Lenin’s Socialist Value Orientation during the New Economic Policy Period

Since reform and opening up, academic circles have attached importance to the study of Lenin’s theory of the New Economic Policy, but existing achievements have paid insufficient attention to Lenin’s thinking on demonstrating the New Economic Policy from a socialist perspective and advancing the New Economic Policy in a socialist direction, lacking a profound exploration of Lenin’s socialist value orientation during the New Economic Policy period. Clarifying the socialist value orientation that Lenin adhered to throughout the entire process and chain of policy transformation, formulation, implementation, and advancement, further highlighting the socialist stance of the New Economic Policy, and forming a correct understanding of the New Economic Policy, have important theoretical value and practical significance.

改革开放以来，学术界重视对列宁新经济政策理论的研究，但现有成果对于列宁以社会主义的观点论证新经济政策和朝着社会主义的方向推进新经济政策的思想重视不够，缺乏对新经济政策时期列宁的社会主义价值取向的深刻探讨。从转变政策、制定政策、实施政策、推进政策的全过程、全链条中明确列宁在其中坚守的社会主义价值取向，进一步彰显新经济政策的社会主义立场，形成关于新经济政策的正确认识，具有重要的理论价值和实践意义。

I. Lenin Viewed the Necessity and Correctness of the New Economic Policy from a Socialist Perspective

一、列宁以社会主义的观点看新经济政策的必要性和正确性

In documents such as “Report on the Substitution of a Tax in Kind for the Surplus-Grain Appropriation System” at the Tenth Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), “The Fourth Anniversary of the October Revolution,” “The New Economic Policy and the Tasks of the Political Education Departments,” and “Speech at a Plenary Session of the Moscow Soviet,” Lenin profoundly analyzed the necessity and correctness of the policy transformation and the formulation and implementation of the New Economic Policy from a socialist perspective.

列宁在《俄共（布）第十次代表大会文献》《十月革命四周年》《新经济政策和政治教育委员会的任务》《在莫斯科苏维埃全会上的讲话》等文献中，以社会主义的观点对转变政策，以及制定和实施新经济政策的必要性与正确性进行了深刻论析。

(1) Focusing on the Development of the Socialist Cause, He Proposed the Policy Transformation and Formulated the New Economic Policy

（一）着眼于社会主义事业的发展提出转变政策和制定新经济政策

In practice, Lenin repeatedly emphasized that Soviet Russia’s policy transformation and formulation of the New Economic Policy were necessary because the particularity of its national conditions determined that it must have its own special path of transition to socialism. The experience and lessons of the period of the Civil War showed that radical policies and measures, i.e., those adopted to cope with wartime circumstances, could not achieve a normal transition to socialism. After the end of the Civil War, it was necessary to transform policies and formulate new policies suited to Soviet Russia’s national conditions in order to complete the task of transition to socialism. To elucidate the theoretical significance of the policy transformation, Lenin pointed out in his report on replacing the surplus-grain appropriation system with a tax in kind: “In a country where the small peasant producers constitute the overwhelming majority of the population, the socialist revolution can be carried out only through a series of special transitional measures which would be absolutely unnecessary in the developed capitalist countries where wage-workers in industry and agriculture constitute the majority.” [1]1 Lenin, “Report on the Substitution of a Tax in Kind for the Surplus-Grain Appropriation System,” March 15, 1921, *Collected Works*, vol. 32, p. 214 (Chinese edition). In developed capitalist countries where large-scale industrial and agricultural production predominated, the working class was very mature, and such a class situation created conditions for a direct transition to socialism economically, politically, and socially. But in Soviet Russia, where small peasant producers predominated, the transition to socialism required adopting a series of special transitional measures different from those in developed capitalist countries. To meet this need, the Tenth Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) made the decision to transform policies and formulate the New Economic Policy.

列宁在实践中反复强调，苏俄转变政策和制订新经济政策，是因为其国情的特殊性决定了它必须有自己特殊的向社会主义过渡的途径。国内战争时期的经验教训表明，过激的政策和措施即应对战时形势的政策和措施，无法正常地向社会主义过渡。国内战争结束后，必须转变政策，制订适应苏俄国情的新政策，才能完成向社会主义过渡的任务。为阐明转变政策的理论意义，列宁在关于以实物税代替余粮收集制的报告中指出：“在一个小农生产者占人口大多数的国家里，实行社会主义革命必须通过一系列特殊的过渡办法，这些办法在工农业雇佣工人占大多数的发达的资本主义国家里，是完全不需要采用的”。在工农业大生产占优势地位的资本主义发达国家，工人阶级十分成熟，这样的阶级状况为从经济上、政治上和社会上直接向社会主义过渡创造了条件。但在小农生产者占优势地位的苏俄，向社会主义过渡则需要采取一系列不同于发达资本主义国家的特殊的过渡办法。为了适应这一需要，俄共（布）十大作出了转变政策和制定新经济政策的决定。

In his report, Lenin further argued that the transition to socialism in a country like Soviet Russia required two conditions. “The first condition is timely support from the socialist revolution in one or several advanced countries.” “The other condition is a compromise between the proletariat, which exercises its dictatorship, i.e., holds state power, and the majority of the peasantry.” [2]2 Ibid., p. 215. Judging from the process of socialist construction in Soviet Russia at that time, although Soviet Russia had done some work on the first condition, making it a reality required further efforts. Based on this objective reality, Lenin emphasized in his report: “Until the revolution comes in other countries, only a compromise with the peasantry can save the socialist revolution in Russia.” [3]3 Ibid., p. 216. In his view, the attitude of the working class toward the peasantry, or the relationship between the working class and the peasantry, was the key factor determining whether Soviet Russia could complete the task of transition to socialism. For the transition to socialism in Soviet Russia, it was necessary to make concessions to the peasantry and adopt new policies conducive to establishing and consolidating the worker-peasant alliance, which gave rise to the need for policy transformation and the formulation of the New Economic Policy. Lenin was well aware that the exploration of the cause of socialist construction in Soviet Russia had no precedents or experiences to refer to, and correctly assessing the existing worker-peasant relationship and adjusting current policies accordingly was the breakthrough point for advancing the socialist cause in Soviet Russia according to its national conditions. In June 1921, at the Third All-Russian Food Conference, Lenin clearly stated that the New Economic Policy “can establish the alliance of the two basic classes that are the pillars of Soviet power—the working class and the peasantry—and only this economic alliance can guarantee the victory of our entire socialist construction.” [4]4 Lenin, “Speech at the Third All-Russian Food Conference,” June 16, 1921, *Collected Works*, vol. 32, p. 435 (Chinese edition). Here Lenin explained the relationship between the New Economic Policy and the establishment of a new worker-peasant relationship, the consolidation of the worker-peasant alliance, and the advancement of the socialist cause, and based on this understanding, he explicitly defined the New Economic Policy as a special method for Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism. From the above facts, it can be seen that Lenin proposed the policy transformation and formulated the New Economic Policy based on the long-term development of the socialist cause in Soviet Russia, which embodies Lenin’s clear and firm socialist value orientation.

