Ouyang Xuemei: The Original Contributions and Practical Power of Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture
Thought is the precursor to action; theory is the guide for practice. The formal proposal and systematic exposition of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture at the National Conference on Public Communication and Cultural Work held in Beijing in October 2023 holds landmark significance in the history of the Party’s development of public communication and cultural undertakings. The formation of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture reflects the profound insight into our country’s cultural construction and its deep reflection on cultural work in the New Era by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. It enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory, constitutes the "cultural chapter" of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and marks a new height in our Party’s understanding of the laws governing the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently placed cultural construction in an important position within the governance of the country, opening a new path for cultural construction and expanding new space for cultural development to continuously advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. As an unfolding and open system of thought, Xi Jinping’s thought on culture provides a strong ideological guarantee, powerful spiritual impetus, and favorable cultural conditions for the development of the Party and the state’s undertakings.
Xi Jinping’s thought on culture enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory in answering the questions of the times and the questions of culture.
The proposal of this major theoretical framework—Xi Jinping’s thought on culture—is built upon the foundation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s rich and profound ideological achievements regarding socialist cultural construction with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has continuously deepened its scientific understanding of the laws of socialist cultural construction with Chinese characteristics through practice. At the National Conference on Public Communication and Cultural Work held on August 21, 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping used the "Nine Mainstays" [1] to summarize the systematic understanding of public communication work since the 18th CPC National Congress. At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development held on June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized the "new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments" of cultural construction into "Fourteen Emphases." In October 2023, at the National Conference on Public Communication and Cultural Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the key tasks of the "Seven Focuses." [2] "These important viewpoints are the theoretical summary of the practical experience of cultural construction led by the Party in the New Era; they are the fundamental follow-through for doing a good job in public communication and cultural work, and must be adhered to, implemented, continuously enriched, and developed over the long term."
As we entered the New Era, the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s unprecedented changes in a century have intertwined and agitated one another. Faced with the arduous and heavy tasks of reform, development, and stability, the people’s ever-growing spiritual and cultural needs, the complex situation in the ideological sphere, and the rapid wave of informatization [3], Xi Jinping’s thought on culture has profoundly answered the questions of the times and culture with a series of new ideas, viewpoints, and judgments, composing a new chapter of Marxist cultural theory. Xi Jinping’s thought on culture covers basic issues such as the guiding ideology, fundamental principles, basic experience, missions and tasks, practical requirements, and safeguarding conditions for cultural construction in the New Era. It involves multiple aspects including ideological and theoretical construction, news and public opinion work, literature and art publishing, cybersecurity and informatization, cultural inheritance and development, ideological and ethical construction, the creation of spiritual civilization [4], and ideological and political work. It is a system characterized by mingti dayong (clarifying the substance and attaining its application) [5] and the integration of substance and application (tiyong guantong).
Xi Jinping’s thought on culture highlights the strategic significance of culture in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In the overall coordination of the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' and the 'Four Comprehensives' strategic layout, culture is an important component; in promoting high-quality development, culture is an important fulcrum; in meeting the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life, culture is an important factor; and in overcoming various risks and challenges on the road ahead, culture is an important source of strength." Based on a profound grasp of the cultural significance of the current era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has referred to culture as the "spiritual gene" and "unique hallmark" of the nation. As the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping’s thought on culture is rich in content, profound in thought, innovative, and highly significant. Its substance is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy. Socialist culture is, in its essence, the people's culture. Being people-centered is the fundamental position for upholding and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, as well as a distinct main thread running through cultural construction in this period. To adhere to a people-centered creative orientation, we must take the interests, will, and voice of the people as the fundamental follow-through for cultural construction. We must insist that cultural development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people, thereby enriching the people’s spiritual world, enhancing their spiritual strength, and satisfying their spiritual needs. News and public opinion work should "report more on the great struggles and fiery lives of the masses, and more on the advanced models and touching deeds emerging from the masses." Literature and art work must "take the people as the main subject of expression, take the people as the connoisseurs and judges of aesthetic appreciation, and take serving the people as the heavenly vocation of literary and art workers," and "create and produce excellent works that are loved by the people." Public cultural services should promote "standardization and equalization," improve "coverage and applicability," "innovatively implement cultural projects for the benefit of the people," strengthen the construction of the cultural market and industrial systems, expand the supply of high-quality cultural products, and "enhance the people’s sense of cultural gain and happiness." The broad masses of philosophy and social science workers "must adhere to the view that the people are the creators of history, establish the ideal of doing scholarship for the people, respect the people's principal position, focus on the people's practical creations, and consciously link individual academic pursuits closely with the development of the country and the nation, striving to produce more research results that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history."
