Du Feijin: Creative Application of Materialist Dialectics in Xi Jinping's Economic Thought
Economic work is the central task of the Party’s governance of the country. Xi Jinping’s economic thought is the most significant achievement of the Party’s theoretical innovation in the economic field in the New Era and represents the latest achievement in the innovative development of Marxist political economy. In carefully studying the first volume of the Selected Economic Works of Xi Jinping (hereafter referred to as the Selected Works), one gains the profound impression that General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to, and creatively applies, the basic principles of Marxism, weaving dialectical materialism through every aspect, field, and stage of economic work. To deeply study and implement Xi Jinping’s economic thought, we must firmly grasp this key emphasis and hold fast to the dialectics of economic work, continuously improving our capacity and proficiency in managing the economy.
Creatively applying dialectical materialism to construct a scientific methodology for economic work
As an essential component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping’s economic thought profoundly reflects the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. It embodies scientific methods for advancing the Party's theoretical innovation, such as the "Two Combinations" [1] and the "Six Must-Heads" [2]. In particular, Xi Jinping’s economic thought creatively applies dialectical materialism to construct a scientific methodology for economic work, providing a guide for forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and the holistic advancement of socialist economic construction with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
First is the dialectical understanding and mastery of domestic and international trends. In the article "Deepening Understanding of Major Issues in Mid-to-Long-Term Economic and Social Development," General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "As we enter a new stage of development, the profound changes in the domestic and international environments bring both a series of new opportunities and a series of new challenges. Crises and opportunities coexist; there are opportunities within crises, and crises can be transformed into opportunities." He continues, "We must dialectically understand and grasp domestic and international trends, coordinating the strategic overall goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the world’s once-in-a-century profound changes [3]. We must profoundly understand the new characteristics and requirements brought by the evolution of the principal contradiction in our society [4], profoundly understand the new conflicts and challenges brought by the complex international environment, enhance our awareness of opportunities and risks, accurately identify changes, respond to them scientifically, and seek change proactively." These important expositions creatively apply the principle that the world is a unified material whole where matter determines consciousness, as well as the law of the unity of opposites. They require us to analyze the economic situation and development trends with a comprehensive, dialectical, and long-term perspective, solving practical problems through developmental thinking and methods. This provides a scientific epistemology and methodology for comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization through high-quality development.
At present, the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing by leaps and bounds, creating historical opportunities for our country to ride the momentum and achieve greater development. Our country possesses significant institutional advantages, a solid material foundation, strong economic resilience, and overall social stability; the conditions for continued development are multifaceted. At the same time, the world’s once-in-a-century profound changes are accelerating, local conflicts and turbulence occur frequently, global issues are intensifying, and external containment and suppression are constantly escalating. Our country’s development has entered a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertain or unpredictable factors are increasing. We face an external environment with more "headwinds and countercurrents" [5], as well as internal challenges where the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development remains prominent. Only through extraordinary measures can we turn crises into opportunities and transform danger into safety. It is precisely on the basis of dialectically recognizing and scientifically grasping domestic and international development trends that General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of major original concepts and innovative measures—such as the "new normal" regarding economic development, the new development philosophy, the new development stage, the new development pattern, and new quality productive forces—making fundamental theoretical contributions that guide China's economy to brave the wind and waves and consistently advance toward high-quality development in the right direction. Furthermore, it is based on this scientific grasp of trends that our Party uses mid-to-long-term planning to guide economic and social development. Since the start of the New Era, we have achieved the great developmental successes of the 12th, 13th, and 14th Five-Year Plans, and are currently sketching the grand blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan, ensuring that Chinese-path modernization presents an incomparably bright and glorious prospect.
Second is adhering to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. The article "The General Principle of Seeking Progress While Maintaining Stability is the Methodology for Doing Economic Work" notes: This principle is an important rule for our governance of the country and a methodology for doing economic work. The focus of "stability" should be on stabilizing economic operations; the focus of "progress" should be on adjusting the economic structure and deepening reform and opening up. "Stability" and "progress" form a dialectical unity and must be grasped as a whole.
