Gao Zhengli and Han Yuchen: Interpreting the Distinctive Features of the 20th National Congress of the CPC from a Historical Perspective
Every National Congress of the Party has garnered significant attention and been the subject of in-depth study due to its major theoretical innovations, strategic deployments, spiritual outlook, and far-reaching influence. While presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in studying and implementing these principles, "efforts must be made to study them comprehensively, grasp them comprehensively, and implement them comprehensively," and that this should be "integrated with the study of the spirits of the reports of the 18th and 19th National Congresses, linking them together in study." Therefore, taking a historical perspective and interpreting the salient features of the 20th National Congress through a comparative lens—particularly in relation to National Congresses held since the beginning of reform and opening up—will help us deeply study and implement the spirit of the Congress and strive for new victories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
I. Highlighting the Leading Role of Theoretical Innovation
Scientific theory is the precursor to successful practice. Engels once pointed out: "A nation that wants to stand on the highest peak of science cannot for a moment do without theoretical thinking." The Communist Party of China is a party that attaches great importance to, and is adept at advancing, theoretical innovation. In February 2021, at the mobilization meeting for the study and education of Party history [1], Xi Jinping pointed out: The century-long history of the Party’s struggle "is a history of continuously advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, and a history of continuously promoting theoretical innovation and theoretical creation." In November 2021, the "Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century," adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, explicitly listed "persisting in theoretical innovation" as one of the ten historical experiences accumulated through the Party's century of struggle. It emphasized that "Marxist theory is not a dogma but a guide to action; it must develop as practice develops, and only through Sinicization can it take root, and only through localization can it reach the hearts of the people."
The reports and revisions to the Party Constitution at various National Congresses have always placed great emphasis on promoting theoretical innovation, especially by distilling historical experience and elevating successful experiences into systematic theories to guide practice. For example, the 7th National Congress (April–May 1945) established Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding ideology and wrote it into the Party Constitution. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, the 15th National Congress (September 1997), the 16th National Congress (November 2002), the 18th National Congress (November 2012), and the 19th National Congress (October 2017) successively provided theoretical expositions on the scientific connotations, theoretical systems, and historical status of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, establishing them as the Party's guiding ideologies and incorporating them into the Party Constitution. These actions guided the whole Party and the people of the country to achieve new victories in the cause of revolution, construction, and reform. In comparison, the 20th National Congress placed even greater emphasis on the leading role of theoretical innovation. This is primarily manifested in the following four aspects:
First, the birth of the latest theoretical transition in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism was explicitly defined as the primary "great change" of the decade of the New Era. Based on a review of the work of the past five years and the decade of the New Era, the Congress report systematically summarized the historical achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the state across sixteen areas. Ranked first among these is: "We have established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, clarified the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and proposed a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for state governance. This has achieved a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. We have persisted in arming our minds, guiding practice, and promoting work with this innovative theory, providing the fundamental following for the development of the Party and state in the New Era."
Second, the advancement of theoretical innovation was placed in a prominent position within the Congress report. The second section of the report, titled "Opening a New Realm in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism," specifically discussed the necessity, urgency, and major significance of promoting theoretical innovation. In the Party’s history, the report of the 13th National Congress (October 1987), in its seventh section titled "Striving for New Victories for Marxism in China," expounded on the "task of learning and enriching Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought through practice." Additionally, the reports of the 15th and 19th National Congresses both used their third sections—titled "The Historical Status and Guiding Significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory" and "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Basic Strategy," respectively—to focus on the connotations and status of the theoretical outcomes of Marxism's Sinicization. In contrast, the report of the 20th National Congress, while explaining the outcomes of the Party’s theoretical innovation, emphasized that "continuously writing new chapters in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism" is the "solemn historical responsibility" of contemporary Chinese Communists, thereby further highlighting the importance of theoretical innovation. Furthermore, it not only used the proposition of "Opening a New Realm in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism"—a phrase aimed at promoting theoretical innovation—as a section heading but also placed it as the second part of the entire report. This underscores the vital position of theoretical innovation within the Congress report.
