Understanding and Promoting the Development of New Quality Productive Forces with Systematic Thinking

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that systematic thinking is a fundamental method for thinking and working. Adhering to systematic thinking means observing things and grasping the laws of development with a perspective of universal connection, comprehensive system, and change and development; the development of new quality productive forces is no exception. New quality productive forces are not merely a simple combination of advanced productive forces and industrial structure, but a complex systematic project. They require not only the iterative upgrading of new technologies and new industries but also the overall leap of related elements. To promote their growth and expansion, we must not only actively focus on technological innovation and industrial upgrading, but also establish a macro perspective and systematic thinking, striving to achieve overall planning and comprehensive consideration.

习近平总书记指出，系统观念是具有基础性的思想和工作方法。坚持系统观念强调要用普遍联系、全面系统、发展变化的观点观察事物、把握发展规律，发展新质生产力亦如是。新质生产力不是先进生产力与产业结构的简单结合，而是复杂的系统工程，既需要新技术、新产业的迭代升级，又有赖于相关要素的整体跃迁。促进其发展壮大不仅要积极关注技术创新与产业升级，更要建立宏观视野和系统观念，努力做到统筹规划和整体考量。

Clarifying the Systematic Qualitative Characteristics of New Quality Productive Forces

明晰新质生产力的系统性质态特征

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “New quality productive forces are advanced productive forces with high technology, high efficiency, and high quality, led by innovation, breaking away from traditional economic growth modes and paths of productive force development, and conforming to the new development concept.” This advanced productive force quality takes innovation-driven, green and low-carbon, open and integrated, and people-centered connotations as its prominent characteristics, reflecting the intrinsic requirements of considering the new development concept and high-quality development, and it needs to rely on the correlation coupling, collaborative innovation, and systematic optimization of various elements of productive forces.

习近平总书记指出，“新质生产力是创新起主导作用，摆脱传统经济增长方式、生产力发展路径，具有高科技、高效能、高质量特征，符合新发展理念的先进生产力质态”。这种先进的生产力质态以创新驱动、绿色低碳、开放融合和人本内蕴为突出特性，体现了考量新发展理念和高质量发展的内在要求，需要依托生产力诸要素的关联耦合、协同创新与系统优化。

From the perspective of internal factors, new quality productive forces are essentially advanced productive forces, containing a systematic structural system, and overall follow the internal formation logic of “elements—structure—function.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that new quality productive forces “take the leap of laborers, means of labor, objects of labor, and their optimized combination as the basic connotation, and the substantial increase in total factor productivity as the core symbol.” This discussion vividly illustrates that the development of new quality productive forces not only includes the improvement of the quality and skills of laborers, but also the active creation and upgrading of means of production, the depth and breadth expansion of objects of labor, and the innovation of related combination functions. It depends on the optimized combination and proportional balance between substantive and non-substantive elements, productive forces and relations of production, and industries and regions.

从内在因素看，新质生产力本质是先进生产力，内蕴系统化的结构体系，整体遵循“要素—结构—功能”的内在形成逻辑。习近平总书记指出，新质生产力“以劳动者、劳动资料、劳动对象及其优化组合的跃升为基本内涵，以全要素生产率大幅提升为核心标志”。这一论述生动阐明了新质生产力的发展不仅包括劳动者的素质与技能提升，还包括生产资料的积极创造与升级、劳动对象的深度与广度拓展，以及相关组合函数的创新，有赖于实体性要素与非实体性要素、生产力与生产关系、行业与区域间的优化组合和配比平衡。

From the perspective of development form, new quality productive forces are a powerful driving force for promoting high-quality development and Chinese-path modernization [1]1 Chinese-path modernization: The form of modernization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China that follows the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing the five-sphere integrated plan and common prosperity.. They are not a local optimization or simple iteration of traditional productive forces, but involve deep-seated changes such as breakthroughs in science and technology development, transformation and upgrading of industrial structure, innovative allocation of production factors, and acceleration of growth models. At the same time, new quality productive forces are not merely the evolution and deepening of productive forces in the economic dimension, but a systematic coupling of multiple forms of economy, culture, society, and ecology; a comprehensive system that unifies time and space, and dialectically unifies commonality and particularity; a new form of productive forces representing the development direction of human society.

