Wang Yanlong and Wang Zhifu: The Logic, Connotation, and Path of Thinking for Leading the Further Comprehensive Deepening of Reform with the "Six Principles of Persistence"
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee profoundly summarized the valuable experience of reform and opening up, particularly the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era. It outlined major principles, including: upholding the Party’s overall leadership, upholding a people-centered approach, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, upholding institutional building as the main line, upholding the comprehensive rule of law, and upholding a systems concept.
The "Six Upholds" [1] are rich in connotation and interconnected, reflecting a strong sense of the core, a commitment to the people, problem-consciousness, institutional awareness, rule-of-law thinking, and a holistic perspective. They demonstrate the high degree of historical initiative and strategic confidence of Chinese Communists. Conducting a deep scholarly analysis of the logical rationale, connotative significance, and intellectual pathways of the "Six Upholds" to profoundly grasp the reason, scholarship, and philosophy of the Party's innovative theories holds significant theoretical value and practical meaning for further comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era and ensuring that reform consistently moves forward steadily and reaches far along the correct path.
I. Why It Is Feasible: The Logical Rationale for Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform through the "Six Upholds"
Marxism is the "source of living water" for the CPC to advance theoretical and practical innovation, and the adeptness at summarizing and applying historical experience is an important "magic weapon" for the CPC’s continuous victories. The "Six Upholds" take Marxism as their scientific guidance and profoundly summarize the precious experience of comprehensively deepening reform since the start of reform and opening up, particularly in the New Era, fully manifesting the CPC’s high degree of historical consciousness and political judgment. Looking toward the future, to ensure that the vessel of further comprehensively deepening reform breaks through the waves on the great channel of advancing the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, we must employ the "Six Upholds" to respond to the series of risks and challenges faced by the further comprehensive deepening of reform.
(1) Theoretical Logic: The Creative Application of Scientific Marxist Theory in the Practice of Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform
The "Six Upholds" both embody a distinct historical materialist significance and possess clear characteristics of dialectical thinking. Grasping the relationship between the "Six Upholds" and the scientific theoretical system of Marxism as a whole requires an analytical breakdown of these principles.
Upholding the Party's overall leadership profoundly reflects Marxist theory regarding the proletarian party. Marx and Engels noted that Communists "have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole" and that "they have over the great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly understanding the line of march, the conditions, and the ultimate general results of the proletarian movement." These assertions demonstrate that the Communist Party is a party that seeks interests for the vast majority, guided by a scientific worldview and methodology, and capable of scientifically foreseeing the general process of social development. Therefore, upholding the leadership of the Communist Party is the fundamental guarantee for the proletariat to achieve continuous victories in revolution, construction, and reform. The "Six Upholds" place upholding the overall leadership of the CPC in the primary position. By adhering to and applying theories on the nature, ideology, and strategy of the Communist Party from the Marxist doctrine of the proletarian party, it creatively proposes to resolutely maintain the authority of the Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, give full play to the Party's role as the core of leadership, and integrate Party leadership into all aspects and the entire process of reform, thereby ensuring that further comprehensively deepening reform always advances in the correct direction.
Upholding a people-centered approach inherits and applies the Marxist mass viewpoint. Marxism holds that the masses are the creators of history and the decisive force in social transformation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has also pointed out: "Reform is meaningful only if it is for the people; reform has momentum only if it relies on the people." The "Six Upholds" adhere to the fundamental standpoint of putting the people first, persist in using the Marxist mass viewpoint regarding the people’s creation of social history, and propose to uphold a people-centered approach, respect the people’s principal status and pioneering spirit, and strive to ensure that reform is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people.
Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground follows the basic laws of Marxist materialist dialectics. The law of the negation of the negation in materialist dialectics holds that the essence of dialectical negation is "sublation" (yangqi), which is the critical inheritance of the old by the new—overcoming while retaining. Furthermore, Marxism is permeated with a strong problem-consciousness. While following the basic laws of materialist dialectics, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground adheres to this strong problem-consciousness, proposing to unswervingly uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics, keep pace with the times, highlight a problem-oriented approach, and strive to realize theoretical, practical, institutional, cultural, and other innovations at a new starting point.
Upholding institutional building as the main line reflects a correct understanding of the dialectical relationship between the Marxist economic base and superstructure. The superstructure consists of the ideology built upon a certain economic base and the corresponding systems, organizations, and facilities; the movement of the fundamental contradictions of society constrains the nature, content, and formative direction of the superstructure. Upholding institutional building as the main line profoundly grasps the objective law that the superstructure must adapt to the economic base. It proposes to "strengthen top-level design and overall planning, pursue 'breaking' and 'building' simultaneously with 'building' before 'breaking' [2], fortify fundamental systems, improve basic systems, and innovate important systems."
Upholding the comprehensive rule of law embodies Marxist legal theory. Marxism holds that law, as part of the superstructure, is rooted in material life; in essence, law is the expression of the will of economic relations. Law is formulated or recognized by the state and its implementation is guaranteed by the state's "collective coercive force," ensuring the smooth operation of society by granting the people rights such as the right to know, participate, and supervise. Upholding the comprehensive rule of law applies Marxist legal principles concerning the essence and functions of law, proposing to deepen reform and promote Chinese-path modernization on the track of the rule of law, maintain the unity of reform and the rule of law, and strive to ensure that major reforms have a legal basis and that reform achievements are elevated into legal systems in a timely manner.
