Building a Culturally Strong Country Must Adhere to the "Two Integrations"

The long-standing Chinese civilization has nurtured the precious spiritual character of the Chinese nation, providing a rich treasure trove of thought for further comprehensively deepening reform, better shouldering the new cultural mission, and advancing the building of a culturally strong country. The Chinese nation has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Building a socialist culturally strong country takes fine traditional Chinese culture as its root and vein, possessing unparalleled depth; takes China's ancient and long-standing history as its accumulation, possessing unparalleled thickness; takes the theoretical innovation of the Communist Party of China over the past century as its nourishment, possessing unparalleled strength; and takes the actual production and life of all Chinese people as its core, possessing emotional warmth. The "Two Integrations" [1]1 The “Second Integration” refers to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s excellent traditional culture, as distinct from the “First Integration” of Marxism with the concrete realities of the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform. It was formally proposed by Xi Jinping in 2021. are the scientific guidance, fundamental requirement, and theoretical principle for building a socialist culturally strong country. They not only enhance the ideological consciousness of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground in fine traditional Chinese culture, ensure the correct direction of building a socialist culturally strong country with Chinese characteristics, and consolidate the foundation of the path, but also provide broad space for cultural innovation and inject lasting momentum and vitality into the building of a socialist culturally strong country. The Chinese Communists, at the new historical starting point, put forward the proposition of the "Two Integrations" in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, which can be described as taking a long-term perspective and making profound plans. The "Two Integrations" are our greatest magic weapon for achieving success and are of great value and significance for building a socialist culturally strong country with Chinese characteristics.

源远流长的中华文明孕育了中华民族宝贵的精神品格，为进一步全面深化改革、更好地担负起新的文化使命、推进文化强国建设提供了丰富的思想宝库。中华民族历史悠久、文化底蕴深厚。建设社会主义文化强国以中华优秀传统文化为根脉，具有无比的深度；以中国古老而悠久的历史为积淀，具有无比的厚度；以百年来中国共产党的理论创新为滋养，具有无比的力度；以全体中国人民生产生活实际为内核，具有情感的温度。“两个结合”是建设社会主义文化强国的科学指导、根本要求和理论原则，不仅提升了中华优秀传统文化守正创新的思想自觉，确保了中国特色社会主义文化强国建设的正确方向，巩固了道路根基，还为文化创新提供了广阔的发展空间，为社会主义文化强国建设注入了持久的动力与活力。中国共产党人在新的历史起点上提出马克思主义中国化时代化“两个结合”的命题，可谓立足长远，谋划深邃。“两个结合”是我们取得成功的最大法宝，对于建设中国特色社会主义文化强国具有重大的价值意义。

1 The "First Integration" Created a New Form of Human Civilization

1“第一个结合”开创了人类文明新形态

The "First Integration" [2]2 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at a symposium on cultural work, 2014. answered and resolved major practical issues concerning China's path, theory, and practice, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. It laid the foundation for building a socialist culturally strong country, found a new path for civilizational development, injected the bright background of Marxism into the building of a socialist culturally strong country, and found the soul and vein of Marxism. The "First Integration" determines that the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism, and it inevitably runs the basic principles of scientific socialism through the entire process of building a culturally strong country. This is the essential feature of a socialist culturally strong country with Chinese characteristics, which is fundamentally different in nature from capitalist modern civilization, meaning that we are exploring a completely new path of cultural construction, a new journey of cultural construction without a model to copy. The "First Integration" proceeds from objective social reality, bases itself on the specific circumstances of building a culturally strong country, and provides preliminary preparation, practical foundation, and important support for creating a new cultural life form.

“第一个结合”回答和解决了中国在道路、理论和实践上的重大现实问题，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃，为社会主义文化强国建设开基立业，找到了崭新的文明发展道路，为社会主义文化强国建设注入了马克思主义鲜亮的底色，找到了马克思主义这个魂脉。“第一个结合”决定了中国特色社会主义最本质的特征是社会主义，必然将科学社会主义基本原则贯穿文化强国建设的始终。这是中国特色社会主义文化强国的本质特征，它与资本主义现代文明在性质上有着根本的区别，意味着我们正在探索一条全新的文化建设之路、没有可借鉴样板的文化建设新途。“第一个结合”从客观社会实际出发，立足文化强国建设的具体境遇，为造就新的文化生命体提供了前期准备、实践基础和重要支撑。

