Marxism Research Network
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Chen Li: Promoting the In-depth and Concrete Implementation of the Study and Application of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

Academy News

The thematic education campaign currently being carried out in depth throughout the entire Party to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has as its primary task the use of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to coagulate the soul and cast the spirit [1]. This campaign promotes a more conscious and profound understanding by the whole Party of the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," strengthens the "Four Consciousnesses," bolsters the "Four Confidences," and achieves the "Two Upholds," maintaining a high degree of consistency in ideology, politics, and action with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. In accordance with the unified deployment of the CPC Central Committee, we must take this thematic education as an opportunity to further promote the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, ensuring it goes deeper and becomes more substantive. We must more consciously arm our minds and gather strength with this thought, striving in unity to advance the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism

Marxism is our fundamental guiding ideology for establishing and developing the Party and the country. Posessing the guidance of scientific Marxist theory is the distinct character and prominent advantage of our Party, and is the fundamental basis for our Party’s firm belief and convictions and its grasp of historical initiative. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that the reason why the Communist Party of China is capable and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works, and because Marxism that has been Sinicized and modernized works. For more than a century, the reason our Party has been able to lead the people through repeated explorations, setbacks, and breakthroughs to complete arduous tasks that no other political force in China could have achieved lies fundamentally in its commitment to combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture [2]. By providing timely answers to the questions of the times and the questions of the people, the Party has continuously advanced the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and guided the development of China’s revolution, construction, and reform with the Party's innovative theories.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have proceeded from the new changes in domestic and international situations and new practical requirements in the New Era. They have had the courage to conduct theoretical exploration and innovation, systematically answering a series of major questions of the times relating to the development of the Party and state undertakings and the Party's governance of the country from the combination of theory and practice. They have proposed a series of original new concepts, new thoughts, and new strategies for governance, deepening the understanding of the laws of Communist Party governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society with a completely new perspective. This led to the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieving a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era persists in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, insisting on using the "arrow" of Marxism to shoot the "target" of New Era China [3]. It both upholds the fundamentals bequeathed by our ancestors and dares to speak "new words," using the vivid and rich practice of contemporary China to develop Marxism, continuously imbuing it with new vitality. It has made original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxism, opened up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and is the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the twenty-first century.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era persists in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture. In the long process of evolution over more than 5,000 years, the Chinese nation has formed a unique value system, cultural connotation, and spiritual quality for viewing the world, society, and life, forming a unique view of the universe, the world, society, and morality. This is the foundation of the most basic, extensive, and profound cultural confidence of the Chinese nation, the fertile soil in which socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted, and the deep cultural heritage and unique advantage for our Party to continuously promote the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism; it is the "root" of our Party's innovative theory. Practice has proved that the tree of Marxist truth can only be deep-rooted and luxuriant if it is planted in the fertile soil of the history and culture of one’s own country and nation. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era persists in integrating the essence of Marxist thought with the cream of China’s fine traditional culture, and with the common values that the masses "use daily without realizing" [4]. It has proposed a series of new concepts, thoughts, and strategies with distinct flavors of fine traditional Chinese culture, imbuing it with new connotations of the times. It is the theoretical crystallization of the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture using Marxist stances, viewpoints, and methods. It is an important theoretical achievement rooted in the fertile soil of fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously drawing wisdom and nutrients therefrom. It is the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in our times, continuously imbuing the Party's innovative theories with distinct Chinese characteristics, and constantly consolidating the historical and mass foundations for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. This makes Marxism present more Chinese characteristics, a Chinese style, and a Chinese manner [5], radiating new vigor and exuberant vitality. In contemporary China, to uphold and develop Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is to truly uphold and develop Marxism and scientific socialism.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a powerful ideological weapon guiding the Party and state undertakings to achieve historical achievements and undergo historical changes in the New Era