Upholding the Party's cultural leadership. "Grasping ideological leadership is the foundation of grasping all leadership." Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is a major matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state, and is an important guarantee for shoulderning the new cultural mission of the New Era. Upholding the Party's cultural leadership is the core tenor of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture, emphasizing the Party's command and guidance in the field of public communication and culture. It is the fundamental basis for ensuring that our country’s ideological, cultural, and ideological spheres advance along the correct path. Party management of communication, ideology, and the media are important aspects of upholding the Party’s leadership. Therefore, we must "strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership over public communication work" and "firmly grasp the leadership, management, and discourse power over ideological work." "All work of the Party's news and public opinion media must embody the Party's will, reflect the Party’s propositions, maintain the authority of the Party Central Committee, maintain the Party’s unity, and achieve a state of loving, protecting, and serving the Party." We must adhere to the principle of "statesmen running newspapers, journals, stations, and news websites." The Party’s leadership over cultural work is also prominently reflected in the formulation of lines, principles, and policies for cultural work, as well as in the stipulation of cultural stances and goals.
Adhering to the fundamental system of consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere. Ideology concerns the flag we fly, the path we take, and national political security. We must build a socialist ideology with strong cohesive and guiding power. Having the guidance of scientific Marxist theory is a distinct character and unique advantage of our Party. In adhering to the fundamental system of the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, the most critical element is to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to fully grasp and accurately understand the worldview and methodology of this scientific theory, to adhere to and utilize the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it, and to better use it to guide practice.
Adhering to the "Two Combinations." [6] Cultural confidence is a signature component of Xi Jinping’s thought on culture, which establishes the fundamental position of spiritual independence and persistence in Chinese culture. Grasping and consolidating cultural subjectivity is a lasting force for building cultural confidence. Cultural subjectivity is the foundation for culture to exert "guiding power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power." Marxism resonates with our country’s excellent traditional culture passed down for thousands of years and the values that the masses use "daily without realizing it," endowing Marxist theory with distinct Chinese characteristics and solidifying the historical and mass foundations for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. "Combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s excellent traditional culture" has powerfully promoted the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Xi Jinping’s thought on culture adheres to the "soul-vein" (hunmai) of Marxism and the "root-vein" (genmai) of fine traditional Chinese culture. The combination of the two has deeply enriched the historical foundation and cultural lifeblood of contemporary Chinese Marxism and twenty-first-century Marxism.
Cultivating and practicing Socialist Core Values. Socialist Core Values are the concentrated expression of the contemporary Chinese spirit, condensing the common value pursuits of all Chinese people and playing a foundational role of "coalescing the soul and qi, strengthening the base and solidifying the foundation." Cultivating and practicing Socialist Core Values is conducive to upholding the banner of ideals and beliefs, carrying forward the national spirit and the spirit of the times, raising the ideological level of the masses, enriching their spiritual world, uniting the national will with common ideals and beliefs, and stimulating Chinese strength with the Chinese spirit. We must continue the revolutionary spirit, vigorously promote the lineage of spirits of the Chinese Communists with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party as its source, carry out educational propaganda on the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development. We must deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, guiding the people to strengthen their "Four Confidences," [7] enhancing their confidence and determination to adhere to common ideals and realize common dreams, and integrating Socialist Core Values into the construction of the rule of law, social development, and daily life.
