepen the understanding of a series of major theoretical and practical issues. The "Decision" adheres to institutional construction as the main thread, emphasizing the simultaneous promotion of "establishing the new and breaking the old" while "establishing before breaking" [4]. It proposes building a high-level socialist market economy system, improving the systems and mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, constructing systems and mechanisms to support comprehensive innovation, improving the macroeconomic governance system, perfecting the systems and mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development, perfecting the systems and mechanisms for high-level opening up, improving the system of whole-process people's democracy, and perfecting the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. By solidifying fundamental institutions, improving basic institutions, and innovating important institutions, it centrally embodies the requirements of institutional innovation.
The in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee requires all regions and departments to implement this spirit to the letter with the "spirit of driving nails" [5]. At the same time, they must closely integrate this with reality, adapt measures to local conditions, take proactive initiative, and continuously create and accumulate fresh experience through pioneering innovation. This means that the process of implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is also a process of continuously advancing innovation in theory, practice, institutions, culture, and all other aspects.
On the new journey to further comprehensively deepen reform, we must anchor ourselves to the general goal, adhere to the principles of liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being down-to-earth and pragmatic. We must maintain the strong resolve of not changing our path or altering our will, while preserving the sharpness and courage to innovate and tackle tough challenges. We must push for continuous new breakthroughs in reform, injecting an inexhaustible and powerful impetus into the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.