Promoting the Innovative Development of Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy

*Xi Jinping’s Selected Works on Economy*, Volume I (hereinafter referred to as the “Selected Works”) is an important vehicle, concentrated embodiment, and crystallized wisdom of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping’s economic thought. It is the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In the article “Continuously Opening Up New Horizons for Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy,” included in the Selected Works, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “We must base ourselves on our national conditions and our development practice, deeply study the new situations and new problems facing the world economy and our own economy, reveal new characteristics and new laws, refine and summarize the law-based achievements of our country’s economic development practice, elevate practical experience into a systematized economic theory, and continuously open up new horizons for contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy.” [1]1 “The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is stable, the state is at peace” (民惟邦本，本固邦宁) is a classical Chinese saying from the *Book of Documents* (《尚书》), emphasizing the people as the root of the state. Basing himself on China’s national conditions and development practice, General Secretary Xi Jinping has conducted in-depth and systematic research on a series of new situations and new problems facing the world economy and China’s economy, revealing new characteristics and new laws such as the shift of China’s economy from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development. He has refined and summarized a series of law-based achievements, continuously elevating practical experience into a systematized economic theory. This not only constitutes the latest achievement of the Party’s innovative theory but also contributes Chinese wisdom to the innovative development of Marxist political economy.

《习近平经济文选》第一卷（以下简称“文选”）是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，特别是习近平经济思想的重要载体、集中体现和智慧结晶，是马克思主义中国化时代化的最新成果。在文选收录的《不断开拓当代中国马克思主义政治经济学新境界》一文中，习近平总书记强调，“要立足我国国情和我们的发展实践，深入研究世界经济和我国经济面临的新情况新问题，揭示新特点新规律，提炼和总结我国经济发展实践的规律性成果，把实践经验上升为系统化的经济学说，不断开拓当代中国马克思主义政治经济学新境界”。习近平总书记立足我国国情和发展实践，对世界经济和我国经济面临的一系列新情况、新问题进行了深入系统的研究，揭示了我国经济已由高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段等新特点新规律，提炼和总结出一系列规律性成果，不断把实践经验上升为系统化的经济学说，不仅成为党的创新理论的最新成果，也为马克思主义政治经济学创新发展贡献了中国智慧。

Adhering to the Guiding Position of Marxism

坚持马克思主义指导地位

Upholding the people-centered fundamental stance. Every economic theory has a theoretical standpoint. Xi Jinping’s economic thought inherits and develops the fundamental stance of Marxist political economy that “development is for the people,” unequivocally putting forward a people-centered development thought. It emphasizes development for the people, development relying on the people, and development achievements shared by the people, taking enhancing the people’s well-being, promoting the all-round development of people, and achieving common prosperity as the starting point and ultimate goal of economic development.

坚守以人民为中心的根本立场。任何经济学说都有理论立场，习近平经济思想继承和发展了“发展为了人民”这一马克思主义政治经济学的根本立场，旗帜鲜明地提出以人民为中心的发展思想，强调发展为了人民、发展依靠人民、发展成果由人民共享，把增进人民福祉、促进人的全面发展、实现共同富裕作为经济发展的出发点和落脚点。

Adhering to and applying the Marxist worldview and methodology. Dialectical materialism and historical materialism are the most fundamental worldview and methodology of Marxism. Xi Jinping’s economic thought adheres to a problem-oriented approach, grasps the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and strives to resolve the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. It adheres to a systems perspective, bases itself on China’s modernization practice, and properly handles a series of dialectical relationships, such as those between the whole and the part, and between the present and the long term.

