Basics of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (Qin Xuan, Xu Hongzhi)

Basics of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
Author	Qin Xuan, Xu Hongzhi
Translated by	Yang Xu from Chinese
Publisher	Canut International Publishers
First published	2018-01-15
Type	Book
Source	https://archive.org/details/basics-of-the-theoretical-system-of-socialism-with-chinese-characteristics

Acknowledgements

The book we present is written by the most prominent researchers of Marxism in China, and reviewed by Qin Xuan and Xu Zhihong the two se- nior scholars of Renmin University. In 14 chapters they have demonstrated the most important component parts of the CPC’s socialism building con- cept in the Chinese particlarity, which is a meta-system theory, with inter- related sub-theories. At the time when Deng Xiaoping proposed this new concept which emphasized Chinese particularity, he has added new mean- ings to it, when compared with Mao Zedong’s understanding of applying Marxism to Chinese conditions: he strived to thoroughly revise the preva- lent concepts of socialism building and open a new chapter in the history of socialist movement in regards, how to define and build socialism in China. It was a tremendously hard task, when the trials in the eastern European countries were still in development and exploration, especially when the Soviet model of socialism building established by Stalin was deemed as the only universally applicable one, except the Yugoslavian model. The CPC when choosing this term has given a clear signal that each socialist or com- munist party should better determine its own path in building socialism, and external interference wouldn’t be favorable.

The meta-theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been grad- ually improved with the development of social practice and times, and is still in development, but its essence and ultimate goal remain the same. It has made great breakthroughs in the cognition of socialism and socialism building and in the aspect of how socialism relates with capitalism and how it step by step dialectically sublates it.

This academically processed but easily readable book will give the read- er a comprehensive understanding of this theory and enable them to com- pare the previous cognition of socialism and socialism building with the current one.

Editor's Note

In 2007, the 17" National Congress of the Communist Party of China has made clear that our party will persist in following the important stra- i tegic thought of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the i ‘Three Represents’ and the Scientific Concept of Development which was formed by theoretical and practical innovation, generally referred to as the “Theoretical System of Chinese Socialism” and stressed: the report stated: “In contemporary China, to stay true to Marxism means to adhere [| to the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Since = the 17" National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the | CPC Central Committee has done a scientific deployment of how to cul- tivate the builders and successors who will hold high the cause of social- ism with Chinese characteristics and on how to use theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to educate the leaders of the youth across the country. The high-level Office for The Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project pays meticulous and consistent efforts to prepare all kinds of cognitive learning materials, which will reflect and expound on the brand new academic achievements attained in the study of Chinese Marxism. Among them, the textbook “Mao Zedong Thought and The Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” has been a unique work which has been highly praised by readers from all walks of people, promising young people including college students. By courtesy of the ministry of education, colleges and universities across the country have made great contributions and achievements in transform- ing the rich contents of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics into teaching materials, a part of which can be utilized in schools. This book—The Basics of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics—we present to readers was prepared by the most prominent scholars of the subject from the Marxism School of the Renmin University of China especially designed for college students. Throughout the writing and editing of this book, we have both enjoyed the advantage of certain comprehension basis, and a certain degree of difficulty, certain com- prehension basis as an advantage, firstly because we had already edited the “Introduction to Deng Xiaoping Theory”, “Introduction to the Important Thought of Three Represents”, since their publication in 2003, the titles were re-published for dozens of times, and the aggregate print of them has nearly reached 3 million, most of which have reached the readers. Secondly, the writers of this textbook are all in the front line of teaching and research, they have a certain degree of research accretion on the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and have abundant teaching experi- ence on the subject. Thirdly, the academic community has made abundant research on “Deng Xiaoping Theory”, and on the “Important Thought of Three Represents” and also on “The Scientific Concept of Development” and other major strategic thoughts, which are component parts of the theo- retical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and have produced numerous precious research results. These above favorable conditions have laid a virtuous foundation in the writing and editing of this book.

We have faced a certain degree of difficulty, firstly because the theoreti- cal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics still encounters enrich- ment and perfection. The academic circles have different understandings of its theme, its historical starting point, main content and the logical structure of this theoretical system. There still exist differences in the understanding and interpretation of many major issues regarding it. Secondly, we have encountered a considerable difficulties, as in the following, how to break through the previous framework of Deng Xiaoping Theory and unify the three strategic thoughts of —Deng Xiaoping Theory, Important Thought of Three Represents, and The Scientific Concept of Development—and inte- grate them into one and same book, because all the three not only represent major theoretical achievements having their own unique characteristics, but also have succession and development relations among them, besides they follow the same strain and have included successive times character- istics. Thirdly, since the 17 National Congress of the CPC, our party’s understanding on the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese charac- teristics was further deepened, and many new propositions have been put forward. As Comrade Hu Jintao in his speech at the commemoration of the 90" anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, has put forward and summarized a new conception of “the socialist system with Chinese characteristics”, also the 6" Plenary Session of the 17" Central Committee of the CPC put forward the proposition of “the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics.” Regarding these new propositions, the academic community also lacks in-depth research, our un- derstanding is not accurate, yet, which is also a major problem encountered in the preparation of teaching materials. The textbook is the crystallization of collective wisdom, including the designing of its outline, the final draft to be published has been the result of collective deliberation.Scholars from the School of Marxism ‘attached to Renmin University of China who have contributed to this book include Prof. Xu Zhihong (edited Chapter II and V), Prof. Qin Xuan (Chapter I and VID), Prof. Yang Fengcheng (Chapter XI and XIV), Prof. Huang Jifeng (Chapter II and [X), Prof. Wang Xiangming (Chapter VIII and X), Prof. Qi Pengfei (Chapter XII and XIII), Prof. Zhang Xin (Chapter IV, and VI).

The book was finally reviewed. by Professor Xu Zhihong and Professor Qin Xuan. We are grateful to Prof. He Yaomin, the President of the Renmin University Press, and Prof. Zhou Weihua, the editor-in-chief of the Renmin University Press, who have paid great attention to the to the compilation and publication, and to Guo Xiaoming, the head of the public administra- tion department, who has paid a lot of hard work for this book. Our starting point and innermost desire has been preparing a comprehensive and ac- curate book that will comprehensively and accurately reflect the theoreti- cal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Objectively speaking, such a complex work can never be perfect, cannot avoid certain shortcom- ings and deficiencies. We sincerely welcome criticism, from all quarters, including all aspects, so that we can make it more perfect in future editions.

Formation and Development of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Social and historical conditions behind the formation of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

First, the historical basis: evaluating the positive and negative aspects of socialist construction experiences

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is formed and developed on the basis of the Party’s summarizing and absorb- ing the historical experience of our socialist development and drawing les- sons from other socialist countries. Since the beginning of the new period, our Party has attached great importance to the summary of historical expe- rience. In the 3 Plenary Session of the 11% CPC Central Committee, the Party seriously summed up the positive and negative experiences, drew lessons from the “Cultural Revolution”, restored the ideological line of Marxism, and resolutely made the major historical choice of transferring the work center of the Party and the state to the economic construction and carrying out the reform and opening up. The 6" Plenary Session of the 11" CPC Central Committee adopted The Resolution on Some Historical Issues of the Party Since the Founding of the PRC through which the Party conscientiously cleared up major historical rights and wrongs and adhered to and inherited all the positive achievements made by our Party in the practice of the long-term socialist construction, marking the completion of the Party’s bringing order out of chaos in the ideological line, political line and organizational line. In the process of reform and opening up and modernization construction, our Party earnestly draws lessons from other

countries, especially the Soviet union, eastern Europe and other socialist countries, which provides an important reference for the better develop- ment of the socialism with Chinese characteristics. As Deng Xiaoping said: if there was no profound summarization of historical experience and les- sons, “It would be impossible to formulate the ideological line, the basic line, politics, organizational lines and a series of policies we have estab- lished since the 3 Plenary Session of the 11% CPC Central Committee.”'

It can be said that the development and expansion of the socialist path with -

Chinese characteristics and the formation and development of the theoreti- cal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics are inseparable from our Party’s adeptness and efforts in summing up and absorbing the positive and negative experiences.

