The guiding ideology that the party and the state must adhere to for a long time

Chinese communists must adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and enrich and develop this idea in practice with the times.

1. Deeply grasp the great significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology of the Party and the state

“The true content of all epoch-making systems is the needs of the times that produced them. Each such system is based on the entire development of the country’s past, on the historical form of class relations and its political, moral, philosophical and other results.”1

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the inheritance and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thinking of “three represents” and the scientific outlook on development.

This thinking closely focuses on the new situation, new problems and new challenges faced by socialism with Chinese characteristics since the 18th National Congress of the CCP.

From the combination of theory and practice, it creatively answers the major questions of the times of what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the new era and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is of great political, historical, theoretical, practical and world significance. In contemporary China, adhering to and developing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is to truly adhere to and develop Marxism and scientific socialism.

The great political significance of this ideology lies in the fact that it provides an irreplaceable and indispensable ideological guarantee and theoretical foundation for the formation, establishment and consolidation of the core position of Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party.

Marxism has always held that revolutionary leaders play a particularly important role in the development of history, which is consistent with respecting the initiative of the masses. As early as 1873, Engels profoundly revealed in “On Authority” the extreme importance of the authority of the party leader to the proletarian party. Lenin also pointed out that a fighting revolutionary party needs strong and authoritative leadership.

The core of the Party should be composed of cultivated, capable, experienced and tested professional revolutionaries. However, the core of leadership of a Marxist political party has never been self-appointed or born, but has been formed and established in the test of practice, especially in the difficult test at a major historical turning point.

Such a core of leadership must not only have the profound insight and strategic foresight of Marxist politicians, but also have the extraordinary theoretical attainments and profound cultural heritage of Marxist theorists. It is necessary not only to have the strong historical responsibility and fearless dedication of professional revolutionaries, but also to have the rich practical experience and outstanding leadership skills of strategic doers; it is necessary to prove practical leadership with the achievements of governing the country, and to demonstrate ideological leadership with scientific theories. It is necessary not only to let the masses of the people resolutely follow in action, but also to make the masses of the people consciously align themselves ideologically.

Judging from historical practice, the formation and establishment of the leader of a Marxist political party and the advancement of the party’s guiding ideology with the times are interrelated, mutually dependent, interactive, and mutually complementary. Leaders create ideas, ideologically arm political parties, political parties guide the people, the people plunge into practice, and practice creates leaders; this is the basic law and internal logic of the development of Marxism and scientific socialism over the past 170 years.

The more the theory created by the leader of a Marxist political party meets the needs of the times, the broader and more profound it is, the more it occupies the commanding height of ideology, the more pragmatic and effective it is, the more supreme theoretical authority it has, and the more solid and irreplaceable his leadership status and political authority will be.

In the history of the CCP, in the course of leading the Chinese revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong wrote one magnificent work after another on the Sinicization of Marxism, founded Mao Zedong Thought, which was recognized by the whole party and integrated Marxism with China’s reality, and established the position of Marxist theoretician and theoretical authority in the central leadership and the whole party, and this theoretical authority in turn guaranteed Comrade Mao Zedong’s position as the core of leadership in the whole party with its practical guidance. In the process of leading the people to promote reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping successfully created socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed Deng Xiaoping Theory, and established its core position in the central leading collective. He clearly pointed out: “Any leadership collective must have a core, and leadership without a core is unreliable.“1

Comrade Xi Jinping is the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party formed in the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the establishment of this status comes from the historic achievements and historic changes that he has made since the 18th National Congress of the CCP, and also from the strong creativity, cohesion, combat effectiveness and leading force of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which was mainly founded by him. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China named the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era after Comrade Xi Jinping and wrote it into the Party Constitution as a guiding ideology that the whole Party must adhere to for a long time, and the constitutional amendment adopted by the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress enshrined this idea in the Constitution and became the guiding ideology that the whole Party and the whole country must adhere to for a long time. This is a conscious adherence to and scientific adherence to the Marxist concept of authority and leadership, the highest recognition of Comrade Xi Jinping’s ideological authority as the democratic backbone of the whole party and all ethnic groups in the country, and the most important political achievement and far-reaching historical contribution of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The great historical significance of this idea lies in the fact that its formation, development and extensive practice have made China the theoretical source, practical innovation and development guide of scientific socialism in the 21st century, and the mainstay of revitalizing world socialism. World socialism has gone through a historical process from utopia to science, from theory to practice, from practice in one country to development in many countries, from suffering serious setbacks to gradually coming out of the low tide and moving towards revitalization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics has become an important part of its unique practical exploration.

