Pang Jinju: The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping’s Economic Thought to Marxist Political Economy
Since the 18th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has grasped the strategic overarching context of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s profound changes unseen in a century [1]. Responding to the call of the times and practical necessity, and gathering the wisdom of the whole Party and the people of the entire country, he has established Xi Jinping Economic Thought. This was built upon the inheritance of the basic principles of Marxist political economy and the existing achievements of the Sinicization of Marxist political economy, while summarizing the practical experience of China's economic construction, reform, development, and modernization, and drawing upon the outstanding achievements of human civilization. Xi Jinping Economic Thought has made a series of original contributions to Marxist political economy; it is the Marxist political economy of contemporary China and the Marxist political economy of the 21st century. In the process of implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must persist in and develop this thought over the long term.
I. Several Theoretical Premises for Recognizing and Grasping the Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought
To recognize and grasp the original contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought, several theoretical premises must first be clarified.
The first concerns "originality." What is originality? There is a consensus in theoretical circles, but it is not entirely uniform. Regarding the originality of social sciences, the understanding in this article is based on Xi Jinping’s speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences [2]. That is, "taking what we are currently doing as the center, excavating new materials, discovering new problems, proposing new viewpoints, and constructing new theories from the practice of our country's reform and development, and strengthening the systematic summary of the practical experience of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization," so as to "extract new theories with academic rigor and summarize new practices that possess regularity." "Revealing a law is innovation; proposing a theory is innovation; elucidating a principle is innovation; and creating a method to solve problems is also innovation."
Based on this understanding, this article contends that Xi Jinping Economic Thought is a grand scientific theoretical system rooted in China, facing the world, and oriented toward the future. It contains both expositions on the reform and development of economic construction for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and expositions on the direction of development for the world economy and human society amidst profound changes unseen in a century. It reveals both the specific laws governing the economic and social development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the general laws governing the economic development of human society. It has both proposed new economic doctrines and elucidated new principles; it has both grasped the themes of the era and innovated the methodology for solving problems. Taken as a whole, Xi Jinping Economic Thought is the original theoretical system that best embodies the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy in contemporary China.
The second concerns the relationship between "contemporaneity" (时代性) and originality. The emergence of any scientific thought is adapted to the requirements of the development of the times and is a product of its era. Xi Jinping Economic Thought was established against the historical backdrop of a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and socialism with Chinese characteristics entering a New Era; it was born in the New Era, yet transcends and leads the New Era. Since the 18th Party Congress, a new scientific and technological revolution has been in the ascendant worldwide, while economic globalization has encountered counter-currents. The themes of the era—peace and development—face severe challenges, and the world is neither tranquil nor peaceful. The global ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these changes. Domestically, as socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a New Era, the principal contradiction in society evolved into the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. Building a modern socialist country in all respects involves both strategic favorable conditions and severe challenges. The strategic favorable conditions include: the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the significant advantages of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the solid foundation accumulated through sustained and rapid development, a long-term stable social environment, and the spiritual strength of self-confidence and self-reliance among the Chinese people. The severe challenges include: the unprecedented weight of the tasks of reform, development, and modernization; the unprecedented number of contradictions, risks, and challenges; the unprecedented magnitude of the test of national governance; and the unprecedented depth of the world’s profound changes unseen in a century.
Against this temporal backdrop, Xi Jinping led the whole Party and the people of the country, persisting in observing the general trend, planning for the overall situation, and performing concrete work, thereby successfully navigating the overall situation of China's economic development and establishing Xi Jinping Economic Thought. Standing at the forefront of the development of the times, listening to the voice of the era, and responding to the concerns of the people and the requirements of the times, Xi Jinping Economic Thought has proposed a series of original new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies. It systematically answers major questions of the era, such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to adhere to and develop in the New Era and how to do so; what kind of great modern socialist power to build and how to build it; why the Party’s comprehensive and unified leadership over economic work must be strengthened and how to strengthen and improve it; and where the world is going. It answers the questions of the era, of the world, of the people, and of practice, making historical contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxist political economy.
The third concerns the relationship between "inheritance" and originality. Any scientific thought is the crystallization of drawing on the wisdom of the people and practical experience on the basis of inheriting the outstanding achievements of predecessors. In its century of struggle, the CPC has combined the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities. During different historical periods, it established Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, and formed the Theory of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development. All these thoughts and theories contain rich economic ideas. On the basis of inheriting these economic ideas contained within the Sinicization of Marxism, Xi Jinping persisted in combining the basic principles of Marxist political economy with China’s specific realities. He seriously summarized the practical experience of the 70-plus years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the 40-plus years of reform and opening up, and especially the reform, opening up, and socialist modernization since the 18th Party Congress. By drawing on the wisdom of the whole Party and the people of the country, he formed a series of original new ideas and theories, establishing Xi Jinping Economic Thought. This thought has greatly enriched and developed Marxist political economy, realizing a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist political economy, allowing Marxist political economy to radiate vigorous vitality and show infinite life force in contemporary China and the 21st century.