Second, the basis of establishment: Basic national conditions of China in the primary stage of socialism

Accurately grasping the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism in China is the fundamental starting point for our Party to promote the theoretical innovation and formulate the correct line, guideline and policy. In the 13 CPC National Congress, the Party expounded the is- sue of the primary stage of socialism in a systematic way and emphasized the need to fully understand the long-term, arduous and complex nature of the socialist construction and to constantly enhance the consciousness of starting from the reality that China is in the primary stage of socialism. This issue was reiterated in the 14", 15" and 16 CPC National Congress which stressed that we should not proceed from the subjective wishes, from the various foreign modes, but from the biggest reality that China is in the primary stage of socialism in doing things, making decisions and thinking about issues.

It was further emphasized in the 17" CPC National Congress that the basic national conditions of our country that it is still in the primary stage of socialism and the principal contradiction between the increasing mate- rial and cultural needs of the people and the backward social production remain unchanged. We shall recognize this basic national condition, grasp the phase characteristics of the century and new phase, and take it as the fundamental basis of advancing the reform and planning the development. It can be said that during the reform and opening up for more than 30 years, our Party’s theory, line, guideline and policy are correct and play a huge role in promoting the social development and progress in practice because they are based on the realities of the primary stage of socialism and on the sober understanding and accurate grasp of the basic national conditions and stage characteristics of this primary stage.

Third, the realistic basis: the party leadership sets things right and starts the vivid practice of opening-up and modernization

Reform and opening up is the main theme of contemporary China, the only way to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and also the important foundation for the development of the theoretical system of so- cialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the reform and opening up for more than 30 years, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese char- acteristics has deepened and enriched with the deepening practice. From the rural reform to urban reform, from the economic system reform to various system reforms, from the establishment of the special economic zone and the opening of the coastal cities to the opening of the inland border cities, the cities along the river and the provincial capitals, from the proposal of the planned commodity economy to the establishment of the socialist market economy, from grasping the two links of material civilization and spiritual civilization to comprehensively promoting the modernization construction in accordance with the “Four-in-one” overall layout, and from strengthen- ing and improving the Party’s leadership to comprehensively promoting the new great project of the Party’s construction, our Party has continuously studied and resolved the new contradictions and problems in advancement and vested the new connotations of the age and practical requirements in the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It can be said that whenever the reform and opening up advances by one step, our Party’s understanding of socialism with Chinese characteristics can be deepened and the enrichment and development of this theoretical system can be pro- moted. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is vigorous because it is the scientific theory rooted in the great practice of the reform and opening up.

Fourth, the source of power was the rich and creative experience of the people

Insisting on summarizing experience and absorbing wisdom from the vivid practice of the people is an important way to develop the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Deng Xiaoping said that many things in the reform and opening up were put forward by the masses in practice and embodied the wisdom of the masses. Jiang Zemin said that a good solution does not fall from heaven nor is it inherent in our minds, in the final analysis correct theories come from the people’s practice of creat- ing history. Hu Jintao pointed out: “Respecting the people’s practice and drawing ideological nutrition from the people’s great creation and elevating it to a theoretical form are the inexhaustible sources of our party’s theoreti- cal innovation.”

Much of the experience in reform and innovation during the past more Section II than 30 years of reform and opening up has come from the grassroots level and the masses of people. Our Party has always been adhering to the Marxist ideological line “from the masses, to the masses”, enthusiastically support- ing, encouraging, protecting and guiding the great creation of the people, : and profoundly summing up the practical experience of the people, from : First, the preliminary exploration of the path of socialism with which the laws of the socialist modernization construction can be mastered : Chinese characteristics by the CPC

and the Marxist theoretical innovation can be constantly promoted. It can be said that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is formed and developed due to our party’s effort to closely rely on the people, widely mobilize the people’s enthusiasm, initiative and creativity and gather strength and wisdom from the people.

Fifth, the background: the profound changes in the international situation and the new trends in world development China has experienced a long process of exploration, choice and struggle before embarking on the socialist path

Since the 1970s, great changes have taken place in the whole world, and the intensity and profundity of these changes is far beyond the expectation. The most significant change is that peace and development have become the theme of the times, the trend of world multi-polarization and economic globalization has developed in an accelerating way, and the competition in the comprehensive national strength is becoming increasingly fierce. In particular, the new science and technology revolution and the following wide applications of the great science and technology discoveries and inventions have promoted the unprecedented profound changes in production mode, way of life and economic society all over the world and also unprecedented major changes in the global economic pattern, interest pattern and security pattern. In the face of such profound and major changes our Party should constantly emancipate the mind and vigorously promote theoretical innovation and then the new development of the cause so as to better solve the new issues and meet the new challenges raised by the times and usher in new situations for the development of the party and the people. It can be said that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, including Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents”, the scientific outlook on development and other ma- jor strategic thoughts, is formed and developed on the basis of our Party’s effort to follow the world development trend, draw on the experience and lessons from the ups and downs of other countries and critically absorb all the civilization achievements created by human society.

Stages in the development of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

First, the preliminary exploration of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics by the CPC

It is pointed out in the 17 CPC National Congress that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the scientific theoreti- cal system that includes Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents”, the scientific outlook on development and other major strategic thoughts.

China has experienced a long process of exploration, choice and struggle before embarking on the socialist path. Since modern times, the Chinese nation has faced two historical tasks: one is to seek the national independence and people’s liberation; the other is to realize the national prosperity and mighty and people’s affluence. After the opium war, China was reduced to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. In order to save the nation from peril, the Chinese people made a long-term exploration and strenuous struggle, including the Westernization Movement, the Hundred Days’ Reform, Taiping Rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan, the Boxer Rebellion and the Revolution of 1911 led by Sun Yat-sen, which all ended in failure. And the social nature of China as a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society and the people’s miserable fate remain unchanged, for which a fundamental reason is that no scientific theoretical guidance is provided. The advanced Chinese have tried various ideological weapons in order to seek the way of saving the country and their people. After making the fierce struggle and difficult choices, Marxism gradually took root in Chinese society because of its popularity among the progressive youth and even the Chinese people. It is the history that has chosen Marxism and it is Marxism that has profoundly changed the fate of China. Mao Zedong points out that the Chinese people have turned from the passive status into the active status and created a new outlook of Chinese revolution since the introduction of Marxism-Leninism. Thanks to the guidance of Marxism, the repeated com- parison and profound thinking, and especially the influence of the Russian “October Revolution”, the advanced Chinese have made a clear choice of the scientific socialist path. The founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921 ushered in a new era of the Chinese revolution. At the begin- ning of the founding, our Party made it clear that the ultimate direction of the democratic revolution led by it is socialism. Under the leadership of the Party and Mao Zedong, our Party founded Mao Zedong Thought and Opened up a revolution path that was in line with the realities in China by combining the Marxism-Leninism and China’s realities and overcoming the erroneous tendency to dogmatize Marxism and sanctify the resolutions of the Communist International and the experience of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that enjoyed great popularity at one time. After 28 years of arduous struggle, the Communist Party of China overthrew the three big mountains (imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism), won the New Democratic Revolution, and founded the New China, which indicated the realization of the national independence and people’s liberation that several generations of Chinese dreamed about since the modern times and the completion of the first historical task of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

During the 28 years between the founding of the New China and the end of the “Cultural Revolution”, the Party’s first collective leadership, with Mao Zedong as the core, led the whole party and people of all ethnic groups throughout the country to rapidly heal the trauma of the war and restore the national economy, and then to propose the general line in the transition period, carry out the socialist transformation, and establish the basic sys- tem of socialism without losing any time, resulting in the realization of the most profound and greatest social transformation in China. However, how to build socialism is a brand new exploration for our Party. Mao Zedong said at that time that we should realize “the second combination” of the basic principle of Marxism-Leninism and the concrete realities of China, and find out the correct way of socialist construction in China. Some impor- tant ideas on the socialist construction in China, concerning the economy, politics, culture, national defense, diplomacy and other aspects, were put forward in Mao Zedong’s Zen Major Relationships, Issues on Correctly Handling the Contradictions among the People and other works, and the documents of the 8 CPC National Congress, which marked the beginning of our Party to independently explore the socialist construction path suit- able for our country’s national conditions. Under the leadership of the Party and Mao Zedong, China has gradually established an independent, rela- tively complete industrial system and national economic system, and accu- mulated important experience in socialist construction. As a new subject in the Marxism and socialism development history, the socialist construction in such a backward eastern country in China was doomed to experience errors and setbacks, given the lack of regular understanding on how to com- bine the socialist path with the national conditions and the influence of the complex international environment at that time. These errors and setback have left deep historical experience and lessons and China paid a huge price for them.