Adhering to this principle creatively applies the law of the transformation of quantitative change into qualitative change and the complementary nature of contradictions. It requires mastering the dialectics of stability and progress, and of "breaking" and "building" [6]—specifically, insisting on seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and building the new before breaking the old. This is a profound summation of the successful experience of China's more than 40 years of reform and opening up; it is an authoritative interpretation of the laws of economic development based on domestic and international experience; and it is the crystallization of our Party's wisdom in leading economic work since the New Era began. It provides a scientific general tone and methodological guidance for us to promote various undertakings and complete our goals and tasks as scheduled.
The core of seeking progress while maintaining stability lies in stabilizing the overall situation while making continuous strides forward. Within this, "stability" is the keynote and the big picture; it is the foundation and prerequisite for progress. "Progress" is the direction and the goal; it is the active grasping of the developmental trends contained within a stable state; it is the momentum and the guarantee for stability. Stability and progress complement and promote each other, driving the economy to continuously improve quality and efficiency and reach new heights.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have resolutely held the bottom line against financial risks, for social well-being, and for the ecological environment. We have stabilized expectations, growth, and employment. Simultaneously, we have proactively "built" what needs to be built and resolutely "broken" what needs to be broken on the basis of that building. We have been proactive in transforming [development] modes, adjusting structures, improving quality, and increasing efficiency, achieving new successes in sustained, healthy, and stable economic and social development, and ensuring that high-quality development is carried out solidly.
Third is adhering to a systems perspective. The systems perspective is a fundamental method for both thought and work. Throughout the Selected Works, many writings explicitly emphasize the need to adhere to a systems perspective, and the analysis of many major issues profoundly reflects this. For example, "On Constructing the New Development Pattern" states: "We must adhere to a systems perspective, strengthening forward-looking thinking, global planning, strategic layout, and holistic advancement of development in all fields. We must strengthen policy coordination so that various aspects of development promote each other, leading the practice of implementing the new development philosophy into greater depth." The article "Principles to Adhere to in Achieving Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Goals" notes: "Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a multi-dimensional, three-dimensional, and systemic project. We must unswervingly implement the new development philosophy, adhere to a systems perspective, and handle the relationships between development and emissions reduction, the whole and the part, and the short-term and mid-to-long-term." "Accelerating the Construction of the New Development Pattern to Grasp the Initiative for Future Development" points out: "We must adhere to a problem-oriented approach and a systems perspective, focusing on breaking through the principal contradictions and problems that restrict the acceleration of the new development pattern."
As a fundamental ideological and working method, adhering to a systems perspective creatively applies the principles of universal connection and eternal development. It utilizes the view of the world as an interconnected whole and an interacting system. It requires observing things from a perspective that is universally connected, comprehensive, and evolving, while properly handling the relationships between the whole and the part, the present and the long-term, the macro and the micro, the principal and secondary contradictions, and the particular and the general. This provides methodological guidance for optimizing economic governance and solving complex development problems.
Since the 18th National Congress, facing a profoundly complex and changing development environment, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to a systems perspective, coordinating the domestic and international situations, and coordinating the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" to promote work in all fields and socialist modernization in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The scientific method of the systems perspective is also profoundly reflected in every aspect of economic work. For instance, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that "urban work is a systems engineering project," requiring the "coordination of the three structures of space, scale, and industry," "the three links of planning, construction, and management," "the three drivers of reform, science and technology, and culture," "the three layouts of production, life, and ecology," and "the three subjects of government, society, and citizens." This is a scientific application of the fundamental method of the systems perspective. Furthermore, it is not only in implementing the new development philosophy that we must adhere to the systems perspective, but also in fulfilling various strategic tasks and further deepening reform comprehensively. Since the 18th National Congress, leading officials at all levels have adhered to the systems perspective, continuously improving their capacity for strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systems thinking, innovative thinking, rule-of-law thinking, and bottom-line thinking. The Party's ability, level, and effectiveness in leading work have been substantially enhanced.