First, it consolidated the foundation of the path

首先，筑牢了道路根基

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is first and foremost socialism, which comes from Marxism." [3]3 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership. The culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is first and foremost a socialist culture. The socialist elements within fine traditional Chinese culture provide a cultural foundation for Marxism to take root in China. Integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities, the "realities" here are the "realities in themselves," realities that exist naturally beyond human will. The "First Integration" reflects the Chinese Communists' correct understanding and objective grasp of reality, successfully finding a socialist cultural path that suits China's development, establishing the basic system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and opening up a new path for building a socialist culturally strong country. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; consistently upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the political direction for advancing the building of a culturally strong country. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has many advantages, such as upholding Party leadership, adhering to a people-centered approach, democratic centralism, and the socialist economic system with Chinese characteristics. It has led the Chinese people from victory to victory, creating the Chinese miracle of long-term stability.

习近平总书记指出：“中国特色社会主义道路首先是社会主义，这是从马克思主义那里来的”。中国特色社会主义文化首先是社会主义的文化，中华优秀传统文化中的社会主义元素为马克思主义在中国落地生根提供了文化根基。把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，这里的“实际”是“自在”的“实际”，是超越人的意志、自然而然存在的实际。“第一个结合”反映了中国共产党人对实际的正确认识和客观把握，成功找到了一条符合我国发展的社会主义文化道路，确立了中国特色社会主义基本制度，为社会主义文化强国建设开辟了新的道路。中国共产党的领导是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势，始终坚持中国共产党的领导是推进文化强国建设的政治方向。中国特色社会主义制度具有诸多优势，如坚持党的领导、坚持以人民为中心、民主集中制、中国特色社会主义经济制度等，带领中国人民从胜利走向胜利，创造了长期稳定的中国奇迹。

Second, it consolidated the theoretical cornerstone

其次，筑牢了理论基石

More than a hundred years ago, Marxism was introduced to China, lighting the path forward for the Chinese people who were groping in the dark and creating the Chinese miracle of a completely renewed spirit. Marxist historical materialism profoundly reveals the essence of the development of human civilization, provides a scientific theoretical cornerstone for the development of human civilization, and outlines a beautiful blueprint for the innovative development of modernized human civilization. The sinicized and modernized Marxism is a scientific theory proven by practice. The continuously enriched and innovatively developed theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are the theoretical guarantee for promoting the building of a culturally strong country. Therefore, when formulating policies and guidelines for building a culturally strong country, it is necessary to uphold the Party's overall leadership and integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with the current principal contradiction in society. Only in this way can we both solve the main problems currently facing the advancement of building a culturally strong country and gather strength for building a culturally strong country, better shouldering the new cultural mission.

一百多年前，马克思主义传入中国，为在黑暗中摸索的中国人民点亮了前进的道路，创造了精神焕然一新的中国奇迹。马克思主义唯物史观深刻揭示了人类文明发展的实质，为人类文明发展提供了科学的理论基石，勾勒了人类文明现代化创新发展的美好图景。中国化时代化的马克思主义是被实践证明了的科学理论，不断丰富、创新发展的马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果是推动文化强国建设的理论保证。因此，在制定建设文化强国的方针政策时，必须坚持党的全面领导，将马克思主义基本原理与当前社会主要矛盾相结合，才能既解决当下推进文化强国建设的主要问题，又为文化强国建设凝聚力量，更好地担负起新的文化使命。

Third, it consolidated the material foundation

第三，筑牢了物质基础

Advancing the building of a socialist culturally strong country requires sufficient material preparation. The Communist Party of China, having mastered the advanced theory of Marxism, integrated China's specific realities with the general laws of scientific socialism, always stood on the correct side of history, adhered to the people-centered development thought, and created the Chinese miracle of economic take-off. Over the more than 70 years since the founding of New China, from closed and backward to open and progressive, from having insufficient food and clothing to moderate prosperity in all respects, from a large agricultural country to an industrial power, from a single structure to the flourishing of all industries, from bottleneck constraints to advantageous support, turning the impossible into possible, it took the lead in completing the United Nations "Millennium Development Goals" poverty reduction target, completed the industrialization process that took developed countries hundreds of years in just a few decades, greatly shortened the time for Chinese-path modernization, and created a solid material foundation for advancing the building of a culturally strong country.

