“The Mission Calls for Responsibility, the Mission Leads the Future”

Marx’s thought on technology provides a fundamental guideline for scientifically understanding the essential attributes and socio-historical effects of artificial intelligence, and for correctly handling the relationship between AI and ideological and political education. As a key driving force and strategic technology of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, AI profoundly affects the threefold socio-historical relationships between humans and nature, humans and humans, and humans and themselves, and gradually evolves into a unity of “technical means,” “infrastructure,” and “civilizational marker.” For ideological and political education, AI embeds itself as an endogenous force, influencing its foundational basis, basic contradictions, and practical forms. Promoting the deep integration of AI and ideological and political education is an inherent requirement and rational choice that follows the laws of technological transformation and avoids the paradox of technological instrumentalism and the risk of technological domination. This integration deeply embodies the symbiotic relationship and interactive logic of “technology–ideological and political education,” concentratedly manifested in two interconnected and mutually reinforcing processes and mechanisms: “the ideologization and politicization of AI” and “the AI-ization of ideological and political education.”

马克思工艺学思想为科学认识人工智能的本质属性和社会历史效应，正确处理人工智能与思想政治教育关系提供了根本遵循。人工智能作为新一轮科技革命和产业变革的重要驱动力和战略性技术，深刻影响人和自然、人和人、人和自身三重社会历史关系，并逐步演化为“技术手段”“基础设施”“文明标识”的统一体。对思想政治教育来说，人工智能作为一种内生性力量嵌入并影响思想政治教育的发生基础、基本矛盾和实践形态。推动人工智能与思想政治教育深度融合，是遵循工艺学变革规律，摆脱技术工具悖论与技术宰制之虞的内在要求和理性选择。这种融合深层蕴含着“技术—思政”的共生关系和互动逻辑，集中表现为“人工智能思政化”与“思政人工智能化”两个相互连接、相辅相成的过程和机制。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a New Era, Xi Jinping has explicitly stated that the Communist Party of China must “remain true to its original aspiration and keep its founding mission firmly in mind,”[1]1 "association of free individuals" (自由人联合体): A term used by Marx and Engels in *The Communist Manifesto* to describe the future communist society where individuals freely associate without class distinctions or exploitation.(P1) and that “the mission calls for responsibility, the mission leads the future.”[1]1 "association of free individuals" (自由人联合体): A term used by Marx and Engels in *The Communist Manifesto* to describe the future communist society where individuals freely associate without class distinctions or exploitation.(P13) These important expositions, along with the Party’s century-long great journey and glorious achievements, prove that the CPC is a typical Marxist mission-oriented party. In other words, the CPC exists precisely to undertake specific historical missions. This party characteristic is distinctly embodied in Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the historical mission of the CPC. In these important expositions, Xi Jinping has highly condensed and concentratedly summarized the multiple historical missions of the CPC, and has incisively elaborated on how the Party should realize its historical missions, thereby developing the Marxist theory of the mission-oriented party to a new height.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，习近平明确提出中国共产党要“不忘初心、牢记使命”，[1](P1)“使命呼唤担当，使命引领未来”。[1](P13)这些重要论述以及党百余年的伟大历程与光辉成就都证明中国共产党是一个典型的马克思主义使命型政党。换言之，中国共产党之所以存在，就是要承担特定的历史使命。这一政党特质鲜明体现在习近平关于中国共产党历史使命的重要论述之中。在这些重要论述中，习近平高度凝练、集中概括了中国共产党的多重历史使命，并对党如何实现历史使命作出了精辟阐发，从而把马克思主义使命型政党理论发展到了一个新的高度。

I. The Ideological Origins and Background of Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on the Party’s Historical Mission

一 、习近平关于党的历史使命重要论述的思想渊源、提出背景

Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the historical mission of the CPC take the Marxist basic views on the historical mission of the communist party as their theoretical foundation, take the value concepts of mission and responsibility in fine traditional Chinese culture as their intellectual resources, and inherit and develop the CPC members’ cognition and understanding of their own historical mission over the century-long historical process.

习近平关于中国共产党历史使命的重要论述以马克思主义关于共产党历史使命的基本观点为理论基础，以中华优秀传统文化中关于使命担当的价值理念为思想资源，传承发展了中国共产党人在百余年历史进程中对于自身历史使命的认知与理解。

Based on historical materialism, Marx and Engels deeply analyzed the historical trend of capitalism and reached the classic conclusion that “the fall of the bourgeoisie and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.”[2]2 "world-historical" (世界历史): A Hegelian-Marxist concept referring to a stage of history where global interconnectedness and universal development become dominant, as discussed by Marx in *The German Ideology*.(P43) For the proletariat to overthrow capitalism, it must establish a party composed of advanced elements, namely the communist party. The leadership of the communist party transforms the workers’ movement from spontaneity to consciousness, and the proletariat from a class-in-itself to a class-for-itself. Its historical mission is to organize the proletariat, overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie, gradually eliminate private ownership and establish public ownership, and, on the basis of highly developed productive forces, enter communist society, realizing the free and comprehensive development of each individual. Undertaking this mission is the historical basis for the existence of the communist party; the communist party is born for this mission and exists for this mission. It is in this sense that the communist party is regarded as a typical Marxist mission-oriented party.

