Meng Xin: Research on the Theoretical System of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
Abstract The Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rich in connotation, broad, and profound; it is a scientific theoretical system characterized by rigorous logic, systemic completeness, and structural integrity. This Thought establishes the distinct theme of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It constructs a scientific system composed of the basic national conditions, development goals, an action program, and supporting conditions. It has formed a worldview and methodology consisting of a firm value position, scientific practical viewpoints, and rich ideological methods. It provides comprehensive, in-depth, and systemic answers to a series of major questions concerning the development of the Party and the country’s undertakings, writing a new chapter in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Keywords Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era; scientific system; ideological theme; positions, viewpoints, and methods
The 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: "Our Party has had the courage to conduct theoretical exploration and innovation. With an entirely new perspective, it has deepened its understanding of the laws of governance by a communist party, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. It has achieved major results in theoretical innovation, which are concentrated in the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The 'Ten Clarifications,' 'Fourteen Persistences,' and 'Thirteen Aspects of Achievements' proposed at the 19th National Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee summarize the main content of this Thought, which must be adhered to over the long term and continuously enriched and developed." [1] This assessment indicates that through continuous exploration and innovation, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has become a rich and systemically complete scientific theoretical system. It has opened up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and constitutes contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism.
I. Establishing a Distinct Ideological Theme
The theme of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; all theoretical viewpoints of this Thought unfold around this theme. The reason for taking socialism with Chinese characteristics as the theoretical theme is that this theme determines the future and destiny of the Party and the country's undertakings, as well as the prospects and future of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(1) Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental achievement gained by the Party and the people through long-term practice. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of China’s social development. It is scientific socialism rooted in Chinese soil, reflecting the will of the Chinese people, and adapting to the requirements of the development and progress of China and the times. It is the only path [1] for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerating the promotion of socialist modernization, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." [2] Chinese Communists took Marxism as an ideological weapon to analyze China's destiny and world development trends. In the historical process of practicing the original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, they successively proposed systemic theoretical propositions for establishing the New China and building socialism. After experiencing the vital stages of revolution, construction, and reform, they finally created socialism with Chinese characteristics and found the fundamental path for building a great modern socialist country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Therefore, upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics has become the firm conviction of the Chinese Communist Party in its continuous struggle to realize the Great Dream. In the New Era and on the new journey, leading the Party and the people to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics is the firm choice made by this Thought to inherit the foundation of development, uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, comprehensively build a modern socialist country, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(2) Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the inevitable choice for building a great modern socialist country. Modernization is the development goal of the vast majority of countries in today’s world. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have provided their own answer: following the Chinese-path modernization. "Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It shares the common characteristics of the modernization of all countries, but even more so, it possesses Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions." [3] One of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization is "upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics," and one of the major principles that must be adhered to is "persisting in the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics." This demonstrates that the Chinese-path modernization is a brand-new path toward modernization, distinct from Western models, which was explored by the Party leading the people. It not only provides an effective path for China to move toward modernization but also offers a new choice for other developing countries. Revolving around the theme of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, this Thought guides the exploration of brand-new principles, concepts, and innovative practical measures for Chinese-path modernization, providing much enlightenment for developing countries to promote their own modernization processes.
