Zhai Yuhua: Deeply Grasp the Theoretical Character of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
At present, the thematic education campaign for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is being carried out across the entire Party, within which "studying the Thought" stands as the primary aspect of the campaign's general requirements. As contemporary Chinese Marxism and twenty-first-century Marxism, as the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in our times, and as the latest achievement in the Party’s theoretical innovation, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era possesses a unique and distinctive theoretical character. This character centrally reflects the worldview and methodology of this Thought and highlights its specific features and advantages. Deeply comprehending the theoretical character of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a whole is the foundation for "comprehensively and systematically mastering the basic viewpoints and scientific system of this Thought, grasping its worldview and methodology, and adhering to and applying the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it." It is also the prerequisite for "continuously enhancing political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Party’s innovative theories."
Always persisting in putting the people first, demonstrating a sincere concern for the people.
The report to the 20th Party Congress pointed out: "The people-centered nature is the essential attribute of Marxism. The Party's theories are theories from the people, for the people, and for the benefit of the people; the people’s creative practices provide an inexhaustible source for theoretical innovation." The Communist Party of China, guided by Marxism, has since the day of its founding taken "striving to let the masses lead a good life" as its goal, maintaining a flesh-and-blood connection with the masses, and singing a soulful song of sharing the same heart, same breath, and same destiny with the people. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has remained true to its original aspiration and founding mission, consistently adhering to a people-centered approach. It has committed itself to safeguarding, realizing, and developing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the people. Whether it be the principle that "no one should be left behind" in achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the requirement that "no one should fall behind on the road to common prosperity," or the persistence in "putting the people and their lives above all else" in the fight against the major pandemic, all these vividly demonstrate a sincere sentiment of being close to, loving, worrying for, and working for the people. Governance practice centered on the people benefits from a governance philosophy that puts the people first. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently maintained a firm stance on the people's position, grasped their aspirations, respected their creativity, and concentrated their wisdom, forming a theory liked, identified with, and owned by the people—Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This Thought shines throughout with the light of "the people." Expressions such as "I will selflessly devote myself to the people," "consciously taking the people as one's teacher," and "the country is the people, and the people are the country; as the Party leads the people in winning and presiding over the country, it is essentially winning and keeping the hearts of the people" [1] are sincere in every word and affectionate in every sentence. They showcase a deep friendship for the people and have earned the people’s heartfelt support and enthusiastic backing.
Always persisting in self-confidence and self-reliance, permeated by a high degree of historical consciousness.
The report to the 20th Party Congress explicitly stated: "The successful path of the Party’s century-long struggle was explored and opened up by the Party leading the people independently; the Chinese chapter of Marxism was practiced by Chinese Communists relying on their own strength." The Communist Party of China is a Marxist party with a high degree of historical consciousness. It attaches great importance to history, excels at gaining insight into major historical trends, grasps historical laws, dares to maintain historical confidence, shoulders historical missions, and continuously creates great historical achievements. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently persisted in self-confidence and self-reliance. Guided by a high degree of historical consciousness, it has led all the Chinese people in united struggle, writing new chapters of the "two miracles" of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. This has brought the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into an irreversible historical process and allowed scientific socialism to radiate new and vigorous vitality in twenty-first-century China. Conscious practice benefits from theoretical consciousness. In leading the Chinese people to advance the magnificent practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to historical materialism, keenly grasped the general trends of historical development, scientifically recognized historical achievements, comprehensively summarized historical experience, and profoundly revealed historical laws. It has summarized and distilled the ideological theories for maintaining and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The formation process and core content of this Thought reveal a high degree of historical consciousness in every aspect. It is precisely this historical consciousness that grants this Thought powerful theoretical explanatory power, temporal and spatial penetration, and practical guiding force, leading the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics toward an even brighter future.
Always persisting in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, highlighting a scientific spirit of seeking truth.
The report to the 20th Party Congress pointed out: "We are engaged in a great undertaking without precedent. Only by upholding the fundamentals can we avoid losing our way or making subversive mistakes; only by breaking new ground can we grasp and lead the times." The Communist Party of China has inherited the spiritual tradition of the Chinese nation to uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, endowing it with richer contemporary connotations under the guidance of Marxism. For over a hundred years since its founding, the Party has persisted in liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. On the basis of adhering to truth and following laws, it has continuously promoted theoretical innovation and practical development, opening up new frontiers in the development of Marxism and achieving brilliant successes in the development of the Party and the state. Since the 18th Party Congress, in the face of a rapidly changing era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has held fast to the "true scriptures" [2] of Marxism, the correct path of scientific socialism, the integrity of the proletarian vanguard, the justice of serving the people, and the "correct roots" of fine traditional Chinese culture. It has profoundly grasped the global development trends, accurately assessed China’s actual national conditions, kept pace with the times, responded to practical developments, and proposed a series of original new concepts, thoughts, and strategies for national governance, establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This Thought is the result of adhering to, testing, and developing the truth. It has realized a historic leap and creative sublimation in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and in turn, has guided practice so that historic changes and achievements have occurred in the cause of the Party and the state. This, in turn, fully proves the scientific and truthful nature of this Thought. Treating science with a scientific attitude and pursuing truth with the spirit of truth is an important ideological method running through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as its prominent hallmark and distinctive characteristic.
