The Practical Requirements of “Must Adhere to the Systems Concept”

“Must adhere to the systems concept” is an important component of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and it is a basic requirement for us to grasp and apply the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through it. It is very necessary to clarify the practical requirements of “must adhere to the systems concept” from a theoretical perspective.

“必须坚持系统观念”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论的重要内容，是我们掌握和运用贯穿其中的立场观点方法的基本要求。从学理上阐释清楚“必须坚持系统观念”的实践要求是十分必要的。

Dialectically Grasp Five Major Relationships

辩证把握五对重大关系

The systems concept is based on the principle of the universal interconnection of the material world and centrally embodies the dialectical relationship between the two sides of a contradiction. On the new journey of the New Era to advance Chinese-path modernization, adhering to the systems concept first requires the ability to view the world and approach work from a relational perspective. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphatically pointed out the need to properly grasp the dialectical relationships between the whole and the part, the present and the long term, the macro and the micro, the particular and the general, and the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions.

系统观念基于物质世界的普遍联系原理，集中体现着矛盾双方的辩证关系。在新时代新征程推进中国式现代化，坚持系统观念首先要能够从关系视角看待世界、对待工作。习近平总书记突出强调要把握好全局和局部、当前和长远、宏观和微观、特殊和一般、主要矛盾和次要矛盾的辩证关系。

Properly grasp the relationship between the whole and the part. This pair of relationships, philosophically speaking, is the relationship between the whole and its parts. This relationship has a bidirectional nature: on the one hand, the whole is composed of parts; without parts, there is no whole. On the other hand, parts derive their meaning from the whole; a part separated from the whole is no longer a part and may not even exist. This interdependent relationship manifests in practical work as the relationship between the overall situation and the partial situation. The work of governing the country and managing state affairs is a vast systematic project, which contains several partial tasks. At the same time, each partial task itself has its own wholeness, containing many smaller parts. It is necessary to grasp the overall situation from the perspective of the whole, understand the value of the parts from the perspective of the overall situation, consciously make the parts subordinate to the overall situation, and give full play to the functions of the parts within the overall situation. At the same time, attention must also be paid to each part, giving play to the initiative of partial work.

把握好全局和局部的关系。这对关系从哲学上说是整体和部分的关系，这种关系具有双向性：一方面，整体由部分组成，没有部分就没有整体；另一方面，部分由整体赋予意义，离开整体的部分就不再是部分，甚至不能存在。这种相互依存的关系表现在实际工作中就是全局与局部的关系。治国理政工作是一个宏大的系统工程，其中包含着若干局部性工作。而每一个局部性工作本身又有其整体性，包含着许多更小的局部。必须从整体上把握全局，从全局上去认识局部的价值，自觉使局部服从大局，在大局中发挥好局部的功能。同时，也要关注各个局部，发挥好局部工作的积极性。

Properly grasp the relationship between the present and the long term. On the timeline of the change and development of things, there is not only the relationship between the past and the present, but also the relationship between the present and the future. We must not only focus on the former, paying attention to viewing reality from history, but also focus on the latter, paying attention to viewing the future from the present—that is, we must grasp and handle the relationship between the present and the long term. The cause of the Party and the people is a great cause, and striving for it is a long-term process. Therefore, when we do our work, we must not only focus on immediate needs and effects, but also consider its long-term impact. Because the two are not always completely consistent, and are sometimes even opposite. Some things are beneficial to the near term and the present, but may be very harmful to the future. Some things may not seem to have any effect in the present, but are extremely important and beneficial in the long run. Therefore, we must broaden our vision, be good at looking at problems from a strategic and long-term perspective, and combine the present with the long term.

把握好当前和长远的关系。在事物变化发展的时间轴上，不仅有过去与现在的关系，也有现在和未来的关系。我们不仅要关注前者，注重从历史看现实，而且要关注后者，注重从现在看未来，也就是要把握和处理好当前和长远的关系。党和人民的事业是一个大事业，为此而奋斗是一个长期过程。因此，我们在做工作的时候，不仅要关注当下的需要和效果，而且要考虑其长远影响。因为二者并不总是完全一致，有时甚至是相反的。有的事情对近期和当下有利，但可能对未来十分不利。有的事情似乎在当前看不出什么效果，但从长远看则是极为重要而有益的。因此，要放开眼光，善于从战略高度和长远角度看问题，把当前和长远结合起来。

