On the Rich Implications of Advancing Chinese-Path Modernization through Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

Advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform is a strategic plan and strategic deployment of significant contemporary value and practical significance. It embodies the political wisdom of the Chinese Communists in the New Era in grasping historical initiative and carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative, and it manifests the high historical confidence and the political character of daring to take responsibility of the Chinese Communists in the New Era. Advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform is rich in implication and profound in meaning. It can be deeply understood and grasped from several aspects: “clarifying its thread,” “distinguishing its rationale,” “grasping its method,” “upholding its way,” and “reinforcing its pillar.”

全面深化改革推进中国式现代化是具有重要时代价值和现实意义的战略谋划、战略部署，蕴含着新时代中国共产党人把握历史主动、发扬历史主动精神的政治智慧，彰显了新时代中国共产党人高度的历史自信、勇于担当的政治品格。全面深化改革推进中国式现代化意涵丰富、意蕴深远，可以从“明其脉”“晰其理”“得其法”“守其道”“砥其柱”等几个方面予以深刻理解和把握。

I. “Clarifying Its Thread”: The Intrinsic Connection between Comprehensive and Deepening Reform and Chinese-Path Modernization

一、“明其脉”：全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的内在关联

Comprehensive and deepening reform and the cause of Chinese-path modernization share a close intrinsic connection in terms of their practical foundation, developmental thread, evolutionary trajectory, and value objectives, thus constituting a developmental picture in which the two are interwoven and mutually reinforcing.

全面深化改革与中国式现代化事业在现实基础、发展脉络、演进轨迹、价值目标等方面存在着密切的内在关联，从而构成了二者之间同步交织、相互激荡的发展图景。

(I) The Path of Chinese-Path Modernization Has Been Gradually Perfected through Reform and Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

（一）中国式现代化道路在改革与全面深化改革中日臻完善

The paths by which different countries in the world achieve modernization are not a “single-choice question” with only one answer, but a “multiple-choice question” with different answers. At the same time, the paths by which different countries achieve modernization are not accomplished overnight, but undergo a process of long-term exploration and gradual maturation. After the founding of New China, with the completion of the socialist transformation and the establishment of the socialist system, China entered a new stage of socialist modernization construction and put forward the strategic goal of the “Four Modernizations.”[1]1 This is a quotation from Deng Xiaoping’s speech “Emancipate the Mind, Seek Truth from Facts, and Unite as One in Looking to the Future,” delivered on December 13, 1978, which served as the keynote address for the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee that launched reform and opening up. Due to the complexity of national conditions and the lack of experience in socialist modernization construction, learning from and drawing on the experience of Soviet socialist modernization construction became an inevitable choice at that time. However, as the shortcomings and defects of the Soviet-style modernization model were gradually exposed, China underwent a transformation from “learning from the Soviet big brother” to “taking the Soviet Union as a mirror,” and began to pay more attention to independently exploring a socialist modernization construction path suited to itself. Reform and opening up provided such a historical opportunity and historical condition. “Just as the reform was unfolding, Deng Xiaoping made a forward-looking analysis of the relationship between reform, modernization, and socialism, and conceived the idea of realizing modernization through reform.” It was precisely in the process of reform and opening up that the Communist Party of China, proceeding from China’s national conditions and reality, adhered to emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, dialectically unified the universal laws of world modernization development, the general laws of socialist modernization construction, and the special laws of socialist modernization construction with Chinese characteristics, and creatively “blazed a Chinese-style modernization path.” The Chinese-path modernization path is a modernization path that conforms to the trend of world modernization yet has distinct Chinese characteristics. It is the correct path leading China steadily toward modernization, with outstanding features such as uniqueness and innovativeness.

世界上不同国家走向现代化的道路并非答案唯一的“单选题”，而是答案不一的“多选题”；同时，不同国家走向现代化的道路并非一蹴而就的，而是经历了一个长期探索、逐步成熟的过程。新中国成立后，随着社会主义改造的完成、社会主义制度的建立，中国进入了社会主义现代化建设的新阶段，并提出了“四个现代化”的战略目标。由于国情的复杂以及社会主义现代化建设经验不足等情况，学习借鉴苏联社会主义现代化建设经验就成为当时的必然选择。然而，随着苏联式现代化模式的弊端和缺点日渐暴露，中国经历了一个从“向苏联老大哥学习”到“以苏为鉴”的转变，开始更加注重独立自主地探索适合自己的社会主义现代化建设道路。改革开放提供了这样的历史契机、历史条件，“在改革刚刚拉开序幕之际，邓小平就对改革与现代化、社会主义之间的关系作了前瞻性的分析，并具有了在改革中实现现代化的思想。”正是在改革开放过程中，中国共产党从中国国情、中国实际出发，坚持解放思想、实事求是，把世界现代化发展的普遍规律、社会主义现代化建设的一般规律和中国特色社会主义现代化建设的特殊规律辩证统一起来，创造性地“走出一条中国式的现代化道路”。中国式现代化道路是一条顺应世界现代化潮流而又具有鲜明中国特色的现代化道路，是引领中国稳步走向现代化的正确道路，具有独特性、创新性等突出特点。

After socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, facing the era background of the interweaving and mutual stimulation of the “two overall situations”[2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in November 2013. It adopted the “Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms,” which set out a comprehensive reform agenda for the New Era. and being in a historical stage increasingly approaching the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the development of Chinese-path modernization has encountered various new opportunities, new tasks, and new challenges. With the continuous advancement of comprehensive and deepening reform, the Chinese Communists, in the process of constantly responding to the challenges of the times, answering the questions of the times, and grasping the pulse of the times, “have created a new path of Chinese-path modernization.” The new path of Chinese-path modernization is an “upgraded version” of the Chinese-path modernization path. Under the new conditions of the times, it has deepened and expanded the Chinese-path modernization path. The relationship between the two is one of inheriting the same lineage while advancing with the times, and also one of sharing the same root and origin while adapting to the new era. The new path of Chinese-path modernization is different from various closed and rigid old paths, flag-changing and path-deflecting evil paths, and dead-end wrong paths. It is a “new version” of modernization that combines Marxism with the practice of socialist modernization construction with Chinese characteristics, providing new choices and new answers for human society moving toward modernization. “Chinese-path modernization is the broad road to building a strong country and national rejuvenation, opening up a new path for humanity to achieve modernization.” Comprehensive and deepening reform has removed various ideological barriers and institutional obstacles for the formation and development of the new path of Chinese-path modernization, achieving steady and good progress on the basis of being correct and feasible.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代后，面对着“两个大局”相互交织、相互激荡的时代背景，处于日益接近实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史阶段，中国式现代化的发展面临着各种新机遇、新任务、新挑战。随着全面深化改革的不断推进，中国共产党人在不断应对时代挑战、回答时代课题、把握时代脉搏的过程中，“创造了中国式现代化新道路”。中国式现代化新道路是中国式现代化道路的“升级版”，在新的时代条件下实现了对中国式现代化道路的深化和拓展，二者之间是一脉相承而又与时俱进的关系，也是同根同源而又因时而新的关系。中国式现代化新道路不同于各种封闭僵化的老路、改旗易帜的邪路、日暮途穷的歧路等，是把马克思主义与中国特色社会主义现代化建设实践相结合的现代化“新版本”，为人类社会走向现代化提供了新选择、新答案，“中国式现代化是强国建设、民族复兴的康庄大道，开辟的是人类迈向现代化的新道路”。全面深化改革为中国式现代化新道路的形成发展破除了各种思想藩篱、体制障碍，实现了走得对、走得通基础上的走得稳、走得好。