Grasping the power of initiative in public opinion under the conditions of informatization. The rapid development of the Internet has profoundly changed the way public opinion is generated and disseminated. Whoever masters the Internet holds the initiative of the times. "Cyberspace has already become a new space for people's production and life, so it should also become a new space for our Party to build consensus." We must seize the precious historical opportunity of the development of informatization, maintain a high degree of political sobriety and determination to firmly guard the network defense line, carry out network struggles, strengthen network management, and promote the main theme online. We must firmly grasp the power of initiative and leadership in the field of public opinion, expand the influential domain of mainstream values, and take the sounding of the "main theme" online and the strengthening of mainstream ideology and public opinion as the top prizes for mastering the power of initiative on the Internet battlefield, continuously stimulating the powerful force of all people to unite and strive forward.
Promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. Openness and inclusiveness have always been the source of vitality for the development of civilization and are a distinct hallmark of cultural confidence. Chinese civilization has been world-renowned for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times. Chinese civilization has exchanged what it has for what it lacks with other civilizations in the world, learning from them and consistently staying fresh through a process of absorption and assimilation. Xi Jinping’s thought on culture is based on a broad vision of the development of human civilization, proposing a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, as well as the basic concept of "exchange and mutual learning among civilizations." It proposes promoting the common values of humanity—peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom—and implementing major initiatives such as the Global Civilization Initiative. These are Chinese solutions for addressing world problems and decoding the "clash of civilizations" theory, reflecting China's responsibility and commitment as a major power.
With a strong problem-oriented consciousness, Xi Jinping’s thought on culture profoundly understands and scientifically answers the major questions in the field of cultural construction in China in the New Era. It systematically answers the major questions of the times: what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to build, and how to build it. It is the contemporary expression and innovative development of Marxist cultural theory, pushing New Era cultural construction to achieve historical achievements through "returning to the source and upholding the fundamentals while breaking new ground" (zhengben qingyuan, shoǔzhèng chuàngxīn), and making steady strides toward building a socialist cultural powerhouse.
Xi Jinping’s thought on culture lays out the blueprint for the construction of a socialist cultural powerhouse based on the New Era and the new journey.
"Keeping pace with the times, sharing the same fate as the people, and focusing on and answering the major questions raised by the era and practice are the secrets to Marxism’s enduring vitality." As long as the exploration of practice does not end, the development of theory will not end. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a continuously unfolding and open ideological system. Since the formalization of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, General Secretary Xi Jinping has focused on the goal of becoming a socialist cultural powerhouse to further expand the path of cultural construction. In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee studied the issue of deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, making systematic deployments for the comprehensive deepening of those reforms. On October 28, the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee held its 17th collective study session on building a cultural powerhouse. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspections of the construction of national cultural parks—including those for the Grand Canal, the Great Wall, the Long March, the Yangtze River, and the Yellow River—his visits to historical and cultural districts, traditional rural villages, and the Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu, as well as in Shanghai, Tianjin, Changde, and Tongcheng; his important instructions on the successful World Heritage listing of the "Beijing Central Axis"; his attendance at the "BRICS Plus" Leaders' Dialogue, the 19th G20 Summit, and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC); his meetings with foreign guests attending the commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and with representatives attending the Conference of the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism and the Dialogue of Chinese and Italian University Presidents; his signed articles in foreign media during overseas visits; and his congratulatory letters to the World Conference on China Studies·Shanghai Forum, the inaugural "Liangzhu Forum," the first World Conference of Classics, and the 2024 World Chinese Language Conference—all represent creative responses to new issues in the cultural development of China and the world, thereby further developing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
First, deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms to stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation. 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 at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, explicitly states that the new task and goal of cultural reform is to focus on building a socialist cultural powerhouse. Innovation and creativity are the lifeblood of culture and the source of vitality for cultural prosperity and flourishing. Deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms must take the stimulation of the entire nation's innovative and creative vitality as the central link. We must accelerate the improvement of cultural management systems and production/operation mechanisms that follow the laws of cultural development and favor the stimulation of vitality. This involves creating a positive, healthy, relaxed, and harmonious atmosphere, allowing all sources of cultural creation to flow fully and all cultural creative vitality to burst forth continuously. The Decision proposes deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms and improving the cultural institutional system across four areas: perfecting the responsibility system for ideological work, optimizing mechanisms for the supply of cultural services and products, improving the integrated system for network governance, and constructing a more effective international communication system.
