Striving to Open Up New Prospects for Chinese-Path Modernization with the Spirit of Historical Initiative

Modernization does not fall from the sky; it must be achieved by carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative. The communiqué of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC explicitly stated that we must overcome difficulties, confront risks, and meet challenges with the spirit of historical initiative, concentrate our efforts on handling our own affairs well, continue to write new chapters in the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and strive to open up new prospects for Chinese-path modernization. [1]1 The "two miracles" refer to China's rapid economic development and long-term social stability. The work report and important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the plenary session, as well as the "Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" reviewed and approved at the session, collectively embody the wisdom of the entire Party and the will of the entire people, manifesting a great spirit of historical initiative. We must always stand on the correct side of history, grasp the "times and trends" through theoretical initiative, deepen the "roots and soul" through spiritual initiative, and coordinate the "breaking and establishing" through practical initiative. In the organic unity of theoretical consciousness, spiritual self-strengthening, and practical self-action, we must seize the historical initiative, anchor our goals and tasks, and continue our struggle to basically realize socialist modernization.

现代化不会从天上掉下来，而是要通过发扬历史主动精神干出来。党的二十届四中全会公报明确提出，以历史主动精神克难关、战风险、迎挑战，集中力量办好自己的事，续写经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹新篇章，奋力开创中国式现代化建设新局面。习近平总书记在全会上所作的工作报告和重要讲话，以及全会审议通过的《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划的建议》，集中体现了全党的智慧和全国人民的意愿，彰显了伟大的历史主动精神。我们要始终站在历史正确的一边，以理论主动把握“时与势”，以精神主动厚植“根与魂”，以实践主动统筹“破与立”，在理论自觉、精神自强、实践自为有机统一中，把握历史主动，锚定目标任务，为基本实现社会主义现代化而接续奋斗。

Theoretical Initiative: The Dialectical Unity of Conformity with Laws and Conformity with Purposes

理论主动：合规律性与合目的性的辩证统一

For a nation to stand at the forefront of the times, it cannot be without theoretical thinking for a single moment, nor without correct ideological guidance for a single moment. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that having the guidance of Marxist scientific theory is the fundamental basis for our Party to firmly believe in its faith and ideals and to grasp the historical initiative. Historical initiative lies first and foremost in theoretical initiative, which is manifested in a profound grasp of historical laws, a precise anchoring of the orientation of the times, and an active innovation in ideological theory. It exhibits a distinct materialist character and represents a high degree of unity between conformity with laws and conformity with purposes. The work report and important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the plenary session have further pointed the direction and provided fundamental guidance for economic and social practice during the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

一个民族要走在时代前列，就一刻不能没有理论思维，一刻不能没有正确思想指引。习近平总书记指出，拥有马克思主义科学理论指导是我们党坚定信仰信念、把握历史主动的根本所在。历史主动，首先在于理论主动，表现为对历史规律的深刻把握，对时代方位的精准锚定，对思想理论的主动创新，展现出鲜明的唯物特质，是合规律性和合目的性的高度统一。习近平总书记在全会上所作的工作报告和重要讲话，为“十五五”时期经济社会实践进一步指明了方向、提供了根本遵循。

The spirit of historical initiative runs through the theory of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, manifested as a profound appreciation of the vitality of truth and an active quest for theoretical innovation. The spirit of historical initiative requires both unswerving adherence to the basic tenets of Marxism and the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through them, and also the testing of the truth of theory in practice, enabling its continuous enrichment and development. The spirit of historical initiative is rooted in the Marxist historical materialism, manifested as a profound grasp and dynamic application of historical laws. To transform the objective world requires the historical subject to fully recognize the laws of historical development, so that its thoughts, decisions, and actions consciously follow and conform to the requirements of objective laws. At the same time, the historical subject is not a completely passive object but can apply objective laws and exert its own initiative to create history. The plenary session's judgment on the important status of the 15th Five-Year Plan and its grasp of the phased requirements profoundly reveal the inherent laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics and Chinese-path modernization, providing a powerful weapon for further transforming the subjective and objective worlds during the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

历史主动精神贯穿于马克思主义中国化时代化理论，表现为对真理生命力的深刻体悟和对理论创新的主动求索。历史主动精神，既要求始终不渝地坚持马克思主义基本原理和贯穿其中的立场、观点、方法，也要求在实践中检验理论的真理性，并使其不断丰富和发展。历史主动精神根植于马克思主义唯物史观，表现为对历史规律的深刻把握与能动运用。改造客观世界，要求历史主体充分认识到历史发展规律，使自己的思想、决策、行动等自觉地遵循和符合客观规律要求。同时，历史主体又并非完全消极被动的客体，而是能够运用客观规律，发挥自己的能动性来创造历史。全会对“十五五”重要地位的判断和阶段性要求的把握，深刻揭示了中国特色社会主义和中国式现代化建设内在规律，为“十五五”时期进一步改造主观和客观世界提供了强大武器。

The spirit of historical initiative is embedded in the grand historical perspective of contemporary Chinese Marxism, manifested as a profound insight into the general trend of history and an active grasp of the direction of the times. The plenary session accurately judged the world situation, national conditions, and Party conditions, grasped the changes in the world, the times, and history, and clearly pointed out that the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a critical period for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. It holds a pivotal position connecting the past and the future in the process of basically realizing socialist modernization. Our country's development is in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increase. This provides us with a scientific action guide for anchoring the key five years of the New Era, accurately recognizing changes, scientifically responding to changes, and actively seeking changes.

