“Integration” Has Consolidated the Foundation of the Path

On June 2, 2023, in an important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward an important thesis: “Integration” has consolidated the foundation of the path. This important thesis contains rich connotations.

2023年6月2日，在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中，习近平总书记提出了一个重要论断：“结合”筑牢了道路根基。这个重要论断包含着丰富的内涵。

First, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has a profound theoretical and cultural foundation. Compared with socialism in other countries, why is our socialism different? Compared with socialist countries and systems that have disintegrated and undergone radical change, why is our socialism vigorous and full of vitality? Compared with other development paths and models, why does our socialism continuously create miracles? The core and key lie in Chinese characteristics. The key to Chinese characteristics lies in the “Two Integrations.” [1]1 “Old state, new mission” (旧邦新命) is a classical Chinese expression, originally from the *Book of Songs* (诗经), later invoked by the philosopher Feng Youlan to describe China’s modernization as the renewal of an ancient civilization. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been taken under the guidance of Marxism, and it has also emerged from more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization.

第一，中国特色社会主义道路有着深厚的理论与文化基础。与其他国家的社会主义相比，我们的社会主义为什么不一样？与已经解体和剧变的社会主义国家和制度相比，我们的社会主义为什么能够生机勃勃、充满活力？与别的发展道路和模式相比，我们的社会主义为什么能够不断创造人间奇迹？核心和关键就在于中国特色。中国特色的关键就在于“两个结合”。中国特色社会主义道路是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从五千多年中华文明史中走出来的。

The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, first of all, a socialist path; this comes from Marxism and was explored under the guidance of Marxism. We have integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, successively exploring the path of the new-democratic revolution, the path of the socialist revolution, and the path of socialist construction. On this basis, we put forward the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental achievement of the Party and the people, achieved through countless hardships and at great cost; it is the correct path for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and it is the only way to guide the Chinese people in creating a better life. Guided by Marxism, the historical conclusion drawn from the Party’s more than one hundred years of struggle is: taking our own path is the foothold of all the Party’s theories and practices. From “taking the Russian road” to taking our own road, and then to forging our own road, and then to taking a broad and smooth road, there has been mud and there have been bumps, but we have always stayed on the correct direction.

中国特色社会主义道路首先是社会主义道路，这是从马克思主义那里来的，是以马克思主义为指导探索出来的。我们把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，先后探索出新民主主义革命道路、社会主义革命道路、社会主义建设道路。在这个基础上，我们提出了中国特色社会主义道路，中国特色社会主义是党和人民历经千辛万苦、付出巨大代价取得的根本成就，是实现中华民族伟大复兴的正确道路，是指引中国人民创造自己美好生活的必由之路。以马克思主义为指导，党百余年奋斗得出的历史结论就是：走自己的路，是党的全部理论和实践立足点。我们从“走俄国人的路”到走自己的路，再到走出自己的路，再到走出康庄大道，有泥泞，有坎坷，但始终走在了正确方向上。

The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a path explored by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and it has a profound cultural foundation. The elements of utopian socialism in Chinese culture, including the ideal of a Great Harmony under Heaven (天下大同) and the tradition of atheism, not only provided a cultural basis for China’s acceptance of Marxism, but also became the cultural soil for our exploration of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The system of people’s congresses and the system of political consultation created by our Party, and the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics that we have explored, are deeply connected with the people-centered thought of Chinese civilization, the concept of shared governance under Heaven, the governing tradition of “republicanism” (共和) and “consultation” (商量), and the political wisdom of “embracing diversity and seeking common ground while reserving differences.” The great trend of the Chinese nation’s development toward internal cohesion and pluralistic unity, and the Chinese cultural tradition of great unity—where all regions are under a single rule, all directions share the same customs, and the four seas are one family—meant that in designing our political system we did not adopt a federal system or a confederation, but established a unitary state form and implemented the system of regional ethnic autonomy. This has enabled our country to avoid the ethnic fragmentation and national disintegration seen in many other countries, forming a powerful force of overall unity.

中国特色社会主义道路是中国人民在中国共产党的领导下探索出来的道路，具有深厚的文化根基。中国文化中朴素的社会主义元素，包括天下大同的理想、无神论的传统，不仅为中国接受马克思主义提供了文化基础，而且成为我们探索中国特色社会主义道路的文化土壤。我们党开创的人民代表大会制度、政治协商制度，探索出来的中国特色社会主义政治发展道路，与中华文明的民本思想，天下共治理念，“共和”“商量”的施政传统，“兼容并包、求同存异”的政治智慧有着深刻关联。向内凝聚、多元一体的中华民族发展大趋势和九州共贯、六合同风、四海一家的中国文化大一统传统，使我们在政治制度的设计上没有搞联邦制、邦联制，而是确立了单一制国家形式，实行民族区域自治制度，这使我们国家避免了很多国家出现的民族分裂、山河破碎，形成整体的强大力量。

Second, the “Second Integration” has given the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and deeper historical depth. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, an important reason why the cause of the Party and the state has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations is that we have adhered to the “Two Integrations.”