推进社会主义文化强国建设需要充足的物质准备。掌握了马克思主义先进理论的中国共产党将我国的具体实际与科学社会主义的一般规律相结合，始终站在历史正确的一边，坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，创造了经济腾飞的中国奇迹。新中国成立70多年来，从封闭落后到开放进步，从温饱不足到全面小康，从农业大国到工业强国，从结构单一到百业兴旺，从瓶颈制约到优势支撑，化不可能为可能，率先完成联合国“千年发展目标”减贫目标，用短短几十年的时间走完了发达国家几百年的工业化历程，大大缩减了中国式现代化建设的时间，为推进文化强国建设创造了坚实的物质基础。

2 The "Second Integration" Created a New Cultural Life Form

2“第二个结合”造就了新的文化生命体

The "Second Integration" [4]4 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at a symposium on cultural heritage, 2023. is not a simple "assortment" but a profound "chemical reaction," extending the historical scale and expanding the depth of civilization for the "First Integration." Integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, the "culture" here is the "conscious" "reality," which centrally reflects the political consciousness of the Chinese Communists in profoundly observing the times, grasping historical initiative, and daring to take responsibility. The "Second Integration" makes fine traditional Chinese culture modern, promotes the life renewal and modern transformation of fine traditional Chinese culture, and creates a new cultural life form with Chinese characteristics. Only by basing ourselves on the magnificent history of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization can we truly understand the historical inevitability, unique connotation, and unique advantages of this new cultural life form, and continuously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Therefore, we must never abandon the root and vein of fine traditional Chinese culture.

“第二个结合”不是简单的“拼盘”，而是深刻的“化学反应”，为“第一个结合”延伸了历史的规模，拓展了文明的纵深。把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，这里的“文化”是“自觉”的“实际”，集中反映了中国共产党人深刻洞察时代、把握历史主动和勇于担当作为的政治自觉。“第二个结合”使中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，推动了中华优秀传统文化的生命更新和现代转型，造就了具有中国特色的新的文化生命体。只有立足波澜壮阔的中华五千多年文明史，才能真正理解这一新的文化生命体的历史必然、独特内涵与独特优势，持续推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展。因此，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉。

First, it profoundly consolidated the cultural foundation

首先，深刻筑牢了文化根基

The "Second Integration" integrates the essence of Marxist thought with elements of fine traditional Chinese culture, giving the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a deeper historical depth, and giving cultural confidence a deeper historical origin and historical foundation. "Fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization and essence of the wisdom of Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and the foundation for us to stand firm amidst the world's cultural currents." [5]5 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping's speech at a symposium on cultural heritage, 2023. The "Second Integration" found the root and source for building a socialist culturally strong country with Chinese characteristics, confirmed the original significance of fine traditional Chinese culture for building a socialist culturally strong country, opened the treasure trove of knowledge of fine traditional Chinese culture for developing new theories and new systems, expanded the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and also broadened the cultural space for building a culturally strong country. The independence of culture is the genetic root of a nation's independence. Fine traditional Chinese culture injects a Chinese background into building a socialist culturally strong country.

“第二个结合”把马克思主义思想精髓与中华优秀传统文化元素融合发展，使中国特色社会主义道路有了更深远的历史纵深，文化自信有了更深远的历史渊源和历史基础。“中华优秀传统文化是中华文明的智慧结晶和精华所在，是中华民族的根和魂，是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的根基。”“第二个结合”为中国特色社会主义文化强国建设找到了本和源，确定了中华优秀传统文化对社会主义文化强国建设的本源性意义，为发展新理论和新制度打开了中华优秀传统文化这一知识宝库，拓展了中国特色社会主义道路的文化根基，同时也拓宽了文化强国建设的文化空间。文化的独立性是一个民族独立性的基因根脉，中华优秀传统文化为建设社会主义文化强国注入了中国底色。

Second, it profoundly grasped cultural initiative

其次，深刻把握了文化主动

The “Second Integration” [1]1 The “Second Integration” refers to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s excellent traditional culture, as distinct from the “First Integration” of Marxism with the concrete realities of the Chinese revolution, construction, and reform. It was formally proposed by Xi Jinping in 2021. has enabled us to grasp the initiative in thought and culture, and has powerfully acted upon the path, theory, and system, enriching the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing ideas for exploring future-oriented institutional innovation, and consolidating the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. China’s excellent traditional culture is the subjective marker of the “characteristics” of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense; a socialist culturally strong country gains a distinct cultural marker for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations of the world; cultural confidence has its fundamental support; and Chinese culture gains stronger leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power. Cultural subjectivity is the foundation for defining oneself and engaging in exchange and dialogue; it is the symbolic emblem of Chinese civilization. Cultural subjectivity is the root of cultural confidence. Only with spiritual independence and autonomy can one stand firm, remain stable, and go far.

