Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively with the Historical Initiative Spirit

General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed, “Whether a country can become prosperous and strong, and whether a nation can achieve rejuvenation, depends most importantly on whether that country and that nation can keep pace with the trends of the times and take the initiative in the march of history.” The historical initiative spirit is a unique ideological advantage of a Marxist political party and an important magic weapon for the Chinese Communists to defeat enemies and accomplish their cause over the past century and more. The history of development and the history of reform are the history of the Party leading the people to constantly grasp laws, blaze new trails, and win the historical initiative. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 These lines are from poems by Mao Zedong: “Loushan Pass” (1935) and “The People’s Liberation Army Captures Nanjing” (1949), respectively. They are often quoted to evoke revolutionary resolve and historical inevitability. clearly stated that the central task of the Chinese Communists on the new journey of the New Era is “to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, achieve the Second Centenary Goal, and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024 and focused on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese-path modernization. has drawn up a roadmap and timetable for further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization. On the new journey, we must continue to carry forward the historical initiative spirit of the Chinese Communists, further deepen reform comprehensively, and steadily advance Chinese-path modernization.

习近平总书记强调，“一个国家能不能富强，一个民族能不能振兴，最重要的就是看这个国家、这个民族能不能顺应时代潮流，掌握历史前进的主动权。”历史主动精神是马克思主义政党独特的思想优势，是中国共产党人百余年来克敌制胜、开创事业的重要法宝。发展的历史、改革的历史就是党领导人民不断把握规律、开拓创新、赢得历史主动的历史。党的二十大报告明确提出，新时代新征程中国共产党的中心任务是“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”。党的二十届三中全会擘画了进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的路线图和时间表。在新征程上，必须继续发扬中国共产党人的历史主动精神，进一步全面深化改革，把中国式现代化不断推向前进。

The Historical Initiative Spirit Is the Winning Secret of the Party’s Great Achievements

历史主动精神是党创造伟大成就的制胜秘笈

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Over the past century, no matter how the situation and tasks have changed, no matter what stormy waves have been encountered, our Party has always grasped the historical initiative, anchored its goals, and forged ahead firmly in the right direction.” Grasping the historical initiative is the leadership wisdom formed through practice in the Party’s journey of struggle, and the historical initiative spirit is the enterprising style of the Chinese Communists consistently maintained in every historical period. Through reform and opening up, the Chinese Communist Party has won the historical initiative under new circumstances, and it will certainly rely on the historical initiative spirit to push reform further into depth.

习近平总书记指出：“一百年来，不管形势和任务如何变化，不管遇到什么样的惊涛骇浪，我们党都始终把握历史主动、锚定奋斗目标，沿着正确方向坚定前行。”掌握历史主动是中国共产党在奋斗征程中实践形成的领导智慧，历史主动精神是中国共产党人在各个历史时期一以贯之的奋进风貌。中国共产党通过改革开放取得了新形势下的历史主动地位，也必将依靠历史主动精神将改革进一步推向深入。

The Chinese Communist Party has possessed a distinct historical initiative spirit since its founding. After the Opium War, [3]3 “Two overall situations” refers to the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the overall situation of changes unseen in a century in the world. facing national peril, countless people with lofty ideals made arduous explorations, but all ended in failure. History has proven that, due to the special nature of old China as a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, any subordinate and passive struggle could not achieve fundamental change; this ancient land needed an active and thorough revolution. In 1921, the Chinese Communist Party emerged as the times required. From then on, the Chinese people’s struggle for national independence, people’s liberation, and national prosperity and people’s happiness had its backbone, and the Chinese people were transformed from a passive to an active state in spirit. Practice has proven that only the Chinese Communist Party, bravely taking on the responsibility and mission of national rejuvenation and always promoting historical development with a strong historical initiative spirit, has gradually become the irreplaceable vanguard and leading core of the Chinese people. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “The development of society has reached the present era, and the responsibility for correctly understanding and transforming the world has historically fallen on the shoulders of the proletariat and its party.” The Chinese Communist Party, with its historical initiative spirit, achieved the great victory of the New Democratic Revolution. [4]4 “Unique problems of a large Party” is a term used by Xi Facing the national calamity of the country being humiliated, the people suffering, and civilization being tarnished, the Chinese Communist Party anchored the main task of national independence and people’s liberation, independently explored the correct path of the Chinese revolution by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, actively grasped the favorable factors for achieving revolutionary victory in modern China, led the people out of the deep crisis of national subjugation and genocide, established a new China where the people are the masters of the country, and opened a new epoch in Chinese history. The Chinese Communist Party also always paid attention to grasping the historical initiative in the process of leading socialist revolution and construction. Facing the prospects and mission of the newly established people’s political power, Comrade Mao Zedong stressed: “On what basis should our policy be placed? On the basis of our own strength, called self-reliance.” After the founding of New China, the Chinese Communists led the people in arduous struggle and earth-shaking changes. They not only quickly restored the national economy but also, on the basis of learning from the experiences and lessons of the Soviet Union, began to independently explore the Chinese path of socialist modernization, completed the socialist revolution, eliminated all systems of exploitation, achieved the most extensive and profound social change in the history of the Chinese nation, and realized the great leap of a large Eastern country with a poor and blank population into a socialist society. The Chinese Communist Party has always understood and transformed the world with a dialectical materialist initiative, making the historical initiative spirit a distinct spiritual symbol of the Chinese Communists.