列宁在报告中进一步论证，在苏俄这样的国家向社会主义过渡需要具备两个条件。“第一个条件是及时得到一个或几个先进国家社会主义革命的支援。”“另一个条件，就是实现自己专政的或者说掌握国家政权的无产阶级和大多数农民之间达成妥协。”从苏俄当时的社会主义建设进程看，苏俄虽然就第一个条件做了一些工作，但要使之成为现实还需要付出诸多努力。基于这一客观实际，列宁在报告中强调：“在其他国家的革命还没有到来之前，只有同农民妥协，才能拯救俄国的社会主义革命”。在他看来，工人阶级对农民阶级的态度，或者说工人阶级和农民阶级的关系是左右苏俄能否完成向社会主义过渡任务的关键因素。苏俄向社会主义过渡，必须向农民让步，采取有利于建立和巩固工农联盟的新政策，这就产生了转变政策和制定新经济政策的需要。列宁十分清楚，苏俄关于社会主义建设事业的探索没有任何可以参考的先例和经验，而正确评估现有的工农关系，并以此为根据调整现行政策，是苏俄根据国情推进社会主义事业的突破口。1921年6月，列宁在全俄第三次粮食工作会议上明确表示，新经济政策“能建立作为苏维埃政权支柱的两个基本阶级即工人阶级和农民的联盟，而只有这一经济联盟才能保证我国整个社会主义建设取得胜利”。列宁在这里讲明了新经济政策与建立新的工农关系、巩固工农联盟、推进社会主义事业之间的关系，并基于这一认识将新经济政策明确为苏俄向社会主义过渡的特殊办法。从以上事实可以看出，列宁是立足苏俄社会主义事业的长远发展提出转变政策和制定新经济政策，这其中蕴涵着列宁明确且坚定的社会主义价值取向。

(2) He Believed the New Economic Policy Was a “Roundabout” Way of Advancing toward Socialism

（二）认为新经济政策是向社会主义过渡的“迂回”前进方式

The method of transition to socialism suited to Soviet Russia’s special national conditions, which Lenin led the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) to explore in practice, was the New Economic Policy, and this policy exhibited the characteristic of “roundabout” advance. In Lenin’s view, the method of transition to socialism depended on whether socialized large-scale production relations or small-scale production predominated in the country. In Soviet Russia, where small-scale production predominated, neither industry nor agriculture had a large-scale production base, so a direct transition to socialism was impossible, and a “roundabout” method needed to be adopted. In summing up the experience and lessons of Soviet Russia’s economic construction, he further pointed out the method of transition to socialism that Soviet Russia should adopt: “The frontal attack failed; we must resort to roundabout methods, to siege and trench warfare.” [5]5 Lenin, “The New Economic Policy and the Tasks of the Political Education Departments,” October 17, 1921, *Collected Works*, vol. 33, p. 43 (Chinese edition). The “siege and trench warfare” here refers to the “roundabout” transition to socialism through the New Economic Policy. During the Civil War period, the proletariat adopted direct “assault” methods, such as prohibiting free trade and nationalization, to confront capitalism. Implementing the New Economic Policy changed the previous direct “assault” posture, instead restoring free trade and allowing the development of capitalist elements. In essence, this “roundabout” method of advance was merely a “strategic retreat” taken to achieve the conditions for transition to socialism. Lenin gave a specific explanation of this issue in speeches at several meetings in October 1921. He said that the Japanese army’s capture of Port Arthur in 1904 had gone through two different stages: the first stage adopted a fierce offensive but did not achieve victory; the second stage adopted a prolonged siege and captured the fortress. [6]6 Reference to the Siege of Port Arthur (1904–1905) during the Russo-Japanese War, where Japanese forces initially failed to take the fortress by frontal assault but succeeded after a prolonged siege. Lenin used this historical fact to illustrate that the proletariat’s struggle against capitalism could also change from “assault” to “siege.” Especially after a period of “assault,” in order to achieve greater victory or to place itself in a more advantageous position, it could change “assault” to “siege.” The implementation of the New Economic Policy in Soviet Russia was a “strategic retreat” by the proletariat, who, after assessing the situation, replaced “assault” with “siege.” But this “retreat” was only a withdrawal to its own existing positions, to accumulate strength for the “advance” toward socialism, to prepare for future battles, and to strive for greater victory.

列宁领导俄共（布）在实践中探索出的适合苏俄特殊国情的向社会主义过渡的方式是新经济政策，该政策呈现出“迂回”前进的特点。在列宁看来，向社会主义过渡的方式取决于国内是社会化大生产关系占优势，还是小生产占优势。小生产占优势的苏俄在工业和农业方面都不具备大生产基础，因此直接向社会主义过渡是不可能的，需要采取“迂回”的办法。他在总结苏俄经济建设的经验教训时进一步指明了苏俄应该采取的向社会主义过渡的方式：“正面攻击失败了，那我们就改用迂回的办法，采用围攻和对壕战。”这里的“围攻和对壕战”即通过新经济政策“迂回”地向社会主义过渡。在国内战争时期，无产阶级采取了诸如禁止自由贸易、国有化等直接“强攻”的方式对抗资本主义。实施新经济政策，则转变了以前直接“强攻”的态势，转而恢复自由贸易和容许资本主义因素的发展，从本质上讲，这种“迂回”前进的方式只是为达到向社会主义过渡条件采取的“战略退却”。列宁在1921年10月的多个会议讲话中就该问题作过具体阐释。他说，1904年日军攻占旅顺口的战争先后经历了两个不同的阶段：第一个阶段采取猛烈攻势，未取得胜利，第二个阶段采取较长时间包围，攻克了要塞。列宁用此历史事实说明，无产阶级对资本主义的斗争也可以由“强攻”改变为“围攻”,特别是在经过一段时间的“强攻”以后，为取得更大胜利或者为使自己处于更有利的地位，可以改“强攻”为“围攻”。苏俄实施新经济政策，是无产阶级审时度势后以“围攻”代替“强攻”的“战略退却”，但这种“退却”只是退回到自己已有的阵地上，积蓄向社会主义“前进”的力量，准备以后的战斗，以争取更大的胜利。

In October of the same year, Lenin objectively pointed out in *The Fourth Anniversary of the October Revolution* that Soviet Russia had suffered defeats and made mistakes in its exploration of laying the economic foundation for the socialist edifice. But he also noted: “We are now correcting many of our mistakes by means of the New Economic Policy; we are learning how, in a small-peasant country, to build the socialist edifice further without making these mistakes.” At the end of February 1922, in *Notes of a Publicist*, Lenin encouraged people not to be disheartened by temporary difficulties, “because, although we are in a situation of economic ruin, poverty, backwardness and famine, we have nevertheless begun to advance in the economic sphere that creates the conditions for socialism.” Lenin believed that it was necessary to dare to admit mistakes in work and to acknowledge the need for a “strategic retreat,” but without losing heart or hope; one should strengthen confidence and, through implementing the New Economic Policy, create better conditions for future development and lay the economic foundation for building the socialist edifice. In November 1922, at the Fourth Congress of the Communist International, Lenin pointed out that Soviet Russia “had to resort to roundabout methods” in economic construction, and that the purpose of doing so was to establish the socialist system through Soviet power. Thus, the New Economic Policy was merely “using ‘new roundabout methods’ to carry out the entire transition”; it not only did not change the direction of socialist development in Soviet Russia, but also manifested a development trend and bright prospect of “advancing” toward socialism. Clearly, when expounding Soviet Russia’s New Economic Policy and its “roundabout” mode of advance, Lenin very affirmatively and clearly expressed his socialist value orientation.