(3) Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only path for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is an important historical mission shoulder by the CPC. Xi Jinping pointed out: "All the struggles, sacrifices, and creations of the Chinese people led by the CPC can be summarized into one theme: realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." [4] For this great undertaking, the Party has led the people through a century of arduous and tortuous exploration. This history profoundly reveals that the fundamental reason our Party has been able to shoulder the historical heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation—which no other political force could—and continuously advance the process of national rejuvenation amidst various severe challenges, lies in the Party's ability to maintain historical strategic resolve [2]. No matter what risks or challenges we encounter, or what winding roads we travel, we can remain committed to the socialist direction and the goal of national rejuvenation. In the new historical stage, domestic reform, development, and stability face a complex situation, while the international situation is in a period of turbulence and transformation. The arduousness and complexity of the task of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation place new demands on the Party's theoretical innovation. Revolving around the theme of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, this Thought provides a scientific guide for action toward national rejuvenation. It systemically elucidates core issues such as the historical position, scientific connotation, strategic steps, and implementation path of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, providing a powerful spiritual impetus for the Party and the people. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Today, we are closer to, and more confident and capable than at any other time in history of achieving the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." [5] This important judgment reveals the firm conviction of this Thought in taking up the responsibility and mission of several generations of Chinese Communists and unswervingly leading the Party and the people to struggle in succession for the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
II. Constructing a Scientific Theoretical System
The value of theory lies in answering questions and guiding practice. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era "has proposed a series of original new concepts, new thoughts, and new strategies on state governance regarding major era-defining questions such as: what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should be upheld and developed in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it; what kind of great modern socialist country should be built and how to build it; and what kind of long-term governing Marxist party should be built and how to build it" [6], thereby forming a scientific theoretical system.
The construction of the theoretical system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era should be considered based on the basic viewpoints and their internal relationships as elaborated around the central theme. These viewpoints include understandings and propositions regarding basic national conditions, historical tasks, fundamental positions, basic principles, strategic measures, development momentum, development layout, important guarantees, fundamental assurance, and ideological methods. Through continuous development and refinement, these ideological viewpoints have established a rigorous logical relationship and a complete systematic structure. Overall, based on a categorized analysis of the fundamental contents of the "Ten Clarifications," "Fourteen Persistences," and "Thirteen Aspects of Achievements," they can be summarized into four theoretical blocks: basic national conditions, development goals, an action program, and supporting conditions.
(1) Judging basic national conditions The judgment of basic national conditions in this Thought includes three aspects. First, it scientifically determines the historical position of national development—socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era; this is a brand-new historical starting point for our country's development. This judgment implies that the development of the Party and the country's undertakings has opened a new historical process and entered a new stage of development, while also proposing new development requirements. Second, it comprehensively grasps the actual state of national development. On one hand, the achievements are immense. Since the New Era began, China's reform, opening up, and socialist modernization have continued to advance, with new achievements and chapters written in the two major fields of economic development and social stability, providing a more solid material foundation and more perfect institutional guarantees for comprehensively building a modern country. On the other hand, problems are concentrated. Currently, the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development in national development remains prominent; reform, development, and stability still face many deep-seated contradictions and problems; the building of Party conduct, clean government, and the anti-corruption struggle still face issues of high incidence and stubbornness; and many challenges exist within international changes. Third, it accurately judges the current principal contradiction in society: "The principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved from the contradiction between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production, to the contradiction between the people's ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development." [7] This thesis reflects the actual state of China's development, reveals the crux of the problems restricting our development, and points out the fundamental focus for solving the development issues of contemporary China. These scientific judgments regarding the basic national conditions and development status of the New Era provide the basic grounds for our Party to determine scientific development goals, formulate effective action programs, better adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, focus on solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and better promote well-rounded human development and all-around social progress.
(2) Establishing development goals In upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the overall tasks are to realize socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through the Chinese-path modernization. Building on the clarification of these overall tasks, how to determine development goals and formulate corresponding development strategies for the country based on basic national conditions is something our Party has explored through decades of relay-like efforts, reflecting the ideological style and practical character of Chinese Communists in being both farsighted and down-to-earth.