中国共产党自成立之日起便拥有着鲜明的历史主动精神。鸦片战争以后，面对着民族危亡，无数仁人志士曾经做过艰苦卓绝的探索，但都以失败告终。历史证明，由于旧中国半殖民地半封建社会的特殊性质，任何从属的、被动的斗争都无法实现根本性的变革，这片古老的土地需要一场主动的、彻底的革命。1921年中国共产党应运而生，从此，中国人民谋求民族独立、人民解放和国家富强、人民幸福的斗争就有了主心骨，中国人民就从精神上由被动转为主动。实践证明，只有中国共产党勇敢担起民族复兴的责任使命，始终以极强的历史主动精神推动历史向前发展，逐渐成为中国人民不可替代的先锋队伍和领导核心。毛泽东同志指出：“社会的发展到了今天的时代，正确地认识世界和改造世界的责任，已经历史地落在无产阶级及其政党的肩上。”中国共产党以历史主动精神取得了新民主主义革命的伟大胜利。面对国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘的民族劫难，中国共产党锚定民族独立和人民解放的主要任务，在把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合中独立自主探索中国革命的正确道路，主动把握在近代中国实现革命胜利的有利因素，带领人民走出了亡国灭种的深重危机，建立了人民当家作主的新中国，开辟了中国历史上的新纪元。中国共产党在领导社会主义革命和建设的过程中也始终注意把握历史主动。面对新创立的人民政权的前景与使命，毛泽东同志强调：“我们的方针要放在什么基点上？放在自己力量的基点上，叫做自力更生。”新中国成立之后，中国共产党人领导人民艰苦奋斗、改天换地，不仅迅速恢复了国民经济，还在借鉴苏联经验教训的基础上开始独立自主探索社会主义现代化建设的中国道路，完成社会主义革命，消灭一切剥削制度，实现了中华民族有史以来最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，实现了一穷二白、人口众多的东方大国大步迈进社会主义社会的伟大飞跃。中国共产党始终以唯物辩证的主动性认识和改造世界，使历史主动精神成为中国共产党人的鲜明精神标识。

Reform and opening up is the “key move” by which the Party and the people caught up with the times and seized the historical initiative. In the late 1970s, at a major historical juncture when the international situation was changing rapidly and the cause of the Party and the state was facing a choice of direction, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly stated: “If we do not implement reform now, our modernization cause and socialist cause will be ruined.” Driven by a strong historical initiative spirit, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their main representative, re-established the Marxist ideological line, political line, and organizational line, accurately judged the orientation of the times for the cause of the Party and the state, decisively achieved the great turn of shifting the focus of the Party’s work to socialist modernization and implementing reform and opening up, and opened the magnificent journey of the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. Reform and opening up was a great awakening of our Party and a major milestone for the Party and the people to exert the historical initiative spirit and seize the historical initiative under new circumstances. The Party united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to “cut a bloody path,” [5]5 “Cut a bloody path” is a phrase from Deng Xiaoping, referring to the bold, risky nature of early reform and opening up policies. successfully rescued the national economy, which was on the verge of collapse, from the brink of danger, revived the Party and the state from crisis, and blazed the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Our Party profoundly summarized the positive and negative experiences of world socialism, especially China’s socialist construction, clearly proposed taking our own path and building socialism with Chinese characteristics, stimulated the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of hundreds of millions of Chinese people, fully liberated the historical initiative latent among the people through the development and improvement of various systems and mechanisms, and formed a joint force of the times between the Party and the people in the historical initiative spirit, greatly changing the face of China, the face of the Chinese nation, the face of the Chinese people, and the face of the Chinese Communist Party. The historical changes and historical experiences achieved by the Party leading the people since reform and opening up fully demonstrate that the historical initiative spirit is the ideological driving force for the Chinese Communist Party to grasp the situation and make scientific plans at major historical junctures, and it is also a powerful weapon to turn crises into opportunities and overcome difficulties.