The fourth concerns the relationship between "people-centeredness" (人民性) and originality. History is created by the people. The establishment of any theory is inseparable from the summary of practical experience, and practice is the practice of the people; practical experience is the crystallization of the people’s wisdom. The practice of reform, development, and economic construction under socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved great success and accumulated precious experience—this is the fundamental source of Xi Jinping Economic Thought. Xi Jinping is undoubtedly the primary contributor to the establishment of Xi Jinping Economic Thought. This thought is the crystallization of his summary and theoretical sublimation of practical experience over a long period, especially since the 18th Party Congress, and is simultaneously the crystallization of the people’s practical experience and the wisdom of the entire Party.
II. The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought
Since the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2017 first proposed "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" and summarized its connotation as the "Seven Persists" (七个坚持), theoretical circles—following the development of the times and practice—have continued to make new summaries while studying and implementing this thought. In particular, the Study Outline for Xi Jinping Economic Thought published in 2022 summarized the scientific connotation of this thought into thirteen aspects, reaching a new height. Drawing on these achievements and based on the author's previous summaries and interpretations, and taking the aforementioned theoretical understanding as a premise, this article intends to further summarize and explain the original contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought to Marxist political economy.
First, clarifying that upholding the Party’s leadership is the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and emphasizing the strengthening of the Party’s unified planning and centralized leadership over economic work. Marx, Engels, and Lenin proposed the doctrine of upholding the leadership of the proletarian party and strengthening its building. Existing theoretical achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism also contain theories on strengthening the Party's leadership.
On the basis of inheriting these doctrines and theories, since the 18th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has stated many times that "the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics; the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; the Party is the highest force for political leadership." He emphasized: "We must ensure that the Party leads everything—the Party, the government, the military, society, and education, in the east, west, south, north, and center. We must resolutely uphold the authority of the Party Central Committee, improve the system of Party leadership that oversees the overall situation and coordinates all parties, and implement the Party’s leadership in all fields, aspects, and links of national governance." Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: "The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a rigorous and complete scientific institutional system. The fundamental, basic, and important institutions play the role of the four beams and eight pillars [3], among which the Party leadership system holds the commanding position. The Party leadership system is our country’s fundamental leadership system." "Advancing institutional construction in all aspects, promoting the development of various undertakings, and strengthening and improving work in all fields must all adhere to the Party’s leadership and consciously implement the fundamental requirement of the Party overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties." At the same time, he proposed that the Party must exercise self-supervision and comprehensively and strictly govern the Party, leading the Great Social Revolution through the Great Self-Revolution.
By elevating the strengthening of the Party's leadership to the level of an essential feature of socialism and the only path for adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and by establishing it institutionally, Xi Jinping has endowed the Marxist doctrine of the party with new connotations. Simultaneously, he proposed ensuring the scientific nature of the Party's leadership through the two paths of strict Party governance/self-revolution and people's oversight. On this basis, strengthening the Party’s comprehensive planning and centralized leadership over economic work is Xi Jinping's original contribution to the Marxist doctrine of the party, providing the fundamental leadership system guarantee for the economic development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country.
Second, clarifying the adherence to a people-centered approach and the gradual realization of common prosperity for all the people, thereby reinforcing the fundamental standpoint of the Sinicization of Marxist political economy. Marxist political economy openly declares its pursuit of the interests of the proletariat and the broad masses of the people. Since the day of its founding, the CPC has always taken seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and founding mission.
On the basis of inheriting the people-centered ideas of Marxism and the CPC, Xi Jinping’s original contributions to the fundamental standpoint of Marxist political economy lie in three areas:
Taking the continuous satisfaction of the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life as the goal of struggle in the New Era and a key aspect of resolving the principal social contradiction in the New Era, while endowing the people's needs for a better life with new connotations. After being elected General Secretary of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping solemnly declared on behalf of the new central leadership collective that "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal." In the report to the 19th Party Congress, when explaining the transformation of the principal social contradiction in the New Era, he pointed out that the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life "not only place higher demands on material and cultural life, but also see increasing demands in terms of democracy, the rule of law, fairness, justice, security, and the environment."