Xi Jinping proposed the development goal of "basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035 and building a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century" [8], along with the "new two-step" development strategy— "from 2020 to 2035, basically realizing socialist modernization; from 2035 to the middle of this century, building our country into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful" [9]. This is a pioneering modernization goal and strategy. Its realistic foundation lies in the fact that by the end of 2010, China had already become the world's second-largest economy. Based on these actual national conditions, Xi Jinping enriched and enhanced the original modernization goals and strategies. First, the timeline was moved forward—the goal of basic modernization by 2050 proposed by Deng Xiaoping will be realized ahead of schedule in 2035. Second, the target was raised—the goal of basic modernization by 2050 determined by Deng Xiaoping was elevated to the goal of building a great modern socialist country. Third, the connotation was enriched—the requirement of building a "Beautiful China" was added to the inherent requirements of a great modern socialist country. The 20th National Congress further enriched and expanded the connotation of a great modern socialist country: "building China into a great modern socialist country that leads the world in terms of composite national strength and international influence." [10] This expression enriches and enhances the understanding of a "great modern socialist country," moving from "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful" to "composite national strength," and expanding from a focus primarily on domestic development requirements to development requirements in both domestic and international spheres. This fully demonstrates the scientific guidance and profound influence of this Thought, as the Party’s scientific theory, on the historical process of China's modernization and national rejuvenation. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has proposed brand-new goals and made innovative strategic arrangements, deepening Deng Xiaoping’s "three-step" [3] strategic thinking and elevating the "Two Centenary Goals" [4], while also displaying the bright prospects for the flourishing development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
(3) Formulating an action program This Thought has formulated a scientific and systemic action program for building a great modern socialist country, providing a fundamental basis for advancing the development of the Party and country’s undertakings in the New Era. Its core content includes two aspects: internal deployment and external strategy. Regarding internal deployment, the action program is primarily determined in terms of leadership forces, strategic measures, development momentum, development concepts, and development layout. Regarding external strategy, the action program is primarily determined in terms of following the path of peaceful development, building a new type of international relations, and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Overall, the internal and external aspects supplement and promote each other, constructing a systemically complete guide for action and practical strategy for promoting national construction and social development.
First, regarding domestic deployment. The basic logical relationship between the various domestic deployments formulated by this Thought for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era is as follows: having clarified the supreme leading force for the development of the Party and state cause, it first determines strategic measures for improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, then establishes the driving force for the development of the Party and state cause, proceeds to innovate developmental concepts, and finally advances a new layout for the development of the cause under the guidance of these new concepts.
First is clarifying the supreme leading force. Summarizing historical experience and following practical requirements, this Thought clearly proposes: "The most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China; the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China; the Party is the highest force for political leadership." [15] This judgment profoundly demonstrates that the Party's leadership and the cause of socialism are inherently unified, and that the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the prosperity and growth of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Persisting in and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership is the fundamental political principle for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Second is innovating strategic measures for institutional development. Xi Jinping has proposed the new thesis of improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics by promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, innovating the paths and measures for refining and developing the system. He clearly pointed out that the national governance system and governance capacity are the concentrated expression of a country’s system and its capacity for institutional execution, and that promoting their modernization is an inevitable requirement for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Third is determining the driving force for national development. Unswervingly deepening reform and expanding opening up, and promoting the advance of comprehensively deepening reform toward greater depth and breadth, is the fundamental driving force Xi Jinping has established for China in the New Era. Based on summarizing the historical experience of reform and opening up, he explicitly emphasized that reform and opening up is a new great revolution, and the "key move" [5] for achieving the Two Centenary Goals and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Fourth is forming the new development philosophy. The development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing proposed by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core centrally reflects our Party’s new understanding of and reflections on the laws of economic and social development. These new concepts are permeated with a strong consciousness of development and a problem-oriented approach, enriching the connotation of development, expanding its horizons, and clarifying its new requirements. They contain both the common understanding and universal requirements of human society regarding development issues, while also highlighting our Party’s unique insights and innovative measures. Fifth is improving the layout for the development of the cause. Leading our Party from a new historical starting point, Xi Jinping has designed a scientific layout for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, clearly pointing out that the overall layout is the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the strategic layout is the "Four Comprehensives." This design and arrangement embody the Party’s continuously deepening and rising understanding of the laws governing the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Among these, using the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" to coordinately advance the development of the cause, and the "Four Comprehensives" as the strategic goals and measures for all Party and state work, clarifies the key areas and primary targets of all work in the New Era. This constitutes the top-level design and strategic deployment for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Second, regarding external strategy. The basic logical relationship between the various external strategies formulated by this Thought for improving and enhancing the external environment for national development is: by choosing to unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, promote the construction of a new type of international relations, and subsequently promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, thereby providing a brand-new goal for the development of international relations and creating favorable external conditions for the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
