He Guangcai: Guided by Xi Jinping’s Economic Thought, Accelerate the Construction of an Independent Knowledge System of Chinese Economics
The publication and distribution of the first volume of the Selected Economic Works of Xi Jinping (hereafter referred to as the Selected Works) is a major event in the political and economic life of our country. It is also a significant milestone for China’s intellectual and educational circles, particularly in the field of economics education. The Selected Works includes 74 of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s most important and fundamental writings on economic construction from November 2012 to December 2024. With a grand vision, it provides a panoramic presentation of our Party’s economic strategy for governance. It makes important original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxist political economy and provides an authoritative textbook for the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping’s economic thought. To better coordinate the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s profound changes unseen in a century [1], we must earnestly and comprehensively study the Selected Works. We must grasp the theoretical essence of Xi Jinping’s economic thought through deep study and meticulous comprehension, demonstrate the practical power of Xi Jinping’s economic thought through the unity of knowledge and action, and use Xi Jinping’s economic thought to guide the development of China’s economic practice and economics education. Through a systematic restructuring of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system, we shall construct an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics that is rooted in Chinese soil, addresses the propositions of our times, and leads the trends of development.
Socialist political economy with Chinese characters is the fundamental core of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics
The fundamental core of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics is socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics. Socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics is a scientific category first proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. In the important document "Constantly Opening Up New Frontiers of Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Currently, there are all kinds of economic theories, but the foundation of our political economy can only be Marxist political economy and no other economic theory." He further noted, "In our economics teaching, we cannot 'swallow foreign things without digesting them' [2]. We must still teach Marxist political economy. Contemporary Chinese socialist political economy must be taught extensively and must not be marginalized."
Marxist political economy is the "profoundest, most comprehensive, and most detailed proof and application" of Marxist theory. Our Party has always attached great importance to the study, research, and application of Marxist political economy. After the founding of New China, faced with the difficult historical task of building a socialist economy in a large country with nearly one-fourth of the world's population and a very backward economy and culture, Comrade Mao Zedong called on all Party officials to earnestly study and research socialist political economy, create new theories, write new works, and produce our own theorists. After the start of reform and opening up, centering on the brand-new historical task of developing a socialist economy with Chinese characteristics, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly put forward the major theoretical proposition of developing a "political economy that combines the basic principles of Marxism with Chinese socialist practice," pushing forward the transformation of our country’s economic system from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy. As reform and opening up continued to deepen, we formed many important theoretical achievements in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has, in the practice of guiding and promoting China's economic development in the New Era, formed and developed Xi Jinping’s economic thought. This thought comprehensively, centrally, and profoundly reflects our Party's new understanding of the laws of economic development, especially the laws of socialist economic development. It provides a sharp ideological weapon for promoting high-quality development, scientifically responding to major risks and challenges, and comprehensively building a modern socialist country. It has led China's economic development to achieve historical achievements and undergo historical transformations, realizing a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy and opening up new frontiers for socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics.
The Selected Works systematically answers what kind of socialist economy with Chinese characteristics we should build and how to build it. At the critical juncture where the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s profound changes unseen in a century interact, and where socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, it provides an all-around blueprint for comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization. The series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies contained in the Selected Works scientifically reveal the objective laws of the economic development of China and the world since reform and opening up, and especially since the New Era. Thematically, it proposes a series of important new categories and propositions, providing the basic compliance and basic paradigm for constructing a theorized and systematic socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics.
For a period, there were differing understandings in China's economic and educational circles regarding whether China should have an independent economics and whether China could establish one. Views on the construction of economics as a discipline and its research priorities were also inconsistent. Historically, as early as the period of socialist revolution and construction, we introduced the Soviet Union’s Textbook of Political Economy, and Comrade Mao Zedong chaired several specialized seminars on this book. Entering the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, we introduced many Western economics textbooks and established Western economics courses such as macroeconomics and microeconomics in universities. China’s economic development practice has also evolved through a process of collision and mutual verification with these economic theories.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly grasped the temporal requirements for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. He clearly stated that whether our philosophy and social sciences have Chinese characteristics ultimately depends on whether they possess subjectivity and originality. He pointed out that accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics is, in the final analysis, about building China’s independent knowledge system. He creatively proposed the new scientific category of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics, continuously improved its theoretical system, and promoted the construction of an economics discipline that fully embodies Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese ethos.
