Liu Sifang: Advantages and Paths of the Chinese Communist Party Leading Chinese-style Modernization
The summary, proposal, and in-depth elaboration of the theory of Chinese-path modernization constitutes a major theoretical innovation of the 20th Party Congress and represents the latest significant achievement of scientific socialism. The report to the 20th Party Congress emphasized: "Chinese-path modernization is the socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It shares common features with the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context." This important discourse profoundly elucidates the distinct characteristics of Chinese-path modernization and reveals its unique advantages. That Chinese-path modernization is modernization led by the Communist Party of China "is a statement defining its nature, governing the whole and the fundamentals." It demonstrates the essential relationship between Party leadership and Chinese-path modernization, points out that Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization, and holds significant practical meaning for deeply understanding and grasping this unique advantage.
I. Historical Logic: More than a Century of Arduous Exploration of the Path to Modernization by the Communist Party of China
Political party leadership plays a key role in a nation's modernization process; this is the internal logic profoundly revealed by our Party's struggle over the past century. For over a hundred years, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in staying true to their original aspiration and founding mission, engaging in unremitting exploration and struggle. Through untold hardships and at a great cost, the Party has written a magnificent epic of independent exploration of the path to modernization. It has advanced modernization construction by continuously creating new conditions, achieving new breakthroughs, and opening new horizons. Consequently, the essential requirements, connotations, characteristics, and practical paths of Chinese-path modernization have become increasingly clear. From the perspective of the modernization process, the Communist Party of China has always been the leadership core exploring the path to modernization; the Party's leadership has always been the lifeblood of advancing Chinese-path modernization; and adhering to the Party's leadership has always been the fundamental requirement for comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.
(1) The New Democratic Revolution Period: Creating Fundamental Social Conditions for Advancing Modernization
A modern state is composed of basic elements such as sovereignty, defined territory, government organization, and a settled population. In modern times [1], China’s national gates were broken; the nation suffered humiliation, the people suffered misery, and civilization was covered in dust. China’s modernization process thus differed from Western modernization, starting at a moment of national peril. Two types of social contradictions—internal and external—forced China into the global modernization process. This revealed a primary condition and fundamental issue that modernization construction must satisfy: social conditions, which were concentrated in the struggle against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism [2] to strive for national independence and people's liberation.
The victory of the Russian October Revolution provided successful experience for economically backward China to explore a path to modernization. "The May Fourth Movement [3] promoted the spread of Marxism in China. Amidst the great awakening of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and in the close integration of Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese workers' movement, the Communist Party of China was born in July 1921 as the times required." With scientific theoretical guidance and an advanced leading force, it was still necessary to establish a free and independent state. Our Party profoundly recognized that the principal contradictions in modern Chinese society were those between imperialism and the Chinese nation, and between feudalism and the masses. To achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it was necessary to wage a struggle against imperialism and feudalism. After twenty-eight years of bloody struggle, the Communist Party of China led the people to achieve national independence and liberation, "completely ending the history of old China's semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, completely ending the history of a tiny minority of exploiters ruling over the vast laboring people, completely ending the state of old China as a heap of loose sand [4], completely abolishing the unequal treaties imposed by the powers and all imperialist privileges in China, and realizing the great leap from thousands of years of feudal autocratic politics to people's democracy." This great historical change created the fundamental social conditions for our country's modernization construction.
(2) The Period of Socialist Revolution and Construction: Laying the Fundamental Political Premise and Institutional Basis for Advancing Modernization
The founding of New China provided the fundamental social conditions for China's modernization, but China's modernization construction could not proceed without a strong political guarantee and institutional basis. This political guarantee and institutional basis involved what kind of state system [5] to build and what kind of political structure to implement, fully reflecting and manifesting the will and demands of the masses in institutionalized forms. This is also the inherent logic and characteristic manifestation of the Chinese path to modernization. After the founding of New China, under the Party's leadership, the clearing of the remnant armed forces of the Kuomintang reactionaries and bandits, the peaceful liberation of Tibet, the suppression of counter-revolutionaries, and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea consolidated the new regime, and the social outlook was completely transformed. In 1956, the First Five-Year Plan was completed three years ahead of schedule, and the state basically completed the "Three Great Transformations" [6]. The socialist system was preliminarily established, providing valuable experience and theoretical exploration for the modernization process, laying the material and institutional foundations, and deepening the understanding of modernization theory during the early stages of exploration.