Second, driving new directions for cultural reform through technological empowerment. Adapting to the development of practice, emphasizing a problem-oriented approach, and promoting innovation from a new starting point are the driving forces behind the development of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Currently, the prominent challenge facing cultural construction is the impact of new technologies. It is an urgent priority to adapt quickly to the rapid development of information technology, balance the forces of content and technology, coordinate the online and offline spheres, integrate domestic and international markets, and enhance cultural influence. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee placed technological innovation at the core, pointing the way for deepening cultural reform.
"Accelerating adaptation to the rapid development of information technology" means enhancing governance capabilities in the cultural field under informationized conditions. The Decision proposes "forming a mechanism for the differentiated and precise implementation of online ideological and moral education" and specifically plans the "improvement of the integrated network governance system" in Article 40. This includes perfecting the development and management mechanisms for generative AI, strengthening the construction of the rule of law in cyberspace, improving long-term mechanisms for ecological governance of the network [8], and perfecting the system for protecting minors online. This approach covers both the management of online content and the development of the latest generative AI technologies; it involves both emergency response to online public opinion and long-term ecological governance, reinforcing the "systemic" and "synergistic" nature of the reforms. At the same time, facing the new industries, models, and drivers spawned by the rapid development of information technology, the Decision also proposes "promoting development." It requires "exploring effective mechanisms for the integration of culture and technology and accelerating the development of new types of cultural business formats." Building a new ecosystem for the integrated development of culture and technology is a major goal of the reform. In accordance with the requirements of the Decision for cultivating new business formats in the digital economy and new quality productive forces, the path for culture-technology integration involves promoting revolutionary technological breakthroughs, innovative allocation of production factors, and deep industrial transformation and upgrading. It aims to push for the optimal combination and leapfrog upgrading of laborers, tools of labor, and objects of labor, developing cultural productive forces characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality. During the 17th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping further emphasized: "Achieve the digital empowerment and informationized transformation of cultural construction, and transform the advantages of cultural resources into advantages for cultural development."
Third, continuing the Chinese cultural lineage through creative transformation and innovative development. We must promote the holistic and systemic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage, improve the systems and mechanisms for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, accelerate the improvement of the legal and regulatory system, and effectively enhance the capacity and level of heritage protection.
In November 2024, during an inspection in Hubei, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: "We must continue to strengthen archaeological research and improve the level of cultural relic protection to provide solid support for carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture and strengthening cultural confidence, ensuring that the treasures of Chinese civilization are preserved forever for the benefit of future generations, inspiring people to continuously enhance their sense of national pride and self-confidence." General Secretary Xi Jinping particularly emphasized drawing experience in national governance from traditional cultural resources, stating: "Actively promote the concept of integrity and models of probity to create a wholesome atmosphere that esteems integrity and rejects corruption." "In the financial system, we must vigorously carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture, adhering to honesty and trustworthiness, seeking profit through righteousness [9], being steady and prudent, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, and complying with laws and regulations." "The 'Six-Foot Alley' [10] embodies the historical wisdom of our ancestors in resolving conflicts; it should serve as an educational site for carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture, giving play to the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation—valuing courtesy, deference, and harmony—to create a harmonious social environment where people live and work in peace."
Fourth, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Chinese civilization is a plurality within a unity [11]; the various ethnic groups on Chinese soil have engaged in extensive interaction, exchange, and integration. The sense of community for the Chinese nation is the foundation of ethnic unity.