(II) The Theory of Chinese-Path Modernization Has Gradually Matured through Reform and Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

（二）中国式现代化理论在改革与全面深化改革中日益成熟

As is well known, as a new concept and new discourse, Chinese-path modernization was creatively proposed and deeply elaborated by Deng Xiaoping in the process of reform and opening up: “In my talks with foreigners, I used a new term: Chinese-style modernization.” With the continuous deepening of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping also conducted a series of reflections and explorations on the scientific connotation, inherent characteristics, and realization path of Chinese-path modernization, and used the concept of “moderate prosperity” (小康), which is rich in the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture, to elaborate the phased goals of Chinese-path modernization, gradually internalizing it as an important part of Chinese-path modernization. In addition, the proposals of the theory of the essence of socialism, the thought of common prosperity, and the “three-step” strategy[3]3 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of a study session for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level, as reported in official media. have continuously enriched and expanded the connotation of Chinese-path modernization. They are the crystallization of thought formed by the Chinese Communists in the process of reform and opening up, greatly enriching and developing Marxist modernization theory. “In the practice of deepening reform and opening up, we have promoted the continuous enrichment of the connotation of socialism and made the interpretation of modernization more specific.” In fact, to a certain extent, the process of the theory of Chinese-path modernization taking initial shape and continuously developing is precisely the process of reform and opening up deepening and continuously advancing. Reform and opening up laid the practical foundation for the formation and development of the theory of Chinese-path modernization, while the theory of Chinese-path modernization provided theoretical guidance for reform and opening up. The relationship between the two is one of benign interaction and mutual reinforcement.

众所周知，作为一个新概念、新话语，中国式现代化是由邓小平在改革开放过程中所创造性提出和深入阐释的，“我同外国人谈话，用了一个新名词：中国式的现代化。”随着改革开放的不断深入推进，邓小平还对中国式现代化的科学内涵、内在特质、实现路径等进行了一系列思考和探索，并用“小康”这一富有中华传统文化特色的概念来阐述中国式现代化的阶段性目标，使其逐步内化为中国式现代化的重要内容。此外，社会主义本质理论、共同富裕思想、“三步走”战略等的提出，不断充实拓展着中国式现代化的内涵，它们都是中国共产党人在改革开放过程中所形成的思想结晶，极大丰富发展了马克思主义现代化理论。“在深化改革开放的实践中，我们促进了社会主义内涵的不断丰富，对现代化的阐释也更加具体。”事实上，从一定程度上来说，中国式现代化理论初具轮廓、不断发展的过程，就是改革开放不断深入、持续推进的过程。改革开放为中国式现代化理论的形成发展奠定了实践基础，中国式现代化理论则为改革开放提供了理论指引，二者之间是良性互动、相得益彰的关系。

After socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, in the historical process of advancing comprehensive and deepening reform, the Chinese Communists have continuously enriched and developed the theory of Chinese-path modernization, gradually constructing a theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization. Xi Jinping’s series of important expositions and systematic elaborations on the theory of Chinese-path modernization, such as its fundamental nature, distinctive features, essential requirements, major principles, and world significance, have greatly deepened the Chinese Communists’ understanding and grasp of the laws of Chinese-path modernization, making the system of the theory of Chinese-path modernization more complete and its framework more comprehensive. “This has enriched the theoretical system and development model of world modernization and provided a completely new choice for human modernization.” Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era inherently contains the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization, and scientifically answering the “question of modernization” is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The establishment of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, which includes comprehensive and deepening reform, plays an important leading role in the development of Chinese-path modernization in the New Era. “The Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy and the ‘New Development Concepts’ are the discourse presentation of the strategic development layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and also the theoretical elevation of the development experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Within the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, comprehensive and deepening reform is a key link with breakthrough and pioneering significance, and also a powerful lever supporting and driving the development of Chinese-path modernization. In short, the Chinese-path modernization path is a modernization path that adheres to the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, and the theory of Chinese-path modernization is a modernization theory that has gradually matured in the course of comprehensive and deepening reform.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代后，在推进全面深化改革的历史进程中，中国共产党人不断丰富发展中国式现代化理论，逐步构建中国式现代化理论体系。习近平关于中国式现代化理论的一系列重要论述和系统阐释，如关于中国式现代化的根本性质、鲜明特色、本质要求、重大原则、世界意义等，极大深化了中国共产党人对中国式现代化规律的认识和把握，使中国式现代化理论的体系更为健全、框架更为完整，“这丰富了世界现代化的理论体系和发展模式，为人类现代化提供了全新选择。”习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想内在地包含着中国式现代化理论体系，科学回答“现代化之问”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要内容。而包括全面深化改革在内的“四个全面”战略布局的确立，则在新时代中国式现代化的发展过程中发挥着重要的引领性作用，“‘四个全面’战略布局和‘新发展理念’是新时代中国特色社会主义发展战略布局的话语呈现，也是对中国特色社会主义发展经验的理论提升。”在“四个全面”战略布局中，全面深化改革是具有突破性和先导性的关键环节，也是支撑和推动中国式现代化发展的有力杠杆。总之，中国式现代化道路是坚持“四个全面”战略布局的现代化道路，中国式现代化理论是在全面深化改革中日益成熟的现代化理论。

(III) The Cause of Chinese-Path Modernization Has Gradually Entered a Better Stage through Reform and Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

（三）中国式现代化事业在改革与全面深化改革中渐入佳境

Reform and opening up is an important milestone in the development of Chinese-path modernization, opening a new chapter for the cause of Chinese-path modernization. Looking back at history, although after the founding of New China the construction of Chinese-path modernization achieved notable progress and great accomplishments, it also experienced difficulties and twists and turns, and even took some detours and made some mistakes. In particular, during a certain period, questions such as what Chinese-path modernization is and how to carry out its construction were not fully clarified, and the grasp of the laws governing Chinese-path modernization construction was not yet deep, so that the cause of Chinese-path modernization exhibited the characteristic of advancing amid twists and turns. For this reason, before reform and opening up, the gap between China’s modernization cause and the world’s advanced level kept widening, and China was even left behind by some rapidly developing neighboring countries. It can be said that at that time the development of Chinese-path modernization was like sailing against the current — if it did not advance, it would retreat. Correspondingly, the overall level of social productive forces was relatively backward, the improvement of the people’s living standards was slow, urban and rural residents’ lives were basically in a state of insufficient food and clothing, and the superiority of the socialist system could hardly be truly manifested. This was also the important era background and social background for implementing reform and opening up at that time: “If we do not implement reform now, our modernization cause and socialist cause will be buried.” [1]1 This is a quotation from Deng Xiaoping’s speech “Emancipate the Mind, Seek Truth from Facts, and Unite as One in Looking to the Future,” delivered on December 13, 1978, which served as the keynote address for the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee that launched reform and opening up. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, pioneered since reform and opening up, has endowed the cause of Chinese-path modernization with new vitality, injected new energy, and also opened a new period in the development of the cause of Chinese-path modernization. Since then, the cause of Chinese-path modernization, as if entering the “fast lane” and pressing the “fast-forward button,” has achieved rapid development in a relatively short period, and in the process of world modernization has gradually transformed from an original laggard and follower into a overtaker and leader, creating an unprecedented miracle in the history of human modernization development.