马克思、恩格斯依据唯物史观深入分析了资本主义的历史趋势，得出了“资产阶级的灭亡和无产阶级的胜利是同样不可避免的”[2](P43)这一经典结论。而无产阶级要想推翻资本主义，就必须建立由先进分子组成的政党，即共产党。共产党的领导使工人运动由自发变为自觉，使无产阶级由自在阶级变为自为阶级，其历史使命就是把无产阶级组织起来，推翻资产阶级统治，逐步消灭私有制、建立公有制，在生产力高度发展的基础上进入共产主义社会，实现每个人的自由全面发展。承担这一使命是共产党的历史存在依据，共产党正是因这一使命而生，因这一使命而在。正是在此意义上，共产党才被视为一个典型的马克思主义使命型政党。

Fine traditional Chinese culture contains very prominent value concepts and ideal pursuits regarding mission and responsibility. Over thousands of years of development, Chinese culture has been passed down in an unbroken lineage, and its cultural subjectivity has gradually taken shape. Factors such as the relative position of cultural high ground, the large-country spatial environment exhibited by its vast territory and numerous people, and the living conditions of the vast peasantry under the conditions of an agricultural economy led the cultural elite of the nation to gradually form value concepts and ideal pursuits such as “when the Great Way prevails, the world is for all,” “revere virtue and protect the people,” “the people are the foundation of the state,” “a scholar must be broad-minded and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his road is long,” and “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the

中华优秀传统文化中有非常突出的关于使命担当的价值理念和理想追求。在数千年的发展过程中，中华文化一脉相承，文化主体性逐渐形成。相对的文化高地地位、广土众民所展现出的大国空间环境、农耕经济条件下广大农民生存条件等各种因素，使得民族的文化精英逐渐形成了“大道之行也，天下为公”，“敬德保民”，“民为邦本”，“士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远”，“天下兴亡、匹夫有责”等价值理念与理想追求。习近平关于中国共产党历史使命的重要论述也受到这些理念与理想的浸润。

In the grand historical process of China's revolution, construction, and reform, Chinese Communists have, on the one hand, adhered to the supreme mission pursuit of communism, and on the other hand, realized the adaptation of Marxist party mission theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, explicitly proclaiming the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the Party's great historical mission. Here, the understanding of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation cannot be simplified. It should be recognized that the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is also the process of China's realization of modernization; in this regard, the mission of achieving national rejuvenation is also the mission of advancing modernization. Furthermore, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is also staged, and the overall rejuvenation mission is differentiated into stage-specific missions at different stages. For example, during the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the mission of achieving national rejuvenation was concentratedly embodied in the mission of striving for national independence and the liberation of the people. The Chinese Communist Party's theoretical reflections and practical explorations of its own mission in the historical process have been inherited and greatly advanced by the Chinese Communists of the New Era.

中国共产党人在中国革命、建设与改革的宏阔历史进程中，一方面坚持了共产主义的最高使命追求，一方面实现了马克思主义政党使命理论的中国化时代化，将实现中华民族的伟大复兴明确宣示为党的伟大历史使命。在此，对中华民族伟大复兴的理解不能简单化。应该认识到，中华民族伟大复兴的过程也就是中国实现现代化的过程，就此而言，实现民族复兴的使命也就是推进现代化建设的使命。进而言之，中华民族伟大复兴也是分阶段的，总体的复兴使命在不同阶段也就区分为阶段性的使命。比如新民主主义革命时期，实现民族复兴的使命就集中体现为争取民族独立、人民解放的使命。中国共产党在历史进程中对自身使命的理论思考与实践探索被新时代的中国共产党人所继承并大大推进了。

Of course, although the above ideological origins of Xi Jinping's important discourses on the Party's historical mission are important, their proposal is, in a more direct and profound sense, based on the needs of the times in Chinese society and the development needs of the entire world, because according to historical materialism, social consciousness is determined by social being. Specifically, the intertwining, mutual agitation, and mutual influence of the "two overall situations"—the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world—constitute the background for the proposal of Xi Jinping's important discourses on the historical

当然，习近平关于党的历史使命重要论述的以上思想渊源固然重要，其提出在更直接、更深刻的意义上则是基于中国社会的时代需要与整个世界的发展需要，因为按照唯物史观，社会意识由社会存在所决定。具体而言，中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局这“两个大局”的相互交织、相互激荡、相互影响是习近平关于中国共产党历史使命重要论述的提出背景。“要辩证认识和把握国内外大势，统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局”。[3]中华民族伟大复兴的战略全局是国内大局。新时代，一方面，中华民族开始变得逐渐“强起来”，伟大复兴的前景变得明朗。另一方面，新时代新征程面临严峻的问题挑战，各领域任务艰巨繁重。历史地来看，发展起来以后的问题不仅不比不发展时少，甚至更多更复杂，而这就意味着我们必须要在顺应新趋势、解答新问题、回应新挑战的过程中推进改革的不断全面深化、发展方式的不断转型升级、治理现代化水平的不断提高。世界百年未有之大变局包括世界经济格局、国际政治格局、全球治理规则、两制共存格局、人类文明格局等的百年之变，深刻影响着人类历史发展方向和进程。中国共产党如何定位自身在这一大变局中的角色和作用变得越来越重要并日益引起广泛关注。在这两个大局同步交织、相互激荡的历史形势与时代背景下，作为马克思主义使命型政党的中国共产党该当何为？要承担什么历史使命？这成为全党一个必须深入思考、明确解答、具有战略意义的重大问题。

II. The Threefold Historical Mission of the Communist Party of China as a Marxist Mission-Oriented Party

二、中国共产党作为马克思主义使命型政党的三重历史使命

Drawing on existing theoretical resources and integrating the new conditions of the era and the global trends, Xi Jinping has systematically elaborated the threefold historical mission of the Communist Party of China, greatly advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist party mission theory.

