A Theoretical Examination of the Basic Issues of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was a meeting of great historical significance convened at a critical historical juncture, sounding the clarion call to advance Chinese-path modernization through further deepening reform comprehensively. At present, the term “reform” has rapidly become a high-frequency word hotly debated in theoretical circles, and discussing reform issues has also become a focal point in theoretical circles. Emphasizing further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing comprehensive deepening reform has become a broad consensus in theoretical circles. In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we need to engage in deep reflection on the basic theoretical issues of comprehensive deepening reform, ensuring better implementation of the spirit and decisions of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC.

党的二十届三中全会是在重大历史关头召开的一次具有重大历史意义的会议，吹响了通过进一步全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的号角。当前，“改革”一词迅速成为理论界热烈讨论的高频词汇，讨论改革问题也成为理论界的热点。强调进一步全面深化改革，推进全面深化改革已成为理论界的广泛共识。在中国特色社会主义新时代，我们需要对全面深化改革的基本理论问题有深入思考，确保党的二十届三中全会精神和决策部署得到更好落实。

I. The Great Significance of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

一、进一步全面深化改革的重大意义

The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization” (hereinafter referred to as the “Decision”) elaborates in depth on the great significance of further advancing comprehensive deepening reform in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics through the “six imperatives.” [1]1 The “six imperatives” (六个必然要求) are a set of six arguments presented in the Decision to justify the necessity of further comprehensive reform, covering national governance, social development, Party building, and international relations. The Decision holds that this is an imperative for upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance; an imperative for implementing the new development philosophy and better adapting to changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society; an imperative for adhering to a people-centered approach and ensuring that the fruits of modernization benefit all the people more fully and fairly; an imperative for responding to major risks and challenges and ensuring the steady and sustained progress of the Party and state’s undertakings; an imperative for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and gaining strategic initiative amid the accelerated evolution of changes unseen in a century; and an imperative for deeply advancing the great new project of Party building in the New Era and building a stronger and more resilient Marxist political party. The “six imperatives” deeply analyze the historical inevitability and contemporary urgency of comprehensive deepening reform in the New Era from four dimensions: national governance, social development, Party building, and international relations. This requires us to raise our political stance, profoundly understand the great significance of further deepening reform comprehensively, and approach further understanding and advancing comprehensive deepening reform with a historical sense of responsibility and a sense of mission for the times that is always vigilant, ensuring that the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee on further deepening reform comprehensively take root and yield results.

《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革 推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》）以“六个必然要求”深度阐述了在中国特色社会主义新时代进一步推进全面深化改革的重大意义。《决定》认为这是坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的必然要求，是贯彻新发展理念、更好地适应我国社会主要矛盾变化的必然要求，是坚持以人民为中心、让现代化建设成果更多更公平惠及全体人民的必然要求，是应对重大风险挑战、推动党和国家事业行稳致远的必然要求，是推动构建人类命运共同体、在百年变局加速演进中赢得战略主动的必然要求，是深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程、建设更加坚强有力的马克思主义政党的必然要求。“六个必然要求”从国家治理、社会发展、政党建设、国际关系四个维度深入剖析了新时代全面深化改革的历史必然性和时代紧迫性。这需要我们提高政治站位，深刻认识进一步全面深化改革的重大意义，要以时时放心不下的历史责任感和时代使命感去进一步理解全面深化改革，去进一步推动全面深化改革，让党中央关于进一步全面深化改革的重大决策部署落地生根。

II. The Objectives of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

二、进一步全面深化改革的目标

The Decision makes systematic arrangements for the objectives of further deepening reform comprehensively. There are both overarching objectives and phased objectives, representing a dialectical unity of phased objectives and long-range goals. The Decision holds that the overarching objective of further deepening reform comprehensively in the New Era is to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance. Through further deepening reform comprehensively, we promote better alignment between relations of production and productive forces, between the superstructure and the economic base, and between national governance and social development, thereby providing strong momentum and institutional guarantees for Chinese-path modernization. The Decision also proposes phased objectives for further deepening reform comprehensively. The “seven focal points” [2]2 The “seven focal points” (七个聚焦) refer to the seven priority areas for reform outlined in the Decision: economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, national security, and Party building. deploy key tasks for further deepening reform comprehensively from seven aspects: economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, national security, and Party building, emphasizing the continuous improvement of institutions and mechanisms in these seven areas. By 2029, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the reform tasks proposed in the Decision are to be completed. This will lay a solid foundation for, by 2035, fully establishing a high-level socialist market economy system, further improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, basically realizing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance, basically realizing socialist modernization, and thereby, by the middle of this century, fully building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