从发展形态看，新质生产力是推动高质量发展和中国式现代化的强大动能，不是传统生产力的局部优化和简单迭代，而是涉及科学技术突破发展、产业结构转型升级、生产要素创新配置和增长模式换挡增速等深层次变革。同时，新质生产力也不是生产力单纯在经济维度的演进深化，而是经济、文化、社会和生态多重形态系统耦合，是时间和空间有机统一、共同性与特殊性辩证统一的综合体系，代表人类社会发展方向的生产力新形态。

From the perspective of formation conditions, new quality productive forces cannot be separated from the continuous promotion of scientific and technological development and industrial transformation and upgrading. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that new quality productive forces are “spawned by revolutionary breakthroughs in technology, innovative allocation of production factors, and deep transformation and upgrading of industries.” The empowerment, gestation, and driving effect of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation on new quality productive forces include not only major scientific and technological innovations and iterative breakthroughs in production tools, but also the continuous integration of compound elements such as human-human, human-thing, and thing-thing into production activities with new postures and levels, reflecting the structural interembedding of many resource elements and the systematic transformation of the overall productive forces system.

从形成条件看，新质生产力离不开科学技术发展和产业转型升级的持续推动。习近平总书记指出，新质生产力是“由技术革命性突破、生产要素创新性配置、产业深度转型升级而催生”。新一轮科技革命和产业变革对于新质生产力的赋能、催生和驱动作用，既包括重大科技创新和生产工具的迭代性突破，也包括人与人、人与物、物与物等复合性要素持续以新的姿态和水平融入生产活动，体现的是诸多资源要素的结构性互嵌和整体生产力体系的系统性变革。

Deeply Understanding the Systematic Value Goals of New Quality Productive Forces

深悟新质生产力的系统性价值目标

At present, the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening, and new fields and tracks have been formed. The development of new quality productive forces is the key to adapting to the evolving new situation and whether new driving forces and new advantages can be formed. This requires us to establish a holistic concept of “planning for a part from the whole and promoting the whole with a part” [2]2 This is a classical Chinese expression meaning to think about a specific part from the perspective of the whole, and to use a specific part to promote the whole., and use systematic thinking and structured measures to coordinate key contradictions such as the overall situation and the partial, the primary and the secondary, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, the explicit and the implicit, quantitative change and qualitative change, the present and the long-term, and transform the spirit and effectiveness inherent in new quality productive forces into a deep driving force for social development.

当前，新一轮科技革命和产业变革深入发展，业已形成新领域和新赛道，发展新质生产力，是如何适应不断演进新态势和能否形成新动能和新优势的关键所在。这就要求我们要树立“从全局谋一隅、以一隅促全局”的整体观念，用系统化思维和结构化举措，统筹全局和局部、主要与次要、守正和创新、显性与隐性、量变和质变、当前和长远等关键矛盾，将新质生产力所内蕴的精神和效能转化为社会发展的深层驱动力。

Focusing on innovation-driven development, highlighting the original value. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourse on new quality productive forces profoundly clarifies what new quality productive forces are, why we should develop new quality productive forces, and how to develop new quality productive forces, and other major theoretical and practical issues. In external form, new quality productive forces are mainly manifested as new technologies, new industries, new elements, and new organizations, but their underlying logic is the realistic support of implementing the new development concept, promoting high-quality development, serving Chinese-path modernization, and meeting the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life. New quality productive forces are the concrete practice of the theory of advanced productive forces, a reinforcement and re-anchoring of the original value of productive force development, and a new quality productive force focusing on the high-quality life of the people. Therefore, new quality productive forces embody a profound reflection on why to develop, what to develop with, and why to develop, and are a new paradigm of productive forces that comprehensively empower the development of human civilization from the goals and pathways.

着眼创新发展，彰显原初价值。习近平总书记关于新质生产力的重要论述，深刻阐明了什么是新质生产力、为什么要发展新质生产力、怎样发展新质生产力等重大理论和实践问题。新质生产力在外在形态上主要体现为新技术、新产业、新要素和新组织，但其底层逻辑是贯彻新发展理念、推进高质量发展、服务中国式现代化和满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要等现实依托。新质生产力是先进生产力理论的具体实践，是对生产力发展原初价值的再强化与再锚定，是聚焦人民群众高品质生活的新质态生产力。因此，新质生产力体现了对为何发展、以何发展、发展为何的深刻思索，是从目标和途径上全面赋能人类文明发展的生产力新范式。

Based on the economic sphere, serving the overall development situation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Productive forces are the fundamental driving force for the development of human society and the ultimate cause of all social changes and political transformations.” New quality productive forces need support from all aspects and will also promote development in all aspects. They are a strategic issue affecting China’s mode of production, development mode, industrial model, and even high-quality development in all fields. The concept of “productive forces” is therefore often regarded as the “theoretical key” [3]3 Original phrase: “理论锁钥” (lǐlùn suǒyuè), a metaphor meaning a key to understanding a theory. for understanding historical materialism. New quality productive forces are precisely the vivid practice of accurately understanding productive forces in China, especially grasping new changes, new requirements, and new qualitative states of productive forces. Therefore, new quality productive forces not only concern the broadening of the boundaries of the structural elements of productive forces, but also reflect our grasp of the laws of evolution and development trends of productive forces, and are important factors related to the model, level, and efficiency of China’s economic and social development.