Taking the people-centered approach as the fundamental guiding ideology for comprehensively deepening reform, accelerating development, and comprehensively advancing socialist modernization in the New Era. Xi Jinping emphasized: "Seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation is both the starting point and the endpoint of our Party’s leadership in modernization, as well as the 'root' and 'soul' of the New Development Philosophy. Only by adhering to the people-centered development philosophy—persisting in development for the people, development relying on the people, and development fruits shared by the people—can there be a correct view of development and modernization." He has repeatedly emphasized that the highest standard must always be the successful realization, maintenance, and development of the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. This involves leading the people to create a better life, ensuring that the fruits of reform and development benefit all the people more fairly and extensively, and making the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security more substantial, better guaranteed, and more sustainable, steadily advancing toward the realization of common prosperity for all.
Emphasizing that development must be for the people and must rely on the people. "We must always adhere to the people's standpoint and the principal position of the people, learn modestly from the people, listen to the people's voices, and draw on the people's wisdom. We must take whether the people support, agree with, are happy with, and promise to accept as the fundamental standard for measuring the success or failure of all work. We must focus on solving the most concerning, direct, and realistic interest problems of the people, allowing all Chinese people and the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to share in happiness and glory in the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!"
Xi Jinping’s original contributions regarding the people-centeredness and the people's standpoint have provided the fundamental guidance for the reform, development, and socialist modernization of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
Third, by clarifying the grand objectives of building a China-style modern socialist country in all respects, building a great modern socialist power, and realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, he has blazed a new path for building a modern socialist country in all respects. Marx and Engels analyzed the fundamental contradictions exposed during the process of capitalist modernization and proposed principled conceptions for socialist construction, but they did not provide detailed expositions on the construction of socialist modernization. The theoretical achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism prior to the 18th Party Congress proposed modernization goals and measures that accorded with China's actual conditions at those times.
On the basis of inheriting these theoretical achievements, since the 18th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has provided a concentrated response to the major questions of our era: as to what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics we should uphold and develop and how to uphold and develop it; and what kind of modern socialist country we should build and how to build it. Xi Jinping clearly proposed that socialism with Chinese characteristics has been the theme of all the Party's theory and practice since the Reform and Opening-up [4], and that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only path to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He noted that the general task of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is to realize socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the basis of having built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the goal is to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of this century through a two-step strategic plan, thereby realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the same time, he clearly proposed that the overall layout for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the strategic layout is the "Four Comprehensives," thereby determining the clear direction, strategic goals, and strategic measures for China’s economic development from a holistic perspective. Regarding socialist modernization, Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our task is to build a modern socialist country in all respects; naturally, the modernization we build must possess Chinese characteristics and conform to China's reality." Regarding the path of socialist modernization, Xi Jinping noted: "Our country's modernization is vastly different from that of Western developed countries. For Western developed countries, it was a 'serial-style' process of development, where industrialization, urbanization, agricultural modernization, and informatization developed sequentially, taking over two hundred years to reach their current levels. To catch up and surpass them, and to recover the 'lost two hundred years,' it is determined that our country’s development must necessarily be a 'parallel-style' process, where industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization develop through superposition." Regarding the great significance of the path of Chinese-path modernization, Xi Jinping emphasized: "As we uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the coordinated development of material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological civilizations, we have created a new path of Chinese-path modernization and created a new form of human civilization." In the report to the 20th Party Congress, he further proposed: "Advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization." "Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It shares characteristics common to the modernization of all countries, but more importantly, it has Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions." "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. The essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization are: upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching the people’s cultural-ethical world, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a community with a shared future for humanity, and creating a new form of human civilization."
Xi Jinping’s economic thought closely integrates the upholding of socialism with Chinese characteristics with the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. By closely combining the goals and the path of Chinese-path modernization and providing original expositions, he has enriched and developed Marxist political economy, providing a theoretical guide for our country to persist in the path of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics, build a great modern socialist power in all respects, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Fourth, by clarifying the new connotations of the basic socialist economic system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he has provided a theoretical guide and laid a solid institutional foundation for development, reform, and socialist modernization in the New Era. Marx and Engels once predicted the nature of socialism built upon the foundation of highly developed productive forces of capitalist society, proposing conceptions such as the ownership of the means of production by the whole of society, the planned conduct of production by society, and the distribution of individual consumer goods according to work. The achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism prior to the 18th Party Congress proposed the theory that public ownership remains mainstay while multiple forms of ownership develop together, and provided separate expositions on the distribution system and the socialist market economy system.
