Xi Jinping Thought on Economy Study Center: Understanding Chinese Modernization Through the Coordination of Material and Cultural-Ethical Advancements
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement [1] in coordination, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. These are the Chinese characteristics of Chinese-path modernization based on national conditions. Material abundance and spiritual richness are fundamental requirements of socialist modernization. Only when the construction of both material and cultural-ethical civilizations is handled well—with the nation's material and spiritual strengths both enhanced and the material and spiritual lives of people of all ethnic groups improved—can the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics move forward smoothly. In the process of promoting modernization, the major principled requirement of coordinating material and cultural-ethical civilization must be implemented throughout.
I. Profoundly understanding the logical basis of modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations
Material and cultural-ethical civilizations are the summation and crystallization of all achievements of humanity in understanding and transforming the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese Dream is the result of the balanced development and mutual promotion of material and cultural-ethical civilizations; it is a development process where the "two civilizations" fly wing to wing. Persisting in the coordination of material and cultural-ethical civilizations is both a major theoretical issue and a major practical proposition.
Marxism holds that material and cultural-ethical civilizations form a dialectical unity. Marx pointed out in the Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy that "the mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life." This is the best summation of the foundational role of material civilization, clearly pointing out that material civilization plays a conditioning and decisive role for cultural-ethical civilization, providing it with the necessary material premises and conditions. Engels pointed out in his 1890 letter to Conrad Schmidt that "although the material mode of existence is the primum agens [primary cause], this does not preclude the ideal spheres from reacting back upon it in their turn." This clearly points out the counter-action of cultural-ethical civilization upon material civilization, providing it with important support. Marxism holds that material and cultural-ethical civilizations are closely linked, mutually influential, and serve as conditions for one another, unified within the concrete practical activities of human beings. Lenin, in his speech at the First All-Russia Conference on Party Work in the Countryside, emphasized that communism cannot be built without a wealth of knowledge, technology, and culture. This clearly points out the extreme importance of cultural-ethical civilization. From the primary stage of socialism [2] to higher stages and then toward communism, there is an inherent dialectical unity of material and cultural-ethical civilizations; there must be both the "hard power" of greatly abundant material wealth and the "soft power" of greatly abundant spiritual wealth. A singular development of material civilization divorced from the progress of cultural-ethical civilization is not true socialist modernization, nor does it meet the requirements for comprehensive social progress.
Our Party attaches great importance to the coordinated promotion of material and cultural-ethical civilizations. Correctly grasping the relationship between the two and achieving their coordinated development based on the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism is an important experience of the Communist Party of China in promoting socialist modernization. At the beginning of the founding of New China, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "The Chinese people already have their own Central Government... It will lead the people of the whole country to overcome all difficulties and carry out large-scale economic and cultural construction, sweep away the poverty and ignorance left behind by the old China, and gradually improve the material life of the people and raise their cultural life." After the launch of reform and opening up, our Party creatively determined the strategic policy of "grasping with both hands, and both hands must be firm" [3] regarding material and cultural-ethical civilizations. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "While building a high level of material civilization, we should raise the scientific and cultural level of the whole nation, develop a noble and colorful cultural life, and build a high level of socialist cultural-ethical civilization." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to cultural-ethical construction. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "As skyscrapers rise across our land, the spiritual mansion of the Chinese nation should also stand tall." Over the decade of the New Era, we have established and persisted in the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the field of ideology; advocated and promoted socialist core values; formed a spiritual lineage with the great founding spirit of the Party [4] as its source; firmly maintained leadership over ideological work; flourished literary and artistic creation; and deepened mass-based cultural-ethical activities. The situation in the ideological field has undergone a global and fundamental change. The people's cultural confidence has been significantly strengthened and their mental outlook is more vigorous, providing a firm ideological guarantee and a powerful spiritual impetus for creating a new situation for the cause of the Party and the country in the New Era.
The material and cultural-ethical achievements of a society reflect the historical stage of development that society is in. The CPC persists in and develops socialism with Chinese characteristics, always adheres to a people-centered approach, and promotes the coordinated development of material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological civilizations [5], creating a new path for Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations; it requires not only an increase in material living standards—where "every granary is full and everyone is well-fed and well-clothed" [6]—but also a rich spiritual and cultural life where "everyone knows etiquette and distinguishes between honor and shame." We persist in the dominance of public ownership alongside the joint development of multiple forms of ownership, maximizing the liberation and development of social productive forces, maintaining the steady, healthy, and sustainable development of the national economy, and continuously consolidating the material conditions for the people's happy life. We vigorously develop advanced socialist culture, strengthen education in ideals and convictions, promote fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit Chinese civilization, enhance the people’s spiritual strength, and promote the comprehensive abundance of things and the well-rounded development of people.