改革开放是党和人民大踏步赶上时代、夺取历史主动的“关键一招”。20世纪70年代末，在国际形势风云变幻、党和国家事业面临何去何从的重大历史关头，邓小平同志明确指出：“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送。”在强烈历史主动精神的驱动下，以邓小平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人重新确立马克思主义的思想路线、政治路线、组织路线，准确判断党和国家事业的时代方位，果断实现了把全党工作重点转移到社会主义现代化建设上来、实行改革开放的伟大转折，开启了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期的壮阔征程。改革开放是我们党的一次伟大觉醒，是党和人民在新形势下发挥历史主动精神、夺取历史主动地位的重大里程碑。党团结带领全党全国各族人民“杀出一条血路”，成功将濒临崩溃的国民经济从危险边缘挽救了回来，使党和国家从危难中重新奋起，开辟了中国特色社会主义道路。我们党深刻总结世界社会主义特别是我国社会主义建设正反两方面经验，明确提出走自己的路、建设中国特色社会主义，激发亿万中国人民的积极性、主动性、创造性，以各项体制机制的发展完善成功地将蕴藏于人民群众之中的历史主动性充分解放，使党和人民在历史主动精神之中形成时代合力，极大地改变了中国的面貌、中华民族的面貌、中国人民的面貌、中国共产党的面貌。改革开放以来党领导人民所取得的历史变革和历史经验充分说明，历史主动精神是中国共产党在重大历史关头把握时势、科学谋划的思想驱力，也是化危为机、攻坚克难的强大武器。

The great achievements of comprehensively deepening reform since the New Era cannot be separated from the spirit of historical initiative. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Through long-term struggle, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been provided with more complete institutional guarantees, a more solid material foundation, and a more proactive spiritual force.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, "Speech at a Ceremony Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Mao Zedong" (26 December 2013). Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, facing the new situation in which the strategic overall plan for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and changes unseen in a century in the world have intertwined and evolved, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the new historical orientation of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered the New Era, accurately grasped the laws of historical development, and with a great spirit of historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, broke through the shackles of ideological concepts, breached the barriers of entrenched interests, and at a new historical juncture made the major strategic decision to comprehensively deepen reform in the New Era, pushing reform and opening up forward in all respects. Based on a profound examination of changes in all aspects of Chinese society since reform and opening up, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core clearly defined that upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the overall task is to realize socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; clearly defined that the principal contradiction in Chinese society in the New Era is the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development; and clearly defined that the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Standing at a new historical starting point, the Communist Party of China scientifically planned, proactively seized historical opportunities, achieved the transformation of reform from local exploration and breaking through ice to systematic integration and comprehensive deepening, rapidly established and improved the basic institutional framework in various fields in the New Era, and promoted historic changes, systematic reshaping, and overall reconstruction in many fields. If the tide of reform and opening up initiated by the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was the CPC’s proactive “breaking of the situation” driven by the circumstances of the time, then the comprehensive deepening of reform unveiled by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC is, under the background of the New Era, the CPC’s proactive “construction” aimed at the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, creating advantageous conditions and accumulating favorable factors, symbolizing that the spirit of historical initiative of Chinese Communists has reached a new height in the New Era.

新时代以来全面深化改革的伟大成就离不开历史主动精神。习近平总书记指出：“经过长期奋斗，实现中华民族伟大复兴具备了更为完善的制度保证、更为坚实的物质基础、更为主动的精神力量。”党的十八大以来，面对中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局交错演进的新形势，以习近平同志为核心的党中央立足中国特色社会主义进入新时代这一党和国家事业新的历史方位，准确把握历史发展规律，以伟大的历史主动精神、巨大的政治勇气和强烈的责任担当，冲破思想观念束缚，突破利益固化藩篱，在新的历史关头作出了新时代全面深化改革的重大战略决策，将改革开放全面推向深入。以习近平同志为核心的党中央基于对改革开放以来中国社会各方面变化的深刻考察，明确坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，总任务是实现社会主义现代化和中华民族伟大复兴，明确新时代我国社会主要矛盾是人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，明确全面深化改革总目标是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。站在新的历史起点上的中国共产党科学谋划，主动抓住历史机遇，实现改革由局部探索、破冰突围到系统集成、全面深化的转变，迅速建立完善了新时代各领域的基础性制度框架，推动许多领域实现历史性变革、系统性重塑和整体性重构。如果说党的十一届三中全会开启的改革开放大潮是中国共产党在时局催使之下的主动“破局”，那么党的十八届三中全会揭幕的全面深化改革就是新时代背景下中国共产党锚定中华民族伟大复兴目标，创造优势条件、积累有利因素的主动“建构”，象征着中国共产党人的历史主动精神在新时代达到了新的高度。