Properly grasp the relationship between the macro and the micro. Systems have structure and hierarchy; there is not only the relationship between the whole and the parts, but also the relationship between the macro and the micro. The macro focuses on strategy, height, and the overall situation, while the micro values tactics, the partial, and details. For a worker, especially a leader, one must first have a macro perspective, grasp the general trend and the overall situation, and avoid having one’s vision limited to the tactical level and lacking strategic thinking. “First establish the great, then the small cannot seize it.” [1]1 A classical allusion from *Mencius*, meaning that if one first establishes the fundamental and important matters, the lesser matters cannot detract from them. On this basis, one must also not neglect the details in specific work, and must pay attention to the effort put into details. People often say “details show skill” and “details determine success or failure,” which contains some truth. When the macro overall situation is already decided, making the details exquisite is necessary to achieve perfection. Especially critical details can sometimes affect the success or failure of the overall situation. If we say there is only one overall situation, then there are countless details. Doing all details well is very difficult, but it is precisely what we should advocate.

把握好宏观和微观的关系。系统具有结构性和层次性，不仅有整体与部分的关系，而且有宏观和微观的关系。宏观注重的是战略，是高度和大局，而微观重视的是战术，是局部和细节。对于一个工作者特别是领导者来说，首先必须有宏观视野，把握大局大势，避免眼光局限于战术层面而缺乏战略思考。“先立乎其大者，则其小者弗能夺也。”在此基础上，也不能忽略具体工作中的细节，要注重细节上的功夫。人们常说“细节见功夫”“细节决定成败”，有一定道理。在宏观大局已定的情况下，要把细节做精致，才能达到完美境地。特别是关键性细节，有时能够影响大局的成败。如果说大局只有一个，那么细节则有无数。把所有细节都做好，是非常困难的，但也正是我们要提倡的。

Properly grasp the relationship between the particular and the general. This pair of relationships is essentially the relationship between the universality and particularity of contradiction. Mao Zedong comprehensively and profoundly discussed this relationship in “On Contradiction,” [2]2 A key philosophical essay by Mao Zedong, written in 1937, which systematically expounds the Marxist dialectical materialist theory of contradiction. considering this relationship between universality and particularity, commonality and individuality, as the essence of the problem of contradiction; mastering it means mastering dialectics. Contradictions are universal and all have their commonality, yet at the same time each contradiction has its particularity and individuality. Both aspects are important, and neither is dispensable. The most profound and important point in this pair of relationships is to recognize that the general exists within the particular, commonality exists within individuality, and one cannot speak of the general divorced from the particular. While affirming the universality of contradiction, Mao Zedong emphatically analyzed the particularity of contradiction, stressing concrete analysis of concrete conditions, which has extremely important guiding significance. From the perspective of methods of thinking and working, it is essential to combine general calls with individual guidance. One must neither see only the trees and not the forest, nor talk about the forest while leaving the trees.

把握好特殊和一般的关系。这对关系其实就是矛盾普遍性与特殊性的关系。毛泽东在《矛盾论》中全面深刻地论述了这一关系，认为这种普遍性与特殊性、共性与个性的关系是矛盾问题的精髓，掌握了它就是掌握了辩证法。矛盾是普遍存在的，也都有其共性，同时每一个矛盾又有其特殊性和个性。这两个方面都是重要的，缺一不可。这对关系中最深刻而重要的一点在于，要认识到一般存在于特殊之中，共性存在于个性之中，不能脱离特殊而言一般。毛泽东在肯定矛盾普遍性的前提下，着重分析了矛盾的特殊性，强调具体问题具体分析，具有极为重要的指导意义。从思想方法和工作方法来看，一定要把一般号召与个别指导结合起来。既不能只见树木不见森林，也不能离开树木空谈森林。

Properly grasp the relationship between the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions. Contradictions are universal; the same thing and process often contain multiple contradictions, and different contradictions have different positions and roles in the development of things. The principal contradiction is the contradiction that occupies a dominant position among all contradictions and plays a decisive role in the development of things. Within each contradiction, there is also the distinction between the principal aspect and the secondary aspect of the contradiction; the former is the aspect that occupies the dominant position and plays the leading role. The relationship between the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions, as well as the relationship between the principal aspect and the secondary aspect of a contradiction, is reflected in practical work and working methods as the need to be good at grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, using key work to drive the overall development. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Facing complex situations and heavy tasks, first, one must have an overall view, have a clear understanding of various contradictions, and at the same time, prioritize solving the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, thereby driving the resolution of other contradictions,” and “In any work, we must talk about both the ‘two-point theory’ and the ‘key-point theory.’ Without priorities, without distinction, grabbing everything at once like grabbing eyebrows and beards, one cannot do the work well.” [3]3 “Two-point theory” and “key-point theory” are terms from Maoist dialectics, referring respectively to the need to see both sides of a contradiction and to identify the dominant aspect.