On the basis of inheriting these theories, since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has proposed that the basic socialist economic systems—including the mainstay status of public ownership alongside the joint development of multiple ownership forms, the mainstay status of distribution according to work alongside the coexistence of multiple distribution modes, and the socialist market economy system—both embody the superiority of the socialist system and adapt to the level of development of the productive forces in the primary stage of socialism [5] in our country. These systems represent a great creation of the Party and the people. We must uphold the basic socialist economic system, give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, and better play the role of the government. We must fully implement the new development philosophy, persist in taking supply-side structural reform as the main line, and accelerate the construction of a modern economic system. We must unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. We must persist in the mainstay status of distribution according to work while multiple modes of distribution coexist, and accelerate the improvement of the socialist market economy system.
Defining the mainstay status of public ownership alongside the joint development of multiple ownership forms, the mainstay status of distribution according to work alongside the coexistence of multiple distribution modes, and the socialist market economy system all as basic socialist economic systems reflects that the Party's understanding of the basic socialist economic system has reached a new height, laying a scientific theoretical foundation for development, reform, and modernization in the New Era.
Fifth, by clarifying that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era and a new stage of development, he has enriched and developed the Marxist doctrine regarding the stages of socialist development, laying a solid foundation for formulating correct lines, principles, and policies. Within the achievements already attained by Marx, Engels, and the Sinicization of Marxist political economy, there are theories regarding how socialism can be divided into stages. However, will the primary stage of socialism manifest or need to be divided into specific developmental stages during its progression? This is a major new issue raised by the practice of China's modernization construction. The exploration of this issue has, in fact, been conducted unremittingly since the 18th Party Congress. Based on the reality of China's economic and social development and changes in the global situation, Xi Jinping first proposed while inspecting Henan in May 2014 that China's economic development had entered a "new normal" [6]. In the report to the 19th Party Congress, Xi Jinping proposed that socialism with Chinese characteristics had entered a New Era and the national economy had entered a stage of high-quality development. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee further proposed that our country has entered a new stage of development [7] characterized by a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects and the march toward the Second Centenary Goal [8]. Regarding this new stage of development, Xi Jinping pointed out: "The new stage of development is a stage within the primary stage of socialism; it is a stage that has stood at a new starting point after decades of accumulation. The new stage of development is a new stage where our Party leads the people to usher in a historic leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong." He simultaneously emphasized: "The primary stage of socialism is not a static, immutable, or stagnant stage, nor is it a spontaneous or passive stage that can be crossed naturally without much effort. Rather, it is a dynamic, active, and proactive process consistently brimming with vigor and vitality. It is a process of stair-step progression, continuous development and progress, and the accumulation of quantitative changes that daily approach a qualitative leap."
Xi Jinping’s theory regarding socialism with Chinese characteristics entering a New Era and a new stage of development, as well as his profound explanation of the new stage of development, organically combines the theory of the continuous development of socialism with the theory of developmental stages. This marks the creation and formation of our country's theory that the primary stage of socialism also includes specific developmental stages. This is a major achievement of Xi Jinping’s economic thought and an innovative development of the Marxist theory of socialist stages of development. It provides the fundamental basis and guide for correctly recognizing the historical coordinates and developmental stage of the cause of the Party and the people, clarifying new goals and tasks, and formulating lines, principles, and policies.
Sixth, by clarifying the direction, goals, and paths for comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era, he has innovatively developed the Marxist theory on the motive forces of socialist development and the Sinicized Marxist theory of reform. Classical Marxist writers all believed that socialism is a developing society and that reform is a powerful motive force for its development. The Reform and Opening-up that began in our country in 1978, through "crossing the river by feeling the stones" [9], determined the purpose, direction, nature, and main measures of our country’s reform through the combination of theory and practice, opening a new period of Reform and Opening-up and socialist modernization.
Since the 18th Party Congress, on the basis of inheriting the results achieved through China's long-term exploration, Xi Jinping has made original contributions to the Marxist theory of reform: First, further emphasizing that Reform and Opening-up is the "critical move" [10] that determines the fate of contemporary China and is also the critical move for achieving the "Two Centenary Goals" and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Reform and Opening-up is a process only in the present continuous tense, with no end point. Second, proposing that the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to promote the modernization of the national governance system and capacity. This involves resolutely breaking down all outdated ideological concepts and institutional barriers, breaking through the fences of entrenched interests, absorbing the beneficial achievements of human civilization, and building a system that is comprehensive, scientific, standardized, and effective, thereby giving full play to the superiority of our socialist system. Third, persisting in the direction of socialist market economy reform, making the market play the decisive role in resource allocation while better playing the role of the government, and resolutely clearing away the institutional and mechanistic obstacles to economic development. Fourth, focusing on economic reform, grasping the core of the relationship between the government and the market, and comprehensively planning the ideas and measures for deepening reform on all fronts. All of this has further clarified the direction, goals, and tasks for China's reform in the New Era, ensuring the smooth progress and historical achievements of our country's Reform and Opening-up in the New Era, and enriching the Marxist doctrine of socialist reform.
