The Theoretical Contributions and Contemporary Value of the Party’s Seventh National Congress

In the spring of 1945, China stood at a crossroads of history. On the one hand, the Japanese aggressors were in their death throes, and the Chinese nation’s War of Resistance Against Japan was about to see the dawn of victory — this was a bright prospect. On the other hand, the Kuomintang’s autocratic rule threatened to provoke civil war — this was a dark prospect. The question of the era, “Whither China?” [1]1 “Whither China?” (中国向何处去) was a widely debated question in the 1940s, reflecting the struggle over China’s future path between the CPC and the Kuomintang. weighed on people’s minds. At this critical moment determining the nation’s fate, the Party’s Seventh National Congress convened in the Central Auditorium at Yangjialing in Yan’an, pointing the way forward for a China shrouded in mist. The Congress systematically summarized the Party’s historical experience over the twenty-four years since its founding, adopted Mao Zedong’s political report “On Coalition Government,” and formulated a new Party Constitution, providing scientific theoretical guidance and solid institutional guarantees for the Chinese revolution.

1945年春，中国正处于历史的十字路口。一方面，日本侵略者已陷入垂死挣扎，中华民族的抗日战争即将迎来胜利曙光，这是光明的前途；另一方面，国民党的专制统治可能引发内战，这是黑暗的前途。“中国向何处去”的时代之问萦绕人心。在这一决定民族命运的关键时刻，党的七大在延安杨家岭中央大礼堂召开，为处于迷雾中的中国指明了前行方向。大会系统总结建党24年来的历史经验，通过毛泽东的政治报告《论联合政府》，制定新党章，为中国革命提供了科学的理论指导与坚实的制度保障。

A Monument of Theory

理论丰碑

The historic contribution of the Party’s Seventh National Congress lay in constructing a complete theoretical system encompassing guiding ideology, action strategy, and organizational principles, laying the foundation for victory in the revolution.

党的七大的历史性贡献，在于构建起涵盖指导思想、行动方略、组织原则的完整理论体系，为夺取革命胜利奠定基石。

Establishing the ideological banner marked the maturation of the Party’s theory. The Constitution of the Communist Party of China, voted through at the Party’s Seventh National Congress, clearly stipulated that “the Communist Party of China takes the thought that unifies the theory of Marxism-Leninism with the practice of the Chinese revolution — Mao Zedong Thought — as the guide for all its work, and opposes any dogmatist or empiricist deviation.” [2]2 This is a direct quotation from the Party Constitution adopted at the Seventh National Congress (1945), which formally enshrined Mao Zedong Thought as the Party’s guiding ideology. For the first time, the main content of Mao Zedong Thought was systematically expounded: it was “Comrade Mao Zedong’s analysis of the modern world situation and China’s national conditions,” “the complete revolutionary theory of state-building for the Chinese people,” “the continued development of Marxism in the national-democratic revolution of colonial, semi-colonial, and semi-feudal countries in the present era,” and “an outstanding model of the nationalization of Marxism.” [3]3 These phrases are drawn from Liu Shaoqi’s report on the revision of the Party Constitution at the Seventh National Congress, which systematically elaborated Mao Zedong Thought.

确立思想旗帜，标志着党的理论走向成熟。党的七大上表决通过的《中国共产党章程》明确规定，“中国共产党以马克思列宁主义的理论与中国革命的实践之统一的思想——毛泽东思想，作为自己一切工作的指针，反对任何教条主义的或经验主义的偏向”。首次系统阐述毛泽东思想的主要内容，是“毛泽东同志关于现代世界情况及中国国情的分析”“是中国人民完整的革命建国理论”“是马克思主义在目前时代的殖民地、半殖民地、半封建国家民族民主革命中的继续发展，就是马克思主义民族化的优秀典型”。

Formulating the political line drew up a blueprint for post-war China’s development. The Party’s Seventh National Congress proposed that the Party’s political line was “to boldly mobilize the masses, expand the people’s forces, under the leadership of our Party, defeat the Japanese aggressors, liberate the entire people, and build a new-democratic China.” [4]4 This political line was the central strategic directive of the Seventh National Congress, guiding the CPC’s actions in the final phase of the Anti-Japanese War and the subsequent civil war. It pointed out that the most important and urgent task was to immediately abolish the Kuomintang’s one-party dictatorship and establish a democratic coalition government, and it gave a comprehensive and specific explanation of the program for the new-democratic state in the political, economic, and cultural spheres. This blueprint directly targeted the principal contradiction of Chinese society at the time and became the banner uniting the broadest masses of the people.