改革开放是中国式现代化事业发展过程中的重要里程碑，为中国式现代化事业发展开启了新篇章。回顾历史，虽然新中国成立后中国式现代化建设取得显著进展和巨大成就，但期间却历经艰难和曲折，甚至走了一些弯路、犯了一些错误。尤其是一段时期内对什么是中国式现代化、如何进行中国式现代化建设等问题未能完全搞清楚，对中国式现代化建设规律的把握尚不深入等，使得中国式现代化事业发展呈现出在曲折中前进的特点。正因为如此，改革开放前，中国的现代化事业与世界先进水平之间的差距不断拉大，甚至被周边一些快速发展的国家所甩开。可以说，当时中国式现代化事业发展犹如逆水行舟、不进则退。与之相应，社会整体生产力水平相对落后，人民群众生活水平提高缓慢，城乡居民生活基本上处在温饱不足状态，社会主义制度的优越性难以真正体现出来，这也是当时实行改革开放的重要时代背景和社会背景，“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送。”改革开放以来所开创出的中国特色社会主义道路，为中国式现代化事业赋予了新生机、注入了新活力，也开启了中国式现代化事业发展的新时期。自此，中国式现代化事业如同驶入“快车道”、按下“快进键”一般，在较短时间内实现了快速发展，并在世界现代化进程中由原来的落伍者、追赶者逐步转变为赶超者、引领者，创造了人类现代化发展史上前所未有的奇迹。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, the principal contradiction in society changed, and reform and opening up gradually entered the “deep-water zone” and the period of tackling tough issues. Under these circumstances, the fields covered by reform became increasingly broad, the adjustments touching the pattern of interests became increasingly profound, the contradictions and problems involved became increasingly acute, and the obstacles to breaking through institutional mechanisms became increasingly arduous. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in November 2013. It adopted the “Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms,” which set out a comprehensive reform agenda for the New Era. thus made the major decision of comprehensive and deepening reform. Comprehensive and deepening reform is a continuation and deepening of reform and opening up, a new measure and new deployment made to carry reform and opening up through to the end, adding even stronger impetus to the cause of Chinese-path modernization. “To advance Chinese-path modernization, we must further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, constantly liberate and develop social productive forces, and liberate and enhance social vitality.” [3]3 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of a study session for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level, as reported in official media. Since the New Era, it is precisely in the process of comprehensive and deepening reform that Chinese-path modernization has gradually entered its prime, displaying vigorous vitality and a developmental landscape that other modernization models find hard to match.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，社会主要矛盾发生了变化，改革开放也逐渐进入了“深水区”和攻坚期。在这种情况下，改革涵盖的领域愈加广泛，触及利益格局的调整愈加深刻，涉及的矛盾和问题愈加尖锐，突破体制机制的障碍愈加艰巨，党的十八届三中全会由此作出了全面深化改革的重大决定。全面深化改革是对改革开放的继续和深化，是为了将改革开放进行到底而作出的新举措、新部署，为中国式现代化事业发展增添了更加强大的动力。“推进中国式现代化，必须进一步全面深化改革开放，不断解放和发展社会生产力、解放和增强社会活力。”新时代以来，正是在全面深化改革过程中，中国式现代化事业渐入佳境，呈现出其他现代化模式难以媲美的旺盛活力和发展图景。

II. “Clarifying Its Rationale”: The Logical Basis for Advancing Chinese-Path Modernization through Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

二、“晰其理”：全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的逻辑依据

As a major strategic deployment and systematic plan, advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform has its full logical basis, embodying the dialectical unity of history and reality, theory and practice.

作为一项重大的战略部署和系统谋划，以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化有其充分的逻辑依据，体现了历史与现实、理论与实践的辩证统一。

(I) Comprehensive and Deepening Reform Provides the Fundamental Driving Force for Chinese-Path Modernization

（一）全面深化改革为中国式现代化提供根本动力

The development of any modernization cause does not proceed spontaneously but requires a certain driving force. Whether the driving force is sufficient and powerful largely determines the rise and fall, prosperity and decline, and future destiny of the modernization cause. Advancing modernization in a late-developing country with a large population, a weak foundation, and a low starting point, and one that is now displaying a new and magnificent scene of vigorous development, means that it must necessarily have a sufficient and powerful driving force. In fact, the driving force of Chinese-path modernization is a pluralistic and complex system composed of endogenous driving force, efficiency-driven driving force, and value-driven driving force, thereby providing stable and powerful support for the development of Chinese-path modernization. In this driving force system, reform occupies an important position and plays an important role. “To solve the difficulties encountered in development, to respond to risks and challenges from all sides, and to promote sustained and healthy economic and social development, there is no other way but to deepen reform and opening up.” [4]4 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the symposium on further promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, as reported in official media. Facts have proven that to promote the smooth development of Chinese-path modernization, we must dare to reform and be good at reform, providing a powerful driving force for the development of Chinese-path modernization through gradual, steady, and sound reform. If reform is belittled, feared, or rejected, it will lead to the accumulation of longstanding abuses and the spread of deep-seated ills, seriously affecting and restricting the development of the modernization cause. The Soviet-style modernization model, which once occupied a place in the world modernization landscape, ultimately faded from the historical stage because of problems such as slow reform, lagging reform, and errors in reform methods and direction in the economic, political, and cultural fields, which caused its own shortcomings to be constantly exposed and its vitality gradually lost.