Third, it pointed out the fundamental path for continuing theoretical innovation on the "new journey of the new era" [2]. The report of the 20th National Congress not only noted the necessity and importance of theoretical innovation, but also identified the fundamental path for continuing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism through the "Two Combinations" [3] and the "Three Goods" [4]. The report clearly stated: "To uphold and develop Marxism, we must combine it with China’s specific realities" and "with China’s fine traditional culture." It further noted: "To continue promoting theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and persist in and apply the stances, viewpoints, and methods running through it."
Finally, it achieved a series of major theoretical innovations. The report of the 20th National Congress not only emphasized theoretical innovation but also yielded several major innovative outcomes. For example, it proposed the "Three Musts" [5] as requirements of the times: we must stay true to our original aspiration and founding mission; we must remain modest, prudent, and hardworking; and we must have the courage and ability to carry on our struggle. It summarized the "Six Must-Persists" [6] as the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era: namely, we must persist in putting the people first; we must persist in self-confidence and self-reliance; we must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground; we must persist in a problem-oriented approach; we must persist in a systems concept; and we must persist in maintaining a global vision. It made the major judgment of "comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization," and while continuing to emphasize the "five major Chinese characteristics" of Chinese-path modernization, it proposed "nine essential requirements": namely, "upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China; adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics; achieving high-quality development; developing whole-process people’s democracy; enriching the people’s spiritual world; achieving common prosperity for all; promoting harmony between humanity and nature; building a community with a shared future for humanity; and creating a new form of human advancement."
II. Fully Accentuating the Foundational and Strategic Support Status of Education, Science, and Technology, and Talent
Since its birth, and especially since the founding of the New China, the CPC has highly valued work related to education, science, technology, and talent. As early as the revolutionary base areas and liberated zones during the New Democratic Revolution [7], the Party led the people in developing education and emphasized the revolutionary role of young students and intellectuals. After the founding of the New China, the Party led the people in the comprehensive development of education, science, and culture, formulating and implementing numerous national medium- and long-term plans for educational and scientific development. In the 1960s, the Party included the modernization of science and technology in its "Four Modernizations" [8] goals. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, the Party has made major assertions such as "science and technology are the primary productive forces" and are "the concentrated expression and major hallmark of advanced productive forces," that "education is the cornerstone of national rejuvenation," and the goal of building a great power of human resources. It has implemented the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the nation through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy. In comparison, the 20th National Congress further emphasized and demonstrated the foundational and strategic support status of education, science and technology, and talent in the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country. This is manifested in the following three aspects:
First, for the first time, education, science and technology, and talent work were expounded upon in a concentrated manner and deployed through unified planning. In previous Congress reports, theories, principles, and policies regarding education, science and technology, and talent were discussed separately—usually with science and technology under economic construction, education under social development, and talent under Party building. Following General Secretary Xi Jinping’s requirement to strengthen the "systems concept" [9], the report of the 20th National Congress placed these three strategies together for the first time. This not only emphasized their foundational and strategic support status in a concentrated way but also "emphasized the organic connection between the three, aiming to jointly shape new drivers and advantages for development through coordination, cooperation, and systemic integration."
Second, the Congress report placed work regarding education, science and technology, and talent in a vital position. The report is divided into fifteen sections. The first section reviews the work of the past five years and the great changes of the decade of the New Era; the second section emphasizes the leading role of theoretical innovation; the third section points out the historical mission of the new journey in the new era; and sections four through fifteen provide comprehensive deployments for future work across economics, politics, culture, society, ecology, security, the military, national reunification, diplomacy, and Party building. Among these, the fifth section is dedicated to education, science and technology, and talent, following immediately after "IV. Accelerating the Creation of a New Development Pattern and Striving to Promote High-Quality Development." This can be understood, alongside section four, as a vital component of the central work of the Party and the state—economic construction—highlighting the important position these areas occupy in the development of the cause of the Party and the state.
Third, it expounded upon several important assertions and measures for promoting education, science and technology, and talent. The report of the 20th National Congress emphasized: "Education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic supports for comprehensively building a modern socialist country. We must persist in the idea that science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driver." It called for "persisting in the priority development of education, self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and the lead of talent-driven development, and accelerating the building of a great power in education, science and technology, and talent," as well as "resolutely winning the battle for key core technologies," and so on. These important assertions and measures reflect the emphasis and expectations of the Party and the people regarding education, science and technology, and talent.