同年10月，列宁在《十月革命四周年》中客观地指出，苏俄在为社会主义大厦奠定经济基础的探索中遭受过失败，犯过错误。但他同时指出：“我们现在正用‘新经济政策’来纠正我们的许多错误，我们正在学习怎样在一个小农国家里进一步建设社会主义大厦而不犯这些错误。”1922年2月底，列宁在《政治家札记》中鼓舞大家不要因暂时的困境而沮丧，“因为我们虽然处于经济破坏、贫困、落后和饥荒的情况下，但是，我们毕竟在为社会主义创造条件的经济领域内开始前进了”。列宁认为，必须敢于承认工作中的失误，认可必须进行“战略退却”，但不能灰心失望，应坚定信心，通过实行新经济政策，为以后的发展创造更好的条件，为建设社会主义的大厦奠定经济基础。1922年11月，列宁在共产国际第四次代表大会上指出，苏俄“不得不用迂回的方法”进行经济建设，这样做的目的在于通过苏维埃政权建立社会主义制度。可见，新经济政策只是在“用‘新的迂回方法’实行整个过渡”，不但未改变苏俄的社会主义发展方向，而且呈现出一种向社会主义“前进”的发展趋势和美好前景。显然，列宁在阐述苏俄的新经济政策及其“迂回”前进的方式时，十分肯定地、清楚地表明了其社会主义价值取向。

(3) Full confidence that the New Economic Policy Russia would become socialist Russia

（三）充分相信新经济政策的俄国将变成社会主义的俄国

In November 1922, Lenin delivered an important speech at the Plenary Session of the Moscow Soviet, pointing out: “We have won a quite definite diplomatic situation, a diplomatic situation recognized by the whole world.” After the victory of the October Revolution, Lenin not only led the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) to counter the military offensives of Western capitalist countries against Soviet power by revolutionary means, but also actively engaged in diplomatic mediation with them through peaceful means, signing trade agreements with some Western countries. For example, in March 1921, Soviet Russia signed the *Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement* with Britain, which had positive significance for Soviet Russia’s development of foreign trade, restoration of the domestic economy, and improvement of the international environment. In April 1922, the Soviet Russian government sent a delegation to attend the International Economic Conference in Genoa, Italy. During the conference, the Soviet delegation signed the *Treaty of Rapallo* with the German delegation, normalizing diplomatic relations with Germany and insisting on mutual economic benefit, thereby breaking the isolation and blockade of Soviet Russia by the Western imperialist camp. Based on these facts, Lenin judged at the Moscow Soviet Plenary Session that this diplomatic situation had created favorable conditions for Soviet Russia’s continued implementation of the New Economic Policy. By the time of this plenary session, the policy had been in effect in Soviet Russia for more than a year and a half. The favorable turn in the international economic environment further promoted the development of Soviet Russia’s foreign trade, injected new vitality into the implementation of the New Economic Policy, and facilitated its continued implementation in Soviet Russia.

1922年11月，列宁在莫斯科苏维埃全会上发表重要讲话，指出：“我们已经争取到一个十分确定的外交局面，这就是为全世界所承认的外交局面”。十月革命胜利后，列宁不仅领导俄共（布）以革命手段对抗西方资本主义国家对苏维埃政权的军事进攻，而且以和平方式积极与它们进行外交斡旋，与一些西方国家签订了贸易协定。如1921年3月，苏俄同英国签订《临时贸易协定》，这对于苏俄发展对外贸易、恢复国内经济、改善国际环境等都具有积极意义。1922年4月，苏俄政府派代表团出席了在意大利热那亚举行的国际经济会议，会议期间，苏俄代表团同德国代表团签署了《拉巴洛条约》，与德国实现外交正常化，坚持在经济上互惠互利，打破了西方帝国主义阵营对苏俄的孤立和封锁。列宁基于以上事实在莫斯科苏维埃全会上判定这一外交局面为苏俄继续实施新经济政策创造了有利条件。截至此次全会召开，该政策在苏俄已实行一年半有余，国际经济环境的利好转向进一步促进了苏俄的对外贸易发展，为新经济政策的实施注入了新活力，有利于其在苏俄的继续推行。

Domestically, socialism had been “dragged into everyday life” by the practice of the workers and peasants, and socialist factors were increasingly active. After more than a year of implementing the New Economic Policy, the people’s living standards had improved considerably, thereby mobilizing the enthusiasm and cohesion of the masses in participating in Soviet Russia’s economic construction. Based on this new economic and political situation brought about by the New Economic Policy, Lenin pointed out: “Socialism is now no longer a question of the distant future, or some abstract picture, or some icon.” His meaning was that socialist factors had already appeared in the daily life of the Soviet Russian people. This understanding was an affirmation and praise of the flourishing development of the socialist cause in Soviet Russia brought about by the implementation of the New Economic Policy. Lenin thus concluded: “If we all work together, not tomorrow but in a few years, we will in any case solve this task, and then the New Economic Policy Russia will become socialist Russia.” Thus, based on the conditions created for the implementation of the New Economic Policy by the improved international environment of Soviet Russia and the actual results achieved by the domestic implementation of the New Economic Policy, Lenin looked forward to the bright prospects of socialism in Soviet Russia, expressed his determination to continue implementing the New Economic Policy and his confidence in moving toward socialism, and demonstrated his firm socialist value orientation.

从国内看，社会主义被工农群众的实践“拖进了日常生活”，社会主义的因素日益活跃。人民生活在新经济政策实行一年多后得到了较大改善，人民群众参与苏俄经济建设的积极性和凝聚力由此被调动起来。列宁根据新经济政策为苏俄带来的这一经济政治新形势指出：“社会主义现在已经不是一个遥远将来，或者什么抽象图景，或者什么圣像的问题了。”其意思是，苏俄人民的日常生活中已经有了社会主义的因素。他的这一认识，是对实施新经济政策带来的苏俄社会主义事业发展盛况的肯定和赞扬。列宁由此得出结论：“只要我们大家共同努力，不是在明天，而是在几年之中，无论如何会解决这个任务，这样，新经济政策的俄国将变成社会主义的俄国。”可见，列宁基于转好的苏俄国际经济环境为新经济政策实施创造的条件和国内新经济政策实施取得的实效，展望了社会主义在苏俄的光明前景，表达了继续实施新经济政策的决心和走向社会主义的信心，体现出其坚定的社会主义价值取向。

II. Lenin advanced the practice of the New Economic Policy with socialist principles and ideas

二、列宁以社会主义的原则和思想推进新经济政策的实践

Lenin not only demonstrated the necessity and correctness of the New Economic Policy from a socialist perspective, helping the entire Party form a correct understanding of the New Economic Policy, but also implemented socialist principles and ideas in the various measures of the New Economic Policy, continuously advancing the practice of the New Economic Policy.

