The Party Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is Contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st Century Marxism
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. It is the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in this era, representing a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism. The fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China fully reflects the great practice of the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, in uniting and leading the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects on Chinese soil and embarking on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. It reflects the great struggle of the Party and the state in courageously responding to changes unseen in a century and the global pandemic. It showcases the latest contributions toward promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and a better world. Through a series of original new concepts, ideas, and strategies regarding governance, it further provides scientific answers to the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, concentratedly reflecting the latest achievements in the Sinicization of Marxism. We must earnestly study the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, comprehensively and accurately grasping the core tenets, spiritual essence, rich connotations, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, enhance our ideological, political, and behavioral consciousness in achieving the Two Upholds, and struggle in unity and forge ahead with fortitude on the new journey of the New Era.
I. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era upholds the fundamentals and breaks new ground, making major original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxism.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era persists in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. In the fields of Marxist philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism, it has proposed many landmark and leading new ideas, perspectives, and judgments, deepening the understanding of the laws of Communist Party governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society from a brand-new perspective.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era insists on and applies dialectical materialism and historical materialism, making original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxist philosophy. This Thought develops Marxist dialectics, emphasizing that the more our cause develops in depth, the more we must continuously enhance our capacity for dialectical thinking. We must persist in observing things from a developmental rather than static, comprehensive rather than one-sided, systemic rather than fragmented, and universally connected rather than isolated perspective to properly handle various major relationships. It emphasizes that in the practice of governance, we must use strategic thinking to grasp the general trend, historical thinking to mirror the past and present [1], dialectical thinking to increase wisdom, innovative thinking to add momentum, rule-of-law thinking to promote reform, bottom-line thinking to control risks, and systemic thinking to encompass the overall situation. It emphasizes that upon entering the new stage of development, profound changes in the domestic and international environments bring both a series of new opportunities and challenges—where crises and opportunities coexist, opportunities are found within crises, and crises can be transformed into opportunities. We must gradually form a new development pattern with dual circulation as the mainstay, where domestic and international circulations reinforce each other.
This Thought develops Marxist methodology, proposing that the systemic concept is a foundational ideological and working method. As contradictions in economic and social development on the new journey are intricate and complex, they must be planned for and resolved starting from a systemic concept: coordinating the two overall situations of domestic and international affairs, coordinating pandemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and coordinating development with security. This Thought deepens our understanding of the social contradictions in historical materialism, emphasizing the study and mastery of the method of analyzing basic social contradictions to deeply understand the importance and urgency of comprehensively deepening reform. It insists on the unity of the "two-point theory" and "key-point theory" [2], profoundly grasping the "top priorities of the nation" [3] and the changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society, and insisting that comprehensively deepening reform requires both holistic advancement and breakthroughs at key points.
This Thought develops the Marxist historical materialist view of the masses, emphasizing that "the country is its people, and the people are the country" [4]. In winning and guarding the country, what is being guarded is the support of the people. It insists on putting the people first, and ensures that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people, unswervingly following the path of common prosperity for all. This Thought develops historical materialism, emphasizing that while historical development has its own laws, humans are not entirely passive within it. As long as we grasp the laws and general trends of historical development, seize the opportunities of historical change, follow the trend, and act with vigor, we can advance better, strengthen our historical confidence, and maintain historical initiative in the development of the cause of the Party and the state. The profound reflections and philosophical responses of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to a series of major issues have opened up a new realm of Marxist philosophy.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era insists on combining the basic principles of Marxist political economy with China’s realities and the characteristics of the times, conducting in-depth research on new situations and problems facing the Chinese and world economies, thereby writing a new chapter of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics. This Thought develops the Marxist political economy theory on the relationship between economics and politics, creatively proposing the strengthening of the Party’s comprehensive leadership over economic work and clarifying the fundamental guarantee for maintaining sustained and healthy economic and social development. It develops the theory of the essence of socialist economy in Marxist political economy, putting forward the people-centered development philosophy and clarifying the fundamental goal of the development of the socialist market economy. It develops the theory of the socialist economic system and the socialist market economy, emphasizing the maintenance and improvement of the basic socialist economic system—including the mainstay status of public ownership alongside the common development of multiple forms of ownership, the mainstay status of distribution according to work alongside the coexistence of multiple distribution modes, and the socialist market economy system. It incorporates the socialist market economy system into the basic socialist economic system, insisting on letting the market play the decisive role in resource allocation while better exerting the role of the government.