制定政治路线，绘制战后中国的发展蓝图。党的七大提出党的政治路线是“放手发动群众，壮大人民力量，在我党的领导下，打败日本侵略者，解放全国人民，建立一个新民主主义的中国”。指出立即废止国民党一党专政，建立民主联合政府是最重要、最迫切的任务，并对新民主主义国家在政治、经济、文化各方面的纲领做了全面具体的说明。这一蓝图直指当时中国社会的核心矛盾，成为团结最广大人民的旗帜。

Innovating Party building fortified the fighting bastion. The Party’s Seventh National Congress formally wrote the thought of “serving the people” into the Party Constitution, for the first time clarifying that “serving the people wholeheartedly” was the Party’s fundamental purpose. The systematic improvement of the principle of democratic centralism required that democratic centralism be upheld in inner-Party life, implementing centralism on the basis of democracy and democracy under centralized guidance, so that the Party would form a lively situation of “both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom.” [5]5 This phrase, “既有集中又有民主，又有纪律又有自由,” originates from Mao Zedong’s discussion of democratic centralism and was later incorporated into the Party’s organizational principles. The refinement of the “three work styles” — integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism — became a distinctive mark distinguishing the Party from other political parties.

创新政党建设，筑牢战斗堡垒。党的七大正式把“为人民服务”的思想写进党章，第一次明确了“全心全意为人民服务”是党的根本宗旨；民主集中制原则的系统化完善，要求在党内生活中必须坚持民主集中制，实行在民主基础上的集中和在集中指导下的民主，使党形成“又有集中又有民主，又有纪律又有自由”的生动局面；理论联系实际、密切联系群众、批评与自我批评“三大作风”的提炼，更成为党区别于其他政党的鲜明标识。

Historical Echoes

历史回响

The theoretical vitality of the Party’s Seventh National Congress lay in its transformation, through the tempering of the revolutionary torrent and the tests of governance, into the practical power to transform heaven and earth, and in its deep integration into the Communist Party of China’s governing genes.

党的七大的理论生命力，在于在革命洪流与执政考验的淬炼中，转化为改天换地的实践伟力，并深度融入中国共产党的执政基因。

The guidance of the ideological banner gave rise to earth-shaking historical changes. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, the Party broke free from the shackles of dogmatism, further strengthened its flesh-and-blood ties with the masses of the people, and led the people to quickly win victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. Although Chiang Kai-shek openly violated the Double Tenth Agreement [6]6 The Double Tenth Agreement (1945) was a ceasefire and peace accord between the CPC and the Kuomintang, which Chiang Kai-shek soon violated by launching a full-scale civil war., tore up the Political Consultative Conference resolutions, and launched civil war, the Party’s Seventh National Congress had made a scientific judgment of the international and domestic situation and the reactionary nature of the Kuomintang, proposing the central task that “if we can unite the entire people of the country, strive hard, and give appropriate guidance, we will be able to win victory.” [7]7 This is a paraphrase of Mao Zedong’s assessment in his political report at the Seventh National Congress, emphasizing the conditions for victory. The political proposition of “building a new-democratic China” won deep popular support. From Yan’an to Xibaipo, from the Three Great Campaigns to the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, the strategic blueprint of the Party’s Seventh National Congress was realized in just four years. [8]8 The Three Great Campaigns (Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin, 1948-1949) were decisive military victories for the CPC in the civil war; the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign (1949) led to the capture of Nanjing and the Kuomintang’s collapse.

思想旗帜的引领，催生翻天覆地的历史变革。在毛泽东思想的指引下，党破除了教条主义的束缚，进一步加强了与人民群众的血肉联系，领导人民迅速取得抗日战争胜利。尽管蒋介石公然违背《双十协定》，撕毁政协决议，发动内战，但党的七大对国际国内形势及国民党反动本质作了科学预判，提出“如果我们能够团结全国人民，努力奋斗，并加以适当的指导，我们就能够胜利”的中心任务，“建立一个新民主主义的中国”的政治主张深得民心。从延安到西柏坡、从三大战役到渡江战役，党的七大的战略蓝图仅四年便转化为现实。

The scientific nature of the political line laid the governing foundation for the new regime. The conception of the new-democratic form of political organization proposed by the Party’s Seventh National Congress — “it should adopt democratic centralism, with people’s congresses at all levels deciding major policies and electing governments” — laid the ideological foundation for the formation of the system of people’s congresses after the founding of New China. [9]9 This passage from the Seventh National Congress’s political report anticipated the system of people’s congresses, formally established in the 1954 Constitution. Economically, the Party advocated land to the tiller and permitted the development of private capitalism, clarifying that at the present stage, China’s economy must be composed of three sectors: state-operated, privately operated, and cooperative. In 1950, the Land Reform Law of the People’s Republic of China was fully implemented, and the Third Plenary Session of the Party’s Seventh Central Committee put forward the strategic policy of “not attacking on all fronts,” [10]10 “Not attacking on all fronts” (不要四面出击) was a strategic policy from the Third Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee (1950), advising the Party to concentrate on key tasks and avoid overextending. explicitly opposing the “Left” erroneous view that “the time has come to eliminate capitalism and implement socialism.” These measures all originated from the institutional design of the Party’s Seventh National Congress and were of great significance for unifying the thinking of the entire Party, uniting all forces that could be united, and consolidating the new regime.