Upholding a systems concept takes the Marxist systems view as its theoretical foundation. The Marxist systems view holds that the world is a system of universal connection and eternal development, where all things are in a state of mutual interconnection and interaction. Upholding a systems concept profoundly grasps the principle that things are universal connections and an ever-evolving organic whole. It carries out global planning with a forward-looking vision, proposing to handle the major relationships between the economy and society, government and market, and efficiency and fairness in the process of further comprehensively deepening reform, continuously enhancing the systematic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform.
(2) Historical Logic: A Profound Summary of the Precious Experience of Reform and Opening Up, Especially the Comprehensive Deepening of Reform in the New Era
Being adept at periodically summarizing and applying historical experience is a key reason why the CPC has continuously achieved great victories in leading the cause of reform and opening up. The "Six Upholds" are not "water without a source or a tree without roots"; rather, they have long been deeply rooted in the great historical process of the CPC leading the people in revolution and construction. Having been summarized and applied through the periods of comprehensive exploration and comprehensive advancement of reform, and particularly through the innovative development of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era, they have now become an organically integrated whole with rigorous logic and profound historical depth, which must be cherished and upheld over the long term.
During the period of comprehensive exploration of reform, to deal with the complex and volatile situation brought about by the shift in the focus of work [3], Deng Xiaoping maintained a clear head on the question of where reform should and should not occur. He established the "Four Cardinal Principles" [4] from four aspects—the direction of progress, the foundation of the nation, the leading force, and the guiding ideology—which reform and opening up must uphold. As the exploration of reform and opening up progressed, Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to the significance of institutional building, pointing out that issues of leadership and organizational systems are fundamental, global, stable, and long-term in nature. At the same time, he noted that all aspects of national and social life must rely on the law for adjustment, and that a socialist rule-of-law state must be built through systematic and perfect legislation and impartial, powerful justice. Furthermore, he paid special attention to the balance and coordination between various construction tasks of reform and opening up, proposing the "grasping with both hands" [5] thought. This required improving the people's spiritual life while building material civilization, and severely cracking down on various illegal and criminal activities while deepening reform and opening up, so as to maintain social stability. This series of measures adhered to the comprehensiveness of dialectics and promoted overall social progress and well-rounded human development.
During the period of comprehensively advancing reform, to deal with the multiple tests brought by domestic economic structural reform and the profound changes in the international situation after the end of the Cold War, Jiang Zemin proposed the "Three Represents" [6] important thought. This further explained why the CPC could become the core leading force in the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, making it clear that only reform and construction that represent the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people can consistently obtain the broadest mass base and reliable sources of strength. Entering the new century, to address the new periodic characteristics emerging during the "storming of the fortifications" stage of reform, Hu Jintao proposed the Scientific Outlook on Development, which profoundly embodied the scientific application of materialist dialectics to the issue of development. Furthermore, when summarizing the precious experience of the nearly 30 years of reform and opening up at the 17th Party Congress, Hu Jintao proposed "Ten Combinations," such as combining respect for the people's pioneering spirit with strengthening and improving Party leadership, and combining the promotion of changes in the economic base with changes in the superstructure. These reflected a strong global awareness, institutional awareness, rule-of-law awareness, innovative spirit, and commitment to the people.
During the period of comprehensively deepening reform, to respond to a series of new challenges brought by the change in the principal contradiction [7] of Chinese society in the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core carried out new practices in all aspects of governance, further enriching the theoretical connotation of comprehensively deepening reform. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee formulated a roadmap of "Six Closely Centers" [8], requiring all aspects and links of reform to be closely linked and promoted synergistically. The Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee focused on the reform of Party and state institutions, emphasizing the significant advantages of China's national system and governance system. The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization" (hereinafter referred to as the Decision), adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, established the "Six Upholds" as the major principles that must be followed in further comprehensively deepening reform. The "Six Upholds" are the strategic deployments made by the CPC from a new historical starting point to achieve the goals of further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. The great journey of more than 40 years of reform and opening up has proved that the precious experience formed through historical precipitation and practical testing is an important "magic weapon" for dealing with various risks and challenges on the new journey; it must be highly valued and sustained over the long term.
(3) Reality Logic: The Urgent Need to Respond to Major Risks and Challenges and Promote the Steady and Far-reaching Cause of Chinese-path Modernization
At present, China's reform has entered the "storming of fortifications" phase and the "deep-water zone." Structural contradictions accumulated during development have intensified, the barriers of solidified interests have been built high, and the ailments of systems and mechanisms have become prominent. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The easy reforms that make everyone happy have already been completed; the delicious meat has been eaten, and what remains are the hard bones to chew." Reform is a process only in the present continuous tense; there is no "past version." On the new journey of further comprehensively deepening reform, we must profoundly grasp the requirements of the "Six Upholds" principle, effectively respond to the series of risks and challenges on the path to advancing Chinese-path modernization, and continuously inject strong momentum into Chinese-path modernization.