Fourth is adhering to a problem-oriented approach. Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a distinct characteristic of Marxism and an important methodology of Xi Jinping’s economic thought, profoundly reflected across many works in the Selected Works. For example, "Accurately Grasping the Decisive Role of the Market in Resource Allocation and Better Playing the Role of the Government" points out: "Proposing that the market plays a decisive role in resource allocation is, in fact, an implementation of the problem-oriented approach." "How to View the New Normal, and What to Do in the New Normal" answered the major question of "what to do" by seeking to transform ten priority areas of work, each of which targeted practical problems in economic development. "Persisting in the Long-Term, Continuously Enriching and Developing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" emphasizes deploying new economic development strategies by adhering to the problem-oriented approach. "Grasping the New Development Stage, Implementing the New Development Philosophy, and Constructing the New Development Pattern" points out that the new development philosophy must be grasped through a problem-oriented lens.
Adhering to a problem-oriented approach creatively applies the Marxist method of contradiction analysis. It requires the unity of the "two-point theory" [7] and the "key-point theory" [8], combining a goal-oriented approach with a problem-oriented approach. This means taking problems as the starting point and power source for innovation, goals as the guide and incentive for action, and the understanding and resolution of contradictions as the breakthrough point for opening up new prospects in work. By earnestly studying and solving major and urgent problems, we can grasp the pulse of history, discover the laws of development, innovate working methods, and promote innovation in both theory and practice. This approach is a theoretical sublimation of the practical experience of China's reform and development; it is an important ideological method for promoting theoretical and practical innovation, and a major requirement for the implementation of work. It provides us with a powerful ideological weapon for understanding and transforming the world.
Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on prominent contradictions and problems in China's development. It creatively proposed the new development philosophy and the principle of letting the market play a decisive role in resource allocation while better playing the role of the government. It implemented a series of major development strategies addressing issues that affect the overall situation and long-term interests. All of these have had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on the transformation of China's economic development. It is through discovering, studying, and solving problems that we continuously open up new horizons for the development of the socialist economy with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
Fifth is persisting in concentrating our energy on running our own affairs well. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Maintaining strategic focus, increasing confidence, and concentrating energy on running our own affairs well is the key to our response to various risks and challenges." This important exposition is a profound summation of the historical experience of our Party’s struggle over a century, and more importantly, a high-level generalization of the process of China’s economic transformation and upgrading in the New Era as it responds to risks and overcomes difficulties. The development and change of things are determined by internal causes; internal causes are the basis of change, while external causes are the condition for change, and external causes act through internal causes. Persisting in concentrating energy on running our own affairs well and placing the development of the country and the nation on the foundation of our own strength creatively applies the principle of the dialectical relationship between internal and external causes. It requires us to look at, start with, and exert effort on internal causes—identifying the root of the problem and applying the right remedy. This provides us with the strategic focus and scientific guidance to respond to complex external environments and ensure that the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is not delayed by any external interference.
Since the 18th Party Congress, in the face of an external environment characterized by rising protectionism and a sluggish global economy, we have vigorously advanced supply-side structural reform to promote a dynamic balance between supply and demand at a higher level. We have energetically constructed a new development pattern, making the expansion of domestic demand a long-term strategy and building a strong and resilient system for the circulation of the national economy. To address the problem of "choke-hold" [9] constraints in key core technologies, we have leveraged the institutional advantage of mobilizing resources to accomplish major undertakings, vigorously promoting high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening while upgrading the modernization level of industrial and supply chains. In response to certain countries' attempts at building "small yards with high fences" [10] and "decoupling and breaking chains," we have resolutely upheld the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and expanded high-level opening up to the outside world. This creates a favorable external environment for our own development while injecting impetus into global economic growth. At present, the international situation is complex and volatile, but no matter how great the storm, it cannot overturn the ocean. So long as we maintain our strategic resolve, bolster our confidence, and focus our energy on managing our own affairs well, we will fear no wind or rain; we will inevitably gain the advantage, seize the initiative, and win the future.