In the new era, Comrade Xi Jinping focused on the new great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics to carry out unremitting theoretical exploration, and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Under the guidance of this thinking, the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics has become broader and broader, not only promoting China’s all-round pioneering historical achievements in various undertakings and taking place profound and fundamental historical changes, but also using ironclad facts to forcefully counter the conspiracies and attempts to subvert socialism such as the “end of history”, so that scientific socialism in China in the 21st century will radiate unprecedented strong vitality and hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the world.

Looking back at history, scientific socialism has revealed the law of the development of human society.

It has pointed out the way for mankind to leap from the kingdom of necessity to the kingdom of freedom, pointed out the path for the working class and working people to achieve freedom and liberation, guided the independent liberation movement of a large number of nation-states such as China, and profoundly changed the development process of human society and the pattern of the entire world.

Looking at the present, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, socialism with Chinese characteristics has become the most promising and important component of world socialism in the 21st century, composing a brilliant chapter in the past 500 years of socialism, bringing about new and profound changes in the balance of forces between capitalism and socialism in the world, and reshaping the political and economic map of the world. It has created a new glory in the history of world socialism, greatly boosted the confidence of the people of the world in socialism, and brought bright prospects for the development of world socialism and the progress of human society. Looking forward to the future, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era will surely lead China to carry on the past and forge ahead into the decisive achievements of building a modern socialist power in an all-round way, and more eloquently prove the truth of scientific socialism and the strong advantages of the socialist system.

The great theoretical significance of this thinking lies in the fact that it is the result of another historical leap in integrating Marxism with China’s reality, and is another dazzling peak of contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century. Social history is eternally developed, and theoretical innovation in grasping the law of social development is also endless. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era not only adheres to the basic principles of Marxism, but also adheres to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times, which is a model of innovative development of Marxism, contemporary Chinese Marxism, and Marxism in the 21st century.

This ideology has integrated the unremitting pursuit of the CCP for more than 90 years, the arduous struggle of New China for more than 70 years, and the pioneering and innovative work of reform and opening up for more than 40 years with more than 170 years of arduous exploration in modern times and the development of civilization of the Chinese nation for more than 5,000 years. Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics are connected, and a series of new concepts, ideas and strategies have been creatively put forward around the theme of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully demonstrating its broad and profound ideological background and theoretical logic. This thinking focuses on the application of Marxist theory, on new practice and new developments, and has said many “new words” that no one has said before, thus making a major original contribution to the enrichment and development of Marxism.

These original contributions are rich in content and systematically run through the three major components of Marxist philosophy, political economy and scientific socialism, covering all aspects and fields of the cause of the party and the state.

In terms of philosophy, this ideology adheres to the world outlook methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, adheres to the fundamental position of taking the people as the center, creatively uses the viewpoint of practice, contradiction, the masses, and all-round development, and establishes strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, innovative thinking, legal thinking, and bottom-line thinking, giving Marxist philosophy a new connotation of the times;

In terms of political economy, this idea delves into the trend of world economic development and the new situations and new problems facing our economy, and answers the questions that Marxist classic writers have not talked about, and our predecessors have never encountered.

Many major theoretical and practical problems that Western economic theories have been unable to solve, made a major judgment that China’s economic development has entered a new normal, put forward a new development concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, established major strategic deployments such as deepening supply-side structural reform and building a modern economic system, and written a new chapter in Marxist political economy. In terms of the theory of scientific socialism, we have deepened our understanding of the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and enriched and developed the essence, value stance, development stage, development momentum, construction layout, strategic arrangement and goal of socialism with Chinese characteristics with the times.

It has greatly expanded the theoretical connotation of scientific socialism. These major theoretical innovations have pushed forward Marxism as a whole, in all aspects, and in all fields, and opened up a new realm for the development of Marxism. In today’s China, only Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and no other thought can solve China’s practical problems.

