The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday held a group study session on opening up new frontiers in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.
Presiding over the session, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that it is the solemn historical responsibility of today's Chinese Communists to open up new frontiers in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress, while summarizing historical experience, put forward and expounded scientific methods such as "two integrates" and "six musts" that have promoted theoretical innovation, providing fundamental guides for the Party to further theoretical innovation. We should adhere to the guides and put them to good use, he said.
Li Wentang, vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) gave a lecture on this topic and proposed suggestions. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee listened to the lecture carefully and had a discussion thereafter.
Xi made an important speech after listening to the lecture and the discussion. He noted that the CPC's history of struggle over the past century shows that a good command of the scientific theory of Marxism has fundamentally explained why the CPC has been able to make great achievements in revolution, construction and reforms, and to lead the Chinese people in accomplishing arduous tasks that no other political forces in China could accomplish. It is also because the CPC has been able to constantly innovate its theories in light of new realities, thus making major theoretical achievements as Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development and the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is also because the CPC has kept emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping up with the times and being realistic and pragmatic, injecting vitality into Marxism in China and thus equipping itself with strong power of truth. We owe the success of our Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics, at the fundamental level, to the fact the Marxism works, particularly when it is adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. This is a conclusion that has stood the test of time. We must continuously further our understanding of the Party's theoretical innovation, and make greater achievements in this regard on the new journey in the new era.
Xi stressed that the important subject of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times decides that we shall never abandon the soul of Marxism and the root of fine traditional Chinese culture. Upholding such soul and root is the basis and prerequisite for theoretical innovation. To achieve theoretical innovation, we will definitely have different discourse. But we should never cease to draw on our fine traditional culture. Disowning Marxism and our own traditional culture means cutting off the soul and root, which will lead to the catastrophic mistake of losing both. We must adhere to Marxism, on which the development and prosperity of our Party and our country are based. We must continuously develop Marxism on the basis of our own rich culture that has evolved in our long history. We should have greater confidence in our history and culture, and stick to the principle of making the past serve the present and putting forth new ideas. We must follow the guidance of Marxism to comprehensively explore the rich Chinese civilization that has a history of more than 5,000 years, and use Marxism to activate the good factors of great vitality in China's fine traditional culture and imbue them with new life. We should inject the great spirit and profound wisdom of the Chinese nation into Marxism, and effectively combine the quintessence of Marxism with that of fine traditional Chinese culture to develop new theoretical strength, so as to scale new heights in thought. We need to broaden our visions in development of theories, be open-minded and learn and draw inspiration from all outstanding achievements of human civilizations. We should absorb the good theories and cultural resources from "the whole human knowledge" to innovate and develop the Party's theories, so as to create an atmosphere in which we can draw strengths from all cultures.
Xi noted that it is important to seek answers for new issues of the times in a timely and scientific way. The era is the mother of thought, and practice the fount of theory. All epoch-making theories are the results of the needs of the times. The theory for observing, understanding, and steering the trends of the times must represent the voice of the times, and should not be detached from the reality of its times. We must draw on past experience to generate the theoretical essence of the times. Xi stressed that advancing theoretical innovation must be based on practical experience but never daydream in an ivory tower. We must discover and develop truth in practice, and realize truth and test truth in practice.
In an era when the overall strategy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the momentous changes unseen in a century are progressing rapidly and interacting with each other, humanity faces many urgent and common problems that need to be solved. Various fronts in China, such as reform, development, stability, domestic and foreign affairs, national defense, and governance of the Party, the country and the military, are also facing a raft of new major issues. The questions posed by China, the world, the people, and the times are more complex and difficult than in the past. It is urgent for us to provide answers by combining theory and practice.
It is important to have a broad view of history and grasp the trajectory and correct direction of world development with a broader perspective and a more far-sighted vision. It is imperative to understand the major logic and trends of China's social development and humanity's development, and grasp the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese modernization. We should deepen our understanding of promoting high-quality development and building a new development paradigm in the context of a new round of technological revolution, the global economic development landscape, and the stage-specific characteristics of China's development. We also need to deepen our understanding of the strategic thinking of the Party's self-reform, based on comparison with the fates of Marxist political parties in the world and on the practical tests facing our Party in its long-term governance. We need to put forward sound concepts and effective solutions in a comprehensive and systematic manner to solve practical problems, so as to let Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century showcase stronger and more persuasive power of truth.
Xi stressed that making theories systematic and academic is an intrinsic requirement and an important avenue for theoretical innovation. The reason why Marxism has a profound influence is that it reveals the truths of the development of human society with profound rationale and verifies its theories with complete systems. The development of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a process featuring constant enrichment, expansion, systematization and rationalization. The project to study and develop Marxist theory should keep strengthening theoretical research and interpretation, with a focus on the original theoretical achievements from the new concepts and judgments put forward by the CPC, and grasp their inner relationship, so as to educate and guide the whole Party and the whole country to better study and understand the theoretical system of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xi noted that importance must be attached to drawing wisdom for theoretical innovation from what has been created by the people. Marxism is a theory that creates ideas for the people and speaks on behalf of the people. It is meant to change people's destiny. It has been enriched and developed in the practice of people's struggle for liberation. The people's creative practices are the inexhaustible source of theoretical innovations in Marxism. People, as creators of history, are not only creators of material wealth but also creators of spiritual wealth. The achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times encapsulate the practical experience and collective wisdom of our Party and the people. Whether it is Mao Zedong Thought, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, or the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, they all come from the wisdom of the people, the explorations by the people, and the creation of the people. To continuously advance the Party's theoretical innovation, we must firmly follow the mass line and avoid working behind closed doors, and must act, not just talk or indulge in daydreaming. It is imperative to respect the pioneering spirit of the people, attach importance to summarizing fresh experience from their creative practices, transform it into rational knowledge, make new theoretical achievements, and strive to make the Party's innovative theories thoroughly understood by hundreds of millions of people. By doing so, these theories can correspond to people's desire, gather the wisdom of the people, meet people's will and win the support of the people.
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