坚持和运用马克思主义的世界观和方法论。辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义是马克思主义最根本的世界观和方法论。习近平经济思想坚持问题导向，抓主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，努力破解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；坚持系统观念，立足我国现代化建设实践，把握好全局和局部、当前和长远等一系列辩证关系。

Adhering to the basic principles of Marxist political economy. Xi Jinping’s economic thought is rich in content and complete in system, but it always follows the basic principles of Marxist political economy and, on this basis, upholds fundamental principles while breaking new ground. For example, in terms of ownership, it adheres to the dominant position of public ownership and the leading role of the state-owned economy, while simultaneously emphasizing adherence to and implementation of the “two unswervinglys,” [2]2 “The unity of heaven and humanity” (天人合一) is a core concept in traditional Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism and Daoism, advocating harmony between the natural world and human society. promoting complementary advantages and common development of various forms of ownership. In terms of the distribution system, it adheres to the principle of distribution according to work as the mainstay and the coexistence of multiple forms of distribution, while further pointing out the need to “improve the mechanism by which production factors such as labor, capital, land, knowledge, technology, management, and data are evaluated by the market for their contributions and remunerated according to their contributions,” innovatively proposing the inclusion of data as a production factor participating in income distribution.

坚持遵循马克思主义政治经济学基本原理。习近平经济思想内容丰富、体系完备，但始终遵循马克思主义政治经济学基本原理，并在此基础上守正创新。如在所有制方面，坚持公有制主体地位、国有经济主导作用，同时强调坚持和落实“两个毫不动摇”，促进各种所有制经济优势互补、共同发展。在分配制度上，坚持按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存，同时进一步指出要“健全劳动、资本、土地、知识、技术、管理、数据等生产要素由市场评价贡献、按贡献决定报酬的机制”，创新性地提出将数据作为生产要素参与收益分配。

A Brilliant Model of Adhering to the Two Integrations

坚持“两个结合”的光辉典范

Xi Jinping’s economic thought is the result and model of integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. On the one hand, Xi Jinping’s economic thought integrates the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities, answering the questions of the times. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, [3]3 “Harmony in diversity” (和而不同) is from the *Analects of Confucius*; “peaceful coexistence among all nations” (协和万邦) is from the *Book of Documents*. Both are classical ideals of social and international harmony. China has entered a stage of high-quality development. At the same time, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and a new round of technological revolution and industrial revolution is deepening. General Secretary Xi Jinping, basing himself

习近平经济思想是把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的成果和典范。一方面，习近平经济思想将马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，回答时代之问。党的十八大以来，我国进入高质量发展阶段，同时，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，新一轮科技革命和产业革命深入发展。习近平总书记立足中国现实，精准把握时代脉搏，基于马克思主义基本原理提出一系列新理论。如针对创新能力不足、关键核心技术受制于人等问题，结合马克思的生产力理论，提出“创新是引领发展的第一动力”，把创新摆在现代化建设全局的核心地位，并进一步提出因地制宜发展新质生产力。面对生态环境保护与经济发展的矛盾，结合马克思主义生态文明思想提出“新质生产力本身就是绿色生产力”，协同推进经济发展与生态保护。着眼于国内外市场连通问题，运用马克思主义经济循环思想，提出构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，用好国内国际两个市场、两种资源。

On the other hand, Xi Jinping’s economic thought combines the basic principles of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, continuing the Chinese cultural lineage. The fine traditional Chinese culture contains rich economic thought and governance wisdom. General Secretary Xi Jinping fully absorbs its essence, achieving the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture. For example, China’s people-oriented thought of “the people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is stable, the state is at peace” [1]1 “The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is stable, the state is at peace” (民惟邦本，本固邦宁) is a classical Chinese saying from the *Book of Documents* (《尚书》), emphasizing the people as the root of the state. has a long history. General Secretary Xi Jinping combines it with the basic principles of Marxism, adhering to a people-centered development thought, achieving the creative transformation and innovative development of people-oriented thought. Traditional Chinese culture advocates the worldview of “the unity of heaven and humanity” [2]2 “The unity of heaven and humanity” (天人合一) is a core concept in traditional Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism and Daoism, advocating harmony between the natural world and human society., pursuing the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature. General Secretary Xi Jinping, applying the basic principles of Marxism, profoundly elucidates the dialectical unity between ecological environmental protection and economic development, achieving the inheritance and development of traditional ecological wisdom. Furthermore, General Secretary Xi Jinping combines concepts from the fine traditional Chinese culture such as “harmony in diversity” and “peaceful coexistence among all nations” [3]3 “Harmony in diversity” (和而不同) is from the *Analects of Confucius*; “peaceful coexistence among all nations” (协和万邦) is from the *Book of Documents*. Both are classical ideals of social and international harmony. with the basic principles of Marxism, proposing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and promoting economic globalization towards a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction.