The relevant important discourses in the Selected Works set the course for building an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. They have greatly enhanced people’s consciousness, confidence, and internal fortitude [3] in developing socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics. They have deepened the systematic understanding of the subjectivity of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics and marked a new height reached by our Party in promoting the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy. The publication of the Selected Works holds milestone significance in the history of the development of Marxist political economy.
The "Two Combinations" are the scientific methodology for building an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics
A scientific methodology is an important component of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. The relevant discourses in the Selected Works specify what kind of work methods should be adhered to in economic construction and what kind of scientific methods should be maintained in Chinese economic research. In "Constantly Opening Up New Frontiers of Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Facing extremely complex domestic and international economic situations and a myriad of economic phenomena, studying the basic principles and methodology of Marxist political economy helps us master scientific methods of economic analysis, understand the process of economic movement, grasp the laws of social and economic development, improve our ability to manage the socialist market economy, and better answer the theoretical and practical questions of our country’s economic development."
To construct an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, we must adhere to a scientific methodology—specifically, the "Two Combinations" [4]. Historically, the reason our Party has been able to continuously achieve theoretical innovation and leaps is rooted in the "Two Combinations." Building an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics requires a correct understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, and between history and reality. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Chinese civilization and other civilizations of the world. Any economic theory is produced under specific historical and social conditions and is inseparable from the actual soil from which it grows and the questions of the era it faces. The developmental practice of the socialist economy with Chinese characteristics proceeds along the path of Chinese-path modernization. China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture are fundamental prerequisites that cannot be bypassed, let alone denied, in constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Xi Jinping’s economic thought combines the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China's fine traditional culture, providing methodological guidance for how to construct an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics must adhere to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Contemporary China is undergoing the most extensive and profound social transformation in our country's history, and is also engaged in the most ambitious and unique practical innovation in human history." This unprecedented and great practice will surely provide strong momentum and vast space for theoretical creation and academic prosperity. To construct an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, we must have a panoramic understanding, a regularized grasp, and an essential realization of the magnificent practice of Chinese economic development. We cannot blindly copy existing economic theories, and even less can we hide in an "ivory tower" to fabricate theories.
Constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics must adhere to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture. In the important document "Comprehensively Advancing the Great Cause of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation through Chinese-path Modernization," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in China’s fine traditional culture." The 74 works included in the Selected Works frequently cite Chinese classics, poetry, and allusions, demonstrating the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation and using Marxism to activate the vital and excellent elements within China’s fine traditional culture.
For example, when discussing food security, he cited the phrase "Among the eight objects of government in the Great Plan, food is the first" [5] to explain that solving the problem of feeding the people is always the top priority of national governance. He also used the establishment of the "Ever-Normal Granary" [6] as an example to emphasize the historical inheritance and practical significance of managing grain reserves and regulation. When discussing common prosperity, he cited "Do not worry about scarcity, but rather about inequality; do not worry about poverty, but rather about instability" [7] and "Respect the elderly of other families as we respect our own; care for the young of other families as we care for our own" [8] to show that common prosperity has been a basic ideal of the Chinese people since ancient times. When talking about finance serving the real economy, he cited "When the paths of agriculture, industry, and commerce are opened, the currencies of tortoise shells, cowries, gold, and knives arose" [9] to vividly analyze the symbiotic relationship between finance and the real economy. He cited "The market is where one can know order or chaos, and where one can know abundance or scarcity" [10] to elucidate that chaos in the financial market is a major hidden danger that triggers systemic risks. The proposal of a series of important categories such as the "path of financial development with Chinese characteristics" and "financial culture with Chinese characteristics" are exemplary models of theoretical innovation combining Marxist financial theory with contemporary China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, making significant contributions to the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Adhering to a people-centered approach is the fundamental value orientation of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics
A people-centered approach is the consistent value orientation of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. The first piece in the Selected Works is "The People’s Aspiration for a Better Life is Our Goal," which proposes that "we must always be of one heart with the people, share weal and woe with them, and struggle together with them." This clarified the approach for our economic work and provided fundamental guidance for accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. As the theoretical crystallization of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, Xi Jinping’s economic thought—from its value position and mode of knowledge production to its target orientation—is consistently permeated by the core logic of being "people-centered." It not only breaks through the theoretical shackles of Western economics but also forms an original theoretical paradigm rooted in and serving the people in practice.
