We Must Bear in Mind That High-Quality Development Is the Hard Truth of the New Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must bear in mind that high-quality development is the hard truth of the New Era, fully implement the new development philosophy, and ensure that strategic tasks such as accelerating the development of a modernized economy, promoting high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, accelerating the establishment of the new development paradigm, coordinating deeper reform and high-level opening up, and coordinating high-quality development with high-level security are carried out effectively, and improve the evaluation and assessment system for promoting high-quality development, so as to lay a solid foundation for promoting high-quality development. Developing new quality productive forces is the intrinsic requirement and key focus of promoting high-quality development; we must continue to do a good job in innovation and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.” This important exposition is not only a new development of Xi Jinping’s economic thought, but also a new expression in contemporary China of Marxist philosophy, political economy, and new ideas of scientific socialism. It has not only great historical and practical significance, but also great theoretical innovation value. This important exposition helps us to deepen our understanding of the spiritual essence of Marxism, helps us to use the latest achievements of contemporary Chinese Marxism to guide the building of a great modern socialist country, helps us to firmly follow the path of Chinese-path modernization, and also helps us to grasp the current development trend, give full play to China’s advantages, get rid of development difficulties, create new development achievements, and benefit the Chinese people.

习近平总书记指出：“必须牢记高质量发展是新时代的硬道理，全面贯彻新发展理念，把加快建设现代化经济体系、推进高水平科技自立自强、加快构建新发展格局、统筹推进深层次改革和高水平开放、统筹高质量发展和高水平安全等战略任务落实到位，完善推动高质量发展的考核评价体系，为推动高质量发展打牢基础。发展新质生产力是推动高质量发展的内在要求和重要着力点，必须继续做好创新这篇大文章，推动新质生产力加快发展。”这一重要论述不仅是习近平经济思想的新发展，而且是马克思主义哲学、政治经济学和科学社会主义新思想在当代中国的新表述，不仅具有重大的历史意义、现实意义，而且极具理论创新价值。这一重要论述有利于我们加深对马克思主义精神实质的理解，有利于我们以当代中国马克思主义最新成果指导社会主义现代化强国建设，有利于坚实走好中国式现代化道路，也有利于我们把握当前发展大势、发挥中国优势、摆脱发展困境、创造新的发展业绩，造福中国人民。

Marxism is a scientific truth that develops with the times. In different eras, different countries, and different concrete practices, it not only takes completely different rich forms, but also “has completely different content.” However, these completely different contents simultaneously have exactly the same value orientation and common essence, embodying the ideological essence of Marxism. In his speech at the ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Marxism is broad and profound, and in the final analysis it comes down to one sentence: to seek emancipation for mankind.” This is the common essence and ideological essence of Marxism in different eras, different countries, and different concrete practices. In different eras, different countries, and different concrete practices, Marxism has had many different kinds of generalizations and expressions based on differences in the characteristics of the times, national conditions, key missions, and principal contradictions. These rich and varied expressions fully reflect the “hard truths” of Marxism under different historical conditions. Clearly understanding the historical background, principal contradiction base, and major mission connotations of these different “hard truths” has direct guiding significance and realistic methodological value for us to bear in mind that “high-quality development is the hard truth of the New Era” and to “implement strategic tasks effectively.”

马克思主义是随着时代发展而发展的科学真理，在不同时代、不同国度、不同的具体实践中，不仅具有完全不同的丰富形式，而且“具有完全不同的内容”。但是，这些完全不同的内容却同时具有完全相同的价值指向与共同本质，体现着马克思主义的思想精髓。习近平总书记在纪念马克思诞辰200周年大会上的讲话中深刻指出：“马克思主义博大精深，归根到底就是一句话，为人类求解放。”这就是不同时代、不同国度、不同的具体实践中的马克思主义的共同本质与思想精髓。马克思主义在不同时代、不同国度、不同的具体实践中，根据时代特点、国情基础、重点使命、主要矛盾之不同，有过多种多样的不同概括与表述，这些丰富多样的表述，充分体现了不同时代环境下马克思主义的“硬道理”。搞清楚这些不同的“硬道理”的时代背景、主要矛盾基础和重大使命内涵，对于我们牢记“高质量发展是新时代的硬道理”并将其“战略任务落实到位”具有直接的指导意义和现实的方法论价值。