First is following the path of peaceful development. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core persists in taking the promotion of peaceful development to facilitate national rejuvenation as the main thread. It coordinates the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s major changes unseen in a century [6], draws on the historical experience of other countries, and deepens and expands the external strategy of the Party and the state. On the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence [7], it proposes the proposition of unswervingly following the path of peaceful development. This is a strategic choice made by our Party based on the trends of the times and the requirements of the country's fundamental interests. "China’s path of peaceful development is not an expediency, let alone diplomatic rhetoric; it is a conclusion drawn from objective judgments of history, reality, and the future." [16] Second is promoting the construction of a new type of international relations. Constructing a new type of international relations is the scientific answer the Communist Party of China has provided to the "question of the times"—where are international relations headed?—at a moment when human society faces severe challenges and the world stands once again at a crossroads of history. Its core essence consists of mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation. The "newness" of this new type of international relations refers to building a new type of relationship between states through equal consultation on the basis of following the common values of all humanity. Within this, mutual respect is the prerequisite, fairness and justice are the norms, and win-win cooperation is the goal. The essence of this new type of international relations is that countries develop cooperative relations on the basis of insisting on dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnership rather than alliance. Third is promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. "A community with a shared future for humanity, as the name implies, means that the future and destiny of every nation and every country are closely linked. We should stick together through thick and thin, share weal and woe, and strive to build this planet where we were born and raised into a harmonious big family, turning the world's people's aspirations for a better life into reality." [17] This is the "China answer" to the "question of the world" provided by Xi Jinping on behalf of Chinese Communists. It is an important thought for leading humanity toward a bright future, proposed from the height of the future trends of human historical development. Its core is to build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and cleanliness and beauty. The thought on building a community with a shared future for humanity elevates our country’s strategy of peaceful development, reflects the development trends of today’s world, clarifies the direction of human social development, and contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the problem of where humanity is headed.
(4) Providing Safeguard Conditions
Advancing the cause of the Party and the state inevitably requires a solid foundation and powerful forces as safeguard conditions. This Thought has carried out systematic exposition and scientific deployment regarding this. By promoting the Party’s self-revolution and strengthening Party building, it provides a strong leadership core and powerful leadership force for the development of the Party and state cause. By enhancing the capacity to maintain national security, promoting the modernization of the national security system, and maintaining social stability, it provides a solid foundation and a prerequisite for development. By building world-class armed forces and comprehensively promoting the modernization of national defense and the military, it provides strategic support and security guarantees. By promoting "One Country, Two Systems" and "peaceful reunification," it constructs a solid foundation and a beautiful future for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
First is promoting the Party’s self-revolution. In advancing the cause of the Party and the state, the ruling party as the leading force is crucial; likewise, the methods taken to maintain the ruling party’s powerful leadership are also crucial. Maintaining the Party’s strong vitality and leadership by promoting self-revolution is the fundamental requirement proposed by this Thought. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core persists in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, leading to a marked improvement in the Party’s internal atmosphere and a significant enhancement of the Party’s governing capacity. It emphasizes that to promote the development of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in depth, one must promote the Party’s self-revolution. "The whole Party must keep in mind that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is always on the road, and the Party’s self-revolution is always on the road." [18] Second is safeguarding national security and social stability. "National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is the prerequisite for national prosperity." [19] On the basis of grasping new changes in the national security situation, Xi Jinping clearly proposed the important thought of adhering to the holistic approach to national security [8] and improving the national security system. The proposal of the holistic approach to national security is a major innovation in national security theory. In particular, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress for the first time devoted a specific chapter to discussing how to promote the modernization of the national security system and capacity, as well as how to maintain national security and social stability. This indicates that this Thought views the status and role of national security and social stability in the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country from a strategic height and a global perspective, and has carried out top-level design and strategic planning for the construction of the national security system in the New Era. Third is building world-class armed forces. Facing the changes in the world and the times, only by continuously strengthening military construction can we provide strategic support and security guarantees for the development of the Party and state cause; this is a strategic requirement for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Our Party’s strategic decision is to unswervingly follow the path of strengthening the military with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively promote the modernization of national defense and the military, and fully build the people’s military into world-class armed forces. Such a goal for strengthening the military highlights profound changes in the international situation and domestic environment, embodies the new requirements of the times for military construction, and demonstrates the fundamental requirements for the grand goal of building China into a great modern socialist country. Fourth is promoting the reunification of the motherland. The reunification of the motherland is an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As an important system for achieving the reunification of the motherland, "One Country, Two Systems" is a great creation of Chinese Communists and a great pioneering undertaking of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping has proposed important viewpoints and innovative propositions regarding "One Country, Two Systems" and national reunification, providing basic principles and fundamental guidelines for maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao and advancing the great cause of national reunification.