We must resolve the structural contradictions accumulated in the process of development. Contradictions are everywhere and exist at all times. Structural contradictions refer to the contradictions brought about by the lack of coordination between the economic structure and the social structure, specifically manifested as structural contradictions between investment and consumption, between the supply side and the demand side, and interest contradictions among the government, the market, and society. The causes of these structural contradictions are mainly the "labor pains" of structural adjustment brought about by the change in the mode of economic development, the failure of high-end product and high-quality service supply to effectively meet the needs of upgrading consumption demand, and the varying degrees of overcapacity and oversupply in low-end products and ordinary services. These deep-seated structural contradictions have seriously hindered the historical process of further comprehensively deepening reform, affecting the stability, balance, and sustainability of economic and social development.
We must break the barriers of solidified interests. In the process of reform and opening up, powerful interest groups have occupied dominant positions and enjoyed excess benefits for a long time through various forms of unfair systems and policies, while it is difficult for other groups to obtain deserved development opportunities and fair distribution of interests. The causes of the phenomenon of solidified interests are very complex, mainly including market mechanism failures, institutional defects, and issues left over from history. These problems are huge obstacles in the process of comprehensively deepening reform. If not resolved in a timely manner, they will lead to a continuous widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, which will not only affect social stability and economic operation but also affect the purity of the Party.
We must eliminate deep-seated ailments in systems and mechanisms. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics possesses significant advantages, but with the advancement of the process of comprehensively deepening reform, some...
Deep-seated institutional and mechanistic obstacles have gradually become apparent. For example, the management systems and oversight mechanisms of certain traditional industries and administrative departments are unable to adapt to the rapidly changing market and social environment; fragmentation between different departments or regions [9] and administrative barriers persist; and some managerial personnel harbor anachronistic mindsets and outdated concepts. Furthermore, some leading cadres exhibit problems such as a weak consciousness of the rule of law, low levels of management and service, and non-standardized governance behavior. These defects may lead to adverse consequences, including low efficiency in resource allocation, insufficient policy execution, and a lack of enthusiasm for reform among members of society.
Based on this, structural reforms must be planned under the guidance of the "Six Upholds" principles. We must transform extensive economic development modes and resolve structural contradictions brought about by economic and social transitions by organically combining the strategy of expanding domestic demand with deepening supply-side structural reform. We must use greater political courage and sense of mission to increase the intensity of the crackdown on rent-seeking and corruption, performing "incremental adjustments" (zēngliàng tiáozhěng) while opportunely advancing "stock adjustments" (cúnliàng tiáozhěng) to the structure of interests [10], thereby breaking through the barriers of entrenched interests. We must adhere to a spirit of innovation and transformation, reforming systems and mechanisms that do not meet the developmental requirements of practice, and continuously improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must place greater emphasis on the cultivation of governance capacity, enhancing the consciousness of leading cadres to act according to the system and the law, and eradicating the deep-seated institutional and mechanistic maladies that have emerged in the process of further comprehensively deepening reform.
II. Defining the Meaning: The Connotative Significance of Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform through the "Six Upholds" Principles
The "Six Upholds" principles constitute a logically rigorous, dialectically unified, and organic whole. It is necessary to comprehensively grasp their intrinsic connection with further comprehensively deepening reform and profoundly understand the core essence of this endeavor through the perspectives of the fundamental guarantee, value orientation, internal driving force, primary direction of attack, important safeguard, and scientific methodology.
(1) Upholding the overall leadership of the Party: The fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform
The Communist Party of China is the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The history of more than 40 years of reform and opening up has proved that the overall leadership of the Party is the key reason why reform and opening up has continuously created historic achievements. The Decision places "upholding the overall leadership of the Party" at the head of the "Six Upholds" principles, profoundly clarifying the questions of "who will lead" and "how to lead" the great cause of further comprehensively deepening reform.
We must uphold the overall leadership of the Party to ensure the correct direction of further comprehensively deepening reform. Direction determines the path, and the path determines destiny. The experiences and lessons of the international communist movement show that reform must advance along the socialist direction, and the Communist Party must firmly grasp the leadership over reform. The CPC is a party guided by Marxism; it must always unswervingly lead the Chinese people along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, persist in and strengthen the Party's overall leadership over further comprehensively deepening reform, and ensure the CPC Central Committee leads the deployment of strategic tasks, priority areas, and key links of reform, ensuring that reform always advances in the right direction.
We must give full play to the Party's core role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating all efforts. Reform is a broad and profound social transformation covering all areas of economic and social development, involving profound adjustments to the structure of interests and the coordination of numerous contradictory relationships. In its century-long historical course, the CPC has forged a powerful and resilient organizational capacity, enabling it to concentrate the strength of the entire Party and the whole country, condense the common will of the entire nation, and mobilize the initiative of the people of all ethnic groups. This gives full play to the advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics in "pooling resources to accomplish major undertakings" [11]. Therefore, we must strengthen the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, and fully exert the Party's strong political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organizational power, and social appeal. The Party's leadership must be systematically integrated into the overall design, coordination, integrated advancement, and supervision of the implementation of further comprehensively deepening reform.