借鉴已有的理论资源，结合新的时代条件和世界大势，习近平集中阐发了中国共产党的三重历史使命，大大推进了马克思主义政党使命理论的中国化时代化。

The first mission is to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Although the Communist Party, as a Marxist political party, is to emancipate all of humanity, as a party of a nation-state, it must first achieve the liberation and development of its own country and the salvation and rejuvenation of its own nation. If it cannot even take care of itself, it is even less able to benefit the whole world. Historically, national rejuvenation is not a new formulation, nor has it only become a hot topic in recent years. As early as the War of Resistance Against Japan, based on the need for national salvation, national rejuvenation became a powerful trend and movement. “Around the War of Resistance, the concept of ‘the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’ and related discourses spread rapidly in society, eventually becoming one of the most resounding political slogans and universal discourses among the people in China during the 1930s and 1940s.”[4]4 The phrase "党政军民学，东西南北中，党是领导一切的" (The Party leads everything—Party, government, military, civilian, and academic affairs, east, west, south, north, and center) is a standard formulation in CPC discourse, originating from Mao Zedong and frequently reiterated by Xi Jinping, emphasizing the Party's comprehensive leadership across all sectors and regions.(P216) History ultimately proves that it was inevitable that the Communist Party of China, rather than the Kuomintang or other political forces, became the mainstay of the Chinese nation’s salvation. If the discourse of national rejuvenation during the War of Resistance period pointed to national salvation, then the discourse of national rejuvenation in the New Era points to the concrete prosperity and strength of the Chinese nation.

一重使命是实现中华民族伟大复兴。尽管共产党作为马克思主义政党要解放全人类，但作为一个民族国家的政党，首先要实现的是自己国家的解放与发展，自己民族的救亡与复兴。如果不能独善其身更谈不上兼济天下。从历史来看，民族复兴并不是一个新的提法，也并非近些年才成为热点。早在抗日战争时期，基于民族救亡的需要，民族复兴就成为一种强大的潮流与运动。“抗战前后，‘中华民族复兴’理念及有关话语在社会上不胫而走，终于成了20世纪三四十年代中国最为响亮的政治口号和社会性全民话语之一。”[4](P216)历史最终证明，中国共产党而非国民党或其他政治力量成为中华民族救亡的中流砥柱有其必然性。如果说抗战时期的民族复兴话语指向的是民族救亡，而新时代的民族复兴话语指向的则是切切实实的中华民族的富裕强大。

In the discourse and narrative of the Communist Party of China, national rejuvenation has always been an important category marking the Party’s historical mission. Party leaders such as Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao have all discussed it. Xi Jinping has

在中国共产党的话语叙事中，民族复兴始终是一个标志党的历史使命的重要范畴。党的领导人诸如毛泽东、邓小平、江泽民、胡锦涛对此都有所论述。习近平对民族复兴进行了更为明确、系统、丰富的论述，从而进一步凸显与强化了中国共产党作为马克思主义使命型政党对于民族共同体的使命担当。新时代民族复兴的内涵是国家富强、民族振兴、人民幸福；复兴体现在多个领域、多个方面；民族复兴实质上是中华文明的伟大复兴，要推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展；民族复兴的中国梦是每个人的梦，必须凝聚中国力量；民族复兴的中国梦是和平、发展、合作、共赢的梦，与各国人民的美好梦想相通，是奉献世界的梦；要在中国共产党的领导下，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。中华民族伟大复兴是相比于中国历史的，也是相比于近现代以来的世界历史格局的，习近平的相关论述在古今中外的立体坐标系内给予中华民族的发展以清晰的时空定位，使我们知所从来，也知所将往。

The dual mission is to make new and greater contributions to humanity. The Communist Party of China seeks happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation, and also seeks progress for humanity and harmony for the world. This is determined both by the value concept of a Marxist mission-oriented party to liberate all of humanity and realize communism, and nourished by the ideal pursuit of the Chinese culture of benefiting the world and regarding all under heaven as common. In the Party's history, several generations of central collective leadership have emphasized China's contribution to the world. Facing changes unseen in a century in the world, Xi Jinping has raised the question of the

二重使命是对人类的新的更大贡献。中国共产党既为人民谋幸福、为民族谋复兴，也为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同。这既由马克思主义使命型政党解放全人类、实现共产主义的价值理念所决定，也为中华文化兼济天下、天下为公的理想追求所滋养。在党的历史上，几代中央领导集体都强调过中国对于世界的贡献问题。面对世界百年未有之大变局，习近平发出了“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”的时代之问，进一步强调“中国共产党既为中国人民谋幸福，也把为全人类作贡献作为重要使命。要统筹国内国际两个大局，树立更宽广的世界眼光、更宏大的战略抱负，胸怀祖国，兼济天下，推动构建新型国际关系，推动构建人类命运共同体”。[1](P422)习近平提出要弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值；提出要树立、秉持和践行创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念，共同、安全、合作、可持续的安全观，开放、融通、互利、共赢的合作观，平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，共商共建共享的全球治理观；提出全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议，致力于破解全球治理赤字、信任赤字、和平赤字、发展赤字、文明赤字。习近平的以上重要论述明确回答了“建设一个什么样的世界，如何建设这个世界”这一关乎人类前途命运的重大时代课题，明确回答了中国共产党作为一个马克思主义使命型政党在这一历史进程中所肩负的伟大使命和所发挥的引领性作用。