III. Firmly Advancing with Fortitude Along the Established Direction and Line
Since the founding of the New China, and particularly since the start of reform and opening up, the Party has led the people in persisting in combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture. On the basis of summarizing both positive and negative experiences of socialist construction at home and abroad, the Party created, defended, persisted in, and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party has led the people in pushing socialism with Chinese characteristics into a New Era. In October 2017 and November 2021, the 19th National Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee both emphasized that the New Era "is an era of building on past achievements and opening up new frontiers, of continuing to strive for the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics under new historical conditions; it is an era of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and then moving on to comprehensively building a powerful modern socialist country." The 19th National Congress also made the strategic arrangement of a "two-step" approach after the decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, to build China into a powerful modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. Convened at a critical moment when the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country had victoriously achieved the First Centenary Goal [10] and were embarking on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and march toward the Second Centenary Goal, the 20th National Congress demonstrated the resolve and determination to advance with fortitude along the established direction. This is manifested in the following four aspects:
First, the theme of the Congress demonstrated a clear attitude of holding high the banner and advancing with fortitude. The report of the 20th National Congress stated at the very beginning: "The theme of the Congress is: holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, staying confident and self-reliant, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and striving in unity to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." This theme is "the soul of the Congress and the general outline for the development of the cause of the Party and the state." It centrally expresses and declares the fundamental principles of what banner the Party will hold, what path it will take, what mental state it will maintain, and toward what goals it will advance as it leads the people on the new journey of the New Era. Among these, the direction of the banner, the ideological arming, the spiritual drive, and the goals of struggle are all in a direct line of succession with the theoretical and practical innovations of the Party since the beginning of reform and opening up, and especially since the 18th National Congress.
Secondly, [the Party] consistently upholds the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic policy. The basic theory, basic line, and basic policy of the Party are the fundamental achievements attained by the Party in leading the people through long-term practice, enduring untold hardships and paying a heavy price. The 20th Party Congress demonstrated the resolve and will to keep the path unchanged and the ambition unswerving in terms of adhering to and developing the Party's basic theory, line, and policy. The title and theme of the Congress report both center on holding high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It clarified that the "Ten Clarifications," "Fourteen Upholds," and "Thirteen Areas of Achievement" [11] proposed at the 19th Party Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee summarize the main contents of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and "must be upheld over the long term and continuously enriched and developed." It clarified that in advancing theoretical innovation, one "must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground," "remain unshakeable in upholding the basic principles of Marxism, remain unshakeable in upholding the Party's comprehensive leadership, and remain unshakeable in upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics." It also clarified that on the road ahead, we must firmly grasp and follow the major principles of the "Five Upholds," including "upholding and strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership," and "persisting in taking economic construction as the center, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles [12], persisting in reform and opening up, maintaining independence and self-reliance, ensuring the path remains unchanged and the ambition unswerving—neither taking the old path of closed-off stagnation nor the crooked path of changing flags [13]—persisting in placing the foundation of national and ethnic development on the basis of our own strength, and persisting in holding the fate of China's development and progress firmly in our own hands," and so forth.
Thirdly, the report focuses on upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in major strategic deployments and policy measures. Not only did the 20th Party Congress achieve consistency in basic theory, line, and policy, but it also demonstrated a clear attitude of firm implementation regarding major strategic deployments and measures. The layout of the Congress report, especially the structure of sections four through fifteen, was essentially designed and expanded according to the "Fourteen Upholds" proposed in the report of the 19th Party Congress, constructing a strategic deployment for comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The 20th Party Congress report reiterated the "two-step" strategic arrangement proposed at the 19th Party Congress to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It emphasized persisting in placing the focus of economic development on the real economy, maintaining the core position of innovation in the overall landscape of China's modernization, and persisting in the priority development of education, among others. In the report of the 20th Party Congress, "persist/uphold" (坚持) appeared 173 times, ranking third only after "development" (239 times) and "people" (177 times). This primarily emphasizes the persistence and development of major strategic deployments, decisions, and measures since the beginning of reform and opening up, and particularly since the 18th Party Congress.