历史主动精神内蕴于当代中国马克思主义的大历史观，表现为对历史大势的深刻洞察和对时代发展方向的主动把握。全会准确判断世情、国情、党情，把握世界之变、时代之变、历史之变，明确指出“十五五”时期是基本实现社会主义现代化夯实基础、全面发力的关键时期，在基本实现社会主义现代化进程中具有承前启后的重要地位，我国发展处于战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期，为我们锚定新时代的关键五年，准确识变、科学应变、主动求变提供了科学行动指南。

Spiritual Initiative: The High Unity of Historical Consciousness and Chinese Confidence

精神主动：历史自觉与中国自信的高度统一

Great undertakings breed great spirit, and great spirit leads great undertakings. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that with a confident and self-strengthening spiritual force, the Chinese people's initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm are further stimulated, and their ambition, backbone, and confidence are unprecedentedly enhanced. Historical initiative internalized as spiritual initiative is manifested as a high degree of historical consciousness spirit that "fears not the clouds veiling the eyes," a powerful historical confidence spirit that "a time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves," and a surging historical creativity spirit that "in all affairs of life, one must rely on oneself." [2]2 The first two quoted lines are from classical Chinese poems: "Fears not the clouds veiling the eyes" is from Wang Anshi's "Climbing Feilai Peak" (11th century); "A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves" is from Li Bai's "The Hard Road" (8th century). The third line, "In all affairs of life, one must rely on oneself," is from a poem by the Yuan dynasty poet Sa Duci (14th century). The plenary session's precise judgment on the supporting conditions and basic trends of China's long-term positive outlook, its important thesis on China's "four major advantages," and its major decisions on the series of goals and tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan are a concentrated expression of historical consciousness and Chinese confidence.

伟大事业孕育伟大精神，伟大精神引领伟大事业。习近平总书记指出，有自信自强的精神力量，中国人民积极性、主动性、创造性进一步激发，志气、骨气、底气空前增强。历史主动内化于精神主动，表现为“不畏浮云遮望眼”的高度历史自觉精神、“长风破浪会有时”的强大历史自信精神、“人生万事须自为”的澎湃历史创造精神。全会对中国长期向好的支撑条件和基本趋势的精准判断，对中国“四大优势”的重要论断、对“十五五”系列目标任务的重大决断，是历史自觉与中国自信的集中体现。

The spirit of historical initiative is contained within the distinctive political character of the Communist Party of China's courage in self-revolution, manifested as a problem consciousness that directly faces the times and confronts contradictions. The spirit of historical consciousness is the vanguard ambition to stand at the forefront of the times and consciously judge the historical stage, the fighting courage to face current problems and consciously confront the principal contradiction, and the innovative sharpness to predict future trends and consciously lay out strategic blueprints. At the historic moment when the 14th Five-Year Plan concludes and the 15th Five-Year Plan begins, the Party Central Committee consciously stands at the forefront of the tide of the times and the forefront of overcoming difficulties, bearing in mind the "two overall situations," [3]3 The "two overall situations" refer to the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the major changes unseen in a century in the world. and based on the new situation of the 15th Five-Year Plan period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increase, it consciously shoulders the heavy responsibility of reform, development, and stability, directly faces contradictions, risks, and challenges, demonstrating the wisdom to recognize changes, the method to respond to changes, and the courage to seek changes, which are the manifestations of the spirit of historical consciousness in discerning the general trend of the times.

历史主动精神蕴藏于中国共产党勇于自我革命的鲜明政治品格中，表现为直面时代、正视矛盾的问题意识。历史自觉精神，是走在时代前列、自觉判断历史阶段的先锋志气，是正视当前问题、自觉直面主要矛盾的斗争勇气，是预判未来趋势、自觉布局战略蓝图的革新锐气。在“十四五”收官、“十五五”起航的历史性时刻，党中央自觉站在时代潮流最前列、攻坚克难最前沿，胸怀“两个大局”，立足“十五五”时期战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的新形势，自觉担当起改革发展稳定重任、直面矛盾风险挑战，彰显了以历史自觉精神洞悉时代大势的识变之智、应变之方、求变之勇。

The spirit of historical initiative is internalized as the Communist Party of China's historical thinking of "taking history as a mirror," manifested as strong confidence formed by a profound understanding of historical achievements. The historical confidence of Chinese Communists is confidence both in the achievements of struggle and in the spirit of struggle, and the two are organically unified in the grand blueprint of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Scientifically formulating and continuously implementing five-year plans has become an important experience for our Party in governing the country and a significant political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the occasion of the 15th Five-Year Plan, we have sufficient confidence and ample reasons to strengthen our historical confidence.