立足经济领域，服务发展全局。习近平总书记指出，“生产力是人类社会发展的根本动力，也是一切社会变迁和政治变革的终极原因”。新质生产力需要方方面面的依托，同时也会促进方方面面的发展，是影响我国生产方式、发展方式、产业模式，乃至各领域高质量发展的战略问题。“生产力”概念也因此常被作为理解历史唯物主义的“理论锁钥”。而新质生产力正是当前我国准确理解生产力，特别是把握生产力新变化、新要求和新质态的生动实践。因此，新质生产力不仅关乎生产力结构要素的边界拓宽，还体现我们对生产力演进规律和发展趋势的把握，是事关我国经济社会发展模式、层次和效能的重要因素。

Constructing a Systematic Path for Promoting New Quality Productive Forces

构建新质生产力的系统性推进路径

To develop new quality productive forces, we must always adhere to systematic thinking, insist on scientifically grasping the coupling relationship between internal elements and the overall structure with a developmental, comprehensive, and connected perspective, and clearly understand that all social subjects and elements are related to the development of new quality productive forces, presenting a systematic pattern where pulling one hair affects the whole body. Therefore, the systematic development of new quality productive forces requires not only keeping a close eye on the technological chain and economic field, but also urging the whole society to act together, forming an overall pattern of multi-subject joint attention and whole-society joint efforts, and promoting the sustained and healthy development of new quality productive forces by observing the underlying ecology and deepening scientific practice.

发展新质生产力需要始终秉持系统思维，坚持用发展的、全面的、联系的观点科学把握内部要素和整体结构的耦合关系，明晰社会各主体、诸要素都事关新质生产力发展，呈现牵一发而动全身的系统性样态。因此，系统性发展新质生产力不仅要紧盯技术链条和经济领域，更要促使全社会共同行动起来，形成多主体共同关注、全社会共同发力的整体格局，以观照底层生态和深入科学实践来推动新质生产力持续健康发展。

First, deeply promote ideological and conceptual innovation. New quality productive forces are not merely innovations in technological form, but also represent innovations in conceptual form. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The notable feature of new quality productive forces is innovation, which includes innovation at the level of technology and business models, as well as innovation at the level of management and institutions.” This requires us to further emancipate our minds, promote the deepening of understanding and practice of new quality productive forces through ideological and conceptual innovation, and properly balance the relationships between the part and the whole, the present and the long-term, and the implicit and the explicit. At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping also emphasized, “Developing new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries; we must prevent a rush into action and foam formation” [4]4 This refers to avoiding hastily launching projects without careful planning, which might lead to waste and economic bubbles.. Therefore, we must dialectically understand and scientifically handle the internal relationships between new quality productive forces and traditional productive forces, process and results, and having the capacity to act and acting well, add more calmness and composure, avoid hasty thinking and utilitarian thinking, and promote the development of new quality productive forces with scientific concepts.

一是深入推进思想观念创新。新质生产力不是单纯的技术形态创新，更体现为观念形态创新。习近平总书记指出：“新质生产力的显著特点是创新，既包括技术和业态模式层面的创新，也包括管理和制度层面的创新。”这要求我们进一步解放思想，以思想观念创新促进新质生产力的认识深化和实践走深，要统筹好局部与整体、当前和长远、隐性同显性的关系。同时，习近平总书记还强调，“发展新质生产力不是忽视、放弃传统产业，要防止一哄而上、泡沫化”。因此，要辩证认识与科学处理新质生产力和传统生产力、过程与结果、有为与善为等内在关系，多一分静气和定力，避免急躁思维和功利思维，以科学观念推动新质生产力发展。

Second, continuously promote institutional and mechanism reforms. Developing new quality productive forces is not only an innovation proposition, but also a reform proposition. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We must deepen reforms of the economic system, science and technology system, etc., and make every effort to remove blockages and sticking points [5]5 A common Chinese political term referring to obstacles and difficulties that hinder development. that constrain the development of new quality productive forces.” This requires us to continuously release reform vitality and innovation motivation through institutional and mechanism reforms, and form a policy environment and institutional system that is compatible with it. We should start by actively improving the supporting institutional mechanisms, and by perfecting the institutional mechanisms in key areas such as the development of the service industry, modern infrastructure construction, the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy, and the security of industrial and supply chains, remove the blockages and pain points of new quality productive forces development, form a positive cycle of mutual promotion between productive forces and relations of production, and continuously enhance the development resilience of new quality productive forces.