A community with a shared future for mankind is certainly not the communist "association of free individuals," but it can be regarded as an epochal embodiment of the Marxist vision of the "association of free individuals." Under the changes unseen in a century, the unsustainability of the world history dominated by capital is becoming increasingly evident, and the aspect of all humanity sharing weal and woe is becoming increasingly apparent. The proposal and implementation of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind conform to the inevitable trend of historical development, and will inevitably further break the unequal and dependent global pattern dominated by capital, pushing human history toward a more just and reasonable direction. In this process, the Communist Party of China will inevitably become a "world-historical" party to a greater extent, and the value purport of Marxism to change the world will be more fully embodied in the Communist Party of China.

人类命运共同体当然不是共产主义的“自由人联合体”，但可以视为对马克思主义“自由人联合体”远景的时代体现。世界百年未有之大变局下，资本主导的世界历史的不可持续性日益明显，整个人类休戚与共的一面体现得日益明显，人类命运共同体理念的提出及其践行顺应了历史发展的必然趋势，必将进一步打破资本主导的不平等的、依附性的全球化格局，推动人类历史朝着更加公正合理的方向发展。在这一进程中，中国共产党也必将更大程度上成为“世界历史”性的政党，马克思主义改变世界的价值旨趣也必将在中国共产党身上得到更为充分的体现。

The triple mission is to realize communism. As a Marxist political party and the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the Communist Party of China must consciously bear in mind this ultimate mission. On the one hand, Xi Jinping emphasizes that the lofty ideal of communism cannot be shaken. Realizing communism is the inevitable result of the laws of human social development and the great mission that human history bestows upon the proletariat and its vanguard. In other words, this historical mission is not self-proclaimed by the proletariat and its vanguard, but is based on a profound understanding and conscious adherence to the laws of human social development. The Communist Party acts in accordance with the laws of history, and its beliefs and actions embody the inevitability and progressiveness of history. In Mao Zedong's words, "Our cause is just. A just cause is invincible before any enemy. ... Our goal must be attained. Our goal can certainly be attained." [5]5 Tongxin (同心) is a pen name or editorial alias used by the online editorial team of a Chinese Marxist theory publication, literally meaning "united hearts."(P350) It is precisely the communist faith that enables communists to firmly occupy the moral high ground of humanity. In this regard, Xi Jinping also clearly points out: "The firmness of ideals and convictions comes from the firmness of thought and theory. Understanding truth, mastering truth, believing in truth, and defending truth are the spiritual prerequisites for firm ideals and convictions. ... We are firm because what we pursue is truth. We are firm because what we follow is law." [6](P50)

三重使命是实现共产主义。中国共产党作为一个马克思主义政党、作为中国工人阶级的先锋队必须自觉牢记这一最终使命。一方面，习近平强调共产主义的远大理想不能动摇。实现共产主义是人类社会发展的规律使然，是人类历史赋予无产阶级及其先锋队的伟大使命。换言之，这种历史使命不是无产阶级及其先锋队自封的，而是基于对人类社会发展规律的深刻认识与自觉遵循，共产党是按照历史规律行事，其信仰与行为体现了历史的必然性与进步性。用毛泽东的话讲，“我们的事业是正义的。正义的事业是任何敌人也攻不破的。……我们的目的一定要达到。我们的目的一定能够达到”。[5](P350)正是共产主义信仰使共产党人牢牢占据着人类道义的制高点。对此，习近平也明确指出：“理想信念的坚定，来自思想理论的坚定。认识真理，掌握真理，信仰真理，捍卫真理，是坚定理想信念的精神前提。……我们坚定，是因为我们追求的是真理。我们坚定，是因为我们遵循的是规律。”[6](P50)

On the other hand, Xi Jinping points out that one cannot merely

另一方面，习近平指出不能空谈信仰信念，要把共产主义理想信念同我们正在做的事情统一起来，而衡量党员干部是否具有共产主义理想的客观标准则是其具体行动与现实表现。“革命理想高于天。没有远大理想，不是合格的共产党员；离开现实工作而空谈远大理想，也不是合格的共产党员。”[7](P23)习近平的这一重要论述实际上涉及一个如何理解共产党人奋斗意义的问题。按照传统的理解，共产党人的最终使命就是实现共产主义，共产主义是共产党人奋斗的唯一目标，在这个过程中的其他努力或活动都不具有独立自在的意义，都是为实现这一目标服务的，都只具有手段或工具的意义。实际上，这种理解不完全准确。共产主义的实现是个漫长的历史过程，要经过很多历史阶段，共产党人在每一个历史阶段的努力奋斗当然是为共产主义的最终实现添砖加瓦，但每个历史阶段主要矛盾的解决也具有那个阶段的独立意义。每个历史阶段，社会主要矛盾解决了，阶段性目标实现了，人民需要满足了，生活过得比以前幸福了，共产党人在这个历史阶段的奋斗就是具有伟大历史意义的。“每一个代人有每一代人的长征路，每一代人都要走好自己的长征路。”[6](P48)习近平的以上论述阐发了共产主义理想与现实、党的最终使命与阶段性使命的有机统一，深化了我们对共产党人奋斗意义的理解。