At the first session of the First National People's Congress, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out the intent to "build our country into a great industrialized country with a high degree of modern culture" within several five-year plans. In the government work report delivered at this meeting, Comrade Zhou Enlai formally proposed "building powerful modern industry, modern agriculture, modern communications and transportation, and modern national defense." These "Four Modernizations" were written into the Party Constitution adopted by the Eighth National Congress of the CPC. Subsequently, Comrade Zhou Enlai also proposed the "New Four Modernizations" goals and envisioned a "two-step" strategic plan: "Starting from the Third Five-Year Plan, the development of our national economy can be considered in two steps: first, to build an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system; second, to achieve the comprehensive modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, placing our country's economy at the forefront of the world." During this period, while following the general law of driving modernization through industrialization, China's modernization practice attached great importance to the development of heavy industry.
(3) The New Period of Reform, Opening Up, and Socialist Modernization: Providing Institutional Guarantees and Material Conditions for Advancing Modernization
Based on changes in the international and domestic situations and the new requirements for national development, our Party made comprehensive deployments and advancements for modernization construction. In great practice, the Party successively created and formed Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, exploring and answering a series of questions regarding the fundamental tasks, driving forces, development strategies, and political guarantees of modernization construction. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee decided to "shift the focus of the whole Party's work and the attention of the people of the whole country to socialist modernization." On March 21, 1979, while meeting with a delegation from the Executive Committee of the British-Chinese Cultural Association, Comrade Deng Xiaoping first proposed the concept of "Chinese-style Four Modernizations." On March 30 of the same year, at a forum on the principles of the Party's theoretical work, he emphasized that "Chinese-path modernization must proceed from China's characteristics." In June 1983, when meeting with foreign experts attending a discussion on Beijing's science and technology policy, Deng Xiaoping pointed out while talking about China's development path: "The modernization we are pursuing is Chinese-path modernization." Later, he proposed Chinese-path modernization with the core connotation of a "moderately prosperous society" (xiaokang) and the "three-step" development strategy.
Marked by Comrade Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour talks and the 14th National Congress of the CPC, our country's reform, opening up, and socialist modernization entered a new stage of accelerated development. From the initial breakthrough of the household contract responsibility system in rural areas to the gradual shift and comprehensive rollout of urban economic structural reform; from establishing the reform direction of a socialist market economy and persisting in and improving the basic economic system and distribution system to actively carrying out structural reforms in various fields such as politics, culture, and society; and from advancing the reform of the Party building system to adhering to the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world—our country achieved a series of major achievements in economic, political, cultural, and social construction. We realized a historic breakthrough from relatively backward productive forces to becoming the world's second-largest economy and a historic leap for the people from lacking food and clothing to overall moderate prosperity and toward the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society. We "realized a historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economic system to a vibrant socialist market economy system, and from being closed or semi-closed to all-round opening up," providing institutional guarantees full of new vitality and material conditions for rapid development for our country's modernization construction.
(4) The New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: Successfully Advancing and Expanding Chinese-path Modernization
Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in promoting historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the state, successfully advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization. During this period, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core made scientific and complete strategic deployments for the development of the Party and state's cause in the New Era. It has coordinated the Great Struggle, Great Project, Great Cause, and Great Dream [7], and moved forward with the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives strategic layout. This has rendered the development strategy of socialism with Chinese characteristics more complete, its purpose clearer, its connotations richer, and its path broader. The system of Party leadership has been continuously improved, the methods of Party leadership have become more scientific, and the Party's leadership capacity has been significantly enhanced. The role of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party as a political guide and guarantee has been fully exerted. Major historical achievements have been made in economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization construction, as well as in national defense, the military, national security, adhering to "One Country, Two Systems" and promoting national reunification, and diplomatic work. Our Party has led the people in creating the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, which are rare in the world.