二是不断推进体制机制改革。发展新质生产力不仅是创新命题，更是改革命题。习近平总书记指出，“要深化经济体制、科技体制等改革，着力打通束缚新质生产力发展的堵点卡点”。这要求我们要通过体制机制改革不断释放改革活力和创新动力，形成与之相适应的政策环境和制度体系。要从积极健全与之配套的体制机制入手，以健全服务业发展、现代化基础设施建设、实体经济和数字经济深度融合、产业链供应链安全等重点领域体制机制，打通新质生产力发展的堵点痛点，形成生产力与生产关系良性互促的正向循环，不断提升新质生产力发展韧性。

Third, actively promote the application of digital and intelligent technologies. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We must focus on the practical needs of national strategy and economic and social development, take innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies as breakthroughs, fully leverage the advantages of the new nationwide system [6]6 The new nationwide system (新型举国体制) refers to the state's ability to mobilize resources across the whole country to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies, especially under the conditions of a market economy., fight a tough battle for key core technologies, enable original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation achievements to emerge in large numbers, and cultivate new momentum for the development of new quality productive forces.” At present, the development and progress of digital and intelligent technologies have become the underlying support, key variable, and largest increment for the development of new quality productive forces. Therefore, through the leadership of key digital and intelligent technologies, we must continuously optimize the supply-demand ratio, combination mode, and coupling relationship of key elements, so that the connotation, quality, structure, momentum, and mode of new quality productive forces continue to develop with the iterative upgrading of digital and intelligent technologies.

三是积极推进数智技术运用。习近平总书记指出：“要聚焦国家战略和经济社会发展现实需要，以关键共性技术、前沿引领技术、现代工程技术、颠覆性技术创新为突破口，充分发挥新型举国体制优势，打好关键核心技术攻坚战，使原创性、颠覆性科技创新成果竞相涌现，培育发展新质生产力的新动能。”当前，数智技术的发展和进步业已成为新质生产力发展的底层支撑、关键变量和最大增量。因此，要通过关键数智技术引领，不断优化关键要素的供需配比、结合方式和耦合关系，促使新质生产力的内涵、质量、结构、动能和模式随着数智技术的迭代升级而持续发展。

Fourth, vigorously promote the leap in human resources. Talent is the bridge and core element connecting industrial development needs and educational training supply, and is also the main force for developing new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “In accordance with the requirements for developing new quality productive forces, we must smooth the virtuous circle of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve the working mechanism for the training, introduction, use, and reasonable flow of talent.” Therefore, through the deep integration of education, science and technology, and the industrial ecosystem, the adjustment and adaptation of talent training goals and evaluation systems, and the synergy and mutual promotion of the supply side and the demand side, on the basis of deeply aligning with new technological elements and their overall impact, we must strengthen the understanding, grasp, and application of the basic principles and iterative trends of technology by talent, and continuously promote the cultivation of innovative talents.

四是大力促进人才资源跃升。人才是沟通产业发展需要和教育培养供给的桥梁纽带与核心要素，也是发展新质生产力的主体力量。习近平总书记指出：“要按照发展新质生产力要求，畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环，完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制。”因此，要通过教育、科技和产业生态的深度融合，人才培养目标和评价体系的调整适应，供给端和需求端的协同互促，在深刻契合新的技术要素及其整体性影响的基础上，强化人才对技术运行基本原理和迭代趋势的理解、把握与运用，持续推动创新人才培养。

Fifth, continuously optimize the overall social atmosphere. In his 2025 New Year’s message, General Secretary Xi Jinping said, “We have cultivated new quality productive forces according to local conditions [7]7 A classical Chinese idiom meaning to formulate policies and measures suitable for local conditions., and new industries, new business forms, and new models have emerged one after another.” Developing new quality productive forces is a glorious and arduous cause. While solidly improving various hardware conditions, it is also very necessary to actively create a good social atmosphere suitable for the development of new quality productive forces. In an environment that encourages innovation, openness and inclusiveness, tolerates failure, and scientific evaluation, we should promote the cultivation of innovative talents, the emergence of new technologies, and new industrial changes, and continuously activate new momentum, cultivate new advantages, and create new models for the development of new quality productive forces.

五是持续优化整体社会氛围。在2025年新年贺词中，习近平总书记说道，“我们因地制宜培育新质生产力，新产业新业态新模式竞相涌现”。发展新质生产力是一项光荣而艰巨的事业，在扎实健全各种硬件条件的同时，也十分需要积极营造适宜新质生产力发展的良好社会氛围，在鼓励创新、开放包容、宽容失败、科学评价等积极向上的环境中推动创新型人才培养、新技术涌现和新产业变革，不断为新质生产力发展激活新动能、培育新优势、创造新模式。

(The author is Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at China University of Mining and Technology)

（作者系中国矿业大学马克思主义学院院长、教授）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