II. Profoundly understanding the development vision of modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations
The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC drew a grand blueprint for building a socialist modern country in all respects. This is a goal of struggle involving the simultaneous promotion of all aspects of construction, including economic and cultural construction. We must not only build a prosperous and strong China with great national power but also build a civilized China with cultural prosperity, realizing the mutual radiance of a prosperous China and a civilized China.
Socialist material civilization will achieve great development. The construction of socialist material civilization is the foundation for realizing a prosperous and strong China. Taking the path of modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations and realizing the great development of socialist material civilization will encompass the following aspects:
Possessing a level of total economic volume and comprehensive national strength commensurate with a prosperous and strong China. After years of development, our country's level of productive forces has seen significant growth, total economic volume has increased rapidly, and comprehensive national strength has steadily risen. Looking ahead to 2035, China's per capita GDP will reach a new level, reaching the level of moderately developed countries. By the middle of this century, when China realizes the grand goal of a great modern socialist country, its comprehensive national strength and international influence will be world-leading.
Entering the forefront of global innovative countries. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, our country has deeply implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, unswervingly followed the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics, and vigorously built an innovative country and a world leader in science and technology. Historical, holistic, and structural changes have occurred in our scientific and technological undertakings, and we have successfully entered the ranks of innovative countries. Looking ahead to 2035, China will enter the forefront of innovative countries, with the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress significantly increased, and major breakthroughs achieved in key core technologies, frontier leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technological innovations, firmly grasping the initiative of development in our own hands.
Forming a complete national security guarantee system. National security is the important cornerstone of national stability, and maintaining national security is where the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups lie. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has coordinated and grasped the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s unprecedented changes in a century, strengthened the strategic planning and top-level design of national security, and vigorously promoted theoretical, practical, and institutional innovation in the field of national security. This has created a brand-new situation for maintaining national security, providing a powerful guarantee for the prosperity and long-term stability of the Party and the country. Looking ahead to 2035, China will basically realize the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, and the ability to guarantee food security, energy security, the security of important industrial and supply chains, and public security will be comprehensively improved.
People's lives will be happier and more beautiful. The happiness of the people's lives is the goal of the development of socialist material civilization. Through the joint efforts of all parties, the rural poor under the current standard in our country have all been lifted out of poverty, all poverty-stricken counties have been removed from the list, and all poverty-stricken villages have withdrawn. The goals and tasks of the battle against poverty were completed fully and on schedule, historically solving the problem of absolute poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China, making a major contribution to the global cause of poverty reduction. Looking ahead to 2035, the gap between urban and rural regional development and the gap in residents' living standards will be significantly narrowed, people's lives will be happier and more beautiful, rural areas will basically possess modern living conditions, and new progress will be continuously made in ensuring that children have access to childcare, students have access to education, workers have access to remuneration, patients have access to medical care, the elderly have access to elderly care, residents have access to housing, and the vulnerable have access to support.
Socialist cultural-ethical civilization will be comprehensively enhanced. Socialist cultural-ethical civilization is an important characteristic of socialist society, an important goal and guarantee of socialist modernization, and it determines what kind of country and society we build and what kind of citizens we cultivate. Taking the path of modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations and comprehensively enhancing socialist cultural-ethical civilization will encompass the following aspects:
Socialist core values will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out that we should extensively practice socialist core values. Socialist core values clarify the value goals at the national level, the value orientation at the social level, and the value standards at the individual level, and are an important part of building the system of socialist core values. Looking ahead to 2035, socialist core values will be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the fine traditional Chinese culture and the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists will be further inherited and promoted, and the spiritual world of the people will be further enriched.
Achieving common prosperity for all the people. Common prosperity is a basic goal of Marxism and also a basic ideal of the Chinese people since ancient times. The common prosperity we speak of is the common prosperity of all the people, and it is a prosperity in both the material and spiritual lives of the masses. Looking ahead to 2035, China will persist in a people-centered approach, causing the middle-income group to exceed 800 million people, realizing that basic public services cover the entire population, provide a safety net, and are enjoyed equally. More obvious and substantive progress will be made in the well-rounded development of people and the common prosperity of all the people.
Building a leading country in education and culture. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC clearly proposed the long-term goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, which includes important content such as building a leading country in education, science and technology, talent, culture, and sports, as well as a "Healthy China," and significantly strengthening the country's cultural soft power. By then, the level of social civilization in our country will be significantly improved, the level of public cultural services will be significantly enhanced, the modern cultural industry system will be markedly sound, cultural undertakings and cultural industries will achieve prosperous development, and the country's cultural soft power will be fully improved.