列宁不仅以社会主义的观点论证了新经济政策的必要性和正确性，帮助全党形成了对新经济政策的正确认识，而且将社会主义的原则和思想贯彻到了新经济政策的各项举措中，不断推进新经济政策的实践。

(1) Giving top priority to improving the living and production conditions of the peasants

（一）把改善农民的生活条件和生产条件放在首位

In promoting the specific measures of the New Economic Policy, Lenin demanded that the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) give top priority to improving the living and production conditions of the peasants. Regarding the reason for this demand, Lenin explained in detail in *On the Grain Tax* in April 1921, pointing out that it was necessary for consolidating the worker-peasant alliance and Soviet power and for promoting Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism. Lenin emphasized: “To increase the production and harvest of grain, to increase the procurement and transport of fuel, it is absolutely necessary to improve the living conditions of the peasants and raise their productive forces.” Lenin’s logic was that national construction required grain and fuel, and these conditions depended on the labor of the peasants. By improving their living and production conditions, their enthusiasm and initiative in engaging in agricultural production could be stimulated, thereby helping to solve the problem of raw material shortages facing national construction. Lenin further pointed out: “The proletariat, as the leading and ruling class, must be able to guide politics so as to solve first the most urgent and most ‘thorny’ tasks. The most urgent task now is to adopt measures that can immediately raise the productive forces of the peasant economy. Only through such measures can we both improve the living conditions of the workers and consolidate the worker-peasant alliance and the dictatorship of the proletariat.” In his view, the proletariat, as the leading class, must view and handle problems from a political perspective, regarding the consolidation of the worker-peasant alliance and Soviet power as the primary political task, which required improving the living and production conditions of the peasants.

在推进新经济政策的具体举措中，列宁要求俄共（布）把改善农民的生活条件和生产条件放在首位。关于提出这一要求的缘由，1921年4月列宁在《论粮食税》中有详细阐释，他指出这是巩固工农联盟和苏维埃政权、推进苏俄向社会主义过渡的需要。列宁强调：“要增加粮食的生产和收成，增加燃料的收购和运输，非得改善农民的生活状况，提高他们的生产力不可。”列宁的逻辑是，国家建设需要粮食和燃料，这些条件离不开农民的劳动，通过改善他们的生活和生产条件，能够激发其投身农业生产的热情和主动性，从而有利于解决国家建设面临的原材料短缺问题。列宁进一步指出：“无产阶级作为一个领导阶级、统治阶级，应当善于指导政治，以便首先去解决最迫切而又最‘棘手的’任务，现在最迫切的就是采取那种能够立刻提高农民经济生产力的办法。只有经过这种办法才能做到既改善工人生活状况，又巩固工农联盟，巩固无产阶级专政。”在他看来，作为领导阶级的无产阶级必须要从政治上看待和处理问题，将巩固工农联盟和苏维埃政权视为首要政治任务，这就要求必须改善农民的生活条件和生产条件。

The implementation of the grain tax and the permission of free trade, as important contents of the New Economic Policy, were specific ways to improve the living and production conditions of the peasants. Lenin believed: “The correct policy of the proletariat exercising its dictatorship in a small-peasant country is to exchange industrial goods needed by the peasants for grain. Only such a grain policy can meet the tasks of the proletariat; only such a grain policy can consolidate the foundations of socialism and enable socialism to achieve complete victory.” The implementation of the grain tax was a transition to such a grain policy, which not only left the peasants with grain for daily production and living but also with surplus grain for exchange. At the same time, the implementation of the grain tax “was connected with freedom of trade after the grain tax had been paid, at least with freedom of local economic turnover.” Lenin proposed that a certain degree of free turnover and free trade should be allowed, forming a positive interaction with the implementation of the grain tax. Practice proved that the implementation of the grain tax and free trade policies safeguarded the vital interests of the peasants, raised their enthusiasm for labor, ensured the supply of grain and fuel needed for Soviet Russia’s industrial development, and played an important role in consolidating the worker-peasant alliance and Soviet power and in promoting Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism.

实行粮食税和允许自由贸易作为新经济政策的重要内容，是改善农民生活条件和生产条件的具体方式。列宁认为：“在小农国家内实现本阶级专政的无产阶级，其正确政策是要用农民所必需的工业品去换取粮食。只有这样的粮食政策才能适应无产阶级的任务，只有这样的粮食政策才能巩固社会主义的基础，才能使社会主义取得完全的胜利。”实行粮食税就是向这种粮食政策的过渡，不仅使农民手中有了可供日常生产生活的粮食，也有了可以用于交换的余粮。同时，实行粮食税“是与交完粮食税之后的贸易自由，至少是与地方经济流转中的贸易自由相联系的”。列宁提出应该允许一定范围内的自由流转和自由贸易，使之与粮食税的推行形成良性互动。实践证明，实施粮食税和自由贸易政策保障了农民的切身利益，提高了他们劳动的积极性，确保了苏俄国家工业发展所需的粮食和燃料供应，在巩固工农联盟和苏维埃政权、促进苏俄向社会主义过渡方面发挥了重要作用。

(2) Implementing the All-Russian Electrification Plan and adopting the concession system

（二）实施全俄电气化计划和实行租让制

Lenin, proceeding from the principle that building socialism requires a high level of productive forces and starting from the reality of Soviet Russia’s backward productive forces, placed the development of productive forces in an important position and explored specific pathways to raise Soviet Russia’s social productive forces, such as implementing the All-Russian Electrification Plan and adopting the concession system. The All-Russian Electrification Plan was reviewed and approved by the Ninth All-Russian Congress of Soviets in December 1921 and then elevated to a state decree. In June 1921, at the Third Congress of the Communist International, Lenin pointed out: “The material base of socialism can only be large-scale machine industry, which is also capable of transforming agriculture. But we cannot stop at this general principle. It must be concretized. Large-scale industry that corresponds to the latest level of technology and can transform agriculture is the electrification of the whole country.” [8]8 Lenin, “Report on the Tax in Kind,” *Collected Works*, Vol. 32, p. 434. His meaning was that in a small-peasant country like Soviet Russia, large-scale machine industry is the only possible economic base for socialism, and the concretization of modern large-scale machine industry is the electrification of the whole country. In addition, Lenin had a clear understanding of the long-term nature of realizing the All-Russian Electrification Plan. At the Tenth Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), he already stated: “To electrify a large country, it will in any case take several decades,” advocating a gradual approach to advancing the implementation of the All-Russian Electrification Plan and opposing rash and impetuous action.

