Deng Shihong & Ning Xiaoke: The Logical Sequence of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Comprehensively Deepening Reform

Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the whole Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country. Centering on major issues such as why and how to comprehensively deepen reform in the New Era, they have used new ideas, viewpoints, and judgments on reform to guide new practices, lead new transformations, and promote new development. This has realized a shift in reform from localized exploration and "breaking the ice" to systemic integration and comprehensive deepening, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee pointed out: "Reform and opening up is a crucial instrument for the cause of the Party and the people to catch up with the times in great strides. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee was epoch-making, initiating the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee was also epoch-making, initiating a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform and promoting reform through systemic and holistic design in the New Era, creating an entirely new situation for China's reform and opening up." ^[1] At this critical juncture of using Chinese-path modernization to comprehensively advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, a profound understanding of the logical thread of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform is of great significance for leading the great cause of reform and opening up in the New Era and facilitating the early realization of the Second Centenary Goal.

I. The Generative Logic of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Comprehensively Deepening Reform

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform uphold and develop the scientific socialist view of reform. They summarize the successful experience of more than forty years of reform and opening up, adapt to the adjustment and transformation of the principal contradiction in Chinese society in the New Era, and embody the wisdom for reform found in fine traditional Chinese culture. They possess a broad and profound theoretical foundation, realistic background, historical origin, and cultural root.

(1) Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground in the Scientific Socialist View of Reform Direction determines the future, and the path determines destiny. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese Communists, represented by Comrade Xi Jinping, have remained steadfast in their will and path. They have consistently adhered to the basic principles of scientific socialism and maintained high confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have unified the focus on economic construction with the "two basic points"—upholding the Four Cardinal Principles ^[2] and persisting in reform and opening up—within the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Simultaneously, with immense political courage, they have comprehensively reformed systems and mechanisms in a led and step-by-step manner, advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. This demonstrates that what China reforms and how it reforms must proceed from basic national conditions and the reality of economic and social development. Whether a reform conforms to the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people must be the fundamental criterion. Western theories and viewpoints cannot be mechanically applied to China; rather, the correct direction of further comprehensively deepening reform must be consistently maintained.

(2) The Historical Summary of Experiences and Lessons from Reform and Opening Up On December 18, 2018, in his speech at the conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Reform and opening up was a great awakening for our Party, and it was precisely this great awakening that gave birth to the great creations of our Party from theory to practice. Reform and opening up is a great revolution in the history of the development of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and it is precisely this great revolution that pushed forward the great leap of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics!" ^[3] General Secretary Xi Jinping highly affirmed the historical achievements of reform and opening up. In planning the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era, he continued to boldly experiment and bravely reform. He proposed the general goal of improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. He put forward important judgments such as giving full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, unswervingly following the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, strengthening the development of the socialist core value system, building a system of modern military forces with Chinese characteristics, and implementing a more proactive opening-up strategy. These have made reform and opening up the most prominent feature and the most magnificent spectacle of contemporary China.

(3) Flexible Adaptation to Changes in the Principal Contradiction of Society Reform is an important driving force for social and historical development, as well as a flexible adaptation to changes in the principal contradiction of society. On December 3, 2013, in a speech at the eleventh collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping pointed out: "The productive forces and relations of production, and the economic base and the superstructure, interact with and constrain each other, governing the entire process of social development. The relations of production must suit the state of the productive forces, and the superstructure must suit the state of the economic base. Their combined action constitutes the contradictory movement of society as a whole." ^[4] Since the New Era, the principal contradiction in our society has transformed into the contradiction between the people's ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. Facing the growing practical needs of the masses in economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological dimensions, Chinese Communists have been enterprising and determined. They have grasped the general trend of historical development and seized the opportunity for historical change. They use the new development philosophy to lead the transformation of the development model and use new quality productive forces to promote high-quality development. By continuously improving the quality and efficiency of development, they focus on solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, ensuring that the people share the fruits of reform and development.