Ideology is power. Continuously advancing theoretical innovation on the basis of practice is the secret of success for our Party in leading the people to overcome various difficulties and obstacles and to move from victory to victory. The ten years of the New Era have been a decade in which our Party persisted in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture, continuously advancing theoretical innovation and creation. It has also been a decade in which our Party has continuously led the development of the cause of the Party and the people with the Party’s innovative theories. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress summarized the work of the past five years and the great changes in the ten years of the New Era, placing the “creation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” first among the sixteen aspects of great achievements in the ten years of the New Era. It emphasized that this thought "provides a fundamental following for the development of the Party and state undertakings in the New Era," profoundly revealing the great significance, the power of truth, and the practical might of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The practice of great changes in the ten years of the New Era fully proves that the fundamental reason why the cause of the Party and the country has been able to achieve historical achievements and undergo historical transformations lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s role in steering the course as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The "Two Establishments" are major political achievements of our Party in the New Era and are the decisive factors in promoting the historical achievements and transformations of the Party and state undertakings. They are the greatest certainty, the greatest confidence, and the greatest guarantee for our Party to unite and lead the people to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and respond to all uncertainties. They are of decisive significance for the development of the Party and state undertakings in the New Era and for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era scientifically answers the questions of the times regarding what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, continuing to write a new chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in the face of risks and challenges brought about by profound and complex changes in the external environment, and in the face of many long-unresolved deep-seated contradictions and problems in domestic reform, development, and stability, as well as newly emerged contradictions and problems, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has demonstrated a great spirit of historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility. By coordinating the two overall situations of domestic and international affairs, implementing the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, and coordinating the "Great Struggle, Great Project, Great Cause, and Great Dream" [6], the Party has united and led the people to overcome many long-standing difficult problems, completed many major tasks concerning long-term interests, and promoted historical achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country. This has made the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics broader and broader, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era scientifically answers the questions of the times regarding what kind of great modern socialist country to build and how to build it, creating a new form of human civilization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has centered on comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, profoundly discussing a series of major theoretical and practical issues such as the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, and initially constructing the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization. On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since the start of reform and opening up, and through theoretical and practical innovations and breakthroughs since the 18th CPC National Congress, Chinese-path modernization has been successfully promoted and expanded. Practice has proved that the path of Chinese-path modernization is not only correct and feasible but also steady and effective; it is the only correct path for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era scientifically answers the questions of the times regarding what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build it, making the Party stronger through "revolutionary forging." Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in response to prominent contradictions and problems such as blurred understanding and weak action regarding upholding the Party's leadership that existed within the Party for a period, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken a clear-cut stand in upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership. It proposed that the most essential 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, and the Communist Party of China is the highest force for political leadership. The whole Party must strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," bolster the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds." By incorporating comprehensively and strictly governing the Party into the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, advancing it with the determination of "honing a sword for ten years," and advancing an unprecedented anti-corruption struggle with a sense of mission to "rather offend thousands than fail the 1.4 billion," the Party has launched a "combination of punches" of self-revolution. It has continuously cleared away all viruses eroding the healthy body of the Party. Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party has achieved historical and pioneering achievements and produced all-around and deep-seated influences. Its role in political guidance and political guarantee has been fully exerted; the Party’s abilities for self-purification, self-perfection, self-renewal, and self-improvement have been significantly enhanced; the situation of "lax, soft, and weak" Party management has been fundamentally reversed; and the anti-corruption struggle has achieved an overwhelming victory and been fully consolidated. The Party has become even stronger and more vibrant through revolutionary forging, providing a fundamental guarantee for the historical achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th National Congress.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era scientifically answers the questions of the times regarding "what is happening to the world and what should we do," making a world-class contribution to promoting the progress of human civilization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in the face of changes in the world, the times, and history brought about by the profound changes unseen in a century, and in the face of unprecedented risks and challenges facing human society, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have persisted in maintaining a global vision. Standing at the height of the development process of human history, they have coordinated the two overall situations of domestic and international affairs, correctly grasped the general trend of world development, followed the trend of the times, and profoundly understood the internal relationship between the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the cause of human progress. They have proposed a series of new concepts and propositions such as promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, promoting the shared values of all humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the joint construction of the "Belt and Road." By comprehensively advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, China's international influence, appeal, and power to shape have been significantly enhanced, making it an important force for promoting human development and progress.

During the in-depth thematic education campaign throughout the Party to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Suqian City in Jiangsu Province has attached great importance to the business environment. The Suzhou-Suqian Industrial Park has worked hard on strengthening assistance and services for enterprises, improving the efficiency of handling affairs for businesses, and reducing business costs for enterprises.

Taking thematic education as an opportunity to further use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to gather strength for the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation.