Our Party’s victory in the revolution and exploration of the socialist construction path in China under Mao Zedong’s leadership provided the fundamental political premise and institutional foundation for all the devel- opment and progress in contemporary China, and exerted a profound influ- ence on the opening up and emergence of the socialist path with Chinese characteristics. As indicated in the 17" CPC National Congress, we must always bear in mind that the great cause of reform and opening up is based on the valuable experience of the Party’s first collective leadership with Mao Zedong as the core in leading the whole Party and people of all eth- nic groups throughout the country to build the New China, make the great achievements in the socialist revolution and construction and explore the laws of socialist construction.

Second, The initial formation of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

When the “Cultural Revolution” came to an end in 1976, what stood in front of our Party was the China with many things waiting to be done and an urgent problem about whether China continued adhering to the wrong line in the “Cultural Revolution” period or opened up a new path reflecting the trend of the times and the China’s conditions by getting rid of the “left- ist” ideological shackles. The 3 Plenary Session of the 11% CPC Central Committee held at the end of 1978 re-established the Party’s ideological line, political line and organization line, which brought order out of chaos in the guiding ideology and initiated a new exploration of socialist con- struction. It is in this session when the Party’s second central collective leadership with Deng Xiaoping as the core was formed, which marked the entry of our country into the new period of socialist modernization con- struction. In the new historical period, Deng Xiaoping was keenly aware that the Marxism we adhere to is the science and truth and that the social- ist system established in our country is a good system, but the question is: what is Marxism, how can we uphold Marxism what is socialism and how can we build socialism, of which our understanding was not completely clear enough in the past. Our experience is rich enough, but what matters most is to clarify this question. Hence, at the beginning of the new period, our party insisted on combining Marxism with China’s realities, and car- ried out the in-depth theoretical exploration on how to build socialism in economically and culturally backward countries like China, marking the initiation of the new course of localized Marxism in China. In September 1982, Deng Xiaoping made it clear in the opening speech of the 12% CPC National Congress that “we should take our own path and build socialism with Chinese characteristics”. The proposition of this important conclusion _ Points out the direction of our Party’s theoretical and practical exploration _ In the new period.

From 1978 to 1992, our Party, under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, com- bined the basic principles of Marxism with the specific realities of China and the features of the times, put forward a series of creative ideas, and initially formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese charac- teristics. Deng Xiaoping, based on the new changes of the world situation,

clearly argued that “peace and development are two major problems of the .

contemporary world”, and that it was one of the three tasks in the new pe-

riod to oppose hegemonism and safeguard world peace; he also emphasized -

that we must insist on the basic line that takes the economic construction as the center and upholds the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening up, and establish the modernized socialist country of prosperity, democ- racy and civilization by “three steps”, given China’s national condition that China is and will be in the primary stage of socialism in the long run when the essential task is to develop the productivity; he also underscored that science and technology are the primary productive force and their modern- ization is the key to realizing the modernization of China, considering their new development situation in the world; that we should develop the social- ist democracy and construct the socialist legal system because there would be no socialism nor the socialist modernization if no democracy exists, and that we should grasp both the material and spiritual civilization with equal importance attached to each because the good development of the two is the real socialism with Chinese characteristics, since the socialism is the requirement of the society with an all-around development; that the social- ism can also adopt the market economy since both the plan and the market are the means rather than the essential difference between socialism and capitalism, according to the development law of the world economy and China’s realities; that we should construct a modern, strong and regular- ized revolutionary army and unswervingly take the path of fewer but bet- ter troops with Chinese characteristics, given the new requirements of the world military reform; that we should combine the Marxist theory of the state with the concrete realities of China, and propose solving the problems of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in accordance with the concept of “One Country, Two Systems”; that the key to China’s problems is the Party and we should thus concentrate on Party’s construction and make our Party a Marxist one with fighting capacity and a strong core that leads the whole nation in constructing the socialist modernization, according to the change of the Party’s historical orientation.

In the 13 CPC National Congress held in 1987, the theory of the primary stage of socialism was expounded in a systematic way, the Party’s basic line in this stage was proposed, the modernization goal of “being prosperous, democratic and civilized” was established, and the development strategy of realizing the modernization by three steps until the middle of the 21*

century was formulated. It was clearly indicated in this congress that the combination of Marxism with China’s practice experienced two great leaps. The first one occurred in the period of the new democratic revolution when the Chinese communists finally found the revolutionary path with Chinese characteristics and led the revolution to victory due to the repeatedly ex- ploration and the summary of experience in the successes and failures. The second one occurred when the Chinese communists began to find a way to build socialism with Chinese characteristics after the 3°? Plenary Session of the 11% CPC Central Committee by summing up the positive and nega- tive experience during the past more than 30 years since the founding of China and studying the international experience and world situation, which opened up a new stage of socialist construction. In the report of the 13° CPC National Congress, the new theoretical ideas proposed by our Party in the process of paving the socialist path with Chinese characteristics are reduced into 12 articles which constitute the outline and mark the initial for- mation of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Deng Xiaoping made a southern speech in 1992 in which he summed up a series of major issues concerning the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and proposed that the basic line should be kept for a hundred years, the criteria for judging all aspects of work should be “Three Favorables”, and that the essence of socialism is to liberate and develop the productive forces, eliminate exploitation and polarization between the rich and poor, and finally achieve the common prosperity. This speech boosted the ideological emancipation of the whole Party and Chinese people and ad- vanced the cause of reform and opening up. In 1992, the 14" CPC National Congress made a summary of the new idea of the theoretical innovations of our Party during the period when Deng Xiaoping reigned, which was called “Deng Xiaoping’s theory of building socialism with Chinese characteris- tics”. In 1997, the 15" CPC National Congress made a further summary and discussion on it and named it “Deng Xiaoping Theory”, which was included into the Party Constitution as the guiding ideology.

Third, the further development of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

Socialism encountered unprecedented sharp challenges in the world after the 13" CPC National Congress: the drastic changes in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. These events that shocked the world are the most serious and profound cri- ses when socialism turned from the theory into practice. The same situation happened domestically in the course of reform and development: political turmoil occurred; the economy was overheated and had to be improved and rectified; in terms of the system reform, no significant breakthrough Was made in state-owned enterprises, and a dual system existed for a long Socialism encountered unprecedented sharp challenges in the world after the 13" CPC National Congress: the drastic changes in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. These events that shocked the world are the most serious and profound cri- ses when socialism turned from the theory into practice. The same situation happened domestically in the course of reform and development: political turmoil occurred; the economy was overheated and had to be improved and rectified; in terms of the system reform, no significant breakthrough Was made in state-owned enterprises, and a dual system existed for a long

time with serious contradictions and loopholes due to the lagging reform in the state tax system, financial system and price system. The whole situa- tion was rather grim. In June 1989, the 4% Plenary Session of the 13" CPC Central Committee elected Jiang Zemin as the General Secretary of the Central Committee, and formed the third CPC collective leadership with

Jiang Zemin as the core. However, it became quite urgent for this new lead- .

ership to figure out how to continue promoting the socialist cause with

Chinese characteristics according to the new changes of the world, China.

and the Communist Party.

