Chen Yulu: Building an Independent Knowledge System of Chinese Economics Oriented Toward Chinese Modernization
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed to "innovate the Project to Study and Build Marxist Theory, implement the Philosophy and Social Sciences Innovation Project, and construct an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences." General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued important instructions regarding the Project to Study and Build Marxist Theory in the New Era, emphasizing the need to conduct in-depth research on major issues in the practice of comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, and to accelerate the construction of an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences. As economics is a vital component of the philosophy and social sciences, we must accelerate the construction of an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics on the new journey of promoting a Chinese path to modernization.
I. The Theoretical Foundations of the Autonomous Knowledge System for Chinese Economics
Marxist political economy is a vital component of Marxism and constitutes the theoretical bedrock of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has comprehensively strengthened its strategic planning and unified leadership over economic work, continuously deepened its understanding of the laws governing economic work, and formed Xi Jinping Economic Thought. This has opened up new horizons for contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy and serves as the fundamental guidance for constructing the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics.
Marxist political economy provides the theoretical bedrock for constructing the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "At present, various economic theories are manifold, but the root of our political economy can only be Marxist political economy, and not any other economic theory." Marxist political economy employs historical materialism and dialectical materialism as its methodology. It reveals the laws of motion, internal contradictions, and developmental trends of the capitalist economy within the contradictory movement between the productive forces and the relations of production, and identifies the basic characteristics of the socialist and communist movements. To construct an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics is to apply the basic principles and methodology of Marxist political economy to deeply study the mode of production of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the corresponding relations of production. Based on the developmental stage, environment, and principal social contradiction [1] facing our society, we must liberate and develop the productive forces by reforming the relations of production, thereby achieving the well-rounded development of individuals and common prosperity for all people. Only by persisting in the application of the basic principles and methodology of Marxist political economy can we improve our ability to manage the socialist market economy and better answer the theoretical and practical questions arising from economic reform and development in socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Xi Jinping Economic Thought provides the fundamental guidance for constructing the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Xi Jinping Economic Thought is a vital component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is a systematic theoretical generalization of the practical experience of China's economic development in the New Era and a precious intellectual crystallization formed by the Communist Party of China's unremitting exploration of the path of socialist economic development. It has opened up new horizons for the political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics, made important original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxist political economy, and provided a sharp intellectual weapon for promoting high-quality development, scientifically responding to major risks and challenges, and comprehensively building a modern socialist country. It simultaneously provides the fundamental guidance for constructing the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. To construct this system under the guidance of Xi Jinping Economic Thought, the core lies in implementing the following three points: first, grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and adhere to and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through it; second, persist in strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership over economic work as the fundamental guarantee for China's economic development; third, persist in the people-centered development philosophy as the fundamental position of China's economic development. In other words, constructing an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics means always persisting in using the "arrow" [2] of Marxist political economy to shoot at the "target" of China's economic development in the New Era, thereby profoundly answering major theoretical and practical questions that classical Marxist writers did not discuss, that our predecessors never encountered, and that Western economic theories have consistently been unable to resolve.
Chinese-path modernization places epochal demands on the construction of an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement attained by our Party leading the people of all ethnic groups through long-term exploration and practice. It follows the internal logic of the evolution and development of Chinese society, is endogenous to the great social practice of China's autonomous exploration, and simultaneously draws upon and absorbs all the fine achievements of human civilization. It possesses the distinct characteristics of an autonomous knowledge system. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress centrally summarized the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization. It not only delineated a grand blueprint for Chinese-path modernization but also set forth entirely new requirements for the autonomous knowledge system of Chinese economics. Taking the Chinese characteristics of Chinese-path modernization as an example: modernization of a huge population means the tasks of development are arduous and complex, requiring a development model different from that of small-state economies; modernization of common prosperity for all means that realizing the people's aspirations for a better life must be the starting point and goal of modernization; modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement means that economic development must serve the well-rounded development of the person; modernization of harmony between humanity and nature means embodying the balance and coordination between the economic system and the ecosystem; and modernization of the path of peaceful development means promoting win-win cooperation between nations on the basis of achieving one's own development. As a brand-new form of modernization, Chinese-path modernization is essentially different from the Western path to modernization. This uniqueness necessarily requires an autonomous Chinese economic system to serve as theoretical support and guidance. At the same time, the Chinese experience and Chinese wisdom contained within Chinese-path modernization point toward the direction and path for constructing the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics.