Seventh, by clarifying that the New Era must be guided by the new development philosophy to build a modern economic system, he has made an original contribution to the Marxist philosophy of development.
Marxism contains a wealth of doctrines regarding development. On the basis of inheriting the Marxist doctrine of development, the Communist Party of China has led the people to profoundly answer major questions such as what development is, what kind of development China needs, and how to achieve development, innovatively forming the theory of development for socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the basis of inheriting these theories, since the 18th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has created a doctrine of guiding development with the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing.
In October 2015, at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping proposed the concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development. He "emphasized that innovative development focuses on resolving the issue of the motive force of development; coordinated development focuses on resolving the issue of unbalanced development; green development focuses on resolving the issue of harmony between humanity and nature; open development focuses on resolving the issue of internal and external developmental synergy; and shared development focuses on resolving the issue of social equity and justice. He emphasized that adhering to the new development philosophy is a profound transformation concerning the overall situation of our country's development." At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping further proposed: "The new development philosophy is a systematic theoretical framework that answers a series of theoretical and practical questions regarding the purpose, motive force, method, and path of development. It elucidates major political issues such as our Party's political stance, value orientation, development model, and development path regarding development. The whole Party must implement the new development philosophy completely, accurately, and comprehensively." "Development is the basis and key to solving all our country's problems. Development must be scientific development, and we must unswervingly implement the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing." The new development philosophy is the core content of Xi Jinping’s economic thought and serves as a concentrated reflection of the Party's deepening of its understanding of the laws of economic and social development.
Eighth, clearly proposing that in the New Era and the new stage, our country’s economic development should take high-quality development as its theme, supply-side structural reform as its main line, and innovation as its primary driving force. In the New Era and the new stage, what theme and main line our country's economic development should adhere to under the guidance of the New Development Philosophy, and how to persist in innovation-driven development, are major issues that predecessors never resolved.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has comprehensively analyzed the long cycles of the world economy and the localized features of our country's development stage, as well as the interaction between the two. Having profoundly grasped changes in global and national conditions, he opportunely proposed that our country’s economy has entered a "new normal," and that adapting to, grasping, and leading the new normal is the fundamental logic of China's economic development at present and for a period to come. The report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC further proposed that China's economy has transitioned from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development, and is currently in a critical period of transforming the development mode, optimizing the economic structure, and shifting growth drivers. Building a modernized economic system is an urgent requirement for crossing this threshold and is a strategic goal of our development. It proposed that we must prioritize quality and efficiency, take supply-side structural reform as the main line, and promote changes in the quality, efficiency, and drivers of economic development. We must improve total factor productivity and strive to accelerate the construction of an industrial system characterized by the coordinated development of the real economy, technological innovation, modern finance, and human resources. We must work to build an economic system with effective market mechanisms, dynamic micro-entities, and moderate macro-regulation, continuously enhancing the innovative capacity and competitiveness of the Chinese economy. The ultimate goal of supply-side structural reform is to satisfy demand; the main direction of attack is to improve the quality of supply; and the fundamental path is to deepen reform. At the same time, it was proposed that high-quality development is the theme of China's economic development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period and for an even longer duration. "High-quality development is development that can well satisfy the people's ever-growing needs for a better life; it is development that embodies the New Development Philosophy." To achieve high-quality development and advance supply-side structural reform, and based on the new developments of the global technological revolution, Xi Jinping proposed that innovation is the primary driving force leading development. Innovation is the accelerator of development and the methodology of reform. Adhering to innovative development means placing innovation at the core of the overall national development framework, letting innovation permeate all state work, and making innovation a common practice across society. "Science and technology are the great tools of the state; the nation relies on them to be strong, enterprises rely on them to win, and the people's lives rely on them to improve. For China to be strong and for the Chinese people's lives to be better, there must be powerful science and technology. The new period, new situation, and new tasks require us to have new philosophies, new designs, and new strategies regarding technological innovation." To achieve the "Two Centenary Goals" and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must persist in taking the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics, focusing on the frontiers of world science and technology, the main economic battlefield, and the major needs of the nation, while accelerating technological innovation in all fields to seize the initiative in global technological competition. This is the starting point of our proposal to build a world power in science and technology. "Science and technology have never influenced the nation's future and destiny as profoundly as they do today, nor have they ever influenced the people's happiness and well-being as profoundly as they do today. Our country's economic and social development needs scientific and technological solutions more than at any time in the past, and it needs even more to strengthen innovation as the primary driving force." Simultaneously, Xi Jinping proposed to "strengthen, optimize, and expand the digital economy." Xi Jinping’s views on the theme, main line, and primary driving force of our country's economic development have made original contributions to Marxist theory on how to develop, providing not only theoretical guidance for China's development but also a useful reference for the development of late-developing nations.