Sixth is the commitment to grasping implementation with the "spirit of driving nails." In the article "The General Principle of Seeking Progress While Maintaining Stability is the Methodology for Economic Work," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must leave iron marks when we grasp and stone prints when we tread [11], carrying forward the spirit of driving nails to move forward one step at a time." When driving a nail, if the position is incorrect or the force is insufficient, it will not be driven well. Only by applying real effort, striking continuously, blow after blow of the hammer, can the nail be driven firmly and securely; only by striking one nail after another can the blueprint be turned into reality. This inspires us: from national strategies to the tasks of a single unit, success can only be achieved by following objective laws, actively exercising human subjective initiative, and grasping implementation with unremitting perseverance [12].
Adhering to the "spirit of driving nails" in implementation creatively applies the dialectical principle regarding the relationship between the objectivity of laws and human subjective initiative. This requires improving the capacity for implementation—both working boldly and forging ahead with determination, while maintaining the stability and continuity of work. By leaving iron marks and stone prints and moving forward steadily, we have a clear path and scientific methodological guidance for continuously opening new prospects in our work by resolving difficult problems.
Since the 18th Party Congress, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have persisted in targeted poverty alleviation and "sending the elite to the front lines" [13]. We organized and implemented the largest and most intensive poverty alleviation campaign in human history, overcoming pockets of extreme poverty and the "hardest nuts to crack" [14]. We historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, creating a miracle in the history of human poverty reduction. We have unswervingly followed the path of strengthening the country through science and technology; new breakthroughs have been achieved in basic and frontier research, and strategic high-tech fields have seen new leaps. Our scientific and technological undertakings have undergone historical, holistic, and structural transformations. We have accelerated the green transition of development modes, deeply advanced the prevention and control of environmental pollution, and continuously improved the quality of the ecological environment, making the sky bluer, the mountains greener, and the water clearer in Our Beautiful China. These examples show that the Communists of the New Era have carried forward the spirit of driving nails, forging ahead with courage and overcoming difficulties. By handling tasks one by one and working year after year, they have promoted historical changes, systemic reshaping, and holistic reconstruction across many fields.
Dialectically recognizing and grasping major domestic and international trends, adhering to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, upholding the systemic concept, maintaining a problem-oriented approach, focusing energy on managing our own affairs well, and grasping implementation with the spirit of driving nails together constitute a logically rigorous methodological system for economic work. This system covers the entire process of grasping trends, following laws, identifying problems, researching issues, solving problems, and vigorously grasping implementation. It contains all elements from quantitative change to qualitative change and involves close interconnections. These elements must be understood holistically and applied synthetically, rather than being implemented or used in isolation.
Deepening the Understanding of Socialist Economic Construction by Grasping Major Relationships
A close reading of the Selected Works [15] reveals that in several important fields, Xi Jinping’s economic thought has proposed several key relationships that must be properly grasped. These important relationships represent a sophisticated application of dialectics and profoundly reflect the scientific methodology of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. Two examples are analyzed here.
The first concerns the major relationships that must be handled to advance Chinese-path modernization. In the article "Fully Advancing the Great Cause of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation through Chinese-Path Modernization," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized six major relationships that must be correctly handled: the relationship between top-level design and practical exploration; the relationship between strategy and tactics; the relationship between upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground; the relationship between efficiency and fairness; the relationship between vitality and order; and the relationship between self-reliance and opening up to the outside world. Overall, these six major relationships touch upon every aspect of Chinese-path modernization—goal setting, strategic planning, path selection, direction of progress, major principles, and critical issues—fully embodying the systemic concept. At the same time, these six relationships were proposed based on a correct judgment of the current stage of our society’s development, reflecting the application of the scientific method of dialectically recognizing and grasping domestic and international trends.
After completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the First Centenary Goal, we have embarked on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and are marching toward the Second Centenary Goal. This marks China's entry into a new stage of development. This new stage is a stage where our Party leads the people toward the historic leap from "standing up" and "growing rich" to "becoming strong." It is a stage where we continue to write a new history of building a modern socialist country in all respects based on previous development. Fully advancing the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the Party and the country in the New Era and on the new journey. In this new stage of development, we will follow a two-step strategic arrangement to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of this century.