Among the three historical missions above, national rejuvenation is the foundation; making new and greater contributions to humanity and realizing communism must both rely on the achievement of national rejuvenation. This is because, if one's own nation cannot achieve rejuvenation, it is even less possible to shoulder broader and more long-term historical missions. With national rejuvenation as the foundation, making new and greater contributions to humanity can be regarded as the expansion of the Party's mission in spatial scope, and realizing communism can be regarded as the extension of the Party's mission in temporal scope. Running through these three missions is the unchanging original aspiration of the Communist Party of China to serve the people. The "people" here refers not only to the Chinese people but also to the people of the world. One must embrace the world with a broad mind and build a community with a shared future for mankind; the Communist Party of China is naturally committed to benefiting the people of the world. The original aspiration to serve the people condenses into a mission in the course of history; the realization of the mission in the course of history embodies the original aspiration to serve the people. The original aspiration and the mission are both distinct and internally unified.

在以上三重历史使命中，民族复兴是基础，对人类的新的更大贡献与实现共产主义都要以民族复兴的实现为依托。这是因为，如果自己民族都无法实现复兴的话，就更谈不上肩负更宏大、更长远的历史使命。以民族复兴为基础，对人类的新的更大贡献可以视为党的使命在空间范围的拓展，实现共产主义可以视为党的使命在时间范围的延伸。而贯彻于这三重使命之中的，则是始终不变的中国共产党为民之初心。这里的民，不仅指中国人民，也指世界人民。要胸怀天下，要构建人类命运共同体，中国共产党当然要致力于造福世界人民。为民之初心在历史进程中凝成使命，使命在历史进程中的实现体现为民之初心，初心与使命既相区别，又内在统一。

III. Historical Mission and Upholding and Strengthening Party Leadership in the New Era

三、历史使命与新时代坚持和加强党的领导

In the New Era, the Communist Party of China forges ahead shouldering its great historical mission. Shouldering such a great mission makes the Party's leadership position extremely important. If Party leadership is not upheld, strengthened, or improved, the realization of the historical mission is even less conceivable. Regarding the leadership position of the Communist Party of China, a major original contribution of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is to elevate Party leadership to the level of the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, greatly advancing our understanding of the Party's leadership position and role, and greatly deepening our understanding of the essential features of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Communist Party of China is the highest political leadership force in the country and the fundamental guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,"[8](P60) "The Party leads everything—Party, government, military, civilian, and academic affairs, east, west, south, north, and center... Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for doing all work of the Party and the country well, and is the fundamental point for China's political stability, economic development, ethnic unity, and social stability; there must be absolutely no wavering whatsoever."[8](P9) Why is Party leadership said to be the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics? This is because socialism with Chinese characteristics was pioneered during a great historical turning point, and has also been developed and advanced in the process of solving problems and meeting challenges. Whether in its pioneering, formation, development, or advancement, the Communist Party of China has always played the core leadership role of commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties. Without the outstanding leadership of the Communist Party of China, it would be difficult for socialism with Chinese characteristics to achieve historic accomplishments, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation could not have entered an irreversible historical process, and scientific socialism would not have regained strong vitality in today's world after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe. Fundamentally, Party leadership is the most intrinsic, most fundamental core element that most determines the existence, nature, and developmental direction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Party leadership is crucial, fundamental, decisive, and core to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

新时代，中国共产党肩负伟大历史使命砥砺前行。肩负如此伟大之使命，党的领导地位就变得极为重要，如果党的领导得不到坚持、加强与改善，就更毋论历史使命的实现。对于中国共产党的领导地位，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的一大原创性贡献就是将党的领导提升到了中国特色社会主义最本质特征的高度，大大推进了我们对党的领导地位与领导角色的认识，大大深化了我们对中国特色社会主义本质特征的认识。“中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，中国共产党是国家最高政治领导力量，是实现中华民族伟大复兴的根本保证”，[8](P60)“党政军民学，东西南北中，党是领导一切的……党的领导是做好党和国家各项工作的根本保证，是我国政治稳定、经济发展、民族团结、社会稳定的根本点，绝对不能有丝毫动摇”。[8](P9)为什么说党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征呢？这是因为，中国特色社会主义是在伟大的历史转折中开创的，也是在破解难题与挑战的过程中发展与推进的，不论是其开创、形成，还是发展、推进，中国共产党始终发挥着总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用。没有中国共产党的卓越领导，中国特色社会主义就难以取得历史性成就，中华民族伟大复兴就无法进入不可逆转的历史进程，科学社会主义就不会在苏联解体、东欧剧变以后在今天的世界上重新焕发出强大的生机活力。根本而言，党的领导是中国特色社会主义最为内在、最为根本，最能决定中国特色社会主义存在、性质与发展趋向的核心要素，党的领导对于中国特色社会主义事业具有关键性、根本性、决定性与核心性。