《决定》对进一步全面深化改革的目标作了系统安排。既有总体性目标，也有阶段性目标，是阶段性目标与远景目标的辩证统一。《决定》认为新时代进一步全面深化改革的总目标是继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。通过进一步全面深化改革推动生产关系和生产力、上层建筑和经济基础、国家治理和社会发展更好相适应，从而为中国式现代化提供强大动力和制度保障。《决定》也提出了进一步全面深化改革的阶段性目标。“七个聚焦”从经济、政治、文化、社会、生态、国家安全和党的建设七个方面部署了进一步全面深化改革的重点任务，强调要不断完善这七个领域的体制机制，到2029年中华人民共和国成立80周年时完成《决定》提出的改革任务，这将为到2035年时，全面建成高水平社会主义市场经济体制，中国特色社会主义制度更加完善，基本实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，基本实现社会主义现代化，进而为到本世纪中叶全面建成社会主义现代化强国奠定坚实基础。

III. Judging the Effectiveness of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

三、进一步全面深化改革的成效判断

The Decision also provides detailed explanations on judging the effectiveness of further deepening reform comprehensively. The Decision points out that we must further liberate and develop social productive forces, stimulate and enhance social vitality, and take promoting social fairness and justice and improving people’s well-being as the starting point and ultimate goal. Whether further deepening reform comprehensively achieves effectiveness depends on whether it promotes the development of productive forces, enhances social vitality, and effectively improves people’s lives. This is, in fact, the touchstone for testing the effectiveness of reform. The development of productive forces is the foundation for significant social progress and the cornerstone for enhancing social vitality and improving the people’s living standards. Therefore, the primary task of further deepening reform comprehensively is to break down institutions and mechanisms that hinder the development of productive forces, continuously liberating and developing social productive forces. The stimulation and enhancement of social vitality are indicators of a thriving and prosperous society and important manifestations of the development of productive forces and the improvement of people’s living standards. Therefore, our Party, in further deepening reform comprehensively, must strive to create a relatively relaxed social atmosphere, encourage the people to actively explore and boldly innovate, open up new business forms, new models, and new tracks, and continuously enhance social vitality. Social fairness and justice and the improvement of people’s living standards are the value objectives of social development and the intrinsic essence of promoting the development of productive forces and enhancing social vitality. Therefore, the fundamental goal of further deepening reform comprehensively is to adhere to a people-centered approach, continuously improve the people’s living standards, and achieve common prosperity and the free and comprehensive development of individuals. In summary, judging the effectiveness of further deepening reform comprehensively should take the development of social productive forces, the enhancement of social vitality, and the improvement of people’s living standards as the basic criteria.

《决定》对进一步全面深化改革的成效判断也作了详细说明。《决定》指出，要进一步解放和发展社会生产力、激发和增强社会活力，以促进社会公平正义、增进人民福祉为出发点和落脚点。进一步全面深化改革是否取得成效，要看它是否促进了生产力的发展，是否增强了社会活力，是否有效改善了人民生活，这实际上是检验改革成效的试金石。生产力的发展是社会取得长足进步的基础，是增强社会活力和改善人民群众生活的基石，因此进一步全面深化改革的首要任务就是要破除阻碍生产力发展的体制机制，不断解放和发展社会生产力。社会活力的激发和增强是社会发展兴旺发达的标志，是生产力发展和人民群众生活改善的重要表现。因此，我们党在进一步全面深化改革时要努力营造相对宽松的社会氛围，鼓励人民群众积极探索，勇于创新，开辟新业态、新模式、新赛道，不断增强社会活力。社会公平正义和人民群众生活的改善是社会发展的价值目标，也是促进生产力发展和增强社会活力的内在要义。因此，进一步全面深化改革的根本目标就是要坚持以人民为中心，不断改善人民群众的生活水平，实现共同富裕和人的自由全面发展。总之，进一步全面深化改革的成效判断要以社会生产力发展、社会活力增强、人民群众生活改善作为基本标准。