另一方面，习近平经济思想将马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，赓续中华文脉。中华优秀传统文化中蕴藏着丰富的经济思想和治理智慧，习近平总书记充分汲取其中精髓，实现了马克思主义基本原理与中华优秀传统文化的融通。如我国“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”的民本思想源远流长，习近平总书记将其与马克思主义基本原理相结合，坚持以人民为中心的发展思想实现了对民本思想的创造性转化和创新性发展。中华传统文化倡导“天人合一”的世界观，追求人与自然和谐共生，习近平总书记运用马克思主义基本原理，深刻阐明生态环境保护和经济发展的辩证统一关系，实现了对传统生态智慧的传承与发展。此外，习近平总书记将中华优秀传统文化中的“和而不同”“协和万邦”等理念与马克思主义基本原理相结合，提出构建人类命运共同体，推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、平衡的方向发展。

Providing Guidance for Constructing an Independent Chinese Knowledge System

为建构中国自主知识体系提供指引

Xi Jinping’s economic thought proposes a series of signature concepts and original theories, such as high-quality development, the new stage of development, the new development philosophy, the new development paradigm, new quality productive forces, and Chinese-path modernization. Among them, the theory of Chinese-path modernization breaks the myth of “modernization equals Westernization,” representing a high-level summary and theoretical sublimation of China’s modernization practice. The proposal of concepts such as “new quality productive forces” realizes a “revolution in terminology” [4]4 “Revolution in terminology” (术语的革命) is a phrase used by Marx in *Capital* to describe how new scientific concepts transform the language of a field. for Chinese economics, enriching and developing the theory of productive forces, and injecting new vitality into the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.

习近平经济思想提出一系列标识性概念和原创性理论，如高质量发展、新发展阶段、新发展理念、新发展格局、新质生产力、中国式现代化等。其中，中国式现代化理论打破了“现代化=西方化”的迷思，是对中国现代化实践的高度总结和理论升华。“新质生产力”等概念的提出，实现了中国经济学“术语的革命”，丰富和发展了生产力理论，为中国经济学自主知识体系注入了新活力。

Xi Jinping’s economic thought forms a complete theoretical system, promoting the construction of the “three major systems” [5]5 The “three major systems” (三大体系) refers to the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, a goal set by Xi Jinping in 2016. of economics with Chinese characteristics. This system includes the research object and research methods of economics, the new historical orientation of China’s economic development, the direction and purpose of economic development, the concepts, methods, and approaches of economic development, the subjects of economic development and the laws of economic operation, and the fundamental guarantees for economic development. It further clarifies the relationship between the government and the market, the relationship between the state-owned economy and the private economy, and the relationship between development and security. In particular, it creatively proposes the “six imperatives” [6]6 The “six imperatives” (六个必须坚持) are a set of methodological principles articulated in Xi Jinping’s report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC in 2022, guiding the application of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era., namely: we must put the people first; we must maintain self-confidence and stand on our own feet; we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground; we must adopt a problem-oriented approach; we must apply systems thinking; and we must maintain a global vision. And the “five musts for coordination” [7]7 The “five musts for coordination” (五个必须统筹好) are economic policy principles outlined in the Central Economic Work Conference in December 2024, emphasizing balanced approaches to key economic relationships., namely: we must coordinate the relationship between an effective market and a competent government, forming an economic order that is both “vibrant” and “orderly”; we must coordinate the relationship between aggregate supply and aggregate demand, smoothing the circulation of the national economy; we must coordinate the relationship between cultivating new drivers and upgrading old ones, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions; we must coordinate the relationship between optimizing increments and revitalizing stock, comprehensively improving resource allocation efficiency; and we must coordinate the relationship between improving quality and expanding aggregate quantity, consolidating the material foundation for Chinese-path modernization. These have all become core content and important components of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics.