政治路线的科学性奠定新生政权的执政根基。党的七大提出的新民主主义政权组织形式的构想，“应该采取民主集中制，由各级人民代表大会决定大政方针，选举政府”，为新中国成立后人民代表大会制度的形成奠定了思想基础；经济上，党主张耕者有其田、允许发展私人资本主义，明确在现阶段，中国的经济必须是由国家经营、私人经营和合作社经营三者组成的。1950年《中华人民共和国土地改革法》全面实施，党的七届三中全会提出“不要四面出击”的战略策略方针，明确反对“可以提早消灭资本主义实行社会主义”的“左”倾错误观点。这些举措都是源于党的七大的制度设计，对于统一全党思想，团结一切可以团结的力量，巩固新生政权具有重要意义。

The theoretical innovation in Party building became a core advantage of the Party’s long-term governance. The core of the work-style issue is the relationship between the Party and the masses of the people. The work-style construction requirements emphasized by the Party’s Seventh National Congress not only provided important guidance for the Party to withstand the tests of governance in its “journey to Beijing for the examination,” [11]11 “Journey to Beijing for the examination” (进京赶考) is Mao Zedong’s famous metaphor from 1949, comparing the CPC’s move to govern the country to an imperial examination, stressing the need to avoid complacency. but also pushed the Party to establish, at the Second Plenary Session of the Party’s Seventh Central Committee, the policy of long-term cooperation with non-Party democrats, strengthening consensus on cooperation with democratic parties, and forming the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. From the admonition of the “Two Musts” [12]12 The “Two Musts” (两个务必), from Mao’s speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee (1949), were: “must remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness; must remain hard-working and plain-living.” to the tempering of the “Three Antis” and “Five Antis” campaigns, [13]13 The “Three Ants” (三反, 1951-1952) targeted corruption, waste, and bureaucracy within the Party and government; the “Five Ants” (五反, 1952) targeted bribery, tax evasion, theft of state property, cheating on government contracts, and stealing state economic information among private businesses. the Party consistently adhered to the mass line, maintained its political character of “resisting corruption and never being tainted,” and built a governing foundation linked by blood to the people.

政党建设的理论创新，更成为党长期执政的核心优势。作风问题的核心是党同人民群众的关系问题。党的七大强调的作风建设要求，不但为党在进京“赶考”中经受住执政考验提供重要遵循，更推动党在七届二中全会上确立同党外民主人士长期合作的方针，加强与民主党派的合作共识，形成了中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度。从“两个务必”的告诫到“三反”“五反”运动的淬炼，党始终坚持群众路线，保持“拒腐蚀、永不沾”的政治本色，构建起与人民血脉相连的执政根基。

The Radiance of the Times

时代光芒

The theoretical essence of the Party’s Seventh National Congress lies in the fact that even as we enter the New Era, it still manifests an enduring ideological radiance, providing intellectual support for advancing the new journey of Chinese-path modernization.

党的七大的理论精髓，在于即便进入新时代，依然彰显着历久弥新的思想光芒，为推进中国式现代化新征程提供智慧支撑。

The historical logic of theoretical innovation provides methodological guidance for advancing theoretical development in the New Era. The theoretical path of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context summarized by the Party’s Seventh National Congress has been continuously deepened and expanded in the course of the Party’s development. From the establishment of Mao Zedong Thought to the formation of the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and then to the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party has always promoted adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times based on China’s actual conditions. In particular, taking the Two Integrations as the fundamental path, it has systematically answered the major era-specific question of “what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era, and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics,” achieving the advancement of the Party’s guiding ideology with the times.