“第二个结合”让我们掌握了思想和文化主动，并有力地作用于道路、理论和制度，丰富了中国特色社会主义理论体系，提供了探索面向未来制度创新的思路，筑牢了中华民族文化主体性。中国优秀传统文化是中国特色社会主义“特色”的主体性标识。有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我，社会主义文化强国就有了和世界其他文明交流互鉴的鲜明文化标识，文化自信就有了根本依托，中华文化就有了更强的引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力。文化主体性是界定自身和交流对话的根本，是中华文明的标志性象征，文化主体性是文化自信的根基，只有精神上独立自主，才能立得住、站得稳、行得远。

Third, profoundly grasp the development laws of Chinese civilization

第三，深刻把握了中华文明的发展规律

The “Second Integration” combines the basic principles of Marxism with China’s excellent traditional culture. It is a new ideological emancipation and the modern force that Marxism imparts to Chinese civilization. The “Second Integration” is a profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and a deep grasp of the development laws of Chinese civilization, indicating that our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height. Marxism has activated the genes of Chinese civilization with the light of truth, realizing the transformation from tradition to modernity. China’s excellent traditional culture has enriched the cultural life of Marxism, endowing it with Chinese style and Chinese characteristics. The organic combination of the two has created a new cultural life form, which provides a prerequisite for advancing the building of a culturally strong country through the “Two Integrations.”

“第二个结合”把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，是一次新的思想解放，是马克思主义赋予中华文明的现代力量。“第二个结合”是对马克思主义中国化时代化历史经验的深刻总结，是对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度。马克思主义以真理之光激活了中华文明基因，实现了从传统到现代的转型，中华优秀传统文化丰富了马克思主义的文化生命，赋予其中国风格和中国特色，两者有机结合造就了一个新的文化生命体，这为在“两个结合”中推进文化强国建设提供了前提。

3. Advance the building of a culturally strong country through the “Two Integrations”

3.在“两个结合”中推进文化强国建设

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The prosperity of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural flourishing; the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires the development and prosperity of Chinese culture as a condition.” [2]2 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at a symposium on cultural work, 2014. Cultural construction concerns the foundation of the state and the fate of the nation, and concerns the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The “Two Integrations” manifest a clear problem orientation and are the greatest magic weapon for the victory of the Chinese Communists. They are both theoretical and practical achievements, capable of addressing reality and guiding the future. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [3]3 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership., the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to cultural work, profoundly understood and grasped the trends of change in our country’s cultural concepts, continuously deepened the understanding of the laws of cultural construction, and formed a series of new theses, new viewpoints, new strategies, and new requirements, providing action guidelines and fundamental principles for undertaking new cultural missions in the New Era and building a socialist culturally strong country.

习近平总书记强调：“一个国家、一个民族的强盛，总是以文化兴盛为支撑的，中华民族伟大复兴需要以中华文化发展繁荣为条件。”文化建设关乎国本、国运，关乎中华民族伟大复兴。“两个结合”彰显了鲜明的问题导向，是中国共产党人取得胜利的最大法宝。既是理论成果，也是实践成果，既能关照现实，又能指引未来。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视文化工作，深刻认识和把握我国文化观念变化的趋势，不断深化对文化建设的规律性认识，形成了一系列新论断、新观点、新战略和新要求，为新时代担负起新的文化使命、建设社会主义文化强国提供了行动指南和根本遵循。

First, deeply grasp the history of Chinese civilization

首先，深入把握中华文明历史

“Only by comprehensively and deeply understanding the history of Chinese civilization can we more effectively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s excellent traditional culture, and more forcefully advance the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.” [4]4 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at a symposium on cultural heritage, 2023. Only by fully understanding ancient China and recognizing modern China can we grasp the “golden key” to the future development of Chinese civilization. A comprehensive understanding and grasp of the history of Chinese civilization is the foundation for advancing the building of a socialist culturally strong country. Building a socialist culturally strong country requires a profound understanding and recognition of the development and construction of contemporary China from the perspective of the long-standing historical continuity and the broad and profound excellent traditional Chinese culture.

