Carrying Forward the Great Spirit of the War of Resistance, Striving for the Great Cause of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Over the past 80 years, the great Chinese people, advancing wave upon wave, unyielding and tenacious, have been tirelessly striving to realize the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Deeply understanding the great national awakening and the sublimation of the national spirit brought about by the War of Resistance, and vigorously carrying forward the great spirit of the War of Resistance, are of great significance for strengthening the spiritual bond of unity and the spiritual driving force of unremitting self-improvement, and for providing a powerful spiritual impetus for comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。80年来，伟大的中国人民前仆后继、不屈不挠、顽强奋斗，一直在为实现强国建设、民族复兴伟业而不懈努力。深刻认识抗日战争的伟大民族觉醒和民族精神升华，大力弘扬伟大抗战精神，对于增强团结一心的精神纽带、自强不息的精神动力，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供强大精神动力，具有重要意义。

I. The Communist Party of China Was the Mainstay of the War of Resistance and the National Vanguard That Won the War; Upholding Party Leadership Is the Fundamental Guarantee for Achieving the Second Centenary Goal

一、中国共产党是抗日战争的中流砥柱、夺取战争胜利的民族先锋，坚持党的领导是实现第二个百年奋斗目标的根本保证

The Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. From the day of its founding, it has unswervingly sought happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. After the September 18th Incident [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from *Mencius*, emphasizing that moral legitimacy determines the level of support one receives., the CPC was the first to raise the banner of armed resistance against Japan. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident [2]2 "Black swan" refers to unpredictable, rare events with severe consequences; "gray rhino" refers to highly obvious, neglected threats that are likely to occur. marked the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance by the entire nation, and the fate of the Chinese nation reached its most critical juncture. At this moment of national peril, the CPC, upholding the greater good of the nation, shouldered the historical responsibility of national salvation and called for the establishment of a National United Front Against Japan based on cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. In August 1937, the main forces of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army were reorganized into the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army [3]3 Quotation from Mao Zedong's speech on the necessity of resolute struggle in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression., which fully demonstrated our Party’s stance of prioritizing national interests and the victory of the War of Resistance, and its wholehearted implementation of the National United Front Against Japan. After the reorganization, the Eighth Route Army quickly marched to the front lines of the War of Resistance. On the one hand, it coordinated operations on the frontal battlefield; on the other hand, it extensively waged guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines and achieved the Pingxingguan Victory [4]4 “Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains” (愚公移山) is a Chinese fable about perseverance, famously cited by Mao Zedong to encourage the Chinese people to overcome immense difficulties through collective effort., which greatly boosted the confidence of the entire nation in the War of Resistance and enhanced the prestige of the CPC and the Eighth Route Army. The Party’s first generation of central collective leadership, with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, led our Party in implementing the correct policies of the National United Front Against Japan, adhering to the line of total resistance, proposing and implementing the general strategic policy of protracted war and a complete set of strategic tactics for a people’s war, and opening up vast enemy rear areas and anti-Japanese base areas. The Party consistently upheld resistance and opposed capitulation, upheld unity and opposed splits, upheld progress and opposed regression. With its political propositions, firm will, and exemplary actions, it supported the hope of the entire nation for survival in the face of national calamity, guided the correct direction for winning the war, and became the backbone of the resistance and the national vanguard that won the war. During the War of Resistance, Yan’an became the beacon of hope for national victory and the lighthouse for the people. Countless progressive figures and patriotic youth, from all over the country and even from abroad, flocked to Pagoda Mountain [5]5 “The hearts of four hundred million compatriots are as one, and the new Great Wall stretches ten thousand li” is a line from the wartime song “The New Great Wall” (新的长城万里长), symbolizing national unity against Japanese aggression. to follow the CPC. It was precisely because the CPC, as an advanced political party in China, played the role of mainstay and vanguard in the all-out War of Resistance that it mobilized the Chinese people to unite as one in the resistance, ultimately achieving the first complete victory in the Chinese people’s resistance against foreign invasion since modern times, and erecting an eternal monument in the history of the Chinese nation.