Ninth, clearly implementing major development strategies and opening a new path for socialist modernization with originality. In the report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping proposed: "Closely following the change in the principal contradiction in our society, we must steadfastly implement the strategy for invigorating the country through science and education, the strategy on developing a quality workforce, the innovation-driven development strategy, the rural vitalization strategy, the coordinated regional development strategy, the sustainable development strategy, and the military-civilian integration strategy. We must highlight key areas, shore up weaknesses, and strengthen links, particularly by resolutely fighting the 'tough battles' of preventing and defusing major risks, targeted poverty alleviation, and pollution prevention and control, so that the goal of moderately prosperous society in all respects is recognized by the people and can stand the test of history." He attaches great importance to coordinated regional development, proposing: "We must leverage the comparative advantages of various regions, promote the optimization of the layout of productive forces, and focus on implementing the three major strategies of 'Belt and Road' construction, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt development. We must support old revolutionary base areas [11], minority areas, border areas, and impoverished areas in accelerating development, and build a multi-center, networked, and open regional development pattern connecting East, Central, and West, and linking North and South, so as to continuously narrow regional development gaps." "We must persist in the policy of industry supporting agriculture and cities supporting the countryside, as well as the principle of 'giving more, taking less, and liberalizing,' [12] promoting the balanced allocation of public resources between urban and rural areas. We must accelerate the formation of a new type of urban-rural relationship characterized by industry promoting agriculture, cities leading the countryside, mutual benefit between workers and peasants, and urban-rural integration, so as to continuously narrow the gap between urban and rural areas." He originalistically proposed the theory of persisting in taking "San Nong" (agriculture, rural areas, and farmers) [13] issues as the top priority of all Party work. Xi Jinping pays special attention to the problem of farmers shaking off poverty and becoming wealthy, repeatedly pointing out: "Without an understanding of the countryside, impoverished areas, and farmers—especially poor farmers—one cannot truly understand China, truly comprehend China, and even less so govern China well. Leading cadres at all levels must go more to the countryside and impoverished areas to understand the real situation, and carry out poverty alleviation and development work with deep emotion. We must grasp poverty alleviation work tighter and tighter, and execute it more and more solidly, so that the masses in impoverished areas truly receive real benefits." When our country’s fight against poverty achieved decisive success, Xi Jinping further proposed: "We must continue to promote the effective link between comprehensive poverty alleviation and rural vitalization. Shaking off poverty is not the finish line, but the starting point of a new life and a new struggle. We must clarify our work ideas in response to changes in the principal contradiction, promote a smooth transition of the poverty reduction strategy and work system, integrate them into the rural vitalization strategy, and establish institutional mechanisms that combine long-term and short-term measures and address both symptoms and root causes." These original theories of Xi Jinping, proceeding from China’s national conditions, have enriched and developed Marxist political economy regarding regional economic development and the theory of the countryside, agriculture, and farmers, providing strategic guidance for building China into a great modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Tenth, clearly proposing the theory of building a New Development Paradigm centered on smoothing the circulation of the national economy, and innovatively developing Marxist theories on the circular flow of capital and social reproduction. Marx’s theories on the circular flow of capital and socialized large-scale production provided the theoretical basis for socialized production. Inheriting the basic principles of Marxism and facing the changes unseen in a century in the world, as well as new opportunities and challenges facing China’s economic and social development, since 2020, Xi Jinping has proposed and repeatedly emphasized the need to accelerate the construction of a New Development Paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international dual circulation promoting each other. He pointed out: "Building a New Development Paradigm is a strategic choice to improve the level of China’s economic development in accordance with the times, and a strategic choice to shape new advantages in China’s international economic cooperation and competition." "Building a New Development Paradigm requires adhering to the strategic baseline of expanding domestic demand, making production, distribution, circulation, and consumption more reliant on the domestic market to form a virtuous cycle of the national economy. We must persist in the strategic direction of supply-side structural reform, improve the adaptability of the supply system to domestic demand, clear bottlenecks in the economic cycle, and enhance the integrity of the industrial and supply chains, so that the domestic market becomes the main source of final demand, forming a higher-level dynamic balance where demand pulls supply and supply creates demand. The New Development Paradigm is by no means a closed domestic circulation, but an open domestic and international dual circulation. By promoting the formation of a grand and smooth domestic economic cycle, we can better attract global resource elements, satisfying domestic demand while improving our industrial technological development level, and forming new advantages in participating in international economic cooperation and competition." Accelerating the construction of the New Development Paradigm is a major adjustment and refinement of China’s economic development strategy and path for a long period to come. It is a major strategic deployment made with a view toward long-term development and lasting peace and stability. It will have an important and far-reaching impact on achieving development that is of higher quality, more efficient, more equitable, more sustainable, and more secure, and on promoting global economic prosperity.