III. Profoundly understanding the practical requirements of modernization coordinated between material and cultural-ethical civilizations
For a country to realize its modernization goals, it must continuously enrich both its material and spiritual wealth. To promote the coordinated development of material and cultural-ethical civilizations, we must correctly handle the relationship between the two from a dialectical, comprehensive, and coordinated perspective. While persisting in taking economic construction as the center and doing a good job in material civilization construction, we must continue to persist over the long term and consistently do a good job in cultural-ethical construction, providing a firm ideological guarantee, powerful spiritual strength, and rich moral nourishment for the continuous advancement of the people of all ethnic groups.
Promoting the "comprehensive abundance of material goods." To build a great modern socialist power, it is necessary to vigorously develop material civilization. In the final analysis, this depends on the continuous liberation and development of the productive forces, creating material wealth superior to that of capitalist modernization. Taking economic construction as the center is an inevitable requirement for vigorously developing social productive forces, promoting the comprehensive abundance of material goods, and pushing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics toward continuous success. We must constantly strengthen the material foundation of modernization to provide powerful support for making democracy more robust, science and education more advanced, culture more prosperous, society more harmonious, and the ecology more beautiful. We must firmly grasp high-quality development as the primary task in comprehensively building a modern socialist country. We must implement the new development philosophy [7] completely, accurately, and comprehensively; persist in the direction of socialist market economy reforms; maintain high-level opening up to the outside world; and persist in placing the focus of economic development on the real economy. We must advance new-type industrialization and comprehensively promote rural revitalization. We must deeply implement the strategy for coordinated regional development, major regional strategies, the functional zone strategy [8], and the new-type urbanization strategy. We must persist in the priority development of education, self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and the driving force of talent leadership. We must open up new fields and "new tracks" for development, constantly shaping new momentum and new advantages for development, accelerating the construction of a modern economic system, and speeding up the construction of a new development pattern [9].
Extensively practicing core socialist values. Core socialist values are a powerful force for coalescing the hearts and gathering the strength of the people. Comprehensively building a modern socialist country requires ideological guidance, cultural nourishment, and spiritual support more than ever before. We must extensively practice core socialist values; deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism; improve the level of civilization across the whole of society; and promote the formation of ideals, beliefs, moral concepts, and a spiritual outlook compatible with socialist modernization throughout society. We must integrate core socialist values into all fields of education and implement them in every link of teaching, management, and service, striving to cultivate socialist builders and successors who are well-developed in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor [10]. In the process of formulating economic development goals and plans, and issuing major policies and reform measures, we must follow the requirements of core socialist values to form a positive policy orientation, interest mechanism, and social environment conducive to promoting core socialist values, thereby achieving a benign interaction between the market economy and moral construction.
Promoting fine traditional Chinese culture. Fine traditional culture is the foundation for the inheritance and development of a country and a nation. At a new historical starting point, we must inherit and promote fine traditional Chinese culture in combination with new temporal conditions, displaying the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation and better constructing Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength. We must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, and more consciously and proactively promote the creative transformation and innovative development [11] of fine traditional Chinese culture. We must constantly endow fine traditional culture with new temporary connotations and modern forms of expression, activating its vitality and enhancing its influence and appeal. We must persist in dialogue, exchange, and mutual learning with different civilizations, constantly absorbing nourishment from various civilizations.
Promoting "the well-rounded development of the person" under socialism. Persisting in the people-centered development philosophy is the fundamental position of Marxist political economy. We must insist on taking the enhancement of people's well-being, the promotion of the well-rounded development of the person, and steady progress toward common prosperity as the starting point and goal of economic development. We must persist in the principle that development is for the people, development relies on the people, and the fruits of development are shared by the people, while continuously promoting the modernization of the person. We must persist in taking the improvement of people's comprehensive quality as the foundation. Through the combination of education and productive labor, we shall enhance people's scientific and cultural quality, enrich their spiritual world, cultivate noble moral sentiments, and strengthen human subjectivity. Culture, sports, and health are inherent components of the well-rounded development of the person. We must persist in perfecting the institutional system, earnestly promoting social fairness and justice, and providing more public goods and services in areas such as cultural benefits for the people, national fitness, medical and health care, the ecological environment, and the guarantee of democracy and the rule of law, so as to better meet the new demands of the masses for the protection of various rights and interests.
(Drafted by: Li Yuju, Xiao Xinjian, Deng Yongbo) Web Editor: Lian Yu Source: Red Flag Manuscript (Hongqi Wengao), Issue 1, 2023