In terms of value position, Xi Jinping’s economic thought adheres to the viewpoint of the people’s principal status, transcending the "rational man" [11] assumption of Western economics and reshaping the philosophical foundations of the knowledge system. Western economics simplifies humans into atomized individuals pursuing utility maximization, which both ignores the social attributes of human beings and obscures the ethical value of economic activities. Proceeding from the fundamental Marxist proposition that "the essence of man is the ensemble of social relations," Xi Jinping’s economic thought creatively puts forward the view of adhering to the people’s principal status, shifting the starting point of constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics from "abstract individuals" to "actual people."
For instance, regarding the promotion of granting urban residency to the rural migrant population, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his "Speech at the Central Urbanization Work Conference" that we must "persist in a voluntary, classified, and orderly manner," which includes "fully respecting the aspirations of farmers and letting them choose for themselves, rather than adopting coercive practices" and "orderly guiding the flow of incremental population." Furthermore, addressing the defects of Western macroeconomics and its obsession with GDP, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in "Grasping the New Development Stage, Implementing the New Development Philosophy, and Constructing the New Development Paradigm," explicitly demanded that we "grasp the New Development Philosophy from its fundamental purpose." He noted that "only by persisting in the people-centered development philosophy, and insisting that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people, can there be a correct view of development and modernization." Xi Jinping's economic thought adheres to the people-centered development philosophy, always prioritizing the protection of the people's rights to subsistence, development, and health, thereby laying a solid philosophical foundation for constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
In terms of the mode of knowledge production, Xi Jinping's economic thought adheres to the epistemology of "from the masses, to the masses" [12], forming a new mode of knowledge production. Unlike the "blackboard economics" [13] mode of knowledge production in Western economics—which starts from hypotheses and is driven by models—Xi Jinping's economic thought consistently regards the practical creativity of the masses as the "living water" [14] source of theoretical innovation. It then uses new theoretical achievements to guide practical innovation, forming a complete chain of "problem orientation—practical verification—theoretical sublimation—practical adherence."
For example, theory originates from the summary and refinement of the people's practice. "Constantly Opening Up New Realms of Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy" points out: "We must base ourselves on our national conditions and our developmental practice, deeply study new situations and problems facing the world economy and our country's economy, reveal new characteristics and laws, refine and summarize the law-based achievements of our country's economic development practice, and elevate practical experience into a systematic economic doctrine." Furthermore, theoretical innovation undergoes iterative upgrades through practical verification. Take rural reform as an example. With the accelerated development of rural productive forces and the deepening of rural reform since the New Era, the connotations of the Party's "Three Rural Issues" [15] theory have been continuously enriched through deepening reform and innovative development. "Adhering to Ownership, Protecting Contract Rights, and Vitalizing Management Rights" points out: "Vitalizing land management rights and promoting the orderly transfer of land management rights is a task with strong policy implications. We must properly grasp the scale of land management right transfer, concentration, and large-scale operation; it must be adapted to the process of urbanization and the scale of rural labor transfer, to the degree of progress in agricultural science and technology and improvement of production means, and to the level of improvement in socialized agricultural services." This reflects our Party's initiative and consciousness in deeply advancing theoretical innovation based on actual changes in the production and lives of the masses.
In terms of objective orientation, Xi Jinping's economic thought takes the protection of the fundamental interests of the people as the final landing point of theoretical innovation. Western economics takes capital appreciation as the fundamental goal of theoretical innovation, and its knowledge system is essentially a tool serving capital expansion. For example, mainstream Western economics takes "Pareto optimality" as its ideal goal, but its theoretical core defaults to an acceptance of distributional inequality. In practice, this often leads to the "Matthew Effect" where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, creating a fractured society where prosperity and poverty coexist. General Secretary Xi Jinping, in "Constantly Opening Up New Realms of Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy," clearly points out that in adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, "we must never forget at any time that in deploying economic work, formulating economic policies, and promoting economic development, we must firmly adhere to this fundamental standpoint." The independent knowledge system of Chinese economics takes increasing the people's well-being, promoting well-rounded human development, and steadily advancing toward common prosperity as the goal and the starting and ending points of economic development; it aligns the compass of theoretical innovation with the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development. This goal setting is not an abstract declaration of values but is transformed into operable institutional arrangements through systematic theoretical construction.