Clearly stating that Party leadership is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics indicates that our Party has profoundly recognized its own key role in China's modernization and the process of national rejuvenation. It indicates that our Party possesses a conscious sense of responsibility and an inner sense of mission in leading the entire people to carry out a great struggle with many new historical features and to realize the historical mission of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. Particularly, based on the present and looking toward the future, China's modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation have entered a critical period. The governance capacity and leadership level of the Communist Party of China, as the highest political leadership force, are becoming increasingly crucial. Under such circumstances, emphasizing its own leadership as the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics also demonstrates the Party's strong confidence in continuing to overcome difficulties, create new glories, and fulfill its mission. This is because a party without strong confidence, when facing severe and complex problems and challenges, would not be able to clearly define its role, emphasize its responsibilities and mission, and thus make this major judgment. This major judgment is in fact a public declaration: The Communist Party of China was capable in the past, is capable now, and will certainly be capable in the future; socialism with Chinese characteristics was good in the past, is good now, and will certainly be good in the future; the goal of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation will certainly be realized; the Party's historical mission will certainly be realized. The Communist Party of China is confident because it is capable, and this strong confidence of the Party will further inspire the confidence and courage of the masses to engage in work and entrepreneurship.

明确提出党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，表明我们党深刻认识到了自身在中国现代化建设与民族复兴进程中所具有的关键性作用，表明我们党对于带领全国人民进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争，实现强国建设、民族复兴历史使命所具有的自觉担当意识和内在使命情怀。特别是立足当下、面向未来，中国现代化建设与中华民族伟大复兴进入关键时期，能否续写中国特色社会主义的辉煌篇章，作为最高政治领导力量的中国共产党的执政能力和领导水平显得越来越关键。这种情况下，强调自身领导作为中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，也表明了党对于继续攻坚克难、再创辉煌、完成使命的强大自信。这是因为，一个没有强大自信的党，面临严峻复杂的问题挑战，是不可能明确自己的角色担当、强调自己的责任使命，从而作出这一重大判断的。这一重大判断实际上是一个公开宣告：中国共产党不仅过去能、现在能、未来也一定能，中国特色社会主义不仅过去好、现在好、未来也一定会好，强国建设、民族复兴的目标一定会实现，党的历史使命一定会实现。中国共产党因为能而自信，而党的这种强大自信也将会进一步激发广大人民群众干事创业的信心与勇气。

Since Party leadership is the most essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and since realizing the Party’s historical mission requires upholding and strengthening Party leadership, the Party must effectively improve its own construction, uphold the principle that the Party must supervise itself and govern itself strictly and comprehensively. Mao Zedong, in his 1939 article “Introducing *The Communist*,” called Party building a “great project,” and Xi Jinping has called Party building in the New Era a “new great project” for the New Era. [5]5 Tongxin (同心) is a pen name or editorial alias used by the online editorial team of a Chinese Marxist theory publication, literally meaning "united hearts." This “new great project” for the New Era is necessary, on the one hand, because of the nature of the Chinese Communist Party as a Marxist mission-oriented party: to fulfill its great mission, the Party itself must be ideologically unified, pure in purpose and loyalty, and always maintain its advanced nature, purity, and strong organizational capacity. If problems arise in Party building—ideological confusion within the Party, lax discipline, slack work style, and failure to maintain advanced nature and purity—the Party will be unable to realize its own historical mission, will cease to be a Marxist mission-oriented party, and will degenerate. On the other hand, it is determined by the internal and external situation the Party faces. Under conditions of long-term governance, various factors that weaken the Party’s advanced nature and harm its purity exist at all times, various dangers that violate the original aspiration and founding mission and shake the Party’s foundation are everywhere, and the “four tests” and “four dangers” [6] are long-term in nature. Based on this, to effectively play the role of the leadership core and effectively fulfill the historical mission, the Party must have the courage to engage in self-revolution, govern the Party comprehensively and strictly, and push this governance to deepen continuously. “In the New Era, our Party must use its self-revolution to propel the great social revolution led by the Party and the people.” [1]1 "association of free individuals" (自由人联合体): A term used by Marx and Engels in *The Communist Manifesto* to describe the future communist society where individuals freely associate without class distinctions or exploitation.(P71) Whether self-revolution can be promoted continuously and effectively concerns the Party’s nature and purpose, whether the Party can break out of the historical cycle of rise and fall, [7] and the ultimate realization of the Party’s historical mission. Of course, self-revolution does not rely solely on the Party itself; it must fully leverage the combined force of the people and the Party as two subjects, and advance by strengthening the Party’s self-supervision and popular supervision.

既然党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，既然实现党的历史使命必须坚持和加强党的领导，党就必须切实搞好自身建设，坚持党要管党，全面从严治党。毛泽东在1939年的《〈共产党人〉发刊词》中，将党的建设称为“伟大的工程”，习近平则将新时代党的建设称为新时代“新的伟大工程”。这一新时代“新的伟大工程”之所以必需，一方面是中国共产党作为马克思主义使命型政党的政党性质所决定：要完成伟大使命，党自身必须思想一致、志虑忠纯，始终具有先进性、纯洁性和强大的组织能力。如果党的建设出现问题，党内思想混乱、纪律松弛、作风涣散、先进性与纯洁性无法保持，党就无法实现自身历史使命，党也就不成为一个马克思主义使命型政党，就会变质。另一方面，是由于党所面临的内外部形势所决定。长期执政条件下，各种弱化党的先进性、损害党的纯洁性的因素无时不有，各种违背初心使命、动摇党的根基的危险无处不在，“四大考验”与“四种危险”具有长期性，基于此，要切实发挥领导核心作用，有效践行历史使命，中国共产党就必须勇于自我革命，全面从严治党并推动其不断向纵深发展。“在新时代，我们党必须以党的自我革命来推动党领导人民进行的伟大社会革命”。[1](P71)能否持续、有效地推进自我革命，关系到党的性质与宗旨，关系到党能否跳出治乱兴衰的历史周期率，关系到党的历史使命的最终实现。当然，自我革命并不是仅仅依靠党自身，而是要充分发挥人民群众和党两个主体的合力，依靠强化党的自我监督和人民监督来推进。