On July 6, 2021, in his keynote speech at the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of "Chinese-path modernization." He further elaborated on it at the Fifth and Sixth Plenary Sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The 20th Party Congress provided a comprehensive and systematic exposition, followed by many profound discourses from different perspectives. At this stage, based on innovative breakthroughs at tanto the theoretical and practical levels, our Party clarified the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, goals, and tasks of Chinese-path modernization, as well as a series of major relationships that need to be handled well.
Understanding has been continuously deepened. By adhering to the "Two Combinations" [8], Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was created, achieving a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and providing the fundamental follows for Chinese-path modernization. Our understanding of the connotations and essence of Chinese-path modernization has been further deepened, and the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles have been summarized and formed. A systematic design for Chinese-path modernization has been made in terms of development goals, content, driving forces, and guarantees. This has greatly expanded and advanced the theory and practice of Chinese-path modernization, making it clearer, more systematic, and more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Strategy has been continuously refined. A new "two-step" strategy for building a great modern socialist country in all respects was proposed, the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and Four Comprehensives were clarified, and a series of major strategies such as the major national regional strategies, the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, and the reinvigorating the country through talent strategy were deeply implemented, providing solid strategic support for Chinese-path modernization.
Practice has been continuously enriched. A series of transformative practices, groundbreaking progress, and landmark achievements have been promoted. The cause of the Party and the state has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic changes. We have finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and won the battle against poverty as scheduled. We have withstood the tests of risks and challenges from politics, the economy, ideology, and nature, providing more complete institutional guarantees, a solid material foundation, and more proactive spiritual strength for Chinese-path modernization, pushing our country onto a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.
II. Fundamental Nature: The Fundamental Nature of Chinese-path Modernization Depends on the Leadership of the Communist Party of China
Different socialist systems determine the choice of paths for modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out profoundly: "The Party's leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future, destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-path modernization." Party leadership is the "stabilizing anchor" (dinghai shenzhen) [9], the "backbone" (zhugutou), and the "guiding star" (dingpanxing) for the Chinese people on the path of advancing Chinese-path modernization. The fundamental nature of the Party determines that Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization and not any other kind. The reason we can ensure that the path of modernization does not change course or deviate is fundamentally because we have the strong leadership of the Party, firmly implementing the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy. This not only ensures the correct political direction for the path, theory, system, values, and culture of Chinese-path modernization but also provides the fundamental political guarantee.
(1) The Value Dimension
In terms of values, the leadership of the Communist Party of China ensures that Chinese-path modernization always upholds the value pursuit of the people as the primary subject. It takes seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation as its original aspiration and founding mission, sets the realization of free and comprehensive human development as its ultimate goal, and ensures that the fruits of modernization benefit all people more extensively and equitably. In the global process of modernization, many problems are faced, but the question of "for whom" is a fundamental one. The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation; it is the firm leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Party's nature, purpose, original aspiration, mission, and policy positions determine that Chinese-path modernization follows a value logic centered on the people and the common prosperity of all people. The CPC consistently stands on the side of the people, emphasizing the central role of the masses as the subjects and creators of history; the Party has "no special interests of its own, and at all times puts the interests of the masses first." General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal." The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC stated that "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all," taking "realizing common prosperity for all" as a vital aspect of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. It positions the realization of the people’s aspiration for a better life as the starting point and ultimate goal of modernization, and identifies "adhering to the people-centered development philosophy" as a major principle that must be firmly grasped on the road ahead. The value of the people as subjects is deeply forged into and manifested throughout the entire process of Chinese-path modernization. The initiation, persistence, and development of Chinese-path modernization are inseparable from the joint efforts of hundreds of millions of people, reflecting the value choices of the Chinese people in their pursuit of a happy life.
