Deeply Understand and Grasp the Methodology of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

For every undertaking, there must be a method before it can be accomplished. On October 29, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony of a

事必有法，然后可成。10月29日，习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的二十届三中全会精神专题研讨班开班式上发表重要讲话指出：“改革是一项系统工程，需要讲求科学方法，处理好方方面面的关系。”明确提出要“坚持改革和法治相统一”、“坚持破和立的辩证统一”、“坚持改革和开放相统一”、“处理好部署和落实的关系”。这些重要论述为进一步全面深化改革提供了科学指导和根本遵循。深刻认识和把握改革方法论，对于把进一步全面深化改革的战略部署转化为推进中国式现代化的强大力量，具有十分重要的意义。

I. Uphold the Unity of Reform and the Rule of Law, Advance Reform Under the Rule of Law, and Perfect the Rule of Law Through Reform

一、坚持改革和法治相统一，在法治下推进改革，在改革中完善法治

Reform and the rule of law are like the two wings of a bird and the two wheels of a cart, mutually dependent and indispensable; they must be considered as a whole and advanced in coordination. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has incorporated comprehensively deepening reform and comprehensively governing the country according to law into the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy" [1]1 The Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy (四个全面) refers to comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the country according to law, and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party., insisting that reform and the rule of law exert force in the same direction, advance simultaneously, and promote each other, using the outstanding achievements of law-based governance to drive comprehensively deepening reform to greater depths. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must uphold the unity and connection between reform decisions and legislative decisions, with legislation actively adapting to the needs of reform, actively playing a role in guiding, promoting, regulating, and safeguarding reform, ensuring that major reforms have a legal basis, that reform and the rule of law advance simultaneously, and that the penetrating power of reform is enhanced." The realization of the rule of law cannot be separated from the impetus of reform, and the deepening of reform inevitably requires the safeguard of the rule of law. On the one hand, we must take perfecting the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics as the overall focus, further deepening various reforms in the field of the rule of law. On the other hand, we must better leverage the positive role of the rule of law in consolidating the achievements of reform, be adept at using legal thinking and legal methods to advance reform, and ensure that reform proceeds steadily and far on the correct direction. Only when reform and the rule of law are unified and connected can reform advance powerfully, orderly, and effectively within the framework of the rule of law, and can the rule of law keep pace with the times, continuously adapt to the needs of reform and economic and social development, and promote social fairness, justice, and long-term stability of the country.

改革与法治如鸟之两翼、车之两轮，相互依存、缺一不可，必须一体考虑、协同推进。党的十八大以来，我们党把全面深化改革和全面依法治国纳入“四个全面”战略布局，坚持改革和法治同向发力、同步推进、相互促进，以全面依法治国的突出成效推动全面深化改革向纵深发展。习近平总书记强调：“我们要坚持改革决策和立法决策相统一、相衔接，立法主动适应改革需要，积极发挥引导、推动、规范、保障改革的作用，做到重大改革于法有据，改革和法治同步推进，增强改革的穿透力。”法治的实现离不开改革的推动，改革的深化也必然需要法治的保障。一方面，要以完善中国特色社会主义法治体系为总抓手，进一步深化法治领域各项改革。另一方面，要更好发挥法治在巩固改革成果中的积极作用，善于运用法治思维和法治方式推进改革，确保改革在正确方向上行稳致远。只有改革与法治相统一、相衔接，改革才能在法治框架内有力、有序、有效推进，法治才能与时俱进，不断适应改革和经济社会发展需要，促进社会公平正义和国家长治久安。

Currently, comprehensively deepening reform has entered the deep-water zone and the critical period, touching upon deep interests and facing great difficulty in overcoming obstacles. Only by advancing reform under the rule of law and perfecting the rule of law through reform, achieving a virtuous interaction and mutual reinforcement between the two, can we continuously create a new situation in comprehensively deepening reform and opening up. We must uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership over comprehensively deepening reform and comprehensively governing the country according to law, fully leverage the Party's core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, firmly grasp the correct direction of comprehensively deepening reform, always take the Party's banner as our banner, the Party's direction as our direction, and the Party's will as our will, and integrate Party leadership throughout the entire process of reform in all aspects, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must enhance problem awareness and adhere to a problem-oriented approach. Chinese Communists have engaged in revolution, construction, and reform precisely to solve China's practical problems. Both reform and the rule of law should focus on practical problems, taking the discovery and resolution of practical problems as the focal point and breakthrough, continuously perfecting the construction of the rule of law around the needs of reform and development, relying on reforming systems and mechanisms to solve deep-seated problems, and continuing to push comprehensively deepening reform forward by enhancing the targetedness and effectiveness of reform. We must adhere to the people-centered stance, plan reforms starting from solving the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the broad masses of the people, promote the connection of legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, and law-abiding with reform at every link, equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of all citizens and legal persons, and meet the people's growing needs for a better life through the coordinated advancement of reform and the rule of law.