Around 1939, the contradiction between imperialism and the Chinese nation became unprecedentedly acute and rose to become the principal contradiction in Chinese society. On the heads of the Chinese people were three heavy mountains—imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism [1]1 The "three mountains" (三座大山) is a classic metaphor for the three oppressive forces in old China: imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism.. The people were subjected to calamities, the nation to humiliation, and civilization to disgrace [2]2 The "three disgraces" (三蒙) refers to the specific formulations "the people were subjected to calamities, the nation to humiliation, and civilization to disgrace" (人民蒙难、民族蒙辱、文明蒙尘), a condensed summary of China's suffering in the century of humiliation before 1949.. Without revolution and struggle, it was impossible to overthrow the three mountains or to wash away the “three disgraces.” It was precisely because our Party integrated the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete reality of China’s revolution at that time, truly understood the hard truth of revolution, and therefore blazed a new path of its own—encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing political power by armed force [3]3 "Encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing political power by armed force" (农村包围城市、武装夺取政权) was the revolutionary path discovered by the Chinese Communist Party during the civil war and anti-Japanese war periods, a creative application of Marxist theory to Chinese conditions.—that the Chinese people, after enduring countless hardships, were able to stand up.

1939年前后正是帝国主义与中华民族的矛盾空前尖锐并上升为我国社会主要矛盾的时期，中国人民头上重压着帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义三座大山，人民蒙难、民族蒙辱、文明蒙尘，不革命、不斗争就无法推翻三座大山、也不能雪“三蒙”之耻。正因为我们党把马克思主义普遍真理与当时中国革命的具体实际相结合，真正懂得了革命的硬道理，才走出了一条农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的自己的路，才使中国人民历经千磨万难而站起来了。

On January 29, 1992, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out with great force during his southern tour: “Development is the hard truth.” This can be said to be the most precise, most profound, and most incisive summary of the line, principles, and policies since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party in 1978 [4]4 The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee (党的十一届三中全会) was held in December 1978 and marked the beginning of China's reform and opening-up era, shifting the Party's focus to economic development.. This hard truth was likewise the common essence and ideological essence of Marxism—“to seek emancipation for mankind”—put forward under the concrete conditions of the time to resolve the principal contradiction at that time: “the contradiction between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and the backwardness of social production.” It was precisely because we deeply grasped this most simple and great truth of Marxism that our Party was able to eliminate interference, emancipate the mind, grasp the key point, seek truth from facts, firmly take economic construction as the center, always adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles [5]5 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) were articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 as the fundamental guidelines for modernization: upholding the socialist path, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought., persist in advancing reform and opening up, concentrate on construction, and devote all efforts to development. It was thus that China embarked on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics toward moderate prosperity, enabling the Chinese people to become prosperous, achieving a new leap in Marxism and new happiness for the Chinese people.

1992年1月29日，邓小平同志发表南方谈话时掷地有声地指出：“发展才是硬道理。”这可以说是对自1978年党的十一届三中全会以来的路线、方针、政策最精准最深刻最鲜明的概括。这个硬道理同样是“为人类求解放”这个马克思主义共同本质和思想精髓在当时的具体条件下，为解决当时“人民日益增长的物质文化需要同落后的社会生产之间的矛盾”这一主要矛盾而提出来的。正因为深刻把握了这一最朴素的马克思主义伟大真理，我们党才能排除干扰解放思想、抓住关键实事求是，扭住经济建设这个中心，始终坚持四项基本原则，执着推进改革开放，聚精会神搞建设、一心一意谋发展，走上了使中国人民富起来的中国特色社会主义小康之路，实现了马克思主义的新飞跃和中国人民的新幸福。