The Internal Logic of the Party Leading Further Comprehensive Deepening of Reform with the Spirit of Historical Initiative

党以历史主动精神引领进一步全面深化改革的内在逻辑

The spirit of historical initiative is the theoretical character of Marxism and also the practical trait of Marxist political parties. The connotation of the spirit of historical initiative includes a deep recognition of historical consciousness, a clear judgment of historical subjects, and a high emphasis on historical responsibility. We must deeply understand the mechanism by which the spirit of historical initiative leads reform, give full play to the great spirit of historical initiative, and provide deep and lasting endogenous impetus for the Party to lead the people to further comprehensively deepen reform on the new journey and seize new historical initiative on the new journey.

历史主动精神是马克思主义的理论品格，也是马克思主义政党的实践特质。历史主动精神的内涵包括了对历史自觉的深度体认、对历史主体的明晰判断、对历史担当的高度强调。我们要深刻理解历史主动精神引领改革的作用机理，发挥好伟大的历史主动精神，为新征程上党领导人民进一步全面深化改革、夺取新征程上新的历史主动提供深沉而持久的内生动力。

Achieve the initiative in theoretical guidance with a high degree of historical consciousness. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Historical development has its laws, but people are not completely passive within them. As long as we grasp the general trend of historical development, seize the opportunity of historical change, strive for achievement, and forge ahead with determination, human society can advance better.” [7] Different from the “initiative spirit” that merely describes the state of the subject, the Marxist “spirit of historical initiative” manifests the scientific understanding of Marxist historical materialism. The Marxist view of practice holds that all social life is essentially practical, and that people can and should adapt to and transform the objective world through the exertion of subjective initiative. However, exerting subjective initiative cannot be “blind action” divorced from objective laws; rather, it must rely on scientific theoretical guidance and correct ideological direction. Therefore, the spirit of historical initiative must be established on the basis of accurate understanding and thorough comprehension of the objective laws of history, the stages of historical development, and the trends of historical development. This cognition is “historical consciousness.” Historical consciousness provides the field and conditions for the spirit of historical initiative at the cognitive level, and theoretically responds to the key question of “where to go” with historical initiative. Possessing historical consciousness is not only the first link for Chinese Communists to exert the spirit of historical initiative, but also the deep-seated factor enabling Chinese Communists to achieve a position of historical initiative. Possessing a high degree of historical consciousness is the ideological foundation for the CPC in the New Era to construct correct theoretical guidance for reform and proactively promote the comprehensive deepening of reform. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, accurately grasping historical laws, historical trends, and historical opportunities, has put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments on propositions such as what constitutes comprehensively deepening reform and how to comprehensively deepen reform, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on comprehensively

以高度的历史自觉取得理论指导的主动。习近平总书记指出：“历史发展有其规律，但人在其中不是完全消极被动的。只要把握住历史发展大势，抓住历史变革时机，奋发有为，锐意进取，人类社会就能更好前进。”区别于只是形容主体状态的“主动精神”，马克思主义的“历史主动精神”彰显了马克思主义唯物史观的科学认识。马克思主义的实践观点认为，全部的社会生活在本质上是实践的，人可以且应当通过主观能动性的发挥，适应和改造客观世界。但是，发挥主观能动性不能是脱离客观规律的“盲动”，而是要依靠科学的理论指导和正确的思想指引。因此，历史主动精神必须建立在对历史客观规律、历史发展阶段、历史发展趋势的准确认识和透彻理解的基础之上，这种认知便是“历史自觉”。历史自觉在认知层面提供了历史主动精神的场域和条件，在理论上回应了历史主动“去向何方”的关键问题。拥有历史自觉既是中国共产党人发挥历史主动精神的第一个环节，也是中国共产党人能够取得历史主动地位的深层因素。拥有高度的历史自觉是新时代中国共产党构建改革的正确理论指导、主动推进改革全面深化的思想基础。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记准确把握历史规律、历史大势、历史机遇，围绕什么是全面深化改革、怎样进行全面深化改革等命题提出了一系列新思想、新观点、新论断，形成了习近平总书记关于全面深化改革的重要论述，在理论指导上赢得主动，是新时代中国共产党具有高度历史自觉的充分体现。