当前，全面深化改革已经进入深水区、攻坚期，触及利益深、攻坚难度大，只有在法治下推进改革，在改革中完善法治，实现二者良性互动、相得益彰，才能不断开创全面深化改革开放新局面。必须坚持和加强党对全面深化改革和全面依法治国的全面领导，充分发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，牢牢把握全面深化改革的正确方向，始终以党的旗帜为旗帜、以党的方向为方向、以党的意志为意志，把党的领导贯穿改革各方面全过程，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。必须增强问题意识、坚持问题导向。中国共产党人干革命、搞建设、抓改革，从来都是为了解决中国的现实问题。改革和法治都应聚焦现实问题，将发现和解决现实问题作为着力点和突破口，围绕改革发展所需不断完善法治建设，依靠改革体制机制解决深层次问题，在增强改革的针对性实效性中继续把全面深化改革推向前进。必须坚持人民立场，从解决广大人民群众的急难愁盼问题出发谋划改革，促进立法、执法、司法、守法等各环节与改革相衔接，平等保护全体公民和法人的合法权益，以改革和法治的协同推进满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要。

II. Uphold the Dialectical Unity of Breaking and Establishing, Pursue Both Breaking and Establishing While Prioritizing Establishment

二、坚持破和立的辩证统一，破立并举、先立后破

Reform involves both breaking and establishing; mastering the method yields twice the result with half the effort. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must uphold the dialectical unity of breaking and establishing, pursue both breaking and establishing while prioritizing establishment, actively and proactively establish what should be established, and promptly break what should be broken on the basis of establishment, achieving steady and rapid progress in reform through the unity of breaking and establishing." Breaking is the means, and establishing is the goal. Only by achieving "prioritizing establishment," actively establishing what should be established, can reform be "rapid"; and only by "subsequent breaking," promptly breaking on the basis of establishment, can reform be "steady." It is precisely in the organic connection and cyclical repetition of breaking and establishing that the advanced replaces the backward, innovation replaces conservatism, and various reforms continuously advance forward. To coordinate breaking and establishing, we must identify the direction and focal point of reform breakthroughs, and grasp the timing, degree, and effectiveness of policy adjustments and reform promotion. We must revolve around the overall goal of further deepening reform comprehensively, rationally arrange the order, timing, and rhythm of reform measures, proceed step by step, steadily and surely, and ensure that reform advances in an orderly manner.

改革有破有立，得其法则事半功倍。习近平总书记指出：“要坚持破和立的辩证统一，破立并举、先立后破，该立的积极主动立起来，该破的在立的基础上及时破，在破立统一中实现改革蹄疾步稳。”破是手段，立是目的。只有做到“先立”，把该立的主动立起来，改革才能“蹄疾”；也只有“后破”，在立的基础上及时破，改革才能“步稳”。正是在破与立的有机衔接、循环往复中，先进替代落后，创新取代守旧，各项改革不断向前推进。统筹破与立，必须找准改革突破的方向和着力点，把握政策调整和推动改革的时度效。要围绕进一步全面深化改革的总目标，合理安排改革举措的先后顺序、节奏时机，循序渐进、稳扎稳打，确保改革有条不紊推进。

The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century; we are both in an important period of strategic opportunity and face various challenges such as increased instability and uncertainty. To respond to crises and changes, we must uphold the dialectical unity of breaking and establishing, and make good use of the scientific method of "pursuing both breaking and establishing while prioritizing establishment." Only when establishment is solid can breaking be effective. We must assess the situation and make scientific judgments regarding all undertakings of reform, establish clear goals and directions, take innovation as the guide, keenly grasp reform opportunities, coordinately advance scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation, promptly establish what should be established, and seek progress while maintaining stability on the path of reform. What should be broken must be promptly, resolutely, and thoroughly broken on the basis of establishment. "Prioritizing establishment" does not mean "not breaking," but rather "subsequent breaking." Under the condition of ensuring "establishment," we must accelerate the removal of blockages, sticking points, and pain points that hinder development. For example, in the reform of the education evaluation mechanism, we must eradicate the stubborn maladies of "only scores, only advancement, only diplomas, only papers, only hats" [2]2 "Only scores, only advancement, only diplomas, only papers, only hats" (唯分数、唯升学、唯文凭、唯论文、唯帽子) is a critique of a narrow, credentialist evaluation system in Chinese education and academia, where "hats" refers to prestigious academic titles or honors.; in the reform of the economic system, we must eradicate the erroneous thinking of "GDP-only" [3]3 "GDP-only" (唯GDP论) refers to the former overemphasis on GDP growth as the sole measure of economic and political performance, which the Party has since sought to correct., clearing obstacles and creating conditions for better "establishment" in the next step. Connect establishment and breaking, and advance systematically. On the basis of "prioritizing establishment and subsequent breaking," we must further strengthen the organic connection between establishment and breaking, smooth the feedback mechanism between establishment and breaking, dynamically adjust reform strategies, and ensure the stability and continuity of reform.