On January 11, 2021, during a speech at a special seminar on the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Nineteenth Central Committee for principal leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, we have put forward many major theories and concepts concerning economic and social development, among which the new development philosophy is the most important and the most fundamental. The new development philosophy is a systematic theoretical system that answers a series of theoretical and practical questions about the purpose, driving force, mode, and path of development, and clarifies the Party’s political stance, value orientation, development model, development path, and other major political issues concerning development. The entire Party must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy.” The key to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implementing the new development philosophy is to firmly grasp high-quality development as “the hard truth of the New Era.” In essence, this hard truth is still a new expression of the common essence and ideological essence of Marxism—“to seek emancipation for mankind”—in the New Era, targeting the fact that “the principal contradiction in Chinese society has been transformed into the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development,” and the requirements of the new development philosophy, based on the latest national conditions that “China’s economy has shifted from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development.” This “hard truth of the New Era”—“high-quality development”—has a logical premise and cognitive foundation: the repeatedly emphasized fact that “development is the hard truth,” which is an adherence to Deng Xiaoping Theory; at the same time, this “hard truth of the New Era” has new requirements and new missions of the New Era, namely the “high-quality development” particularly emphasized by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which is a new development of Deng Xiaoping Theory, a major theoretical innovation and major strategic deployment as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era. Only by truly understanding, firmly remembering, and concretely implementing this hard truth can the Chinese people stand more steadily, become more fully prosperous, and can China truly become strong.

2021年1月11日，习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的十九届五中全会精神专题研讨班上的讲话中指出：“党的十八大以来我们对经济社会发展提出了许多重大理论和理念，其中新发展理念是最重要、最主要的。新发展理念是一个系统的理论体系，回答了关于发展的目的、动力、方式、路径等一系列理论和实践问题，阐明了我们党关于发展的政治立场、价值导向、发展模式、发展道路等重大政治问题。全党必须完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念。”完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念最关键的是要牢牢把握高质量发展这个“新时代的硬道理”。这个硬道理从本质上说仍然是“为人类求解放”这一马克思主义共同本质和思想精髓在新时代的新表述，是针对“我国社会主要矛盾已经转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾这一事实，以及新发展理念的要求”，是基于“我国经济已由高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段”这个最新国情。“高质量发展”这个“新时代的硬道理”，有一个逻辑前提和认识基础，那就是习近平总书记反复强调的“发展是硬道理”，这是对邓小平理论的坚持；同时，这个“新时代的硬道理”又有新时代的新要求和新使命，那就是习近平总书记特别强调的“高质量发展”，这是对邓小平理论的新发展，是中国特色社会主义进入新时代的重大理论创新和重大战略部署。只有真正懂得、牢牢记住、具体落实到位这个硬道理，中国人民才能站得更稳当、富得更充分，中国才能真正强起来。

In the New Era and New Journey, how do we unwaveringly and persistently ensure that “high-quality development”—this “hard truth of the New Era”—is truly implemented in place?

在新时代新征程中，如何牢记不忘、坚持不懈地真正把“高质量发展”这个“新时代的硬道理”落实到位？

First, we must deeply understand and accurately grasp the decisive significance of the Two Establishments [6]6 The Two Establishments (两个确立) refer to the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era., and understand the political requirements of this hard truth from the height of improving political judgment, political understanding, and political execution ability. In September 1954, at the first session of the First National People’s Congress, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly stated for the first time: “The core force leading our cause is the Communist Party of China. The theoretical basis guiding our thinking is Marxism-Leninism.” This requirement also needs to be concretely implemented in accordance with the times. Today, the core force leading our cause is the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and the theoretical basis guiding our thinking is Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The “hard truth of the New Era” is a new requirement of this thought and must be accurately understood, comprehensively implemented, and fully put into place.