After the 4" Plenary Session of the 13% CPC Central Committee, the Communist Party of China with Jiang Zemin as the main representative con- tinued promoting the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics by putting forward a series of new ideas and new statements, and enriched and developed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteris- tics. Confronted with the austere political situation at home and abroad and the arduous task of the reform and development in the late 1980s and early 1990s, this new leadership stressed clearly that the lines and basic policies formulated since the 3" Plenary Session of the 11 CPC Central Committee should be maintained steadfastly and implemented comprehensively. Jiang Zemin pointed out that building socialism with Chinese characteristics was “a major project”, of which the basic ideas and principles have been es- tablished by Deng Xiaoping, and our task was to continue implementing this project in a good way. In this process, Jiang Zemin also proposed a series of innovative ideas, which are mainly manifested in the following 7 aspects. Firstly, he argued that the goal of economic system reform was to establish the socialist market economy system and that the combination of socialism with market economy was a great innovation, according to Deng Xiaoping’s important view that “socialism can also adopt the mar- ket economy”. Secondly, the basic economic system that public ownership plays the leading role and diverse forms of ownership develop side by side, the distribution system with distribution according to work being the main form and the multiple ways of distribution co-existing, and the basic po- litical system should be adhered to and improved, according to the basic principles of Marxism and the national conditions of China in the primary stage of socialism. Thirdly, he, combining the issue of development with the nature and power-exercising philosophy of our Party, made it clear that development was the first task of our Party in governing and rejuvenating the country, and that the advanced nature of our Party and the superior- ity of the socialist system should be put into practice to develop advanced productive forces, advanced culture, to realize the fundamental interests of the majority of the people, and to promote the all-round social progress and human development. Fourthly, the strategy of rejuvenating the country

through science and education, the strategy of sustainable development, and the opening-up strategy that combines “bringing in” with “going out” should be vigorously implemented, the new path of industrialization should be taken, and the rational layout and coordinated development of regional economy should be promoted. Fifthly, he stressed that according to the de- velopment and changes’ of the situation at home and abroad at the turn of the century, our Party should strengthen its construction under the new his- torical conditions, insist on examining itself according to the requirement of the times, improve itself at the spirit of reform, earnestly work out the two major historical problems of how to improve the Party’s leadership and governance capability and its ability to resist corruption and risk, compre- hensively promote the Party construction—-a new great project—so as to make it the Marxist political party that is utterly consolidated ideologically, politically, and organizationally, always ahead of the times, and can with- stand all kinds of risks and lead the whole nation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Sixthly, the national defense and army construction should be strengthened and the military reform with Chinese characteristics should be advanced in addition to the main tasks of developing the market economy and keeping the Party’s advanced nature, according to the new situation of the army and national defense construction in the new period. At last, the world multi-polarization and democratization of international relations should be boosted according to the new world situation after the cold war.

This new collective leadership with Jiang Zemin as the core adhered to the reform and opening up, kept pace with the times, led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the whole country through the po- litical storm, economic risks and other ordeals at home and abroad, and founded the important thought of “Three Represents” on the basis of a pro- found and accurate understanding of the situation changes of the world, China, and the Party. This important thought is a significant part of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the 16% CPC National Congress in 2002, the Party summed up the basic experience of our Party in leading people to build socialism with Chinese characteris- tics since reform and opening up, especially the 4 Plenary Session of the 13" Central Committee, expounded the fundamental requirements of the important thought of “Three Represents”, explicitly proposed the Party’s goal and guidelines and policies in various aspects in the first 20 years of the new century, and made a comprehensive deployment of the socialist economy, politics, culture, and Party building with Chinese characteristics, and other work. It is in this congress when the important thought of “Three Represents” was established along with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guiding ideology that our Party must adhere to for a long time, another time when our Party’s guiding ideology advanced with the times.

Fourth, opening of the new realm in the development of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

Since the 16 CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with _ Hu Jintao as its General Secretary, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and

the important thought of “Three Represents”, followed the development and changes of the situation at home and abroad, carried forward the spirit of seeking truth and forging ahead, continued promoting the theoretical and practical innovation, and proposed a series of important theoretical ideas, strategic thoughts and work arrangement and formed the newest achieve- ments of the socialist theoretical system with Chinese characteristics in the course of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In the new stage of the new century, our Party, starting from the history and the times, the basic national conditions of China at the primary stage, the stage characteristics and practice of China’s development, the world development trend, the development experience of foreign countries, and the new development requirements, puts forward a series of ideas, such as being people-oriented, realizing the comprehensive, coordinated and sus- tainable development, building the harmonious socialist society, the new socialist countryside, the innovation-driven country, the socialist core val- ues system, and the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, and boosting the construction of a harmonious world, which together answered such ba- sic questions as what socialism is and how to build it. Facing the opportuni- ties and challenges in the 21* century, our Party has made it clear that the construction of its advanced nature is the essence of the Marxist party to survive, develop and expand. As a result, the Party’s governing capacity and advanced nature construction should be taken as the main line of the Party’s construction, the great new project that should be comprehensively promoted at the spirit of the reform and innovation, so as to make the Party always the arduous, honest, clean, energetic, united and harmonious ruling party of Marxism built for the public and exercising state power for the people, and seeking truth and being pragmatic. Centering on this goal, the CPC Central Committee has put forward a series of important new ideas on strengthening and improving the Party’s construction in the new stage of the new century. Centering on the central issue of development, our Party has made a creative exploration of what development is, why and how to develop, for whom the development is, on whom the development depends, who is to share the development achievements and other major issues, and emphasized the correct understanding and proper treatment of the major relations related to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to strive for scientific, harmonious and peaceful development. In the

17* CPC National Congress, the historical status and background, scientific connotation, spiritual essence and fundamental requirements of the scien- tific outlook on development were profoundly elaborated and taken as an important guideline for China’s economic and social development and a major strategic thought that has to be adhered to and carried out for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Since the founding of the New China, especially the reform and opening up, our Party’s theories and practices have been centering on the theme of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is during the process of the re- form and opening up when the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics was formed and developed. Deng Xiaoping Theory, “Three Represents” and the scientific outlook on development, formed in different periods, focused on exploring and answering the new contradictions and new problems encountered at different periods and different stages, and made their unique contributions to both theoretical innovation and theoreti- cal development. They are interconnected and progressive layer by layer, reflecting the inherent consistency of the scientific system, stage achieve- ments and developmental requirements of our Party’s theoretical innova- tion achievements since the new period. They were summarized as “the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics” in the 17% CPC National Congress, which marks the further maturity of the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In 2011, when commemorating the 90" anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao further pointed out: “We have embarked on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed a system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and estab- lished a socialist system with Chinese characteristics. These achievements made over 90 years of endeavors, innovation, and enrichment, should be valued, upheld on a long-term basis and continuously built upon by our Party and people.” In this speech Comrade Hu Jintao, for the first time used the term of theoretical socialist system with Chinese characteristics” into the overall! framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which has further deepened our Party ‘s understanding of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.’

In 1990, when commemorating the 90" anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao further pointed out: “We have embarked on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed a system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and estab- lished a socialist system with Chinese characteristics. These achievements made over 90 years of endeavors, innovation, and enrichment, should be

3 See Hu Jintao, “Speech at the 90" Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party”, Beijing, People's Publishing House, 2011.

valued, upheld on a long-term basis and continuously built upon by our Party and people.” In this speech Comrade Hu Jintao, for the first time used the term of “theoretical socialist system with Chinese characteristics” into the overall framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which has further deepened our Party ‘s understanding of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

Theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its main contents

First, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics: a scientific theoretical system with a rich compound

It was clearly stated in the report of the 17" CPC National Congress that “the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics mainly in- cludes Deng Xiaoping Theory, “Three represent”, and the scientific outlook on development”, which is a brand new generalization of this theoretical system. Looking back to the development process of the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics, we can see clearly that our Party’s generaliza- tion of this theoretical system is deepening in a gradual way.

In the 13% CPC National Congress in 1987, the new ideas formed in our Party’s theoretical exploration on socialism with Chinese characteris- tics were divided into 12 aspects which have constituted the outline of the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics, preliminarily answered the basic questions of China’s socialist construction, such as the stages, task, motivation, conditions, layout and international environment, and planned the scientific track of our way forward.

In 1992, the Party’s 14" National Congress summarized the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics from 9 aspects. The 14 National Congress of the Communist Party of China made it clear that the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the product of the inte- gration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the reality of present-day China and the special features of our times, a continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought, a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the entire Party membership and the whole Chinese people, and an intellectual treasure belonging to them all.*

4 CPCCC Party Literature Research Office: “Selection of Important Literature since the 14" National Congress” (Vol. D, p. 13, Beijing, Central Literature Publishing House, 1996.