We must promote further comprehensively deepening reform through the Party's self-revolution. The history of the CPC’s unremitting struggle is a history of mutual reinforcement between great self-revolution and great social revolution. Through self-revolution, the CPC continuously achieves self-purification, self-perfection, self-innovation, and self-improvement, thereby maintaining a state of advancing with the times and better adapting to the needs of social development, providing a solid organizational and ideological guarantee for social revolution. Therefore, we must persist in governing the Party with a spirit of reform and strict standards. We must strengthen the Party's ideological arming, improve power-operation mechanisms characterized by scientific decision-making, resolute execution, and powerful supervision, and adhere to the principle that the Party must exercise self-discipline and comprehensively and strictly govern the Party. We must comprehensively improve the capacity for modernization, maintain the Party's vigor and vitality, and lead the great social revolution through the Party's self-revolution.
(2) Staying people-centered: The value orientation of further comprehensively deepening reform
From the report of the 20th Party Congress, which designated "putting the people first" as the fundamental position for advancing Chinese-path modernization, to the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which designated "staying people-centered" as the value orientation for further comprehensively deepening reform, it is evident that the people are always the starting point and the ultimate goal of all the Party's work. On the new journey of further comprehensively deepening reform, we must focus closely on the basic requirements that "reform is for the people, reform relies on the people, and the fruits of reform are shared by the people," striving to realize the people's aspirations for a better life.
Focus on the fundamental interests of the people. The people's aspiration for a better life is the goal of the CPC's struggle, and the ultimate purpose of reform is to enable the people to live a better life. The historical experience of more than 40 years of reform and opening up shows that as long as we can focus on the fundamental interests of the people and understand what they truly care about and expect, reform will always receive their support. Therefore, a series of reform measures formulated by the Party and the state must be dedicated to improving people's well-being. We must advance reform by addressing the most immediate and practical interests that the people care about most, continuously improving the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.
Stimulate the people's creative vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Every breakthrough and deepening in understanding and practice during reform and opening up, the emergence and development of every new thing, and the creation and accumulation of experience in every field and link of reform and opening up, all come from the wisdom and practice of hundreds of millions of people." A giant energy to transform heaven and earth is hidden within the masses, and they always play the subject role in the historical process. Therefore, we must pay greater attention to extensively drawing upon the wisdom of the masses, promptly summarizing the fresh experiences they create in practice, and fully mobilizing their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity in advancing reform.
Adhere to the principle that the people judge the effectiveness of further comprehensively deepening reform. "The times are the examiner, we are the examinees, and the people are the markers." [12] The effectiveness of reform is not judged by the subjective feelings of leading cadres, but by whether the people have truly received benefits, whether their lives have truly improved, and whether their interests have been truly protected. Therefore, we must take the people's support, approval, happiness, and consent as the fundamental criteria for weighing various reform measures. We must persist in evaluation and supervision by the people, fully implement whole-process people's democracy, and ensure that the power bestowed by the people is always used to serve them.
(3) Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground: The internal driving force for further comprehensively deepening reform
The Decision identifies "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground" (shǒuzhèng chuàngxīn) as a principle that must be followed in further comprehensively deepening reform. This highlights the distinct characteristic of Chinese Communists in both standing firm on the correct path and being courageous in seeking change, providing a source of power for further comprehensively deepening reform.
Unswervingly uphold the foundations of direction, path, and system for further comprehensively deepening reform. Only by upholding the fundamentals (shǒuzhèng) can we grasp the correct direction and avoid making "subversive errors." [13] Reform is an adjustment of socialist relations of production and the superstructure; it is not a transformation toward Western political systems. Therefore, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the scientific guidance of Marxism and the overall leadership of the Party, and focus closely on the central objective, while continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and continuously advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity.
Continuously promote innovation in theory, practice, institutional frameworks, culture, and other areas. Only by persisting in innovation can we keep pace with and lead the times. Currently, reform has entered a stage of advancing in breadth and depth. Only by conforming to the general trend of historical development and proactively identifying, adapting to, and seeking changes can we achieve transformative innovation on the basis of following the trends of the times. Therefore, we must continuously emancipate our minds, stand forever at the forefront of the times, accurately grasp the forward direction and developmental laws of Chinese-path modernization, and continuously open up new fields and "new tracks," shaping new drivers and advantages, and striving to promote new leaps for reform in theory, practice, institutional frameworks, culture, and other domains.
Maintain a problem-oriented approach and create a new situation for Chinese-path modernization through the integrated development of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground. Problems are the voice of the times. Reform is generated by being "forced" by problems and is deepened through the continuous resolution of those problems. Only by being good at discovering and facing problems can we continuously find breakthroughs for reform; only by seeking transformation and innovation on the basis of a scientific analysis of problems can reform achieve substantive results. Therefore, we must observe the overall situation, plan according to major trends, and grasp the fundamentals. Taking investigation and research as a basic method, we must focus on the new and deep-seated problems facing further comprehensively deepening reform, the "urgent, difficult, and anxious" problems of the masses [14], and the prominent problems in Party building. We must carry forward the "fighting spirit" and the "spirit of driving the nail," [15] writing a new chapter for Chinese-path modernization within the dialectical unity of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground.