把握好主要矛盾和次要矛盾的关系。矛盾是普遍存在的，同一事物和过程往往有多种矛盾，不同的矛盾在事物发展中的地位和作用是不同的。主要矛盾是诸矛盾中处于支配地位、对事物发展起决定性作用的矛盾。在每一个矛盾中，又有矛盾的主要方面和次要方面之分，前者是处于支配地位并起主导作用的方面。主要矛盾和次要矛盾的关系，以及矛盾的主要方面和次要方面的关系，体现在实际工作和工作方法中就是要善于抓主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，以重点工作带动全局发展。习近平总书记指出，“面对复杂形势和繁重任务，首先要有全局观，对各种矛盾做到心中有数，同时又要优先解决主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，以此带动其他矛盾的解决”，“在任何工作中，我们既要讲两点论，又要讲重点论，没有主次，不加区别，眉毛胡子一把抓，是做不好工作的”。

Handle Six Relationships in Advancing Chinese-Path Modernization

处理好推进中国式现代化的六种关系

Advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the fundamental task of the new journey of the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes the need to correctly understand and vigorously promote Chinese-path modernization, and clearly states that the following six relationships must be properly handled.

以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，是新时代新征程的根本任务。习近平总书记强调要正确理解和大力推进中国式现代化，并明确提出必须处理好以下六个方面的关系。

Properly handle the relationship between top-level design and practical exploration. This pair of relationships, in layman’s terms, is the relationship between top-level design and “crossing the river by feeling the stones.” [4]4 A well-known metaphor from the early period of reform and opening up, attributed to Deng Xiaoping, describing a cautious, experimental approach to policy change. In the early period of reform and opening up, although there was top-level design, careful exploration was more needed in practical work, so at that time “crossing the river by feeling the stones” was particularly emphasized. With the continuous advancement of reform and opening up, the accumulation of fresh experience, and our deeper grasp of laws, after entering the New Era, greater emphasis has been placed on top-level design. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of new ideas, new theories, and new strategies for governing the country, deeply insighting into the development trends of the world, accurately grasping the common aspirations of the people, deeply exploring the laws of economic and social development, so that the formulated plans and policy systems embody the characteristics of the times, grasp regularity, and are rich in creativity, giving full play to the role of top-level design. However, this does not mean that practical exploration is no longer needed. Advancing Chinese-path modernization is an exploratory undertaking; there are still many unknown areas that require us to boldly explore in practice, to promote the development of the cause through reform and innovation. We must by no means “carve a mark on the boat to find a lost sword” or “stand by a tree stump waiting for a hare.” [5]5 Two classical Chinese idioms: “carving a mark on the boat to find a lost sword” (刻舟求剑) means rigidly applying a method without regard to changed circumstances; “standing by a tree stump waiting for a hare” (守株待兔) means waiting passively for luck instead of taking action.

处理好顶层设计与实践探索的关系。这对关系通俗来说就是顶层设计与摸石过河的关系。在改革开放初期，虽然也有顶层设计，但在实际工作中更需要小心探索，因而那时特别强调“摸着石头过河”。随着改革开放的不断推进，随着新鲜经验的积累和我们对规律的深入掌握，在进入新时代以后，就更加强调顶层设计了。以习近平同志为核心的党中央，提出了一系列治国理政的新思想新理论新战略，深刻洞察世界发展大势，准确把握人民群众的共同愿望，深入探索经济社会发展规律，使制定的规划和政策体系体现时代性、把握规律性、富于创造性，充分发挥顶层设计的作用。但这并不是说已经不需要实践探索了。推进中国式现代化是一个探索性事业，还有许多未知领域，需要我们在实践中去大胆探索，通过改革创新来推动事业发展，决不能刻舟求剑、守株待兔。