“只有全面深入了解中华文明的历史，才能更有效地推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，更有力地推进中国特色社会主义文化建设”。只有充分理解古代中国、认识现代中国，才能抓住未来中华文明发展的“金钥匙”。全面了解和把握中华文明的历史是推进社会主义文化强国建设的基础。建设社会主义文化强国要从源远流长的历史连续性、博大精深的中华优秀传统文化来深刻认识和理解当代中国发展建设。

Second, strengthen cultural confidence

其次，坚定文化自信

China’s excellent traditional culture possesses an extremely profound historical foundation. Adhering to our own path and strengthening cultural confidence will give us an immensely powerful forward-moving determination. We must base ourselves on the great cultural construction practice of the Chinese nation, adhere to the socialist cultural path with Chinese characteristics, use Chinese cultural concepts to summarize the experience of China’s cultural construction well, achieve spiritual independence and autonomy, highlight cultural subjectivity, and establish the root and soul for national rejuvenation. We must adhere to not forgetting the original and absorbing from the outside, transform through inheritance, surpass through reference, absorb all the excellent achievements of human civilization, and continue to promote cultural prosperity, confidence, and self-reliance at a new starting point.

中华优秀传统文化具有无比深厚的历史底蕴，坚持走自己的路，坚定文化自信，就能拥有无比强大的前进定力。要立足中华民族伟大的文化建设实践，坚持中国特色社会主义文化道路，用中国文化理念总结好中国文化建设经验，实现精神上的独立自主，突出文化主体性，为民族复兴立根铸魂。要坚持不忘本来、吸收外来，在继承中转化，在借鉴中超越，吸收一切人类文明优秀成果，在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、自信自强。

Third, adhere to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground

第三，坚持守正创新

Chinese civilization is interwoven with deep currents and magnificent waves, possessing outstanding innovativeness, creating cultural progress supported by innovation, and exhibiting vigorous vitality. Building a culturally strong country must continuously advance the “Two Integrations” and achieve upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. Upholding fundamental principles ensures that we do not lose our direction or our true colors; breaking new ground ensures that we keep pace with the development of the times and respond to the questions of the era. Upholding fundamental principles means preserving the background color of Marxism and preserving the heritage of China’s excellent traditional culture, which constitutes the fundamental requirement for adhering to the “Two Integrations.” Breaking new ground means creating new ideas, new discourses, new mechanisms, and new forms in the modern transformation of Chinese civilization. With the integrity and sharpness of openness, inclusiveness, upholding fundamental principles, and breaking new ground, we must continue the historical context and promote the building of a socialist culturally strong country.

中华文明静水深流与波澜壮阔交织，具有突出的创新性，以创新为支撑创造文化进步，呈现旺盛的生命力。建设文化强国必须持续推进“两个结合”，做到守正创新。守正才能不迷失方向、不丢失本色，创新才能顺应时代发展，回应时代之问。守正，就要守住马克思主义这一底色，守住中华优秀传统文化底蕴，这构成了坚持“两个结合”的根本要求。创新，就要在中华文明现代转型中创造新思路、新话语、新机制、新形式。以开放包容、守正创新的正气和锐气，赓续历史文脉，推动社会主义文化强国建设。

The “Two Integrations” stand at a new theoretical height, elevating the proposition of “adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times” from practice to theoretical understanding with a broader theoretical vision, serving as an ideological weapon for advancing the building of a socialist culturally strong country. Adhering to the “Two Integrations” is the necessary path for building a socialist culturally strong country, providing a new path choice for the development and progress of human civilization. To consciously shoulder the new cultural mission of building a culturally strong country, we must adhere to the “Two Integrations” as the benchmark, take historical inheritance as the foundation, and create new forms of human civilization; take innovative thinking as the guide, and open up new prospects for cultural construction; take the common values of humanity as the pursuit, and paint a new picture of human civilization.

“两个结合”站在新的理论高度，以更宽广的理论视野将“马克思主义中国化时代化”命题从实践上升为理论认识，是推进社会主义文化强国建设的思想武器。坚持“两个结合”是建设社会主义文化强国的必由之路，为人类文明发展进步提供了新的道路选择。自觉肩负起建设文化强国的文化新使命要求我们必须坚持以“两个结合”为基准，以历史传承为根基，开创人类文明新形态；以创新思维为引领，打开文化建设新局面；以人类共同价值为追求，绘制人类文明新画卷。

Source: *China Theory Network*, February 25, 2025

文章来源：《中国理论网 》2025年2月25日

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