Eleventh, clearly stating that we must persist in the harmonious coexistence of man and nature and strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, innovatively developing Marxist thought on ecological civilization construction. Marxist classical writers had important ideas concerning the relationship between man and nature, and existing achievements in the Sinicization of Marxism also contain rich discourses on environmental and ecological civilization construction. On the basis of inheriting these thoughts, since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has elevated the organic integration of environmental protection and ecological civilization construction with economic construction to an unprecedented height, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Its originality is manifested in: first, emphasizing that economic development must respect not only economic laws but also natural laws and laws of social development. Second, proposing that building an ecological civilization is a millennium-scale plan for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and setting the construction of a Beautiful China [14] as an important goal for building a great modern socialist country. Third, proposing that achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a broad and profound systemic economic and social change. We must incorporate carbon peak and carbon neutrality into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction and, with a "grasping iron with finger marks" [15] level of grit, achieve the goals of carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 as scheduled, making a greater contribution to building a modernization characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature and to maintaining global ecological security.
Twelfth, clearly proposing to persist in the basic national policy of opening up, promoting the in-depth development of economic globalization, and the theory of building a community with a shared future for humanity, thereby creating an opening-up theory for the New Era. Marx analyzed the formation of the world market under capitalist conditions, laying the foundation for the theory of economic globalization. Achievements in the Sinicization of Marxism also contain rich theories on opening up and the world economy. On the basis of inheriting these achievements, Xi Jinping has proceeded from the reality of the New Era to propose a series of original new ideas. First, better coordinating the two domestic and international situations, making use of both domestic and international markets and resources to develop a higher-level open economy. Second, actively participating in global economic governance while resolutely safeguarding China’s development interests, actively preventing various risks, and ensuring national economic security. Third, building a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation, building a community with a shared future for humanity, pursuing the new philosophy of "win-win, multi-win, and all-win," and proposing the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative to seek development prospects of openness, innovation, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit. Fourth, unswervingly taking the path of peaceful development and pursuing a win-win opening-up strategy, adhering to the correct conception of justice and interests [16], establishing a new security concept that is common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable, seeking development prospects of openness and innovation, inclusiveness and mutual benefit, promoting cultural exchanges that are "harmonious yet different" and inclusive, constructing an ecological system that respects nature and green development, and always being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. These important ideas play an important guiding role for China further going out into the world and for promoting world peace and development.
Thirteenth, clearly insisting on coordinating security and development, enriching and developing Marxist security theory. As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era and new stage, in response to the general trends of domestic and international development, on May 29, 2015, while presiding over the 23rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to firmly establish the concept of secure development. On January 18, 2016, at a study session for provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres, he analyzed the risks and challenges we face in pursuing open development from four aspects. On January 5, 2018, at a study session for newly elected members and alternate members of the Central Committee and provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres, he listed 16 risks that require high attention across eight areas. On January 21, 2019, a special study session for provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres on "persisting in bottom-line thinking and focusing on preventing and defusing major risks" was held. At the opening ceremony, he analyzed the need to prevent and defuse risks in eight areas including politics, ideology, economy, the economic and trade struggle with the US, science and technology, society, external work, and the Party itself.
He identified major risks across various domains and put forward explicit requirements, emphasizing that we must always maintain a high degree of vigilance, guarding against both "black swan" events and "gray rhino" events [17]. Particularly in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping emphasized: "Coordinating development and security and enhancing the awareness of potential dangers to be prepared for adversity in times of peace is a major principle of our Party in governing the country. We must prioritize national interests, take people's security as our purpose and political security as our foundation. We must coordinate external and internal security, homeland and citizen security, traditional and non-traditional security, and our own security and common security. We must improve the national security system, strengthen capacity building for national security, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests." Xi Jinping's thought on coordinating security and development represents a significant original contribution to Marxism under new historical conditions.
Fourteenth, clarifying that the New Era must adhere to scientific methodology, which enriched and developed the Marxist worldview and methodology. Dialectical materialism and historical materialism constitute the fundamental Marxist worldview and methodology. On the basis of adhering to scientific methodology, Xi Jinping has innovated and developed these principles while resolving major issues raised by the times and practice.