(4) Taking institutional building as the main line: The primary direction of attack for further comprehensively deepening reform
The emphasis on institutional building is a prominent feature of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era. The Decision proposes more than 300 important reform measures involving various levels such as systems, mechanisms, and institutions, clarifying the primary direction of attack for further comprehensively deepening reform.
Combine institutional confidence with institutional innovation. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the crystallization of wisdom formed by the Party leading the people through long-term exploration; it possesses deep historical origins, theoretical foundations, cultural heritage, and realistic basis. At the same time, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a system with strong vitality and the capacity for self-perfection. The "two miracles" [16] created by our country since the beginning of reform and opening up are powerful proof of the advantages of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, we must be firm in our institutional confidence and unequivocally consolidate and improve the fundamental, basic, and important systems of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must promote institutional innovation within the framework of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, striving to build a system of institutions that is comprehensive, scientifically standardized, and effective in operation.
Adhere to the simultaneous promotion of "establishing" and "breaking," with "establishing" coming first. Establishing first and breaking later (xiān lì hòu pò) is a contemporary application of the Marxist theory of social development, reflecting the theoretical consciousness of the CPC in promoting the objective process of breaking down old systems and establishing new ones. Therefore, we must persist in prioritizing "establishing," building more dynamic systems and mechanisms, and exploring more refined institutional frameworks. Subsequently, we must "clear blockages by breaking," discarding fixed mindsets and inherent concepts, and breaking down deep-seated institutional and mechanistic obstacles and structural contradictions.
Promote the better transformation of institutional advantages into governance efficacy. The life of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics lies in its execution and implementation. Without effective governance capacity, even the best system will find it difficult to function. Therefore, we must strengthen institutional awareness and effectively enhance the spontaneity of acting according to system and law. We must increase the intensity of institutional execution, safeguard institutional authority, and focus on the improvement of governance capacity. We must improve the "chain of responsibility" and strive to transform institutional advantages in all aspects into efficacy in governing the country.
(5) Upholding the comprehensive rule of law: The important safeguard for further comprehensively deepening reform
The rule of law is the basic strategy of the Party leading the people in governing the country. The Decision identifies "upholding the comprehensive rule of law" as a principle that must be followed, giving play to the role of the rule of law in consolidating foundations, stabilizing expectations, and benefiting the long term, thereby ensuring that further comprehensively deepening reform proceeds steadily on the track of the rule of law.
Ensure that major reforms have a legal basis. Further comprehensively deepening reform is a great revolution under new historical conditions, involving a wide range of rights-holders and complex interest relationships; it places higher demands on the Party and the state's governance and administration according to the law. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, our country has gradually formed a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics centered on the Constitution, providing an important safeguard for coordinating multi-party interest relationships and stabilizing the economic and social order. Therefore, we must use legal thinking and legal methods to deepen reform, taking current laws as the basis when discussing reform plans and measures. For major reform measures that require "pioneering and trial implementation," while adhering to "establishing first and breaking later," we should steadily advance the formulation or amendment of laws.
Timely upgrade reform achievements into legal systems. Every step forward in reform yields rich theoretical achievements and practical experiences. Timely upgrading these achievements into legal systems is conducive to the promotion of reform experience and enriches the content of the socialist rule of law. Therefore, we must keep pace with the progress of reform and timely fix those proven and effective reform experiences and measures in legal form, making them behavioral norms followed universally by society.
Timely abolish laws and regulations that do not adapt to the requirements of reform. As the reform process advances, some laws and regulations may no longer meet the actual needs of reform and development, and may even hinder the progress of reform. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a concept of the rule of law that advances with the times [17], improve legal evaluation procedures, and timely abolish or revise outdated laws and regulations.
(6) Uphold a systems concept: The scientific method for further comprehensively deepening reform
"Only by observing things with a perspective of universal connection, comprehensive systems, and developmental change can we grasp the laws of the development of things." The Decision proposed the principle of "upholding a systems concept," emphasizing the systemic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform, establishing the scientific method that must be followed for further comprehensively deepening reform.
Strengthen top-level design and perform holistic planning. Further comprehensively deepening reform involves an unprecedented number of issues, breadth of fields, and depth of contradictions, requiring clear targets, paths, and directions for reform to raise the flag and determine the orientation, and to grasp the key link to bring everything into play [18]. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen forward-looking thinking, base ourselves on holistic layout, clarify strategic priorities, priority sequences, main directions, and promotion methods, improve the scientific and holistic nature of reform, and ensure that various reform measures can be interconnected and mutually reinforcing.
Ensure the coordinated promotion of the reform layout. "Different subjects and elements in a system all bear different functions; only when various systemic elements are coupled and synergized can they function effectively." The deeper the reform goes, the more attention must be paid to coordinated development. Currently, problems that emerged at the beginning of reform and opening up—such as the lack of coordination in the reform process across different fields and mutual conflict between various reform measures—still exist. To solve the series of problems derived from the weakening of coordination in the reform layout, we must focus on the synergy of reform plans, implementation, and effects; enhance the relevance and coupling of reform measures across various fields; and strengthen communication and coordination between departments at all levels to avoid a situation where each gaat its own way and obstructs one another.