中国共产党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，同时是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队，从成立之日起就始终不渝为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴。九一八事变后，中国共产党率先高举武装抗日旗帜。卢沟桥事变标志着全民族抗战爆发，中华民族的命运到了最危急的关头。在此民族危难之际，中国共产党秉持民族大义，担负起民族救亡的历史重任，呼吁建立以国共合作为基础的抗日民族统一战线。1937年8月，中国工农红军主力改编为国民革命军第八路军，这充分体现了我们党以民族利益为重、以抗战胜利为要，全力践行抗日民族统一战线的立场。改编后的八路军迅速开赴抗日前线，一方面，配合正面战场作战，另一方面，广泛开展抗日游击战争，并取得平型关大捷，极大地振奋了全国军民的抗战信心，提高了共产党和八路军的声望。以毛泽东同志为核心的党的第一代中央领导集体，带领我们党实行正确的抗日民族统一战线政策，坚持全面抗战路线，提出和实施持久战的战略总方针和一整套人民战争的战略战术，开辟广大敌后战场和抗日根据地。党始终坚持抗战、反对投降，坚持团结、反对分裂，坚持进步、反对倒退，以自己的政治主张、坚定意志、模范行动，支撑起全民族救亡图存的希望，引领着夺取战争胜利的正确方向，成为坚持抗战的中坚力量、夺取战争胜利的民族先锋。抗日战争时期，延安成为民族胜利的希望、人民向往的灯塔，无数进步人士、爱国青年，从祖国各地甚至海外奔赴宝塔山、追随共产党。正是中国共产党作为中国先进政党在全民族抗战中发挥出中流砥柱和先锋模范作用，才动员起中国人民万众一心共同抗战，最终赢得近代以来中国人民反抗外敌入侵的第一次完全胜利，矗立起中华民族历史上的一座永恒丰碑。

The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC clearly states: From this day forward, the central task of the CPC is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in China to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, to achieve the Second Centenary Goal, and to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization. The key to comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies in the Party. Less than a week after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping led the newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee to Yan’an to pay homage to the revolutionary holy site, commemorate the great achievements of the older generation of revolutionaries, and proclaim the firm conviction of the new central collective leadership to carry forward the red bloodline and the spirit of struggle, and to submit a new outstanding answer sheet to history and the people on the new journey of the examination [6]6 “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” (天下兴亡，匹夫有责) is a classical Chinese idiom from the Ming-Qing transition, often invoked to express patriotic duty.. At present, China’s development has entered a period in which strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexist, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors are increasing. Party leadership is the “pillar” for responding to major risks and challenges and the “ballast stone” for the steady and long-term voyage of the great ship of Chinese-path modernization. To further deepen reform comprehensively around advancing Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to handle many important relationships, contradictions, and affairs. We must uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, give full play to the Party’s core leadership role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating all efforts, and ensure that the Party’s overall leadership is implemented in practice. By thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understanding the decisive significance of the Two Establishments [7]7 The “Three Alls” policy (三光政策) refers to the Japanese military’s strategy of “kill all, burn all, loot all” (杀光、烧光、抢光) implemented in Chinese resistance areas during the war., resolutely achieving the Two Upholds [8]8 The Great Production Movement (大生产运动) was a campaign launched by the CPC in the 1940s to achieve economic self-sufficiency in the base areas, especially in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region., and bravely taking on responsibilities and striving with vigor, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will surely achieve new brilliance.

党的二十大报告明确指出：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。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。党的二十大闭幕不到一周，习近平总书记带领新当选的二十届中共中央政治局常委来到延安，瞻仰革命圣地，缅怀老一辈革命家的丰功伟绩，宣示新一届中央领导集体赓续红色血脉、传承奋斗精神，在新的赶考之路上向历史和人民交出新的优异答卷的坚定信念。当前，我国发展进入战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期，党的领导是应对重大风险挑战的“主心骨”，是中国式现代化巨轮行稳致远的“压舱石”。紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化进一步全面深化改革，需要处理许多重要关系、重要矛盾、重要事务，必须坚持党中央集中统一领导，发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把党的全面领导落到实处。深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，勇于担当、奋发有为，中华民族伟大复兴必将铸就新的辉煌。

II. The War of Resistance Reveals the Great Truth That Justice Will Prevail, Peace Will Prevail, and the People Will Prevail; Advancing the Great Cause of Building a Strong Country and National Rejuvenation Through Chinese-Path Modernization Is Precisely Such a Right Path

二、抗日战争昭示了正义必胜、和平必胜、人民必胜的伟大真理，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业走的正是这样一条人间正道

In his important speech at the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: “Let us all remember the great truth

习近平总书记在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年大会上的重要讲话中庄严宣告：“让我们共同铭记历史所启示的伟大真理：正义必胜！和平必胜！人民必胜！”这一重要论述揭示了颠扑不破的历史规律，道出了抗战必胜的根本原因，同时也昭示了以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的重要遵循。