Xi Jinping proposed that in the process of Marxist Sinicization, we must adhere to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities while also adhering to their combination with fine traditional Chinese culture [18]. This has greatly enriched and developed the methodology of Marxist Sinicization. Simultaneously, integrating contemporary Chinese reality, he originally proposed a methodology for reform and specific methods for economic work. Regarding the methodology of reform, Xi Jinping proposed the combination of "crossing the river by feeling the stones" [19] with top-level design, the combination of breakthroughs in key areas with comprehensively deepening reform, respecting the pioneering spirit of the masses, and the idea that "reform is always on the road." Regarding the methodology for practical economic work, he pointed out that dialectical materialism is the worldview and methodology of Chinese Communists. For our Party to unite and lead the people in coordinately advancing the Four Comprehensives to achieve the Two Centenary Goals [20] and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must constantly receive nourishment from the wisdom of Marxist philosophy. We must more consciously adhere to and apply the dialectical materialist worldview and methodology, enhance our capacity for dialectical thinking and strategic thinking, and strive to improve our ability to solve basic problems in China's reform and development. By adhering to seeking truth from facts, the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, the systemic concept, and a problem-oriented approach, as well as strengthening strategic resolve and bottom-line thinking, he has grasped the general global trend, seized opportunities, acted in accordance with the trend, and established strategic goals and measures for all aspects of Party and state work under new historical conditions. In the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, it was further proposed that to continue advancing theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and adhere to and utilize the positions, viewpoints, and methods that permeate it. We must persist in putting the people first, maintain self-confidence and self-reliance, uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, maintain a problem-oriented approach, apply systems thinking, and maintain a global perspective.
On the basis of adhering to the methodology of dialectical and historical materialism, innovatively proposing new modes of thinking and working for the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country is a concentrated expression of Xi Jinping’s strategic thinking and superb art in skillfully using dialectical and historical materialism to observe, analyze, and solve major economic problems. This provides an important guarantee for achieving the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Fifteenth, explicitly proposing the major principles for adhering to Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics, and constructing and continuously improving it.
Political economy is an essential component of Marxist theory. Constructing the disciplinary, theoretical, and discourse systems of Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics is a distinct proposition of Xi Jinping. In 2014, Xi Jinping proposed that Party committees and governments at all levels should study and make good use of political economy. In 2015, while presiding over the 28th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to base ourselves on our national conditions and development practices, reveal new characteristics and laws, refine and summarize the rhythmic achievements of China's economic development practice, elevate practical experience into systematic economic theory, and continuously open new frontiers for contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy. At the 2015 Central Economic Work Conference, he emphasized the need to adhere to the major principles of Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics. In 2020, at the Symposium with Experts in Economic and Social Fields, he further emphasized: we must "start from national conditions, come from and return to Chinese practice, write papers on the motherland's soil, and ensure that theoretical and policy innovations conform to Chinese reality and possess Chinese characteristics, while continuously developing Socialist Political Economy and sociology with Chinese characteristics." He stressed the need to "conduct in-depth investigations, observe actual conditions, propose practical solutions, fully reflect reality, and ensure theoretical and policy innovations are well-founded and reasonable." We must "grasp laws, adhere to Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods, see through appearances to the essence, explore long-term trends from short-term fluctuations, and ensure theoretical and policy innovations fully reflect advanced and scientific qualities." Finally, we must "establish an international perspective, explore common issues facing humanity through the interaction between China and the world, and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to building a community with a shared future for humanity." Xi Jinping’s economic thought not only provides a theoretical guide for the construction and development of Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics but also constitutes its essential content.
Proposing and personally practicing the construction and development of Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics is Xi Jinping’s original contribution to Marxist political economy, opening new frontiers for contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy and 21st-century Marxist political economy.
III. Long-term Adherence to and Development of Xi Jinping Economic Thought
The above summary of the original contributions of Xi Jinping’s economic thought to Marxist political economy across fifteen aspects is preliminary. These fifteen aspects contain two theoretical essences and are threaded together by one main line. The two theoretical essences are: first, being people-centered and meeting the people’s needs for a better life; second, the New Development Philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing. These two essences are integrated to form the consistent main line of Xi Jinping’s economic thought: adhering to the guidance of the New Development Philosophy to achieve high-quality development and continuously meet the people's growing needs for a better life.
Xi Jinping’s economic thought is an open and developing theoretical system. With the advancement of the times and practice, Xi Jinping’s economic thought will be further enriched and developed. The significance and vitality of a theory lie in its origin from practice, its guidance of practice, and its testing and development through practice. In the great journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist powerhouse and promoting the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, China possesses many favorable strategic conditions but also faces severe challenges—both those that have appeared and those yet to emerge. To realize the ambitious goals established at the 20th CPC National Congress and ensure the smooth progress of the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must adhere to and comprehensively implement Xi Jinping’s economic thought over the long term. We must continue to enrich and develop it as the times and practice advance, ensuring the light of its truth shines forever.