Finally, it confidently responded to various concerns of the international community. The preparatory period for a Party Congress is often a time when the ideological and theoretical circles are active or even contentious; this requires the Congress to provide appropriate responses and clarifications. For example, in 1997 after the passing of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, during the preparations for the 15th Party Congress, there was significant attention both at home and abroad regarding how the Congress would treat the theory and path established by Deng Xiaoping in leading the Party and people around the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. To this end, the report of the 15th Party Congress for the first time in history came straight to the point by proposing the theme of the Congress: "Hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and comprehensively push the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century." In 2007, on the eve of the 17th Party Congress as the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up approached, some people at home and abroad generated considerable controversy over the merits, demerits, success, or failure of China's reform and opening up. In response, the report of the 17th Party Congress not only clearly emphasized "persisting in reform and opening up" in the Congress theme but also dedicated the second section after summarizing the work of the past five years to the title "The Great Historical Process of Reform and Opening Up." It comprehensively summarized and highly appraised the great achievements of reform and opening up, pointing out that "reform and opening up is a crucial choice that determines the fate of contemporary China," and that it "accords with the aspirations of the Party and the people and conforms to the trend of the times; its direction and path are completely correct, and its effectiveness and merits brook no denial; there is no way out through stagnation or regression." Before the 20th Party Congress, some people expressed doubts about "constructing a new development pattern with domestic dual circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international dual circulation reinforcing each other"; under the impact of the accelerating evolution of the world's changes unseen in a century and the profound influence of the pandemic of the century, there was much discussion about the prospects of China's economic and social development. In response, the 20th Party Congress clearly emphasized "persisting in deepening reform and opening up," "persisting in the direction of socialist market economy reform, persisting in high-level opening up to the outside world," and "persisting in and improving the basic socialist economic system." This demonstrated the Party's stamina and determination to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to forge ahead along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
IV. Firmly Aiming at the Goal of "Becoming Strong"
Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has summarized the historical process of the Party leading the people in their unremitting struggle to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It holds that the great achievements of the New Democratic Revolution [14] drove the Chinese nation to achieve the great leap from being impoverished and weak to standing up; the great achievements of the socialist revolution and construction, and of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, drove the Chinese nation to achieve the great leap from standing up to becoming rich; and the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era have driven "the Chinese nation to welcome a great leap from standing up and becoming rich to becoming strong, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process." The 19th Party Congress made a "two-step" strategic arrangement and set the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century. The 20th Party Congress made a series of strategic deployments to further aim for and realize "becoming strong." This is mainly manifested in the following three aspects.
First, the mission and tasks of the new journey in the New Era clearly define "becoming strong." On the basis of summarizing the work of the past five years and the great changes of the decade in the New Era, the 20th Party Congress clearly proposed the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China on the new journey in the New Era. It emphasized that "from this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to comprehensively build a modern socialist powerful country, achieve the Second Centenary Goal [15], and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization."
Second, major strategic deployments and policy measures are "fixated" on "becoming strong." The major strategic deployments and policy measures of the 20th Party Congress for the coming period are closely fixated on the goal of a "powerful country" (强国). It further proposed implementing the strategy of strengthening the nation through talent, and building China into a world leader in education, science and technology, talent, culture, and sports, while accelerating the construction of a leader in manufacturing, quality, aerospace, transportation, cyberspace, agriculture, the maritime sector, and trade, as well as building a great socialist cultural power. These "powerful country" goals cover various fields of socialist modernization and interpret the rich connotation of "becoming strong."
Finally, external influence and international contributions aim at "becoming strong." The 20th Party Congress not only clarified the mission, tasks, and strategic deployments for building a modern socialist country but also displayed the image of a major power that must be possessed when moving toward being a strong nation. When the Congress report spoke of the goals for the middle of the 21st century, on the basis of continuing to emphasize building China into a modern socialist powerful country, it proposed for the first time "building China into a modern socialist powerful country that leads in comprehensive national strength and international influence by the middle of this century." When talking about improving the system of scientific and technological innovation, it emphasized the coordinated advancement of the construction of international scientific and technological innovation centers, expanding international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, strengthening the construction of an internationalized scientific research environment, and "forming an open innovation ecosystem with global competitiveness." When discussing international relations and diplomatic work, it emphasized that China will continue to be committed to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, "strengthening international security cooperation, actively participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and playing a constructive role in maintaining world peace and regional stability."