Adhere to being problem-driven and seek key breakthroughs. Facing the panoramic map of further comprehensively deepening reform, we must not only continue to focus on systemic integration and adhere to holistic promotion, but also work hard on continuous deepening and seek key breakthroughs. Therefore, we must adhere to the unity of the "two-point theory" and the "key-point theory" [19], examine the key areas and implementation environment of reform with a strong sense of problem-awareness, pull the "ox's nose" [20] of reform, drive holistic promotion with key breakthroughs, and achieve key breakthroughs within holistic promotion.
III. How to Proceed: The Path of Thinking for Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform Based on the "Six Upholds"
The "Six Upholds" principles are an interconnected and mutually supporting organic whole. We should actively explore the practical path for the coupling and linkage of the "Six Upholds" principles, thereby achieving an overall leap in advancing Chinese-path modernization through further comprehensively deepening reform.
(1) Combine upholding the Party's overall leadership with respecting the principal position of the people to explore the deep logic of the Party leading the people in creating great historical undertakings
The Communist Party of China is the firm defender of the fundamental interests of the people and the gatherer of the people's creative power; the people are the source of the Party's strength and the root of victory, and the fundamental standard for measuring the gains and losses of all the Party's work. Combining the upholding of the Party's overall leadership with respecting the principal position of the people can form a power engine of top-down linkage and internal-external interaction. The cumulative effect of this dual power will push for new and greater achievements in comprehensively deepening reform.
"It takes a good blacksmith to make good steel" [21]. If the CPC wants to lead the people in devoting themselves to the great practice of further comprehensively deepening reform, it must strengthen its own building and improve its ability and level to lead further comprehensively deepening reform. First, uphold and strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. The affairs of further comprehensively deepening reform are numerous and complex; only with the Party Central Committee overseeing the overall situation can the correct direction and consistent pace be ensured. Based on full promotion of democracy, the Party Central Committee should extensively listen to the suggestions of experts, scholars, grassroots masses, democratic parties, and personages without party affiliation. After comprehensive analysis and weighing of pros and cons, it should ultimately make centralized and unified decisions. Second, improve the implementation mechanism for major decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee. Local party committees (party leadership groups) at all levels must implement the Party's basic line, plan and promote the reform of their respective regions and departments according to local and timely conditions, and handle the organizational implementation of major reform measures. They must actively take on the primary responsibility for implementing the Party Central Committee's reform deployments, incorporating the implementation of major reform measures into supervision, inspection, and disciplinary inspection tours [22]. They should improve the ability of the vast number of party members and cadres to plan and promote reform. Third, persist in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and create a favorable internal political ecosystem for further comprehensively deepening reform. With the courage of "turning the blade inward" [23], we must deeply advance the building of party conduct, clean government, and the anti-corruption struggle, vigorously cultivating leading cadres who dare to take responsibility, are keen on reform, and are clean and upright, thus creating a clean and righteous environment for further comprehensively deepening reform. We must always remain sober and determined in solving the unique challenges facing a large party [24], strengthen the arming of the Party with innovative theories, take the spirit of the Decision as an important part of the education and training of leading cadres, improve the incentive mechanism for leading cadres to take responsibility and act, and increase the weight of reform and innovation in the assessment, promotion, and appointment of cadres.
Only by realizing, maintaining, and developing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people can we stimulate the people's aspiration and expectation for reform, and mobilize their enthusiasm to devote themselves to further comprehensively deepening reform. First, income distribution, medical care, education, housing, and the environment are key areas of people's livelihood that the masses generally care about. We must establish a normalized research mechanism to deeply understand the personalized, diverse, and constantly upgrading living and spiritual needs of the masses, efficiently solve the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the masses [25], and establish and improve mechanisms to help the people in difficulty, continuing to exert effort in ensuring that young children are cared for, students are taught, workers are rewarded, the sick are treated, the elderly are provided for, residents have housing, and the weak are supported [26]. Second, adhere to being people-centered, realize the sharing of development fruits by the people, and promote more obvious substantive progress in common prosperity for all people. We must establish a coordinated and equalized employment system between urban and rural areas to better benefit all types of laborers and achieve higher quality and fuller employment. Through tertiary distribution [27], we should construct an olive-shaped distribution structure and promote a more fair and reasonable distribution of personal income; continuously improve the livelihood security system, focusing on key livelihood areas such as education, healthcare, and housing, and continuously increase investment in welfare policies. Aiming at the people’s growing spiritual and cultural needs, we should improve the public cultural service system, deeply implement cultural projects for the benefit of the people, and enrich mass cultural activities. Third, the masses of the people are the supreme judge of the effectiveness of further comprehensively deepening reform. Leading cadres must establish a correct view of performance (政绩观, zhèngjìguān), resolutely abandon "image projects" and "vanity projects" [28] that waste labor and money, and take the improvement of people's livelihood, social progress, and all-around human development as important assessment contents for further comprehensively deepening reform, pursuing the good reputation of the masses and the true evaluation that stands the test of history.