Properly handle the relationship between strategy and tactics. It is necessary to deeply understand the fundamental nature of strategy, and grasp the basic requirement that strategy determines tactics and tactics serve and obey strategy. Priority should be given to doing strategic work well. First, we must enhance the forward-looking nature of strategy, accurately grasp the inevitable trends in the development of things, keenly perceive the opportunities and challenges that may arise on the road ahead, and foresee and lead the future with scientific strategy. Second, we must enhance the holistic nature of strategy; planning strategic goals, formulating strategic measures, and making strategic deployments must all focus on solving major problems that concern the rise and fall of the Party and the state’s cause and that affect the whole body when one part is touched. [6]6 A Chinese idiom (牵一发而动全身) meaning that a small change in one part can affect the whole system. Third, we must enhance the stability of strategy; once a strategy is formed, it must be adhered to for the long term, grasped firmly to the end, and be good at achieving results, without changing it arbitrarily. At the same time, we must attach great importance to tactical issues, and deeply understand that when the strategy is already set, tactics are the key. We must organically combine the principled nature of strategy with the flexibility of tactics, be flexible and mobile, adapt to changing circumstances, make decisions on the spot, and seize the strategic initiative by adapting measures to local conditions, moving with the situation, and following the trend.

处理好战略与策略的关系。要深刻认识战略的根本性，把握战略决定策略、策略服从服务于战略的基本要求。要优先做好战略工作，一是要增强战略的前瞻性，准确把握事物发展的必然趋势，敏锐洞悉前进道路上可能出现的机遇和挑战，以科学的战略预见未来、引领未来；二是要增强战略的全局性，谋划战略目标、制定战略举措、作出战略部署，都要着眼于解决事关党和国家事业兴衰成败、牵一发而动全身的重大问题；三是要增强战略的稳定性，战略一经形成，就要长期坚持、一抓到底、善作善成，不要随意改变。同时，要高度重视策略问题，深刻认识在战略已定的情况下，策略就是关键。要把战略的原则性和策略的灵活性有机结合起来，灵活机动、随机应变、临机决断，在因地制宜、因势而动、顺势而为中把握战略主动。

Handle well the relationship between upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. Upholding fundamental principles means adhering to the correct path, holding fast to the foundation, and maintaining the correct stance and direction. Upholding fundamental principles is the prerequisite and basis for breaking new ground, because the “breaking new ground” we speak of has a value stance and direction; it is innovation that benefits the cause of the Party and the people, and innovation that benefits human peace and progress. Breaking new ground must also respect and follow objective laws; “innovation” that departs from or ignores laws cannot succeed. At the same time, breaking new ground helps uphold fundamental principles; only by persisting in emancipating the mind and blazing new trails, by upholding fundamental principles through innovation and using innovation to uphold them, can the “fundamental” truly be held fast. On the new journey of the New Era, on the one hand we must safeguard the foundation, source, root, and soul of Chinese-path modernization, unswervingly adhere to the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, and ensure the correct direction of Chinese-path modernization; on the other hand, we must place innovation in a prominent position in the overall national development landscape, conform to the requirements of the times, focus on solving major theoretical and practical problems, actively recognize change, respond to change, and seek change, vigorously advance reform and innovation, continuously shape new drivers and new advantages for development, and fully stimulate the creative vitality of the whole society.

处理好守正与创新的关系。守正就是坚守正道，守住根本，坚持正确的立场和方向。守正是创新的前提和基础，因为我们所讲的“创新”是有价值立场和方向的，是有利于党和人民事业发展的创新，是有利于人类和平进步的创新。创新也是要尊重和遵循客观规律的，离开规律、无视规律的“创新”是不能成功的。同时，创新有助于守正，只有坚持解放思想、开拓创新，在创新中守正并通过创新来守正，“正”才能真正守得住。在新时代新征程上，我们一方面要守好中国式现代化的本和源、根和魂，毫不动摇坚持中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则，确保中国式现代化的正确方向；另一方面要把创新摆在国家发展全局的突出位置，顺应时代发展要求，着眼于解决重大理论和实践问题，积极识变应变求变，大力推进改革创新，不断塑造发展新动能新优势，充分激发全社会创造活力。

Handle well the relationship between efficiency and equity. In economic and social development, efficiency and equity are a pair of contradictions. The former mainly concerns the speed and effectiveness of economic development; the latter mainly concerns people’s sense of gain and fairness. The two are interdependent and mutually constraining, and should maintain a dynamic balance. In different periods of social development, one aspect can be emphasized as needed, but under no circumstances should the two be separated or set against each other. If we only talk about economic development and efficiency improvement while completely ignoring social equity, it will cause social unrest and harm development; if we only talk about equity while ignoring efficiency and development, society will lack vitality and ultimately only common poverty will result. In advancing Chinese-path modernization while adhering to the systems concept, we must combine efficiency with equity, both creating higher efficiency than capitalism and more effectively maintaining social fairness, so as to better achieve the mutual consideration, mutual promotion, and unity of efficiency and equity.

