Xie Dibin: The Practical Orientation of the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
In the process of continuously opening up new realms in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, Chinese Communists have summarized and established the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This framework clarifies the fundamental position, viewpoints, and methods of the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era through six aspects: "we must put the people first," "we must maintain self-confidence and self-reliance," "we must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground," "we must remain problem-oriented," "we must apply systems thinking," and "we must maintain a global perspective." These "Six Must-Upholds" constitute the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. One of their most significant theoretical characteristics is a distinct practice-orientation. The Report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out: "To continue advancing theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first master the worldview and methodology of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era." Establishing this worldview and methodology is both a necessity for summarizing past practical achievements and experiences, and a requirement for better advancing future practice and development.
The practice-orientation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is determined by the practical requirements of Marxist theory, and is also rooted in the spirit of pragmatic truth-seeking found in fine traditional Chinese culture. To deeply comprehend, accurately master, and comprehensively implement this worldview and methodology, one must profoundly understand its practice-orientation. We must recognize and understand it through the theoretical logic of Marxism's practical requirements, the realistic logic of the practical achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and the future logic of building a modern socialist country in all respects. Only through this three-dimensional logic—theoretical, realistic, and future—can we comprehensively understand the practical significance inherent in the "Six Must-Upholds," and more consciously use them to guide and lead practical actions in the New Era. Researching and explaining the practice-orientation of the "Six Must-Upholds" possesses important theoretical significance and practical value for the comprehensive understanding, accurate mastery, and in-depth implementation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
I. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is established on the basis of the Marxist principle of practice.
One of the prominent features of Marxist theory is its practical nature. The fundamental reason why Marxism has become the scientific theory guiding humanity’s struggle for freedom and liberation is that it can provide ideas and actions for the practical activities of human society. It is not a general abstract interpretation or empty talk, but rather provides principles and methods for solving realistic problems. This is because Marxism is convinced that "all social life is essentially practical," and that "philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Changing the world must be accomplished through social practice, because practice is the intermediary link combining the subjective and the objective; it possesses both objective reality and subjective agency.
Philosophy prior to Marxism exhibited two biases: first, idealism, which ignored the real constraints of objective laws and exaggerated the role of human subjective will and capacity for action; second, mechanical materialism, which ignored human cognitive consciousness and the ability to transform the objective world, leading to agnosticism and fatalism. Only Marxism, by critiquing these two biases, achieved a transcendence of traditional philosophy—especially traditional worldview and methodology. It introduced the concept and category of practice into modern philosophy, highlighted the practice-orientation of worldview and methodology, and formed the philosophical systems of historical materialism and dialectical materialism, which unify the objective and subjective within the field of practice. This philosophical system provides the principles and basis for the theoretical innovation of Marxist political parties: namely, adhering to a practice-orientation. Because social practice is constantly evolving, Marxist theory must remain open and dynamic to adapt to this development. Since the primary content of social practice is the development of productive forces, and the masses of the people—who are the subjects of these productive forces—are the fundamental strength of practice, the classical Marxist writers transformed general materialism into dialectical and historical materialism as soon as they introduced these two elements into materialism.
The worldview and methodology of the Party’s innovative theory in the New Era is the application and unfolding of the Marxist position, viewpoint, and method in the New Era. These fundamental Marxist elements serve as the theoretical foundation and logical premise for this worldview and methodology. The Report to the 20th CPC National Congress emphasized: "Only by persisting in the application of dialectical materialism and historical materialism can we correctly answer the major questions posed by the times and by practice." This proposes and confirms a major theoretical principle: How do we persist in Marxism? Do we cling to specific viewpoints and general conclusions, or do we follow and apply its basic position, viewpoint, and method? The answer of the Chinese Communists in the New Era is clearly the latter. Most fundamental is following and applying the Marxist viewpoint of practice. Specific viewpoints and conclusions put forward by classical Marxist writers must all undergo the test of evolving practice. We must persist in those conclusions and viewpoints that align with evolving practice, and innovate those that do not. This requires that a Marxist party clearly recognize and master two aspects of basic logic: it cannot be confined to individual viewpoints and conclusions of classical Marxist writers, yet it must persist in the Marxist worldview and methodology. The practical nature of Marxism determines that the worldview and methodology of Chinese Communists in the New Era must highlight a practice-orientation. To persist in Marxism in the New Era, in contemporary Chinese Marxism, and in 21st-century Marxism, one must recognize and master worldview and methodology from the height of practice.