It is precisely based on the scientific judgment of the new development stage, the scientific determination of the Party's central task, and the scientific formulation of the development strategy for Chinese-path modernization that handling the relationship between top-level design and practical exploration, and the relationship between strategy and tactics, are placed at the top of the six major relationships. This requires both doing a good job in the top-level design of Chinese-path modernization—setting the direction, grasping major issues, and planning for the long term—while also comprehensively promoting practical exploration and innovation in all fields, accurately grasping the entry points and focal points of work. In this way, we can achieve the organic unity of conformity to laws and conformity to goals, and the organic combination of strategic principle and tactical flexibility, forming a powerful synergy that promotes Chinese-path modernization both top-down and bottom-up.
Properly handling the relationship between upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground fully embodies the dialectics of "stability" and "progress." Upholding the fundamentals (守正, shǒuzhèng) represents stability and serves as the foundation and prerequisite; breaking new ground (创新, chuàngxīn) represents progress and serves as the kinetic energy and safeguard. Upholding the fundamentals means guarding the essence, source, root, and soul of Chinese-path modernization to ensure its correct direction. Breaking new ground means vigorously promoting theoretical, practical, institutional, and cultural innovation, as well as innovation in other areas, to continuously increase the "increment" of Chinese-path modernization. Handling this relationship follows and applies the scientific method of the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. Through upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, Chinese-path modernization continuously reaches new heights.
Handling the relationships between efficiency and fairness, and between vitality and order, are difficult problems faced by all modernizing nations and major issues that Chinese-path modernization must resolve. Incorporating these two pairs of relationships into the framework of Chinese-path modernization fully reflects a problem-oriented approach. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics adheres to the organic unity of Party leadership, the people as masters of the country, and the rule of law. Combining the socialist system with the market economy is conducive to both stimulating the vitality of various market entities and liberating and developing the productive forces, as well as promoting the coordination, mutual reinforcement, and unity of efficiency and fairness. This continuously advances common prosperity and provides the institutional prerequisite for handling these two pairs of relationships. To this end, we must further and comprehensively deepen reform, using the power of the system to crack these global challenges.
Handling the relationship between self-reliance and opening up fully embodies the scientific method of focusing energy on managing our own affairs well. Self-reliance and opening up are not contradictory. Only by standing on the foundation of self-reliance can we achieve high-level opening up; only by relying on high-level opening up can we achieve self-reliance to a greater extent. Both are principles we must always uphold to follow development laws and keep the destiny of China's development and progress firmly in our own hands. The key to handling this relationship lies in maintaining strategic resolve, persisting over the long term, focusing on managing our own affairs well, and moving steadily toward established goals.
Second, in economic work where tasks are numerous and complex, we must coordinate several important relationships. This is the understanding of patterns that our Party has put forward for economic work, known as the "five points that must be coordinated": we must coordinate the relationship between an effective market and a capable government; we must coordinate the relationship between total supply and total demand; we must coordinate the relationship between fostering new drivers of growth and upgrading old ones; we must coordinate the relationship between optimizing the "increment" and revitalizing the "stock"; and we must coordinate the relationship between improving quality and expanding the total volume. There is one fundamental prerequisite for these "five points": adhering to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in economic work. These "five points" are a refinement and summary of our Party's practical experience in leading economic work since the start of the New Era. They represent a profound grasp of the future development trends of the Chinese and world economies, a profound manifestation of the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and the use of the systemic concept to grasp major issues and relationships from the complexities of economic work. They are also the matters we need to focus on and consistently execute well in the current stage of development.
Handling the relationship between the government and the market is the core issue of economic structural reform and a global challenge in economics. China has persisted in and improved the socialist market economy system, creatively answering this global economic problem. By using institutional innovation as a safeguard to coordinate the relationship between an effective market and a capable government, we have formed an economic order that is both "dynamic without chaos" and "managed without stagnation," laying the institutional prerequisite and foundation for high-quality development.
The dynamic balance between total supply and total demand is a basic condition for achieving steady and healthy economic development and a basic goal of macroeconomic regulation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The key to building a new development pattern lies in achieving the unobstructed circulation of the economy. Whether this can be achieved depends mainly on whether the supply and demand sides have strong momentum, overall matching, dynamic balance, and positive interaction." Coordinating the relationship between total supply and total demand to smooth the circulation of the national economy contains strategic measures to coordinate the expansion of domestic demand with the deepening of supply-side structural reform. This seizes the key to building a new development pattern and builds a solid strategic base for high-quality development.