In 1997, when explaining the historical status and guiding significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the 15° National Congress of the Communist Party of China explicitly pointed out for the first time: “Deng Xiaoping Theory constitutes a new, scientific system of the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has been gradually formed and developed under the historical conditions in which peace and development have become the main themes of the times, in the practice of China’s reform, opening up and modernization drive, and on the basis of reviewing the historical experi- ence of successes and setbacks of socialism in China and learning from the historical experience of the rise and fall of other socialist countries. For the first time it has given preliminary but systematic answers to a series of basic questions concerning the path to socialism in China, the stages of develop- ment, the fundamental tasks, the motive force, the external conditions, the political guarantee, the strategic steps, Party leadership, the forces to be relied on, and the reunification of the motherland. It has guided our Party in formulating the basic line for the primary stage of socialism. It is a fairly complete scientific system which embraces philosophy, political economy and scientific socialism and covers, among other things, the economy, poli- tics, science and technology, education, culture, ethnic, military and foreign affairs, the united front and Party building. It is also a scientific system which needs to be further enriched and developed in all aspects.

In July 2003, after the formation of the important thought of the “Three Represents”, at the theoretical seminar on the important thought of the “Three Represents”, Comrade Hu Jintao made commented: The important Thought of the Three Represents, has solved the major issues concerning the ideological line, the path of development, development stages, devel- opment ways, the fundamental tasks, the motive forces of development, the comprehensive national power, the international strategy, the leading forces, and the fundamental goals of socialism with Chinese characteris- tics. The Thought of Three Represents fulfills the common wishes of the Chinese people and forms the foundation of nation building in the new cen- tury. This thought enriches and develops the basic tenets of Marxism with a series of new ideas, views and theses and profoundly embodies the integra- tion of history with reality in the development of the theory of Marxism, it has answered a series of questions on what socialism is, and how to build it, which are closely linked and integrated. The important thought of Three Represents creatively takes the theory of building the party in office as its main subject and answers what kind of party we should build, and how to build it.

3. CPCCC Party Literature Research Office: “Selection of Important Literature since the 16 National Congress” (Vol. I), p.361, Beijing, Central Literature Publishing House, 2005.

Since the 16" CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee taking Hu Jintao as the General Secretary, starting from the overall situation of the Party and the country in the stage of the new century, has profoundly sum- marized the lessons and experience in the foreign and domestic economic and social development, constantly advanced the theoretical innovations, and explicitly proposed a series of major strategic thoughts, such as the scientific outlook on development, the construction of the harmonious socialist society, the innovation-driven country and the new socialist countryside, the strength- ening of the construction of the Party’s governance capacity and advanced nature, the building of the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, and the path of peaceful development. These important strategic thoughts are elabo- rated around the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics.

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is always elucidated around the four closely related basic questions: what is Marxism and how to deal with it, what is socialism and how to build it, what kind of party is to be built and how to build it, and what kind of development is to be achieved and how to achieve it, with a rich compound. In terms of the first question, the system stresses that Marxism keeps pace with the times and its essence is to seek truth from facts, which provides a creative answer to how to adhere to and develop Marxism under the new historical conditions, enriches and develops Marxism with a series of new thoughts and ideas, and opens up a new realm for Marxism in China. In terms of the second question, the system creatively answers how to build, consolidate and develop socialism in a country with backward economic and cultural background after the establishment of the socialist system, and provides a series of new thoughts and ideas on how to develop socialism by not only upholding the basic principles of scientific socialism but also considering the conditions of the times and people’s desire, which has raised our Party’s understanding of socialism to a new level. As for the third question, the system answers in a creative way how to adhere to the Party’s foundation, consolidate the ruling foundation and strengthen the power source when the Party’s historical orientation experiences profound changes, and puts forward a series of new ideas that the nature of the Marxist ruling party should be adhered to, the Party’s governance capacity be improved, and the Party’s advanced nature be maintained and developed, which have enriched and developed the Marxist theory of Party construction. In terms of the fourth question, the system gives a creative answer to what development is, why it is necessary to develop, how to develop, for whom the development is, on whom the development depends, who is to share the development achievements, and proposes a series of new thoughts and ideas on develop- ment connotation, concepts, thoughts and problems, and on how to achieve scientific development, which elevates our Party’s understanding of devel- opment issues to an unprecedentedly high level.

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is sci- entific in that it is in line with Marxism-Leninism, the essential guiding ideology for our Party and country to be well-established and the action guide and powerful ideological weapon for us to learn about and transform the world, and advances with’ the times. It is the outcome of the combina- tion of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and the characteristics of the times. It adheres to the Marxist world outlook and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, to the highest ideal and value pursuit of communism, to the leading core—the proletariat—and the power source of the history—the broad masses of the people, to the fundamental task—emancipating and developing productive forces, to the essential characteristics of socialist democratic politics— people are the masters of the country, to the guiding position of Marxism in the field of Marxist ideology, and to the fundamental driving force of the socialist development—reform and innovation. By adhering to and ap- plying the basic principles of Marxism on scientific socialism, this system analyzes the realities of the world and contemporary China, and thus makes a series of theoretical innovations and embodies the spirit of keeping pace with the times. It is a model of upholding and developing Marxism as well as a scientific theory consistent with Marxism-Leninism.

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a theoretical system which is in line with Mao Zedong Thought and keeps pace with the times. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese char- acteristics has its profound theoretical roots in Mao Zedong Thought and it is a continuation and development of Mao Zedong’s arduous exploration and achievements regarding laws of building socialism. As Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “we have been restoring the correct things advocated by Comrade Mao Zedong, The basic points of Mao Zedong Thought are still those we have enumerated. In many respects, we are doing things Comrade Mao suggested but failed to do himself, setting right his erroneous opposi- tion to certain things and accomplishing some things that he did not. All this we shall continue to do for a fairly long time. Of course, we have developed Mao Zedong Thought and will go on developing it.”

Both Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics insist on emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, adopting the Party’s mass line and walk- ing on its own way independently. This is their common ground on the basic aspects, such as the positions, views, methods, etc.. Today, these two should be still upheld and developed.

6 Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, 2nd Edition, Volume 2, p. 300, Beijing, People‘s

Publishing House, 1994.

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a con- stantly developing and open theoretical system. It is also true for Marxism. It is clearly stated in the report of the 17" CPC National Congress: The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is an open sys- tem that keeps developing. Keeping pace with the times is the theoreti- cal quality of Marxism and theoretical innovation is an essential feature of Marxism and an inexhaustible source of its vitality forever. Practices since the publication of the “Communist Manifesto” nearly 160 years ago have proved that only when Marxism is integrated with the conditions of a spe- cific country, advances in step with the times and is tied to the destiny of the people can it demonstrate its strong vitality, creativity and its appeal. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as the lat- est theoretical achievement in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions, the Party’s invaluable political and intellectual asset, is also an open theoretical system itself and also a scientific system that requires constant enrichment and development. As a new great revolution, reform and opening up cannot win an easy victory and cannot be accomplished in one go.

Over the past 30 years of reform and opening up, the socialism with Chinese characteristics has made remarkable achievements. China has scored achievements in development that have captured world attention. However, the basic reality that China is still in the primary stage of social- ism and will remain so for a long time to come has not changed, nor has Chinese society’s principal contradiction-the one between the ever-grow- ing material and cultural needs of the people and the low level of social production. Our country is the largest developing country in the world. Its international status has not changed.”

Meanwhile, quite a lot of difficulties and problems still exist in the course of continuing to promote the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics. All the achievements and progress made over the past 30 years of develop- ment can be essentially owed to the fact that our Party has paved the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Looking into the future and in order to solve the complex problems in the development of the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics and seize the new victory of building a well-off society in a comprehensive way, our Party is required to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unswervingly follow the socialist path with Chinese characteristics, and continue to deepen the study of the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics; to insist on the scientific Marxist principle and spirit, be good at grasping the objective changes and summarizing the fresh experience created by the people in practice, enrich

7 Hu Jintao: Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 90" Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, p. 20.

and develop the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteris- tics, continuously endow the contemporary Chinese Marxism with distinc- tive features in terms of the practice, nation and times, constantly open up new horizons for the Marxist theoretical development, and strive to a wider socialist path with Chinese characteristics.