The wisdom and practice of the masses are the source of strength for the continuous breakthroughs in the cause of reform and opening up, and the leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for the exercise of the people's principal power. We must adhere to the unity of the people's subjectivity and the directionality of the Party's leadership. First, follow the Party's mass line in the New Era, truly take the people as teachers, be good at improving policies and propositions based on the practical creations of the masses, continuously improve the scientific nature of reform decision-making, and transform correct reform policies into conscious actions of the masses through publicity and education. Second, respect the people's pioneering spirit, improve innovation incentive mechanisms, stimulate the creative vitality of the masses, and encourage the masses of the people to actively participate in reform practice through social participation mechanisms such as hearings and symposiums. Third, "sink" to the front line and go deep into the grassroots to carry out investigation and research, construct channels for collecting public opinion that combine online and offline methods, and timely understand and respond to social demands, fully absorbing the wisdom of the masses and grassroots experience.
(2) Combine upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground with upholding a systems concept to promote innovative practice guided by problem-orientation
Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground (shǒuzhèng chuàngxīn) and the systems concept are both creative applications of the Marxist worldview and methodology in the New Era, and they possess deep intrinsic connections. Planning reform with the Marxist view of universal connection requires following the basic laws of dialectical materialism, combining the upholding of fundamentals and breaking new ground with the upholding of a systems concept, having the courage to explore, continuously forming new experiences, and ultimately applying them to the top-level design and strategic deployment of reform and opening up.
Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground looks at both the past and the future, emphasizing that further comprehensively deepening reform is a process of holding fast to the truth and developing the truth, enhancing the scientific nature, foresight, proactivity, and creativity of further comprehensively deepening reform within "change" and "constancy." First, socialism with Chinese characteristics is a dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of Chinese social development; we must enhance political resolve and solidify the foundation of further comprehensively deepening reform. We must strengthen the "Four Confidences" [29], adhere to the scientific guiding position of Marxism, unswervingly maintain the Party's core leadership position in further comprehensively deepening reform, resolutely ensure no deviation from the theme of Chinese-path modernization, aim at the general goal of continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and always maintain the clarity and firmness of reform. Second, under the conditions of the era where the "two overall situations" [30] are intertwined and deeply interacting, "recognizing the general trend of world development and keeping up with the trend of the times is an extremely important and constantly renewed task." We must uphold a vision of maintaining a global perspective [31], pay close attention to the development and changes in the international situation, deeply analyze the background, implementation effects, and potential impacts of the reform policies of various countries, grasp the mechanisms and laws of their evolution, and propose corresponding development strategies based on China's basic national conditions. Third, be brave in innovation, dare to make breakthroughs, and continuously inject verticality into Chinese-path modernization. We must adhere to liberating the mind and advancing with the times in handling reform issues, creatively apply the series of thoughts, viewpoints, and methods of General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding reform and development, break through the stale concepts and fixed thinking patterns that hinder further comprehensively deepening reform, and achieve theoretical innovation. Based on the great practice of Chinese-path modernization, we must implement various strategic deployments of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, focus on solving a series of deep-seated contradictions hindering further comprehensively deepening reform, and achieve practical innovation. We should continue to deepen the reform of systems and mechanisms in various fields, break through institutional obstacles that restrict social development, and achieve institutional innovation. Vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, and especially uphold a high degree of cultural confidence, striving to achieve the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture to realize cultural innovation. In addition to the above four aspects, continuous breakthroughs are also needed in scientific and technological innovation, talent innovation, educational innovation, and military innovation.
"The systems concept is a fundamental ideological and working method." Upholding a systems concept emphasizes looking at both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, grasping the developmental nature of work at various stages vertically, and seeing the interconnectedness of work in various fields horizontally. On one hand, further comprehensively deepening reform is a strategic subject that concerns the overall situation and focuses on the long term, requiring a grasp of the general trend and forward direction of reform, and the making of holistic decision-making deployments. We must carry out deep investigation and research, adhere to the combination of top-level design and bottom-level exploration, conduct forward-looking predictions and assessments of the potential economic, political, cultural, and social impacts, and coordinate the progress and content of reforms in various fields under the guidance of the general goal, clarifying the overall plan, roadmap, and timetable for further comprehensively deepening reform. On the other hand, further comprehensively deepening reform is a move that affects the whole body [32], requiring the persistence in—
The idea of "the whole nation as a single dynamic chessboard" [33] emphasizes the coordination and systemic integration of various reform measures, promoting synergy and a concentration of force across all fields and aspects of reform to improve overall efficacy. Specifically, it is necessary to coordinate the relationship between the economy and society, emphasizing the protection and improvement of people's livelihoods within economic development to meet the people's higher-level living requirements; to handle the relationship between the government and the market, giving full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation while effectively fulfilling government management functions to better maintain market order; to grasp the relationship between efficiency and equity, creating higher efficiency than capitalism while embodying the essence of socialism to promote more obvious and substantive progress in the common prosperity of the entire people; to coordinate the relationship between vitality and order, strengthening institutional building and legal guarantees to maintain social order while activating the internal drive for social innovation and creativity; and to handle the relationship between development and security, persisting in giving equal weight to both to achieve a benign interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.