习近平经济思想形成了完整的理论体系，推动了中国特色经济学“三大体系”建设。这个体系包括经济学的研究对象、研究方法，中国经济发展的历史新方位，经济发展的方向和目的，经济发展的理念、方式和方法，经济发展的主体和经济运行规律，经济发展的根本保障，进一步明确了政府和市场的关系、国有经济和民营经济的关系、发展和安全的关系等。特别是创造性地提出“六个必须坚持”，即必须坚持人民至上、必须坚持自信自立、必须坚持守正创新、必须坚持问题导向、必须坚持系统观念、必须坚持胸怀天下。“五个必须统筹好”，即必须统筹好有效市场和有为政府的关系，形成既“放得活”又“管得住”的经济秩序；必须统筹好总供给和总需求的关系，畅通国民经济循环；必须统筹好培育新动能和更新旧动能的关系，因地制宜发展新质生产力；必须统筹好做优增量和盘活存量的关系，全面提高资源配置效率；必须统筹好提升质量和做大总量的关系，夯实中国式现代化的物质基础。这些都已成为中国经济学自主知识体系的核心内容和重要组成部分。

The Fundamental Guidance for Directing Economic Development Practice

指导经济发展实践的根本遵循

Xi Jinping’s economic thought has strong practical guiding significance. It can guide the construction of Chinese-path modernization and also provide reference for other countries, especially the “Global South” countries and the vast number of developing nations.

习近平经济思想具有很强的实践指导作用，既能指导中国式现代化建设，也能为其他国家，特别是“全球南方”国家和广大发展中国家提供借鉴。

On the one hand, Xi Jinping’s economic thought provides the fundamental guidance and action guide for China’s economic development, especially for advancing Chinese-path modernization. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, high-quality development is the primary task in building a modern socialist country in all respects; to promote effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity, it is necessary to drive changes in the quality, efficiency, and drivers of economic development, guiding China’s economic development to achieve a qualitative leap from “whether there is” to “whether it is good”; he has proposed giving full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and better leveraging the role of government; he has proposed a new type of urbanization strategy centered on people; he has proposed promoting the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy; he has proposed effectively enhancing the resilience and security level of industrial and supply chains.

一方面，习近平经济思想为中国经济发展特别是推进中国式现代化提供了根本遵循和行动指南。如习近平总书记指出，高质量发展是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的首要任务，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长，要推动经济发展质量变革、效率变革、动力变革，引导我国经济发展实现从“有没有”到“好不好”的质的飞跃；提出充分发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用，更好发挥政府作用；提出以人为核心的新型城镇化战略；提出推动数字经济和实体经济融合发展；提出切实提升产业链供应链韧性和安全性水平。

On the other hand, Xi Jinping’s economic thought has important reference significance for “Global South” countries and the vast number of developing countries. For example, many developing countries currently face problems such as widening gaps between rich and poor and uneven social development; the people-centered development thought provides conceptual guidance for these countries, prompting them to pay more attention to people’s livelihood and well-being in the development process and to achieve social fairness and justice. The theory of high-quality development, such as accelerating the construction of a modern economic system, raising total factor productivity, and focusing on enhancing the resilience and security level of industrial and supply chains, helps the vast number of developing countries explore unique high-quality development paths based on their own national conditions. The theory of coordinating development and security reminds the vast number of developing countries that, while pursuing economic development, they must strengthen their awareness of potential dangers, focus on preventing and defusing various risks, and safeguard national economic security and stable development.

另一方面，习近平经济思想对“全球南方”国家和广大发展中国家具有重要借鉴意义。如当前许多发展中国家面临贫富差距拉大、社会发展不均衡等问题，以人民为中心的发展思想为这些国家提供了理念指引，促使其在发展过程中更加关注民生福祉，实现社会公平正义。高质量发展理论，如加快建设现代化经济体系、提高全要素生产率、着力提升产业链供应链韧性和安全水平等，帮助广大发展中国家基于自身国情探索独特的高质量发展道路。统筹发展和安全理论提醒广大发展中国家在追求经济发展的同时，要增强忧患意识，注重防范化解各类风险，保障国家经济安全和稳定发展。

(The author is Dean and Professor of the School of Economics at Liaoning University)

（作者系辽宁大学经济学院院长、教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心