II. Distinct Characteristics of the Autonomous Knowledge System for Chinese Economics
In his speech at the conference marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Marxism is a scientific theory, a people’s theory, a practical theory, and a constantly developing open theory. These distinct characteristics of Marxism determine the essential attributes and internal requirements of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics.
The scientific nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Marx created the materialist conception of history and the theory of surplus value, revealing the specific laws of capitalist operation and pointing out the path for humanity to leap from the "realm of necessity" to the "realm of freedom." The political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a political economy produced on the basis of inheriting the basic principles of Marxist political economy, rooted in contemporary China's national conditions and the developmental practices since the reform and opening up, fully absorbing and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, and drawing on the beneficial achievements of other countries. It is a scientific theory reflecting the laws of socialist economic movement and is a vital component of the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping Economic Thought is the latest achievement of the political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is the Marxist political economy of contemporary China and the Marxist political economy of the 21st century. The CPC has united and led the Chinese people in creating the miracle of rapid economic development and the miracle of long-term social stability, both rare in world history; in the future, it will surely be able to create a new form of human civilization through Chinese-path modernization. All of these demonstrate the scientific nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics through irrefutable facts.
The people-centered nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Historical materialism holds that the masses of the people are the creators of social material and spiritual wealth, the vivid practical subjects and highest value subjects of social-historical development, and the true drivers of social-historical development. Therefore, the people-centered nature is a prescription of the political position and essential attribute of economic theory; in essence, it is a question of whose interests the economic theory represents and whom it serves. Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the CPC. The people are the subjects of Chinese-path modernization; seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation is the original aspiration and founding mission of Chinese Communists. China consistently adheres to the philosophy of putting the people first, regarding the realization of common prosperity and the well-rounded development of the person as the essential requirements for advancing modernization. It has achieved a transcendence and breakthrough over the "logic of capital" found in the West through a "logic of the person." At the same time, China does not follow the old path of certain countries that realized modernization through war, colonization, and plunder. Instead, it holds high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, seeking its own development while resolutely maintaining world peace and development, and better maintaining world peace and development through its own development. Thus, it can be seen that the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics consistently adheres to the standpoint of the people, benefiting both its own country and the world at large.
The practical nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Any knowledge system in the social sciences originates, in the final analysis, from social practice. The autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics primarily originates from the practice of China's socialist economic construction. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and especially since the reform and opening up, China has found the developmental path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that fits its national conditions, continuously improved the basic socialist economic system, and completed in several decades the industrialization process that took Western developed countries several centuries. It has realized the First Centenary Goal [3] determined by the Party—completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects—providing a more complete institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation, and a more proactive spiritual force for Chinese-path modernization. Therefore, the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics must fully reflect the great historical practice of the CPC in promoting and leading socialist economic reform and development. it must strengthen the systematic summation of the path and process of Chinese-path modernization, analyze practical experience with theoretical wisdom, solve practical problems, and inspire practical wisdom, thereby proposing and forming new economic doctrines to further guide the new practice of Chinese-path modernization.
The developmental nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. The issues of the times are the driving force for theoretical innovation. Marx, Engels, Lenin, and others all promoted theoretical innovation by thinking about and answering the questions of their times. Facing the continuous emergence of new phenomena and problems, the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics must also advance with the times and develop through innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The rich practice of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization in the New Era is a 'rich mine' for theoretical and policy research... write your papers on the land of the motherland, ensuring that theoretical and policy innovations conform to Chinese reality and possess Chinese characteristics." On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, Chinese-path modernization is a fertile ground for nurturing and testing theoretical innovation. Constructing an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics is not about simply applying the templates envisioned by classical Marxist writers, nor is it a "reprint" of other countries' socialist practices or a "copy" of existing foreign economic theories. Rather, it is about exploring economic theories that truly fit national conditions in the process of promoting the better alignment of the relations of production with the productive forces, the superstructure with the economic base, and state governance with social development.