(4) Distilling Reform Wisdom from Fine Traditional Culture Fine traditional Chinese culture is long-standing and profound. It not only contains the civilizational traits and innovative consciousness of "abolishing the old and establishing the new" ^[5] and "brilliance renewing daily" ^[6], but also possesses development concepts and an enterprising spirit of "upholding the fundamentals without being archaic" and "respecting the past without restoring the old." This provides a broad and deep cultural foundation for further comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era. Regarding why reform must be comprehensively deepened, General Secretary Xi Jinping has cited phrases from traditional Chinese classics such as: "If you can renew yourself one day, do so every day, and keep renewing yourself every day" ^[7]; "The wise change with the times, and the knowledgeable govern according to circumstances" ^[8]; and "When the limit is reached, change happens; through change, a way opens; by opening a way, it lasts" ^[9]. These signify that the Chinese nation has always used reform wisdom to innovate in material, spiritual, and political civilizations. He demands the discarding of outdated concepts, the breaking of old frameworks that restrict development, and the exploration of institutional innovations in socialism with Chinese characteristics, thereby building a modern Chinese civilization through the integration of history, reality, and the future. Regarding how to advance comprehensively deepening reform, General Secretary Xi Jinping has cited vivid classics such as: "One who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a single part" ^[10]; "As heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive for self-improvement" ^[11]; and "The difficult tasks of the world must start from the easy; the great affairs of the world must start from the small" ^[12]. These emphasize considering the overall situation of reform from a strategic perspective, achieving forward-looking vision, advanced thinking, and early planning. He has pointed out that reform and opening up is an ongoing process with no end point. We must have the courage to "gnaw on hard bones" and "wade through dangerous shoals," fostering the courage to break through and the spirit of self-revolution to solve practical problems in the construction of Chinese-path modernization through further comprehensively deepening reform.

II. The Core Essence of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Comprehensively Deepening Reform

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform are far-reaching in vision, rich in connotation, and systemically complete. They clarify the forward direction, major themes, value orientation, ways of thinking, and guarantees for implementation of comprehensively deepening reform. We must profoundly understand and fully grasp their core essence and implement them in the reform practices of the New Era.

(1) Adhesion to the Party's Overall Leadership to Ensure the Correct Direction of Reform In government, the military, society, and schools, in the north, south, east, and west—the Party leads everything. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is the strong guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. On the new journey of the New Era, to further comprehensively deepen reform and advance the construction of Chinese-path modernization, we must give play to the Party's role as the core of leadership that commands the overall situation and coordinates all parties. We must persist in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s role as the "navigator" at the core of the Party Central Committee and the entire Party, and adhere to the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Party's leadership must be integrated into all aspects and the entire process of reform. We must persist in scientific, democratic, and law-based governance, improve the Party’s methods of leading reform, and enhance the Party’s governance capacity and leadership level. We must continuously improve the Party's ability and resolve to set the direction, plan the overall situation, formulate policies, and promote reform, ensuring that reform always strides forward toward the new journey of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

(2) Focusing Closely on Chinese-Path Modernization to Clarify the Theme of Reform in Our Era Reform and opening up is the "critical move" that determines the success or failure of Chinese-path modernization. To further comprehensively deepen reform, we must focus closely on the theme of advancing Chinese-path modernization. Taking the improvement and development of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity as the general goal, we must combine goal-orientation with problem-orientation. We must apply force precisely, synergistically, and continuously to resolutely dismantle ideological concepts and institutional defects that hinder the advancement of Chinese-path modernization. We must focus on resolving deep-seated institutional obstacles and structural contradictions to continuously inject strong momentum and provide a powerful institutional guarantee for Chinese-path modernization. Furthermore, further comprehensively deepening reform must adapt to new trends in era development, new requirements in practical development, and new expectations of the masses. With the resolute determination to "take real action" and "confront the tough issues," we will comprehensively advance the construction of a great modern socialist country, providing a steady stream of powerful impetus and continuously expanding the space for the development of Chinese-path modernization.

(3) Persevering with a People-Centered Approach to Manifest the Value Orientation of Reform The people's aspiration for a better life is the original aspiration and founding mission of the Communist Party of China in pursuing reform and promoting development. Further comprehensively deepening reform must persist with a people-centered approach. We must take the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the fundamental starting point and ultimate goal of all work. Whether the people support, approve, are happy with, or agree to a reform must be the fundamental basis for formulating reform policies. We must plan and promote reform by proceeding from the collective, fundamental, and long-term interests of the people. We must identify the pressure points and breakthroughs for reform in the New Era based on the urgent needs and anxieties of the ordinary people. We should vigorously introduce reform measures that meet the people's urgent needs and aspirations, and focus on performing practical reform deeds that benefit the people's livelihoods, warm their hearts, and align with their will. By following the Party's mass line in the New Era, we will ensure that the people share the achievements of reform and opening up, and that the masses have a greater sense of gain, happiness, and security, thereby inspiring them to consciously dedicate themselves to the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