Second, the main contents of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics runs through the important strategic thoughts: Deng Xiaoping Theory, “Three Represents” and the scientific outlook on development. It is unified and scientific in that it has formed a series of interconnected basic views on such major issues as the socialist development path, development stage, fundamental task, development motivation, external conditions, political guarantee, strategic steps, leadership and supporting group, and reunifica- tion of the motherland. It includes the following 14 aspects:

———The ideological line. It is the essence of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as the soul of Deng Xiaoping Theory, “Three Represents”, and the scientific outlook on development. It stresses emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, starting from the reality, examining and developing the truth in practice, vigorously carrying forward the spirit of seeking truth and being pragmatic, vigorously promoting the theoretical and practical innovation, and making efforts to realize the ideological liberation, theoretical develop- ment and practical creations.

The fundamental task. It is the central issue of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It stresses that development is the key to solving all problems in China. In essence, socialism is to liberate and develop the productive forces, eliminate exploitation and polarization, and finally achieve common prosperity. We should adhere to the unity of the center—economic construction—and the two basic points—the four basic principles and the reform and opening up, and to the principle of focusing on construction and development, grasp the development laws, innovate the development concept, transform the development mode, solve the de- velopment problems, improve the development quality and efficiency, and Strive to achieve the scientific, harmonious and peaceful development.

The development stage and development strategies. It is the strate- gic goal and grand blueprint proposed by our Party according to the basic national conditions of contemporary China. It is emphasized that we should be soberly aware that China is and will be for a long time in the primary tage of socialism and that the main contradiction of the society is the con- flict between the growing material and cultural needs of the masses and the

backward social production. We should accurately grasp the stage charac- teristics of China’s development, make full use of the important strategic period, better implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening China through talents, and the strategy of sustainable development, adhere to the basic require- ments of comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development and the basic methods of making overall plans and taking all factors into consid- eration, comprehensively promote the economic, political, cultural, social and ecological construction according to the four-to-one overall layout, and realize enough food and clothing, the well-off society and modernization through three steps, and build a strong, prosperous, democratic and civi- lized modern socialist country.

The development motivation. It stems from the profound under- standing of the contradiction movement between the socialist productive forces and productive relations, and the economic base and the superstruc- ture, and reveals the vitality source of the development and progress of our Party and country. It emphasizes that the reform and opening up, a new great revolution, is the path to the powerful nation. We should always ad- here to the correct direction of reform and opening up, carry out the spirit of reform and innovation to all aspects of country governance, promote the reform of all areas, and advance the self-improvement and development of our socialist system. In addition, we should improve the scientific nature of the reform decision-making and the coordination of concrete measures, and correctly understand and properly handle the relationship among the reform, development and stability. At last, we should adhere to the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world, make it happen in = as- pects, a higher level and wider areas, better combine the “bringing in” and “going out”, and form the new advantage of participating in international economic cooperation and competition at the background of the economic globalization.

The fundamental purpose. It reflects the starting point and foothold of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and our Party’s fun- damental purpose—-serving the people wholeheartedly. It is emphasized that the Party should always be built for the public and exercise power for people, adhere to the principle of being people-oriented, uphold the peo- ple’s principal role in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, carry forward the people’s initiative spirit, realize, maintain and develop the fundamental interests of the majority of the people, safeguard people’s var!- ous rights and interests, promote people’s all-round development, so as to realize the development for the people, development relying on the people, and development achievements shared by the people.

~——The economic construction. It stresses that we should establish and improve the socialist market economy system, adhere to and improve the basic economic system that public ownership plays the leading role and diverse forms of ownership develop side by side, accelerate the transfor- mation of the economic development mode, and vigorously promote the strategic adjustment of the economic structure. By adhering to the status of science and technology as the first productive force, we should improve the independent innovation capability, promote the coordinated development between urban and rural areas, improve the macro-control system and the level of open economy, and promote the sound and fast development of the national economy. The civilized development path that we develop through production, enjoy in affluence, live in ecologically good environment.

The political construction. It emphasizes that people’s democracy is the life of socialism and thus we must adhere to the political development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the organic unity of CPC’s leadership, people’s status as the masters of the country and ruling by law, adhere to and improve the people’s congress system, the CPC-led multi- party cooperation and political consultation system, the system of national regional autonomy and the grass-roots democratic system, and constantly promote the self-improvement and development of the political socialist system. We should adhere to the correct political direction, deepen the po- litical system reform, ensure the people’s status as the masters of the coun- try, set the goal of enhancing the vitality of the Party and the country and mobilizing people’s enthusiasm, expand socialist democracy, build a so- cialist country ruled by law and develop the political socialist civilization.

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The cultural construction. It stresses that we need to adhere to the direction of advanced culture, vigorously develop the national, scientific and popular socialist culture that is oriented to modernization, the world, and the future, promote the socialist cultural development and prosper- ity, and give rise to a new upsurge of the socialist cultural construction. By adhering to the guiding position of Marxism in the field of ideology, equipping people with the scientific theory, guiding people with the right public opinion, shaping people with the lofty spirit, inspiring people with excellent works, and approaching the reality, the life, and the masses, we should focus on constructing the socialist core values system, consolidat- ing and expanding the mainstream ideological public opinion, promoting cultural innovation, deepening cultural system reform, developing cultural undertakings and industries, and improving the soft power of the national culture, so as to make the people’s basic cultural rights and interests bet- ter guaranteed, the social and cultural life more colorful and people more high-spirited.

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The social (society) construction. It stresses that social harmony is the essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics. As a result, to guarantee and improve people’s livelihood must be carried out as a major task that concerns the overall situation, so as to promote social fairness and justice and enable all people to live a decent and dignified life in which they can be taught when they want to learn, get paid when they work, get treated. when they are ill, be looked after properly when they turn old, and have a place for them to live in. We should also adhere to and improve the distribu- tion system with distribution according to work being the main form and multiple ways of distribution co-existing, and promote the participation of such productive forces as the labor, capital, technology and management into the distribution. Special efforts shall be made to solve the most direct and realistic issue of interests that concern people the most, to correctly handle the contradictions among the people, to maximize the social vitality for creations and the harmonious factors, and to minimize the factors of disharmony.

———The national defense and army building. It stresses that we should, standing at the height of the national security and development strategy, integrate the economic construction with national defense construction, ad- here to the Party’s absolute leadership in the army and to the fundamental purpose of the people’s army, implement the strategic military guideline in the new period, accelerate the military reform with Chinese character- istics, comprehensively strengthen and coordinate the advancement of the revolutionary construction, modernization and normalization of the army, and resolutely safeguard the integrity of the state sovereignty, security and territory, so as to make the prosperous country powerful in its army as well.

——-Basic forces it depends on. It stresses that the working class in- cluding intellectuals, and the broad masses of farmers are the fundamental strength that promotes the development of advanced productive forces and the all-round social progress in our country; and the social classes newly emerging in the social transformation are constructors of the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics. We should fully implement the guideline of respecting the labor, the knowledge, the talent, and the creation, mobilize all positive factors in the broadest and fullest way, develop and expand the patriotic united front, unite all forces that can be united, and promote the harmony of party relations, ethnic relations, religious relations, relations among social strata, and relations among foreign and domestic compatriots at home and abroad.

Promoting the great cause of the national reunification. We must un- swervingly implement the highly autonomous principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Hong Kong self-rule”, and “Macao self-rule” and act strict- ly by the basic laws of the special administrative region, so as to maintain

the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao; adhere to the principle of “peaceful reunification, and One Country, Two Systems”, the 8 proposals for developing the cross-straits relations and promoting the peaceful reunification process of the country, and the four points of view on the development of the cross-strait relations under the new situation, so as to initiate a new situation of the cross-strait relations and achieve the complete reunification of the-country.

The foreign diplomacy and international strategy. It stresses that we should hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, the independent foreign policy of peace, and the opening-up strategy of mutual benefit and win-win result, and develop itself through the maintenance of world peace and maintain world peace through its own development. Besides, we should develop the friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence and promote the construction of a harmonious world characteristic with lasting peace and common prosper- ity; the national sovereignty, security and development interests shall be safeguarded.