The fundamental practical significance of this idea lies in the fact that it has brought socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era and provided theoretical guidance and action guidelines for building a modern and powerful socialist country in an all-round way and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in the Chinese land, reflects the will of the people, adapts to the characteristics of the new era and the requirements of China’s development and progress, is a theoretical summary and theoretical sublimation of the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics since the 18th National Congress of the CCP, and is a powerful ideological weapon of Marxism that comes from practice, has been tested by practice and guides practice. This ideology adheres to the unity of goal-oriented and problem-oriented, deeply examines the problems encountered in the current and long-term, partial and overall, theory and practice, puts forward strategic ideas and measures, and provides scientific guidance for coping with major challenges, resisting major risks, overcoming major resistances and resolving major contradictions.

In terms of overall orientation, this thinking profoundly answers a series of fundamental questions such as what banner the CCP should raise, what road to take, what mental state it should take, what historical mission it should undertake, and what goal of struggle it would achieve, and once again declare to the world that China will neither follow the old road of closure and rigidity, nor take the evil road of changing the banner, but will unswervingly take the clear position of unswervingly following the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and point out the way forward for China in the new era. In terms of strategic deployment, these three ideas connect the great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream, put forward the overall layout of the “five-in-one” and the coordinated promotion of the “four comprehensive” strategic layout, and carry out top-level design and systematic planning in important aspects such as reform, development, stability, internal and foreign affairs, national defense, and party and military management, thus providing a strategic guiding bow for the realization of the “two centenary goals.” In terms of practical requirements, this ideology emphasizes that all comrades in the party must take a long-term view, be prepared for danger in times of peace, be bold in making changes and innovations, never become rigid and never stagnate, always breathe with the people, share a common destiny, and link hearts with hearts, and continue to forge ahead toward the grand goal with an unslackening mental state and an indomitable stance of struggle. The fundamental significance of this idea in the world lies in the fact that it provides a brand-new path choice for countries and nations in the world that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence, and contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to solving human problems. Great ideas are never narrowly closed, but run through the world’s vision, world consciousness, and world feelings. China Aerospace Studies Institute 418 Translation published Fall 2023Basic Issues of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is based on China, taking the happiness of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its sacred mission and main purpose; at the same time, facing the world, it is his unshirkable responsibility and responsibility to strive for the cause of human progress and make new and greater contributions to mankind. In today’s world, challenges such as governance deficit, trust deficit, peace deficit and development deficit are emerging one after another, problems such as the gap between the rich and the poor, terrorism, climate change and other problems are emerging one after another, the international political and economic system dominated by Western capitalist developed countries is full of drawbacks, and the global governance system is undergoing profound changes. In the face of the complex and changeable international situation, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, with a broad vision and strategic thinking, clearly puts forward a series of new concepts, ideas and propositions on the future and destiny of mankind, providing new directions, new plans and new choices for the development of human society. This idea clearly puts forward the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, advocates and promotes the “Belt and Road”, advocates the use of economic methods and the bond of interests to closely aggregate countries along the route, and realizes policy communication, facility connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, contributing Chinese wisdom to promoting global governance and further enhancing the political leading role of the CCP in solving major human problems. This idea has broken the situation that the Western modernization model has been “fixed on one statue” since modern times, opened up a new way for developing countries to achieve modernization, provided Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions for mankind’s exploration of a better social system, and greatly encouraged the confidence of developing countries to explore a development path that suits their national conditions, especially for those developing countries that blindly adopt the Western political system and fall into the quagmire. The Chinese path advocated by this ideology is not only a path of political development and social development, but also a path of civilization development, which brings an ancient civilization that has lasted for thousands of years without interruption to the center of the world stage with a new attitude, manifests the light of Chinese civilization, further enriches the diversity of human civilization, and demonstrates the ideological power of making civilizational exchanges transcend civilizational barriers, mutual learning between civilizations transcend civilizational conflicts, and civilizational coexistence surpass civilizational superiority. Under the guidance of this thinking, the CCP, as a great political party, China as a great country and the Chinese nation as a great nation, while planning and realizing its own development and progress, will also have a comprehensive and profound impact on the world and forcefully promote the noble cause of mankind’s pursuit of peace and development.