(4) Accurately Grasping the Systemic Concept to Blueprint the Overall Goals of Reform Further comprehensively deepening reform is a "great chess game"; we must grasp the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, using a holistic vision to blueprint the overall situation of reform. On one hand, we must adhere to systemic thinking and correctly handle the relationships between: emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts; overall advancement and breakthroughs in key areas; the whole and the part; top-level design and "crossing the river by feeling for the stones" ^[13]; having a bold spirit and steady steps; and reform, development, and stability. We must emphasize the systemic, holistic, and synergistic nature of comprehensively deepening reform, coordinating the progress of reforms in various fields. This ensures that various reform measures complement each other in policy orientation, promote each other in implementation, and enhance each other in their effects, thereby forming a holistic effect of comprehensively deepening reform. On the other hand, we must persist in problem-orientation, prioritizing key breakthroughs and pilot programs. Using economic system reform as the leading force to further comprehensively deepen reform, we focus on building a high-level socialist market economy. We must give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, better utilize the role of the government, uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, and refine the macroeconomic governance system and the mechanisms for promoting high-quality development. This will promote a better alignment between the productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure.

III. The Value Significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on Comprehensively Deepening Reform

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform constitute the "Reform Chapter" of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They not only inherit and develop the CPC’s view of reform and development but also deepen the holistic understanding of reform in a socialist society, providing a scientific guide for further comprehensively deepening reform.

(1) Inheriting and Developing the Marxist View of Reform Engels pointed out:

“The so-called ‘socialist society’ is not something immutable. Like all other social systems, it should be conceived in a state of constant flux and reform.” ^[14] General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform are significant theoretical achievements summarized by accurately interpreting the dialectical relationship between the productive forces and the relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, all based on the national conditions and temporal characteristics of China in the New Era and inheriting the historical materialist outlook on reform. For example, the exposition that “reform and opening up is the cause of the hundreds of millions of people themselves” inherits and develops the basic principle that the masses of the people are the subjects of social history; the exposition on “deepening the reform of the scientific and technological system and accelerating the building of a global power in science and technology” is the contemporary manifestation of the classic thesis that “science and technology are also productive forces”; and the exposition that “reform and opening up is only ever a work in progress and never a finished project” ^[15] is a profound grasp of the laws governing the basic contradictions of society, and so on. It is evident that the further comprehensive deepening of reform for socialism with Chinese characteristics is a lasting historical process that must be carried forward by one generation after another.

(II) Deepening the CPC's holistic cognition of socialist reform The Communist Party of China’s understanding of socialist reform has undergone a process of development and change. During the period of historical transition, Chinese Communists represented by Comrade Deng Xiaoping began by rectifying the ideological line of “emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts.” Based on Marxist epistemology and the successful experience of the CPC in leading the revolution and construction, they put forward famous assertions such as, “If we do not reform and open up, we will only find ourselves in a dead end,” “reform is China’s second revolution,” and “revolution liberates the productive forces, and reform also liberates the productive forces,” thereby initiating the CPC's cognitive awakening regarding socialist reform. Since the arrival of the New Era, Chinese Communists represented by Comrade Xi Jinping have stayed grounded in the realization of the Two Centenary Goals. With great historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, they have dared to break through the shackles of old ideas and the barriers of entrenched interests ^[16]. They have successively put forward important assertions such as “reform and opening up is the key move ^[17] that decides the fate of contemporary China,” “comprehensively deepening reform has a direction, a stance, and principles,” and “promoting the comprehensive deepening of reform to take root.” These have opened a new chapter in comprehensively deepening reform and advancing reform through systematic and holistic design. In short, reform and opening up has not only become the most distinct political banner and ideological character of contemporary Chinese Communists, but it is also the “great magic weapon” ^[18] through which the cause of the Party and the people has caught up with the times in giant strides.

(III) Providing a scientific guide for further comprehensively deepening reform At present, our country is in a critical period of comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. There is an urgent need for new ideas on reform to guide new practices of reform. We must hold high the great banner of reform and opening up and persist in taking General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on comprehensively deepening reform as our scientific guide. We must continue to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. We must focus on the “five focuses” ^[19]—building a high-level socialist market economy, developing whole-process people's democracy, building a socialist cultural power, improving the people's quality of life, and building a Beautiful China. We must grasp the implementation of reform with the “spirit of driving a nail,” ^[20] scientifically formulating the task lists, timetables, and priorities for reform. Our goal is to basically achieve the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity by 2035, and to basically achieve socialist modernization, thereby laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive buildup of a great modern socialist power by the middle of this century.