Dong Biao: A Brilliant Work Guiding the New Journey of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation
Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China systematically summarizes our Party's important experience in advancing theoretical innovation based on practice. It continuously deepens our understanding of the patterns of the Party’s theoretical innovation, opens new horizons in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and provides ideological guidance for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. An "ism" concerns the banner and the direction. What kind of "ism" a country chooses and implements depends crucially on whether that "ism" can solve the historical challenges facing that country. History has shown that only socialism could save China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the broad avenue [1] for China to catch up with and lead the times, and it is the only path [2] to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China records our Party's systematic exploration in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, integrating the basic principles of scientific socialism with China’s realities, and deepening the understanding of the laws governing socialist construction. These insights include: on guiding ideology, emphasizing that "the reason why the Communist Party of China is capable and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works"; on the leadership force, emphasizing that "the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China" and "upholding the Party's comprehensive leadership is the only path to upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics"; on the fundamental stance, proposing the worldview and methodology of "must put the people first"; on the goals of struggle, emphasizing "promoting the well-rounded development of the individual and common prosperity for all"; on the material base, "must firmly grasp high-quality development as the primary task" and "improve systems and mechanisms for developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions"; on the economic system, emphasizing the necessity of upholding and improving the basic socialist economic system, "unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector, and unswervingly encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non-public sector"; on the political system, emphasizing that "whole-process people's democracy is the essential attribute of socialist democratic politics, and is the most extensive, genuine, and effective democracy"; and on historical depth, emphasizing that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics "was carved out under the guidance of Marxism, and it also emerged from more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization." These important expositions have strengthened our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, raising high the banner of scientific socialism in the East.
Opening a new chapter for Chinese-path modernization. The history of the Communist Party of China’s struggle for over a century is both a history of uniting and leading the Chinese people in the pursuit of national rejuvenation and a history of unremitting exploration of the path to modernization. Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China connects with Volumes 1 through 4, comprehensively and systematically displaying the practical breakthroughs, theoretical achievements, and world significance of our Party’s advancement of Chinese-path modernization since the 20th CPC National Congress. From the perspective of practical achievements, our Party has struggled unremittingly with a focus on the people’s need for a better life, winning the decisive battle against poverty, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled, achieving the First Centenary Goal, and embarking on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects and achieve the Second Centenary Goal. Since the 20th CPC National Congress, focusing on the historical mission of the New Era and the new journey, our Party has taken further comprehensively deepening reform as the fundamental driving force and expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world as an important path, advancing modernization within the framework of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives. Theoretically, our Party has proposed major landmark concepts such as "Chinese-path modernization" and the "new path of Chinese-style modernization." Since the 20th CPC National Congress, it has further deepened the understanding of the connotation and essence of Chinese-path modernization, summarizing its Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles, thereby initially forming a theoretical system for Chinese-path modernization. In terms of world significance, Chinese-path modernization insists on both being based on its own national conditions and drawing on the experience of other countries, both inheriting historical culture and integrating modern civilization. With its successful practice and magnificent prospects, it has forcefully answered the "World Question" of modernization: "What kind of modernization do we actually need? How can we achieve modernization?" It has broadened the path to modernization for humanity, especially for developing countries, providing experience for those nations that wish to modernize but have not yet done so. Because it contains a profound dialectic of the "universal-particular" [3] relationship, Chinese-path modernization has become a modernization scheme that both benefits the Chinese people and promotes common global development; it is the only path for China to seek human progress and "Great Harmony" [4] (shìjiè dàtóng).
Promoting high-quality development. Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China further clarifies the strategic significance of high-quality development from the height of implementing the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization; "high-quality development" has become a striking and high-frequency term. In promoting high-quality economic development, it emphasizes the New Development Philosophy as ideological guidance, the construction of the New Development Paradigm as the strategic layout, economic system reform as institutional support, the development of education, science, technology, and talent as internal drivers, and the development of new quality productive forces as a key focus. It also emphasizes the importance of balancing high-quality development with high-level security as an important principle, paying special attention to high-quality development in science and technology, industry, regional development, finance, and the private economy, thus forming a systematic layout for high-quality economic development. At the same time, it emphasizes that promoting high-quality development involves not only the economic field but must also use high-quality economic development to drive high-quality development in all other fields.