Economic development is a process of continuous succession and conversion between new and old drivers of growth. Only with a smooth transition can we realize a leap in the productive forces. At present, the new technological revolution is developing rapidly, showing a trend of cross-integration and multi-point breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and life sciences. Meanwhile, China's economy has entered a critical period of converting growth drivers, and new quality productive forces have already taken shape in practice and are continuously growing. Coordinating the relationship between fostering new drivers and upgrading old ones-led by technological innovation, vigorously fostering emerging and future-oriented industries, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions—has clarified the important focal points for promoting high-quality development.
For China's current development, the "stock" and the "increment" have become an important pair of relationships because China's economy has shifted to a stage of high-quality development. Economic resources and wealth have formed both a massive existing stock and a massive potential increment; the bidirectional interaction between the two has significantly strengthened. Coordinating the relationship between optimizing the increment and revitalizing the stock involves effectively revitalizing basic assets such as land, promoting the "vacating the cage for the bird" [16] (industrial upgrading) in industrial parks, and revitalizing various types of inefficiently used urban land. This comprehensively improves the efficiency of resource allocation and expands new space for high-quality economic development.
"Quality" and "quantity" constitute the two aspects of high-quality development. Quantitative change is the basis of qualitative change, and qualitative change is the direction of quantitative change. High-quality development is a process of gradually realizing a leap to qualitative change through the accumulation of quantitative change. To coordinate the relationship between improving quality and expanding total volume, we must profoundly grasp the dialectical unity of quality and quantity. We must persist in the unity of winning through quality and leveraging economies of scale. We should lead and expand the total economic volume by improving economic quality, while providing "fertile soil" for quality improvement by expanding the total volume. By unifying the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity throughout the process of high-quality development, we will consolidate the material foundation for Chinese-path modernization.
General Secretary Xi Jinping, in "Several Relationships that Need to be Correctly Grasped in Promoting the Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt," proposed the need to correctly handle the relationships between overall promotion and key breakthroughs, ecological environmental protection and economic development, overall planning and persisting over the long term, breaking down old kinetic energy and cultivating new kinetic energy, and self-development and collaborative development. In "Handling Several Major Relationships in Promoting Supply-Side Structural Reform," he proposed properly handling the relationships between the government and the market, the short term and the long term, subtraction and addition, and supply and demand. In "Several Major Theoretical and Practical Issues in Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform," he proposed adhering to the unity of reform and the rule of law, the dialectical unity of breaking and establishing [17], the unity of reform and opening up, and properly handling the relationship between deployment and implementation, among others. The proposal of these important relationships seizes the key points for performing relevant work; they are creative applications of the scientific methodology of Xi Jinping’s economic thought and shine with the light of truth from dialectical materialism.
Fully Applying Dialectical Materialist Thought to All Aspects and Fields of Economic Work
A thorough reading of the Selected Works [18] reveals that every piece of writing therein radiates the intellectual light of dialectical materialism and embodies the scientific methodology of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, our Party has strengthened its comprehensive leadership over economic work. In implementing the Party Central Committee’s deployments regarding economic work, various localities and departments have persisted in the complete, accurate, and comprehensive implementation of the new development philosophy and adhered to scientific methods of economic work, achieving much valuable experience. However, in certain localized areas and fields, there have been instances where implementation was insufficient or even deviated. The existence of these problems shows that "knowing is easy, but doing is difficult" [19]; integrating scientific thought and methods into practical work is an arduous process of transforming one's subjective world. Therefore, we must maintain momentum, persist over the long term, and continuously improve our level of recognition, understanding, and application of the scientific methodology of Xi Jinping’s economic thought.