The fundamental requirement of the Marxist worldview and methodology is to use practice as the criterion; all theoretical viewpoints and plans of action must be tested in practice. The fundamental reason Marxism has been continuously enriched and developed throughout nearly 200 years of history lies in its practical character. Lenin pointed out: "Theory becomes practice, is revitalized by practice, corrected by practice, and tested by practice." Whether the guidance of Marxist theory for the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform was correct or successful had to be tested through practice. Chinese Communists have a profound understanding and accurate grasp of the practical nature of Marxism. The reason why Mao Zedong's On Practice [1], written on the eve of the full outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, played a massive role in guiding the Chinese revolution and construction is that it systematically embodied and reflected the practical principles of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Mao Zedong pointed out: "Marxists hold that only social practice can be the criterion of truth in our knowledge of the external world." Whether human subjective cognition conforms to objective laws and possesses truth must be measured through practical action. Precisely because they seized the practical essence and true meaning of Marxism, the Chinese Communists—with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative—were able to lead the Chinese people to victory in the New Democratic Revolution and the Socialist Revolution under extremely complex domestic and international conditions, laying the institutional foundation for socialist construction.
One of the important reasons why failures and setbacks occurred during the process of socialist development was the failure to properly adhere to the Marxist principle of practice, instead treating specific viewpoints in scientific socialist theory as immutable dogmas. To avoid the pitfall of ossification in socialist development, one must persist in the practical nature of Marxism. Because of this, before the start of China’s Reform and Opening-up, a discussion on the criterion of truth was launched. Deng Xiaoping profoundly explained the major significance of this discussion: "The discussion on whether practice is the sole criterion for testing truth is, in fact, a debate over whether to emancipate the mind." He noted that this discussion "is a question of the ideological line, a political question, and a question concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state." Recognizing whether practice is the sole criterion for testing truth is the touchstone for distinguishing between true and false Marxism. Practice is the fundamental principle of Marxism. Whether one adheres to this fundamental principle reflects whether one truly understands and applies Marxism. A Marxism that does not persist in the principle that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth is not true Marxism. Precisely because it adhered to the Marxist principle of practice, the cause of China’s Reform and Opening-up could continuously develop, the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics could take shape, Marxist theory could continuously deepen in China, and socialism could exert unprecedented institutional advantages amidst complex international changes.
Since the beginning of the New Era, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have continuously deepened their understanding and application of the Marxist principle of practice, and their political and theoretical consciousness in persisting in the practical nature of Marxism has grown stronger. As early as January 2013, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to adhere to the Marxist principle of practice and the truth-testing role of practice, saying we must "persist in the Marxist developmental viewpoint and persist in the principle that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth." In his important speech at the conference commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, Xi Jinping took the practice principle as the fundamental characteristic of Marxism, pointing out that "Marxism is a theory of practice that guides the people's actions in transforming the world," and that "practicality is the prominent feature that distinguishes Marxist theory from other theories." This confirmation that Marxism is a theory of practice possesses distinct characteristics of the times. It reflects that the Chinese Communists' understanding of Marxism in the New Era has entered a new stage and a new realm, having grasped the essence and true meaning of the Marxist worldview and methodology. The Report to the 20th CPC National Congress proposed the theoretical proposition of "opening up new realms in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism." The fundamental requirement of this proposition is to persist in the Marxist principle of practice, start from reality in all things, and, under the guidance of Marxism, push the great practice of the New Era toward continuous victory. "Our purpose in persisting in the guidance of Marxism is to use its scientific worldview and methodology to solve China's problems, not to recite and repeat its specific conclusions and phrases, let alone treat Marxism as an immutable dogma." This is the theoretical consciousness and practical confirmation of the Marxist principle of practice by Chinese Communists in the New Era, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the worldview and methodology of the Party’s innovative theory. In February 2023, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the opening of a seminar for high-level officials on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, emphasizing: "Since the 18th National Congress, our Party has continued to advance on previous foundations, constantly achieving innovations and breakthroughs in theory and practice, and successfully advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization." Chinese Communists in the New Era have expanded and deepened their understanding of Marxist practicality, thereby providing historical and realistic logical support for the theoretical generalization and practical application of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
II. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is established on the basis of the great practice of the New Era.