V. Always Upholding the Spirit of "Unity and Struggle"
The National Congresses of the Party held in different historical periods and backgrounds often demonstrate different mental states and spiritual outlooks to the whole Party, the whole country, and even the whole world, exerting a major influence on the development of the cause of the Party and the people. The 20th Party Congress fully demonstrated the spiritual outlook of the whole Party in forging ahead with enterprise, moving forward with courage and resolve, maintaining self-confidence and self-reliance, engaging in unity and struggle, and daring to struggle. Among these, "unity and struggle" is the mental state that the Congress consistently and prominently emphasized. This is mainly reflected in the following four aspects.
First, "unity and struggle" is the mental state solemnly declared in the title and the theme of the Congress report. The 20th Party Congress was convened against the backdrop of China embarking on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country, the accelerating evolution of the world's changes unseen in a century, and the profound influence of the pandemic of the century. What banner the Congress would hold, what path it would take, what mental state it would maintain, and what goal it would struggle toward were matters of close attention for people from all walks of life at home and abroad, inside and outside the Party. The title of the Congress report, especially "the theme clarified by the report, is the soul of the Congress and the general program for the development of the cause of the Party and the country." Both centrally answer and display political, fundamental, and principled issues such as the banner, road, spirit, and goal. In the past, the titles or themes of Party Congress reports mostly used "struggle for..." without using "unity and struggle" (团结奋斗), whereas both the title and the theme of the 20th Party Congress report explicitly emphasized "unity and struggle."
Second, "unity and struggle" is the spiritual driving force for the historical achievements made in the cause of the Party and the people in the New Era. Every Party Congress of the CPC summarizes past work and historical experience, analyzes the current situation and the state of the Party, and looks forward to the future prospects and deploys future work. The 20th Party Congress report summarized three major events experienced by the Party and the people in the decade of the New Era: the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a New Era, and the historical tasks of completing the eradication of absolute poverty and comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society. It maintained that "this is a historical victory won through the unity and struggle of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people." The report systematically summarized the "sixteen areas" of historical achievements and historical changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the decade of the New Era, maintaining that these "were struggled for, worked for, and fought for by the Party and the people together." Therefore, unity and struggle are the spiritual driving force for the Party and the people to achieve historical success in the New Era, as well as the successful experience of the Party’s long-term struggle.
Third, "unity and struggle" is an inherent requirement for the Party as the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Party's strength comes from its organization, and unity, unification, and striving for progress are the basic prerequisites and fundamental requirements for the Party's organization to be strong, consolidated, and growing. The 20th Party Congress report profoundly summarized historical experience and lessons, objectively analyzed the strategic opportunities and risks/challenges facing China's development, and put forward the "Five Upholds" major principles that must be firmly grasped on the road ahead. Among them, the first is to uphold and strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership, "so that the Party always remains the most reliable 'backbone' (主心骨) for all the people when storms hit, ensuring the correct direction of China's socialist modernization construction and ensuring a powerful political cohesion and developmental self-confidence for unity and struggle." This points out the inherent requirement of unity and struggle for the Party to become the "backbone" from the perspective of converging hearts and gathering strength. During the Congress, while participating in the discussion of the Guangxi delegation, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the "Five Firm Grasps" for studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, which included "firmly grasping the requirements of the times for unity and struggle." Elevating "unity and struggle" to the level of "requirements of the times" fully demonstrates its major significance for the Party in leading the people to create a new situation in the development of their cause.
Finally, "unity and struggle" is the only path (必由之路) for the Party and the people to win new victories in the development of their cause on the new journey of the New Era. Looking back, the Party has led the people to create countless miracles in the human world; looking forward, how can more brilliance be created? General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in the "Concluding Remarks" of the 20th Party Congress report that "unity is strength, and only unity leads to victory. To comprehensively build a modern socialist country, we must give full play to the great creative power of hundreds of millions of people... continuously consolidate the great unity of the people of all ethnic groups across the country, and strengthen the great unity of all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad." The report once again emphasized the "Five Only Paths" proposed during the "Two Sessions" in March 2022, which includes "unity and struggle is the only path for the Chinese people to create great historical achievements." This is a crucial understanding of the laws [of development] derived by the Party through long-term practice.
(Authors: Gao Zhengli is the Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Marxism, Beijing Jiaotong University; Han Yuchen is a 2022 doctoral student at the School of Marxism, Beijing Jiaotong University) (Project: This article is a phased result of the Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, "Research on the Experience of Persistent Theoretical Innovation in the Century-long Struggle of the Communist Party of China" (22ZDA010))