Planning reform through the system concept does not require advancing all fronts simultaneously with equal force; rather, it requires adhering to a problem-oriented approach, seizing the key fields and crucial links of reform, and achieving breakthroughs at key points within the overall advancement to drive a leap in the general level of economic and social development. In the process of further comprehensively deepening reform, we must firmly grasp the primary task of high-quality development, develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, emphasize the research, development, and application of core technologies in key fields and major disruptive technologies, and promote an overall leap in the social productive forces. It is noteworthy that while resolving the principal contradiction [34], other contradictions must not be ignored. We must grasp the work tasks and progress in the economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological fields from a holistic perspective, balancing their interrelationships and distinguishing priorities so that all aspects of work coordinate with and promote one another.
(3) Combining the adherence to institutional building as the main line with the promotion of comprehensively governing the country according to the law to construct a solid framework for rule-of-law governance
Adhering to institutional building as the main line emphasizes providing solid institutional guarantees for economic and social development by constructing and improving a scientific, systemic, and standardized institutional system. Promoting comprehensively governing the country according to the law emphasizes using rule-of-law means to regulate social behavior, maintain social order, and protect the rights and interests of the people. Both are rooted in the realm of the superstructure and together drive the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.
The Decision [35] proposes to "fortify fundamental institutions, improve basic institutions, and innovate important institutions." These three institutional categories together constitute the "four beams and eight pillars" [36] of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and serve as the three main pillars of institutional building. First, within the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fundamental institutions reflect the essential content and fundamental characteristics of the system. Therefore, we must unswervingly adhere to and consolidate the fundamental institutions of socialism with Chinese characteristics, following their norms and requirements in the practice of further comprehensively deepening reform, and always adhering to the directions and principles they establish. Second, basic institutions form the foundation of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, we must adhere to and improve these basic institutions, giving better play to their normative, leading, and guiding roles in fundamental social fields and major aspects. Third, important institutions are the specific institutional forms that support the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, we must continuously adhere to and innovate these important institutions to provide effective solutions for prominent problems in specific fields.
When discussing the relationship between reform and the rule of law, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Throughout the entire process of reform, great importance must be attached to using rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods, giving play to the leading and driving role of the rule of law, strengthening the coordination of relevant legislative work, and ensuring that reform is promoted on the track of the rule of law." On one hand, scientific legislation is a crucial link in ensuring that reform and the rule of law advance in coordination; it must be ensured that major reforms have a legal basis. When formulating reform plans and measures, attention should be paid to legislative research to promptly propose legislative requirements and suggestions involved in the reform. For those major reform measures where conditions for practice are not yet mature and require pioneering trials, if they might break through current legal provisions, authorization must be obtained according to statutory procedures, and the specific scope of authorization must be clearly defined. We must neither break legal "red lines" at will nor capture the reform's momentum simply because there is no basis in current law. We must constantly maintain the timeliness and adaptability of laws, promptly amending or repealing current laws and regulations that conflict with reform plans or no longer suit reform requirements, so as not to let outdated laws or individual legal clauses become a "tripwire" [37] for reform measures. On the other hand, every time reform makes substantive progress, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive summary and evaluation, sorting through and analyzing the actual results of relevant measures to determine which are effective and possess value for wider application. These reform achievements should be promptly elevated into legal systems, institutionalizing and legalizing them to lead the reform toward greater depth.
Deepening reform in the field of legislation is an inherent requirement for promoting institutional building and the reform of systems and mechanisms, implementing reform plans and measures, and standardizing the path of reform. We must improve the Chinese socialist legal system with the Constitution at its core; construct a legislative work pattern led by Party committees, presided over by the People's Congress, supported by the government, and participated in by all parties; strengthen legislative work in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields; and coordinately carry out the work of "enacting, amending, repealing, interpreting, and codifying" laws to effectively improve the quality of legislation.
IV. Conclusion
The "Six Principles of Adherence" [38] are not only a model of combining scientific Marxist theory with the specific realities of contemporary China in the New Era—possessing distinct characteristics of being people-centered, systemic, innovative, practical, and open—but they also reflect the high degree of historical consciousness and strategic confidence displayed by Chinese Communists in the face of new challenges and opportunities. These six principles are rich in connotation and rigorous in logic: only by adhering to the overall leadership of the Party can we ensure that reform always moves forward in the socialist direction and pools the wisdom and strength of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups; only by adhering to a people-centered approach can we ensure that reform always conforms to the interests of the people and realizes their aspiration for a better life; only by upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground can we ensure that reform does not deviate from its course while continuously promoting new breakthroughs; only by adhering to institutional building as the main line can we provide solid institutional guarantees for reform and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity; only by adhering to comprehensively governing the country according to the law can we ensure that reform moves steadily on the track of the rule of law, safeguarding social fairness, justice, and the legitimate rights and interests of the people; and only by adhering to the system concept can we handle the various complex relationships in the reform process and enhance its systematic, holistic, and synergistic nature. On the new journey, we must take the "Six Principles of Adherence" as our guide, continue to unswervingly promote further comprehensively deepening reform, constantly resolve development difficulties, activate development momentum, and enhance development advantages to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation at an early date.
(Author's Affiliation: Faculty of Marxism, Northeast Normal University) Source: Leadership Science (领导科学), Issue 2, 2025 Online Editor: Jing Mu