IV. The Methodology of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

四、进一步全面深化改革的方法论

The Decision specifically elucidates the methodological principles for further deepening reform comprehensively. The Decision points out that comprehensive deepening reform should place greater emphasis on systematic integration, highlighting key points, and achieving practical results. We must uphold the Party’s overall leadership, adhere to a people-centered approach, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, take institutional building as the main thread, adhere to law-based governance in all respects, and adopt a systematic approach. The “three emphases” [3]3 The “three emphases” (三个注重) are: emphasizing systematic integration, emphasizing highlighting key points, and emphasizing achieving practical results. and the “six upholdings” [4]4 The “six upholdings” (六个坚持) are: upholding the Party’s overall leadership, adhering to a people-centered approach, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, taking institutional building as the main thread, adhering to law-based governance in all respects, and adopting a systematic approach. comprehensively expound the methodology of further deepening reform comprehensively. The Party’s overall leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively. We must firmly uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, give full play to the Party’s core leadership role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all sides, and integrate Party leadership into all aspects and throughout the entire process of reform, ensuring that reform always advances in the correct direction. Adhering to a people-centered approach is the value orientation of further deepening reform comprehensively. We must respect the principal position and pioneering spirit of the people, strengthen our bond with the people, and ensure that reform is carried out for the people, relies on the people, and that its fruits are shared by the people. Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is the fundamental magic weapon of further deepening reform comprehensively. We must adhere to the development direction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, keep pace with the times, conform to practical development, highlight a problem-oriented approach, and promote theoretical, practical, institutional, cultural, and other innovations from a new starting point. Taking institutional building as the main thread is the fundamental pathway of further deepening reform comprehensively. We must strengthen top-level design and overall planning, break new ground while consolidating existing foundations, establish the new before abolishing the old, consolidate fundamental institutions, improve basic institutions, and innovate important institutions. Adhering to law-based governance in all respects is an important guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively. We must deepen reform and advance Chinese-path modernization within the framework of the rule of law, ensuring that reform and the rule of law are unified, that major reforms have a legal basis, and that reform achievements are promptly elevated into legal systems. Adopting a systematic approach and highlighting key points are the strategic implications of further deepening reform comprehensively. We must pay attention to the “theory of two points,” [5]5 The “theory of two points” (两点论) is a dialectical materialist principle emphasizing the need to consider both aspects of a contradiction or relationship, avoiding one-sidedness. coordinating and handling major relationships such as those between the economy and society, the government and the market, efficiency and fairness, vitality and order, and development and security. We must also highlight the “theory of key points,” [6]6 The “theory of key points” (重点论) is a dialectical materialist principle emphasizing the need to identify and focus on the principal contradiction or the main aspect of a contradiction. achieving breakthroughs first in important areas and key links, carrying out changes in concepts, interests, and systems, forming crucial starting points, and quickly opening up a new situation in reform. Achieving practical results is the evaluation criterion for further deepening reform comprehensively. Further deepening reform comprehensively should take the development of social productive forces, the enhancement of social vitality, and the improvement of people’s living standards as the touchstone.

《决定》对进一步全面深化改革的方法论原则作了具体阐明。《决定》指出，全面深化改革要更加注重系统集成，更加注重突出重点，更加注重改革实效。要坚持党的全面领导，坚持以人民为中心，坚持守正创新，坚持以制度建设为主线，坚持全面依法治国，坚持系统观念。“三个注重”和“六个坚持”全面阐释了进一步全面深化改革的方法论。党的全面领导是进一步全面深化改革的根本保证，要坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把党的领导贯穿改革各方面全过程，确保改革始终沿着正确的方向前进。以人民为中心是进一步全面深化改革的价值导向，要尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，加强同人民群众的感情，做到改革为了人民、改革依靠人民，改革成果由人民共享。守正创新是进一步全面深化改革的基本法宝，要坚持中国特色社会主义的发展方向，紧跟时代步伐，顺应实践发展，突出问题导向，在新的起点上推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新以及其他各方面的创新。以制度建设为主线是进一步全面深化改革的基本途径，要加强顶层设计、总体谋划，破立并举、先立后破，筑牢根本制度，完善基本制度，创新重要制度。全面依法治国是进一步全面深化改革的重要保障，要在法治轨道上深化改革、推进中国式现代化，做到改革和法治相统一，重大改革于法有据、及时把改革成果上升为法律制度。系统观念与突出重点是进一步全面深化改革的战略意蕴，既要注意“两点论”，统筹处理好经济和社会、政府和市场、效率和公平、活力和秩序、发展和安全等重大关系，也要突出“重点论”，在重要领域、关键环节率先突破，进行观念、利益和体制方面的变革，形成重要抓手，迅速打开改革新局面。改革实效是进一步全面深化改革的评价标准，进一步全面深化改革要以社会生产力发展、社会活力增强和人民群众生活改善为试金石。