It deepens the Marxist view of development, emphasizing the accurate grasping of the new stage of development, the implementation of the new development philosophy, the construction of a new development pattern, and the realization of high-quality development. It develops the theory of common prosperity, proposing that common prosperity is a major feature of Chinese-path modernization and an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and that common prosperity must be promoted within high-quality development. It develops the theory of economic development strategy, making the "two-step" strategic arrangement for building a great modern socialist country, and emphasizing that to respond to new domestic and international challenges, we must adhere to the strategy of independent innovation, the strategy of strengthening the nation through talent, and the rural revitalization strategy. It develops the Marxist theory of the world market, emphasizing the continuous raising of the level of opening-up, implementing a more proactive opening strategy, promoting the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, and pushing economic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction that benefits all. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era profoundly summarizes the great practice of China's economic development in the New Era, scientifically answering many 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 solve, thus opening up a new realm of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era profoundly answers a series of major theoretical and practical questions concerning socialism with Chinese characteristics, allowing scientific socialism to radiate strong vitality in 21st-century China. This Thought made the major judgment that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era and proposed that China has entered a new stage of development, deepening the theory of the stages of socialist development. It emphasizes that the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Party, and the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Party. It summarizes thirteen significant advantages of China's socialist system and state governance system, deepening the theory of the essence of socialism. It proposed the major concept of whole-process people’s democracy, clarifying its basic connotations, essential features, and unique advantages, thereby developing Marxist democratic theory. It emphasizes the promotion of the common values of humanity and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to improving global governance and building a better world, thus developing Marxist international relations theory. It emphasizes that to escape the "historical cycle" [5], we must rely on people’s supervision externally and self-revolution internally. Self-revolution is the distinctive mark that distinguishes our Party from other political parties and is the "second answer" to escaping the historical cycle. We must lead the great social revolution with the great self-revolution, deepening Marxist theory on Party building. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era clearly reflects the organic unity of the theoretical, historical, and practical logic of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoting the continuous vivid realization on Chinese soil of the beautiful prospects for human society envisioned by Marx and Engels, thereby opening up a new realm of scientific socialism.
II. Persisting in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, and providing a brand-new choice for human society to move towards modernization.
On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since the start of reform and opening-up, and through theoretical and practical innovations and breakthroughs since the 18th Party Congress, we have successfully promoted and expanded Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. There is neither a single authorized model of modernization in the world nor a modernization standard that is "universally applicable" [6]. The modernization we are advancing is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. We must persist in advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, neither taking the old path of being closed and rigid nor the "evil path" [7] of changing banners. We must persist in placing the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength and firmly hold the fate of China’s development and progress in our own hands.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era focuses on the future and destiny of humanity with a global vision, scientifically answering the major question of the times: "Where is human society headed?" General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that although the era we live in has undergone vast and profound changes compared to the era of Marx, from the broad perspective of the 500-year history of world socialism, we are still in the historical era indicated by Marxism. The Marxist analysis of the inherent contradictions of capitalism is not outdated, nor are the conclusions that capitalism will inevitably perish and socialism will inevitably triumph. With the deep development of world multi-polarization, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversity, the peaceful forces opposing hegemonism and power politics are developing rapidly. The reform of the global governance system and international order is accelerating, and human society has entered a major period of development, transformation, and adjustment; the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century. China has blazed a modernization path that achieves common and peaceful development through win-win cooperation, solving many difficult problems in the development of human society and discarding the old Western paths of capital-centered modernization, polarized modernization, materialistic-expansionist modernization, and modernization through external expansion and plunder. By the middle of this century, when China achieves the second centenary goal and fully builds a great modern socialist country, it will thoroughly rewrite the world map of modernization, expand the pathways for humanity toward modernization, and simultaneously provide a brand-new choice for those countries and nations in the world that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their own independence. It will also contribute Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese strength to solving the major problems of human society.
III. Strengthening the holistic, systemic, and academic research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the fundamental compliance for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics at a new historical starting point and the guide to action for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The establishment of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the whole Party, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, reflect the common aspiration of the whole Party, the whole army, and the people of all ethnic groups. This is of decisive significance for the development of the cause of the Party and the state in the New Era and for the historical process of advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China provides a concentrated reflection of the latest achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must treat the fourth volume as an integrated whole alongside the first, second, and third volumes, reading the original works, studying the original texts, grasping the principles, and understanding the original meanings. This is necessary to truly achieve the integration of study, reflection, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action. From the heights of the development of Marxism, the persistence and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must more profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments." We must remain loyal in our support of General Secretary Xi Jinping and loyal in our faith in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This involves refining theoretical consciousness into spontaneous emotion and transforming ideological consciousness into behavioral consciousness. We must integrate the realization of the "Two Upholds" into our very lifeblood and soul, continuously improving our capacity for political judgment, political understanding, and political execution. We must more firmly arm our minds, guide our practice, and promote our work with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, more consciously maintaining a high degree of consistency [8] with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in ideology, politics, and action.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The Sinicization of Marxism has achieved major results, but it is far from over. An important task for our country’s philosophy and social sciences is to continue promoting the Sinicization, modernization, and popularization of Marxism, and to continue developing twenty-first-century Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism." The community of philosophy and social sciences must more consciously shoulder this sacred mission and make new and greater contributions to the study, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must exert greater effort in "learning, understanding, and implementation" [9], deeply grasping the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must persist in and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods that permeate it, effectively integrating this important thought into every stage and link of our work in philosophy and social sciences. We must exert greater effort in in-depth research and interpretation, focusing on strengthening the holistic, systematic, and academic research and explanation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must produce more landmark interpretive achievements to make due contributions to continuously opening new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism in the New Era. We must exert greater effort in implementation, continuing to deeply study and grasp the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on philosophy and social sciences. We must strengthen the construction of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, construct an independent Chinese knowledge system, and take practical action to welcome the successful opening of the 20th Party Congress [10].