Xi Jinping's economic thought breaks through the "market-government" binary opposition framework of Western economics. It stimulates the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of different subjects in primary distribution, laying a material foundation for achieving common prosperity for all people. In redistribution, it allows the government to better play its role, increasing the intensity of regulation through taxation, social security, and transfer payments to weave a dense and strong social safety net. In the "third distribution" [16], it is based on the social consciousness of those who became wealthy first leading those who lag behind, guiding social forces to participate in wealth sharing. Ultimately, it enables the government, market, and society to form a synergy, unifying "making the cake bigger" with "dividing the cake well" in the process of Chinese-path modernization. Within the economic knowledge system, it highlights the value core that "human beings are the purpose of development, not the tool," and through theoretical innovation, it answers the question of the times: "How is common prosperity possible?"
Chinese-path Modernization is the Practical Soil for the Independent Knowledge System of Chinese Economics
In the important document "The Mission and Tasks of the Communist Party of China on the New Journey in the New Era," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It shares common features with the modernization of all countries, but more importantly, it has Chinese characteristics based on our own national conditions." This important thesis profoundly reveals the essential attributes of Chinese-path modernization and points out the practical direction for constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Chinese-path modernization has shattered the development paradigm of Western-centrism, opening a brand-new development path in an economy with a population of over 1.4 billion. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, Chinese-path modernization is not only a magnificent social transformation but also a fertile soil for nurturing and testing theoretical innovation.
Chinese-path modernization is a great practice without precedent. The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC explicitly summarized that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. In its practical exploration, Chinese-path modernization demonstrates unique composite characteristics, forming a multi-dimensional and multi-layered dialectical development pattern that constitutes a natural "rich mine" for economic theoretical innovation.
It should be seen that the practice of modernization in such a super-large-scale economy, while breaking through traditional development paradigms, also requires the coordination of various development elements. Especially since entering the New Era, advancing Chinese-path modernization requires both leveraging the institutional advantage of the new-type whole-nation system to mobilize resources for major undertakings, and stimulating the innovative vitality of micro-entities through market-oriented factor reforms, thereby promoting a better combination of an effective market and a proactive government. It requires both expanding high-level opening-up and deeply participating in the restructuring of global industrial chains, and strengthening independent innovation in key areas to break through "chokehold" [17] technical problems, coordinating the two major issues of development and security in the process of further comprehensively deepening reform. It requires both driving the eastern region to climb toward the high end of the global value chain and promoting leapfrog development in the central and western regions, building a gradient-progressive modernization map in the promotion of coordinated regional development. It requires both accelerating the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy to catalyze new quality productive forces, and guarding against the impact of the technological revolution on traditional employment structures, holding the bottom line of livelihood protection during industrial upgrading. It requires both maintaining a certain rate of economic development and promoting the transformation of development modes, shaping new driving forces and advantages for development under the constraints of the "dual carbon" [18] goals. It requires both narrowing the wealth gap through income distribution system reform and maintaining reasonable competition to stimulate social innovative vitality, exploring the organic unity of efficiency and equity under the goal of achieving common prosperity. It requires both absorbing and drawing on the outstanding achievements of human civilization and safeguarding and consolidating the subjectivity of Chinese culture, constructing a modern discourse system with Chinese characteristics amidst the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations—and so on. These intertwined and superimposed development propositions constitute a vivid picture of modernization with distinct Chinese characteristics; the resolution of each composite problem contains the dialectical unity of universality and particularity, laying the practical foundation for constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Chinese-path modernization is a great practice that some Western theories cannot effectively explain. Traditional economic theories can neither effectively explain the "parallel" development of China's new-type industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization—the "four synchronizations" [19]—nor can they effectively explain the great achievements we have made in advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization since the New Era. With its multi-dimensional and multi-layered practical breakthroughs, Chinese-path modernization is continuously deconstructing the explanatory boundaries of traditional economic theories.