(2) The Dimension of the Path Regarding the path, the CPC holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It both adheres to the basic principles of scientific socialism and constantly endows them with distinct Chinese characteristics and connotations of the era, unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure that Chinese-path modernization advances smoothly on the correct track. Modernization is a comprehensive, systemic, and profound transformation of human civilization and a common cause for all humanity. However, the foundations for social development, historical conditions, and cultural backgrounds faced by different countries vary, and the modernization paths they choose differ accordingly. This fundamentally determines that there is no "one-size-fits-all" modernization model or path. As a global historical process, modernization first began with the Western Industrial Revolution and bourgeois revolutions, subsequently expanding to other regions of the world. Although modernization began in the West, "Westernization is not equal to modernization." There is no fixed model for the path to modernization; it is by no means a Western "patent," and that which suits oneself is best. There is no singular modernization model that sits atop a throne [10], nor is there a universal modernization standard. Examining the course of our nation’s century of practical exploration and unremitting struggle, Chinese-path modernization, like socialism with Chinese characteristics, is the inevitable result of the evolution of the historical, theoretical, and practical logics of the Chinese people’s long-term struggle since modern times. It possesses certain common characteristics of all modernizations, but more importantly, it has Chinese characteristics based on national conditions and suited to its own reality. To comprehensively advance Chinese-path modernization, we must first be clear about what kind of path to take; we must follow the general laws of modernization while aligning with national realities. Chinese-path modernization is modernization led by the Party; it is modernization developing along a socialist direction. Party leadership ensures the correct developmental direction—namely, that it is socialist modernization and not modernization under any other "ism."
(3) The Dimension of Theory In terms of theory, our Party insists on taking Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, continuously advancing theoretical innovation and creation, and using developing Marxism to guide new practices, thereby providing scientific guidance for Chinese-path modernization. Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation resulting from the CPC’s leadership in adhering to the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. The scientific nature of a theory lies in its revelation of the inherent laws governing the development of things and human society, as verified by the practice of human production and life. For Chinese-path modernization, it is precisely because the CPC possesses the leading power of Marxist theory—along with distinct political character and powerful political advantages—that it has been able to scientifically construct the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization. The CPC has always adhered to Marxism as its guide, continuously "emancipating the mind" [11] through the "Two Combinations" [12], constantly opening new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. This has resulted in a series of theoretical achievements that provide the most fundamental epistemological, methodological, and axiological frameworks for Chinese-path modernization, pointing out the direction and goals for its construction.
(4) The Dimension of Institutions Regarding institutions, our Party adheres to and improves the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. It has formed a complete set of institutional systems, including fundamental, basic, and important institutions [13], providing a strong institutional guarantee for the steady progress of Chinese-path modernization. Among these, the fundamental system of Party leadership determines the mode of existence, attributes, and direction of the socialist institutional system, highlighting the essential stipulations and core features of Chinese-path modernization. The basic systems led by the Party are built upon the fundamental system, reflecting the nature of Chinese-path modernization, framing its basic forms, and regulating its basic political, economic, and cultural relations, thus playing a vital role in supporting its operation. Other important systems led by the Party refer to the institutional and mechanistic designs through which the Party governs modernization, manifesting the Party's comprehensive and specific institutional arrangements and safeguards. These promote the governance of Chinese-path modernization to become more systematic, integrated, and standardized, fully demonstrating the immense superiority and robust vitality of Chinese-path modernization under CPC leadership.
(5) The Dimension of Culture In terms of culture, our Party adheres to and develops socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. It is the active leader and practitioner of advanced Chinese culture, the faithful inheritor and promoter of fine traditional Chinese culture, and an important contributor and exemplar of the Chinese spirit. On one hand, it endows Chinese-path modernization with profound cultural significance. Through the "Two Combinations," the CPC has embedded the cultural genes of the Chinese civilization—its prominent continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness—into the entire process of modernization. Based on cultural self-awareness and self-confidence, it has created a new form of human civilization. This not only presents the essential differences between Chinese and Western modernization through its cultural connotations and spiritual texture but also actively promotes the construction of a modern Chinese ethnic civilization and a strong socialist cultural state. On the other hand, it provides a powerful spiritual force for Chinese-path modernization. In our nation’s modernization drive, the Party develops socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, drawing modern strength from Chinese-path modernization to form the new cultural state of "modern Chinese civilization." By nurturing and creating socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, the modernization path gains a broader historical depth and a greatly consolidated cultural foundation. This involves building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, maintaining the Party's strong influence and appeal in society, enhancing broad public consensus, and uniting the developmental forces of the entire society. Simultaneously, the CPC learns from and draws upon all outstanding achievements of human civilization with an open mind, absorbing excellent ideological and cultural resources from the treasury of human wisdom. Through exchange and mutual learning, it continuously expands the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization, allowing Chinese communists to actively integrate into the global tide while leading advanced Chinese culture, thereby making new great contributions to the creation of a new form of human civilization and the progress of humanity.