The reason the Party’s innovative theory has achieved systematic and comprehensive development in the New Era is that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party has led the Chinese people in unremitting exploration and striving, pushing the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a New Era, achieving world-renowned brilliant successes, and accumulating rich and profound practical experience. The fundamental reason for these great achievements is that Chinese Communists in the New Era have persisted in the "Two Combinations" [2], leading the Chinese people in a series of practical explorations and innovations while comprehensively deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up. The theoretical generalization of these practical explorations and innovations is Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Without the great practice of the people led by the Party in the New Era, it would be impossible to have this major theoretical innovation, and impossible to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. The Report to the 19th CPC National Congress closely linked the Party’s innovative theory with the practical experience and wisdom of the New Era, confirming that the Party’s innovative theory "is the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people." This makes it clear that the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is established on the basis of practical experience and is the philosophical refined essence and generalization of the great practice of the New Era.
Through the great practice of the New Era, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has led the Chinese people in continuous exploration and diligent struggle, driving great transformations of landmark significance in Chinese economy and society. This soul-stirring process and these magnificent achievements have provided vivid resources and materials for deepening and enriching the Party's innovative theories in the New Era; they have provided systematic experience and wisdom for summarizing and synthesizing the worldview and methodology of contemporary Chinese Communists. The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: "The great transformations of the ten years of the New Era possess landmark significance in the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of the development of socialism, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation." The practice of great transformation inevitably produces great theory, and great theory must necessarily manifest a mature worldview and methodology. It is precisely on the basis of the great practice of the New Era that Chinese Communists have continuously advanced the process of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, opening up new realms of theory and practice, and forming a worldview and methodology grounded in practical experience and wisdom. "Since the 18th National Congress, new changes in the domestic and international situations and new requirements of practice have urgently required us to provide in-depth answers, through the integration of theory and practice, to a series of major questions of the times concerning the development of the cause of the Party and the state and the Party’s governance of the country." The 20th National Congress Report’s emphasis on new changes and requirements in practice fully demonstrates that the deepening and development of the Party’s innovative theories are built upon the great practice of the New Era. With this solid practical foundation, the worldview and methodology of the Chinese Communists in the New Era could be summarized and synthesized. The 20th National Congress Report emphasized that to continue promoting practical innovation in the New Era, we must grasp and apply this worldview and methodology well: "Practice knows no bounds, and theoretical innovation knows no bounds." Based on the great practice of the New Era, the 20th National Congress Report clarified the "Six Must-Upholds" [3] that constitute the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Whether in terms of integral structure or systemic function, theoretical logic or principles of action, the "Six Must-Upholds" all manifest and reveal a prominent practice-orientation.
1. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era manifest the subjectivity of the people in practice
"Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era adheres to the principal position of the people; it is the study of the people." A crucial reason why the ten years of the New Era produced landmark transformations lies in the CPC’s adherence to the standpoint of the people as the subjects of practice. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC has emphasized adhering to the people's standpoint and placing the people's interests in the highest position. That the people are the subjects of practice is a basic principle of the Marxist historical materialist conception of history; the people drive historical progress through the great practice of developing the productive forces. For a Marxist party to adhere to the principle of practice, it must take "Must Uphold the People Above All" as the core content of its worldview and methodology. The practice of the people provides vivid material and an inexhaustible source for the theoretical innovation of a Marxist party; once separated from the practical experience and wisdom of the people, the theory of a Marxist party will become ossified. The 20th National Congress Report pointed out: "The creative practice of the people is the inexhaustible source of theoretical innovation." The effectiveness of theoretical innovation depends on whether its conclusions are built upon the summary and synthesis of practical innovation—that is to say, theoretical innovation must highlight a practice-orientation.