处理好效率与公平的关系。在经济社会发展中，效率与公平是一对矛盾。前者主要是经济发展的速度和效益，后者主要是人们的获得感和公平感。二者相互依赖、相互制约，应该保持一种动态平衡。在社会发展不同时期，可以根据需要对某一个方面有所侧重，但在任何情况下都不能把二者割裂开来和对立起来。如果只讲经济发展，只讲效率提高，完全忽视社会公平，就会引起社会动荡，使发展受到损害；如果只讲公平，忽视效率和发展，社会就缺乏活力，最终只能是共同贫穷。在推进中国式现代化过程中坚持系统观念，就要把效率与公平结合起来，既要创造比资本主义更高的效率，又要更有效地维护社会公平，更好实现效率与公平相兼顾、相促进、相统一。

Handle well the relationship between vitality and order. A society must be both stable and orderly, and full of vitality. These two aspects are to some extent contradictory, yet they complement each other. Order without vitality is rigid and dead; vitality without order is dangerous. Social vitality mainly refers to the degree of economic activity, the speed of social development, and the degree of freedom in people’s lives, while social order mainly refers to national security, the legal system, the institutional system, and moral norms. The term “order” has not been emphasized much by us in the past, but it is extremely important for social stability; without social order there can be no social stability, and social order depends on certain rules. The systems, laws, morality, and other rules of our society all endow social life with a certain order and strive to maintain social order, while also maintaining and promoting social development. Among these, national security is the foundation of social order; we must coordinate development and security, implement a holistic approach to national security, improve the national security system, and enhance the capacity to safeguard national security. This means both safeguarding national security and social stability, and continuously promoting economic development and social progress.

处理好活力与秩序的关系。一个社会既要安定有序，又要充满活力。这二者在一定程度上存在矛盾，但又是相辅相成的。没有活力的秩序是僵死的，没有秩序的活力则是危险的。社会的活力主要指经济的活跃程度、社会的发展速度以及人们生活的自由度，而社会秩序则主要指国家安全、法律体系、制度体系以及道德规范等。“秩序”这个词以往我们强调的不多，但对于社会稳定来说是十分重要的，没有社会秩序就不会有社会稳定，而社会秩序又有赖于一定规则。我们社会的制度、法律和道德以及其他规则，都是赋予社会生活以一定秩序并着力维护社会秩序的，同时也是维护和促进社会发展的。其中，国家安全是社会秩序的基础，必须统筹发展和安全，贯彻总体国家安全观，健全国家安全体系，增强维护国家安全能力。做到既要维护国家安全和社会稳定，又要不断促进经济发展和社会进步。

Handle well the relationship between independence and self-reliance and opening up to the outside world. In vigorously advancing Chinese-path modernization, we must handle well the relationship between internal and external factors. We must both adhere to the principle of taking ourselves as the mainstay and internal factors as the primary drivers, persist in independence and self-reliance, and adhere to the basic state policy of opening up, maintaining an open mindset and an international perspective. We must both strengthen national self-respect and self-confidence, enhance the ambition, backbone, and confidence of being Chinese, and humbly learn from and draw on beneficial foreign experience. We must both adhere to high-standard independence and high-quality self-reliance and self-strengthening, place the development of the country and the nation on the basis of continuously strengthening our own forces, and firmly hold the fate of our country’s development and progress in our own hands, and continuously expand high-level opening up, deeply participate in the division of labor and cooperation in global industries, make good use of both domestic and international resources, and further expand the development space for Chinese-path modernization.

处理好独立自强与对外开放的关系。在大力推进中国式现代化过程中，必须处理好内与外的关系。既要坚持以我为主、内因为主的原则，坚持独立自主、自力更生，又要坚持对外开放基本国策，保持开放心态、国际视野。既要坚定民族自尊自信，增强做中国人的志气、骨气、底气，又要虚心学习借鉴国外有益经验。既要坚持高起点的独立自主和高质量的自立自强，坚持把国家和民族发展放在不断壮大自己力量的基点上，坚持把我国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中，又要不断扩大高水平对外开放，深度参与全球产业的分工合作，用好国内国际两种资源，进一步拓展中国式现代化的发展空间。

(The author is a professor at the School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China)

（作者系中国人民大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心