列宁根据建立社会主义需要有高水平生产力的原则，从苏俄生产力落后的现实出发，把发展生产力摆在重要位置，探索出实施全俄电气化计划、实行租让制等提高苏俄社会生产力的具体途径。全俄电气化计划于1921年12月经第九次苏维埃代表大会审查通过后上升为国家法令。1921年6月，列宁在共产国际第三次代表大会上指出：“社会主义的物质基础只能是同时也能改造农业的大机器工业。但是不能停留在这个一般的原理上。必须把它具体化。适应最新技术水平并能改造农业的大工业就是全国电气化”。他的意思是，在苏俄这样一个小农国家，大机器工业是社会主义唯一可能的经济基础，而现代大机器工业的具体化即全俄电气化。此外，列宁对实现全俄电气化计划的长期性有着清醒认识，他在俄共(布)十大时就提出：“要实现一个大国家的电气化，无论如何要有几十年的时间才行”，主张以渐进的方式推进实施全俄电气化，反对急躁冒进。

Adopting the concession system was another pathway explored by Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) for developing productive forces. Soviet Russia’s large-scale industrial production was originally relatively backward, and with the destruction caused by war, many industrial enterprises undertaking social production tasks had already suspended production. To promote the development of productive forces, Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) decided to implement the concession system, leasing some enterprises that the Soviet government was temporarily unable to operate to foreign capitalists. In April 1921, in his report on the concession issue at the meeting of the Communist Party faction of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, Lenin pointed out: “Our only goal is to use the capitalists’ greed for profit and the antagonistic relations between trusts and trusts, surrounded as we are by capitalist encirclement, to create conditions for the existence of the socialist republic.” Here he elucidated the original intention of implementing the concession system, namely, to create conditions of social productive forces for the transition to socialism, flexibly utilizing capitalism to develop large-scale social production. Subsequently, in “On the Tax in Kind,” Lenin said: “The transition from concessions to socialism is a transition from one form of large-scale production to another form of large-scale production.” He believed that formulating and implementing the concession system policy, enabling some large state-owned enterprises that were originally unable to sustain production to resume operations, was conducive to promoting large-scale production and thereby raising the level of social productive forces. This was an intermediate link and an innovative measure in Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism, where small-scale production was the main mode of production.

实行租让制是列宁和俄共（布）探索的发展生产力的另一途径。苏俄的工业大生产原本就较为落后，加上战争的破坏，许多承担社会生产任务的工业企业已经暂停生产。为促进生产力发展，列宁和俄共（布）决定实行租让制，把苏维埃政府暂时无力经营的一些企业租给外国资本家。1921年4月，列宁在全俄工会中央理事会共产党党团会议上关于租让问题的报告中指出：“我们的目的只有一个，就是要在资本主义包围中利用资本家对利润的贪婪和托拉斯与托拉斯之间的敌对关系，为社会主义共和国的生存创造条件”。他在这里阐明了实行租让制的初衷，即为创造出向社会主义过渡的社会生产力条件，可灵活利用资本主义发展社会大生产。随后，列宁在《论粮食税》中说道：“由租让向社会主义过渡，是由一种大生产形式向另一种大生产形式过渡”。他认为，制订和实行租让制政策，使国内一些原本无力支撑的大型国有企业重新恢复生产，有利于推动大生产，进而提高社会生产力水平，这是以小生产为主要生产方式的苏俄向社会主义过渡的中间环节和创新性举措。

(3) Advocating that the Soviet regime develop commerce

（三）主张苏维埃政权发展商业

In the practice of continuously advancing the New Economic Policy, Lenin formed his thinking on developing commerce, advocating that the Soviet regime develop commerce to achieve normal economic ties between town and country in Soviet Russia and normal economic exchanges between Soviet Russia and Western countries, thereby laying the material foundation for Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism. In October 1921, direct exchange through consumer cooperatives was replaced by private buying and selling and currency circulation. This made Lenin realize: “Now we find ourselves in a situation where we must retreat still further, not only to state capitalism, but to state regulation of commerce and monetary circulation.” He believed that, faced with the immense development of private buying and selling and currency circulation, only by having the Soviet regime regulate and develop commerce could normal economic relations in Soviet Russia be restored on the basis of seizing the initiative, and conditions be created for the development of large-scale industry. In a related speech in November 1921, Lenin also pointed out: “In the chain of historical events, in the various transitional forms of our socialist construction in 1921–1922, commerce is precisely the ‘link that our proletarian state power, our leading Communist Party must grasp with all its might.’” He believed that in the process of Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism and communism, it was necessary to be adept at grasping key tasks according to the differences in historical stages. In the historical stage of development from 1921 to 1922, the key task to be grasped was developing commerce. For Soviet Russia, where small-scale production accounted for a large proportion, developing commerce could not only enable Soviet Russia to dismantle the scattered state of the original small-peasant economy on the basis of strengthening economic ties between town and country, further activate agriculture, and create conditions for establishing large-scale production and large-scale industry capable of meeting the needs of the broad masses of peasants and workers, but also build a bridge for normal economic and trade exchanges between Soviet Russia and Western countries, further opening up the situation of foreign trade in the process of promoting the establishment of normal economic exchange relations. Progress on these two fronts would lay the material foundation for the transition to socialism, thereby achieving the goal of building socialism.

列宁在持续推进新经济政策的实践中形成了关于发展商业的思想，主张苏维埃政权通过发展商业实现苏俄城乡之间正常的经济联系和苏俄同西方国家正常的经济交往，以奠定苏俄向社会主义过渡的物质基础。1921年10月，消费合作社的直接交换被私人之间的买卖和货币流通所取代。这使列宁意识到：“现在我们处于必须再后退一些的境地，不仅要退到国家资本主义上去，而且要退到由国家调节商业和货币流通。”他认为，面对私人之间的买卖和货币流通的极大发展，只有由苏维埃政权调节和发展商业，才能在掌握主动权的基础上恢复苏俄正常的经济关系，并为发展大工业创造条件。列宁在1921年11月的相关讲话中还指出：“在历史事变的链条中，在1921—1922年我国社会主义建设的各种过渡形式中，商业正是我们无产阶级国家政权、我们居于领导地位的共产党‘必须全力抓住的环节’。”他认为，在苏俄向社会主义和共产主义过渡进程中，要善于根据历史的阶段差异性抓重点工作，在1921—1922年这一历史发展阶段，应该抓住的重点工作就是发展商业，因为对于小生产占很大比重的苏俄而言，发展商业不仅能够使苏俄在加强城乡间经济联系的基础上瓦解原有小农经济的分散状态，进一步激活农业，为建立起能够满足广大农民和工人群众需要的大生产、大工业创造条件，而且能够为苏俄与西方国家之间的正常经贸往来搭建桥梁，在促进正常经济交往关系建立的过程中进一步打开对外贸易的局面，这两方面的进展将奠定向社会主义过渡的物质基础，进而达成建设社会主义的目的。

It must be emphasized that the future and direction of Soviet Russia’s development of commerce was socialism. The *Communist Manifesto*, as a programmatic document of Marxism, profoundly reveals the enslavement and alienation of people by capitalist commercial activity. Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), taking this as a warning, cautiously controlled the development of commercial factors in Soviet Russia in the early period of the New Economic Policy, to prevent them from undermining Soviet Russia’s socialist cause. As the New Economic Policy continued to advance in Soviet Russia, Lenin deepened and developed his understanding of commerce and its role in laying the material foundation for socialism, proposing that Soviet Russia must develop commerce. On the fourth anniversary of the October Revolution, he pointed out: “A wholesaler, this type of economic figure, seems to be as different from communism as heaven is from earth. But it is precisely this kind of contradiction that, in real life, can lead people from the small-peasant economy through state capitalism to socialism.” Here Lenin actually indicated the future and direction of developing commerce—socialism. He believed that it was precisely commerce, seemingly so distant from socialism, that was pushing Soviet Russia forward in the direction of socialism. This was a conclusion Lenin drew based on Soviet Russia’s national conditions and the people’s practice.