Always persisting in a problem-oriented approach, reflecting a clear awareness of problems.
The report to the 20th Party Congress pointed out: "Problems are the voice of the times; answering and guiding the solution of problems is the fundamental task of theory." Persisting in a problem-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of Marxism and a scientific methodology that the Communist Party of China has consistently maintained. The Communist Party of China has grown and strengthened through the continuous process of discovering, facing, analyzing, and solving problems. It has also promoted the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism by persisting in a problem-oriented approach, thereby resolving various contradictions and leading the Chinese people from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has based itself on the New Era. With a strong awareness of problems and a clear problem-oriented approach, it has answered a series of major questions of the times concerning the Party’s long-term governance, the country’s long-term stability, and the people’s happiness and well-being. It has solved a series of prominent contradictions and problems that had accumulated over a long period or newly emerged, propelling the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into an irreversible historical process. It was precisely in the process of listening to the voice of the times, analyzing the problems of the times, and responding to the calls of the times that the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core truly grasped the historical pulse, found the laws of development, and continuously promoted theoretical innovation, writing a new chapter in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and forming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This Thought was born and developed to answer and solve major problems facing the development of the Party and the state. Its prominent problem awareness and clear problem-oriented approach are both the cognitive mechanisms of its formation and development and its significant theoretical characteristics; they also provide an important basis for why this Thought "works."
Always persisting in a systems thinking, manifesting a rigorous characteristic of thought.
The report to the 20th Party Congress pointed out: "All things are interconnected and interdependent. Only by observing things from a perspective of universal connection, total system, and developmental change can we grasp the laws of development." Systems thinking is an important component of Marxist dialectical materialism. It is also a way of thinking and a working method to which successive leaders of the Party and the state have attached great importance, constituting a fine tradition and valuable experience of the Party. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has treated systems thinking as a foundational ideological and working method. By persisting in forward-looking thinking, overall planning, strategic layout, and holistic advancement, it has pushed the cause of the Party and the state to new levels and led the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics to great historic achievements. Broadly speaking, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is itself a rigorous and complete theoretical system. It comprehensively and systematically answers a series of major theoretical and practical questions facing the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, manifesting the systematic, comprehensive, holistic, and logical nature of this Thought. Specifically, whether it is the emphasis on "focusing on the systemic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform," the highlighting of "establishing the idea of the whole country as a single chessboard," [3] the clear coordination of the "four greats," [4] the integrated promotion of the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan," the coordinated advancement of the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, or the proposal of the concept of keeping the "two big pictures" [5] in mind—each of these is both a concrete application and contemporary presentation of Marxist dialectical materialism and a vivid interpretation of the systems thinking inherent in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, manifesting the rigorous characteristic of this Thought's logic.
Always persisting in maintaining a global vision, imbued with a profound concern for humanity.
The report to the 20th Party Congress pointed out: "The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation; it is also a party that seeks progress for humanity and the Great Unity for the world." [6] Guided by Marxism, the scientific theory pursuing human liberation, the Communist Party of China has possessed a global vision and concern for humanity since its birth. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has insisted on combining a footing in China with a gaze toward the world. With keen strategic insight, it has focused on the major trends of human development, the major patterns of world change, and the major history of China’s development. It has proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, promoted the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, shared China’s development dividends with the world, provided Chinese thinking for bridging the global development deficit, and contributed Chinese solutions to solving the common problems facing humanity. This has integrated China into the world and allowed the world to benefit from China. Reflected in theoretical construction, it not only explains the close relationship between China and the world but also, with a strong sense of responsibility as a major power, profoundly answers major questions concerning the future and destiny of humanity, such as "What is wrong with the world?", "Where is humanity headed?", and "What should we do?". It is imbued with deep reflection and sincere concern for world peace and development and the future of humanity, becoming an important part of the grand vision manifested in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This content both inherits the concept of "All under heaven are one family" (天下一家, tianxia yijia) from fine traditional Chinese culture and carries forward the spirit of "taking responsibility for all under heaven" (以天下为己任, yi tianxia wei ji ren) held by Chinese Communists. It expands the Marxist value pursuit of "seeking liberation for all humanity," demonstrating the broad-mindedness and global concern of Chinese Communists in the New Era, and becoming a prominent theoretical character of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
[This article is a phased result of the project "Research on the Generative Logic and Inheritance Path of the Spiritual Pedigree of the Communist Party of China" (XJS222109), funded by the "Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities."]
(Author's affiliation: School of Marxism, Xidian University) Source: China Theory Network (www.theory.com.cn) Web Editor: Huihui