Justice will surely triumph, meaning the inevitable trend of historical progress cannot be obstructed. Although the German, Italian, and Japanese fascists were aggressive and arrogant in the early stages of the war, "a just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support." [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from *Mencius*, emphasizing that moral legitimacy determines the level of support one receives. In the 20th century, when the tide of independence, democracy, and freedom in the process of world modernization was unstoppable, any attempt to achieve a unified world under fascist violent rule was doomed to fail and perish. The world's anti-fascist forces firmly believed that justice would ultimately defeat evil, light would ultimately defeat darkness, and progress would ultimately defeat reaction. At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, external suppression and containment may escalate at any time, and various "black swan" and "gray rhino" events may occur at any moment. [2]2 "Black swan" refers to unpredictable, rare events with severe consequences; "gray rhino" refers to highly obvious, neglected threats that are likely to occur. The Chinese Communists always uphold fairness and justice, firmly stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress, and work with people of all countries to push the wheel of history toward a bright future. Advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization is a just, bright, and progressive cause. Walking on the broad road, it is bound to achieve victory.

正义必胜，就是历史进步的必然趋势不可阻挡。德意日法西斯尽管在战争初期来势汹汹、不可一世，然而，“得道者多助，失道者寡助”，在世界现代化进程中独立民主自由潮流不可阻挡的20世纪，妄图实现法西斯主义暴力统治的一统天下，终将失败、必将灭亡。世界反法西斯力量坚信，正义终将战胜邪恶、光明终将战胜黑暗、进步终将战胜反动。当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，来自外部的打压遏制随时可能升级，各种“黑天鹅”、“灰犀牛”事件随时可能发生。中国共产党人始终坚持主持公道、伸张正义，坚定站在历史正确的一边，站在人类进步的一边，同世界各国人民一道，推动历史车轮向着光明的前途前进。以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，是一项正义的事业、光明的事业、进步的事业，走在康庄大道上，必定会取得胜利。

Peace will surely triumph, meaning the dialectic of war and peace—that only the ability to fight can stop war—cannot be violated. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War were just, peaceful, and progressive wars waged by forces pursuing peace against militarist forces that launched aggressive wars. Only the ability to fight can stop war; to win peace, one must win the war. The War of Resistance was a national revolutionary war against aggression, bearing the character of a war for lasting peace. As Comrade Mao Zedong said: "To achieve this goal, we must fight to the death, prepare for all sacrifices, persevere to the end, and never stop until the goal is reached." [3]3 Quotation from Mao Zedong's speech on the necessity of resolute struggle in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In the New Era, Chinese Communists join hands with all forces to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, uphold the common values of all humanity—peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom—and work to build a world of lasting peace. At the same time, we accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class military, enhance its capability to win wars, shape a security posture, contain crises and conflicts, and win local wars. In advancing the resolution of the Taiwan issue and achieving the complete reunification of the motherland, we adhere to the greatest sincerity and the greatest efforts to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we never promise to renounce the use of force, and we unswervingly advance the great cause of national reunification.

和平必胜，就是能战方能止战的战争与和平的辩证法不可违背。中国人民抗日战争和世界反法西斯战争，是追求和平的力量对发动侵略战争的军国主义势力的正义之战、和平之战、进步之战。能战方能止战，赢得和平必须赢得战争。抗日战争是反侵略的民族革命战争，带着为永久和平而战的性质，正如毛泽东同志所说：“欲达此目的，便须决一死战，便须准备着一切牺牲，坚持到底，不达目的，决不停止。”新时代的中国共产党人同各方力量携手前行，推动构建人类命运共同体，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，推动建设一个持久和平的世界。同时，加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队，提高人民军队打赢能力，塑造安全态势，遏控危机冲突，打赢局部战争。推动解决台湾问题、实现祖国完全统一，坚持以最大诚意、尽最大努力争取和平统一的前景，但决不承诺放弃使用武力，坚定不移推进祖国统一大业。

The people are bound to triumph, meaning that the core idea that “the soldiers and the people are the foundation of victory” is immutable. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, two erroneous views existed regarding whether China could win: one was the theory of China’s inevitable subjugation, and the other was the theory of China’s swift victory. The root error of these two views lay in failing to see the decisive role of the Chinese people’s strength in the victory of the War of Resistance; or in only seeing the factor of weapons in war while ignoring the human factor; or in failing to realize that nationwide mobilization, organization, and participation in the war could not be achieved overnight. Comrade Mao Zedong deeply analyzed the balance of forces between the two sides in the War of Resistance, emphasizing that “the decisive factor is people, not things,” pointing out that “mobilizing the common people throughout the country will create a vast ocean in which the enemy will be engulfed and destroyed,” and that “the deepest roots of the great power of war lie in the masses of the people.” The great victory of the War of Resistance was a victory of relying on the people for protracted warfare, a victory of mobilizing the masses to wage a people’s war, and a victory of the Chinese people’s “Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains” [4]4 “Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains” (愚公移山) is a Chinese fable about perseverance, famously cited by Mao Zedong to encourage the Chinese people to overcome immense difficulties through collective effort. spirit. On the new journey, we must adhere to a people-centered approach, uphold the principle of doing everything for the people and relying on them in everything, maintain close ties with the people, and gather the mighty force to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