当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，我们既处于重要战略机遇期，也面临不稳定性、不确定性因素增多等各种挑战。应对危机变局，我们要坚持破和立的辩证统一，用好“破立并举、先立后破”的科学方法。立得住，才能破得好。要对改革的各项事业做到审时度势、科学研判，确立清晰的目标和方向，以创新为引领，敏锐把握改革机遇，协同推进科技创新和制度创新，把该立的及时立起来，在改革道路上稳中求进。该破的在立的基础上及时破、坚决破、彻底破。“先立”不是“不破”，而是“后破”。要在确保“立”的条件下，加快破除阻碍发展的堵点、卡点、痛点。例如，在教育评价机制改革中破除“唯分数、唯升学、唯文凭、唯论文、唯帽子”的顽瘴痼疾，在经济体制改革方面破除“唯GDP论”的错误思维，为下一步更好地“立”清除阻碍、创造条件。立破衔接，系统推进。在“先立后破”的基础上，还要进一步加强立与破的有机衔接，畅通立与破的反馈机制，动态调整改革策略，确保改革的稳定性与连续性。

III. Uphold the Unity of Reform and Opening Up, Promote Reform and Development Through Opening Up

三、坚持改革和开放相统一，以开放促改革、促发展

Reform and opening up complement and promote each other. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "We must uphold the unity of reform and opening up, and steadily expand institutional opening up." Opening up can not only introduce international advanced concepts, technologies, and experience, providing important references for China's economic structural adjustment and upgrading, but also inject fresh blood into reform and development, continuously enhancing the endogenous driving force of development. Reform, in turn, lays a solid foundation and increases confidence for a higher level of opening up. Reform and opening up are an important magic weapon for contemporary China to catch up with the times in big strides. Our country, taking economic system reform as the driving force, continuously optimizes the mode of resource allocation, stimulates the vitality of market entities, and accelerates industrial transformation and upgrading; at the same time, it continuously deepens the reform of the management systems for foreign trade, foreign investment, and outbound investment, creates a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment, and provides convenient conditions for enterprises to "bring in" and "go global."

改革和开放相辅相成，相互促进。习近平总书记指出，“要坚持改革和开放相统一，稳妥扩大制度型开放”。开放不仅能够引入国际先进理念、技术和经验，为我国经济结构调整和升级提供重要借鉴，也为改革发展注入新鲜血液，不断增强发展内生动力。改革则为更高水平的开放夯实基础、增加底气。改革开放是当代中国大踏步赶上时代的重要法宝。我国以经济体制改革为牵引，不断优化资源配置方式，激发市场主体活力，加速产业转型升级；同时，不断深化外贸、外商投资和对外投资管理体制改革，营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，为企业“引进来”和“走出去”提供便利条件。

The comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era has achieved major practical results, institutional results, and theoretical results, constituting one of the most magnificent chapters in the historical process of China’s reform and opening up. On the new journey of further deepening reform comprehensively, it is necessary to deeply summarize historical experience and coordinate the advancement of deep-level reform and high-level opening up. Continue to promote reform, actively align with international high-standard economic and trade rules. Deepen administrative system reform, continuously optimize the business environment, eliminate various institutional drawbacks, provide a solid institutional foundation and internal impetus for opening up, allow various domestic and foreign market entities to fully unleash their development vitality on a stage of fair competition, and create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investment and expanding foreign cooperation. Unswervingly expand opening up, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system. Strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world in trade, investment, science and technology, culture, and other aspects, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, expand diversified international markets, promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhance China’s competitiveness in the global industrial and supply chains. Emphasize the synergy and linkage between reform and opening up, continuously explore the optimal combination point of reform and opening up, with greater determination and effort expand opening up in reform, promote reform in opening up, achieve mutual promotion and mutual benefit between the two, inject new impetus, add new vitality, and expand new space for economic development.