理论创新的历史逻辑，为新时代推进理论发展提供方法论遵循。党的七大总结的马克思主义中国化理论路径，在党的发展进程中持续深化拓展。从毛泽东思想的确立到中国特色社会主义理论体系的形成，再到习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的创立，党始终立足中国实际推进马克思主义中国化时代化，特别是以“两个结合”为根本途径，系统回答了“新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义”这一重大时代课题，实现了党的指导思想的与时俱进。

The contemporary sublimation of the people-centered stance has consolidated the foundation of the Party’s long-term governance. The fundamental purpose of “serving the people wholeheartedly” established by the Party’s Seventh National Congress has been elevated in the New Era into the people-centered development thought, which is a creative application of Marxist historical materialism. From General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal of the goal of “building a moderately prosperous society in all respects,” to the solemn declaration that China had achieved a comprehensive victory in the fight against poverty, to basic old-age insurance covering over one billion people and the average life expectancy rising to 78.2 years — these concrete achievements in people’s livelihoods, engraved on the land of China, are vivid footnotes to the “people first” concept of the Party’s Seventh National Congress in the New Era, fully reflecting the value stance of the Party in always placing the people’s interests first.

人民立场的时代升华，夯实了党长期执政的根基。党的七大确立的“全心全意为人民服务”根本宗旨，在新时代升华为“以人民为中心”的发展思想，这是对马克思主义唯物史观的创造性运用。从习近平总书记提出“全面建成小康社会”的目标，到庄严宣告我国脱贫攻坚战取得了全面胜利，基本养老保险覆盖超10亿人，人均预期寿命提升至78.2岁，这些镌刻在华夏大地上的民生实绩，正是党的七大“人民至上”理念在新时代的生动注脚，充分体现了党始终把人民利益放在首位的价值立场。

The inheritance of the historical initiative spirit has strengthened the strategic resolve to respond to risks and challenges in the New Era. The historical initiative spirit displayed by the Party’s Seventh National Congress in dealing with the complex risks and challenges of the later period of the War of Resistance Against Japan provides important inspiration for coordinating high-quality development and high-level security in the New Era. Facing changes unseen in a century in the world, the Party has always adhered to the principle of independence. In the field of science and technology, it has focused on tackling “bottleneck” problems. Major achievements such as the Beidou global navigation satellite system, the Chang’e lunar exploration program, and the domestically produced large passenger aircraft C919 demonstrate the power of innovation-driven development. On the diplomatic front, the Party firmly upholds national sovereignty, security, and development interests, proposes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, contributes Chinese solutions to global governance, and demonstrates the Party’s historical initiative in controlling changes in complex environments.

历史主动精神的传承，强化了新时代应对风险挑战的战略定力。党的七大呈现的应对抗日战争后期复杂风险挑战的历史主动精神，为新时代统筹高质量发展和高水平安全提供了重要启示。面对世界百年未有之大变局，党始终坚持独立自主原则，科技领域聚焦“卡脖子”问题攻坚克难，北斗全球组网、嫦娥探月工程、国产大飞机C919等重大成果，彰显创新驱动的伟力；外交战线坚定维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，提出构建人类命运共同体理念，为全球治理贡献中国方案，展现党在复杂环境中掌控变局的历史主动精神。

The contemporary inheritance of work style construction has ensured the Party’s advanced nature and purity. The basic principles and methods of work style construction formulated at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC have developed in the New Era into the strategic policy of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. From the normalization of “cracking down on tigers and flies” [14]14 “Cracking down on tigers and flies” (打虎拍蝇) is a popular Chinese phrase referring to the anti-corruption campaign targeting both high-ranking officials (“tigers”) and low-level officials (“flies”). to achieve an overwhelming victory in the anti-corruption struggle and its comprehensive consolidation, to the “remain true to our original aspiration and founding mission” [15]15 “Remain true to our original aspiration and founding mission” (不忘初心、牢记使命) is a political education campaign launched by the CPC in 2019 to reinforce Party loyalty and ideological commitment. thematic education and the regularized and institutionalized study and implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations, the Party, with the mission-driven commitment of “offending thousands of people rather than failing the 1.4 billion,” [16]16 “Offending thousands of people rather than failing the 1.4 billion” (得罪千百人、不负十四亿) is a slogan has cured ills and rectified disorder, continuing the new historical chapter of the Party’s self-revolution, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of Chinese-path modernization.

作风建设的当代传承，确保了党的先进性和纯洁性。党的七大制定的作风建设的基本原则与方法，在新时代发展为全面从严治党的战略方针。从“打虎拍蝇”常态化推进反腐败斗争取得压倒性胜利并全面巩固，到“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育、深入学习贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育常态化制度化开展，党以“得罪千百人、不负十四亿”的使命担当祛疴治乱，续写了党自我革命的历史新篇，确保党始终成为中国式现代化事业的坚强领导核心。

(The author is Executive Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at Hainan University.)

（作者系海南大学马克思主义学院执行院长、教授）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心