人民必胜，就是“兵民是胜利之本”的核心思想不可改变。抗日战争爆发后，对于抗战能否胜利存在两种错误观点，一种是中国必亡论，一种是中国速胜论。这两种观点的错误根源在于，没有看到中国人民的力量对于抗日战争胜利的决定性作用；或者只看到战争中武器的因素，没有看到人的因素；或者没有看到全民动员、全民组织、全民参战不是一蹴而就的。毛泽东同志深刻分析了抗日战争双方的力量对比，强调“决定的因素是人不是物”，指出“动员了全国的老百姓，就造成了陷敌于灭顶之灾的汪洋大海”，“战争的伟力之最深厚的根源，存在于民众之中”。抗日战争的伟大胜利，是依靠人民持久抗战的胜利，是发动群众开展人民战争的胜利，是中国人民“愚公移山”的胜利。新征程上，必须坚持以人民为中心，坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，保持同人民的血肉联系，凝聚起以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的磅礴力量。

III. The Great Spirit of the War of Resistance is the Unyielding Soul That Forges a New Great Wall of the Chinese Nation, and a Powerful Spiritual Driving Force Inspiring the Chinese People to Strive for the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation

三、伟大抗战精神是筑成中华民族新的长城的不屈灵魂，是激励中国人民为实现中华民族伟大复兴而奋斗的强大精神动力

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The great spirit of the War of Resistance is a precious spiritual treasure of the Chinese people, and will forever inspire the Chinese people to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” The great spirit of the War of Resistance builds the soul of the new Great Wall of the Chinese nation; “the hearts of four hundred million compatriots are as one, and the new Great Wall stretches ten thousand li.” [5]5 “The hearts of four hundred million compatriots are as one, and the new Great Wall stretches ten thousand li” is a line from the wartime song “The New Great Wall” (新的长城万里长), symbolizing national unity against Japanese aggression. Facing the brutal Japanese aggressors, the military and civilians of the Resistance rose up to fight, sharing life and death with the motherland’s mountains and rivers, building an indestructible steel Great Wall with their flesh and blood, and creating “a marvel in the history of warfare, a heroic feat of the Chinese nation, and a world-shaking undertaking.”

习近平总书记指出：“伟大抗战精神，是中国人民弥足珍贵的精神财富，将永远激励中国人民克服一切艰难险阻、为实现中华民族伟大复兴而奋斗。”伟大抗战精神构筑中华民族新的长城之魂，“四万万同胞心一样，新的长城万里长”。面对凶残的日本侵略者，抗日军民奋起反抗，与祖国山河共存亡，用血肉之躯筑起了坚不可摧的钢铁长城，创造了“战争史上的奇观，中华民族的壮举，惊天动地的伟业”。

Inherit the patriotic sentiment that “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” [6]6 “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” (天下兴亡，匹夫有责) is a classical Chinese idiom from the Ming-Qing transition, often invoked to express patriotic duty., and forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Facing the unprecedented crisis of national survival, resisting aggression and saving the nation from extinction became the common will of all political parties, ethnic groups, classes, strata, organizations, and overseas Chinese. All Chinese sons and daughters united as one, jointly resisting foreign aggression, fighting for the nation, for the motherland, and for dignity, achieving an unprecedented level of national awakening and unity. On the new journey of the New Era, closely centering on the central tasks of the Party and the state, the people of all ethnic groups across the country uphold the patriotic sentiment that “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation,” hold high the banner of great unity of the Chinese nation, continuously forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, firmly establish the community concept of sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny, and form a powerful joint force for the Chinese nation to work together to realize the Chinese Dream.

传承天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀，铸牢中华民族共同体意识。面对民族存亡的空前危机，抗击侵略、救亡图存成为中国各党派、各民族、各阶级、各阶层、各团体以及海外华侨华人的共同意志。全体中华儿女众志成城、共御外侮，为民族而战，为祖国而战，为尊严而战，中华民族的觉醒和团结达到前所未有的高度。新时代新征程，紧紧围绕党和国家中心任务，全国各族人民秉持天下兴亡、匹夫有责的爱国情怀，高举中华民族大团结旗帜，不断铸牢中华民族共同体意识，牢固树立休戚与共、荣辱与共、生死与共、命运与共的共同体理念，形成中华民族同心共圆中国梦的强大合力。