Inheriting and developing Chinese civilization and creating a new form of human civilization. Chinese civilization is long-standing, broad, and profound; it is the unique spiritual trademark of the Chinese nation, the civilizational foundation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the source of theoretical innovation for Chinese Communists. Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China regards the creation of a new form of human civilization as an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization and specifically emphasizes using the power of Marxist truth to activate the excellent elements of Chinese culture, reflecting the organic integration of the "soul-vein" of thought [5] and the "blood-vein" of culture [6], and of traditional culture and modern civilization. In October 2023, the National Conference on Public Communications and Cultural Work proposed "Xi Jinping Thought on Culture." The important chapters selected in this volume—concerning the deepening of the systematized and academic interpretation of the Party's innovative theories, the profound grasp of the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, the deep understanding of the significance of the "Two Combinations" [7], the strengthening of cultural confidence, and the building of a leading cultural power—are both internal requirements for developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era and major propositions of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. As the cultural component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture upholds and develops Marxist cultural theory, manifests the essence of the Chinese culture and spirit of our times, and serves as a powerful ideological guide for promoting the prosperity of socialist culture and building a leading cultural power. It also serves as an action guide for inheriting and developing fine traditional Chinese culture and constructing a new form of human civilization.
Promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The Communist Party of China is committed to the eternal great cause of the Chinese nation and to the noble cause of human peace and development. It is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and it is also a party that seeks progress for humanity and "Great Harmony" for the world. Facing the complex situation of the "changes unseen in a century" interwoven with instability and transformation, our Party has profoundly grasped the laws of human social development and the major trends of the times. It adheres to a worldview and methodology of "having the whole world in mind," integrates love for the motherland with concern for humanity, and always stands firmly on the right side of history and the side of human progress. We seek our own development while resolutely safeguarding world peace and development, and we better maintain world peace and development through our own development. Promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity is our active response to the changes of the world, the times, and history. It deepens the understanding of the laws of human social development and provides a Chinese solution to the scientific question of what kind of world to build and how to build it. It conforms to the universal aspirations of people of all countries and points the way for the progress of world civilization. The construction of a community with a shared future for humanity is fully presented in Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, reflecting the dual promotion of theoretical refinement and strategic practice. In December 2023, at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided a comprehensive and in-depth definition of the concept of a "community with a shared future for humanity." Building a community with a shared future for humanity takes the building of a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanliness, and beauty as the goal. It takes the promotion of global governance through extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits as the path; the practice of the common values of humanity as the universal norm; the promotion of a new type of international relations as the basic support; the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative as strategic guidance; and the high-quality construction of the "Belt and Road" as the practical platform. It encourages all countries to join hands to meet challenges and achieve common prosperity, pushing the world toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress. This definition is a theoretical refinement of the historical logic, experiential wisdom, and value pursuit of our Party in advancing the cause of world peace and human development since the New Era. The practical requirements it contains provide ideological guidance for us to follow the road of Chinese-path modernization for peaceful development and to work with all countries to jointly advance modernization.
Upholding the Party's comprehensive leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping, centering on the contemporary theme of what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build in the New Era and how to build it, and focusing on the fundamental questions of what the Communist Party of China is and what it aims to do, has proposed a series of new concepts, thoughts, and strategies. He has deeply advanced the New Great Project of Party Building in the New Era, leading social revolution through the Party’s self-revolution. This has brought about unprecedented changes in the appearance of the Party, the country, and society, leading the cause of the Party and the people to historical and groundbreaking achievements and generating all-round, deep-seated influence. Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, like all previous volumes, consistently integrates the upholding of the Party's comprehensive leadership and the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into all work concerning the governance of the Party, the state, and the military; internal affairs, foreign diplomacy, and national defense; and reform, development, and stability. This profoundly reflects the comprehensive, systematic, and holistic nature of "governing by the Party" and "governing the Party." Regarding the upholding of the Party's comprehensive leadership, it clarifies that the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the Communist Party of China is the highest force for political leadership. We must adhere to the highest political principle of the Party Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership and must insist on and continuously improve the system of Party leadership as the fundamental leadership system of the state. Regarding comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, it emphasizes that we must remain clear-headed and determined in addressing the unique challenges facing a large party [8], further improve the system for exercising full and rigorous self-governance, and push the Party’s self-revolution and the Great Project of Party Building into greater depth. Regarding the Party’s self-revolution leading social revolution, it emphasizes that the Party’s leadership directly concerns the fundamental direction, future, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-path modernization, and that Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. These important expositions have deepened the understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party's exercise of power, providing a fundamental guarantee for the Party to lead the people in creating great historical undertakings.
In studying Volume 5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, we must persist in basing ourselves on the original works and original texts, grasping the original principles and original meanings, and deepening our understanding of "China’s Path, China’s Governance, and China’s Logic" [9]. We must deeply master the internal relationship between its landmark concepts, scientific judgments, logical structures, and original theories, promoting the systematic construction and academic explanation of the Party’s innovative theories. We must persist in the unification of the laws of theoretical innovation and the laws of theoretical arming, transforming the latest achievements in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism into a powerful ideological weapon for the masses of cadres and the public to grasp historical initiative, thereby gathering immense strength for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.