任何现代化事业的发展都不是自然进行的，而是需要一定的动力驱动。动力是否充足强大，在很大程度上决定了现代化事业的盛衰荣枯和前途命运。在一个人口众多、基础薄弱、起点较低的后发国家推进现代化，并且正展现出蓬勃发展的崭新气象和壮阔景象，意味着其必然具有充足强大的动力。事实上，中国式现代化动力是一个由内源驱动型动力、效能驱动型动力和价值驱动型动力构成的多元的、复杂的动力系统，从而为中国式现代化发展提供稳定的、强大的动力支撑。在这一动力系统中，改革占有重要地位、发挥重要作用。“要破解发展中面临的难题、化解来自各方面的风险挑战，推动经济社会持续健康发展，除了深化改革开放，别无他途。”事实证明，要推动中国式现代化的顺利发展，必须勇于改革、善于改革，通过循序渐进、积极稳妥的改革为中国式现代化发展提供强大的动力。而如果轻视改革、畏惧改革、拒绝改革，就会导致积弊丛生、沉疴泛滥，严重影响和制约现代化事业的发展。在世界现代化版图中曾占有一席之地的苏联式现代化模式，就是因为在经济领域、政治领域、文化领域等方面改革迟缓、改革滞后以及改革方法和方向出现错误等问题，而使自身的弊端不断暴露，生机逐渐丧失，最终黯然退出历史舞台。

The development of Chinese-path modernization cannot be separated from reform; reform is an important source of driving force for the development of Chinese-path modernization. Over more than 40 years of reform and opening up, the cause of Chinese-path modernization has achieved extraordinary accomplishments and made a great leap forward. However, facing the new tasks and new challenges of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, it is still necessary to rely on comprehensive and deepening reform for empowerment and support: “We must take comprehensive and deepening reform as the fundamental driving force for advancing Chinese-path modernization.” [5]5 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the Central Economic Work Conference in 2023, as reported in official media. The more Chinese-path modernization advances and the better it develops, the stronger its demand for a powerful modernization driving force becomes, and the more it will depend on the driving force of comprehensive and deepening reform. Therefore, taking comprehensive and deepening reform as the fundamental driving force for advancing Chinese-path modernization is not only a logical necessity for deeply grasping the laws of Chinese-path modernization construction and summarizing the experience of Chinese-path modernization construction, but also points out the direction and path for the continuous development of Chinese-path modernization.

中国式现代化的发展离不开改革，改革是中国式现代化发展的重要动力源。改革开放40多年来，中国式现代化事业发展已取得非凡成就、实现巨大跃升。但是，面对全面建设社会主义现代化国家的新任务、新挑战，依然需要依靠全面深化改革来予以赋能和支撑，“要把全面深化改革作为推进中国式现代化的根本动力”。中国式现代化越是不断向前推进、越是不断向好发展，其对强大现代化动力的需求就越强烈，就会越依赖于全面深化改革的动力驱动。所以，把全面深化改革作为推进中国式现代化的根本动力，既是深刻把握中国式现代化建设规律、总结中国式现代化建设经验的逻辑必然，也为中国式现代化的不断发展指明了方向和路径。

(II) Comprehensive and Deepening Reform Provides Institutional Guarantees for Chinese-Path Modernization

（二）全面深化改革为中国式现代化提供制度保障

One of the fundamental attributes of Chinese-path modernization is socialism; it is modernization under the conditions of the socialist system. In particular, the establishment of the socialist system in China realized the most profound and greatest social change in Chinese history, laying the fundamental political prerequisite and institutional foundation for all development and progress in contemporary China. Compared with capitalist modernization, socialist modernization has significant institutional advantages. The competition between the two different social systems of socialism and capitalism is, to a large extent, concentrated in the competition between the two different modernization models of socialist modernization and capitalist modernization. Since reform and opening up, and especially since the New Era, Chinese-path modernization has achieved rapid development relying on the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, creating a development miracle unprecedented in the history of world modernization, and demonstrating the vigorous vitality and outstanding institutional competitiveness of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Although the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is advanced compared with the capitalist system, this does not mean that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is perfect and without shortcomings. On the contrary, a social system established on a certain social foundation and realistic basis can have lasting vitality only if it is compatible with the economic base and fits the basic national conditions. That is to say, as a new thing in human history, the socialist system is not perfect or fully mature; it also has some aspects that do not match the development of productive forces or conform to people’s beautiful expectations, and these need to be improved through reform: “Only through reform can the superiority of the socialist system be brought into fuller play.” [6]6 This is a quotation from Deng Xiaoping’s speech “Reform Is the Only Way for China to Develop Its Productive Forces,” delivered in 1985. Facts have proven that comprehensive and deepening reform is an important way and effective means to eliminate all outdated ideas, concepts, and institutional and mechanism defects, conducive to forming a system that is complete, scientifically standardized, and effectively operational, making the various systems more mature and more定型. [7]7 The Chinese term 定型 (dìngxíng) means “to become finalized” or “to take a fixed form,” referring to the maturation and stabilization of institutional systems. Therefore, the overall goal of further comprehensively deepening reform is “to continue to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.” [8]8 This is the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform as stated in the “Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee in 2013.

中国式现代化的根本属性之一是社会主义，是社会主义制度条件下的现代化。尤其是社会主义制度在中国的确立，实现了中国历史上最深刻、最伟大的社会变革，为当代中国一切发展进步奠定了根本政治前提和制度基础。同资本主义现代化相比，社会主义现代化具有显著的制度优势。社会主义与资本主义两种不同社会制度的竞争，在很大程度上就集中表现为社会主义现代化与资本主义现代化两种不同现代化模式的竞争。改革开放以来尤其是新时代以来，中国式现代化就是以中国特色社会主义制度为依托而实现了快速发展，创造出了世界现代化史上前所未有的发展奇迹，彰显了中国特色社会主义制度旺盛的生命力和突出的制度竞争力。虽然中国特色社会主义制度相较于资本主义制度具有先进性，但并不意味着中国特色社会主义制度就是完美无缺的、毫无不足的。相反，建立在一定社会基础、现实基础上的社会制度，只有与经济基础相适应、与基本国情相契合，才能使社会制度具有长久的生命力。即是说，作为人类历史上的新生事物，社会主义制度并非尽善尽美、完全成熟的，也存在着一些与生产力发展不匹配、与人们的美好期待不相符的地方，需要通过改革来加以完善，“只有通过改革，社会主义制度的优越性才能更加充分地发挥出来。”事实证明，全面深化改革是破除一切不合时宜的思想观念和体制机制弊端的重要途径和有效方式，有利于形成系统完备、科学规范、运行有效的制度体系，使各方面制度更加成熟更加定型。所以，进一步全面深化改革的总目标是“继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化”。

Of course, comprehensively deepening reform is “reform” and not “a change of direction”; upholding the socialist nature and orientation is an important prerequisite and foundation for comprehensively deepening reform. Reform does not negate the socialist system; rather, it seeks to enhance institutional competitiveness through institutional change and institutional innovation. Its essence is the self-development and self-improvement of the socialist system. “We must, through comprehensively deepening reform, focus on resolving a series of prominent contradictions and problems facing our country’s development, and continuously advance the self-improvement and self-development of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.” Comprehensively deepening reform is conducive to abolishing the old and establishing the new, promoting the beneficial and eliminating the harmful, enabling the superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics to be brought into fuller and more effective play, thereby providing a solid institutional guarantee for the development of Chinese-path modernization.

