The Key to Comprehensively Building a Modern Socialist Country Lies in the Communist Party of China

In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "The key to comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies in the Party." This statement has profound implications and is a very important thesis for understanding the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. I believe it can be grasped from at least the following three aspects.

习近平总书记在中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会上的报告中强调：“全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，关键在党。”这句话内涵很深刻，是理解中共二十大精神一个十分重要的论断。我感到，至少可以从下述三个方面去把握。

First, the key to the great achievements and great transformations created in the ten years of the New Era lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

一是，新时代十年创造的伟大成就、实现的伟大变革，关键在于中国共产党的领导。

Over the course of its century-long struggle, the Communist Party of China has been tempered to become increasingly strong and capable, with strong political leadership, ideological guidance, and the ability to mobilise and organise. During the ten years of the New Era, the Communist Party of China has withstood tests of risks and challenges from political, economic, ideological, and natural aspects; on schedule, it won the largest battle against poverty in human history, realised moderate prosperity – the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation – promoted historic achievements and historic transformations in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and propelled China onto a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The most fundamental reason for all these achievements lies in the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China in exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all quarters, in the helm-steering and navigation of Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Party, as the core of

在百年奋斗历程中，中国共产党锻炼得越来越坚强有力，具有强大的政治领导能力、思想引领能力、号召组织能力。在新时代的十年来，中国共产党经受住了来自政治、经济、意识形态、自然界等各个方面风险挑战的考验，如期打赢了人类历史上规模最大的脱贫攻坚战，实现了小康这个中华民族的千年梦想，推动中国特色社会主义事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，推动中国迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家的新征程。所有这些成就的取得，最根本的在于中国共产党总揽全局、协调各方的坚强有力领导，在于有习近平这位党的总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心的掌舵领航，在于有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的科学指引。中共二十大最重要的成果就是选举产生了以习近平同志为核心的新一届中央领导集体。有习近平总书记继续掌舵引航，中国这艘巨轮就会沿着正确方向，坚定不移、乘风破浪，实现大会确立的发展战略和目标。

Second, the key to finishing building a modern socialist country in all respects and fully building a great modern socialist country lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

二是，全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面建成社会主义现代化强国，关键在于中国共产党的领导。

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC points out: “From this point forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to unite and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in finishing the building of a great modern socialist country in all respects, achieving the Second Centenary Goal[1]1 The Second Centenary Goal refers to the goal of fully building a great modern socialist country by the middle of the 21st century., and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization.” It stresses: “Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” When the report expounds on the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, the first one is “upholding leadership of the Communist Party of China.” These important propositions profoundly elaborate the most essential feature and greatest strength of Chinese-path modernization. Because the Communist Party of China always represents the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people, sharing weal and woe and life and death with the people[2]2 These two Chinese idioms (xiūqī yǔ gòng, shēngsǐ xiāng yī) mean sharing weal and woe and being bound together for life and death, emphasizing the close relationship between the Party and the people., having no special interests of its own, and never representing the interests of any interest group, power group, or privileged stratum, it can constantly demonstrate its strong advanced nature and purity in practice, attract and unite the broadest Chinese people to achieve one great success after another on the path of struggle, successfully taking the path of Chinese-path modernization and creating a new form of human civilization[3]3 “A new form of human civilization” is a concept from the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, describing the unique civilization created through Chinese-path modernization.. To finish building a modern socialist country in all respects and fully build a great modern socialist country, the environment is more complex and the requirements are even higher. It must and can only uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

二十大报告指出，“从现在起，中国共产党的中心任务就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。”强调：“中国式现代化，是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化”。报告在阐述中国式现代化的本质要求时，第一条就是强调“坚持中国共产党领导”。这些重要论断深刻阐述了中国式现代化最本质的特征、最大的优势。由于中国共产党始终代表最广大人民根本利益，与人民休戚与共、生死相依，没有任何自己特殊的利益，从来不代表任何利益集团、任何权势团体、任何特权阶层的利益，因此能够在实践中不断显示出强大的先进性和纯洁性，能够吸引、凝聚最广大的中国人民在奋斗道路上不断取得一个又一个巨大成就，成功走出中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态。全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面建成社会主义现代化强国面临的环境更复杂、要求更高，必须也只能坚持中国共产党的领导。

Third, to finish building a modern socialist country in all respects and fully build a great modern socialist country, it is imperative to build a strong and capable Party, and the key lies in the Party exercising self-governance and practicing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.