To obtain the initiative of practical force with a clear historical subject. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must fully stimulate the historical initiative of the entire people. The people, and only the people, are the driving force in creating world history." [6]6 Xi Jinping, "Speech at a Ceremony Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Mao Zedong" (26 December 2013). Historical initiative must be borne and completed by a concrete historical subject, and from the perspective of historical materialism, only the people are the true subject that truly creates and changes history. History is written by the people; the masses are the creators of history, the decisive force in social change, and the historical subject with the most practical force and the most initiative in society. This means that for a political party to possess the spirit of historical initiative and to transform this spirit into the objective reality of attaining a position of historical initiative, it must be realized through the historical subject of the people and through the historical activities of the masses. At the practical level, the historical subject provides the source and driving force of the spirit of historical initiative, responding in practice to the key question of "by whom" historical initiative is realized. The spirit of historical initiative of the Chinese Communists requires fully respecting the principal position and pioneering spirit of the people, using the Party's proactive action to stimulate the people's active creation, and ultimately forming the historical force of initiative. A clear judgment of the historical subject is an important condition for the Communist Party of China in the New Era to obtain the social foundation for comprehensively deepening reform and to gain long-term effective force for reform. On the one hand, advancing reform for the people and earnestly responding to the people's most urgent expectations for reform helps enhance the people's degree of identification with reform deployments and coalesces social consensus for comprehensively deepening reform. On the other hand, relying on the people to advance reform, focusing on bringing the principal role of the people into play, stimulating the people's vitality, and discovering the people's wisdom can effectively coalesce the historical resultant force of unity and struggle. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has always been clear that the subject of comprehensively deepening reform is the people and the force lies in the people, widely winning the people's support for reform, firmly relying on the people to propel reform, and gaining the initiative in reform force. The great ship of reform, borne aloft by the ocean of the people, will surely sail steadily and far.

以明晰的历史主体取得实践力量的主动。习近平总书记强调：“要充分激发全体人民的历史主动精神。人民，只有人民，才是创造世界历史的动力。”历史主动必须由具体的历史主体来承载和完成，而在唯物史观看来，只有人民才是真正创造历史、改变历史的真正主体。历史是人民书写的，人民群众是历史的创造者，是社会变革的决定力量，是社会中最具有实践力量、最具有主动性的历史主体。这也就意味着，一个政党拥有了历史主动精神，要将这种历史主动精神转化为获得历史主动地位的客观现实，必须要通过人民这个历史主体、通过人民群众的历史活动来实现。历史主体在现实层面提供了历史主动精神的源头和动力，在实践中回应了历史主动“由谁实现”的关键问题。中国共产党人的历史主动精神要求充分尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，用党的主动作为激发人民群众的主动创造，最终形成历史的主动力量。对于历史主体的明晰判断是新时代中国共产党获得全面深化改革社会基础、获取改革长效主动力量的重要条件。一方面，为了人民推进改革，切实回应人民群众对于改革最迫切的期盼，有助于提升人民群众对改革部署的认同程度，凝聚起全面深化改革的社会共识。另一方面，依靠人民推进改革，注重发挥人民主体作用，激发人民活力、发现人民智慧，可以有效凝聚团结奋斗的历史合力。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央始终明确全面深化改革的主体是人民、力量在人民，广泛争取群众对改革的支持，紧紧依靠人民推动改革，获取了改革力量上的主动。改革这艘巍巍巨轮由人民的海洋托举着，必能行稳致远。