当然，全面深化改革是“改革”而非“改向”，坚持社会主义的性质和方向是全面深化改革的重要前提和基础。改革并非对社会主义制度的否定，而是要通过制度变革和制度创新增强制度竞争力，其本质是社会主义制度的自我发展、自我完善，“我们必须通过全面深化改革，着力解决我国发展面临的一系列突出矛盾和问题，不断推进中国特色社会主义制度自我完善和发展。”全面深化改革有利于破旧立新、兴利除弊，使中国特色社会主义的优越性得到更加充分和有效的发挥，从而为中国式现代化的发展提供坚实的制度保障。

(3) Comprehensively deepening reform provides scientific and technological support for Chinese-path modernization

（三）全面深化改革为中国式现代化提供科技支撑

Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material civilization and cultural-ethical progress are coordinated, and it is also a modernization that achieves the all-round development of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan [n9], comprehensive social progress, and the full realization of prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, and beauty. The modernization of science and technology is not only an important component of Chinese-path modernization, but also its internal driving force and reliable support, playing a key role in Chinese-path modernization. On the one hand, emphasizing the comprehensiveness, wholeness, and synergy of development is a distinctive feature of Chinese-path modernization. “The tasks of modernization are multifaceted; all aspects require comprehensive balance and cannot be pursued in isolation.” Only by adhering to comprehensive, coordinated, and balanced development, establishing scientific modes of thinking such as systematic thinking and dialectical thinking, and correctly handling the relationship between the whole and the parts, and between the present and the long term, can we avoid situations where the lag in one aspect or field constrains and affects the whole, or where the advance of a single aspect or field causes imbalance in the whole, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of modernization. On the other hand, comprehensive and coordinated development does not mean covering everything, exerting equal force, or applying the same effort; rather, it requires correctly handling the relationship between the theory of two points and the theory of emphasis, and adhering to the organic unity of comprehensive development and breakthrough in key areas. The modernization of science and technology is a key element and important manifestation of Chinese-path modernization, capable of effectively empowering its development. If we fail to grasp this “bull’s nose” [n10] of scientific and technological modernization, then the comprehensive and coordinated development of Chinese-path modernization will be difficult to sustain. Precisely for this reason, since the New Era, Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized conclusions such as “the key to Chinese-path modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology” and “achieving a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening is the key to Chinese-path modernization,” fully affirming the unique status and role of scientific and technological modernization in Chinese-path modernization.

中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，也是“五位一体”全面发展、社会全面进步、富强民主文明和谐美丽全面实现的现代化。科技现代化不仅是中国式现代化的重要内容，也是中国式现代化的内在动力和可靠支撑，在中国式现代化中发挥着关键性的作用。一方面，注重发展的全面性、整体性和协同性，是中国式现代化的鲜明特点。“现代化建设的任务是多方面的，各个方面需要综合平衡，不能单打一。”只有坚持全面发展、协调发展、平衡发展，树立系统思维、辩证思维等科学思维方式，正确处理整体与部分、当前与长远的关系，才能避免因某一方面、某一领域的相对滞后而制约和影响整体，或因某一方面、某一领域的单兵突进而使整体失衡的情况，从而提高现代化建设的质量和效益。另一方面，全面协调发展并非面面俱到、平均发力、同等用力，而是要正确处理两点论与重点论的关系，坚持全面发展与重点突破的有机统一。科技现代化是中国式现代化的关键要素和重要表征，能够有效赋能中国式现代化的发展。如果不能牵住科技现代化这一“牛鼻子”，那么中国式现代化的全面协调发展是难以持续的。正因为如此，新时代以来，习近平反复强调“中国式现代化关键在科技现代化”“实现高水平科技自立自强，是中国式现代化建设的关键”等结论，充分肯定了科技现代化在中国式现代化中的独特地位和作用。

Highlighting the particularity and criticality of scientific and technological modernization in Chinese-path modernization indicates that the Communist Party of China’s understanding and grasp of the laws governing socialist modernization are becoming increasingly profound. However, in current concrete practice, there still exist some ideological concepts and institutional mechanisms that constrain scientific and technological development, leading to problems such as the overall low level of China’s scientific and technological development, insufficient capacity of science and technology to support economic and social development, and a contribution rate of science and technology to economic growth far lower than that of developed countries. Therefore, the field of science and technology not only requires reform but is also the field most in need of continuous reform. Only by continuously advancing the reform of the science and technology system can we effectively liberate and develop productive forces. Hence, it is necessary to “comprehensively deepen the reform of the science and technology system and mechanisms, fully stimulating the vitality of innovation and creation.” It can be said that comprehensively deepening reform is an inevitable requirement for achieving a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening and advancing the modernization of science and technology, and it is also the practical direction for providing more solid and stronger scientific and technological support for Chinese-path modernization.

突出科技现代化在中国式现代化中的特殊性、关键性，表明中国共产党人对社会主义现代化建设规律的认识和把握愈益深刻。然而，在当前的具体实践中，依然存在一些束缚科技发展的思想观念和体制机制障碍，从而导致我国科技发展水平总体不高，科技对经济社会发展的支撑能力不足，科技对经济增长的贡献率远低于发达国家水平等问题。所以，科技领域不仅需要改革，而且是最需要不断改革的领域。只有不断推进科技体制改革，才能有效地解放和发展生产力，所以要“全面深化科技体制机制改革，充分激发创新创造活力”。可以说，全面深化改革是实现高水平科技自立自强、推进科技现代化的必然要求，也是为中国式现代化提供更坚实、更强大科技支撑的现实所向。

3. “Mastering the Method”: The Methodological Path of Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization

三、“得其法”：全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的方法路径

To achieve tangible results and breakthroughs in advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensively deepening reform, it is necessary to respect laws, emphasize strategy, and pay attention to methods, rather than acting arbitrarily or willfully. Therefore, “mastering the method” is an important prerequisite for advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensively deepening reform.

以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化要取得实效、获得突破，就必须尊重规律、注重策略、讲究方法，而不是随心所欲、任意而为。所以，“得其法”是全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的重要前提。

(1) Correctly handling the relationship between emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts

（一）正确处理解放思想与实事求是的关系

Correctly handling the relationship between emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts runs through the entire process of reform and opening up. Reform and opening up is both a process of continuously emancipating the mind and a process of adhering to seeking truth from facts. Regarding the relationship between emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, on the one hand, emancipating the mind is a prerequisite for seeking truth from facts, and also an important means and method for achieving seeking truth from facts; on the other hand, the purpose and ultimate destination of emancipating the mind is to achieve seeking truth from facts. Only by adhering to seeking truth from facts as the starting point and fundamental requirement, proceeding from objective reality and actual conditions, and emancipating the mind in a manner that seeks truth from facts, can the emancipated mind better serve seeking truth from facts and continuously reach new levels of seeking truth from facts. In a certain sense, the process of continuously emancipating the mind is a process of continuously summing up experience and correcting mistakes, a process of promoting ideological innovation and conceptual renewal, and is essentially adhering to seeking truth from facts. That is to say, in the process of reform and opening up, the relationship between emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts is one of mutual influence, mutual penetration, mutual conditionality, and internal unity. The realization of every aspect of seeking truth from facts is inseparable from emancipating the mind; emancipating the mind is an inherent requirement for achieving seeking truth from facts. The deeper reform and opening up advances, the more it is necessary to leverage the positive interactive role of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, continuously promoting the development of the cause of reform and opening up through their mutual support and mutual promotion. If separated from seeking truth from facts, emancipating the mind will only be blind and aimless; if separated from emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts will only become mired in immediate interests and partial interests while neglecting long-term interests and overall interests. “If the mind is not emancipated, it will be very difficult for us to see clearly the crux of various solidified interests, difficult to find the direction and focus of breakthroughs, and difficult to come up with creative reform measures.” Regarding the current comprehensively deepening reform, it is necessary to continuously emancipate the mind, bravely break through the obstacles of various backward concepts and outdated thinking, and promptly discard various old and outdated ideas to achieve ideological and conceptual renewal; it is also necessary to adhere to seeking truth from facts, proceeding from specific national conditions and concrete realities in everything, achieving the organic unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. Comprehensively deepening reform must fully grasp the internal unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, and guard against and oppose erroneous views and tendencies that separate or even oppose emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts.

正确处理解放思想与实事求是的关系贯穿于改革开放的全过程中，改革开放既是一个不断解放思想的过程，又是一个坚持实事求是的过程。从解放思想与实事求是的关系来说，一方面，解放思想是实事求是的前提条件，也是实现实事求是的重要手段和方法；另一方面，解放思想的目的和归宿是为了实现实事求是，只有坚持以实事求是为出发点和根本要求，坚持从客观现实和实际情况出发，实事求是地解放思想，才能使解放了的思想更好地为实事求是服务，并不断达到新的实事求是。从一定意义上说，不断解放思想的过程，就是不断总结经验、修正错误的过程，就是推动思想创新和观念更新的过程，实质上就是坚持实事求是。也就是说，在改革开放的过程中，解放思想与实事求是的关系是相互影响、相互渗透、互为条件、内在统一的，实事求是之每一方面内容的实现都离不开解放思想，解放思想是实现实事求是的内在要求。改革开放越是不断向纵深推进，就越需要发挥解放思想与实事求是的良性互动作用，在二者的相互支撑、相互促进中不断推动改革开放事业的发展。如果离开了实事求是，解放思想只会是盲目的、漫无目的的；如果离开了解放思想，实事求是只会陷于眼前利益、局部利益之中而忽略了长远利益、整体利益。“思想不解放，我们就很难看清各种利益固化的症结所在，很难找准突破的方向和着力点，很难拿出创造性的改革举措。”就当前的全面深化改革而言，既要不断解放思想，勇于冲破各种落后观念、陈旧思维的障碍，及时抛弃各种旧的、不合时宜的思想观念，以实现思想上、观念上的吐故纳新；又要坚持实事求是，一切从具体国情、具体实际出发，实现解放思想与实事求是的有机统一。全面深化改革必须充分把握解放思想与实事求是的内在统一性，防范和反对把解放思想与实事求是割裂开来甚至对立起来的错误观点、错误倾向。

(2) Correctly handling the relationship between top-level design and grassroots exploration

（二）正确处理顶层设计与基层探索的关系

Correctly handling the relationship between top-level design and grassroots exploration is one of the successful experiences of China’s reform and opening up, and it is also a reform methodology rich in Chinese characteristics. The launch and continuous advancement of China’s reform and opening up have been realized through the positive interaction between top-level design and grassroots exploration. Top-level design emphasizes the overall, holistic, and strategic aspects; it summarizes and condenses the practical experience of the masses into systematic, law-based understanding, and on this basis clarifies the strategic objectives, strategic priorities, order of precedence, and main direction of attack for reform, providing scientific guidance for grassroots exploration. Without top-level design, grassroots exploration would degenerate into piecemeal tinkering lacking systematic planning. Grassroots exploration, in turn, emphasizes seeking out patterns and accumulating experience, providing a practical foundation for top-level design and driving the continuous realization of top-level design goals. Without grassroots exploration, the goals of top-level design would hang in the air, becoming a flower in a mirror or the moon on the water’s surface.[11]11 “Flower in a mirror or the moon on the water’s surface” (镜花水月) is a Chinese idiom referring to something beautiful but illusory or unattainable. Looking back at the more than 40 years of development since China’s reform and opening up, the grassroots exploration of the broad masses of the people, especially the peasant masses, has become an important aspect driving reform and development. Many reform policies and strategies have been built on the basis of the grassroots exploration of the peasant masses, representing a summation and elevation of the practical experience and wisdom of the peasant masses, which in turn continuously enriches and perfects top-level design. “Chinese peasants are extremely creative. Since reform and opening up, the household contract responsibility system was initiated by peasants at their own risk; township and village enterprises, which emerged suddenly, were founded by peasants; and in recent years, the large-scale process of urbanization also began with peasants breaking down barriers and entering cities.” It can be said that grassroots exploration is the source of inspiration and wisdom for top-level design, and top-level design continuously draws fresh vitality from grassroots exploration. Whether it is reform or deepening reform comprehensively, both involve a certain degree of exploration and innovation, and should proceed steadily and step by step, following objective laws while fully stimulating the initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity of the broad masses of the people, advancing through an organic combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches. “Crossing the river by feeling the stones and strengthening top-level design are dialectically unified; promoting partial, phased reform and opening up must be carried out under the premise of strengthening top-level design, and strengthening top-level design must be planned on the basis of promoting partial, phased reform and opening up.”[12]12 This quotation is from a speech by Xi Jinping, drawing on the well-known reform-era metaphor “crossing the river by feeling the stones” (摸着石头过河), which describes a pragmatic, experimental approach to reform. In the process of deepening reform comprehensively, one cannot adopt an either/or attitude or favor one over the other toward top-level design and grassroots exploration. Instead, one must deeply grasp the mutually reinforcing and organically integrated relationship between the two,凝聚 (coalescing) a powerful joint force for deepening reform comprehensively through top-down and bottom-up interaction.