III. Essential Requirement: Chinese-path Modernization Must Adhere to CPC Leadership All achievements in the construction of Chinese-path modernization have benefited from the successful leadership of the Party. Adhering to the leadership of the CPC is an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization, and adhering to and strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership is a major principle that must be firmly grasped on the road ahead. The Party is the highest force for political leadership; Party leadership is our greatest institutional advantage. In the New Era and on the new journey, to adapt to the new changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society [14] and to realize modernization characterized by a huge population, common prosperity for all, coordination between material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and a path of peaceful development, we must always adhere to CPC leadership. The Party's powerful and continuously improving capacity to govern fundamentally ensures that Chinese-path modernization stays the course toward its goals.
(1) The Party's Political Leadership is the Reliable Guarantee for Chinese-path Modernization The impetus for Chinese-path modernization comes from the Party's incomparably strong leadership. The Party's political leadership is the core category of its overall leadership; it refers to the Party's ability to grasp the direction, the general trend, and the overall situation, as well as its ability to maintain political focus, navigate political situations, and prevent political risks. How to ensure that the direction of modernization does not change, the goal does not shift, and the nature of the cause is not altered is the primary issue to be addressed in advancing the cause of socialist modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Party, government, military, society, and academia; north, south, east, west, and center—the Party leads everything." He further emphasized: "In the great chessboard of the national governance system, the Party Central Committee is the 'commander' sitting in the central tent, while the 'rooks, knights, and cannons' [15] each show their strengths, ensuring the overall situation is clear as a single game of chess." In the historical process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, Party leadership is comprehensive, systematic, and holistic. It is precisely the Party's strong political leadership that fundamentally avoids the social instability caused by the mutual undermining and mudslinging found between Western political parties. In the face of the complex domestic and international situation of "changes unseen in a century" along with its contradictions, risks, and challenges, it ensures the direction of Chinese-path modernization, maintains political resolve and strategic clarity, and leads the political direction, unifies the political system, decides on major matters, and leads social governance.
(2) The Party's Ideological Leading Power is the Scientific Guide for Chinese-path Modernization The Party's ideological leading power refers to the ability of the proletarian party to guide the direction, unify thinking, gather strength, and promote practice through ideological and theoretical means. It is a vital component of the Party's governance capacity building and state administration. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Ideological building is the foundational construction of the Party." For Chinese-path modernization, it is precisely the Party's ideological leading power that has avoided the tendencies toward individual will and group interest-seeking found in the process of Western modernization. On one hand, it provides scientific theoretical guidance; the CPC constantly advances the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, forming a series of theoretical achievements that provide the most fundamental epistemology, methodology, and axiology. On the other hand, it builds consensus and gathers strength for modernization. Through ideological Party building, the construction of the Party’s politics, organization, conduct, discipline, institutions, and anti-corruption efforts are further strengthened. This encourages Party members and cadres to integrate "studying, thinking, and application" and to achieve the "unity of knowledge, belief, and action," promoting the continuous manifestation of the Party's advanced nature and purity. This in turn enhances broad public consensus, uniting the developmental forces of the whole society to actively invest in the great practice of Chinese-path modernization.