The subjectivity of the people must be embodied in active and independent practice. Adhering to self-confidence and self-reliance [4] in practice is an important prerequisite for manifesting the subjectivity of practice; this is the successful experience of the CPC leading the Chinese people in great practice since the 18th National Congress. It was precisely on the basis of this successful experience that the 20th National Congress Report proposed: "Must uphold self-confidence and self-reliance." Practice is an activity in which the subjective meets the objective; it must embody initiative and independence. All political forces prior to Marxist parties possessed limitations in driving historical development and social progress precisely because the social practices they led were often fettered by private interests and obscured by subjective bias, preventing them from carrying out fully active and independent practical actions. When practice touched upon their private interests, they dared not push the action forward; they developed a fear of practice, lost confidence, ceased to be self-reliant, and the practice of driving historical development and social progress was abandoned halfway. Marxist parties represent the interests of all the people, and their entire value orientation is toward driving the development of human history and the progress of human society; they are not hamstrung by private interests and are not influenced by interest groups. Therefore, a true Marxist party is open and aboveboard, self-confident, and self-reliant. To maintain the characteristics of a Marxist party, one must adhere to the practical initiative and independence of self-confidence and self-reliance. The 20th National Congress Report provided a profound exposition on the principle of self-confidence and self-reliance within the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, manifesting its prominent practice-orientation: "The Chinese chapters of Marxism have been practiced by Chinese Communists relying on their own strength." Only practice based on self-confidence and self-reliance can continuously write new chapters in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
2. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era highlight the procedural synergy of practice
Practice is a complex process of action involving diverse elements and links; it is a synthesis of the subjective and objective, goals and processes, resources and paths, and is a dynamic process. To advance the process of practice and achieve practical results, one must adhere to the principle of practical synergy, using the comprehensive standpoint of dialectical materialism to understand and arrange the various elements and links in the process of practice. This ensures these elements and links exist in a structural state of benign interaction, providing functional support for the smooth development of the practical process and the successful realization of practical goals. Since the 18th National Congress, Chinese Communists in the New Era have consciously adhered to the principle of practical synergy, comprehensively and synergistically advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics; the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout are precisely the concrete embodiments of practical synergy. It was precisely on the basis of synergistically advancing the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics that the landmark transformations of the New Era occurred. To maintain and carry forward the successful experience of synergistically advancing great practice, and to play a greater role on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, the 20th National Congress Report emphasized: "Must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground," "Must remain problem-oriented," and "Must apply systems thinking." This fully manifests the practical synergy of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Elevating the practice-orientation of synergy to the level of worldview and methodology is a concrete manifestation of the dialectics of practice.
"Must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground" is the summary of experience in the procedural synergy of practice in the New Era. Practice is a historical process; upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground means coordinating the unity of historical logic, synergizing and unifying the temporal order of past, present, and future within the process and field of practice. Adhering [to the old] and pioneering [the new] must maintain coordination and balance. Without the inheritance of and adherence to historical experience, practice has no foundation and becomes blind action without principles or paths; without development and transcendence, practice loses its forward momentum and direction, turning into simple repetition and circulation. Therefore, to better exert the role of practice in driving social progress, one must adhere to the worldview and methodology of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, synergizing the two. The 20th National Congress Report emphasized that we must "unswervingly adhere to the basic principles of Marxism" while simultaneously "adapting to the development of practice."
"Must remain problem-oriented" is the summary of experience in the procedural synergy of practice in the New Era. Being problem-oriented fully embodies the practice-orientation. In a practical process of multiple elements and links, grasping contradictions and solving problems is the fundamental goal of practice; all elements and links must be synergized around the core of discovering and solving problems. To achieve this, one must strengthen "problem consciousness" (wèntí yìshí) in practice, highlight the problem-orientation in practice, and elevate this orientation to the height of worldview and methodology for understanding and observance. The 20th National Congress Report emphasized: "Problems are the voice of the times; answering and guiding the solution of problems is the fundamental task of theory." The task of theory is the task of practice; discovering and solving problems is the fundamental purpose of practice. This is one of the manifestations of the practice-orientation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
"Must apply systems thinking" is the summary of experience in the procedural synergy of practice in the New Era. The synergistic nature of practice dictates that the process of practice must be advanced comprehensively, arranging diverse elements and links within a structure of interacting practical processes to exert the problem-solving function of practice. This is the systemic characteristic of practice, which must be embodied through the systemic concept of practice. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC has coordinately advanced the great practice of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly grasping the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s once-in-a-century profound changes [5], pushing the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the New Era. Precisely on the basis of this practical experience, the 20th National Congress Report elevated the principle of practical systematicity to the height of worldview and methodology, pointing out: "Only by observing things with a perspective of universal connection, comprehensive systems, and developmental change can we grasp the laws of the development of things." This emphasizes the requirement of practical synergy from a universal and holistic dimension.
3. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era reflect the spatial extensiveness of practice
Practice is not only a process of vertical evolution but also a horizontal structural linkage. In addition to continuously accelerating in time, the practice of human society also continuously expands in space. Moving from singular practice to local practice, from local practice to national-state practice, and from national-state practice to world practice is the law revealed by the Marxist theory of world history. Since the 18th National Congress, guided by the Marxist theory of world history, the CPC has gained deep insight into and grasped the new trends and characteristics of globalization. Amidst the world’s once-in-a-century profound changes, the Party has actively and initiatively participated in the innovation of global governance, making enormous efforts and achieving significant results in promoting the peaceful development of humanity. One of the important experiences of the great achievements in the New Era lies in the CPC strengthening its world-consciousness and expanding its international vision. It is precisely on the basis of this practical experience that the 20th National Congress elevated this practice-orientation to the level of worldview and methodology—"Must Maintain a Global Vision" [6]. "We must expand our world-perspective and gain deep insight into the trends of human development and progress." Practice is a conscious activity; within the process of practice, one must possess a global sentiment, taking into account global elements and world links of the horizontal structure and integrating them into the entire process of practice. Adhering to the worldview and methodology of maintaining a global vision must necessarily be built upon the foundation of the spatial extensiveness of practice, manifesting the spatial extensiveness of the great practice of the New Era.
III. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era provide guidance for the future practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics
The reason the 20th National Congress Report summarized and synthesized the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era on the basis of the achievements and experiences of the great practice of the New Era is for the important purpose of providing ideological concepts and action guidance for the future practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. These ideological concepts and principles of action must be practical in nature because the goal of comprehensively building a modern socialist country is even more grand. Only by adhering to the practice-orientation of worldview and methodology can we adapt to the needs of future practice on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.
(1) Identifying the source of strength for future practice
On the future journey toward the Second Centenary Goal [7], while facing rare opportunities, various risks and challenges will inevitably arise. To seize opportunities and resolve risks and challenges, we must seek and rely on the creative forces within practice. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era identifies the source of strength for future practice: the creativity of the people.
The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era require fully relying on the practical courage and wisdom of the masses. It entails actively advancing theoretical, institutional, and cultural innovation within practice while simultaneously driving the innovation of practice itself. This worldview and methodology emphasize "respecting the people's creativity and gathering the people's wisdom." This interprets the essential connotation of this worldview and methodology from the philosophical heights of historical materialism: the more complex the environment and the more arduous the task, the more necessary it is to respect the people's creativity, rely on their wisdom, and explore solutions through practice. The history of China's Reform and Opening-up [8] confirms the scientific validity of this philosophical principle. In the developmental process of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese people have demonstrated countless instances of intellectual creativity, solving many difficult problems and playing a vital role. Examples include the household contract responsibility system [9] and "compensation trade" (sān lái yī bǔ) enterprises [10], among others. On the new journey of future practice, the wisdom of the people will surely produce even more practical creations and play an even more important role. So long as we adhere to the worldview and methodology of putting the people first and rely on their creativity and wisdom, we will surely push future practice toward the established direction and ultimately achieve our goals.
In future practice, we must strengthen the people's confidence in our theory and their sense of historical initiative. The Chinese nation is a people full of intelligence and talent, having created splendid and glorious civilizational achievements in the history of human development. However, in the modern era, due to the invasion of Western powers and the corruption of feudal rule, the self-confidence of the Chinese nation and people suffered a blow, and the application and exertion of their intelligence were restricted. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has consistently remained committed to strengthening and enhancing the self-confidence of the Chinese nation and people. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party has placed even greater importance on this aspect, raising it to the level of worldview and methodology. The proposal and implementation of the "Four Confidences" [11] embody the implications of this worldview and methodology. We must persist in self-reliance and self-confidence; this is the fundamental prerequisite for unleashing the creativity and intelligence of the masses. A nation or people without the spirit of self-reliance cannot engage in creative practice. Precisely for this reason, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress stipulated: "We must remain confident in our path, theory, system, and culture, and make new contributions to the development of Marxism with a more proactive sense of historical responsibility and a creative spirit." This reflects a goal-oriented direction for future practice provided by the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
(2) Providing a mode of thinking and behavioral principles for future practice
The purpose of practice lies in development; the prerequisite for development lies in innovation; and the purpose of innovation lies in solving problems. It is precisely through the innovative practice of solving one problem after another that humanity achieves historical development and social progress. In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, various problems will emerge. Therefore, in future practice, when contemplating theoretical viewpoints and designing action plans, we must use problems as a fulcrum and treat problem-solving as the goal. This is a concrete manifestation of the practical orientation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
We must take problem-solving as the practical goal. The Party's innovative theories in the New Era were produced and developed in the process of answering and solving practical challenges—namely, "the major questions of our times: what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should we uphold and develop in the New Era and how should we uphold and develop it; what kind of a great modern socialist country should we build and how should we build it; and what kind of long-term governing Marxist party should we build and how should we build it." These major questions of the times determine the content and principles of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as its practical orientation. Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is an important guiding principle for the great practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress identified major problems facing China's economic and social development at present and in the coming period, including "new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, the pressing difficulties and anxieties of the people (jí nán chóu pàn), major problems in the international landscape, and prominent problems facing Party building." These problems are the core themes of future practice. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, theoretical reflection and practical action must always revolve around these issues.