IV. The Correct Path to Realize the Historical Mission

四、实现历史使命的正确道路

To realize the great historical mission, the Chinese Communist Party must find and firmly adhere to the correct path that suits China’s national conditions. The question of the path is of utmost importance and fundamentality. China, as a large country with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, with such complex national conditions and such a massive scale, if the direction of the forward path goes wrong, not only will the goal be unattainable, but it may even lead to going south by driving north, [8] committing a catastrophic error. An important content of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the Party’s historical mission is the clear statement that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only correct path to realize national rejuvenation. Why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good, and why the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only correct path, has its profound historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic.

要想实现伟大的历史使命，中国共产党必须寻找到符合中国国情的正确道路并牢牢坚持。道路问题至为关键、至为根本，中国作为一个人口超过14亿的大国，国情如此复杂、体量如此庞大，一旦前进的道路方向出现问题，不仅目标无法实现，甚至有可能南辕北辙，犯下颠覆性错误。习近平关于党的历史使命重要论述的一个重要内容就是明确指出中国特色社会主义道路是实现民族复兴的唯一正确道路。中国特色社会主义之所以好，中国特色社会主义道路之所以是唯一正确道路，有其深刻的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑。

In terms of historical logic, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is not a mechanical copy or transplantation of the development paths of other countries, but rather the result of the Chinese Communist Party, in the course of historical development, emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, and gradually exploring and forming it on the basis of continuously summarizing the historical experience of China’s modernization and drawing on the experience and lessons of other countries’ modernization. Since modern times, different domestic classes and groups have carried out explorations of China’s modernization to varying degrees and scopes—for example, the Westernization faction, the bourgeois reformists, the bourgeois revolutionaries, and the Kuomintang ruling clique—but none found a successful path to modernization. Facts have proven that their exploratory paths were unviable. After the founding of New China, our Party began new explorations on the basis of national independence and people’s liberation, but due to various subjective and objective reasons, it did not break free from the constraints of the Soviet model for a period of time. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, [9] our Party summarized historical experience, re-established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and emphasized proceeding from its own actual conditions to blaze a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The establishment of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts is extremely critical to the formation and development of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by seeking truth from facts can we emancipate the mind, break free from the shackles of past rigid dogmas, truly place the starting point of thinking on the basis of reality and realize the inheritance of fine traditional culture, and objectively evaluate, learn from, and draw on the development and construction experiences of other countries. The above discussion is intended to illustrate that the opening up of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was no easy task; rather, it is the result of continuous trial and error, exploration, and innovation by various political forces in China since modern times. It is the choice of history and the choice of the people, conforming to the laws of development of Chinese society, and has an inherent logic of growth and the inevitability of its emergence and development. “The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a broad road to create a better life for the people and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. … As long as we neither take the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing the flag and banner, [10] but unswervingly take the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we will surely be able to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.” [9](P98) The historical logic of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is not only reflected in the fact that its formation is a choice of history with historical inevitability, but also in its practicality and openness, being a path that advances with the times and continuously self-improves. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, based on theoretical innovation and practical exploration in the New Era, the connotation and extension of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics have been innovatively enriched and developed. The “ten clarifications,” “fourteen adherences,” and “achievements in thirteen aspects” proposed in the Party’s third historical resolution [11] are all further enrichments and developments of the connotation and extension of this path. Such continuous enrichment and development prevent the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics from stagnating or becoming rigid, enabling it to effectively adapt to the new situation of the times and the new changes in the needs of the people, thereby showing vigorous vitality.

就历史逻辑而言，中国特色社会主义道路并不是对其他国家发展道路的照抄照搬或机械移植，而是中国共产党在历史发展过程中，解放思想、实事求是，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，在不断总结中国现代化建设历史经验并借鉴其他国家现代化建设经验教训的基础上逐步探索形成的。近现代以来，国内不同的阶级与集团对于中国的现代化建设进行过程度与范围不同的探索，比如洋务派、资产阶级维新派、资产阶级革命派、国民党统治集团等，但都没有找到一条成功的现代化之路，事实证明他们的探索道路走不通。新中国成立后，我们党在民族独立和人民解放的基础上开始了新的探索，但基于各种主客观的原因一段时间内没有摆脱苏联模式的束缚。党的十一届三中全会以后，我们党总结历史经验，重新确立了实事求是的思想路线，强调要从自身实际出发，走出一条具有中国特色的社会主义道路。实事求是思想路线的确立对于中国特色社会主义道路的形成和发展极为关键。只有实事求是，才能解放思想，打破过去僵化教条的束缚，才能将思考问题的出发点真正放在现实的基点上并实现对优秀传统文化的传承，才能客观地评价、借鉴、汲取其他国家发展与建设的经验。以上所论意在说明，中国特色社会主义道路的开辟并非易事，而是近现代以来中国各种政治力量不断试错、探索、创新的结果，是历史的选择、人民的选择，顺应了中国社会的发展规律，具有内在的生长逻辑与产生、发展必然性。“中国特色社会主义道路是创造人民美好生活、实现中华民族伟大复兴的康庄大道。……只要我们既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义道路，就一定能够把我国建设成为富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。”[9](P98)中国特色社会主义道路的历史逻辑不仅体现在其形成是历史的选择，具有历史的必然性，还体现在其具有实践性和开放性，是一条与时俱进，不断自我完善之路。党的十八大以来，基于新时代的理论创新和实践探索，对中国特色社会主义道路的内涵和外延进行了创新性的丰富与发展。党的第三个历史决议提出的“十个明确”“十四个坚持”“十三个方面成就”都是对这一道路内涵与外延进一步的丰富与发展。这样一种不断的丰富和发展使得中国特色社会主义道路不停滞、不僵化，能够有效适应时代的新形势与人民群众需要的新变化，从而呈现出勃勃的生机。