三是全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面建成社会主义现代化强国，必须建设坚强有力的党，关键在党要管党、全面从严治党。

Regarding comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and further advancing the great new project of Party building in the New Era, the report to the 20th National Congress, with the sobriety and determination to solve the unique challenges a large Party faces[4]4 “The unique challenges a large Party faces” (dà dǎng dú yǒu nántí) is a phrase from the report to the 20th National Congress, referring to specific difficulties a large party like the CPC must address., has made meticulous arrangements in seven aspects. First, uphold and strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, ensure the implementation of the Party’s decisions and deployments, and guarantee the Party’s unity and solidarity. Second, continuously use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party’s latest theoretical innovation, to raise ideological level and understanding, enhance the ability to make decisions and solve problems, and transform this latest theoretical innovation into a powerful force for firming up ideals, tempering Party spirit, guiding practice, and advancing work. Third, improve the institutional and regulatory systems for advancing the Party’s self-revolution, persist in and implement rule-based governance of the Party and governance of the Party in accordance with regulations[5]5 “Rule-based governance of the Party” (zhìdù zhìdǎng) and “governance of the Party in accordance with regulations” (yīguī zhìdǎng) are key principles of the CPC’s internal governance., and enhance the scientific level of Party building. Fourth, build a contingent of high-caliber cadres capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation[6]6 “Capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation” is a standard term in CPC documents., to ensure that the Party’s cause has successors and continues to advance. Fifth, strengthen the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, fully bring out the strengths of the Communist Party of China and release its power. Sixth, adhere to the strict tone[7]7 “Strict tone” (yán de jīdiào) is a phrase emphasized by Xi Jinping, meaning maintaining a stringent approach in Party governance. and requirement to rectify Party conduct—this is an important foundation for the development and progress of the Party’s cause. Uphold a rigorous atmosphere within the Party, strictly enforce Party discipline, and ensure that all Party members, especially leading officials, strictly discipline themselves and rigorously fulfill their responsibilities. Seventh, resolutely win the battles against corruption—both the tough battle and the protracted war—eliminate the greatest cancer that harms the Party, and carry out the most thorough self-revolution in accordance with the Party’s nature, purpose, and the requirements for achieving its goals. These work arrangements and requirements are put forward by the Communist Party of China starting from the goal of finishing building a modern socialist country in all respects and fully building a great modern socialist country, targeting the problems existing in the Party, summing up history, basing itself on the present, and looking to the future. They are of utmost importance for the Communist Party of China to maintain its advanced nature, purity, and strong governing capacity in leading the modernization cause. (The author is Deputy Director of the First Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee)

围绕全面从严治党、深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，二十大报告以解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定，从七个方面作出了周密安排。一是坚持和加强党中央集中统一领导，保证党的决策部署落实好，确保党的团结统一。二是持续不断地用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一党的最新理论创新成果，提高思想境界和认识水平、提高决策部署的能力、提高解决问题的能力，把党的最新理论创新成果转化为坚定理想、锤炼党性、指导实践、推动工作的强大力量。三是完善推进党的自我革命的制度规范体系，坚持和贯彻制度治党、依规治党，提高党的建设科学化水平，四是建设堪当民族复兴重任的高素质干部队伍，确保党的事业后继有人、不断向前推进。五是增强党组织的政治功能和组织功能，把中国共产党的优势充分发挥出来、力量迸发出来。六是坚持以严的基调和要求端正这是党的事业发展进步的重要基础。党内的风气、严格执行党的纪律，确保全体党员特别是领导干部都能够严于律己、严负其责。七是坚决打赢反腐败斗争攻坚战和持久战，清除危害党的最大毒瘤，按照党的性质、宗旨和实现奋斗目标的要求实行最彻底的自我革命。这些工作安排和要求，是中国共产党从全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面建成社会主义现代化强国的奋斗目标出发，针对党内存在的问题，总结历史、立足当下、面向未来提出来的，对于中国共产党在领导推动现代化事业中始终保持自身的先进性纯洁性和强大的执政能力，至关重要。（作者系中共中央党史和文献研究院第一研究部副主任）

This article is excerpted from the author’s speech at the seminar on “Red Hall Forum: Understanding the 20th National Congress of the CPC.”

本文摘自作者在“红厅论坛：读懂中国共产党二十大”主题研讨会上的发言

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