需要强调的是，苏俄发展商业的前途和方向是社会主义。《共产党宣言》作为马克思主义的纲领性文件，深刻揭示了资本主义商业活动对人的奴役和异化。列宁和俄共（布）以此为警示，在新经济政策初期审慎地控制苏俄商业因素的发展，以防其破坏苏俄的社会主义事业。随着新经济政策在苏俄的持续推进，列宁深化和发展了对商业及其在奠定社会主义物质基础方面的作用的认识，提出苏俄必须发展商业。他在纪念十月革命四周年时指出：“批发商这类经济界人物同共产主义似乎有天壤之别。但正是这类矛盾在实际生活中能把人们从小农经济经过国家资本主义引导到社会主义。”列宁在这里实际上指明了发展商业的前途和方向——社会主义。他认为，正是看似与社会主义距离遥远的商业，推动着苏俄向着社会主义的方向前进，这是列宁根据苏俄的国情和人民的实践得出的结论。

(4) Proposing to launch a cultural revolution in Soviet Russia

（四）提出在苏俄开展一场文化革命

Lenin, proceeding from the principle that building socialism requires a high level of social civilization, proposed launching a cultural revolution in Soviet Russia to raise the people’s cultural level and the overall degree of social civilization. In October 1921, in “The New Economic Policy and the Tasks of the Political Education Departments,” he listed raising the cultural level as one of the most urgent tasks of Soviet Russia, stating: “We must raise the cultural level through the ability to read and write, and we must enable the peasants to use the ability to read and write to improve their farming and the condition of their country.” Lenin believed that by raising the cultural level of the worker and peasant masses, their ability to participate in the practice of socialist construction should be enhanced. In March of the following year, at the Eleventh Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), Lenin said: “The New Economic Policy fully guarantees us, economically and politically, the possibility of building the foundations of a socialist economy. The problem ‘only’ lies in the cultural strength of the proletariat and its vanguard.” Here he emphatically stressed the importance of cultural construction in the cause of Soviet Russia’s socialist construction, especially the importance of the cultural quality of the proletariat and the communists and their leading role in Soviet Russia’s cultural construction.

列宁根据建立社会主义需要高度社会文明的原则，提出在苏俄开展一场文化革命，以提高人民文化水平和社会整体文明程度。1921年10月，他在《新经济政策和政治教育委员会的任务》中将提高文化水平作为苏俄最迫切的任务之一，提出：“应当用读和写的本领来提高文化水平，应当使农民有可能用读写本领来改进自己的经营和改善自己国家的状况”。列宁认为，要通过提高工农群众的文化水平，提升其参与社会主义建设实践的能力。次年3月，列宁在俄共（布）第十一次代表大会上说道：“新经济政策在经济上和政治上都充分保证我们有可能建立社会主义经济的基础。问题‘只’在于无产阶级及其先锋队的文化力量”。他在这里着重强调了文化建设在苏俄社会主义建设事业中的重要性，尤其是无产阶级和共产党人文化素养的重要性及其对苏俄文化建设的引领作用。

Lenin also delved deeply into his understanding of Soviet Russia’s cultural construction in works such as *Pages from a Diary* and *On Cooperation*. In January 1923, in *Pages from a Diary*, he specifically discussed cultural tasks and cultural conditions: “We have not concerned ourselves, or have not sufficiently concerned ourselves, with raising the status of the national teacher to the proper level, and without this there can be no culture—neither proletarian culture nor even bourgeois culture.” Lenin pointed out that by raising the status of teachers, their role in elevating the cultural level of the people and in carrying out socialist cultural construction should be brought into play. At the same time, Lenin also advocated increasing the proportion of funding for primary national education within the overall state budget. In the same year, in *On Cooperation*, Lenin clarified his views on socialist cultural construction into the theory of cultural revolution, arguing that for the residents of Soviet Russia to attain the level of civilization necessary to participate in cooperatives, “a whole stage of cultural advancement for the entire mass of the people is required.” In his view, the masses, especially the broad peasantry, due to their low cultural level, found it difficult to develop a correct understanding of socialism, let alone know how to participate in the practice of socialist construction. Therefore, a cultural revolution had to be carried out; this was the task to be accomplished in the cultural sphere for Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism.

列宁还在《日记摘录》《论合作社》等文献中深入阐述了其对苏俄文化建设的认识。1923年1月，他在《日记摘录》中专门就文化任务和文化条件等进行了论述：“我们没有关心或者远没有充分关心把国民教师的地位提到应有的高度，而不做到这一点，就谈不上任何文化，既谈不上无产阶级文化，甚至也谈不上资产阶级文化”。列宁指出，应该通过提高教师的地位，发挥教师在提升国民文化水平、进行社会主义文化建设中的作用。同时，列宁还主张增加初级国民教育经费在整个国家预算中的比重。同年，在《论合作社》中，列宁将其关于社会主义文化建设的观点明确为文化革命理论，认为要使苏俄居民具备参与合作社所需要的文明水平，“需要有全体人民群众在文化上提高的一整个阶段”。在他看来，人民群众尤其是广大农民由于文化水平低，难以对社会主义产生正确的认识，更不懂得如何参与到社会主义建设的实践中，所以必须开展文化革命，这是苏俄过渡到社会主义需要在文化领域完成的任务。

(5) Strengthening the Leadership and Self-Construction of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

（五）加强俄共（布）的领导及其自身建设

Lenin advocated strengthening the leadership and self-construction of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) [RCP(b)] to consolidate its ruling position, maintain its advanced nature, and ensure that the New Economic Policy and all undertakings of Soviet Russia advanced on the track of scientific socialism. On the basis of adhering to the general principles of scientific socialism regarding the leadership of the Party, Lenin strengthened the centralized and unified leadership of the RCP(b) in accordance with the actual conditions of Soviet Russia. The resolution “On Party Unity” adopted at the Tenth Congress of the RCP(b) stated: “At a time when many circumstances are intensifying the vacillation of the petty-bourgeois population within the country, it is especially necessary to maintain the unity and cohesion of the Party’s ranks, to ensure complete mutual trust among Party members, to guarantee genuine concerted effort in work, and to truly embody the unity of will of the proletarian vanguard.” In this resolution, Lenin made upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party a fundamental element of the RCP(b)’s self-construction, advocating that in the practice of leading Soviet Russia’s transition to socialism, the status of the RCP(b) as the vanguard of the proletariat must be resolutely defended, all factional groups that weakened the Party and undermined its unity must be resolutely dissolved, the centralized and unified leadership of the RCP(b) should be used to respond to the vacillation of the domestic petty-bourgeois population, and the Party’s ruling position should be continuously consolidated. Furthermore, Lenin actively promoted the implementation of democratic centralism in Soviet Russia, providing an institutional guarantee for the centralized and unified leadership of the Party.