第二，“第二个结合”让中国特色社会主义道路有了更加宏阔深远的历史纵深。习近平总书记指出，在中国特色社会主义新时代，党和国家的事业之所以取得了历史性成就、发生了历史性变革，一个重要原因就是我们坚持了“两个结合”。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, we integrated the basic tenets of Marxism more closely with China’s specific realities, greatly expanding the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics not only adheres to the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, but also adheres to the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy; [2] it not only emphasizes basing ourselves on the new stage of development, implementing the new development philosophy, and building a new development pattern, but also emphasizes taking the domestic cycle as the mainstay and promoting mutual reinforcement between the domestic and international cycles; it not only allows the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation and the government to better play its role, but also emphasizes continuously realizing common prosperity for all the people. It can be said that in the more than ten years since entering the New Era, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been greatly expanded. At the same time, our Party has continuously advanced the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, achieving a new leap in this process and giving rise

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，我们把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际更加紧密地结合起来，大大拓展了中国特色社会主义道路。中国特色社会主义道路，不仅坚持“五位一体”总体布局，还坚持“四个全面”战略布局；不仅强调立足新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局，还强调以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进；不仅让市场在资源配置中起决定性作用、政府更好发挥作用，还强调不断实现全体人民的共同富裕。可以说，进入新时代的10多年，中国特色社会主义道路已经有了极大拓展。同时，我们党不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化的新飞跃，产生了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。这一思想为中国特色社会主义道路注入了新的内涵，丰富了对中国特色社会主义发展道路的认识，提出了中国特色社会主义法治道路、中国特色社会主义教育发展道路、中国特色社会主义妇女发展道路等。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, we have closely integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, thereby expanding the historical depth of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Guided by the Marxist worldview and methodology, we have come to a profound understanding that the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization—its continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness—fundamentally determine that the Chinese nation must take its own path. We have come to a profound understanding that “since ancient times, the Chinese nation has, with the broad-mindedness of ‘a world in commonwealth’ and ‘harmony among all nations,’ confidently and generously engaged in exchanges and cultural interactions with foreign peoples. It once composed the long song of the Silk Road, stretching thousands of miles with camel bells and ocean waves, and also created the grand Tang Dynasty scene where envoys from myriad nations gathered in the capital Chang’an,” and that “viewed from the grand perspective of several thousand years of history, change and opening up have generally been the historical norm in China.” These scientific understandings of Chinese civilization enable us to grasp more deeply the openness, innovativeness, and peacefulness of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is a path of independent and self-reliant development, but it is not a closed and rigid path; rather, it is a path where the door of opening up opens ever wider, a path of continuously enhanced innovativeness, and a path that brings well-being to humanity.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，我们把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化紧密结合起来，拓展了中国特色社会主义道路的历史纵深。以马克思主义世界观和方法论为指导，我们深刻认识到，中华文明具有的突出特性，中华文明的连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性和和平性等从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。我们深刻认识到，“自古以来，中华民族就以‘天下大同’、‘协和万邦’的宽广胸怀，自信而又大度地开展同域外民族交往和文化交流，曾经谱写了万里驼铃万里波的浩浩丝路长歌，也曾经创造了万国衣冠会长安的盛唐气象”，“以数千年大历史观之，变革和开放总体上是中国的历史常态”。对中华文明的这些科学认识，使我们对中国特色社会主义道路的开放性、创新性、和平性有了更深刻的把握。这是一条独立自主发展的道路，但不是封闭僵化的道路，而是开放大门越开越大的道路，更是创新性不断增强的道路，更是为人类带来福祉的道路。

Third, Chinese-path modernization is the concrete manifestation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the field of modernization; it is the broad road to building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. With the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese-path modernization has a solid foundation. The opening up and expansion of Chinese-path modernization has always been premised on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is precisely on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that Chinese-path modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern power, and Chinese civilization endows Chinese-path modernization with profound substance.

第三，中国式现代化是中国特色社会主义道路在现代化领域的具体展现，是强国建设、民族复兴的康庄大道。有了中国特色社会主义道路，中国式现代化就有了坚实的基础。中国式现代化的开辟和拓展始终是以中国特色社会主义道路为前提的。正是在中国特色社会主义道路上，中国式现代化赋予中华文明以现代力量，中华文明赋予中国式现代化以深厚底蕴。

The path of Chinese-path modernization is the path for advancing the construction of modern Chinese civilization. Chinese-path modernization is the new mission of the ancient state of the Chinese nation [1]1 “Old state, new mission” (旧邦新命) is a classical Chinese expression, originally from the *Book of Songs* (诗经), later invoked by the philosopher Feng Youlan to describe China’s modernization as the renewal of an ancient civilization.; it will surely enable Chinese civilization to regain its glory.