In 2022, during an inspection in Xinjiang, General Secretary Xi Jinping requested: "Fully excavate and effectively utilize historical facts, archaeological artifacts, and cultural remains of the interactions between various ethnic groups in Xinjiang to clearly explain that Xinjiang has been an inseparable part of our country and a multi-ethnic inhabited region since ancient times. The various ethnic groups in Xinjiang are important members of the big family of the Chinese nation, connected by blood and sharing a common destiny." The foundation and depth of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation lies in Chinese cultural identity. During the ninth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee on October 27, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping discussed the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation and the construction of a theoretical system for the community of the Chinese nation. Throughout 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping repeatedly emphasized this concept. On April 10, while meeting with Ma Ying-jeou [12] and his delegation, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeblood of the Chinese nation and the shared spiritual home for compatriots on both sides of the Strait. Compatriots on both sides should firm up their confidence in Chinese culture, consciously act as guardians, inheritors, and promoters of Chinese culture, and enhance the sense of belonging, identity, and honor of the Chinese nation, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation." During his inspection of the Yungang Grottoes, he explicitly stated: "We must deeply excavate the historical connotations of interaction, exchange, and integration among various ethnic groups contained in the Yungang Grottoes to enhance the sense of community for the Chinese nation." On September 27, in his speech at the National Commendation Conference for Ethnic Unity and Progress, General Secretary Xi Jinping further elaborated on this idea, noting: "The cultural commonalities among ethnic groups are the cultural genes that have shaped the pattern of Chinese civilization as a plurality within a unity." "History fully proves that the magnificent Chinese culture was jointly created by all ethnic groups. To create new brilliance for socialist culture, we must continuously enhance identity with Chinese culture and promote mutual learning and integration between the cultures of all ethnic groups." "Focus on building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation to provide strong spiritual and cultural support for advancing the construction of the community of the Chinese nation." Only in this way can we promote the Chinese nation toward a community with a shared future characterized by greater inclusivity and stronger cohesion.
Fifth, cultivating the culture and tourism industry as a pillar industry. Culture is the soul of tourism, and tourism is the carrier of culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping deeply grasped the patterns and characteristics of cultural construction and tourism development, promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism on a broader scale and at a higher level. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to culture and tourism work, delivering many important speeches and instructions, making strategic deployments for the development of the culture and tourism industry, and providing fundamental guidance for our work in the New Era.
In March 2024, during an inspection in Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The colorful local characteristic traditional cultures together constitute the brilliant Chinese civilization and also boost economic and social development." In June 2024, during an inspection in Ningxia, he encouraged the active development of characteristic tourism and all-for-one tourism [13]. In September and October 2024, during inspections in Gansu, Fujian, and Anhui, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to extensively utilize rich cultural resources to turn the culture and tourism industry into a pillar industry. This is a target requirement for the integrated development of culture and tourism, and a profound summary of the experience since the formation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China in 2018 and the start of culture-tourism integration. It aims to make the culture and tourism industry an important engine for stimulating consumption and driving economic growth, while also making tourism a process for people to appreciate Chinese culture and enhance cultural confidence—a livelihood industry and a "happiness industry."
Sixth, promoting the inheritance and development of human civilizations. Classical civilizations shine like a constellation of stars, continuously nourishing and inspiring later generations.
On November 7, 2024, in his congratulatory letter to the first World Conference of Classics, President Xi Jinping pointed out: "China is actively committed to promoting the inheritance and development of civilizations, strengthening international people-to-people exchanges, promoting global civilizational dialogue, and focusing on seeking wisdom and drawing nutrition from different civilizations. China is willing to work with all parties to practice the Global Civilization Initiative, hand in hand to solve various challenges facing humanity, and jointly promote the development and progress of human civilization." On November 8, during talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, President Xi Jinping emphasized: "The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and change. As two great ancient civilizations, China and Italy should take action to jointly advocate cultivating people through culture and nourishing the self through virtue [14]. We should observe the fate of humanity with a broad humanistic spirit, transcend barriers and conflicts with an inclusive mind, and gather synergy for development with a vision of harmony and coexistence, letting the lighthouse of civilization illuminate the right path for humanity's progress." He also clarified the implementation of a new round of the executive plan for cultural cooperation. President Xi Jinping advocates building a "Humanistic BRICS" and acting as an advocate for the harmony and coexistence of civilizations. In talks with foreign heads of state, he has called for accelerating the "two-way journey" of people-to-people exchanges. President Xi Jinping has proposed building a more equal and inclusive cyberspace. This involves strengthening online exchange and dialogue, promoting mutual understanding and affinity among people of all countries, driving the inclusive coexistence of different civilizations, and better promoting the common values of humanity. It also means strengthening the construction of network civilization, promoting the production and dissemination of high-quality online cultural products, fully displaying the outstanding achievements of human civilization, actively promoting the inheritance and development of civilizations, and jointly building an online spiritual home.