The open nature of the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the CPC, and it possesses the common characteristics of modernization in all countries. Correspondingly, emphasizing the construction of an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics does not mean excluding the rational components of foreign economic theories. On the contrary, for those concepts and principles reflecting the general laws of socialized mass production and the market economy, as well as effective research methods such as model deduction, data mining, and econometric analysis, we should engage in critical borrowing and utilization in combination with our national conditions. Furthermore, building an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics must emphasize interdisciplinary integration, combining the perspectives and methods of philosophy, history, politics, law, and culture within the philosophy and social sciences, while paying close attention to developmental trends in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Only by continuously enhancing the inclusivity and interdisciplinarity of the disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems can we construct an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics that encompasses concepts, categories, principles, and laws.
III. The Path to Constructing the Autonomous Knowledge System for Chinese Economics
Chinese-path modernization has shattered the myth that "modernization equals Westernization." To construct an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics, we must base ourselves on Chinese-path modernization, persist in the guidance of Xi Jinping Economic Thought, continuously strengthen the systematic and academic research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories, and build a system based on the hallmark concepts and original theories of various disciplines.
Basing ourselves on Chinese-path modernization to promote a "revolution in terminology" for the autonomous knowledge system for Chinese economics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out:
“We must be adept at refining emblematic concepts and creating new concepts, categories, and expressions that are easily understood and accepted by the international community, thereby guiding the international academic world to conduct research and discussion.” Concepts possess the characteristics of generality, abstraction, and summarization, playing a foundational role in the process of constructing a system of knowledge. Among these, emblematic concepts constitute the key signposts for people to grasp the ideological threads, inner logic, and primary viewpoints of a branch of science. By proposing and explicating emblematic concepts such as “labor power as a commodity,” “constant capital,” “variable capital,” and “surplus value,” Marx constructed a discourse system based on the theory of surplus value, becoming a classic representative of a “revolution in terminology” within political economy.
In the process of deeply researching and advancing Chinese-path modernization, our Party, proceeding from the overall strategic situation and concrete issues, has innovatively proposed a series of emblematic concepts and original theories in the field of economics. For example: in the theory of productive forces, it proposed new quality productive forces; in the theory of relations of production, it proposed a high-standard socialist market economy system; in the theory of economic development, it proposed the new stage of development, the new development philosophy, and the new development paradigm; and in the theory of opening up to the outside world, it proposed unswervingly promoting high-standard opening up. These important concepts identify the developmental laws and the correct path of Chinese-path modernization, powerfully driving the enrichment and improvement of an independent system of knowledge and constituting the latest results of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy.
The revolution in terminology in Chinese economics originates from theoretical summaries of Chinese practice and, in turn, guides the development of that practice. For instance, to address China’s shortcomings and weaknesses in developmental momentum, coordination, sustainability, internal-external linkage, and the distribution of developmental fruits, we must use the new development philosophy as a “baton” and “traffic light.” This ensures that advocating innovation, emphasizing coordination, promoting green development, deepening openness, and advancing sharing become a highly coupled and indivisible systematic project. Furthermore, coordinating the relationship between fostering new drivers of growth and renewing old ones and planning economic and social development for the "15th Five-Year Plan" [4] period requires placing the development of new quality productive forces according to local conditions in an even more prominent strategic position. We must persist in concurrently promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, actively developing emerging industries, and planning ahead for future industries. This requires us to base ourselves on Chinese-path modernization, use scientific research methods to continuously promote the interpretation and sublimation of major emblematic concepts, and solidify the theoretical foundation for the construction of an independent system of knowledge for Chinese economics, providing theoretical guidance for China’s economic and social development.
We must base ourselves on Chinese-path modernization to promote the systemic integration of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. An economic knowledge system is the concentrated manifestation of economic ideas and theoretical achievements formed through long-term development and evolution. A fundamental orientation of constructing an independent knowledge system of Chinese economics is to collate and refine typical economic facts emerging from the great practical process of Chinese-path modernization, and to perform a systematic integration of the important philosophies, thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences therein. In summary, Chinese-path modernization requires building a modernized economic system, and this modernized economic system, in turn, drives the systemic integration of the Chinese economics independent knowledge system. This allows Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics to form a structural framework encompassing the economic system, economic operation, economic development, and opening up.