The leadership core. It makes clear the leadership and fundamen- tal guarantee of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is emphasized that the key to China’s problems lies in the Party and thus the Party con- struction, a new great project, should be connected with the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and be strengthened at the spirit of reform and innovation. It thus follows that we shall adhere to the prin- cipal line of the Party’s governing capacity and advanced nature construc- tion, persist in policing itself and imposing strict discipline on its members, strengthen the Party’s ideological, organizational, work-style, institutional, and anti-corruption construction, so that the Party will always be the strong leadership core of the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics.

Generally speaking, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is not only a scientific, integrated and logically rigorous sys- tem in that it involves various aspects such as reform, development and sta- bility, the domestic and foreign affairs and the national defense, and the ad- ministration of the Party, country and army, and covers the construction in such various areas as the economy, politics, culture, society, Party, national defense and army modernization, but also an open one that is constantly developing and will continue to enrich and develop with the development of the socialist practice with Chinese characteristics.

Historical status, role and guiding significance of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics

First, The correct theory guiding the Chinese people to victories in reform and opening and in promoting socialist modernization

The 17® National Congress of the Communist Party of China has writ- ten the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the party constitution and clearly pointed out that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics “upholds, develops and represents the Party’s adherence to and development of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and embodies the wisdom and hard work of several gen- erations of Chinese Communists leading the people in carrying out tireless explorations and practices. It is the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions, the Party’s invaluable political and intellectual asset, and the common ideological foundation for the concerted endeavor of the people of all ethnic groups.”

This is our party’s high evaluation of the historical status and guid- 24 ing significance of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and reflects the common aspirations of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country.

In the final analysis, the historical position of a scientific theory is deter- mined by practice and determined by its historical pros and cons. Since the reform and opening-up for the past 30 plus years and more, under the guid- ance of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we have achieved rapid and steady long-term development that was unprec- edented in modern times and has won great successes that have attracted worldwide attention. From 1978 to 2007, China’s GDP has increased from 364.5 billion yuan to 24.95 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 9.8%. This is more than three times the growth rate (annual) of the world economy. China’s total economic aggregate has risen to fourth rank in the world fourth. We rely on our own strength in solving the food problem of our 1.3 billion people. China’s total import-export volume has increased from 20.6 billion US dollars to 2.1737 trillion US dollars, ranking third in the world. Its foreign exchange reserves rank the first in the world, consequently China’s foreign investments has increased substantially. And actually utilized foreign capital investments in China has reached nearly

8 CPCCC Party Literature Research Office: “Selection of Important Literature since the 17" National Congress” (Vol.D, p.9, Beijing, Central Literature Publishing House, 2009.

100 billion US dollars. The per capita disposable income of urban residents in China increased from 343 yuan to 13,786 yuan, an increase of 6.5 times in real terms. The per capita net income of farmers has increased from 134 yuan to 4,140 yuan, an increase of 6.3 times in real terms. The number of poor people in rural areas has dropped from 250 million to about 14 mil- lion. Urban per capita housing construction area and rural per capita hous- ing area has doubled. We can see that people’s household property, food, drinking and living standards have seen significant improvement.

The constant enhancement of the economic strength and comprehensive national strength, the remarkable achievements in political, cultural and so- cial construction and the well-off status of people’s living standards on the whole, and the historic changes of the Chinese people, the socialist China and the Communist Party of China, prove that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the correct theory that has guided the Chinese people in successfully promoting the socialist modernization in the reform and opening up. In contemporary China, none but this theo- retical system can instruct us to achieve the state prosperity and people’s affluence and complete the historical task of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Second, the basic goal of building a moderately well-off society

Since the reform and opening up, especially after entering the new stage of the new century, we have made steady steps towards the goal of build- ing a well-off society in an all-round way which is supposed to be reached by 2020. In the course towards this goal, we face not only important de- velopment opportunities but also many contradictions and problems which are manifested in the following 8 aspects. First of all, the structural con- tradiction and extensive economic development mode formed in a long time remain without fundamental changes, with the relatively low-level productive forces and the less strong capability of independent innovation. Secondly, the institutional and mechanism obstacles in the development and the deep-level contradictions and problems in the further reform in dif- ficult areas still exist. Thirdly, the trend of the widening income distribution gap has not been fundamentally reversed with the number of urban and tural poverty-stricken people and low-income people still considerable and the overall consideration of interests in all areas more difficult. Fourthly, the task of narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas and different regions and promoting the socially and economically coordinated develop- ment remains arduous considering the unchanged weak agricultural foun- dation and lagging rural development. Fifthly, the political system reform needs deepening since the construction of democracy and legal system is not fully adapted to the requirements of expanding people’s democracy and economic and social development. Sixthly, people have increasing spiritual

and cultural needs and their thoughts and activities are increasingly inde- pendent, variable, and diverse with more choices, which poses higher re- quirements for the development of advanced socialist culture. Seventhly, the social structure, social organizational form and social interests pattern have undergone profound changes, and the social construction and man- agement are facing many new problems. Eighthly, the increasingly intense international competition, the advantages of the developed countries in the economy and science and technology over developing countries, and the increasing predictable and unpredictable risks, form a higher requirement for making overall plans of the domestic development and opening up to the outside world. In the face of such complex contradictions and problems and difficulties and challenges ahead, and in order to continue to promote reform and opening up and modernization, we have to adopt the scientific theory as the guidance. Only by adhering to the theoretical system of so- cialism with Chinese characteristics can we have a clearer understanding of the basic national conditions, the stage characteristics of development, and the objective laws of the socialist construction in our country, put forward the correct solutions to these contradictions and problems, and smoothly advance the great cause of building a well-off society in an all-round way and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Third, common ideological basis for the struggles of the whole party and people from all nationalities

Common ideological foundation is the fundamental premise so that a party, a country and a nation can depend on and can maintain its existence and development. Without a common ideological foundation, the party will collapse and the country will be dissolved and its people will be divided. Mao Zedong emphasized: it is of great importance in achieving a common language in the Party, and that socialist countries should have “the will of unity”. Deng Xiaoping emphasized: “in order to advance our cause “the most important thing is the unity of people. To achieve unity, people must have common ideals and firm convictions.” Jiang Zemin pointed out: “Ifa country does not have its own spiritual supporting pillar, it means that it has no soul, and will lose its national cohesion and vitality.”?

Hu Jintao pointed out: “lofty ideals and firm convictions are the great banners that unite people and inspire them to make new progress. They are the source of strength to overcome difficulties and win new victories.”'°

9 Selected Works of Jiang Zemin, Vol.2, pp.230-231, Beijing, People’s Publishing House, 2006. 10 CPCCC Party Literature Research Office: “Selection of Important Literature since the 16 National Congress” (Vol. II) p.729, Beijing, Central Literature Publishing House, 2008.

As a new social system, socialism is not only a social movement, but also a pursuit of the ideal and value, which definitely requires us to unify people’s thoughts with the common thought and will. The Soviet Union gave us a lesson on what kind of theory can be used to unify the Party’s and people’s thoughts. In the Soviet Union, the Party’s theory was rather unat- tractive to the Party members and the masses considering the long-standing ideological rigidity and prevalence of dogmatism within the Party. After coming, into power, Gorbachev put forward “the humane and democratic socialism”, “new thinking”, “openness”, “democratization”, “pluralistic guiding ideology”, “political pluralism”, and “multi-party system”, which confused the thoughts of party members and the masses. Some western scholars explained that the reason for the collapse of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was “the disintegration of the Marxist theory”, which deprived the socialist system of its legitimacy. It shows that we should not only adhere to Marxism but also develop Marxism and unify people’s thoughts and guide the practice with the developing Marxism. The ruling party with more than 80 million party members, confronted with a popu- lation of more than 1.3 billion in China, profound changes in the inter- national and domestic environment, and people’s diverse, variable, and pluralistic views and ideas, must adhere to the education of the Party and people with the developing Marxism and the theoretical system of social- ism with Chinese characteristics. This theoretical system, integrating the socialist development with the historical task of national rejuvenation, the realization of socialist modernization with the common prosperity of the people, and the national security, danger, honor and disgrace with people’s happiness, is the strong spiritual force leading and inspiring the people of all ethnic groups in the country and the backbone conquering all risks and challenges. Only by unifying the thoughts of the whole party and the people with this system can the people of different social classes and different in- terest groups be able to get united to the largest extent and work together for the common goal.