We must implement projects for the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, research and excavate the excellent genes and contemporary values of traditional Chinese culture, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, prosper and develop advanced socialist culture, and construct and utilize an expression system for Chinese cultural characteristics, the spirit of the Chinese nation, and China's national image, continuously enhancing the Chinese cultural identity of people of all ethnic groups.
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture Leads the Changes of the Era, Demonstrating the Power of Truth and Practice
In 2024, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core anchored the strategic goal of building a cultural powerhouse by 2035. Adhering to Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, rooted in the profound Chinese civilization, and responding to the trend of information technology development, the Party continues to develop New Era socialism with Chinese characteristics culture—a culture with strong ideological leadership, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence—continuously enhancing the spiritual strength of the people and solidifying the cultural foundation for building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
First, promoting the Party's innovative theories to "fly into the homes of ordinary people." In the New Era, we must ensure that for every step forward in theoretical innovation, theoretical reinforcement follows. We must unswervingly study, publicize, and implement Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, using it to arm our minds, guide practice, and promote work. We must consolidate the responsibility system for ideological work and ensure that leading cadres...
Focusing on the "key few," the Party has tightened and solidified the collective study sessions of the Theoretical Learning Center Groups of Party committees (and Party leadership groups), as well as the education and training of cadres, creating a robust atmosphere for learning. A multi-dimensional matrix for the research, publicity, and interpretation of Marxist theory has been established, adhering to the principle of reading original works, studying original texts, and grasping original principles. Simultaneously, all-media reporting methods—including text, infographics, audio-visual content, and live broadcasts—are utilized to publicize the Party’s innovative theories. By integrating these vivid ideas with local grassroots practices, the practical appeal of innovative theory is enhanced. This achieves a combination of "universal education" and "targeted strategies for different audiences," allowing the Party’s ideas to take root at the grassroots level and reach the masses extensively. This work consolidates the Party’s governing foundation and its mass base ideologically, spiritually, and culturally.
Second, the spiritual and cultural lives of the masses have been enriched. Cultural initiatives for the benefit of the people [15] have reached thousands of households. National expenditures for culture and tourism have continuously increased and have been increasingly tilted toward the grassroots. These funds grew from 48.01 billion yuan in 2012 to 128.04 billion yuan in 2023, an average annual increase of 9.3%. By the end of 2023, there were 3,246 public libraries nationwide with a total collection of 1.44 billion volumes, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. The total number of registered museums nationwide rose from 3,866 in 2012 to 6,833 in 2023. Since the 13th Five-Year Plan [16], China has added a new museum every two days on average, reaching a ratio of one museum for every 250,000 people; in 2023 alone, 268 new museums were registered. Public cultural service levels at museums and cultural relic protection units have improved, as museums shift from being "collection-centered" to "public service-centered." They have innovated display methods to tell vivid stories of cultural relics and strengthened the public popularization of archaeological knowledge and research results. This has greatly enhanced people’s self-confidence and pride, fueling a "museum fever" and a study-tour craze. Many people now "travel to a city for a single museum," with visitor numbers increasing from 564 million in 2012 to 1.29 billion in 2023. In 2023, various intangible cultural heritage protection institutions nationwide held 82,000 performances (up 41.5% year-on-year), 18,000 folk custom activities (up 30.4%), and 22,000 exhibitions (up 20.1%), all reaching record highs. Literary and artistic works have explored and innovated across themes, genres, content, and styles, conveying truth, goodness, and beauty while promoting mainstream values. Television dramas cover a rich array of subjects, with realistic, historical, period, mystery, and sci-fi works gaining widespread popularity. The rise of short-video platforms has enabled social media to play an important role in drama promotion and audience interaction, driving the speed and influence of dissemination. These works inherit the tradition of realism, focusing on reality, the era, and the people—telling the joys and sorrows of life and using compelling stories to soothe the souls of the audience, thereby prompting reflection on life, society, and the world.