Specifically, the basic socialist economic system primarily involves ownership, distribution systems, and the socialist market economy system. Therefore, in practice, we must use economic structural reform as the lead and the construction of a high-standard socialist market economy system as the guarantee to provide a powerful impetus and institutional safeguard for Chinese-path modernization. Economic operation involves three levels—micro, meso, and macro—primarily involving households, enterprises, industries, regions, macro-governance, and fiscal and monetary policies. Thus, in practice, we must promote the optimization of the layout and structural adjustment of the state-owned economy, drive the development of the non-public sector, implement the Private Economy Promotion Law, improve the basic institutions of the market economy, and construct a unified national market. We must promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, accelerate the construction of a modernized industrial system, and strive to promote coordinated urban-rural and regional development. We must improve the macro-economic governance system, coordinately advance reforms in key areas such as finance and taxation, and enhance the consistency of macro-policy orientation. Economic development primarily involves innovation, coordination, green development, openness, sharing, and security. Therefore, in practice, we must construct systems and mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation, improve systems for integrated urban-rural development, refine mechanisms for green and low-carbon development, improve mechanisms for high-standard opening up, enhance the system for ensuring and improving people’s livelihoods, and advance the modernization of the national security system and capacity. Opening up primarily involves a new system for an open economy, global governance, and a community with a shared future for humanity. Thus, in practice, we must properly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative [5], promote the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road,” and actively participate in the reform of global governance systems regarding trade, currency, and carbon emission reductions. It is evident that the exploration and formation of an independent knowledge system for Chinese economics are driven both by theoretical and academic problems and by applied and practical issues. This paradigmatic framework, which integrates theoretical orientation with practical orientation, is more conducive to achieving the systemic integration of the independent knowledge system.
We must base ourselves on Chinese-path modernization to accelerate the application and transformation of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. This system possesses both the capacity to theoretically explain China’s historical practice and the capacity to guide China’s theoretical innovation in practice. Throughout history, Western countries such as Britain and the United States were the first to become developed nations through industrialization, profoundly influencing the modernization processes of other countries. However, as the international environment and global challenges have become increasingly complex, characteristics such as being capital-centered, severe polarization, expanding materialism, excessive extraction from nature, and external expansion and plunder have become the practical dilemmas of Western-style modernization.
There is no single authoritative model of modernization in the world, nor is there a universal standard for modernization. Compared with Western-style modernization, Chinese-path modernization has blazed a new trail that conforms to its own national conditions, possesses the distinct characteristics of an independent knowledge system, and has greatly enriched the path choices for developing countries moving toward modernization. Simultaneously, in the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we will inevitably face new problems and challenges different from those of the West. This requires us to guide practical innovation and the exploration of new paths through theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping, at the 2024 Central Economic Work Conference, proposed five “must-coordinations” [6] as a realization of objective laws; these not only constitute theoretical innovation but also have a practical orientation, highlighting the requirement to base ourselves on Chinese-path modernization to accelerate the construction and application-transformation of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.
For example, coordinating the relationship between an effective market and a capable government naturally requires the independent knowledge system of economics to study how to transform the institutional advantages of the socialist market economy into governance efficacy. Likewise, coordinating the relationship between total supply and total demand naturally requires the system to study how to promote the synergistic exertion of both the supply and demand sides to smooth the circulation of the national economy. Furthermore, coordinating the relationship between fostering new drivers and renewing old ones naturally requires the system to study how to develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, promoting the joint development of traditional and emerging industries and their deep transformation toward high-end, intelligent, and green directions. Therefore, we must persist in taking the practice of Chinese-path modernization as the starting point and the ultimate goal, promoting the innovation, optimization, and upgrading of economic theories and methods. In the process of “solving real problems and truly solving problems,” we will promote the healthy and sustainable development of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. On this basis, we shall explore methods and paths using this system to solve shared issues facing all of humanity, continuously enhancing China’s international influence, appeal, and power to shape, so that philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics can truly stand tall among the world's academic forests.
(The author is the Vice Chairperson of the Financial and Economic Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, and the President and Deputy Party Secretary of Nankai University)