新时代全面深化改革取得了重大实践成果、制度成果、理论成果，是我国改革开放历史进程中最壮丽的篇章之一。在进一步全面深化改革的新征程上，要深入总结历史经验，统筹推进深层次改革和高水平开放。持续推进改革，主动对接国际高标准经贸规则。深化行政体制改革，不断优化营商环境，破除各种体制弊端，为开放提供坚实的制度基础和内在动力，让国内国外各类市场主体在公平竞争的舞台上充分释放发展活力，为吸引外资、拓展对外合作创造有利条件。坚定不移扩大开放，坚定维护多边贸易体制。加强与世界各国在贸易、投资、科技、文化等方面的交流与合作，推动构建人类命运共同体，拓展多元化的国际市场，推动“一带一路”建设高质量发展，提升我国在全球产业链、供应链中的竞争力。注重改革与开放的协同性联动性，不断探索改革与开放的最佳结合点，以更大的决心和力度在改革中扩大开放，在开放中促进改革，实现两者相互促进、相得益彰，为经济发展注入新动力、增添新活力、拓展新空间。

IV. Properly Handle the Relationship Between Deployment and Implementation, Promote the Effective Realization of Reform

四、处理好部署和落实的关系，推动改革落地见效

Reform requires careful planning, but even more so, solid implementation. In the process of further deepening reform comprehensively, the key lies in effectively implementing, detailing, and grounding various reform measures. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “It is necessary to properly handle the relationship between deployment and implementation. The design of reform plans must grasp objective laws, emphasize the coordination and matching of various reform measures, enhance the consistency of reform orientations, establish and improve a working mechanism with clear responsibilities, complete chains, and interlocking links, strengthen tracking and evaluation of effectiveness, and ensure that reform measures are implemented, detailed, and grounded.” One part deployment, nine parts implementation. Reform emphasizes implementation, and implementation is also where the difficulty lies. It is necessary to prevent phenomena such as emphasizing document formulation while neglecting supervision and implementation, prevent “beach sand not reaching the end of the water” [4]4 “Beach sand not reaching the end of the water” (沙滩流水不到头) is a Chinese idiom meaning that efforts are scattered or incomplete, failing to achieve a sustained or thorough result., properly handle the relationship between the “first kilometer” and the “last kilometer” of reform, carry it through to the end, and strive to achieve practical results. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party [5]5 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024, focusing on further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization. made a strategic, forward-looking, and directional systematic deployment for further deepening reform comprehensively, which is of great significance and far-reaching influence, providing strong impetus and policy guidance for advancing Chinese-path modernization. It is necessary to properly handle the relationship between deployment and implementation, rely on an organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and has strong execution, and transform reform plans into tangible reform results. To advance reform, plans come first. Formulating thorough and feasible reform plans requires both thoroughly understanding the spirit of the Party Central Committee and grasping the actual situation. The specific measures of reform are valuable for their operability. Only by thinking about problems from the overall situation and making decisions from reality can the quality of reform plans be effectively improved, laying a solid foundation for implementation. Improve the accountability mechanism, stimulate the spirit of responsibility. By establishing and improving the accountability system, consolidate the sense of responsibility and mission of reform participants, use the assessment “baton” to guide the vast number of Party members and cadres to establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance, and encourage cadres to take the initiative to assume responsibility and fully implement. Adhere to the systems concept, emphasize coordinated advancement. Treat various reforms as an organic and unified whole, grasp the direction and focus of reform from the macro level, both strengthen top-level design and emphasize grassroots exploration, better leverage the two initiatives of the central and local governments, and ensure that various reform tasks are implemented through top-down linkage and joint efforts in the same direction.

改革要重视谋划，更要抓好落实。在进一步全面深化改革的进程中，关键在于切实将各项改革举措落实落细落地。习近平总书记指出：“要处理好部署和落实的关系，改革方案的设计必须把握客观规律，注重各项改革举措的协调配套，增强改革取向的一致性，建立健全责任明晰、链条完整、环环相扣的工作机制，强化跟踪问效，推动改革举措落实落细落到位。”一分部署，九分落实。改革重在落实，也难在落实。要防止重文件制定、轻督促落实等现象，防止“沙滩流水不到头”，处理好改革“最先一公里”和“最后一公里”的关系，一竿子插到底，务求取得实效。党的二十届三中全会对进一步全面深化改革作出了战略性、前瞻性、方向性的系统部署，意义重大、影响深远，为推进中国式现代化提供了强大动力和政策指引。要处理好部署和落实的关系，依靠上下贯通、执行有力的组织体系，把改革方案转化为实实在在的改革成效。推进改革，方案先行。制定周密可行的改革方案，既要吃透党中央精神；也要掌握实际情况。改革具体举措贵在可操作性，只有从全局出发想问题，从实际出发作决策，才能切实提高改革方案质量，为抓落实打牢基础。完善问责机制，激发担当精神。通过建立健全问责制度，夯实改革参与者的责任感和使命感，以考核“指挥棒”引导广大党员干部树立和践行正确政绩观，激励干部主动担当、充分落实。坚持系统观念，注重统筹推进。把各项改革视为一个有机统一的整体，从宏观层面把握改革的方向和重点，既加强顶层设计，又注重基层探索，更好发挥中央和地方两个积极性，通过上下联动、同向发力，确保各项改革任务落到实处。

Online Editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