The Communist Party of China (CPC) should adapt Marxist principles to the current realities of China, with innovation in both theory and practice, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, on Friday.
"The changes in the times and the range and depth of China's development are far beyond the imagination of classical Marxist writers," Xi said at a rally marking the 95th founding anniversary of the CPC.
Socialism has been practiced in China for only a few decades and is still in its primary stage, Xi said, adding that new conditions and problems would emerge with the development of the socialist cause.
Under these circumstances, "we need to explore boldly and continuously make theoretical breakthroughs," Xi said.
"Marxism is never the end of truth. It opens a path toward truth," Xi said.
Xi stressed the Party's continued devotion to Marxism. "Deviating from or abandoning Marxism, which is the fundamental guiding theory for both the Party and the country, our Party would lose its soul and direction," he said.
He also called on all Party members to strengthen their belief in the ideals of communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics should be evaluated not by "people with tainted glasses," but by the Chinese, based on facts, Xi said.
"CPC members and the Chinese people are fully confident about providing a Chinese solution to humanity's exploration of better social systems," said Xi.
The whole Party should strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.
"In the current world, if there is any political party, country or nationality that could be confident, the CPC, the People's Republic of China and the Chinese nation have the most powerful reason to claim confidence," Xi said.
As an advanced system with obvious Chinese features, institutional advantages and strong capacity for self-improvement, the socialist system with Chinese characteristics is the basic institutional guarantee for the development and progress in modern China, Xi said.
Xi stressed adherence to the Party's basic line of taking economic development as the central task, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and the reform and opening up policy, saying it is "the country's lifeline and the people's line to happiness."
Taking economic development as the central task is vital to invigorating the nation, while the Four Cardinal Principles are the very foundation on which to build the country, and reform and opening up are the path to a stronger China, Xi said, adding that even the slightest deviation from the line should not be allowed.
The Four Cardinal Principles refer to keeping to the socialist path and upholding the people's democratic dictatorship, leadership by the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.