历史主动精神内化为中国共产党“以史为鉴”的历史思维，表现为基于对历史成就的深刻认识而形成的强大信心。中国共产党人的历史自信，既是对奋斗成就的自信，也是对奋斗精神的自信，两者有机统一于“十五五”规划的宏伟蓝图。科学制定和接续实施五年规划，已成为我们党治国理政的一条重要经验，也是中国特色社会主义一个重要政治优势。“十五五”之际，我们有足够的底气和充分的理由坚定历史自信。

The spirit of historical initiative is integrated into the Communist Party of China's pioneering and innovative concept of "daring to be the first in the world," manifested as an enterprising spirit that stimulates the creative power of hundreds of millions of people. The people are the creators of history and the fundamental force driving historical development. The spirit of historical innovation is fundamentally embodied in the people's initiative in creation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that we must fully stimulate the historical initiative of all the people. The plenary session greatly inspired, excited, and energized the entire nation. The spirit for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unprecedentedly high, and the creativity for building a great modern socialist country in all respects is unprecedentedly bursting forth.

历史主动精神融汇于中国共产党“敢为天下先”的开拓创新理念，表现为激发亿万人民创造伟力的进取精神。人民是历史的创造者，是推动历史发展的根本力量。历史创新精神，根本上体现为人民的首创精神。习近平总书记指出，要充分激发全体人民的历史主动精神。全会使全国人民备受鼓舞、倍感振奋、倍增干劲，实现中华民族伟大复兴的精气神空前饱满，全面建成社会主义现代化强国的创造力空前迸发。

Practical Initiative: The Organic Unity of Strategic Focus and Innovation and Creation

实践主动：战略定力与创新创造的有机统一

Realizing socialist modernization is a historical process of step-by-step progression and continuous development and progress, requiring unremitting efforts and continuous struggle. Historical initiative externalized as practical initiative lies in actively conforming to the general trend of history, seizing historical opportunities, and leading historical development. This requires us to adhere to innovation and creation within strategic focus, use developed Chinese theory to guide developing Chinese practice, and use the great Chinese spirit to promote great Chinese practice.

实现社会主义现代化是一个阶梯式递进、不断发展进步的历史过程，需要不懈努力、接续奋斗。历史主动外化为实践主动，在于主动顺应历史大势、抓住历史机遇、引领历史发展。这需要我们在战略定力中坚持创新创造，用发展的中国理论指导发展的中国实践，用伟大的中国精神推动伟大的中国实践。

Undertaking historical missions with continuous responsibility. The spirit of historical initiative is forged in the glorious course of the Communist Party of China's one hundred years of successive struggles, tenacious efforts, and continuous victories in revolution, construction, and reform, manifested as the strategic focus of "carrying out the blueprint to the end." The historical initiative in the New Era focuses on practical initiative, firmly grasping high-quality development as the primary task. This requires a profound grasp of the dialectical unity between "acting immediately upon speaking" and "persisting for a long time to achieve success." [4]4 "Acting immediately upon speaking" (立说立行) and "persisting for a long time to achieve success" (久久为功) are Chinese idioms emphasizing both prompt action and sustained effort. The plenary session closely centered on the central tasks of the Party in the new era and new journey, profoundly analyzed the achievements and challenges faced in current high-quality development, based itself on the new stage of development, implemented the new development philosophy, adhered to a problem-oriented approach, maintained strategic focus, ensured decisive progress in basically realizing socialist modernization, promoted major breakthroughs in strategic tasks related to the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization, and demonstrated the unique practical wisdom of "Chinese governance." This not only provides a practical strategy for us to work hard and promote the development of the great cause of Chinese-path modernization but also, in the process of consciously practicing historical initiative, continuously expands the practical dimension of the new form of human civilization.

以接续担当扛起历史使命。历史主动精神铸就于中国共产党百年来前赴后继、顽强奋斗，不断夺取革命、建设、改革重大胜利的光辉历程，表现为“一张蓝图绘到底”的战略定力。新时代的历史主动，重点在于以实践主动，紧紧抓住高质量发展这个首要任务，这要求深刻把握“立说立行”与“久久为功”的辩证统一。全会紧紧围绕新时代新征程党的中心任务，深刻分析当前高质量发展取得的成就和面临的挑战，立足新发展阶段，贯彻新发展理念，坚持问题导向，保持战略定力，确保基本实现社会主义现代化取得决定性进展，推动事关中国式现代化全局的战略任务取得重大突破，彰显出“中国之治”的独特实践智慧，既为我们干事创业、推动中国式现代化伟大事业发展提供了实践方略，又在自觉践行历史主动的进程中，不断拓展了人类文明新形态的实践维度。

Seize historical opportunities through reform and innovation. The historical initiative in the New Era lies primarily in practical initiative, making good use of the key lever of comprehensively deepening reform. This requires a profound grasp of the dialectical unity between “unswerving adherence to what is right” and “ceaseless innovation.” Over the next five years, China is in a period of historic opportunity full of potential; we are closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any other time in history. The plenary session [5], with a strategic vision that assesses the situation, anchors the coordinates of reform. It both runs “upholding the Party’s overall leadership” through the entire process of comprehensively deepening reform, providing the most fundamental political guarantee, and closely follows the core requirement of “persisting in comprehensively deepening reform,” introducing a series of forward-looking and targeted reform measures to activate the overall development situation. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period [6], the direction of reform will be clearer and the path more distinct.

以改革创新把握历史机遇。新时代的历史主动，关键在于实践主动，用好全面深化改革关键一招，这要求深刻把握“守正不渝”与“创新不止”的辩证统一。未来五年，我国正处于一个大有可为的历史机遇期，我们比历史上任何时期都更接近中华民族伟大复兴的目标。全会以审时度势的战略眼光锚定改革坐标，既将“坚持党的全面领导”贯穿全面深化改革部署全过程，提供最根本政治保证，又紧扣“坚持全面深化改革”核心要求，推出一系列有前瞻性、针对性的改革举措，激活发展全局，“十五五”期间改革方向更加明确、路径更加清晰。

Guide historical development with systematic thinking. The spirit of historical initiative is forged in the CPC’s strategic planning, which consistently applies systematic thinking to understand and transform the world and to coordinate the advancement of the Party’s and the state’s various undertakings. It is manifested in the coordinated deployment of “making both wheels turn together.” Systematic thinking is an important epistemology and methodology of Marxist philosophy. Advancing Chinese-path modernization is a systematic project that requires correctly understanding and properly handling several major relationships. Among them, development and security are the top priorities. To practice the spirit of historical initiative in the New Era, we must profoundly grasp the dialectical unity between “high-quality development” and “high-level security,” and coordinate development and security. The plenary session adheres to holistic thinking and emphasizes coordinating development and security. It both insists on taking development as the top priority, continuously strengthening China’s economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national power, and promoting high-level security through high-quality development; and it insists on integrating the concept of security into all aspects of economic and social development, advancing the modernization of the national security system and capacity, building a higher-level Peaceful China, and ensuring high-quality development with high-level security. This provides a scientific strategy for achieving a positive interaction between high-quality development and high-level security during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

以系统思维引领历史发展。历史主动精神熔铸于中国共产党坚持运用系统观念认识世界、改造世界，统筹推进党和国家各项事业的战略谋划，表现为“两个轮子一起转”的统筹部署。系统观念是马克思主义哲学重要的认识论和方法论，推进中国式现代化是一个系统工程，必须正确认识并妥善处理若干重大关系。其中，发展与安全是重中之重。新时代践行历史主动精神，必须深刻把握“高质量发展”与“高水平安全”的辩证统一，统筹发展和安全。全会坚持整体性思维，强调统筹发展和安全。既坚持以发展为第一要务，不断壮大我国经济实力、科技实力、综合国力，以高质量发展促进高水平安全；又坚持将安全理念贯穿经济社会发展的各个环节，推进国家安全体系和能力现代化，建设更高水平平安中国，以高水平安全保障高质量发展，为“十五五”时期实现高质量发展和高水平安全良性互动提供了科学方略。

Responding to the questions of the times and inspiring historical initiative, philosophy and social science workers have an unshirkable responsibility. Only by anchoring the direction of truth with theoretical confidence, stirring up the momentum of endeavor with spiritual self-strengthening, and creating great achievements of the era with practical self-action, and by integrating the spirit of historical initiative into all tasks of implementing the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the spirit of the plenary session, and effectively

回应时代之问，激扬历史主动，哲学社会科学工作者责无旁贷。唯有以理论自觉锚定真理方向，以精神自强激荡奋进动能，以实践自为创造时代伟业，将历史主动精神融入贯彻落实习近平总书记重要讲话精神和全会精神的各项任务中，切实转化为“十五五”时期干事创业的实际行动，方能谱写无愧于历史、无愧于时代、无愧于人民的光辉篇章！

(The author is Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the Hebei Academy of Social Sciences.)

（作者系河北省社会科学院党组书记、院长）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