列宁主张加强俄共（布）的领导及其自身建设，以巩固俄共（布）的执政地位，保持其先进性，保证新经济政策以及苏俄的各项事业前进在科学社会主义的轨道上。列宁在坚持科学社会主义关于加强党的领导的一般原则的基础上，根据苏俄实际加强俄共（布）的集中统一领导。俄共（布）十大通过的《关于党的统一的决议》提到：“目前许多情况正在加剧国内小资产阶级居民的动摇，在这个时候特别需要保持党的队伍的统一和团结，保证党员相互之间的完全信任，保证在工作中真正齐心协力，真正体现无产阶级先锋队的意志的统一。”列宁在这一决议中，将坚持党的集中统一领导作为俄共（布）自身建设的基本内容，主张在领导苏俄向社会主义过渡的实践中坚决维护俄共（布）作为无产阶级先锋队的地位，坚决解散削弱党、破坏党的统一的一切派别集团，以俄共（布）的集中统一领导应对国内小资产阶级居民的动摇，不断巩固党的执政地位。此外，列宁还积极推动民主集中制在苏俄的落实，为党的集中统一领导提供了制度保障。

For the RCP(b) to maintain its advanced nature, consolidate its ruling position, and play its leading role, it needed to continuously strengthen its self-construction. To this end, Lenin led the RCP(b) in some explorations regarding Party building, particularly concerning the problem of bureaucracy within the Party, forming a series of targeted insights and measures. For example, at the Eleventh Congress of the RCP(b), Lenin emphasized: “Only when we correctly express the ideas of the people can we govern. Otherwise, the Communist Party cannot lead the proletariat, and the proletariat cannot lead the masses, and the whole machine will fall apart.” He believed that, as a proletarian party, it was necessary to maintain close ties with the masses and overcome the bureaucratic tendency of being divorced from the masses; this was a requirement for winning the trust and support of the people and consolidating the Party’s ruling position. In March 1923, in *Better Fewer, But Better*, Lenin explicitly proposed a criterion for improving the Party and state organs: “Better fewer, but better,” and proposed that to truly establish socialist, Soviet organs, it was necessary to recruit “workers who are wholeheartedly dedicated to the struggle for socialism” and “people with knowledge, education, and training.” The former supported socialism and were loyal to the Party’s cause, but were relatively deficient in cultural and managerial knowledge; the latter were relatively scarce in Soviet Russia at the time. Therefore, in the aforementioned works, he further proposed reforming state organs by strengthening study and emphasizing practical application. In short, Lenin’s thought and practice on strengthening the leadership and self-construction of the RCP(b) provided a solid political guarantee that the New Economic Policy and all undertakings of Soviet Russia would always advance on the track of scientific socialism.

俄共（布）要始终保持先进性、巩固其执政地位、发挥其领导作用，就需要不断加强自身建设。为此，列宁领导俄共（布）围绕党的建设进行了一些探索，特别是就党内官僚主义问题，形成了一系列富有针对性的见解和措施。如列宁在俄共（布）第十一次代表大会上强调：“只有我们正确地表达人民的想法，我们才能管理。否则共产党就不能率领无产阶级，而无产阶级就不能率领群众，整个机器就要散架。”他认为，作为无产阶级政党，要密切联系群众，克服脱离群众的官僚主义倾向，这是赢得人民群众信任和支持、巩固党的执政地位的要求。1923年3月，列宁在《宁肯少些，但要好些》中明确提出改善党的机关和国家机关的一项准则，即“宁可数量少些，但要质量高些”，并提出真正建立社会主义的、苏维埃的机关，需要吸纳“一心为社会主义奋斗的工人”和“有知识的、受过教育和训练的人”。前者拥护社会主义、忠诚党的事业，但文化知识和管理知识相对不足；后者在当时的苏俄则相对缺乏。因此，他在上述著作中进一步提出，要通过加强学习和注重实践运用等方式革新国家机关。总之，列宁关于加强俄共（布）的领导及其自身建设的思想和实践，为新经济政策以及苏俄的各项事业始终在科学社会主义的轨道上前进提供了坚实的政治保证。

III. Practical Enlightenment from Lenin’s Thought and Practice on Adhering to the Socialist Value Orientation

三、列宁关于坚持社会主义价值取向思想与实践的现实启示

At present, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core is leading the Chinese people in forging ahead on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and marching toward the second centenary goal. [9]9 The “second centenary goal” refers to the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century, the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Lenin’s thought and practice on adhering to the socialist value orientation during the New Economic Policy period still possess a value of reference for the Communist Party of China and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that transcends time and space.

当前，以习近平同志为核心的党中央正领导中国人民在全面建设社会主义现代化强国、向第二个百年奋斗目标进军的新征程上奋力前进，新经济政策时期列宁关于坚持社会主义价值取向的思想与实践，对中国共产党及其领导的中国特色社会主义事业依然具有穿透时空的借鉴价值。

(1) Upholding the Party’s Leadership and Emphasizing the Foundational Role of Ideological Construction in Party Building

（一）坚持党的领导，重视思想建设在党的建设中的基础性地位

During the New Economic Policy period, Lenin focused on strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the RCP(b), adopting forceful measures to consolidate and strengthen the Party’s leading position, thereby ensuring that the New Economic Policy and all undertakings of Soviet Russia advanced steadily in the socialist direction. On the new journey of the New Era, upholding and strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the Communist Party of China is the political guarantee for ensuring that the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics advances in the correct direction. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized: “The key to comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies in the Party.” On the new journey of the New Era, Party leadership must be implemented in all areas and all aspects of governance, and be embodied and reflected in the concrete practice of building a modern socialist country, always giving play to the Party’s core leadership role. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC also pointed out: “We must unswervingly advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, deeply advance the great new project of Party building in the New Era, and use the Party’s self-revolution to lead social revolution.” Strengthening Party building is an inherent requirement for the Party to maintain its advanced nature and long-term ruling position. As an important component of Party building, ideological construction plays a significant role in promoting firm ideals and convictions across the Party, unifying ideological understanding, and aligning actions and steps, occupying a foundational position in the systematic project of Party building. At the critical moment when Soviet Russia faced economic and political crises, Lenin adhered to the socialist value orientation, helping the entire RCP(b) unify its understanding of the New Economic Policy, strengthen its confidence in the transition to socialism and its belief in realizing the communist ideal, generating a powerful appeal among the broad masses of Party members and the people. On the new journey of the New Era, the entire Party must further strengthen from an ideological perspective the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate the soul, replenish the spiritual “calcium,” [10]10 “Replenish the spiritual ‘calcium’” is a metaphor used by Xi Jinping, comparing ideals and convictions to calcium, which is essential for the body; a lack of ideals and convictions causes the Party to “soften” or lose its backbone. remain sober and steadfast on the new road of catching up with the examination, [11]11 “The new road of catching up with the examination” is a metaphor from Xi Jinping, comparing the challenges of governing and building socialism in the New Era to an examination that the Party must pass. and, supported by Party leadership and Party building, continuously inject powerful momentum into building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