Uphold the national integrity of facing death unflinchingly and preferring death to surrender, and rely on tenacious struggle to open up new horizons for the development of the cause. Facing the extremely vicious and inhuman Japanese aggressors, the Chinese people were unafraid of sacrifice and never yielded, with the belief of fighting to the bitter end and resisting to the end, composing with their lives and blood a great chapter in the history of the Chinese nation of resisting foreign aggression. This fearless national integrity was embodied in the countless soldiers who fought bravely on both the frontal battlefield and the enemy’s rear areas, as well as in the fathers and elders in the anti-Japanese base areas who would rather die than surrender to the Japanese. The tragic sacrifices of the nation greatly stimulated the firm belief and tenacious will of the entire nation; only by completely annihilating the Japanese aggressors and achieving final victory in the War of Resistance could the nation survive and the country have hope. We are now at a time when the boat is in the middle of the current and the waves are more turbulent, and the journey is halfway up the mountain and the slope is steeper. We must dare to struggle and be good at struggle, enhance the ambition, backbone, and confidence of the entire nation, not believe in evil, not fear ghosts, not be afraid of pressure, advance in the face of difficulties, and go all out to overcome various difficulties and challenges on the path forward.

坚守视死如归、宁死不屈的民族气节，依靠顽强斗争打开事业发展新天地。面对穷凶极恶、惨无人道的日本侵略者，中国人民不怕牺牲、决不屈服，以血战到底、抗战到底的信念，用生命和鲜血谱写了中华民族历史上抵御外侮的伟大篇章。这种大无畏的民族气节，体现在正面战场和敌后战场奋勇杀敌的无数将士身上，也体现在抗日根据地宁死不向日本人屈服的父老乡亲身上。民族的悲壮牺牲，极大激发了全民族的坚定信念和顽强意志，唯有彻底消灭日本侵略者，取得抗战最后胜利，民族才能生存、国家才有希望。我们现在所处的是一个船到中流浪更急、人到半山路更陡的时候，务必敢于斗争、善于斗争，增强全民族的志气、骨气、底气，不信邪、不怕鬼、不怕压，知难而进、迎难而上，全力战胜前进道路上的各种困难和挑战。

Carry forward the heroic spirit of defying brutality and fighting to the death, and always firmly grasp the destiny of China’s development and progress in our own hands. The heroic spirit of the nation, the fighting spirit of the army, and the blood and backbone of the soldiers erupted to the fullest extent during the War of Resistance, shaking heaven and earth and moving gods and spirits. This heroic spirit is a vivid manifestation of the national character of self-confidence, self-reliance, and unremitting self-improvement. Independence and self-reliance are the soul of the Chinese national spirit and an important principle for our Party’s founding and governance. No nation or country in human history has achieved strength and rejuvenation by relying on external forces, copying foreign models, or following in others’ footsteps. Only by insisting on placing the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength, and adhering to the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, can we firmly grasp the destiny of China’s development and progress in our own hands.

发扬不畏强暴、血战到底的英雄气概，把中国发展进步的命运始终牢牢掌握在自己手中。民族的英雄气概、军队的战斗精神、军人的血性骨气，在抗日战争中得到最大迸发，惊天地、泣鬼神。这种英雄气概，就是自信自立、自强不息的民族品格的生动体现。独立自主是中华民族精神之魂，是我们立党立国的重要原则。人类历史上没有一个民族、一个国家可以通过依赖外部力量、照搬外国模式、跟在他人后面亦步亦趋实现强大和振兴。只有坚持把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则，才能把中国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手上。

Strengthen the indomitable and persevering belief in inevitable victory, firm up confidence, be of one mind, work hard, and forge ahead courageously. The War of Resistance was won completely under extremely arduous conditions, and the spiritual support for persisting in protracted warfare was the unshakable belief in the inevitable victory of the Resistance. The “Three Alls” policy [7]7 The “Three Alls” policy (三光政策) refers to the Japanese military’s strategy of “kill all, burn all, loot all” (杀光、烧光、抢光) implemented in Chinese resistance areas during the war. could not intimidate, and extreme difficulties could not crush. The Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region carried out the Great Production Movement [8]8 The Great Production Movement (大生产运动) was a campaign launched by the CPC in the 1940s to achieve economic self-sufficiency in the base areas, especially in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. to tide over difficulties, and the Southwest Associated University [9]9 Southwest Associated University (西南联大) was a wartime university formed by the merger of Peking, Tsinghua, and Nankai universities in Kunming, known for maintaining academic excellence under extreme hardship. passed on science and culture under enemy bombing; the hope of victory never died out. The spirit of the War of Resistance is a spiritual monument; the deeper and more solid its roots are in the entire nation, the greater the strength and hope for achieving victory. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Learning history to increase confidence means enhancing faith, belief, and confidence, which is a powerful spiritual force for us to overcome all strong enemies, overcome all difficulties, and win all victories.” To unite and strive for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country, we must enhance our faith in Marxism and communism, always maintain a tenacious will, and be brave in overcoming various major difficulties and severe challenges; enhance our belief in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and always firmly uphold the “Four Confidences” [10]10 The “Four Confidences” (四个自信) refer to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.; enhance our confidence in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and firmly believe that our Party can certainly unite and lead the people to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of this century.