V. The Basic Path of Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

五、进一步全面深化改革的基本路径

The *Decision*[1]1 The “six imperatives” (六个必然要求) are a set of six arguments presented in the Decision to justify the necessity of further comprehensive reform, covering national governance, social development, Party building, and international relations. fully demonstrates the basic path for further deepening reform comprehensively. The *Decision* points out that it is necessary to adhere to a problem-oriented approach, take institutional building as the main thread, and use economic system reform as the driving force to continuously advance reforms in various fields. It is necessary to build a high-level socialist market economy system, improve the institutional mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, establish institutional mechanisms for supporting comprehensive innovation, refine the macroeconomic governance system, perfect the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development, improve the institutional mechanisms for high-level opening up, refine the system of whole-process people's democracy, perfect the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, deepen the reform of the cultural institutional mechanisms, improve the institutional systems for safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods, deepen the reform of the ecological civilization system, advance the modernization of the national security system and capacity, continuously deepen national defense and military reform, deepen the reform of the Party building system, and continuously raise the Party's leadership level in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization, among other aspects. Only by adhering to a problem-oriented approach, continuously solving specific problems and institutional obstacles in the economic, political, cultural, social, ecological, national security, national defense, and Party building fields, and solidifying effective experiences and practices in the form of institutions, can we provide a strong institutional guarantee for realizing Chinese-path modernization, thereby ensuring the timely achievement of the goals of a great modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

《决定》对进一步全面深化改革的基本路径作了充分展现。《决定》指出，要坚持问题导向，以制度建设为主线，以经济体制改革为牵引，不断推进各领域的改革。要构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，健全推动经济高质量发展体制机制，构建支持全面创新体制机制，健全宏观经济治理体系，完善城乡融合发展体制机制，完善高水平对外开放体制机制，健全全过程人民民主制度体系，完善中国特色社会主义法治体系，深化文化体制机制改革，健全保障和改善民生制度体系，深化生态文明体制改革，推进国家安全体系和能力现代化，持续深化国防和军队改革，深化党的建设制度改革，不断提高党对进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的领导水平等等方面。只有坚持问题导向，不断破解经济、政治、文化、社会、生态、国家安全、国防、党的建设等方面存在的具体问题和体制机制障碍，将行之有效的经验和做法以制度的形式固定下来，才能为实现中国式现代化提供有力的制度保障，从而确保社会主义现代化强国和中华民族伟大复兴的目标如期实现。

VI. The Fundamental Guarantee for Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

六、进一步全面深化改革的根本保证

The *Decision* clearly elaborates on the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively. The *Decision* points out that Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and also the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with a strong spirit of self-revolution, solve the problems of political purity, ideological purity, organizational purity, and work-style purity faced within the Party, deepen the reform of the Party building system, perfect the institutional and normative system for the Party's self-revolution, and build a Marxist governing party that always stays at the forefront of the times, enjoys the heartfelt support of the people, has the courage to engage in self-revolution, can withstand various tests and challenges, and is full of vitality, thereby providing a strong organizational guarantee for advancing further deepening reform comprehensively. In the process of comprehensively deepening reform, it is necessary to continuously uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over further deepening reform comprehensively, and focus on the overall design, coordinated coordination, and holistic advancement of reform under the leadership of the Party Central Committee. Party committees (leading Party groups) at all levels must, while adhering to the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, plan and advance reform practice work in their own regions and departments in light of their actual conditions, and strive to create a favorable reform atmosphere, thereby laying a solid foundation for further deepening reform comprehensively to go deeper, achieve practical results, and yield good outcomes.

《决定》对进一步全面深化改革的根本保证作了明确阐述。《决定》指出，党的领导是进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的根本保证。中国共产党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，也是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势。必须要以强烈的自我革命精神推进全面从严治党，破解党内面临的政治纯洁性问题、思想纯洁性问题、组织纯洁性问题和作风纯洁性问题，深化党的建设制度改革，完善党的自我革命制度规范体系，建设始终走在时代前列、人民衷心拥护、勇于自我革命、经得起各种风浪考验、朝气蓬勃的马克思主义执政党，从而为推进进一步全面深化改革提供坚强的组织保证。在全面深化改革的进程中，要不断坚持党中央对进一步全面深化改革的集中统一领导，注重党中央领导改革的总体设计、统筹协调、整体推进。各级党委（党组）要在坚持党中央的决策部署下，结合自身实际谋划推进本地区本部门的改革实践工作，努力营造良好的改革氛围，从而为进一步全面深化改革走深、走实、取得良好实效打下坚实基础。

Fund Project: Research results of the 2023 Shanghai Municipal Party School (School of Administration) System General Project "Research on the Logical Path and Realization Mechanism of the CPC's Tempering of Party Spirit in the New Era" (2023SHB007).

基金课题：2023年度上海市党校（行政学院）系统一般课题“新时代中国共产党锤炼党性的逻辑理路与实现机制研究”（2023SHB007）的研究成果。

Author Profile: Lu Han, Doctor of Law, Lecturer at the Party School of the CPC Shanghai Jing'an District Committee.

作者简介：卢汉，法学博士，中共上海市静安区委党校讲师。

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