In terms of theoretical logic, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics firmly adheres to the basic principles of scientific socialism, while continuously advancing the adaptation of the basic principles of scientific socialism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The basic principles of scientific socialism emphasize the leadership of a Marxist political party, the liberation and development of productive forces, the free and comprehensive development of human beings, that socialism is a society of development and reform, and the world-historical nature of communism, embodying the scientific truth of Marxism. These basic principles are all clearly reflected in the stipulations of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics “adheres to taking economic construction as the center, while comprehensively advancing economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, social construction, ecological civilization construction, and construction in other aspects; adheres to both the Four Cardinal Principles [12] and reform and opening up; and both continuously liberates and develops social productive forces and gradually achieves common prosperity for all the people and promotes the comprehensive development of human beings.” [7](P9) From the above important discourses of Xi Jinping, it can be

就理论逻辑而言，中国特色社会主义道路牢牢坚持了科学社会主义基本原则，同时不断推进科学社会主义基本原则的中国化时代化。科学社会主义基本原则强调马克思主义政党的领导，强调生产力的解放与发展，强调人的自由全面发展，强调社会主义是发展的社会和改革的社会，强调共产主义的世界历史性，体现了马克思主义的科学真理。这些基本原则都鲜明体现在中国特色社会主义道路的规定中。中国特色社会主义道路“既坚持以经济建设为中心，又全面推进经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设、生态文明建设以及其他各方面建设；既坚持四项基本原则，又坚持改革开放；既不断解放和发展社会生产力，又逐步实现全体人民共同富裕、促进人的全面发展”。[7](P9)从习近平的以上重要论述可以看出，所谓中国特色社会主义就是具有中国特色、体现时代特征的科学社会主义，其内涵系统而科学，方向明晰而正确。中国特色社会主义对科学社会主义基本原则的牢牢坚守充分驳斥了那种认为中国特色社会主义不是社会主义，而是某种形式资本主义的荒谬论调。中国特色社会主义的成功重新证明了马克思主义的真理性、科学社会主义的真理性，也启示我们深入思考到底应该如何理解和应用马克思主义基本原理，应该如何理解和应用科学社会主义基本原理。

In terms of practical logic, socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved remarkable accomplishments that have attracted worldwide attention, creating the rare miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and writing a great legend of catching up with and leading the times. It has not only profoundly changed China but also greatly transformed the world. “Today’s China is closer than ever to the center of the world stage, closer than ever to realizing the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and countries around the world are sharing in the dividends of China’s peaceful development as never before. Global governance is also drawing forward momentum from China’s practice as never before. The Chinese nation has always had a mind to benefit all under heaven, and the development of China in the New Era reveals to the world the humanistic sentiments of the Chinese Communist Party. The historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is increasingly demonstrating its world significance that transcends time and space, and countries around the world are also appreciating the practical value of the Chinese approach and Chinese wisdom from China’s modernization exploration.”[5]5 Tongxin (同心) is a pen name or editorial alias used by the online editorial team of a Chinese Marxist theory publication, literally meaning "united hearts."(P169) Practice has eloquently proven the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and proven that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only path for the Chinese Communist Party to fulfill its historical mission. Xi

就实践逻辑而言，中国特色社会主义取得了举世瞩目的伟大成就，创造了世所罕见的经济快速发展奇迹和社会长期稳定奇迹，书写了追赶时代、引领时代的伟大传奇，不仅深深地改变了中国，也极大地改变了世界。“今天的中国，前所未有地接近世界舞台的中心，前所未有地接近实现中华民族伟大复兴的梦想，世界各国也前所未有地分享到中国和平发展的红利，全球治理也前所未有地从中国实践中汲取到前行的动力。中华民族历来有兼济天下的心胸，新时代中国的发展在此向世人展现了中国共产党的人类情怀，中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程也越来越展现出其超越时空的世界意义，世界各国也从中国的现代化探索中领略到中国方案与中国智慧的实践价值。”[10](P169)实践雄辩地证明了中国特色社会主义制度的优越性，证明了中国特色社会主义道路是中国共产党践行历史使命的必由之路。习近平关于中国特色社会主义道路的精辟阐释，进一步深化了我们对中国道路优越性与历史意义的认识，为审视、理解并进一步坚定中国特色社会主义道路自信提供了基本遵循。

(Author’s bio: Li Haiqing, Vice Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Marxism, Central Party School of the CPC (National Academy of Governance))

（作者简介：李海青,中共中央党校（国家行政学院）马克思主义学院副院长，教授、博士生导师）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心