To gain the initiative in spiritual motivation through resolute historical responsibility. Marx once said that humans are “passionate beings”; human activity is not external to humans but is driven by subjective, internal spiritual factors. The spirit of historical initiative refers to a specific spiritual state and volitional quality—namely, a positive posture toward historical creation and the full exertion of the essential forces pursuing an object. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Generation after generation of Chinese Communists, fearing no difficulties or obstacles, facing risks and challenges head-on, striving tenaciously and making unremitting efforts, have displayed a great spirit of historical initiative, built up the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists, and formed the Party’s glorious traditions.” The spirit of historical initiative is a main thread running through the spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists. The powerful, positive initiative to strive and struggle, fearing no difficulties or obstacles and facing risks and challenges head-on, comes from Chinese Communists’ sense of responsibility for historical creation and their sense of mission for historical progress. This sense of responsibility and mission is the historical responsibility of Marxists. Historical responsibility provides the core and driving force of the spirit of historical initiative at the value level, spiritually answering the key question of “how” historical initiative is realized. Chinese Communists have always maintained a self-confident and self-reliant historical responsibility, taking the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as their unshirkable historical responsibility, and therefore possess a great spirit of historical initiative. It is precisely the firm conviction that “the strong pass of the enemy is like a wall of iron” that gives rise to the fighting spirit of “now we are crossing its summit with giant strides”; it is precisely the historical realization that “if Heaven has feelings, Heaven too will grow old, but the right way in the human world is vicissitude” that gives rise to the proactive action of “ten thousand years is too long, seize the day, seize the hour.” [1]1 These lines are from poems by Mao Zedong: “Loushan Pass” (1935) and “The People’s Liberation Army Captures Nanjing” (1949), respectively. They are often quoted to evoke revolutionary resolve and historical inevitability. The profound recognition of historical responsibility is the spiritual code that enables the Chinese Communists in the New Era to dare to break through obstacles and barriers, resolutely eliminate institutional and mechanistic defects in all areas, and push reform forward. Since the New Era, the CPC has always focused on maintaining the Party’s political advantages and spiritual backbone, tempering the Party’s spiritual character through self-revolution, deepening study and education to consolidate the ideological foundation, steadfastly practicing the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission, forging the CPC into an even stronger and more powerful leading core, and thereby gaining the initiative in the spirit of reform.

以坚强的历史担当取得精神动力的主动。马克思曾说，人是“有激情的存在物”，人的活动不是外于人的，而是有主观的、内在的精神因素的驱动。历史主动精神所指的是一种特定的精神状态和意志品质，即对于历史创造的积极姿态、对于对象追求的本质力量的充分发挥。习近平总书记强调：“一代又一代中国共产党人不畏艰难险阻、直面风险挑战，顽强拼搏、不懈奋斗，展现出伟大的历史主动精神，构筑起中国共产党人的精神谱系，形成了党的光荣传统。”历史主动精神是贯穿中国共产党人精神谱系的一条主线，不畏艰难险阻、直面风险挑战而拼搏奋斗的强大积极能动性来自于中国共产党人对历史创造的责任感和对历史进步的使命感，这种责任感与使命感便是马克思主义者的历史担当。历史担当在价值层面提供了历史主动精神的内核和驱力，在精神上回应了历史主动“如何实现”的关键问题。中国共产党人始终保持着自信自强的历史担当，将实现中华民族伟大复兴作为自己在所不辞的历史责任，也因此具有着伟大的历史主动精神。正是有“雄关漫道真如铁”的坚定信念，才有“而今迈步从头越”的拼搏斗志；正是有“天若有情天亦老，人间正道是沧桑”的历史体悟，才有“一万年太久，只争朝夕”的主动作为。对于历史担当的深刻体认是新时代中国共产党敢于突破障碍、打破藩篱，坚决破除各方面体制机制弊端，将改革推向前进的精神密码。新时代以来，中国共产党始终注重保持党的政治优势与精神脊梁，以自我革命淬炼党的精神品格、深化学习教育夯实思想根基，矢志践行党的初心使命，将中国共产党锻造成为更加坚强有力的领导核心，取得了改革精神上的主动。

Carry forward the spirit of historical initiative in further deepening reform comprehensively, and continuously advance Chinese-path modernization

在进一步全面深化改革中发扬历史主动精神，把中国式现代化不断推向前进

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Modernization will not fall from the sky; it must be achieved by carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative through hard work.” The great spirit of historical initiative manifests the fine traditions and spiritual qualities formed by the CPC in the long-term practice of revolution, construction, and reform. It is the spiritual essence that Chinese Communists must uphold over the long term and constantly burnish. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC sounded the clarion call for further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization on the new journey of the New Era. [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024 and focused on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese-path modernization. The entire Party must continue to carry forward the great spirit of historical initiative, face difficulties head-on, act proactively, further deepen reform comprehensively, continuously open up broad prospects for Chinese-path modernization, and strive to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习近平总书记强调：“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。”伟大的历史主动精神展现了中国共产党在革命、建设、改革长期实践中形成的优良传统和精神特质，是中国共产党人需要长期坚持、不断擦亮的精神本色。党的二十届三中全会吹响了新时代新征程进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的奋进号角，全党必须要继续发扬伟大的历史主动精神，迎难而上、积极作为，进一步全面深化改革，不断开辟中国式现代化广阔前景，奋力实现中华民族伟大复兴。