(3) The Party's Strategic Planning Capacity is the Supporting Force for Chinese-path Modernization The Party's strategic planning capacity refers to its ability to keep pace with the times, observing and handling problems from a strategic and global perspective, and grasping historical trends and correct trajectories with a broad and long-term vision. This is specifically manifested through far-sighted strategic foresight, strategic leadership that focuses on goals, strategic planning that navigates complex relations, and strategic coordination that oversees the whole situation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Strategic issues are fundamental issues for a political party and a country. If the strategic judgment is accurate, the strategic planning scientific, and the strategic initiative won, then the cause of the Party and the people is full of hope." For Chinese-path modernization, it is precisely the Party's strategic planning capacity that avoids the disadvantages of disorder and opportunistic short-sightedness found in Western modernization. On one hand, it provides scientific and correct strategic guidance by understanding and judging the situation—reaching through complex surface phenomena to grasp the essence and internal laws of modernization to make scientific decisions. On the other hand, it is reflected in the Party's management of the overall situation of modernization, implementing successive medium- and long-term plans and insisting on "drawing one blueprint to the end." This reflects our commitment to fulfilling the economic and social goals of modernization and our solemn promise to the people, thereby strengthening the faith and confidence of the masses and gathering the majestic force to promote the construction of modernization.
(4) The Party's mass organizational power is a powerful driver of Chinese-path modernization. The Party's mass organizational power is an important manifestation of the Party's nature and purpose, and forms the basis of its vitality and combat effectiveness. It is centrally reflected in its ability to rely upon, mobilize, organize, and educate the masses to carry out great social practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that "a rigorous organizational system is where the advantages and strength of a Marxist party lie"; "our Party has established a rigorous organizational system including the Party's central, local, and primary-level organizations," and "this is a powerful advantage that no other political party in the world possesses." For Chinese-path modernization, it is precisely the Party's mass organizational power that fundamentally solves the problems of the source of momentum and the integration of forces in the process of modernization, avoiding the defect of insufficient drive found in the development of Western modernization. The Party's mass organizational power does not only rely on its unwavering original aspiration and founding mission to persist in following the mass line, believing in and relying on the masses, and respecting the people’s pioneering spirit. It is also adept at summarizing fresh experiences and drawing wisdom and strength from the creative practices of the masses, ensuring our Party always breathes the same air, shares the same fate, and remains heart-to-heart with the people during modernization, thereby winning their hearts and seizing the initiative. More importantly, it ensures that Party organizations at all levels are sound and tempered, forming a rigorous organizational system that connects the higher and lower levels and executes with vigor [16]. This lays a strong organizational guarantee for ensuring the Party's core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, thereby tightly organizing Party members and effectively mobilizing the masses to ensure the effective implementation of the Party's comprehensive leadership and all its work.
(5) The Party's social mobilization power is a distinct advantage of Chinese-path modernization. The Party's social mobilization power is the ability of a political party to unite the people, build consensus, and mobilize society; it is the concentrated expression of a party’s vigor and vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized putting the lives and health of the people first, stating that we "must extensively mobilize, organize, and unite the masses." The Party's social mobilization power fundamentally solves the problems of integrating social resources and concentrating forces during modernization. It is adept at discovering, awakening, and organizing social forces, avoiding the systemic defects of insufficient mobilization and weak convergence found in Western modernization processes. In our country's modernization, the Party acts according to the trend of the times and responds to the needs of the moment. Based on social demands and development and focused on the needs of the masses, the Party seeks strategies and acts proactively in areas such as interest adjustment, ideological construction, organizational building, and the optimization of social mobilization methods. This ensures the Party maintains a strong lead and appeal over society amidst complex environments, thereby concentrating social forces, drawing the largest possible concentric circles [17], and gathering profound strength to successfully complete the historical missions of the New Era. Under the historical conditions where the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century at an accelerated pace and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical period, only by further enhancing the Party's social mobilization power—uniting all forces that can be united and mobilizing all positive factors that can be mobilized—can we forge new glories in advancing Chinese-path modernization.
IV. The Fundamental Guarantee: Upholding and Strengthening the Comprehensive Leadership of the CPC over Chinese-path Modernization The 20th National Congress of the CPC made strategic deployments for the development of the Party and the state's undertakings in the coming period and put forward clear requirements for advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. The key to building a socialist modern country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies with the Party. Facing grand goals, complex situations, and arduous tasks, we must uphold and strengthen the comprehensive leadership of the CPC over Chinese-path modernization, stay confident, maintain strategic resolve, further highlight this distinct feature and unique advantage, and ensure the successful realization of the grand goals of building a strong country and national rejuvenation as scheduled.