正确处理顶层设计与基层探索的关系，是中国改革开放的成功经验之一，也是富有中国特色的改革方法论。中国改革开放的启动和不断推进，都是在顶层设计与基层探索的良性互动中实现的。顶层设计侧重于全局性、整体性和战略性，它把群众实践经验总结、凝练为系统性、规律性认识，在此基础上明确改革的战略目标、战略重点、优先顺序、主攻方向等，为基层探索提供科学指导。若无顶层设计，基层探索就会沦为缺少系统谋划的零敲碎打。基层探索则侧重于摸寻规律、积累经验，为顶层设计提供实践基础，并推动顶层设计目标的不断实现。若无基层探索，顶层设计的目标就会悬浮于空，成为镜花水月。回顾中国改革开放40多年的发展历程，广大人民群众尤其是农民群众的基层探索成为推动改革发展的重要方面，很多的改革政策、改革战略就是建立在农民群众基层探索基础上的，是对农民群众实践经验智慧的总结和升华，继而不断丰富和完善着顶层设计。“中国农民是极富创造力的，改革开放以来，家庭承包制是农民冒着风险发起的，异军突起的乡镇企业是农民创立的，近年来大规模的城镇化进程也是从农民冲破障碍进城开始的。”可以说，基层探索是顶层设计的灵感来源和智慧源泉，顶层设计是从基层探索中不断获得鲜活的生命力的。无论是改革还是全面深化改革，都带有一定的探索性、创新性，都应该稳步前行、循序渐进，既遵循客观规律，又充分地激发起广大人民群众的积极性、主动性和创造性，在自上而下与自下而上的有机结合中向前推进。“摸着石头过河和加强顶层设计是辩证统一的，推进局部的阶段性改革开放要在加强顶层设计的前提下进行，加强顶层设计要在推进局部的阶段性改革开放的基础上来谋划。”在全面深化改革过程中，对顶层设计与基层探索不能采取非此即彼或厚此薄彼的态度，而是要深刻把握二者之间相辅相成、有机融通的关系，在上下互动中凝聚全面深化改革的强大合力。

(3) Correctly Handling the Relationship Between Holistic Advancement and Breakthroughs in Key Areas

（三）正确处理整体推进与重点突破的关系

Reform is a vast social systems engineering project, involving both the economic base and the superstructure; both material aspects and spiritual aspects; both internal factors and external factors, etc. It is a comprehensive, systematic project spanning multiple fields and links. At the same time, under circumstances of profound changes in the economic system, significant shifts in social structure, deep adjustments in the pattern of interests, and profound transformations in ideas and concepts, the environment faced by reform is complex and changeable, and interest relations are intricately interwoven. Therefore, smoothly advancing reform requires a high level of political skill and political wisdom, including correctly handling the relationship between holistic advancement and breakthroughs in key areas. Holistic advancement emphasizes the integrity and synergy of reform, avoiding reform falling into singularity, partiality, or fragmentation; breakthroughs in key areas emphasize the targeted and focused nature of reform, using important fields and key links as breakthrough points, aiming to remove the main obstacles restricting development, and playing a traction and driving role for the entire reform. “Adopt targeted concrete measures, strive to match the whole with the parts, combine addressing both symptoms and root causes, and connect gradual progress with breakthroughs, achieving the unity of holistic advancement and breakthroughs in key areas.”[13]13 This quotation is from a speech by Xi Jinping. Holistic advancement and breakthroughs in key areas are mutually reinforcing and dialectically unified. Holistic advancement is based on breakthroughs in key areas, and breakthroughs in key areas presuppose holistic advancement. If one unilaterally emphasizes holistic advancement while neglecting and detaching from breakthroughs in key areas, reform will lose its focal point and key point, making it difficult to achieve major breakthroughs or qualitative leaps; if one unilaterally emphasizes breakthroughs in key areas while neglecting and detaching from holistic advancement, reform will fall into the trap of advancing on a single front and attending to one thing while losing sight of another, thereby risking imbalance and disorder. In fact, in the process of deepening reform comprehensively, important fields are “pulling one hair and moving the whole body,”[14]14 “Pulling one hair and moving the whole body” (牵 relating to the overall situation and the big picture of reform, and are the top priority of reform; key links are “one move lands and the whole board comes alive,”[15]15 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are the four fundamental principles upheld by the CPC: the socialist path, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. relating to the quality and effectiveness of reform, and are the powerful fulcrum of reform. However, important fields and key links do not exist in isolation; only by统筹全局 (coordinating the overall situation) and advancing synergistically can their exemplary and driving role be better exerted. In short, adhering to the method of using points to drive the surface, using the surface to encompass the whole, and combining points with surfaces is an important working method and leadership method, and it is also an important experience and wisdom for deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization.

改革是一项庞大的社会系统工程，既涉及经济基础，又涉及上层建筑；既涉及物质方面，又涉及精神方面；既涉及内部因素，也涉及外部因素等，是关涉多领域、多环节的综合性、系统性工程。同时，在经济体制深刻变革、社会结构深刻变动、利益格局深刻调整、思想观念深刻变化的情况下，改革所面临的环境是复杂多变的，利益关系是错综交织的，所以，顺利推进改革需要高超的政治水平和政治智慧，其中就包括正确处理整体推进与重点突破的关系。整体推进注重改革的整体性、协同性，避免改革陷入单一化、局部化、碎片化之中；重点突破注重改革的针对性、侧重性，以重要领域和关键环节为突破口，以破除制约发展的主要障碍为目标，对整个改革起到牵引和推动作用。“采取有针对性的具体措施，努力做到全局和局部相配套、治本和治标相结合、渐进和突破相衔接，实现整体推进和重点突破相统一。”整体推进与重点突破是相辅相成、辩证统一的关系，整体推进以重点突破为基础，重点突破以整体推进为前提，如果片面注重整体推进而忽视和脱离了重点突破，就会使改革失去着力点和关键点，改革就难以取得大的突破、质的跃升；如果片面注重重点突破而忽视和脱离了整体推进，就会使改革陷入单兵突进、顾此失彼中，进而使改革有失衡失序的危险。事实上，在全面深化改革过程中，重要领域是“牵一发而动全身”的，它关系改革的整体和大局，是改革的重中之重；关键环节则是“一子落而满盘活”，关系改革的质量和成效，是改革的有力支点。但是，重要领域和关键环节并非孤立存在，只有统筹全局、协同推进，才能更好发挥其示范带动作用。总之，坚持以点带面、以面带全、点面结合，是一种重要的工作方法、领导方法，也是全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的重要经验智慧。

(4) Correctly Handling the Relationship Between Deepening Reform and Expanding Opening Up

（四）正确处理深化改革与扩大开放的关系

Internal reform and external opening up are both important components of China’s reform and opening-up policy, and they are also two important fulcrums of socialist modernization. In fact, China’s reform and opening up has always advanced through the interweaving of internal reform and external opening up; the two are an inseparable organic whole. “One is external economic opening up, the other is invigorating the domestic economy. Reform means invigoration; invigorating the domestic economy means opening up internally; in fact, both are called the open policy.”[16]16 The term "落脚点" (luòjiǎo diǎn) literally means "foothold" or "point of landing," and here it is used figuratively to mean the ultimate goal or end point of an action. Specifically, reform is a necessary condition for opening up; without the continuous deepening of reform, there would be no expansion of opening up. Opening up is an external driving force for reform; without the continuous advancement of opening up, there would be no flourishing development of reform. Therefore, internal reform and external opening up are mutually reinforcing and mutually causal, organically unified in the process of Chinese-path modernization. To continue advancing the development of Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to deeply grasp and correctly handle the relationship between deepening reform and expanding opening up, where they stimulate each other and bring out the best in each other: “Use expanding opening up to promote deepening reform, use deepening reform to promote expanding opening up, injecting new momentum, adding new vitality, and expanding new space for economic development.”[17]17 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, focused on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. It issued the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization,” which is the key document referenced in this text. From reform to deepening reform comprehensively, from opening up to forming a comprehensive, multi-tiered, and wide-ranging new pattern of all-round opening up, the reason Chinese-path modernization is full of vitality and vigor lies in the fact that, on the basis of following the laws of socialist modernization, it has achieved internal and external connectivity and positive interaction between deepening reform and expanding opening up, avoiding both the conservatism caused by lagging reform and the closure caused by restricted opening up. Practice shows that only by linking the internal connection between deepening reform and opening up to the outside world, continuously empowering opening up with deepening reform and continuously activating deepening reform with opening up, can the foundation for the development of Chinese-path modernization be made more solid and its momentum more sufficient.