增强百折不挠、坚忍不拔的必胜信念，坚定信心、同心同德，埋头苦干、奋勇前进。抗日战争是在艰苦卓绝的条件下取得完全胜利的，坚持持久战的精神支撑是牢不可破的抗战必胜信念。“三光”政策吓不倒，极端困难压不倒。陕甘宁边区开展大生产运动渡过难关，西南联大在敌机轰炸中传承科学文化，胜利的希望从未熄灭。抗战精神是一座精神丰碑，在全民族的根基有多深厚、有多坚实，夺取胜利的力量就有多大、希望就有多大。习近平总书记强调：“学史增信，就是要增强信仰、信念、信心，这是我们战胜一切强敌、克服一切困难、夺取一切胜利的强大精神力量。”为全面建设社会主义现代化国家而团结奋斗，就要增强对马克思主义、共产主义的信仰，始终保持顽强意志，勇于战胜各种重大困难和严峻挑战；增强对中国特色社会主义的信念，始终坚定“四个自信”；增强对实现中华民族伟大复兴的信心，坚信我们党一定能够团结带领人民到本世纪中叶把我国建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。

IV. The War of Resistance Stimulated the Great Creativity of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese People, and Comprehensively Advancing the Building of a Great Modern Socialist Country is a Historic Undertaking of the New Era

四、抗日战争激发出中国共产党和中国人民的伟大创造，推进全面建成社会主义现代化强国是新时代的历史创举

The War of Resistance Against Japan was waged under circumstances of national survival at a critical juncture, with a highly imbalanced balance of forces, a complex and ever-changing struggle situation, and extremely difficult war conditions. There were no past experiences to directly apply, nor could the practices of other countries be borrowed. Our Party, proceeding from the general trend of the world anti-fascist war and the strong desire of the Chinese people for resistance and national salvation, facilitated the formation of the Anti-Japanese National United Front[11]11 The Anti-Japanese National United Front was the coalition of the CPC, the Kuomintang, and other parties and groups formed in 1937 to resist Japanese invasion, ending the previous civil war. and ultimately united and led the people to win the great victory of the War of Resistance. This was the inevitable result of carrying forward the historical initiative and stimulating the great creativity of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. At the Wayaobu Conference[12]12 The Wayaobu Conference (December 1935) was a key CPC Politburo meeting in northern Shaanxi that formally adopted the policy of a broad anti-Japanese united front. convened by the Party Central Committee in December 1935, it was clearly proposed to establish a broad national revolutionary united front, courageously discarding sectarianism. After the July 7th Incident[13]13 The July 7th Incident (1937), also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, was the clash that triggered the full-scale outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War., the Party implemented the correct policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, opposed capitulationism, and insisted on independence and initiative within the united front. This formed a highly creative correct political strategy for the War of Resistance, resolving the issues of the main forces of the war and the Party's independent position. Comrade Mao Zedong, after the full outbreak of the War of Resistance, wrote "The Strategy of the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla War," elevating guerrilla warfare to a strategic level for understanding and implementation; he wrote "On Protracted War," which, based on the fundamental factors of the balance of forces between China and Japan, scientifically pointed out that only protracted war was the fundamental path to final victory in the War of Resistance. This formed a highly creative correct military strategy for the War of Resistance, resolving the issue of the general strategic policy for the war. Our Party proposed and implemented a complete set of strategies and tactics for a people's war, extensively carrying out tactical methods of guerrilla warfare such as ambushes, sabotage operations, mine warfare, tunnel warfare, and sparrow warfare[14]14 Sparrow warfare (麻雀战) was a guerrilla tactic of small, highly mobile groups harassing enemy forces, named for its resemblance to flocks of sparrows., composing a glorious epic of people's war victory in the annals of warfare. Starting in 1942, the rectification movement[15]15 The rectification movement (整风运动, 1942–1944) was a Party-wide campaign of ideological study and criticism aimed at correcting deviations from Maoist orthodoxy. was carried out throughout the Party, promoting the three fine styles of integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism, striving to build a Marxist political party that was nationwide, mass-based, and fully consolidated ideologically, politically, and organizationally. This forged a Communist Party of China that was rich in combat effectiveness and creativity, and indomitably strong, cultivating a powerful organizational force for seizing victory in the War of Resistance and even for national victory.