Third, the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage have been vigorously advanced. The "archaeology first, land transfer later" policy—which prioritizes archaeological investigation, prospecting, and excavation before land is released for construction—has been meticulously implemented across 24 provinces. Major heritage sites and relic-dense areas are gradually being incorporated into the national spatial planning and control system. The issue of "large-scale demolition and construction" in famous historical and cultural cities has been resolutely corrected. In the process of protection and renewal, old districts have seen their urban culture and local character strengthened, improving the quality of urban development and spatial environments. Various cultural heritage resources have been comprehensively organized and cataloged. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the first national census of movable cultural relics registered 108 million items (sets) of state-owned movable relics. The National Cultural Heritage Administration organized a special survey of grotto temples, clarifying the distribution and preservation status of 2,155 grottoes and 3,831 cliff statues. A list of key sections of the Great Wall was published, and surveys of cultural relic resources in the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins were completed. Currently, the ongoing fourth national census of cultural relics will gradually construct a resource management system that combines comprehensive census-taking, specialized investigations, spatial control, and dynamic monitoring. The Outline of the National Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) strengthens the requirements for spatial control of cultural relic resources to achieve "single-map" management, making the map of cultural relic resources clearer and more complete. Traditional village protection projects have been implemented, with 8,155 villages listed in the Chinese Traditional Villages Protection Catalogue and 539,000 historical buildings and traditional dwellings receiving protection. The construction of National Cultural Parks has been vigorously promoted, comprehensively improving the utilization and inheritance of cultural heritage; irrigation heritage and industrial heritage have also been protected and utilized. With the rapid expansion of the scale and types of cultural heritage, protection in the New Era reflects a shift from isolated points to entire areas, from rescue-oriented protection to systemic protection, and from protecting the physical entity to protecting the overall environment and its surroundings. The natural environment and cultural ecology associated with cultural heritage are being protected, and the state of preservation has fundamentally improved. The New Era has innovated heritage protection concepts, systems, and technologies, expanded the fields of protection, and strengthened the primary responsibility of the government while encouraging social and individual participation through legislation. This has fostered a grand pattern of protection characterized by government leadership, departmental coordination, and social participation, ensuring the eternal inheritance of the outstanding value, authenticity, and integrity of cultural heritage. With the inclusion of "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital" on the World Heritage List, China’s total number of World Heritage sites has reached 59, and 43 items are included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists. Seven museums, including the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum, rank among the top 20 globally. China has become a veritable power in world cultural heritage and a staunch supporter, promoter, and practitioner of the World Heritage Convention.
Fourth, the advantages of cultural resources are being continuously transformed into advantages for cultural development. In line with evolving digital technologies, the newly revised Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics stipulates: "The state shall strengthen the informatization of cultural relic protection, encourage digital work in relic protection, and promote the digital collection, display, and utilization of relic resources." This brings a brand-new audio-visual artistic experience to consumers. For example, Tencent and the Dunhuang Academy launched the "Digital Library Cave" (an immersive spatio-temporal museum), the "Digital Benefactor" program, the "Cloud Tour of Dunhuang" mini-program, and Dunhuang animated dramas. Through innovative digital products, they have pushed more relic resources "online" and "into the cloud," exploring multiple paths to popularize Dunhuang culture among the public. The cultural and creative industry has become a "standard feature" for museums. According to incomplete statistics, the creative products of the Palace Museum cover calligraphy, art, cosmetics, clothing, and cultural derivatives, with sales reaching 1 billion yuan as early as 2016. By 2023, the annual operating turnover of the Sanxingdui Museum, Shanghai Museum, and National Museum of China each exceeded 100 million yuan, with creative product income accounting for two-thirds or more of the total revenue for some large museums. Cultural heritage has become a source of creative inspiration. Cultural variety shows skillfully integrate archaeology, literature, art, ancient texts, and folk customs with television entertainment for all-media dissemination. This has found a new path for the inheritance and spread of Chinese cultural heritage, bringing it to the masses and igniting a new "National Style" (Guofeng) [17] fever and leading the "China Tide" (Guochao) [18] fashion. For instance, the "Chinese Festivals" series set viewership records, with a total network dissemination exceeding 140 billion person-times. China in Non-遺 (Intangible Cultural Heritage) reached over 7.54 billion interactions. Cultural heritage has become an important subject for film, dance drama, web series, online literature, games, animation, and short videos. Incomplete statistics show that from 2012 to September 2024, approximately 200 Chinese dance dramas premiered, with traditional culture themes accounting for half of all subjects and box office revenue. Cultural heritage is the core resource and support for the cultural tourism industry. The state encourages the provision of high-quality study-tour resources in culture, history, art, technology, education, and sports, as well as in industry and agriculture, to promote high-quality development in tourism. In 2023, 55 national archaeological site parks received over 67 million visitors, a year-on-year increase of 135%, with tourism consumption income reaching 4.475 billion yuan. Data shows that the output value of China's rural tourism exceeded 9000 billion yuan in 2023. The rural tourism industry has become a vital format for rural development, playing a positive driving role. The integration of cultural heritage with modern lifestyles has formed "Guofeng" and "Guochao," where wearing Hanfu, listening to folk music, watching cultural variety shows, and visiting cultural sites have become new consumption trends.