We must more proactively grasp the general trend of the times. To continue carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative in further deepening reform comprehensively, the first step is to proactively enhance historical consciousness, and determine the direction and principles of further reform based on an accurate grasp of the situation and tasks. Reform must be advanced in accordance with the laws of historical development. No matter how deeply socialist reform develops, it must ultimately be implemented in resolving the principal contradiction of the society at that time, and in adapting the relations of production to the level of development of the productive forces, and adapting the superstructure to the actual conditions of the economic base. Reform must be advanced in conformity with the general trend of historical development. Since entering the New Era, after long-term efforts, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process; this is the clearest historical general trend on our new journey. We must seize the opportunity of historical transformation to advance reform. The current and future period is a critical period for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization; this is a major node of historical leap that we must and can only seize. Therefore, to further deepen reform comprehensively, we must anchor the overall goal and adhere to the correct direction of reform. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC once again clarified that the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. We must deeply understand and grasp this overall goal of reform, act with a clear target, plan scientifically, and ensure that reform does not deviate or stop. At the same time, we must coordinate the two overall situations [3]3 “Two overall situations” refers to the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the overall situation of changes unseen in a century in the world., map out the paths and methods of reform, both continue the historical experience of the Party in exploring and advancing Chinese-path modernization over a long period, and focus on contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to advancing the process of world modernization.

要更加主动把握时代大势。在进一步全面深化改革中继续发扬历史主动精神，首先是要主动提升历史自觉，基于对形势和任务的精准把握，确定进一步改革的方向和原则。要符合历史发展规律推进改革。社会主义改革不论如何深化发展，都要落实到解决当时社会的主要矛盾，落实到使生产关系和生产力发展水平相适应、使上层建筑和经济基础的现实状况相适应。要顺应历史发展大势推进改革。进入新时代，经过长期努力，中华民族伟大复兴已经进入不可逆转的历史进程，这是新征程上我们最为明确的历史大势。要抢抓历史变革时机推进改革。当前和今后一个时期是以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期，这是我们要抓住且必须抓住的历史飞跃的重大节点。因此，进一步全面深化改革必须锚定总目标、坚持改革正确方向。党的二十届三中全会再次明确新时代全面深化改革的总目标是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，我们要深刻理解把握这一改革总目标，有的放矢、科学谋划，确保改革不偏离、不止步。同时，我们要统筹两个大局，擘画改革的路径方法，既延续党长期以来探索和推进中国式现代化的历史经验，又注重为推进世界现代化进程贡献中国智慧、中国方案。

We must more proactively secure the political foundation. The CPC is an active practitioner and promoter of the spirit of historical initiative. The centralized, unified leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee and greatest source of confidence for us to always grasp strategic initiative in further deepening reform comprehensively. Therefore, to further deepen reform comprehensively, we must give full play to the CPC’s proactive advantages and forge a Marxist political party with an even greater spirit of historical initiative. First, we must uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership, ensuring the Party’s initiative and dominance throughout the entire process of further deepening reform comprehensively. In the reform process, we must focus on giving play to the Party’s leadership core role of exercising overall leadership and coordinating all parties, running Party leadership through the entire process and all aspects of reform, and ensuring that reform always advances in the correct political direction. Second, we must carry forward the Party’s great fighting spirit, constantly honing the Party’s ideological and action consciousness of grasping the initiative in the great tide of history. Advancing Chinese-path modernization is an entirely new undertaking; on the road ahead, we will inevitably encounter various contradictions, risks, and challenges. In the reform process, we must focus on cultivating the fighting spirit and fighting ability of Party members and cadres, and promote the Party’s proactive action and active responsibility on the front line of further deepening reform comprehensively. Third, we must advance self-revolution with a more resolute spirit of historical initiative, maintaining the sobriety and firmness to solve the unique problems of a large Party. [4]4 “Unique problems of a large Party” is a term used by Xi General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “I once talked about the ‘cave-dwelling dialogue’ between Chairman Mao and Mr. Huang Yanpei back then; only by being brave in self-revolution can we win historical initiative.” [5]5 “Cut a bloody path” is a phrase from Deng Xiaoping, referring to the bold, risky nature of early reform and opening up policies. To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. On the new journey, we must always maintain a high degree of consciousness in leading social revolution through the Party’s self-revolution, continuously advance the Party’s self-purification, self-improvement, self-renovation, and self-enhancement, build the Party to be stronger, more powerful, and more vibrant, and ensure that the Party remains invincible amid all kinds of storms and tests.