首先，必须深刻理解、准确把握“两个确立”的决定性意义，从提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力的高度认识这个硬道理的政治要求。1954年9月，毛泽东同志在第一届全国人民代表大会第一次会议的讲话中首次明确提出：“领导我们事业的核心力量是中国共产党。指导我们思想的理论基础是马克思列宁主义。”这一要求同样需要与时俱进来具体落实。今天，领导我们事业的核心力量是以习近平同志为核心的党中央，指导我们思想的理论基础是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，“新时代的硬道理”是这一思想的新要求，必须准确领会、全面贯彻、完整落实。

Second, we must, from the perspective of strengthening the will and power of the Four Confidences [7]7 The Four Confidences (四个自信) consist of confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics., provide practical subject guarantees for implementing the “hard truth of the New Era.” Without confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system, especially without cultural confidence, it is impossible to provide ideological guidance and subject strength for achieving high-quality development. Everything must be done by people. The most important characteristic that distinguishes Marxism from any previous theory is that it is a theory of the people, a theory for the people, relying on the people and benefiting the people. Without the interests of the broad masses of the people, “people-centered” has no value orientation; without the wisdom, talent, and collective strength of the broad masses of the people, “for the people” will also fail in practice. The Four Confidences come from the people, and only by being for the people, relying on the people, and benefiting the people can confidence be transformed into self-reliance and then into self-strengthening.

其次，必须从坚定“四个自信”的意志力量的角度为落实“新时代的硬道理”提供实践主体保障。没有道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，特别是没有文化自信，就不能为实现高质量发展提供思想指引和主体力量。任何事情都是要人来干的，马克思主义区别于以往任何理论的最重要特点就是这一理论是人民的理论，是为了人民、依靠人民、造福人民的理论。离开了广大人民群众的利益，“以人民为中心”就没有价值指向，离开了广大人民群众的聪明才智与集体力量，“为了人民”同样会在实践中落空，“四个自信”来自人民，也只有为了人民、依靠人民、造福人民，才能使自信转变为自立进而实现自强。

Finally, the effect of implementing the “hard truth of the New Era” must be reflected and tested through the practical actions and real achievements of fully, accurately, and comprehensively implementing the new development philosophy. Marxism has always held that the answers to the riddles of history, the times, and theory ultimately depend on the “practical power” of “real people” with the masses as the main subject. Only by fully, accurately, and comprehensively implementing the new development philosophy, truly making innovation the primary driving force in concrete practices in all fields, thereby accelerating the development of new quality productive forces; by comprehensively coordinating deeper reform and high-level opening up, making coordination an endogenous characteristic, and using a modernized economic system to achieve “steady progress”; by taking green development as a universal form to properly resolve the many contradictions between man and nature; by ensuring high-level security to guarantee high-quality development—only by fully implementing all the above major strategic tasks can the fruits of development be shared by the masses, can the ultimate goal of high-quality development be reflected. Only when the masses gain benefits, the people have a sense of gain, and everyone says it is good, can the “hard truth of the New Era” be truly implemented in place.

最后，要靠完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念的实践行动和真实业绩来体现和检验落实“新时代的硬道理”的效果。马克思主义历来认为历史之谜、时代之谜、理论之谜的解答最终要依靠以人民群众为主体的“现实的人”的“实践力量”。只有完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，真正在各方面的具体实践中使创新成为第一动力，而加快新质生产力的发展；通过全面统筹推进深层次改革和高水平开放，让协调成为内生特点，用现代化经济体系实现“稳中有进”；把绿色作为普遍形态来解决好当下人与自然的诸多矛盾；以高水平的安全确保高质量的发展。只有全面落实好以上重大战略任务，才能使发展的成果让人民群众共享，才能体现高质量发展的最终目的，只有群众得实惠、百姓有获得、大家都说好才是真正把“新时代的硬道理”落实到位。

(The author is Honorary Dean of the School of Marxism, Lanzhou City University)

（作者系兰州城市学院马克思主义学院名誉院长）

Web editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