Fifth, the digital cultural industry has become an important force in developing new quality productive forces. Driven by the national cultural digitalization strategy and policies, the scale of China’s digital cultural industry has continued to expand in both volume and quality. New cultural formats characterized by digitalization, networking, and intelligence have developed rapidly, becoming an important part of the digital economy and its core industries and contributing increasingly to economic growth. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the operating income of 16 sub-sectors with prominent characteristics of new cultural formats soared from 1.99 trillion yuan in 2019 to 5.24 trillion yuan in 2023, a 2.6-fold increase. In the first three quarters of 2024, cultural enterprises above a designated size achieved operating income of 9.96 trillion yuan, up 5.9% year-on-year. Among these, the revenue of the 16 sub-sectors of new cultural formats reached 4.16 trillion yuan, an increase of 10.0%. Nationwide, the operating income of the internet and related services has grown steadily, from 1.59 trillion yuan in 2020 to 2.77 trillion yuan in 2023, a growth rate of 73.9%. In 2023, online literature, online games, and the film and television industry advanced together, constituting the "New Three Items" [19] of cultural exports. In 2024, the domestic game Black Myth: Wukong perfectly combined traditional Chinese culture with modern gaming technology, setting a new record for domestic games with first-day sales exceeding 4.5 million copies and total sales exceeding 1.5 billion yuan, driving the game’s filming locations and tourist attractions to become popular destinations.
Sixth, flourishing the "Global Garden of Civilizations" and contributing to the progress of human civilization. China actively participates in global governance and the provision of public goods in the field of cultural heritage. China was among the first contributors and board members of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH). China has been elected multiple times as a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and has participated in the formulation and revision of the operational guidelines for the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Together with UNESCO, China has hosted eight editions of the Chengdu International Heritage Festival and established the International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region in Beijing. China has become a backbone force in international cultural heritage cooperation and governance. In April 2023, the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia was launched, with member, partner, and observer states reaching 20. China has consistently carried out foreign aid projects for cultural relic protection, deepening intergovernmental exchanges and cooperation. China has signed bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding with multiple countries, conducted over 40 joint archaeological projects in more than 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, and engaged in 11 relic restoration collaborations with six neighboring countries. Building on the established Silk Road international alliances for theaters, art festivals, museums, art galleries, and libraries, the Silk Road Tourism Cities Alliance was formed. The "Silk Road" Chinese Government Scholarship program continues to be implemented. By hosting the "Liangzhu Forum" and the World Conference of Classics, and establishing the Chinese Academy of Classical Civilizations in Athens, China has built a new platform for civilizational exchange and mutual learning. Through international academic exchange and cooperation, the light of civilizations—characterized by equality, mutual learning, and inclusiveness—shines brightly, signaling a path for the harmonious coexistence of civilizational intersection, exchange, and integration.
(The author is the Director and Researcher of the Cultural History Research Office of the Institute of Contemporary China Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Source: People’s Tribune Online Web Editor: Huihui