要更加主动把牢政治底色。中国共产党是历史主动精神的积极践行者和弘扬者，党的集中统一领导是我们在进一步全面深化改革中能够始终掌握战略主动的根本保证和最大底气。因此，进一步全面深化改革必须要充分发挥中国共产党的主动优势，锻造更加具有伟大历史主动精神的马克思主义政党。第一，要坚持和加强党的全面领导，确保党在进一步全面深化改革全过程中的主动性和主导权。在改革过程中要注重发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把党的领导贯穿改革各方面全过程，确保改革始终沿着正确政治方向前进。第二，要发扬党的伟大斗争精神，时刻磨砺党在历史大潮中把握主动的思想自觉和行动自觉。推进中国式现代化是一项全新的事业，前进道路上必然会遇到各种矛盾和风险挑战，在改革过程中要注重培育广大党员干部的斗争精神和斗争本领，推动党在进一步全面深化改革第一线主动作为、积极担当。第三，要以更为坚决的历史主动精神推进自我革命，保持解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定。习近平总书记强调：“我曾谈到当年毛主席与黄炎培先生的‘窑洞对’，我们只有勇于自我革命才能赢得历史主动。”打铁必须自身硬，新征程上要始终保持以党的自我革命引领社会革命的高度自觉，不断推进党的自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高，把党建设得更加坚强有力、更加充满活力，使党在各种风浪考验中始终立于不败之地。

We must more proactively secure the people’s standpoint. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made adhering to a people-centered approach, respecting the people’s principal position and pioneering spirit, one of the principles for further deepening reform comprehensively. In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the CPC used reform and opening up to activate the proactive creative energy of hundreds of millions of people; on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, the Party must also use the spirit of historical initiative to guide the broad masses of people in giving play to their subjective initiative and pooling strong joint forces in further deepening reform comprehensively. Therefore, to further deepen reform comprehensively, we must unify Party leadership with the people’s principal role, integrate top-level design with practical exploration, and combine seeking truth from facts with the mass line. On the one hand, we must clarify that the standpoint of further deepening reform comprehensively is people-centered, continue to take promoting social fairness and justice and enhancing people’s welfare as the starting point and goal, and adhere to putting the people first in advancing reform. On the other hand, we must respect the people’s principal position, give play to the people’s pioneering spirit, always adhere to consulting the people on governance and seeking advice from the people, build reform institutional mechanisms that protect and encourage innovation, fully stimulate the creative power of the people in reform, draw nourishment from the people’s practice, elevate the practical experience created by the people in production and life into reform policies and theoretical guidance, fully mobilize the creative power of 1.4 billion people, and make it the historical driving force for comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

要更加主动把稳人民立场。党的二十届三中全会将坚持以人民为中心、尊重人民主体地位和首创精神作为进一步全面深化改革的原则之一。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，中国共产党以改革开放激活了亿万人民群众的主动创造能量；在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程上，党也要以历史主动精神引领广大人民在进一步全面深化改革中发挥主观能动性、凝聚强大合力。因此，进一步全面深化改革必须要将党的领导与人民主体统一起来，将顶层设计与实践探索整合起来，将实事求是与群众路线结合起来。一方面，要明确进一步全面深化改革的立场是以人民为中心，要继续坚持以促进社会公平正义、增进人民福祉为出发点和落脚点，坚持人民至上推进改革；另一方面，要尊重人民主体地位、发挥人民首创精神，要始终坚持问政于民、问计于民，构建保护和鼓励创新的改革体制机制，充分激发人民群众在改革中的创造伟力，从人民群众的实践中汲取养分，把人民在生产生活中创造的实践经验升华为改革方针政策和理论指导，将十四亿人民群众的创造力量充分调动，成为以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的历史动力。

(This article is a phased research result of the major project “Research on the Scientific System and Original Contributions of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thought” of the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)

（本文系北京市习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心重大项目“习近平文化思想的科学体系和原创性贡献研究”阶段性研究成果）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心