Every step forward in the Party’s theoretical innovation must be met with a corresponding step forward in theoretical armament. Persisting in the use of the latest achievements in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism to arm the entire Party, guide practice, and promote work is a fine tradition and political advantage of our Party, as well as essential experience in the Party’s creation of history and attainment of brilliant achievements. Throughout the Party’s century-long struggle, we have consciously integrated ideological education and theoretical armament into every intensive intra-Party educational campaign, which has greatly enhanced the Party’s cohesion and combat effectiveness, continuously leading the development of the cause of the Party and the people. Today, comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is an unprecedented feat in human history. Its arduousness and complexity are unparalleled; the risks and challenges to be addressed, and the prominent contradictions and problems to be resolved, are more intricate than ever before. This creates an even more urgent need to strengthen theoretical armament and to use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unify our thinking, will, and action. Through thematic education, we must push the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to go deep and go small, educating and guiding the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to clear the source and consolidate the foundation [7] ideologically. We must continuously improve their capacity for political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, strengthening the "Four Consciousnesses" [8], firming the "Four Confidences" [9], and achieving the "Two Upholds," always maintaining a high degree of consistency in ideology, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and more consciously using this Thought to pool strength for the new journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

First, we must comprehensively and systematically study and master Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This Thought integrates Marxist philosophy, Marxist political economy, and scientific socialism; it bridges the past, present, and future; and it spans all fields including reform, development, and stability, domestic and foreign affairs, national defense, and the governance of the Party, the state, and the military. It is a scientific system characterized by rigorous logic, rich connotations, systematic comprehensiveness, and profound depth. We must make full use of authoritative textbooks published for this thematic education, such as the first and second volumes of the Selected Readings from the Works of Xi Jinping, the Extracts of Excerpts from Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s On the Self-Revolution of the Party, the Excerpts on the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Excerpts of Xi Jinping’s Expositions on Investigation and Research, as well as important auxiliary reading materials like the Study Outline for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (2023 Edition). We must persist in studying the original texts and grasping the underlying principles, studying them word for word. We must not only comprehensively master the main content and basic viewpoints—such as the "Ten Clarifications" [10], the "Fourteen Perseverances" [11], and the "Achievements in Thirteen Aspects" [12]—but also grasp the scientific system of this Thought as a whole, achieving thorough integration and ensuring we know not only the words but also their meaning, and not only the "what" but also the "why."

Second, we must deeply grasp the worldview, methodology, and the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, studying and understanding it thoroughly. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC summarized these as the "Six Must-Persists": 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 concept, and persist in maintaining a global vision. These "Six Must-Persists" are not only a profound revelation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, but also the fundamental requirements and clear directions for our Party to continue promoting theoretical innovation and opening new horizons for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism on the new journey of the New Era. They serve as the "golden key" to deeply learning and mastering the scientific connotation, essential essence, and practical requirements of this Thought. In comprehensively studying and understanding this Thought, the most important thing is to grasp its worldview and methodology, to persist in and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods therein, and to continuously increase political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Party’s innovative theories. Only then can we truly master the "housekeeping skills" [13] of Marxism, get our ideological methods right, and more consciously apply this Thought to guide all aspects of our work.

Third, we must persist in the integration of "learning, thinking, and application" and the unity of "knowing, believing, and doing," transforming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into a powerful force for firming ideals, tempering Party spirit, guiding practice, and promoting work. The entire purpose of study lies in application. In studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the most important thing is to turn this Thought into a powerful ideological weapon for transforming both the subjective and objective worlds. We must firmly grasp the general requirements of "learning the Thought, strengthening Party spirit, emphasizing practice, and establishing new merits," strengthening a problem-oriented, practice-oriented, and demand-oriented focus. We must closely link our study to the reality of our work and ideology, using study to forge the soul, increase wisdom, rectify conduct, and promote action. In particular, through study, we must pool the soul to consolidate the foundation, firm up our ideals and convictions, forge absolute loyalty to the Party, stand firm in our position with the people, and consciously apply Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to the implementation of the major strategic deployments proposed at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. We must consciously use this Thought to scientifically analyze and grasp the complex international and domestic situations, resolve various prominent contradictions and problems existing in economic and social development and Party building, prevent and resolve major risks, and promote Chinese-path modernization to continuously achieve new progress and breakthroughs.

The author is the former Director of the Academic and Editorial Committee of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.