For example, the synergy between an effective market and a proactive government transcends the binary opposition between neoliberalism and state interventionism, contributing a new sample to institutional economics. The organic combination of high-level opening-up and independent innovation in implementing the innovation-driven development strategy breaks the assumption of unidirectional technology diffusion in traditional economic globalization theories, constructing a new development paradigm that coordinates deep participation in global industrial chains with high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. The regional coordination between the eastern coastal areas' climb to the high end of global value chains and the leapfrog development of the central and western regions under China's industrial spatial layout exposes the explanatory limitations of traditional regional division of labor theories; the gradient-progressive industrial layout is driving innovative breakthroughs in spatial economics. Promoting the deep integration of the digital economy and traditional industries to cultivate and develop new quality productive forces breaks through the framework of Schumpeter’s theory of "creative destruction," buffering the impact of technological revolution with innovations in the social security system and injecting the "warmth of people’s livelihoods" into industrial upgrading theory. The practice of maintaining medium-to-high-speed economic growth while undergoing green transformation during the promotion of green development breaks through the passive adaptation theory of the "Environmental Kuznets Curve," reshaping growth momentum through the energy revolution and market mechanism innovations, thus reconstructing the underlying logic of sustainable development theory. The distribution system reform under the goal of achieving common prosperity for all, through the construction of a coordinated system of primary distribution, redistribution, and third distribution, achieves the organic unity of efficiency and equity, providing a practical model for development economics that goes beyond the "trickle-down effect" and the "welfare trap"—and so forth.
The great practice of Chinese-path modernization nurtures theoretical innovation for the New Era. When attending a joint panel discussion of political advisors from the sectors of culture, art, and social sciences at the second session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Research in philosophy and social sciences must be based on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, proposing independent and original theoretical viewpoints, and constructing a disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics." The magnificent practice of Chinese-path modernization provides a steady stream of nutrients and inspiration for constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, is reshaping the underlying logic of economics, and is catalyzing a Chinese-characteristic understanding of economic laws.
From the great practice of poverty alleviation to the institutional exploration of promoting common prosperity for all, from the strategic planning of constructing the New Development Paradigm to the initiatives and actions of building a community with a shared future for humanity—every major practical exploration in the economic field in New Era China has been accompanied by theoretical reflection and sublimation, driving the development and innovation of contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy. The practice of eliminating absolute poverty created a new sample for the economics of poverty reduction; advancing supply-side structural reform provided a new paradigm for structural transformation theory to leap over the "middle-income trap"; improving the socialist market economy system created a new framework for institutional economics; and the New Development Philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development reconstructed the value coordinates of economic development. These practical experiences provide rich theoretical growth points and expand the space for theoretical innovation in constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
Accelerating the Construction of an Independent Knowledge System of Chinese Economics is a Strategic Task for the Philosophy and Social Science Community
Looking to the future, constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics is both an academic mission and a strategic task. The publication and distribution of the Selected Readings [of Xi Jinping’s works] provide precious study materials for researchers and educators in economics to closely revolve around the "Two Combinations," [20] adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, deeply study and elaborate on the economic laws contained within Chinese-path modernization, accelerate the formation of innovative results in socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics, and enhance theoretical confidence and academic consciousness. It is a golden opportunity to accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
To accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, we must take Xi Jinping's economic thought as our guide and follow a series of important principles.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has provided a systematic exposition and explicit requirements regarding this matter. At the 2016 Symposium for Experts on the Economic Situation, he pointed out: "We must take Marxist political economy as our guide, summarize and refine the great practical experience of our country’s reform and opening up and socialist modernization, while simultaneously drawing on the beneficial components of Western economics." In the article "Continuously Opening Up New Realms for Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy," he noted: "Regarding foreign economics, especially Western economics, we must persist in discarding the dross and selecting the essential, eliminating the false and retaining the true. We must maintain the principle of 'taking ourselves as the core and making things serve our use' [21]. We must not mechanically copy or transplant content that reflects the institutional attributes and values of the capitalist system, nor content characterized by Western ideology."