Fourth, a new breakthrough in the development of Marxist theory

Marx and Engels discussed the possibility of constructing socialism and how to build it in countries with backward economy and culture but failed to put it into practice for the absence of conditions. Lenin made some ex- plorations according to Russia’s realities, turned socialism from theory to reality, and achieved valuable results. Based on the experience of the Soviet Union and China’s realities, Mao Zedong made deep reflections and practi- cal explorations, which resulted in many creative ideas. However, Marxist classical writers cannot provide ready-made answers for how to build, consolidate and develop socialism in China today. Deng Xiaoping said: We cannot expect Marx to provide ready answers to questions that arise a

hundred or several hundred years after his death, nor can we ask Lenin to give answers to questions that arise fifty or a hundred years after his death. A true Marxist-Leninist must understand, carry on and develop Marxism- Leninism in light of the current situation."

After the 3 Plenary Session of the 11" CPC Central Committee, our Party has been soberly aware that building socialism cannot proceed from the books nor from the inherent mode but from the concrete realities of China. It is stressed that we should not only adhere to the basic principles of Marxism and carry forward the revolutionary tradition but also compose a new epic of Marxism, create new experience, and guide the new prac- tice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics with the developing Marxism. Our party has combined the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete practical realities of contemporary China, paved the socialist path with Chinese characteristics, formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, systematically answered the major theoretical and practical problems of how to build, consolidate and develop socialism in China, added new content and made historic contributions to the Marxist theory.

Ideological Line of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

The enrichment and development of the party’s ideological line Theoretical qualities and essence of Marxism

First, the re-establishment (correction) of the party's ideological line

world outlook and methodology hold by people in the activities of under- standing and reforming the world. The fundamental question that it wants to answer and solve is the relationship between the subjective and objective and that between theory and practice. This question is in fact the concrete embodiment in actual work of the basic philosophical question, namely, the relationship between matter and consciousness and that between be- ing and thinking. Dialectical materialism and historical materialism are sci- entific world outlook and methodology; the fundamental cognitive line of dialectical materialism and historical materialism and the ideological line of the proletariat and its political party is to proceed from reality in all work, achieve correspondence between subjectivity and objectivity, and integrate theory with practice.

The ideological line of the CPC is to proceed from reality in all work, integrate theory with practice, seek truth from facts and verify and develop the truth through practice. An important content and a scientific summary of this ideological line is to emancipate the mind, seek truth from facts, and advance with the times. However, seen from the historical development, emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times, were not proposed at the same time but experienced a process of continuous enrichment and development. It can be said that Mao Zedong

“Ideological line”, philosophically called cognitive line, refers to the Rae

created this ideological line during the New Democratic Revolution, and summarized it as “seeking truth from facts”. Deng Xiaoping re-established and developed it in the new period of socialist construction and summa- rized it as “emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts”. Jiang Zemin further developed it in the new century and summarized it as “eman- cipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times”.

During the period from the 1920s to 1930s, the “left-dogmatism” and the right-dogmatism in the CPC, especially the “left-dogmatism” repre- sented by Wang Ming, carried out the cognitive line of proceeding from books only. Divorced from the actual situation of the Chinese society and the Chinese revolution, they blindly copied the experience of the October Revolution (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the resolutions of the Communist International. They depended on rote memorization of the books of Marxism-Leninism to solve the extremely complex problem in China, namely how should China carry out revolution in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, which almost drove the Chinese revolution to the last ditch. The CPC, represented by Mao Zedong, followed the cognitive line of proceeding from reality in all work and combined the basic prin- ciples of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete reality of the Chinese revo- lution. Their shifts depending on time, place and conditions had repeatedly saved Chinese revolution. In the actual activities of leading the Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong deeply realized the harm of dogmatism and book- ishness inconsistent with the reality of China to the CPC. In order to over- come various wrong ideas widely found in the Party and ensure the smooth development of the Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong summed up the basic cognitive line of dialectical materialism and historical materialism—pro- ceeding from the realities—with four characters “seeking truth from facts” in the 1940s, and established it as the ideological line of the Chinese com- munists. Under the guidance of this ideological line, the Chinese com- munists overcame the obstacles on the way forward, found China’s own revolutionary path, won the new-democratic revolution and established the People’s Republic of China. After the founding of the new China, under the guidance of this ideological line, the Chinese communists quickly restored the national economy, successfully realized the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts and capitalist industry, established a socialist sys- tem and developed the socialist economy, politics and culture.

In the 1980s, during the struggle against the wrong thinking of “Two Whatevers”, Deng Xiaoping mentioned “emancipating the mind” and “seeking truth from facts” together, proposed a new summary of the fun- damental cognitive line of dialectical materialism and historical material- ism according with the needs of the development of times, re-established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and added “emancipating

the mind” to this ideological line, so as to break the long-standing social situation characteristic with the ideological rigidity, ideological conserva- tism and ideological confinement, eliminate the ideological restraints of personal superstition and personal worship on the whole Party and all the people, get rid of the harmful’effects of the “Cultural Revolution” and cre- ate a new historical development period. Guided by the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the whole Party and all the people started from the reality of the primary stage of socialism, made trials and errors, and have created a socialist path with Chinese characteris- tics and made great groundbreaking achievements on this path.

Second, the enrichment and development of the ideological line

Just after entering the 21" century, in the report of the 16 National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Jiang Zemin pointed out: “Persisting in the party’s ideological line, emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times are the decisive elements for our party to adhere and maintain to its advanced nature and enhance its creativity.”

&

This new argument is the new summary of the fundamental cognitive line of dialectical materialism and historical materialism made by the Chinese communists in the new stage of the new century, according to the new situa- tion, new tasks and new requirements. This new summary is consistent with the development needs of the times. It not only adheres to the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, but also adds the new content of “advancing with the times” to this ideological line.

In January 2004, at the 3" Plenary Meeting of the Discipline Inspection Committee of CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Hu Jintao put forward the new requirements of “being realistic and pragmatic” to the whole Party. The essence of being realistic and pragmatic is to ask the whole Party to continuously seek for the truth of the basic national condi- tions in the primary stage of socialism in China and adhere to long-term and arduous struggle; seek the law of socialist construction and human social development, and do a good job at development which is the first priority of the Party in governing and rejuvenating the country; seek the historical status and function of the masses, and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people; seek the law of the governance by the communist party and strengthen and improve the Party construction. To adhere to being realistic and pragmatic, we should strive to: effectively strengthen ideological education, constantly improve the consciousness of the party members and cadres of being realistic and pragmatic; insist on serving the people wholeheartedly, and straighten out the relationship with the masses; correctly understand the national conditions, formulate the guidelines and policies and carry out the work according to the national conditions; understand, grasp, follow and apply the laws. In short, being realistic and pragmatic is to closely focus on the implementation of the work of the Party and the country, put theory into practice, translate idea into action and achieve results.

From “seeking truth from facts” established by Mao Zedong to Deng

Xiaoping’s “emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts”, to Jiang —

Zemin’s “emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts and advancing with the times”, and to the new demand of “being realistic and pragmatic” put forward by the former General Secretary Hu Jintao, we can clearly see the continuous enrichment and development of the ideological line of the CPC in revolution, construction and reform practice. With such a continu- ous enrichment and development, the various undertakings of the Party and China have been given a strong spiritual driving force, and the Party’s theo- retical innovation given a fountain head.

Development Stages of Socialism and the Strategies to Develop Socialism in the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Fundamental Task of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Main Ways of Developing of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Ultimate Purpose of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Economic System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Building Socialist Democratic Politics with Chinese Characteristics

Building a Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics

Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and What Kind of a Society to Build?

The Basic Forces in Developing of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the Concept of "One Country Two Systems" and the Reunification of China

Peaceful Foreign Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics

The Concept and Practice of the Core of Leadership of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics