A Historical Examination from Implementing Reform to Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

From the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, China has experienced an evolutionary process from initiating reform to further deepening reform comprehensively. This process contains both the evolution of the connotation of the concept of reform and the shift in the focus of reform practice. Examining the historical evolutionary thread from implementing reform to further deepening reform comprehensively is conducive to deepening the understanding of the history of reform and gaining insight into the internal logic of reform and development.

从党的十一届三中全会到党的二十届三中全会，我国经历了从启动改革到进一步全面深化改革的演进过程。这一过程既蕴含着改革概念内涵的演变，也经历了改革实践重点的变迁。考察从实行改革到进一步全面深化改革的历史演进脉络，有利于深化对改革历史的认识，洞察改革发展的内在逻辑。

I. Reform Focusing on Economic System Reform and Comprehensive Reform

一、以经济体制改革为重点的改革和全面改革

After the end of the "Cultural Revolution," concentrating efforts on developing the productive forces and changing the country's backward appearance as quickly as possible gradually rose on the Party's agenda, and implementing reform became a path choice for promoting the development of productive forces and raising the people's living standards.

“文化大革命”结束后，集中力量发展生产力、尽快改变国家落后面貌逐步提上党的议事日程，实行改革成为推动生产力发展、提高人民生活水平的路径选择。

In April 1978, when offering revision opinions on the article "Implementing the Socialist Principle of Distribution According to Work," Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "The eight-grade wage system needs some reform. There is also a reform issue with the wage levels of administrative personnel." At that time, workers' wages generally implemented an eight-grade system. In Deng Xiaoping's view, workers' wages did not necessarily have to be eight grades; one could also consider dividing them into more grades. This was the beginning of advocating for reform of the distribution system. In September, during an inspection in Liaoning, Deng Xiaoping stated: "We must advocate and educate all cadres to think independently. Unreasonable things can be boldly reformed, and they should also be given this authority." This put forward a reform proposition and was also a mobilization for reform. In October, in his address at the opening ceremony of the Ninth National Congress of the Chinese Trade Unions, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that to achieve the four modernizations, "each economic front requires not only major technological reforms but also major institutional and organizational reforms. Carrying out these reforms is in the long-term interests of the people of the whole country." Here, the task of economic system reform was clearly proposed, and the reform orientation centered on the people's interests was emphasized. Therefore, before the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping had already begun to use the concept of reform and contemplate reform methods. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their main representative, explained the necessity of reform from dimensions such as achieving the four modernizations, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system, and opening up. The concept of reform was widely disseminated and continuously gained recognition from the entire Party and society, and reform practice subsequently unfolded.

1978年4月，邓小平就《贯彻执行按劳分配的社会主义原则》一文发表修改意见时指出：“八级工资制需要作些改革。行政人员的工资级别，也有一个改革问题。”当时，工人工资普遍实行八级制。在邓小平看来，工人工资不一定是八级，还可以考虑多分几级，这是倡导分配制度改革的开始。9月，邓小平在辽宁考察时指出：“要提倡、要教育所有的干部独立思考，不合理的东西可以大胆改革，也要给他这个权。”这里既提出了改革主张，也是改革的动员。10月，邓小平在中国工会第九次全国代表大会开幕式上的致词中指出，实现四个现代化，“各个经济战线不仅需要进行技术上的重大改革，而且需要进行制度上、组织上的重大改革。进行这些改革，是全国人民的长远利益所在”。这里已经明确提出经济体制改革的任务，并强调了以人民利益为中心的改革取向。因此，在党的十一届三中全会召开之前，邓小平已开始使用改革概念，思考改革方法。党的十一届三中全会之后，以邓小平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，从实现四个现代化、彰显社会主义制度优越性、对外开放等维度阐释了改革的必要性，改革理念得到广泛传播，并不断得到全党全社会的认同，改革实践随之展开。

Modernization is a process and stage that any country must undergo in its development, and promoting national modernization is the responsibility and mission of the ruling party. In September 1954, in the government work report of the First Session of the First National People's Congress, Zhou Enlai proposed industry, agriculture, transportation, and national defense as the priorities for modernization, which was the prototype of the concept of the four modernizations. In December 1964, in the government work report of the First Session of the Third National People's Congress, Zhou Enlai defined the four modernizations as the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, fixing the connotation of the concept of the four modernizations. The "Cultural Revolution" interrupted the historical process of achieving the four modernizations and widened the development gap between China and Western developed countries. After the end of the "Cultural Revolution," achieving the four modernizations became the primary task, and reform was proposed in response to the need to achieve the four modernizations. The communiqué of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee stated: "Achieving the four modernizations requires greatly raising the productive forces, which inevitably necessitates changing, in many respects, the relations of production and the superstructure that are incompatible with the development of the productive forces, and changing all unsuitable management methods, activity methods, and ways of thinking. Hence, it is a broad and profound revolution." Precisely because of the need to achieve the four modernizations, the historical process of reform and opening up was initiated. The goal pursuit and developmental demands of achieving the four modernizations gave birth to the great practice of reform and opening up. The third historical resolution of the Party [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Explanatory Notes on the 'Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization'," 15 July 2024. pointed out: "The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee was epoch-making, ushering in a new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization." Thereafter, when explaining the necessity of reform, people still regarded reform as a path choice for China's modernization. In April 1979, in his speech at the Central Work Conference, Li Xiannian pointed out that starting from the country's actual conditions, "to blaze a Chinese-style path of achieving modernization under the socialist system," it was necessary to "actively yet steadily reform the industrial management and economic management systems." This explained the necessity of reform from the dimension of exploring the path of China's modernization. In October 1984, the "Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Reform of the Economic Structure" [2]2 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee," 31 January 2024. adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee clearly stated: "To achieve socialist modernization, it is necessary to reform the economic structure." Directly linking the realization of China's modernization with reform gave reform more sufficient reasons and necessity.

现代化是任何国家发展必经的过程和阶段，推进国家现代化是执政党的责任和使命。1954年9月，周恩来在一届全国人大一次会议的政府工作报告中，提出工业、农业、交通运输业和国防作为现代化的重点，这是四个现代化概念的雏形。1964年12月，周恩来在三届全国人大一次会议的政府工作报告中，将四个现代化厘定为农业、工业、国防和科学技术现代化，定格了四个现代化概念的内涵。“文化大革命”中断了实现四个现代化的历史进程，拉大了中国与西方发达国家之间的发展差距。“文化大革命”结束后，实现四个现代化成为首要任务，改革是因应实现四个现代化需要而提出的。党的十一届三中全会公报指出：“实现四个现代化，要求大幅度地提高生产力，也就必然要求多方面地改变同生产力发展不适应的生产关系和上层建筑，改变一切不适应的管理方式、活动方式和思想方式，因而是一场广泛、深刻的革命。”正是因为实现四个现代化的需要，开启了改革开放的历史进程，实现四个现代化的目标追求、发展诉求催生了改革开放的伟大实践。党的第三个历史决议指出：“党的十一届三中全会是划时代的，开启了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期。”此后，人们在阐释改革必要性时，仍将改革作为中国现代化的路径选择。1979年4月，李先念在中央工作会议上的讲话中指出，从自己国家的实际出发，“走出一条在社会主义制度下实现现代化的中国式的道路”，必须“积极而又稳妥地改革工业管理和经济管理的体制”。这是从探索中国现代化道路的维度阐释改革的必要性。1984年10月，党的十二届三中全会通过的《中共中央关于经济体制改革的决定》明确指出：“为了实现社会主义现代化，必须对经济体制进行改革。”将实现中国现代化与改革直接联系起来，使改革有了更为充分的理由和必要。

Reform is carried out under the premise of adhering to the fundamental system and basic system of socialism, reforming the specific systems within the relations of production and the superstructure that are incompatible with the development of the productive forces. It is "the self-improvement and self-development of the socialist system." The purpose of reform is to remove institutional obstacles to the development of the productive forces and meet the people's interest demands, rather than negating the socialist system. The Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee proposed: "Whether it is conducive to developing the social productive forces should be the primary criterion for testing the success or failure of all reforms." Evaluating reform with a focus on the development of the productive forces is conducive to satisfying the people's interests and demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system. In September 1985, the proposal for formulating the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" [3]3 The "Seven Focal Points" (七个聚焦) are the seven priority areas for further comprehensive reform outlined in the Third Plenary Session's decision, covering the economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, national security, and Party building. adopted by the National Conference of the CPC pointed out: "All the policies of reform, opening up, and invigorating the economy we have adopted are aimed at building socialism with Chinese characteristics." Linking reform with building socialism with Chinese characteristics fully demonstrated the necessity of reform.

改革是在坚持社会主义根本制度、基本制度的前提下，改革生产关系和上层建筑中与生产力发展不相适应的具体制度，是“社会主义制度的自我完善和发展”。改革的目的在于扫除生产力发展的制度障碍，满足人民的利益需求，而不是否定社会主义制度。党的十二届三中全会提出：“把是否有利于发展社会生产力作为检验一切改革得失成败的最主要标准。”着眼生产力的发展评价改革，有利于人民利益的满足和社会主义制度优越性的彰显。1985年9月，中国共产党全国代表会议通过的制定“七五”计划建议指出：“我们采取的所有改革、开放和搞活经济的政策，目的都是为了建设有中国特色的社会主义。”将改革与建设中国特色社会主义联系起来，充分彰显了改革的必要性。

Shortly after the end of the "Cultural Revolution," Deng Xiaoping advocated opening up to the outside world and introducing advanced foreign technology. In May 1977, when meeting with Fang Yi, Li Chang, and others to discuss issues of science and education, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that compared with foreign countries, China lagged behind in many aspects of science and technology, and catching up would be very difficult. "We must strive to catch up; if you don't catch up, the gap will become even larger." In Deng Xiaoping's view, "Advanced things in scientific research are the fruits of human labor. Why not accept them? What is shameful about accepting these things? We should pay a high price to obtain the world's latest materials." This already proposed the suggestion of introducing advanced foreign technology to narrow the development gap through introduction. In August, when presiding over the Symposium on Science and Education Work, Deng Xiaoping again emphasized: "Combine one's own research with the introduction of technology. Why not use the achievements of mankind?" Introducing advanced foreign technology actually raised reform requirements for the economic system and management system. The Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee pointed out that the new technological revolution emerging worldwide presented new opportunities and challenges for China's economic development, requiring that China's economic structure "possess a stronger capacity to absorb the latest contemporary scientific and technological achievements, promote scientific and technological progress, and create new productive forces. Therefore, the need for reform is even more urgent." Opening up to the outside world spurred reform; without reform, it would be difficult to meet the requirements of opening up. In Deng Xiaoping's view, "Opening up to the outside world is also part of the content of reform; overall, it is all called reform." Therefore, opening up to the outside world was an important factor contributing to reform.

“文化大革命”结束后不久，邓小平便主张对外开放，引进外国先进技术。1977年5月，邓小平在约见方毅、李昌等人谈论科学和教育工作问题时就指出，我们同国外的科技水平比，在很多方面差距拉大了，要赶上很费劲。我们要努力赶，你不赶，距离就更大了。在邓小平看来，“科学研究方面的先进东西是人类劳动的成果，为什么不接受？接受这些东西有什么可耻的？要花高价把世界上最新的资料买到手”。这里已经提出引进外国先进技术的建议，通过引进缩小发展差距。8月，邓小平在主持科学和教育工作座谈会时再次强调：“自己研究和引进技术结合起来。人类的成果为什么不用？”引进外国先进技术，实际上对经济体制、管理体制提出了改革要求。党的十二届三中全会指出，世界范围内兴起的新技术革命，对我国经济发展是一种新的机遇和挑战，要求我们的经济体制“具有吸收当代最新科技成就，推动科技进步，创造新的生产力的更加强大的能力。因此，改革的需要更为迫切”。对外开放催生改革，不改革难以适应对外开放的要求。在邓小平看来，“对外开放也是改革的内容之一，总的来说，都叫改革”。因此，对外开放是促成改革的重要因素。

The economy is the foundation. The reform initiated after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was primarily reform of the economic system. The Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of the CPC clearly stated: “The conditions for comprehensively reforming the economic system are already in place” and “reform is aimed at establishing a vibrant socialist economic system.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Explanatory Notes on the 'Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization'," 15 July 2024. While focusing on advancing economic system reform, our Party also gradually promoted reform of the science and technology system, the education system, and reforms in other areas. In August 1977, when presiding over a symposium on science and education work, Deng Xiaoping proposed: “To achieve the Four Modernizations and catch up with and surpass the world’s advanced levels, where should we start? It seems we must start with scientific research and education.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee," 31 January 2024. Taking science, technology, and education as the breakthrough point for realizing the Four Modernizations grasped the foundational and strategic support for China’s modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of the CPC pointed out: “With the reform of the economic system, the reform of the science and technology system and the education system is increasingly becoming a strategic task that urgently needs to be solved.” Subsequently, in March and May 1985, the Central Committee of the CPC successively issued decisions on reforming the science and technology system and the education system. In January 1987 and May 1988, the State Council successively issued several regulations on further promoting the reform of the science and technology system and decisions on several issues concerning deepening the reform of the science and technology system. Such a dense issuance of decisions and regulations on the reform of the science and technology system and the education system indicates the high importance the Party Central Committee and the State Council attached to the reform of the science and technology system and the education system.

经济是基础，党的十一届三中全会后开启的改革，主要是经济体制的改革。党的十二届三中全会明确提出：“全面改革经济体制的条件已经具备”，“改革是为了建立充满生机的社会主义经济体制”。在着力推进经济体制改革的同时，我们党也在逐步推进科技、教育体制改革以及其他方面的改革。1977年8月，邓小平在主持科学和教育工作座谈会时提出：“要实现四个现代化，要赶超世界先进水平，究竟从何着手？看来要从科研和教育着手。”将科技、教育作为实现四个现代化的突破口，抓住了中国现代化的基础性、战略性支撑。党的十二届三中全会指出：“随着经济体制的改革，科技体制和教育体制的改革越来越成为迫切需要解决的战略性任务。”随后，1985年3月、5月，中共中央先后颁发关于科技体制、教育体制改革的决定。1987年1月、1988年5月，国务院先后出台进一步推进科技体制改革的若干规定、深化科技体制改革若干问题的决定。如此密集出台科技体制、教育体制改革的决定、规定，说明党中央、国务院对科技体制、教育体制改革的高度重视。

Besides being closely related to the reform of the science and technology system and the education system, economic system reform was also closely related to political system reform. In the early period of reform and opening up, the Party Central Committee had already begun to advocate political system reform. In his speech at the meeting celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Ye Jianying pointed out: “While reforming and perfecting the socialist economic system, we must also reform and perfect the socialist political system.” [3]3 The "Seven Focal Points" (七个聚焦) are the seven priority areas for further comprehensive reform outlined in the Third Plenary Session's decision, covering the economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, national security, and Party building. This was an early proposal of the task of political system reform. In January 1983, in his speech at the National Conference on Political Work in Enterprises, Hu Yaobang proposed the task of “comprehensive systemic reform,” arguing that “besides reform in institutions and the economic sphere, all departments—including politics and law, foreign affairs, labor, personnel, propaganda, science and technology, education, culture, journalism, publishing, health, sports, and all people’s organizations—in short, all departments have the task of carrying out reform on the basis of adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles.” [4]4 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are the four fundamental principles of socialism, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979. In terms of the areas covered by reform, this already exhibited the characteristics of comprehensive reform and systemic reform. In April 1985, when meeting with Vice President Ali Hassan Mwinyi of the United Republic of Tanzania, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Reform is comprehensive reform, including not only the economy and politics but also science and technology, education, and all other trades and professions.” This already put forward the concept and requirement of comprehensive reform. In January 1987, the communiqué of the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC proposed “continuing to implement comprehensive reform,” reaffirming the policy of comprehensive reform. The report of the 13th National Congress of the CPC, proceeding from the actual conditions of the primary stage of socialism, established “must adhere to comprehensive reform” as a guiding principle of long-term significance, arguing that socialism is a society advancing through reform and that reform is the driving force for all work. China’s basic political system is good, but the specific leadership system, organizational forms, and working methods have some defects; “the unfolding and deepening of economic system reform has placed increasingly urgent demands on political system reform.”

经济体制改革除与科技体制、教育体制改革密切相关外，与政治体制改革也密切相关。改革开放初期，党中央已开始倡导政治体制改革。叶剑英在庆祝中华人民共和国成立30周年大会上的讲话中指出：“要在改革和完善社会主义经济制度的同时，改革和完善社会主义政治制度。”这里较早提出政治体制改革的任务。1983年1月，胡耀邦在全国职工思想政治工作会议上的讲话，提出“全面性的系统改革”任务，认为“除机构和经济方面的改革外，政法、外事、劳动、人事、宣传、科技、教育、文化、新闻、出版、卫生、体育，以及各个人民团体，总之，一切部门都有在坚持四项基本原则的基础上实行改革的任务”。这里就改革涉及的领域而言，已呈现全面改革、系统改革的特点。1985年4月，邓小平在会见坦桑尼亚联合共和国副总统姆维尼时指出：“改革是全面的改革，不仅经济、政治，还包括科技、教育等各行各业。”这里已提出全面改革的理念和要求。1987年1月，中共中央政治局扩大会议公报提出“继续实行全面改革”，重申了全面改革的方针。党的十三大报告从社会主义初级阶段的实际出发，将“必须坚持全面改革”确立为具有长远意义的指导方针，认为社会主义是在改革中前进的社会，改革是推进一切工作的动力。我国基本政治制度是好的，但具体领导制度、组织形式和工作方式存在一些缺陷，“经济体制改革的展开和深入，对政治体制改革提出了愈益紧迫的要求”。

In the 1980s, although the concept of comprehensive reform was proposed, the focus remained on economic system reform. The implementation of the rural household contract responsibility system and the rise of township enterprises, while solving the problem of food and clothing for farmers, also strengthened the rural collective economy. In cities, reforms of varying degrees were carried out in planning, finance, taxation, banking, commerce, foreign trade, pricing, and wages, which enhanced enterprise vitality and promoted urban economic development. To meet the requirements of economic system reform, corresponding reforms were also carried out in the science and technology, education, and political systems, accumulating experience in reform.

20世纪80年代，尽管提出了全面改革的设想，但重点仍在于经济体制改革。农村家庭联产承包责任制的推行和乡镇企业的兴起，在解决农民温饱问题的同时，壮大了农村集体经济。城市在计划、财政、税收、金融、商业、外贸、价格、工资等方面进行了不同程度的改革，增强了企业活力，促进了城市经济发展。为适应经济体制改革的要求，科技、教育和政治体制也相应进行了改革，积累了改革经验。

II. Comprehensive Reform and Deepening Reform Oriented Towards Building a Socialist Market Economy System and Achieving Scientific Development

二、以构建社会主义市场经济体制、实现科学发展为指向的全面改革和深化改革

What goal to establish and what system to choose for economic system reform is a major issue concerning the overall situation of reform and the path of national development. In 1992, the 14th National Congress of the CPC established the reform goal of building a socialist market economy system. This was a systemic reshaping and overall reconstruction of China’s economic system. It not only put forward requirements for comprehensive reform of the economic system but also placed new demands on the reform of systems in other fields, becoming the driving force for promoting comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

经济体制改革确立什么样的目标、选择什么样的制度，是关系改革全局和国家发展道路的重大问题。1992年，党的十四大确立建立社会主义市场经济体制的改革目标，这是我国经济制度的系统性重塑和整体性重构，既对经济体制提出全面改革的要求，也对其他领域体制改革提出新的要求，成为推动全面改革和深化改革的动力。

In his speech at the meeting celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Jiang Zemin pointed out that reform is a complex and huge systemic project, “including reforms in various systems such as the economy, politics, education, science and technology, and culture, which need to be coordinated and implemented in a matching manner.” The systems in the economy, politics, culture, and other areas are interconnected; the requirements for coordination and mutual matching of reforms made comprehensive reform an inevitable choice. In 1993, the Third Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee of the CPC adopted the “Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Several Issues Concerning Establishing a Socialist Market Economy System.” While systematically deploying economic system reform, it also planned for further reforming the science and technology system and the education system and strengthening the construction of the legal system; the trend and characteristics of comprehensive reform became increasingly evident. The report of the 15th National Congress of the CPC further explicitly stated that “reform is comprehensive reform.” This was both a positioning of the characteristics of reform in the context of establishing a socialist market economy system and an inherent requirement of reform. Comprehensive reform inevitably requires deepening reform; without deepening reform, it is difficult to move towards comprehensive reform, and the process of comprehensive reform is also a process of deepening reform. In March 1993, in his speech at a meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Leading Group, Jiang Zemin pointed out: “Some prominent problems in economic life have deep-seated causes; to fundamentally solve them, we must rely on deepening reform.” This was a positioning of the role of deepening reform. The deepening reform mentioned here is not limited to the economic system, because prominent problems in economic life are often related to the political system or the science and technology system and the education system. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee of the CPC proposed suggestions for formulating the Ninth Five-Year Plan and the long-term goals for the year 2010. Jiang Zemin emphasized: “The key to achieving the fifteen-year development goals still lies in deepening reform.” When planning the drafting of the report for the 16th National Congress of the CPC, Jiang Zemin explicitly stated: “The parts on economic construction and economic system reform, as well as related content in other parts, must clearly embody the idea of deepening reform.” Therefore, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their main representative, while advocating comprehensive reform, elevated deepening reform to an important position. The emphasis on comprehensive reform and deepening reform was, in terms of its reasons, mainly the inherent requirement of establishing a socialist market economy system, the accumulation of reform achievements and experience, the objective requirement of the laws of social development, and the need to advance China’s modernization.

江泽民在庆祝中国共产党成立70周年大会上的讲话中指出，改革是一个复杂巨大的系统工程，“包括经济、政治、教育、科技、文化体制等各方面的改革，需要相互协调、配套进行”。经济、政治、文化等方面的体制相互联系，改革的协调性和相互配套的要求，使全面改革成为必然选择。1993年，党的十四届三中全会通过《中共中央关于建立社会主义市场经济体制若干问题的决定》，在对经济体制改革进行系统部署的同时，对进一步改革科技体制和教育体制、加强法律制度建设进行谋划，全面改革的趋向和特征日益明显。党的十五大报告进一步明确提出“改革是全面改革”，这既是建立社会主义市场经济体制背景下改革特点的定位，也是改革的内在要求。全面改革必然要求深化改革，不深化改革难以走向全面改革，全面改革的过程也是深化改革的过程。1993年3月，江泽民在中央财经领导小组会议上的讲话中指出：“经济生活中的一些突出问题，有深层次原因，要从根本上解决还得依靠深化改革。”这是对深化改革作用的定位。这里所说的深化改革并不限于经济体制，因为经济生活中存在的突出问题，往往与政治体制或科技体制、教育体制有关。党的十四届五中全会提出制定“九五”计划和2010年远景目标的建议，江泽民强调指出：“实现未来十五年的奋斗目标，关键仍在于深化改革。”在谋划党的十六大报告起草时，江泽民明确指出：“经济建设和经济体制改革部分，以及其他部分的有关内容，都要鲜明地贯彻深化改革的思想。”因此，以江泽民同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，在主张全面改革的同时，将深化改革提到了重要地位。强调全面改革和深化改革，究其缘由，主要是建立社会主义市场经济体制的内在要求、改革成就和改革经验的积累、社会发展规律的客观要求和推进中国现代化的需要。

After the completion of the socialist transformation, China’s planned economic system and other related systems were established to meet the requirements of the development of productive forces at that time. This system played a positive role in establishing the economic foundation of New China and a relatively complete national economic system. In the context of a shortage economy, allocating resources through planning was effective and could ensure basic social fairness. However, with the development of practice, the drawbacks of the planned economic system gradually became apparent. Without comprehensive reform and deepening reform, it would be difficult to meet the needs of the development of productive forces. Establishing a socialist market economy system is a grand systemic project requiring the support and guarantee of multiple systems and mechanisms. The reform goal of the socialist market economy system placed new demands on comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

社会主义改造完成后，我国的计划经济体制和其他相关体制是适应当时生产力发展要求建立起来的，这种体制对于建立新中国经济基础和比较完整的国民经济体系发挥了积极作用。在短缺经济的背景下，以计划方式配置资源是有效的，能确保基本的社会公平。但随着实践发展，计划经济体制的弊端日渐显现，不进行全面改革、深化改革，就难以适应生产力发展的需要。建立社会主义市场经济体制是一项宏大的系统工程，需要多方面体制机制的支撑和保障，社会主义市场经济体制改革目标对全面改革和深化改革提出了新的要求。

China’s reform was gradually explored and advanced through practical experimentation; “crossing the river by feeling the stones” was the operational strategy of reform. The reform since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC has involved both the construction of institutions and mechanisms and the accumulation of practical experience. Jiang Zemin pointed out in his speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee of the CPC: “With breakthroughs and accumulated experience in various aspects of reform over more than a decade, conditions are now in place for promoting reform in a holistic manner. This requires overall design and emphasizes the standardization of institutions and policies.” Comprehensive reform and deepening reform are the inherent requirements and logical outcomes of reform and development; partial reform accumulates experience and creates conditions for comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

我国改革是在实践探索中逐步摸索、逐步推进的，“摸着石头过河”是改革的行动策略。党的十一届三中全会以来的改革，既有体制机制的构建，也有实践经验的积累。江泽民在党的十四届三中全会上的讲话中指出：“有了十多年来改革在各个方面所取得的突破和积累的经验，也具备了实现改革整体推进的条件。这就需要进行总体设计，需要强调体制和政策的规范化。”全面改革和深化改革是改革发展的内在要求和逻辑结果，局部改革为全面改革、深化改革积累经验、创造条件。

Society is composed of multiple elements, and coordinated development across all aspects is necessary to achieve social progress. Lagging in one aspect creates a “short-board effect,” affecting the actual process of social development and the overall level of social progress. By 2000, China had completed the Ninth Five-Year Plan, achieved the second-step strategic goal of modernization, and brought the people’s living standards to a moderately prosperous level overall. This not only demonstrated the significant effectiveness of reform and opening up but also raised the urgent demand for comprehensive reform and development. Jiang Zemin pointed out that “a socialist society is a society of comprehensive development and comprehensive progress,” and comprehensive development and comprehensive progress inevitably require comprehensive reform and deepening reform. At the same time, the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects required “continuing to comprehensively advance reform, opening up, and modernization.” Comprehensive reform and deepening reform were necessary to meet the requirements of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to achieve coordinated economic and social development.

社会是由多方面要素构成的，各方面协调发展才能实现社会进步，其中一个方面滞后就会形成“短板效应”，影响社会发展的实际进程和社会进步的整体水平。到2000年，我国完成了“九五”计划，实现了现代化建设第二步战略目标，人民生活总体上达到小康水平，既显示了改革开放的显著成效，又提出了全面改革和发展的迫切要求。江泽民指出，“社会主义社会是全面发展、全面进步的社会”，全面发展、全面进步必然要求全面改革、深化改革。同时，全面建设小康社会的目标，要求“继续全面推进改革开放和现代化建设”。全面改革和深化改革才能适应全面建成小康社会的要求，实现经济社会协调发展。

Modernization is a holistic social transformation involving various fields and aspects, continuously placing new demands on comprehensive reform and deepening reform. Since the 14th National Congress of the CPC, our understanding of the relationship between reform, opening up, and China’s modernization has gradually deepened. In Jiang Zemin’s view, “reform is the only way for China to achieve socialist modernization.” Advancing China’s modernization through reform inevitably requires reform to move toward comprehensive reform and deepening reform, eliminating institutional and mechanistic constraints that hinder China’s modernization and consolidating the forces to advance it.

现代化是整体性的社会变革，涉及各领域、各方面，不断对全面改革和深化改革提出新的要求。党的十四大以来，我们对改革开放和中国现代化关系的认识逐步深化。在江泽民看来，“改革是中国实现社会主义现代化的必由之路”。通过改革推进中国现代化，必然要求改革走向全面改革和深化改革，通过改革消除妨碍中国现代化的体制机制束缚，凝聚推进中国现代化的力量。

The construction of a socialist market economy system promoted the movement of reform toward comprehensiveness and depth. Since the 1990s, the reform of state-owned enterprises entered a stage of mechanism transformation and institutional innovation; reforms in fiscal, financial, and social security systems were continuously advanced; and administrative system reform and the establishment of the national civil service system deepened political system reform. The comprehensive reform and deepening reform at this stage laid a foundational significance for the construction of the socialist market economy system.

社会主义市场经济体制的构建，促进了改革走向全面和深入。20世纪90年代以来，国有企业改革进入转换机制、制度创新阶段，财政、金融和社会保障体系改革持续推进，行政管理体制改革和国家公务员制度的建立，使政治体制改革走向深入。这一阶段的全面改革和深化改革，对于社会主义市场经济体制的建构具有奠基意义。

The establishment and improvement of the socialist market economy system is a process, and achieving scientific development placed new demands on reform. From the 16th National Congress of the CPC to the period before the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee put forward major strategic thoughts such as the Scientific Outlook on Development and new understandings of the important period of strategic opportunity. On this basis, it continued to emphasize comprehensive reform and deepening reform, formulating and implementing a series of reform measures.

社会主义市场经济体制的建立和完善是一个过程，实现科学发展对改革提出新的要求。从党的十六大到党的十八大召开之前，党中央提出了科学发展观等重大战略思想以及重要战略机遇期的新形势新认识，在此基础上继续强调全面改革和深化改革，制定和实施了系列改革举措。

The proposal adopted by the Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the CPC on formulating the Twelfth Five-Year Plan stated: “Reform is a powerful driving force for accelerating the transformation of the economic development model, and we must comprehensively advance reforms in all fields with greater determination and courage,” and “vigorously advance economic system reform, actively and steadily advance political system reform, and accelerate the advancement of cultural system and social system reform.” This articulated the policy and focus of comprehensive reform, particularly the introduction of social system reform, making the systemic and coordinated nature of reform more evident. Since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, while emphasizing comprehensive reform, also clearly put forward the requirement for deepening reform. In April 2003, Hu Jintao, during an inspection tour in Guangdong, pointed out: “We must focus on deepening reform and continuously create new advantages through institutional innovation.” This reiterated the policy of deepening reform, aiming to stimulate social vitality and gain new developmental advantages through institutional reform and innovation. Hu Jintao, in his speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the CPC, again emphasized “persisting in deepening reform and enhancing development vitality,” interpreting the importance of deepening reform in conjunction with development. In summary, since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, based on its understanding of the historical status and role of reform and opening up and the objective requirements for implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, deeply elaborated on the necessity of comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

党的十七届五中全会通过制定“十二五”规划的建议指出：“改革是加快转变经济发展方式的强大动力，必须以更大决心和勇气全面推进各领域改革”，“大力推进经济体制改革，积极稳妥推进政治体制改革，加快推进文化体制、社会体制改革”。这里申明了全面改革的方针和重点，特别是提出社会体制改革，使改革的系统性、协调性更为明显。党的十六大以来，党中央在强调全面改革的同时，明确提出了深化改革的要求。2003年4月，胡锦涛在广东考察工作时指出：“要着力深化改革，通过制度创新不断增创新优势。”这里重申深化改革的方针，目的在于通过制度改革、制度创新激发社会活力，赢得发展新优势。胡锦涛在党的十六届五中全会第二次全体会议上的讲话再次强调“坚持深化改革，增强发展活力”，结合发展诠释了深化改革的重要性。总之，党的十六大以来，党中央基于改革开放的历史地位和作用的认识、贯彻落实科学发展观的客观要求，深入阐释了全面改革和深化改革的必要性。

Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, the Party Central Committee has characterized and positioned reform and opening up from different dimensions, providing important theoretical support for advocating reform, comprehensive reform, and deepening reform. With the passage of time and the manifestation of the achievements of reform and opening up, the report to the 17th National Congress of the CPC provided an overall positioning of the purpose of reform and opening up from three dimensions: liberating and developing social productive forces, promoting the self-improvement and development of the socialist system, and strengthening and improving Party building. In particular, linking reform and opening up with Party building was rarely mentioned before. At the same time, reform and opening up were marked as the most distinctive feature of the new period, and persisting in reform and opening up was included as a connotation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It emphasized that “reform and opening up are a crucial choice determining the fate of contemporary China, and the only way to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism.” This is not only a high evaluation of the historical status and role of reform and opening up but also, in effect, an interpretation of the deep-seated reasons for comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

党的十一届三中全会以来，党中央从不同维度对改革开放进行了定性和定位，为倡导改革和全面改革、深化改革提供了重要学理支撑。随着时间的推移和改革开放成就的彰显，党的十七大报告从解放和发展社会生产力、推动社会主义制度自我完善和发展、加强和改进党的建设三个维度，对改革开放的目的进行了总体性定位，特别是将改革开放与党的建设联系起来，这是以往较少提及的。同时，将改革开放标注为新时期最鲜明的特点，将坚持改革开放作为中国特色社会主义道路的内涵，强调“改革开放是决定当代中国命运的关键抉择，是发展中国特色社会主义、实现中华民族伟大复兴的必由之路；只有社会主义才能救中国，只有改革开放才能发展中国、发展社会主义、发展马克思主义”。这既是对改革开放历史地位、历史作用的高度评价，实际上也诠释了全面改革和深化改革的深层原因。

The Scientific Outlook on Development is a people-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development concept. It is not only a change in development concepts but also a change in development models and development paths. Implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development requires institutional arrangements and institutional guarantees. The report to the 17th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: “Thoroughly implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development requires us to continue deepening reform and opening up,” and “improve the scientific nature of reform decisions and enhance the coordination of reform measures.” Implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development requires comprehensive reform and deepening reform to build the institutional support needed for scientific development. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is a successful model of reform and opening up. Hu Jintao, in his speech at the 30th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, pointed out: “Continue to deepen reform and opening up, and strive to provide institutional guarantees and a driving force for promoting scientific development. We must unswervingly deepen reform, improve the scientific nature of reform decisions, enhance the coordination of reform measures, comprehensively advance reforms in the economic system, political system, cultural system, and social system, and strive to achieve breakthroughs in important areas and key links.” This interpreted the practical direction of comprehensive reform and deepening reform and put forward specific requirements and practical paths for comprehensive reform and deepening reform.

科学发展观是以人为本，全面、协调、可持续的发展观，既是发展观念的变革，也是发展方式、发展路径的变革。贯彻落实科学发展观需要制度安排和制度保障。党的十七大报告指出：“深入贯彻落实科学发展观，要求我们继续深化改革开放”，“提高改革决策的科学性，增强改革措施的协调性”。贯彻落实科学发展观要求全面改革和深化改革，构建科学发展需要的制度支撑。深圳经济特区是改革开放成功的样本，胡锦涛在深圳经济特区建立30周年庆祝大会上的讲话中指出：“继续深化改革开放，努力为推动科学发展提供制度保障和动力源泉。要坚定不移深化改革，提高改革决策科学性，增强改革措施协调性，全面推进经济体制、政治体制、文化体制、社会体制改革，努力在重要领域和关键环节改革上取得突破。”这里诠释了全面改革、深化改革的实践指向，提出了全面改革、深化改革的具体要求和实践路径。

The comprehensive reform and deepening reform from the 16th National Congress of the CPC to the period before the 18th National Congress of the CPC achieved significant results. The socialist market economy system was continuously improved; economic system reform and administrative management system reform were continuously deepened; pilot cultural system reforms were gradually carried out; the social security system was gradually established and improved; and the socialist rule-of-law system with Chinese characteristics was initially established, creating favorable conditions for comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era.

从党的十六大到党的十八大召开之前的全面改革和深化改革，取得了明显成效。社会主义市场经济体制不断完善，经济体制改革、行政管理体制改革不断深化，文化体制改革试点逐步开展，社会保障体系逐步建立健全，中国特色社会主义法治体系初步建立，为新时代全面深化改革创造了有利条件。

III. Comprehensively Deepening Reform Aimed at Perfecting and Developing the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of the National Governance System and Governance Capacity

三、以完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化为目标的全面深化改革

In 2012, after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a New Era, and China’s reform entered the stage of comprehensively deepening reform. Comprehensively deepening reform is a reform focused on the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. From the perspective of institutional construction, it has the characteristic of systemic integration; from the perspective of institutional implementation, it has the characteristic of synergy and efficiency.

2012年，党的十八大后，中国特色社会主义进入新时代，我国改革进入全面深化改革阶段。全面深化改革是聚焦国家治理体系和治理能力现代化而进行的改革，从制度构建而言具有系统集成的特点，从制度执行而言具有协同高效的特征。

In December 2012, Xi Jinping, when presiding over the second collective study session of the 18th Political Bureau of the Central Committee, emphasized: “We must strengthen macro-level thinking and top-level design, pay greater attention to the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform, while also continuing to encourage bold experimentation and bold breakthroughs, constantly deepening reform and opening up.” The purpose of comprehensively deepening reform is to enhance the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform; this is the reform methodology of the New Era. At the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Party held in November 2013, Xi Jinping, when explaining the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform,” pointed out: “Facing the new situation and new tasks, we must, through comprehensively deepening reform, focus on resolving a series of prominent contradictions and problems facing our country’s development, and continuously promote the self-improvement and development of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.” This was the mobilization for comprehensively deepening reform, interpreting its motivations and purposes. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core interpreted the reasons for comprehensively deepening reform from dimensions such as advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, highlighting the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, resolving prominent contradictions and problems in economic and social development, and the laws of movement of the basic social contradictions.

2012年12月，习近平在主持第十八届中央政治局第二次集体学习时强调：“要加强宏观思考和顶层设计，更加注重改革的系统性、整体性、协同性，同时也要继续鼓励大胆试验、大胆突破，不断把改革开放引向深入。”全面深化改革的目的，在于增强改革的系统性、整体性、协同性，这是新时代的改革方法论。在2013年11月召开的党的十八届三中全会上，习近平在对《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》进行说明时指出：“面对新形势新任务，我们必须通过全面深化改革，着力解决我国发展面临的一系列突出矛盾和问题，不断推进中国特色社会主义制度自我完善和发展。”这是全面深化改革的动员，诠释了全面深化改革的动因和目的。以习近平同志为核心的党中央从推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化、彰显中国特色社会主义制度优势、解决经济社会发展存在的突出矛盾和问题、社会基本矛盾运动规律等维度诠释了全面深化改革的缘由。

The national governance system is the institutional composition and institutional system of national governance, requiring comprehensiveness and holism; national governance capacity is the ability to use institutions to manage national affairs, requiring coordinated advancement and the formation of governance synergy. National governance involves various fields and aspects, necessitating top-level design and macro-level layout. The reason the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee focused on the issue of comprehensively deepening reform was “not to advance reform in one field, nor to advance reform in several fields, but to advance reform in all fields; this was considered from the overall perspective of the national governance system and governance capacity.” The inherent need for the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is the driving force behind comprehensively deepening reform. Positioning the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform from the dimension of modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity has placed reform at a new starting point, with a clearer orientation and higher pursuit.

国家治理体系是国家治理的制度构成、制度体系，要求具有统摄性、整体性；国家治理能力是运用制度管理国家事务的能力，要求协同推进、形成治理合力。国家治理涉及各领域、各方面，需要顶层设计、宏观布局。党的十八届三中全会之所以聚焦全面深化改革问题，“不是推进一个领域改革，也不是推进几个领域改革，而是推进所有领域改革，就是从国家治理体系和治理能力的总体角度考虑的”。国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的内在需要，是推动全面深化改革的动力。从国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的维度定位全面深化改革的总目标，使改革站到了新的起点上，有了更为明确的定位和更高的追求。

Competition in today’s international society includes both competition between countries and competition and games between the socialist and capitalist systems. Against the international backdrop of the coexistence and rivalry of the two systems, through comprehensively deepening reform, “socialism with Chinese characteristics can be more efficient than the capitalist system in liberating and developing the social productive forces, liberating and enhancing social vitality, and promoting the all-round development of people; it can better stimulate the initiative, creativity, and activity of the entire people; it can better provide favorable conditions for social development; and it can better win comparative advantages in competition.” The historic achievements and historic transformations since the 18th National Congress of the CPC have provided a more solid material foundation for highlighting the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. In October 2019, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC systematically summarized the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and systematically arranged for upholding and improving various systems, providing a basis and reference for telling the story of the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Comprehensively deepening reform is an inherent need for highlighting the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.

当今国际社会的竞争，既包含国家与国家之间的竞争，也蕴含社会主义和资本主义制度之间的竞争和博弈。在两种制度并存、较量的国际背景下，通过全面深化改革，“使中国特色社会主义在解放和发展社会生产力、解放和增强社会活力、促进人的全面发展上比资本主义制度更有效率，更能激发全体人民的积极性、主动性、创造性，更能为社会发展提供有利条件，更能在竞争中赢得比较优势”。党的十八大以来取得的历史性成就、发生的历史性变革，为彰显中国特色社会主义制度优势提供了更为坚实的物质基础。2019年10月，党的十九届四中全会对中国特色社会主义制度优势进行了系统总结，对坚持和完善各方面的制度进行了系统安排，为讲好中国特色社会主义制度优势提供了依据和参照。全面深化改革是彰显中国特色社会主义制度优势的内在需要。

Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is an important methodology of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in governing the country. Reform is a means to solve problems and resolve contradictions. After original problems and contradictions are resolved, new problems and contradictions will emerge with the development of the times and practice. For example, although China’s socialist market economy system has been initially established, the market system is not yet complete, market development is not yet sufficient, the relationship between the government and the market has not been fully straightened out, and there are still many phenomena in society that violate fairness and justice. Xi Jinping pointed out: “We proposed the plan for comprehensively deepening reform because the prominent contradictions and problems we face cannot be effectively resolved by relying solely on reform in a single field or at a single level; we must strengthen top-level design and overall planning, and enhance the interconnectedness, systemic nature, and coordination of various reforms.” Only by comprehensively deepening reform can we coordinately resolve various contradictions and problems, address both symptoms and root causes, and carry out comprehensive governance, so that problems are truly resolved.

坚持问题导向是以习近平同志为核心的党中央治国理政的重要方法论。改革是解决问题、化解矛盾的手段，原有问题、矛盾解决之后，随着时代和实践的发展，又将产生新的问题、矛盾。比如，尽管我国社会主义市场经济体制已经初步建立起来，但市场体系还不健全，市场发育还不充分，政府和市场关系还没有完全理顺，社会上还存在大量有违公平正义的现象。习近平指出：“我们提出全面深化改革的方案，是因为要解决我们面临的突出矛盾和问题，仅仅依靠单个领域、单个层次的改革难以奏效，必须加强顶层设计、整体谋划，增强各项改革的关联性、系统性、协同性。”全面深化改革，才能协同解决各种矛盾和问题，标本兼治、综合治理，使问题得到真正解决。

The contradiction between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, constitutes the basic social contradiction. The movement of the basic social contradiction is the driving force for social development. Comprehensively deepening reform means adapting to changes in the movement of our country’s basic social contradictions to promote social development. Xi Jinping pointed out: “The basic social contradiction is always developing, so adjusting the relations of production and perfecting the superstructure needs to be carried out correspondingly and continuously.” The adaptation between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, is dynamic and is achieved in the continuous process of reform. Only by comprehensively deepening reform can social development gain an inexhaustible driving force.

生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑的矛盾，构成社会基本矛盾，社会基本矛盾运动是推动社会发展的动力。全面深化改革，就是要适应我国社会基本矛盾运动的变化来推进社会发展。习近平指出：“社会基本矛盾总是不断发展的，所以调整生产关系、完善上层建筑需要相应地不断进行下去。”生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑的适应是动态的，是在不断改革过程中实现的，全面深化改革才能使社会发展获得不竭动力。

The strategic deployment for comprehensively deepening reform made by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC opened a new situation for comprehensively deepening reform. The historic achievements of comprehensively deepening reform have been systematically summarized respectively by the Party’s third historical resolution [11]11 The Party’s third historical resolution refers to the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021., the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC. The decision adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee pointed out: “The basic institutional frameworks in various fields have been basically established, and many fields have achieved historic transformations, systemic reshaping, and holistic reconstruction.” The historic achievements of comprehensively deepening reform have laid an important foundation for further deepening reform comprehensively.

党的十八届三中全会对全面深化改革作出的战略部署，开启了全面深化改革的新局面。对于全面深化改革取得的历史性成就，党的第三个历史决议、党的二十大报告、党的二十届三中全会分别进行了系统总结。党的二十届三中全会通过的决定指出：“各领域基础性制度框架基本建立，许多领域实现历史性变革、系统性重塑、整体性重构。”全面深化改革取得的历史性成就，为进一步全面深化改革奠定了重要基础。

IV. Planning Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively with the Theme of Advancing Chinese-Path Modernization

四、以推进中国式现代化为主题谋划进一步全面深化改革

Comprehensively deepening reform is reform in the deep-water zone; the reform tasks faced are extremely arduous, cannot be completed in the short term, and require sustained effort and long-term perseverance. After continuous struggle, Xi Jinping declared on July 1, 2021, at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China that we had achieved the first centenary goal and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects. On this basis, the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, in accordance with the development goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, made strategic arrangements for advancing Chinese-path modernization. Xi Jinping pointed out: “On the new journey of the New Era, to create a new situation for Chinese-path modernization, we still need to rely on reform and opening up.” In December 2023, Xi Jinping proposed at the Central Economic Work Conference: “We must plan major measures for further deepening reform comprehensively, to continuously inject strong momentum into promoting high-quality development and accelerating Chinese-path modernization.” This marked the beginning of proposing the task of further deepening reform comprehensively, positioning further deepening reform comprehensively as the source of momentum for advancing Chinese-path modernization. Shortly thereafter, Xi Jinping emphasized again in his speech at the symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s birth: “To advance Chinese-path modernization, we must further deepen reform and opening up comprehensively, constantly liberating and developing the social productive forces, and liberating and enhancing social vitality.” Positioning further deepening reform comprehensively as the means and method for advancing Chinese-path modernization highlights the necessity of further deepening reform comprehensively. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core interprets the rationale for further deepening reform comprehensively from dimensions such as advancing Chinese-path modernization, perfecting and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, resolving the principal social contradiction, and developing new quality productive forces.

全面深化改革是深水区的改革，面临的改革任务十分艰巨，不是短期内能够完成的，需要持续发力、久久为功。经过持续奋斗，习近平在2021年7月1日庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上宣告，我们实现了第一个百年奋斗目标，全面建成了小康社会。在此基础上，党的二十大报告依据全面建成社会主义现代化强国的发展目标，对推进中国式现代化进行了战略部署。习近平指出：“新时代新征程上，要开创中国式现代化建设新局面，仍然要靠改革开放。”2023年12月，习近平在中央经济工作会议上提出：“要谋划进一步全面深化改革重大举措，为推动高质量发展、加快中国式现代化建设持续注入强大动力。”这是提出进一步全面深化改革任务的开始，将进一步全面深化改革作为推进中国式现代化的动力之源。不久，习近平在纪念毛泽东同志诞辰130周年座谈会上的讲话中再次强调：“推进中国式现代化，必须进一步全面深化改革开放，不断解放和发展社会生产力、解放和增强社会活力。”将进一步全面深化改革作为推进中国式现代化的途径和手段，彰显了进一步全面深化改革的必要性。以习近平同志为核心的党中央从推进中国式现代化、完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、解决社会主要矛盾和发展新质生产力等维度，诠释了进一步全面深化改革的道理。

Through further deepening reform comprehensively, we can stimulate the innovation and creativity vitality of the whole society, build social consensus, and provide strong momentum for advancing Chinese-path modernization; through further deepening reform comprehensively, we can establish, improve, and perfect various systems, providing institutional guarantees for advancing Chinese-path modernization; through further deepening reform comprehensively, we can tackle tough challenges and blaze a trail for Chinese-path modernization. “Chinese-path modernization has been advanced in the course of reform and opening up, and will surely open up broad prospects in the course of reform and opening up.” The process of reform and opening up is also the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization; the practical needs of advancing Chinese-path modernization drive reform and opening up deeper, and Chinese-path modernization becomes the driving force for further deepening reform comprehensively. Further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization are in a two-way interactive relationship.

通过进一步全面深化改革，可以激发全社会创新创造活力，凝聚社会共识，为推进中国式现代化提供强劲动力；通过进一步全面深化改革，可以建立、健全和完善各方面制度，为推进中国式现代化提供制度保障；通过进一步全面深化改革，可以啃下硬骨头，为中国式现代化开辟道路。“中国式现代化是在改革开放中不断推进的，也必将在改革开放中开辟广阔前景。”改革开放的过程，也是推进中国式现代化的过程；推进中国式现代化的现实需要，推动改革开放走向深入，中国式现代化成为推动进一步全面深化改革的动力。进一步全面深化改革和推进中国式现代化是双向互动的关系。

The establishment and perfection of a system is a long-term, dynamic process. After a new system is established, as the era and practice develop, it will again become unsuitable to the times and require timely adjustment and perfection to meet the needs of the development of the era and practice. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Perfecting the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a dynamic process, which will inevitably develop continuously with the development of practice; existing systems need to be constantly improved, and new fields and new practices require the promotion of institutional innovation and the filling of institutional gaps." [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Explanatory Notes on the 'Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization'," 15 July 2024. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC adhered to taking institutional building as the main line. While consolidating fundamental systems and perfecting basic systems, it put forward many ideas for institutional innovation, such as exploring the establishment of a personal bankruptcy system, a high-tech talent immigration system, a unified national population management system; accelerating the establishment of systems for data property rights determination, market transactions, rights and interests distribution, and interest protection, as well as a housing system promoting both rental and purchase, a long-term care insurance system; establishing a system for evaluating the fulfillment of strategic missions by state-owned enterprises, a corporate R&D reserve fund system, a system for separate management of job-related scientific and technological achievements as assets, a system for reporting on the implementation of the constitution, a cultural heritage protection supervision system, a childbirth subsidy system, and an artificial intelligence safety supervision system. These are all new institutional arrangements. The different expressions in the plenum's decision, such as "accelerating the establishment," "exploring the establishment," and "establishing," indicate the order of priority and urgency of institutional innovation; expressions such as "improving," "perfecting," "optimizing," and "consolidating" indicate the stability and developmental nature of institutional building. Only through institutional innovation can the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics be perfected and developed.

制度建立和完善是一个长期的、动态的过程，新的制度建立之后，随着时代和实践的发展，又将变得不合时宜，需要及时调整和完善，以适应时代和实践发展的需要。习近平指出：“完善中国特色社会主义制度是一个动态过程，必然随着实践发展而不断发展，已有制度需要不断健全，新领域新实践需要推进制度创新、填补制度空白。”党的二十届三中全会坚持以制度建设为主线，在筑牢根本制度、完善基本制度的同时，提出了诸多制度创新的设想，如探索建立个人破产制度、高技术人才移民制度、全国统一的人口管理制度，加快建立数据产权归属认定、市场交易、权益分配、利益保护制度和租购并举的住房制度、长期护理保险制度，建立国有企业履行战略使命评价制度、企业研发准备金制度、职务科技成果资产单列管理制度、宪法实施情况报告制度、文化遗产保护督察制度、生育补贴制度、人工智能安全监管制度等，这些都是新的制度安排。全会决定中有关加快建立、探索建立、建立等不同表达，说明了制度创新的先后顺序、轻重缓急；健全、完善、优化、巩固等表达，表明了制度建设的稳定性、发展性。通过制度创新，才能完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度。

The principal contradiction in society determines the Party's central task. In the New Era, the principal contradiction in Chinese society has already changed. With economic and social development and progress, the people's needs for a better life are constantly changing and growing; the formation of the situation of unbalanced and inadequate development has historical, practical, institutional, and technological reasons, and resolving the principal contradiction in society is a long-term process. To resolve the principal contradiction in society, it is necessary to further deepen reform comprehensively, to solve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development through institutional and mechanism innovation, so as to adapt to the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Developing new quality productive forces is an inevitable choice for achieving high-quality development and resolving the principal contradiction in society. New quality productive forces are formed based on revolutionary breakthroughs in technology, innovative allocation of factors of production, and deep transformation and upgrading of industries, all of which depend on the transformation and innovation of institutions and mechanisms. Xi Jinping pointed out: "To develop new quality productive forces, it is necessary to further deepen reform comprehensively and form new relations of production that are compatible with them." [2]2 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Politburo of the 20th Central Committee," 31 January 2024. The process of forming new relations of production is the process of further deepening reform comprehensively. Constructing institutions, mechanisms, and systems that adapt to and promote the development of new quality productive forces, and forming new relations of production, are the tasks facing further deepening reform comprehensively. Developing new quality productive forces sets requirements for further deepening reform comprehensively, and further deepening reform comprehensively is a necessity for developing new quality productive forces.

社会主要矛盾决定党的中心任务。新时代我国社会主要矛盾已经发生变化，随着经济社会发展和进步，人民对美好生活需要不断变化和增长；不平衡不充分发展状况的形成有历史、现实、制度、技术等方面的原因，社会主要矛盾的解决是一个长期的过程。解决社会主要矛盾，必须进一步全面深化改革，通过体制机制创新解决发展不平衡不充分的问题，以适应人民日益增长的美好生活需要。发展新质生产力是实现高质量发展、解决社会主要矛盾的必然选择。新质生产力基于技术革命性突破、生产要素创新性配置、产业深度转型升级而形成，三者都有赖于体制机制的变革和创新。习近平指出：“发展新质生产力，必须进一步全面深化改革，形成与之相适应的新型生产关系。”新型生产关系的形成过程，就是进一步全面深化改革的过程，建构适应、促进新质生产力发展的体制机制制度，形成新型生产关系，是进一步全面深化改革面临的任务。发展新质生产力对进一步全面深化改革提出要求，进一步全面深化改革是发展新质生产力的需要。

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC systematically planned further deepening reform comprehensively, using the "Seven Focal Points" [3]3 The "Seven Focal Points" (七个聚焦) are the seven priority areas for further comprehensive reform outlined in the Third Plenary Session's decision, covering the economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, national security, and Party building. to stipulate the priorities of further deepening reform comprehensively, and deploying 14 key reform tasks, such as building a high-level socialist market economy system, around advancing Chinese-path modernization. Among them, a high-level socialist market economy system is an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization; high-quality development is the primary task in building a modern socialist country in all respects; education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic supports for Chinese-path modernization; urban-rural integration is an inevitable requirement of Chinese-path modernization; opening up is a distinctive hallmark of Chinese-path modernization; developing whole-process people's democracy is an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization; law-based governance is an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization; ensuring and improving people's livelihood in the course of development is a major task of Chinese-path modernization; national security is an important foundation for the stable and sustained progress of Chinese-path modernization; national defense and military modernization is an important component of Chinese-path modernization; and Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for advancing Chinese-path modernization. These key reform tasks both interpret the intrinsic relationship between further deepening reform comprehensively and Chinese-path modernization, and also reveal the bright prospects of further deepening reform comprehensively and Chinese-path modernization.

党的二十届三中全会对进一步全面深化改革进行了系统谋划，用“七个聚焦”规定了进一步全面深化改革的重点，围绕推进中国式现代化部署了构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制等14项重点改革任务。其中，高水平社会主义市场经济体制是中国式现代化的重要保障，高质量发展是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的首要任务，教育、科技、人才是中国式现代化的基础性、战略性支撑，城乡融合是中国式现代化的必然要求，开放是中国式现代化的鲜明标识，发展全过程人民民主是中国式现代化的本质要求，法治是中国式现代化的重要保障，在发展中保障和改善民生是中国式现代化的重大任务，国家安全是中国式现代化行稳致远的重要基础，国防和军队现代化是中国式现代化的重要组成部分，党的领导是推进中国式现代化的根本保证。这些重点改革任务既诠释了进一步全面深化改革和中国式现代化的内在关系，也展现了进一步全面深化改革和中国式现代化的光明前景。

From implementing reform to further deepening reform comprehensively outlines the historical process of China's reform and interprets the practical logic of China's reform continuously advancing in depth. From this, it can be seen that China's reform has adopted a gradual strategy. Reforms at different stages have different priorities and practical orientations, giving the reform distinct stage-based characteristics. Among them, economic system reform has always been the focus of reform and has a traction effect on the entire reform.

从实行改革到进一步全面深化改革，勾勒了我国改革的历史进程，诠释了我国改革不断向纵深推进的实践逻辑。从这里可以看出，我国改革采取的是渐进式策略，不同阶段的改革有不同重点和实践指向，使改革呈现明显的阶段性特征，其中经济体制改革始终是改革的重点，对整个改革具有牵引作用。

From implementing reform to further deepening reform comprehensively demonstrates the historical initiative spirit of the CPC. The CPC is a mission-oriented political party. It can, starting from the intrinsic logic of reform, accurately position the priorities and goals of reform at each stage, rely closely on the people to advance reform, and integrate Party leadership throughout the entire process and in all fields of reform, fully displaying the reform wisdom and resolve of Chinese Communists.

从实行改革到进一步全面深化改革，彰显了中国共产党的历史主动精神。中国共产党是使命型政党，能从改革的内在逻辑出发，准确定位各阶段改革的重点和目标，并紧紧依靠人民推进改革，将党的领导贯穿改革全过程、各领域，充分展现了中国共产党人的改革智慧和定力。

From implementing reform, comprehensive reform, deepening reform, to comprehensively deepening reform and further deepening reform comprehensively, a complete conceptual system of reform has been constructed, forming a conceptual cluster of reform. Constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences includes both the construction of an independent knowledge system at the disciplinary level and the construction of an independent knowledge system at the problem level; it requires both macro-level overall design and micro-level concrete construction. The formation of the conceptual cluster of reform has laid an important foundation for constructing an independent knowledge system about China's reform.

从实行改革、全面改革、深化改革，到全面深化改革、进一步全面深化改革，构建了改革的完整概念体系，形成了改革的概念集群。构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，既包含学科层面的自主知识体系建构，也包括问题层面的自主知识体系建构；既要有宏观的总体设计，也要有微观的具体建构。改革概念集群的形成，为建构关于我国改革的自主知识体系奠定了重要基础。

(Author's brief introduction: Chen Jinlong, Professor, School of Marxism, South China Normal University)

（作者简介：陈金龙，华南师范大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心