Rooting Theoretical Innovation in the Practice of China’s Economic Construction

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “The source of a theory can only be the rich and vivid real-life experience; its driving force can only be the practical necessity of solving social contradictions and problems.” “The vitality of theory lies in constant innovation.” Since the founding of New China, and especially since reform and opening up, the practice of China’s economic construction has provided a fertile soil and extremely rich material for economic research, and has also offered economists the broadest stage for displaying their talents. Chinese economists must always closely integrate their own research with the needs of national development and promote theoretical innovation in economics by rooting themselves in the practice of China’s economic construction.

习近平总书记指出，“一种理论的产生，源泉只能是丰富生动的现实生活，动力只能是解决社会矛盾和问题的现实要求”“理论的生命力在于不断创新”。新中国成立后特别是改革开放以来，我国经济建设实践为经济学研究提供了肥沃的土壤和极为丰富的素材，也为经济学者提供了施展才能最广阔的舞台。中国经济学者要始终把自己的研究和国家发展所需紧密结合起来，扎根于我国经济建设实践推动经济理论创新。

My path in economic research began with interest, and has since been continuously benefited by the scholarly method of linking theory with practice. In middle school, I happened to read Soviet economist Leonid Leontiev’s *Political Economy* and developed a strong interest in it. In 1950, I applied for and was admitted to the Department of Economics at Sun Yat-sen University. After graduating in the autumn of 1954, I entered the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (now the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) to engage in research work. There I met senior scholars such as Sun Yefang, Luo Gengmo, Yu Guangyuan, Xue Muqiao, Xu Xuehan, and often had the opportunity to receive their direct instruction, which greatly benefited me. Mr. Sun Yefang, in particular, was the “guide” for my economic research; his academic style of linking theory with practice has always influenced me, enabling me to persist in seeking wisdom through investigation, research, and practical experience throughout decades of economic research. For my own students, I also require that they not confine themselves to books or simply search online for others’ “indirect experience,” but rather conduct more field investigations and gain a better understanding of real-world conditions.

我的经济学研究之路始于兴趣，而后一直受益于理论联系实际的治学方法。中学时，我偶然读到了苏联著名经济学家列昂节夫的《政治经济学》，对此产生了浓厚兴趣。1950年，我报考了中山大学经济系并被录取。1954年秋大学毕业后，我进入中国科学院经济研究所（现中国社会科学院经济研究所）从事研究工作，先后遇到孙冶方、骆耕漠、于光远、薛暮桥、徐雪寒等前辈，常常有机会接受他们的言传身教，获益良多。特别是孙冶方先生，他是我开展经济学研究的“领路人”，其理论联系实际的学风一直影响着我，使我在几十年的经济学研究之旅中始终坚持通过调查研究和实践经验求索智慧。对于我的学生，我也要求他们不能只是囿于书本或是在网上查资料，吸收别人的“间接经验”，而是要多开展实地调查、多了解真实情况。

Economics is a practical scholarly discipline that serves application. Starting from practice and being problem-oriented is the scientific method for the innovative development of economics. After reform and opening up, the interaction between theory and practice became more pronounced. When conducting economic research, one should proceed more from reality, identify problems and the internal connections of economic activities, and propose targeted policy suggestions. We must study Marxism-Leninism, but the classic texts of Marxism-Leninism cannot provide ready-made answers to real-world problems. We can only use its principles, standpoints, perspectives, and methods to produce answers through our own exploration, deliberation, and innovation. In 1983, I was transferred to serve as director of the Institute of Finance and Trade Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In the ten years that followed, my research focus was on China’s price reform. At that time, by relying on my work unit to strengthen ties with the price control authorities and intensifying investigation and research, I learned about many actual conditions in economic operations. On this basis, I carried out related theoretical research and gradually developed the view of advancing price reform through marketization, and put forward some constructive ideas in the field of price reform. During the twenty years from 1993 to 2013, I had the honor of participating more than ten times in the drafting of central Party documents, which gave me the opportunity to come into deeper contact with practice and understand China’s national conditions, a great help to my economic research. Facts have proven that only by deeply immersing ourselves in the great practice of reform and opening up, and exploring and studying the major theoretical issues in the process of reforming the socialist market economy, can we provide theoretical support for reform decisions and policy formulation.