III. The Formation of a Scientific Worldview and Methodology
In accordance with the requirements of the scientific Marxist worldview and methodology, using the stances, viewpoints, and methods therein to study and solve Chinese problems is a fine tradition and precious asset formed during the century-long struggle of the Communist Party of China. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era takes the Marxist worldview and methodology as its fundamental guidance, continuously opening up new realms in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and endowing the Marxist worldview and methodology with distinct Chinese features and characteristics of the times. The 20th CPC National Congress for the first time summarized the stances, viewpoints, and methods of this Thought: "We must persist in putting the people first, persist in self-confidence and self-reliance, persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, persist in a problem-oriented approach, persist in a systems outlook, and persist in maintaining a global vision." The firm value stance, scientific practical viewpoint, and rich intellectual methods contained therein are a scientific summary and highly condensed refinement of the worldview and methodology upheld and applied by this Thought.
(1) A Firm Value Stance
The question of stance is the fundamental question of theory; its core is the question of "for whom." The standpoint of the people is the most fundamental value stance of Marxism, and its "people-oriented" nature (人民性 rénmínxìng) is the most defining character of Marxism. As a Marxist party, the CPC’s adherence to the standpoint of the people is determined by the Party's nature, purpose, and political attributes. This Thought embodies a firm standpoint of the people and consistently persists in putting the people first. First, it persists in everything being for the people. The Party’s original aspiration and mission is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. The ultimate goal of all our Party's efforts is to enable the people to live a better life. Upholding the purpose of serving the people, maintaining their interests, and increasing their well-being, this Thought has always taken the realization, maintenance, and development of the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the important starting point and end goal of national development, always placing the people's interests in the supreme position. Xi Jinping has emphasized many times: "Let the fruits of development benefit all people more extensively and fairly, and continuously stride toward the realization of common prosperity for all." [20] Second, it persists in everything relying on the people. The people are the decisive force in social development and the creators of social material and spiritual wealth. Persisting in the principal status of the people emphasizes giving full play to the initiative and enthusiasm of the masses, as well as their creative and innovative spirit. This Thought requires the whole Party to profoundly realize that "the people are the creators of history and the fundamental force determining the future and destiny of the Party and the state," and to "rely on the people to create the great cause of history." [21] Third, it persists in everything coming from the people. Xi Jinping proposed the important judgment that "the people's support is the greatest politics," which embodies the Marxist mass conception of history. "The times are the paper-setter, we are the examinees, and the people are the examiners." [22] The acquisition of the Party’s governing status and the consolidation of its long-term governance must rely on the support of the people; the success or failure of all our Party’s work must be tested and judged by the people.