抗日战争是在民族存亡危急关头、力量对比极不平衡、斗争形势错综复杂、战争条件极为艰难的情况下展开的，没有以往的经验可以照用，没有他国的做法可以借鉴。我们党从世界反法西斯战争和中国人民抗日救亡强烈愿望的大势出发，促成了抗日民族统一战线，并最终团结带领人民赢得了抗日战争伟大胜利。这是发扬历史主动精神、激发出中国共产党和中国人民伟大创造的必然结果。中共中央在1935年12月召开的瓦窑堡会议上，明确提出建立广泛的民族革命统一战线，勇敢地抛弃关门主义。七七事变后，党实行正确的抗日民族统一战线政策，反对投降主义，坚持统一战线中的独立自主。这就形成了极具创造性的抗日战争正确的政治战略，解决了抗日战争的主体力量和党的自主地位问题。毛泽东同志在全面抗战爆发后，写下了《抗日游击战争的战略问题》，将游击战争提升到战略层面来看待和展开；写下了《论持久战》，依据中日双方力量对比的基本因素，科学指明唯有持久战才是取得抗战最后胜利的根本途径。这就形成了极具创造性的抗日战争正确的军事战略，解决了抗日战争的战略总方针问题。我们党提出和实施一整套人民战争的战略战术，广泛开展伏击战、破袭战、地雷战、地道战、麻雀战等游击战的战术战法，谱写了战争史上人民战争胜利的辉煌史诗。从1942年开始在全党进行整风，弘扬理论联系实际、密切联系群众、批评和自我批评三大优良作风，努力建设全国范围的、广大群众性的、思想上政治上组织上完全巩固的马克思主义政党。这就锻造了富于战斗力和创造性、坚强无比的中国共产党，为夺取抗战胜利乃至全国胜利培育了强大的组织力量。

Our Party exerted a high degree of conscious initiative and revolutionary creativity during the War of Resistance, winning the great victory of the War of Resistance. On the new journey of the New Era, comprehensively building a great modern socialist country is a great pioneering undertaking in the process of world modernization, bearing on the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The path forward cannot be smooth and level; there will inevitably be difficulties and obstacles, and we may encounter major tests of high winds and choppy waters, or even raging storms. At this critical period of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, it is even more necessary for the entire Party and all the people to firmly take our own path, carry forward the spirit of historical initiative, the spirit of daring to struggle, and the spirit of daring to innovate, and continuously create new brilliance. Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population. For a country with a population of over a billion to enter the ranks of modernized countries, its significance is great enough to be recorded in history, and its tasks are more arduous than those of any other country. There are no ready-made templates or plans to copy; we must blaze a development path, development strategy, and development mode for Chinese-path modernization. On the path forward, we must unswervingly uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieve high-quality development, develop whole-process people's democracy, enrich the people's spiritual world, achieve common prosperity for all the people, promote harmony between humanity and nature, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, creating a new form of human civilization.

我们党在抗日战争中发挥高度的自觉能动性和革命创造性，赢得抗日战争的伟大胜利。新时代新征程，全面建成社会主义现代化强国，是世界现代化进程中的伟大创举，事关中华民族伟大复兴。前进道路不可能一马平川，必定会有艰难险阻，可能遇到风高浪急甚至惊涛骇浪的重大考验。在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴的关键时期，更加需要全党和全体人民坚定走自己的路，发扬历史主动精神、敢于斗争精神、勇于创新精神，不断创造新的辉煌。中国式现代化是人口规模巨大的现代化，十几亿数量级人口的国家迈入现代化国家行列，意义之重大足以载入史册，任务之艰巨超过任何国家，没有现成的模版、照搬的方案，必须开创中国式现代化的发展道路、发展战略、发展方式。前进道路上，我们要始终不渝地坚持中国共产党领导，坚持中国特色社会主义，实现高质量发展，发展全过程人民民主，丰富人民精神世界，实现全体人民共同富裕，促进人与自然和谐共生，推动构建人类命运共同体，创造人类文明新形态。

V. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Made Significant Contributions to the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and China Promotes the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and Joins Hands with Developing Countries to Achieve Modernization, Making New and Greater Contributions to Humanity