中国式现代化道路是推进中华民族现代文明建设的道路。中国式现代化是中华民族的旧邦新命，必将推动中华文明重焕荣光。

First, Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that continues the ancient civilization, not a modernization that extinguishes the ancient civilization. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that has activated the excellent genes of Chinese civilization; it continues the fine qualities of this civilization and enables them to flourish.

首先，中国式现代化是赓续古老文明的现代化，而不是消灭古老文明的现代化。中国式现代化是激活了中华文明优秀基因的现代化，它赓续了这一文明的优良品质并使之发扬光大。

Second, Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that has grown out of the soil of China, not a modernization copied or imitated from other countries. Finally, Chinese-path modernization is the result of civilizational renewal, not the product of civilizational rupture. General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized that Chinese civilization possesses outstanding continuity; it is the only civilization that has continued uninterrupted to the present day in the form of a state. This continuity is not simple linear development but spiral upward development. This was already mentioned by the great German thinker Hegel in his lectures on the “philosophy of history” delivered two hundred years ago. Hegel said that the Chinese Empire is the only enduring state in the world, and “history must begin with the Chinese Empire. For according to historical records, China is indeed the most ancient state; its principle possesses that kind of substantiality, so that it is at once the most ancient and the newest empire.”

其次，中国式现代化是从中华大地长出来的现代化，不是照搬照抄其他国家的现代化。最后，中国式现代化是文明更新的结果，不是文明断裂的产物。习近平总书记一直强调中华文明具有突出的连续性，是唯一没有中断且以国家形态延续至今的文明。这种延续不是简单的线性发展，而是螺旋式上升的发展。这一点，德国伟大的思想家黑格尔在其200年前做的关于“历史哲学”的讲演中就言及过。黑格尔说，中华帝国是世界上唯一持久的国家，“历史必须从中华帝国说起。因为根据史书的记载，中国实在是最古老的国家；它的原则又具有那一种实体性，所以它既然是最古的、同时又是最新的帝国”。

The path of Chinese-path modernization is the path toward building a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. On this path, by 2035, we will build a strong country in education, science and technology, talent, culture, and sports. We will also build a strong country in manufacturing, quality, aerospace, transportation, the internet, maritime affairs, trade, and agriculture. The construction of a strong country in every respect supports the edifice of a great modern socialist country, and the construction of a strong country in each respect is inseparable from the path of Chinese-path modernization. To build a strong manufacturing country and a strong quality country, we must take the path of new-type industrialization; to build a strong cultural country, we must take the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics; to build a strong educational country, we must take the path of socialist educational development with Chinese characteristics; to build a strong agricultural country, we must take the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics. Each path is deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization. For example, when discussing the Chinese characteristics of a strong agricultural country, General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized five aspects, one of which is continuing

中国式现代化道路是建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国的道路。在这个道路上，到2035年，我们要建成教育强国、科技强国、人才强国、文化强国和体育强国。还要建成制造强国、质量强国、航天强国、交通强国、网络强国、海洋强国、贸易强国、农业强国等。各个方面的强国建设支撑起社会主义现代化强国的大厦，每一个方面的强国建设都离不开中国式现代化道路。建设制造强国、质量强国，就要走好新型工业化道路；建设文化强国，就要走好中国特色社会主义文化发展道路；建设教育强国，就要走好中国特色社会主义教育发展道路；建设农业强国，就要走好中国特色农业现代化道路。每一条道路都深深植根于中华文明沃土之中，例如在谈到农业强国的中国特色时，习近平总书记概括了五个方面，其中之一就是赓续农耕文明，“我国拥有灿烂悠久的农耕文明，必须确保其根脉生生不息，做到乡村社会形态完整有效，文化基因、美好品德传承弘扬，农耕文明和城市文明交相辉映，物质文明和精神文明协调发展，广大农民自信自强、振奋昂扬，精神力量充盈”。

The path of Chinese-path modernization is a path capable of gathering immense strength. This path is a path of seeking happiness for the people; over 1.4 billion people can be tightly bound together to realize a better life. This path is a path of seeking rejuvenation for the nation; all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation will be closely united for this goal. This path is a path of seeking progress for humanity; all forces of justice throughout the world will become supporters of this path. This path is a path of seeking great harmony for the world; the initiative of a community with a shared future for mankind and the advocacy of the common values of all humanity have both received broad support from the international community.

中国式现代化道路是能够凝聚起磅礴力量的道路。这条道路是为人民谋幸福的道路，14亿多人民能够为了实现美好生活紧紧拧成一股绳；这条道路是为民族谋复兴的道路，全体中华儿女都会为了这个目标紧紧地团结在一起；这条道路是为人类谋进步的道路，全世界一切正义的力量都会成为这一道路的支持者；这条道路是为世界谋大同的道路，人类命运共同体的倡议、全人类共同价值的倡导都得到了国际社会广泛支持。

Source: *Chinese Scholarly Circle* (中国学派), July 25, 2024

文章来源：《中国学派》2024年7月25日

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