(1) Firmly upholding the Party Central Committee's authority and centralized, unified leadership. Upholding the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the Party's highest political principle; it must not be blurred or shaken at any time or under any circumstances. If the Party Central Committee lacked "authority that is the ultimate arbiter and the final word" [18], the Party would become a heap of loose sand, Party leadership would become an empty phrase, and no matter how beautiful the blueprint for Chinese-path modernization, it could not become a reality. To uphold and strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership, the most important, fundamental, and critical aspect is to uphold and strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. This primarity involves firmly supporting the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the Two Upholds, while continuously improving political judgment, political understanding, and political execution. We must remain highly aligned in thought, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. A crucial link in this process is to focus on improving the systems and mechanisms of the Party's centralized, unified leadership within the great practice of modernization, establishing a sound institutional system to ensure the Party plays its core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties. In particular, we must base ourselves on the new situations, tasks, and requirements of Chinese-path modernization to further refine the institutional systems related to Party building, improve the mechanisms for implementing major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and strengthen the Party Central Committee's centralized, unified leadership over major work. We must integrate the Party's leadership into all fields and aspects of reform, development, and stability; internal affairs, foreign policy, and national defense; and the governance of the Party, the state, and the military, as well as the modernization drive. This will unite the entire Party into "a piece of solid steel," ensuring that the fundamental nature of Chinese-path modernization does not change and its correct direction does not waver.
(2) Focusing on improving the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. Only by continuously making the Party stronger and more vigorous can we better exercise the Party's leadership role in advancing Chinese-path modernization. To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; to govern the Party, one must be strict. On the new journey of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we must persist in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, always maintaining the sobriety and determination to solve the unique challenges facing a large party [19]. We must preserve the Party's advanced nature and purity, tirelessly use the Party's innovative theories in the New Era to forge the soul and consolidate unity, and continuously improve the institutional system for the Party's self-revolution. We must build a team of high-quality officials capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation, enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, and persist in strengthening discipline with a strict tone. We must resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption. This will make the leadership of Chinese-path modernization more scientific and rational in its allocation of functions, more complete in its systems and mechanisms, and more efficient in its operation and governance. This provides a powerful institutional guarantee, a solid organizational foundation, and an effective work system for giving play to the greatest institutional advantage—the leadership of the CPC—and ensures the refinement and strengthening of the system through which the Party exercises leadership over Chinese-path modernization. To meet the needs of Chinese-path modernization, we must improve the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party to ensure it is all-encompassing in content, covers all targets, involves the whole chain of responsibility, and is integrated across all institutions. We must highlight the organic connection and coordinated integration of all aspects of Party building, forming a strategic command, systemic guide, and organic integration provided by comprehensive and strict governance over the "Great New Project" of Party building [20]. We must work hard on "comprehensiveness" to expand the breadth and depth of strict governance; maintain strength on "strictness" by creating a strict atmosphere, taking strict measures, and enriching the means of governing the Party; and exert more effort on "governance" by taking measures that address both symptoms and root causes to ensure all tasks are implemented without fail. This will achieve high-quality development in Party building and provide a strong guarantee for Chinese-path modernization.
(3) Ensuring Chinese-path modernization always moves forward in the correct direction. The direction determines the path, and the path determines the fate. Under the correct leadership of the CPC, the theoretical advantage of the Marxist theoretical system is continuously transformed into practical efficacy. Only by always upholding and strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership can we concentrate the wisdom and strength of the entire Party to ensure Chinese-path modernization always advances in a socialist direction and toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We must tightly grasp the Party's central task on the new journey of the New Era, planning and promoting all work within the context of Chinese-path modernization. We must explore future-oriented theoretical and practical innovations in modernization through the "Two Combinations" [21], adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, prioritize high-quality development, and move steadily toward the goal of common prosperity for all, continuously demonstrating the Chinese characteristics and unique advantages of Chinese-path modernization.
