Wang Xiaohong and Yang Jing: Driven by Further Comprehensive Deepening of Reform — In-depth Study of Volume 2 of "On Persisting in Comprehensively Deepening Reform"

The second volume of On Persevering with Comprehensively Deepening Reform was published and distributed in August of this year. This follows seven years after the 2018 release of the first volume and constitutes another work that systematically summarizes the latest achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Arranged chronologically, the two volumes represent a clear developmental trajectory and systematic compilation of the thoughts of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core since the 18th CPC National Congress ^[1]. They reflect the epoch-making advancement of comprehensively deepening reform, the persistence in and improvement of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the continuous modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity.

Volumes 1 and 2 of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s On Persevering with Comprehensively Deepening Reform possess extremely important instructional significance for comprehensively deepening reform and for comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. Volume 1 essentially established the main framework for reform in key areas, driving breakthroughs in important sectors and critical links. Volume 2 applies Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods to creatively and clearly answer major questions such as why we must comprehensively deepen reform in the New Era and how to advance it. It helps Party members, officials, theoretical propagandists, and the broad masses of the people to profoundly understand the general objectives of comprehensively deepening reform. It allows them to grasp in practice what the ultimate purpose of reforms in various fields is and what kind of overall results are to be achieved, further pushing the breadth and depth of comprehensively deepening reform.

Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for ensuring that comprehensively deepening reform moves forward in the correct direction. Entering the New Era, the Communist Party of China (CPC) faces even more arduous tasks and grander goals. Advancing comprehensively deepening reform and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics requires the guarantee of upholding the Party’s comprehensive leadership. Volume 2 of On Persevering with Comprehensively Deepening Reform points out that the leadership of the Party occupies the commanding position within the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the key to which is upholding the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership. Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. Under the current situation, to pool the will and strength of the people and achieve the Party's central tasks on the new journey of the New Era, we must remain true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, have the courage to accept the supervision of the masses, advance the Party's self-revolution, and persist in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. This constitutes the emphasis and deployment of the Party Central Committee's role in leading and "steering the ship" ^[2] in the great practice of further comprehensively deepening reform; it is also the fundamental guarantee for ensuring that reform proceeds in the established direction to achieve its goals.

Focusing closely on the theme of advancing Chinese-path modernization is the core essence of comprehensively deepening reform. Volume 2 explicitly states that the comprehensive deepening of reform and its systematic, holistic design and advancement, initiated by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee ^[3], are "epoch-making." Chinese-path modernization is the only correct path to building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation, and reform and opening up is the "critical move" ^[4] that decides the fate of contemporary China. In October 2022, the 20th CPC National Congress made strategic deployments for comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization." "On the new journey, what do we rely on to further consolidate our will and strength? We must rely on Chinese-path modernization." This is a brilliant decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the summary of valuable experience accumulated in past work. It has made the entire Party increasingly clear on major issues—why we must further comprehensively deepen reform, what to reform around, and how to reform—allowing for a consensus in understanding and a unified pace in action to strive for the established goals of Chinese-path modernization.

Ensuring that the fruits of reform and development benefit all people more extensively and equitably is the fundamental pursuit of comprehensively deepening reform. Putting the people at the center and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people is the mission undertaken by Chinese communists and a consistently upheld value orientation. The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform" made at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee further clarified this value orientation: the people are the subjects of reform. We must persist in putting people first, promote well-rounded human development, and safeguard the interests of the broadest masses. Volume 2 continues to uphold the goal of allowing all people to share in the fruits of deepened reform and development. The CPC closely addresses the most immediate and practical interests of greatest concern to the people, improves people's wellbeing, enhances their quality of life, and solidly promotes the realization of common prosperity for all through dynamic development. The Party Central Committee continuously advances the building of a Beautiful China and promotes the harmonious coexistence of man and nature; it develops whole-process people’s democracy and improves the institutional system that ensures the people act as masters of the country; it has pushed the "construction of the social security system into the fast lane," building the world's largest social security system and winning the battle against poverty. All of these provided the conditions for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects ^[5] on schedule and achieving the First Centenary Goal ^[6]. This value orientation is the concentrated expression of the CPC’s purpose of serving the people heart and soul, reflecting the Party’s original aspiration and mission under the conditions of the New Era.

The integration of top-level design and comprehensive layout is the successful methodological principle of comprehensively deepening reform. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core persists in integrating top-level design with comprehensive layout, matching overall planning with specific actions. Adhering to the general idea of systematic integration, synergy, and efficiency, it has proposed a series of methodological principles that have effectively guided the advancement of reform in the New Era. Volume 2 continues to promote the implementation of these principles. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "anchor the general goal of continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity." This involves further liberating and developing the productive forces, stimulating and strengthening social vitality, and effectively preventing and resolving major risks and challenges to provide strong momentum and institutional guarantees for Chinese-path modernization. Further comprehensively deepening reform must involve upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground. Xi Jinping emphasized: "Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground is a major principle that must be firmly grasped and always adhered to in further comprehensively deepening reform." Upholding the fundamentals means persisting in the direction and principles of reform, while continuous innovation in all aspects allows the fundamentals to be better maintained.

Under the guidance of the general goal, the comprehensive layout of deepening reform is further advanced. Examples include: further improving the socialist market economy system; ensuring whole-process people's democracy has both complete institutional procedures and complete participatory practices; comprehensively advancing the development of the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the modernization of the national security system and capacity, and the modernization of national defense and the armed forces; and promoting the modernization of the state governance system and capacity. Reform of Party and state institutions must transform from "physical change" to a "chemical reaction" ^[7]; focusing on the optimization, synergy, and efficiency of these functions, we must consolidate the results of institutional reform and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.

Comprehensively deepening reform matches overall planning with specific actions. Based on the requirements of the new developmental stage, we must construct a new development pattern with dual circulation; promote modernization characterized by the harmonious coexistence of man and nature to support high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment; and transition from a stage of high-speed growth to high-quality development based on regional conditions. This involves coordinating regional development through the "three major initiatives": the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the Belt and Road Initiative. These reflect a holistic approach integrating top-level design and comprehensive layout, providing scientific theoretical and methodological guidance for achieving our magnificent goals on the new journey.

The theory of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era provides us with scientific guidance and inexhaustible momentum to advance Chinese-path modernization and move toward the grand goal of comprehensively building a great modern socialist country and achieving the national rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.