In "Deepening Understanding of Major Issues in Mid-to-Long-Term Economic and Social Development," he stated: "Proceed from national conditions, come from Chinese practice and return to Chinese practice, and write papers on the motherland's soil [22], ensuring that theoretical and policy innovations conform to Chinese reality and possess Chinese characteristics"; "Conduct in-depth research, observe the actual situation, and propose practical measures, fully reflecting reality so that theoretical and policy innovations are well-founded and reasonable"; "Grasp laws, adhere to the Marxist standpoint, viewpoints, and methods, see through appearances to the essence, and explore long-term trends from short-term fluctuations, so that theoretical and policy innovations fully embody advancement and scientific rigor"; "Establish an international perspective, explore common issues facing humanity through the interaction between China and the world, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity." At the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, he pointed out: "We must focus on major issues facing the development of our country and the world, and strive to propose concepts, propositions, and solutions that embody Chinese positions, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese values." During his inspection of Renmin University of China, he noted: "We must take China as our frame of reference and the era as our frame of reference. Based on Chinese reality and solving Chinese problems, we must continuously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and unceasingly advance innovation in knowledge, theory, and method."
These important expositions have pointed the way and provided the fundamental follow-through for constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics and for the education and research of Chinese economics. This process of knowledge production, rooted in the soil of China and facing the future of humanity, not only provides theoretical support for Chinese-path modernization but will also surely contribute Chinese wisdom to solving global development problems, manifesting the power of truth in the historical process of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Peking University is the birthplace of modern higher education in China and has pioneered several milestone achievements in the field of economics. As early as the May Fourth New Culture Movement era [23], Peking University was deeply implanted with "red genes," becoming an important source and transmission center for Marxist political economy in China. At the same time, it took the lead in establishing specialized subjects in political economy, systematically introducing classical economic theories such as those of Adam Smith and David Ricardo. After the founding of New China, the discipline of economics at Peking University has always resonated with national development. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, it delved into the construction of the socialist economic theoretical system; after reform and opening up, it was the first to conduct research on socialist market economy theory. By constructing a multi-level disciplinary system covering theoretical economics, applied economics, and interdisciplinary studies, and by building national-level think tank platforms, the university has participated deeply in research on major economic issues such as national development planning, fiscal and tax system reform, and regional development strategies. Peking University has formed an academic tradition based on Chinese practice that responds to the questions of the times. In the process of promoting economic theoretical innovation, Peking University focuses on integrating the basic principles of Marxism with the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and fine traditional Chinese culture. It maintains a keen tracking of the international academic frontier while remaining dedicated to elevating Chinese experience into economic theory with universal explanatory power.
Entering the New Era, as a vanguard of Chinese higher education, Peking University persists in taking Xi Jinping economic thought as its guide. In the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, it has continuously and comprehensively promoted the synergistic transformation of the economic discipline paradigm, the education system, talent cultivation, and textbook construction. Regarding disciplinary paradigm innovation, it actively promotes Chinese economic theoretical research with original theory as the backbone, creating a new paradigm for economic research that is independent to China and of world-class standard, thus contributing to the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. Regarding the reform of the education and teaching system, it actively advances national projects such as the Economics "101 Plan" [24], creating a "Curriculum Ideology and Politics" [25] construction pattern led by typical courses, demonstrated by foundational courses, and supported by professional courses, in order to cultivate New Era economic talents who are "upright in path, high in skill, refined in profession, seeking truth, and accomplished in affairs." Regarding the textbook system construction, it focuses on the frontier guidance and latest concepts of the Party and the state in the economic field, building high-quality economic textbook bases, exploring the laws of textbook construction, and launching high-level textbooks to ensure that the achievements of theoretical innovation are timely transformed into educational resources. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping economic thought, Peking University will always shoulder the responsibility of a pathfinder, contributing Chinese wisdom to humanity's exploration of a fairer and more sustainable path of economic development, and engraving distinct Chinese coordinates on the world academic map.
The new era and new journey call for new actions and a new atmosphere. Peking University will always keep in mind the "top priorities of the nation" [26]. Guided by Xi Jinping economic thought and centered on the construction of an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, it will manifest the power of thought in theoretical innovation, embody practical responsibility in policy consultation services, and demonstrate Chinese wisdom in the dialogue of civilizations. It will strive to make new contributions to the development of contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy, delivering new answers to the "Questions of China, the world, the people, and the times."
(The author is the Secretary of the CPC Committee of Peking University) (Articles on this page were commissioned by People’s Daily Press and edited by the Theory Department of People’s Daily) Online Editor: Tong Xin Source: People's Daily (April 28, 2025, Page 9)