(2) A Scientific Practical Viewpoint
The practical perspective is the primary and fundamental viewpoint of Marxist philosophy. As a model for the persistent application of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, this thought adheres to the use of Marxist stances, viewpoints, and methods to observe the world, analyze reality, and understand problems. By integrating these with fine traditional Chinese culture, it has creatively formed a worldview and methodology that is Sinicized and adapted to our times. This is primarily manifested in the practical perspective represented by the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. Seeking truth from facts is the Chinese Communist Party's concentrated summation of the essence of Marxist philosophy; it embodies a high degree of unity between materialism, dialectics, and epistemology. It is the fundamental viewpoint and method of Marxism, as well as the core of the Marxist ideological line. Deng Xiaoping believed that "seeking truth from facts is the foundation of the proletarian worldview and the ideological foundation of Marxism." [27] Seeking truth from facts requires proceeding from reality in all things, starting from a constantly changing and developing objective reality to recognize the essence of things and the laws of their development, thereby effectively transforming the objective and subjective worlds. This profoundly reflects the requirements of the basic principles of Marxism. In the theoretical thinking and working methods of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, this basic principle is manifested as adherence to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "All the achievements we made in the past relied on seeking truth from facts. Today, if we want to continue pushing forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must still rely on seeking truth from facts." [28] He further noted: "Seeking truth from facts is the fundamental viewpoint of Marxism, the fundamental requirement for Chinese Communists to understand and transform the world, and our Party's basic ideological method, work method, and leadership method." [29] The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has inherited and developed the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, forming an ideological method and work style with the characteristics of the times. Its prominent manifestation is the emphasis on practicality [9] based on an adherence to scientific rigor, and the implementation of this emphasis throughout the theoretical innovation and practical exploration of the Party's governance of the country in the New Era.
(3) A Rich Array of Ideological Methods
Centering on the theoretical theme of how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, this thought serves as a concentrated expression of the scientific worldview and methodology of contemporary Chinese Communists. It insists on proposing "how to act" based on "how to view" a situation, providing an effective ideological weapon and a rich array of working methods for advancing the cause of the Party and the state in the New Era. This demonstrates the Marxist worldview and methodology contained therein. For example, it emphasizes maintaining self-confidence and self-reliance, stressing the need to strengthen historical confidence, grasp historical initiative, maintain an "anchor-in-self" [10] approach to utilize external resources for our own ends, remain steadfast in our will and our path, and maintain theoretical confidence and ideological autonomy to ensure the path suited to our national conditions is trodden steadily and surely. It emphasizes upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, stressing that while grasping the essence of things and objective laws, we must remain unswerving in our adherence to major judgments concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state, while simultaneously promoting theoretical innovation and practical development. It emphasizes a problem-oriented approach, stressing that the fundamental task of theory is to answer questions and guide their resolution, making it clear that "we Chinese Communists engage in revolution, construction, and reform always for the sake of solving China's practical problems." [30] It emphasizes the systems concept; Xi Jinping specifically pointed out that "the systems concept is a foundational ideological and working method." [31] He requires the whole Party to continuously improve their capacity for strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systems thinking, innovative thinking, rule-of-law thinking, and bottom-line thinking [11], thereby providing scientific methods of thought for advancing various undertakings of the Party and the state. It emphasizes maintaining a global vision, stressing the need to base actions on the laws governing the development of human society, and to advance the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation while profoundly discerning global trends and scientifically grasping the tide of the times, thereby promoting the noble cause of world peace and development.
In summary, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era provides comprehensive and in-depth answers to a series of major issues concerning the development of the Party and the state from multiple perspectives—history and reality, theory and practice, domestic and international. It has put forward innovative ideological viewpoints and formed a scientific theoretical system that is interconnected, logically rigorous, systematic, and structurally complete. In the process of continuously advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, our cause will achieve new successes but will also face new problems and challenges. Our Party still has many major topics that require new exploration and further answers. This means that as a scientific theoretical system, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era will inevitably undergo further enrichment and development in the process of advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
[This article is a staged result of the National Social Science Fund of China Major Project "Research on the Essential Attributes and Basic Characteristics of the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" (Project No. 20ZDA001)]