First, we must persist in reading the original works, studying the original texts, and grasping the underlying principles. In deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s economic thought, the original works and texts are the most authoritative. Only through reading the original works, studying the original texts, and grasping the underlying principles can we comprehensively, accurately, and deeply comprehend the essence of the thought and its core tenets, and deeply master the important viewpoints, major judgments, major measures, and important methods contained therein. Reading original works and texts must be comprehensive and systematic, rather than fragmentary or isolated. Only by calming the mind to read the original texts thoroughly, painstakingly, and meticulously—while simultaneously linking them to the basic principles of Marxism, studying with specific questions in mind, studying in connection with reality, and studying to keep pace with the times—can we completely grasp the scientific content and methods of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. "Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous" [20]. Without reflection, if one merely browses superficially or memorizes mechanically, even the best theory will be difficult to absorb and digest. We must persist in the integration of "studying, thinking, and applying" and the unity of "knowing, believing, and doing," truly understanding them thoroughly and penetratingly. We must strive to elevate perceptual knowledge into systematic rational knowledge to arm our minds, guide practice, and promote work, ensuring that study leads to insight and gain.
Second, we must persist in the people-centered development philosophy. The fundamental reason we promote economic development and maintain economic growth rates is to continuously solve the prominent problems that generally concern the masses. The people-centered development philosophy is the fundamental stance of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. The people are the principal subjects who drive the cause of reform and development, the principal subjects who share in the fruits of reform and development, and the principal subjects who judge the effectiveness of reform and development. The people’s aspiration for a better life is our goal, and giving play to the people’s role as the masters of the country is the powerful driving force for development. All stances, viewpoints, and methods of Xi Jinping’s economic thought take the enhancement of the people’s well-being, the promotion of well-rounded human development, and the steady progress toward common prosperity as their starting point and ultimate goal. Only by recognizing this can we continuously deepen our understanding of Xi Jinping’s economic thought and the various dialectical relationships contained within this scientific theory; only then can we master and apply the scientific methods for doing economic work with deep affection for the masses.
Third, we must persist in ensuring that the subjective conforms to the objective, forming an interactive cycle of "theoretical guidance—practical exploration—deepened understanding—practical enhancement." Xi Jinping’s economic thought is not armchair scholarship; it is a major theoretical achievement formed by using the basic principles of Marxist political economy to guide the practice of China's economic development in the New Era. The understanding and implementation of Xi Jinping’s economic thought, as well as the mastery and application of its scientific methodology, must be realized, tested, and elevated within the fiery practice of socialist economic construction with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Currently, the major practical problems, global strategic issues, and hot spots of concern to the masses faced by China's reform, opening up, and socialist modernization manifest differently in different localities. Only through in-depth investigation and research, understanding local actual conditions, and identifying the specific problems to be solved in local reform and development—thereby ensuring the subjective better conforms to the objective—can we propose innovative measures and carry out creative practices to solve problems under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. Simultaneously, we must persist in the "nail-driving spirit" [21] to grasp implementation, listen comprehensively to the thoughts and aspirations of the masses in all sectors, and continuously test the effectiveness of implementation in practice. Through this, we can constantly correct deviations in understanding and action, forming an interactive cycle of "theoretical guidance—practical exploration—deepened understanding—practical enhancement" and continuously improving our work capabilities.
Fourth, we must persist in maintaining a global perspective [22] and improve our ability to consider problems, make decisions, and conduct work under conditions of openness. In the Selected Works, not only are there many pieces that directly analyze and discuss open development, but the concept of open development is also embodied in the analysis of issues such as further comprehensively deepening reform. Against the backdrop of the deep development of economic globalization, China’s economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy; open development is not an option but a predetermined premise. Faced with the unstoppable trend of the times—world multipolarity, economic globalization, and cultural diversity—and the complex and severe international situation, we must be even more adept at coordinating the two domestic and international interests [23]. We must make good use of both domestic and international markets and resources, improve our ability to allocate resources globally, safeguard national economic security, actively participate in global economic governance, and promote the international economic order toward equality, justice, and win-win cooperation, so as to better seize the strategic initiative in open development. Therefore, we must persist in maintaining a global perspective, improve our ability to think and act under open conditions, establish a world-class vision, keep the "top priorities of the nation" [24] in mind, and link international and domestic issues for comprehensive investigation and holistic consideration. This will open up an international horizon for researching problems and help us find scientific paths to solve problems and advance the cause of development.