(4) Stimulating the strong momentum for advancing Chinese-path modernization. Reform and opening up is the critical move that determines the fate of contemporary China; it is the important magic weapon for the cause of the Party and the people to catch up with the times in great strides, and a powerful driver for advancing Chinese-path modernization. Without reform and opening up, there would be no China today, and there would be no China tomorrow. Comprehensively deepening reform and opening up is an inherent requirement of Chinese-path modernization; we must advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity across all fields. Only by emphasizing internal reform and innovation while focusing on external opening up and exchange can we prevent the modernization drive from falling into a stalemate or even grinding to a halt. We must advance a new round of comprehensively deepening reform, adhere to the direction of socialist market economy reform, focus on breaking down deep-seated institutional barriers, and continuously create new drivers and advantages for development. We must enhance the systematic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform to further liberate and develop the social productive forces and continue to fully release the creative vitality of the whole society. We must advance high-level opening up to the outside world, relying on the advantages of our ultra-large market to attract global resource elements through the domestic cycle of dual circulation. We must enhance the linkage effect of domestic and international markets and resources, improve the quality and level of trade and investment, and use free trade zones and ports as important platforms. We will steadily expand institutional opening up in terms of rules, regulations, management, and standards, creating a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. We will promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, forming a pattern of opening up that is broader in scope, wider in field, and deeper in level, creating strong vitality and momentum for Chinese-path modernization.
(5) Concentrating the boundless strength of unity and struggle for advancing Chinese-path modernization. When ten thousand mountains tower, there must be a main peak; only with a core can there be unity among millions. Chinese-path modernization is a complex and arduous systemic project that requires our Party to unite and concentrate the strength of the entire society. The strong leadership of the CPC is the key to fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of all parties to advance modernization and the fundamental guarantee for maximizing the strength for progress. Our Party possesses the strategic vision to look far ahead and survey the world, the organizational capacity to oversee the overall situation and coordinate all parties, and the ability to integrate the values of social members. By strengthening Party building and continuously enhancing the Party's leadership and appeal, we can realize the integration of social resources, interests, and forces, gathering the creative power of hundreds of millions of people. We must always adhere to the people-centered approach, taking the people's aspiration for a better life as our goal, ensuring that development is for the people and relies on the people, deeply practicing the Party's mass line, respecting the people's pioneering spirit, and always maintaining a flesh-and-blood connection with the masses. We must vigorously carry forward the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party as its source [22], develop advanced socialist culture, strengthen education in ideals and convictions, and build a modern civilization for the Chinese nation to gather powerful spiritual strength for this great historical cause. We must hold high the banner of unity, fully utilize the important magic weapon of the United Front, continuously consolidate the great unity of all ethnic groups in the country, and strengthen the unity of all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad to form a powerful synergy to realize the Chinese Dream. Fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is an indispensable spiritual driver and internal requirement for Chinese-path modernization. Especially when facing the accelerated evolution of changes unseen in a century and the severe tests of "high winds and turbulent waves" or even "stormy seas" in the external environment [23], our Party must lead the people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their awareness of potential risks, bottom-line thinking, and extreme-scenario thinking. We must coordinate development and security, inherit and carry forward the great spirit of struggle, and rely on tenacious struggle to open up new horizons for the development of our cause.
(6) Persisting in contributing more wisdom and strength to the creation of a new form of human civilization.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation; it is also a party that seeks progress for humanity and the common good for the world [24]." Persisting in maintaining a global perspective is a historical experience and a distinctive characteristic of the Communist Party of China's century of struggle. Creating a new form of human advancement is an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization. On one hand, we must consistently ground the development of Chinese-path modernization in Chinese realities, continuously imbuing it with the rich internal substance of Chinese civilization. We must deeply embed the cultural gene of peace-loving into the great practice led by the Party, relying on our own strength to open up a new path to modernization and create a new form of human advancement. On the other hand, Chinese-path modernization both develops itself and benefits the world. We must consistently focus on the future and destiny of humanity with a global vision, actively participate in the development and reform of the global governance system, and practice a concept of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits [25]. We must actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, actively contribute Chinese wisdom, provide Chinese solutions, and demonstrate Chinese responsibility. With an attitude of self-confidence, openness, respect, and inclusiveness, we should engage in exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations of the world. With the broad-mindedness of "all streams flowing into the sea [26]," we should draw upon and absorb all the outstanding achievements of human civilization, continuously making new and greater contributions to the noble cause of human peace and development.