五、中国人民抗日战争为世界反法西斯战争胜利作出重大贡献，中国推动构建人类命运共同体、同广大发展中国家携手实现现代化，为人类作出新的更大贡献

The great Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, at the cost of immense national sacrifice, supported the main Eastern battlefield of the world anti-fascist war. It made contributions that will shine in the annals of history to saving the nation from subjugation, achieving national independence and people's liberation, and to the great cause of striving for world peace. It was an important component of the world anti-fascist war. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "The 450 million Chinese people constitute one-quarter of all humanity. If they can strive together, defeat Japanese imperialism, and create a new China of freedom and equality, their contribution to striving for permanent world peace will undoubtedly be very great." The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began the earliest and lasted the longest. The Chinese battlefield long contained and engaged the main forces of Japanese militarism, playing a decisive role in the complete destruction of the Japanese aggressors. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression strategically coordinated with and supported the operations of the Allied forces, cooperating with the strategic actions of the European and Pacific theaters, and restraining and disrupting the attempts at strategic coordination between Japanese fascism and German-Italian fascism. The significant contributions of the Chinese people to the world anti-fascist war won the respect of peace-loving people worldwide, earned a lofty national reputation, and significantly enhanced China's international status. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression received broad support from the international community; it was a great victory won through the joint struggle of the Chinese people together with the anti-fascist Allied nations and the peoples of various countries. The peoples of various countries made valuable contributions to the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

伟大的中国人民抗日战争，以巨大民族牺牲支撑起了世界反法西斯战争的东方主战场，为挽救民族危亡、实现民族独立和人民解放，为争取世界和平的伟大事业，作出了彪炳史册的贡献，是世界反法西斯战争的重要组成部分。毛泽东同志指出：“四亿五千万的中国人占了全人类的四分之一，如果能够一齐努力，打倒了日本帝国主义，创造了自由平等的新中国，对于争取全世界永久和平的贡献，无疑地是非常伟大的。”中国人民抗日战争开展时间最早、持续时间最长，中国战场长期牵制和抗击了日本军国主义的主要兵力，对日本侵略者的彻底覆灭起到决定性作用。中国人民抗日战争在战略上策应和支持了盟国作战，配合了欧洲战场和太平洋战场的战略行动，制约和打乱了日本法西斯和德意法西斯战略配合的企图。中国人民为世界反法西斯战争作出的重大贡献，赢得了世界爱好和平人民的尊敬，赢得了崇高的民族声誉，使中国国际地位显著提高。中国人民抗日战争得到国际社会广泛支持，是中国人民同反法西斯同盟国以及各国人民并肩战斗取得的伟大胜利，各国人民为中国人民抗日战争胜利作出了宝贵贡献。

After the end of World War II, the vast majority of colonial and semi-colonial countries successively achieved independence and began the process of modernization. Achieving modernization is the common pursuit of the vast number of developing countries. Since the New Era, our Party and country, in the process of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, have closely linked Chinese-path modernization with the modernization of developing countries, contributing Chinese wisdom to world modernization. On October 24, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the "BRICS Plus" Leaders' Dialogue, pointing out: "The common march of 'Global South' countries towards modernization is a major event in world history and an unprecedented feat in the process of human civilization." China, as the largest developing country and a member of the Global South, neither advocates imitating the "Western model" nor requires other developing countries to copy the "China model," but instead insists on the localization and diversity of modernization paths. China does not pursue standing out alone but hopes for a hundred flowers to bloom together. It sincerely provides more wisdom and strength for the "Global South," offers new choices, new spaces, and new possibilities for the modernization of developing countries, and is committed to joining hands with the vast number of Southern countries to create a bright future for human modernization. Chinese-path modernization not only solidly advances the comprehensive modernization of all regions and ethnic groups within China but also makes outstanding contributions to world modernization, helping more developing countries enter the ranks of modernized nations and promoting the development and progress of human civilization.

第二次世界大战结束后，广大殖民地半殖民地国家先后取得独立，开始了现代化的进程。实现现代化是广大发展中国家的共同追求。新时代以来，我们党和国家在推动构建人类命运共同体的过程中，将中国式现代化和发展中国家现代化紧密联系起来，为世界现代化贡献中国智慧。2024年10月24日，习近平总书记在“金砖+”领导人对话会上发表重要讲话，指出：“‘全球南方’国家共同迈向现代化是世界历史上一件大事，也是人类文明进程中史无前例的壮举。”中国作为最大发展中国家、全球南方的一员，既不主张效仿“西方模式”，也不要求其他发展中国家照搬“中国模式”，而是坚持现代化道路的本土化和多样性。中国不追求一枝独秀，更希望百花齐放，真心实意为“全球南方”提供更多智慧和力量，为发展中国家现代化提供新的选择、新的空间、新的可能，致力于同广大南方国家携手共创人类现代化美好未来。中国式现代化不仅扎实推进我国各个地区、各个民族的全面现代化，而且也为世界现代化作出卓越贡献，帮助更多发展中国家步入现代化国家行列，推动人类文明发展进步。

(The author is Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism, Tianjin University)

（作者系天津大学马克思主义学院院长、教授）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