We must solve problems with innovative thinking. Having problem awareness alone is not enough; one must also possess the innovative thinking and exploratory action to solve them, adopting innovative thinking as a principle of worldview and methodology for the great practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The pace of human social development is constantly accelerating, and many problems are entirely new. Relying on traditional concepts and actions is no longer sufficient to solve them, which places innovative requirements on the worldview and methodology of a Marxist party. To respond to this demand of the times, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress identified "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground" as an important practical principle of worldview and methodology, requiring us to "treat all new things with great enthusiasm" and "guide new practice with new theories." The fundamental requirement of practice is innovation. Because various contradictions and problems are encountered in practice—and these contradictions and problems are constantly evolving—we must consciously persist in innovation from the philosophical height of worldview and methodology to contemplate and implement solutions for these changing issues.
(3) Planning the spatial-holistic direction for future practice
Comprehensively building a modern socialist country must necessarily be advanced within the "two major domestic and international contexts" (liǎng gè dà jú)—the strategic overall context of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s seismic changes unseen in a century. This requires that future practice establish concepts, design plans, and implement actions from a system of maximized space. We must observe the international situation and global landscape through philosophical thinking. This philosophical thinking is the guidance of a worldview and methodology characterized by global spatial thinking, which requires that future practice must persist in "maintaining a global perspective" (xiōng huái tiān xià).
We must use spatial-systems thinking and action to guide the great practice on the new journey. Comprehensively building a modern socialist country is a comprehensive strategic goal involving multiple aspects such as politics, economy, culture, society, and ecology. These elements and links are mutually constraining and influential; a change in any one element or link will inevitably necessitate adjustments in others. Therefore, practice on the new journey cannot be advanced in isolation; it must be considered systematically and implemented comprehensively. While inheriting the method of "crossing the river by feeling the stones" [12], we must place greater emphasis on top-level design: "We must strengthen macroeconomic thinking and top-level design, and place greater emphasis on the systematic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform." Based on a scientific prediction of future practice and the judgment that the elements and links facing future practice will be more diverse and complex, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress emphasized using the worldview and methodology of systems thinking to guide future practice, "managing the relationships between the whole and the part, the present and the long term, the macro and the micro, the primary and secondary contradictions, and the special and the general." To manage these relationships effectively, we must adhere to the spatial-systems concept within the practical orientation of worldview and methodology. In future practice, these relationships must be unified under the optimization of the spatial structure of the "two major contexts," optimizing the spatial-element functions of these relationships to serve the grand practical process and goals.
Comprehensively building a modern socialist country within the "two major contexts" inevitably requires expanding high-level opening up to the outside world. To expand this opening, one must possess a globalized spatial consciousness and must persist in taking the worldview and methodology of "maintaining a global perspective" as the orientation for future practice. Maintaining a global perspective is a requirement of the Marxist theory of world history, an excellent tradition of Chinese culture, and a profound experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It must be consciously maintained in future practice. We must absorb the advanced science and technology, excellent cultural ideas, and successful management experiences of all countries, transforming them into the concepts and action plans for the future practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. At the same time, we must spread the theories, wisdom, achievements, and experiences of China's development to all countries, playing the role of the Chinese people in promoting the development of human civilization. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress emphasized that we should "contribute to solving the common problems facing humanity, and with an open mind that 'receives all rivers into the sea' (hǎi nà bǎi chuān), learn from and absorb all the excellent achievements of human civilization to promote the construction of a better world." Basing ourselves in China while maintaining a global perspective is the basic requirement for future practice set by the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Marxism is a theory of practice. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era inherits and carries forward this theoretical characteristic, making its practical orientation even more prominent. This practical orientation is concretely manifested in the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Each of the "Six Must-Persists" [13] shines with the brilliance of practice and carries the function of guiding the great practice of the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.