新经济政策时期，列宁注重加强俄共（布）的集中统一领导，采取有力措施巩固和加强党的领导地位，确保了新经济政策以及苏俄的各项事业朝着社会主义方向稳步前进。新时代新征程上坚持和加强中国共产党的集中统一领导，是确保中国特色社会主义事业始终沿着正确方向推进的政治保证。党的二十大报告强调：“全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，关键在党。”新时代新征程上要将党的领导落实到治国理政各领域各方面各环节，贯彻和体现到建设社会主义现代化强国的具体实践中，始终发挥党的领导核心作用。党的二十大报告还指出：“必须持之以恒推进全面从严治党，深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，以党的自我革命引领社会革命。”加强党的建设是党保持自身先进性和长期执政地位的内在要求。思想建设作为党的建设的重要内容，在促进全党理想信念坚定、思想认识统一、行动步调一致方面发挥着重要作用，在党的建设系统工程中居于基础性地位。在苏俄出现经济危机和政治危机的关键时刻，列宁坚持社会主义价值取向，帮助俄共（布）全党统一了对新经济政策的认识，坚定了过渡到社会主义的信心和实现共产主义理想的信念，在广大党员和人民群众中产生了强大的感召力。在新时代新征程上，全党都要从思想上进一步坚定共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想，用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心聚魂，补足精神之“钙”，在新的赶考路上永葆清醒和坚定，以党的领导和党的建设为支撑，持续为建设社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴注入强大动能。

(2) Adhering to the People-Centered Principle and Unswervingly Taking the Path of Common Prosperity for All the People

（二）坚持人民至上，坚定不移走全体人民共同富裕的道路

During the New Economic Policy period, Lenin placed the improvement of peasants’ living and production conditions first and explained what socialism is on the basis of the people’s practice, reflecting the historical responsibility of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) as a Marxist political party. This enlightens the Chinese Communists to bear in mind their original aspiration and founding mission, remember their struggle goals, actively respond to the people’s yearning for a better life, and unswervingly take the path of common prosperity for all the people. The Chinese Communist Party must, in the new stage of development, steadily resolve the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development, continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, and enable the people to continuously satisfy their own needs for a better life on the basis of enjoying fairer development opportunities. Lenin led the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in pushing forward various undertakings in Soviet Russia in a direction favorable to the people’s interests and to socialist construction, and put forward a series of principled demands, such as requiring the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) to pay attention to the people’s livelihood and improve the people’s lives; highly affirming the socialist factors created by the people in daily life through practice; and holding that all policies adopted by the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) must be tested by the broad masses of the people. All this reflects Lenin’s respect for and guidance of the people’s principal position. For the Chinese Communist Party, promoting common prosperity for all the people must fully stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the broad masses of the people in participating in modernization practice, extensively concentrate the collective wisdom of the people, and take whether the people are satisfied as the fundamental criterion for evaluating the Chinese Communist Party and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics it leads.

新经济政策时期，列宁把改善农民的生活条件和生产条件放在首位，并根据人民群众的实践说明何为社会主义，体现了俄共（布）作为马克思主义政党的历史担当。这启示中国共产党人要牢记初心使命，铭记奋斗目标，积极回应人民对美好生活的向往，坚定不移走全体人民共同富裕的道路。中国共产党要在新发展阶段稳步解决发展的不平衡和不充分问题，不断巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果，使人民在享有更加公平的发展机会的基础上不断满足自身对美好生活的需要。列宁领导俄共（布）推动苏俄各项事业朝着有利于人民利益、有利于社会主义建设的方向前进，提出了一系列原则要求，如要求俄共（布）关注人民生计，改善人民生活；高度肯定人民通过实践在日常生活中创造的社会主义因素；认为俄共（布）采取的一切政策都必须经过广大人民的检验等，都体现了列宁对人民主体性地位的尊重和引导。对于中国共产党而言，推动全体人民共同富裕必须充分激发广大人民群众参与现代化建设实践的积极性、主动性和创造性，广泛集中人民群众的集体智慧，将人民是否满意作为评价中国共产党及其领导的中国特色社会主义事业的根本标准。

(III) Adhere to the “Two Integrations” and Create a New Situation for the Development of the Cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（三）坚持“两个结合”，开创中国特色社会主义事业发展新局面

Marxism, as a powerful ideological weapon for the proletarian party to understand and transform the world, points the direction for the progress and development of human society. During the New Economic Policy period, Lenin always held high the banner of Marxism, integrated it with the actual conditions of Soviet Russia, realized the Russification of Marxism, led Soviet Russia to complete the transition to the New Economic Policy, and, in accordance with changes in objective conditions, continuously enriched its content system and innovated specific methods of transition to socialism, pushing various undertakings in Soviet Russia forward in the direction of socialism. This provides important enlightenment for the Chinese Communist Party in promoting the sustained development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On June 2, 2023, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage, emphasizing that “to develop and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture is the only way,” [12]12 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage,” June 2, 2023. The “Two Integrations” refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. profoundly revealing the great significance of the “Two Integrations” for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by adhering to the “Two Integrations,” giving play to the truth power of Marxism, responding to the practical needs of modernization, and drawing nourishment from the best of traditional Chinese culture can we provide strong ideological guarantees and spiritual strength for the sustained development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the new journey of the New Era, we must adhere to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, fully exerting Marxism’s theoretical guidance and value-leading role in China’s New Era; we must integrate the ideological essence of Marxism with the essence of the best of traditional Chinese culture, promote future-oriented theoretical and institutional innovation, and create a new situation for the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

马克思主义作为无产阶级政党认识世界和改造世界的有力的思想武器，为人类社会发展进步指明了方向。新经济政策时期，列宁始终高举马克思主义旗帜，将其与苏俄实际相结合，实现了马克思主义的俄国化，领导苏俄完成了向新经济政策的转变，并根据客观条件的变化，不断丰富其内容体系，创新向社会主义过渡的具体方式，使苏俄各项事业朝着社会主义的方向推进。这为中国共产党推动中国特色社会主义事业的持续发展提供了重要启示。2023年6月2日，习近平在文化传承座谈会上发表重要讲话，强调“在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上开辟和发展中国特色社会主义，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合是必由之路”，深刻揭示了“两个结合”对于中国特色社会主义事业的重大意义。只有坚持“两个结合”，发挥马克思主义的真理力量，回应现代化建设的现实需要，汲取中华优秀传统文化养料，才能为中国特色社会主义事业的持续发展提供强大的思想保证和精神力量。在新时代新征程上，要坚持马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，充分发挥马克思主义在中国新时代的理论指导和价值引领作用；要将马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华融会贯通，推进面向未来的理论和制度创新，开创中国特色社会主义事业发展新局面。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心