经济学是实践性很强的致用之学。从实践出发、以问题为导向是经济学创新发展的科学方法。改革开放后，理论与实践的互动更加明显。做经济学研究，要更多地从实际出发，找问题、找经济活动的内在联系，提出有针对性的对策建议。我们要学马列主义，但马列主义经典著作不能给出解决现实问题的现成答案，只能运用它的原理、立场、观点、方法，通过自己的摸索、咀嚼、创新来提出答案。1983年，我调任中国社会科学院财贸经济研究所所长，在此后的10年间，我的研究重点是中国价格改革问题。那时，我依托工作单位加强同物价部门的联系，加强调查研究，了解到许多经济运行中的实际情况，在此基础上开展相关理论研究，逐渐产生以市场化推进价格改革的观点，并在价格改革领域提出了一些具有建设性意义的主张。1993年至2013年的20年间，我有幸参加了10多次中央文件的起草工作，有机会更加深入地接触实践、了解中国国情，这对我的经济学研究具有很大帮助。事实证明，只有深入改革开放伟大实践，探索研究社会主义市场经济改革进程中的重大理论问题，才能为改革决策和政策制定提供理论支撑。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed: “We must always maintain the spirit of ‘cutting a path through mountains and building bridges across rivers,’ forge ahead sharply with enterprise, explore boldly, be good at analyzing and answering the questions that urgently need to be solved in real life and in the minds of the masses, continuously deepen reform and opening up, continuously discover, create, and advance, and continuously promote theoretical innovation, practical innovation, and institutional innovation.” I have always believed that studying the issues of reform and opening up is the sacred duty of Chinese economists and also an excellent opportunity for us to display our talents and serve the motherland. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era,[1]1 The “New Era” refers to the period since the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, marking a new historical juncture for socialism with Chinese characteristics. and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has shown a previously unseen bright prospect. At the same time, the times have also presented a series of major issues demanding answers from Chinese economics, and Chinese economics has encountered a major opportunity for innovative development. Economists should seize this major opportunity, conduct scientific analysis and research on the major issues raised by the times, take China as the mirror and take the times as the mirror, and develop economic theories with distinct Chinese characteristics.

习近平总书记强调：“永远要有逢山开路、遇河架桥的精神，锐意进取，大胆探索，敢于和善于分析回答现实生活中和群众思想上迫切需要解决的问题，不断深化改革开放，不断有所发现、有所创造、有所前进，不断推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新。”我一直认为，研究改革开放问题，是中国经济学家的天职，也是我们施展才能、报效祖国的绝好机会。党的十八大以来，中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中华民族伟大复兴展现出前所未有的光明前景。同时，时代也对中国经济学提出一系列需要解答的重大课题，中国经济学迎来了创新发展的重大机遇。经济学者应当抓住这一重大机遇，对时代提出的重大课题进行科学分析和研究，以中国为观照、以时代为观照，发展具有鲜明中国特色的经济理论。

Practice has no end, and theoretical innovation has no end either. Now I am over ninety years old; although my physical strength and energy are not what they were in my youth, I still care very much about the issues of China’s economic system reform, insist on understanding new practical topics such as the development of new quality productive forces, and from time to time exchange and discuss ideas with younger economists. The Party and the state have conferred upon me the supreme honor of “Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research.”[2]2 “Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research” is one of the national honorary titles awarded by the state to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions in the field of economic research. It was awarded as part of the 2019 National Medal and Honorary Title commendations. I am deeply encouraged and feel greatly honored. At the same time, I hope this honor can inspire the broad ranks of Chinese economists to pursue academic truth and offer suggestions for the country. By consistently adhering to the research method of linking theory with practice, carrying forward the spirit of “not only relying on books, not only relying on higher authorities, but only relying on facts,”[3]3 “Not only relying on books, not only relying on higher authorities, but only relying on facts” is a well-known statement by Chen Yun, a senior leader of the CPC, advocating a pragmatic and truth-seeking approach. respecting science and practice in conducting economic research, we will surely come closer to the scholarly ideal of “managing state affairs and benefiting the world,” and achieve more theoretical innovations in economics with practical guiding significance.

实践没有止境，理论创新也没有止境。现在我已年逾九十，体力、精力虽不如年轻时候，但我依然非常关心我国经济体制改革问题，坚持了解发展新质生产力等实践中面临的新课题，时不时与年轻的经济学者交流探讨。党和国家授予我“经济研究杰出贡献者”这份至高无上的荣誉，我深受鼓舞、倍感光荣，同时也希望这份荣誉能够激励中国广大经济学者追求学术真理、为国建言献策。始终坚持理论联系实际的研究方法，发扬不唯书、不唯上、只唯实的精神，尊重科学、尊重实践开展经济学研究，就一定能够更加靠近“经世致用”的治学理想，实现更多具有现实指导意义的经济理论创新。

(The author is the holder of the national honorary title “Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research” and a researcher at the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者为“经济研究杰出贡献者”国家荣誉称号获得者、中国社会科学院经济研究所研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