对内改革与对外开放都是中国改革开放政策的重要组成部分，也是社会主义现代化建设的两个重要支点。事实上，中国的改革开放始终是在对内改革与对外开放的相互交织中推进的，二者是一个不可分割的有机整体，“一个对外经济开放，一个对内经济搞活。改革就是搞活，对内搞活也就是对内开放，实际上都叫开放政策。”具体而言，改革是开放的必要条件，没有改革的不断深化，就不会有开放的扩大；开放是改革的外部推动力，没有开放的持续推进，就不会有改革的繁荣发展。所以，对内改革与对外开放是互为表里、互为因果的关系，二者有机统一于中国式现代化进程中。继续推进中国式现代化的发展，必须深入把握和正确处理深化改革与扩大开放之间彼此激荡、相得益彰的关系，“以扩大开放促进深化改革，以深化改革促进扩大开放，为经济发展注入新动力、增添新活力、拓展新空间。”从改革到全面深化改革，从开放到形成全方位、多层次、宽领域的全面开放新格局，中国式现代化之所以充满活力、富有生机，就在于在遵循社会主义现代化建设规律的基础上，实现了深化改革与扩大开放的内外联通、良性互动，既避免了因改革滞后而带来的保守性，也避免了因开放受限而带来的封闭性。实践表明，只有贯通深化改革与对外开放的内在联系，既以深化改革不断赋能对外开放，又以对外开放不断激活深化改革，才能使中国式现代化的发展根基更稳固、动力更充足。

(5) Correctly Handling the Relationship Between Boldness in Action and Steadiness in Steps

（五）正确处理胆子要大与步子要稳的关系

Reform and opening up is a brand-new pioneering undertaking, carrying a certain degree of experimentation and exploration. In this process, it is necessary to correctly handle the relationship between "being bold in vision" and "being steady in steps." So-called being bold in vision means daring to try, daring to forge ahead, and not abandoning reform out of fear of risks; so-called being steady in steps means following laws, being strategic, and not recklessly experimenting or charging forward simply because reform requires innovation. Correctly handling the relationship between "being bold in vision" and "being steady in steps" embodies both a pioneering and enterprising spirit of daring to take risks and not fearing hazards, and also signals that reform and opening up must proceed steadily, firmly, and down-to-earth. "So-called being bold in vision means unswervingly carrying it through; being steady in steps means promptly correcting problems once they are discovered." That is to say, in the process of reform, one must both boldly experiment and boldly forge ahead, discarding the conservatism of hesitation and timidity, and also be adept at summing up experience, promptly discovering and correcting errors. This vividly reflects the Chinese Communist Party's superb reform artistry and leadership level, laying a methodological foundation for smoothly advancing reform. Comprehensive and deepening reform is a further push and deepening on the basis of reform, and will inevitably encounter many new situations, new problems, and new challenges. Therefore, it is even more necessary to handle the dialectical relationship between "being bold in vision" and "being steady in steps." "Being bold in vision means that no matter how difficult reform becomes, we must push it forward, dare to take responsibility, dare to gnaw on hard bones, and dare to venture into dangerous shoals. Being steady in steps means that the direction must be precise, the movement must be stable, and above all, no subversive mistakes must be made." Only with strong political courage and boldness can comprehensive and deepening reform effectively overcome stubborn institutional maladies and break through the barriers of entrenched interests; otherwise, reform will be difficult to make comprehensive or deepen. At the same time, comprehensive and deepening reform is a major adjustment of interest relations, involving many sensitive and major issues that affect the overall situation. The breadth, depth, and intensity of reform are unprecedented, and it will inevitably encounter various resistances and obstacles. This requires that the steps, pace, and speed of reform seek progress while maintaining stability and seek change while maintaining stability. Adhering to the dialectical unity of "being bold in vision" and "being steady in steps" enables comprehensive and deepening reform to both achieve "acceleration" and maintain "high quality."

改革开放是一项崭新的开创性事业，带有一定的试验性、探索性，在这个过程中就需要正确处理“胆子要大”与“步子要稳”的关系。所谓胆子要大，就是敢于尝试、勇于开拓，不因改革有风险就因噎废食；所谓步子要稳，就是遵循规律、讲究策略，不因改革需拓新就乱试乱闯。正确处理“胆子要大”与“步子要稳”的关系，既包含着敢于冒险、不畏风险的开拓进取精神，也昭示着改革开放要稳扎稳打、脚踏实地地进行，“所谓胆子要大，就是坚定不移地搞下去；步子要稳，就是发现问题赶快改。”即是说，在改革过程中既要大胆地试、大胆地闯，摒弃瞻前顾后、畏首畏尾的保守性，又要善于总结经验，及时发现和纠正错误，这鲜明地体现了中国共产党高超的改革艺术和领导水平，为顺利推进改革奠定了方法论基础。全面深化改革是在改革基础上的再推进、再深化，必然会遇到许多新情况、新问题、新挑战，因此更需处理好“胆子要大”和“步子要稳”之间的辩证关系。“胆子要大，就是改革再难也要向前推进，敢于担当，敢于啃硬骨头，敢于涉险滩。步子要稳，就是方向一定要准，行驶一定要稳，尤其是不能犯颠覆性错误。”全面深化改革只有具备强大的政治勇气和魄力，才能有效攻克体制机制上的顽瘴痼疾、突破利益固化的藩篱，否则，改革就难以全面、难以深化。同时，全面深化改革又是利益关系的重大调整，会涉及很多牵动全局的敏感问题和重大问题，改革的广度、深度、力度前所未有，不可避免地会遇到各种阻力和障碍，这就要求改革的步骤、步伐、步速要稳中求进、稳中求变。坚持“胆子要大”和“步子要稳”之间的辩证统一，才能使全面深化改革既跑出“加速度”，又保持“高质量”。

Four, "Adhering to the Path": The Path Dependence of Advancing Chinese-Path Modernization through Comprehensive and Deepening Reform

四、“守其道”：全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的道路依循

The path is the lifeblood of the Party, and adhering to the correct path is an important magic weapon for the Party to continuously open up new prospects in its undertakings. Advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform must adhere to the right path and follow the great path, continuously strengthening confidence in the path.

道路就是党的生命，而坚守正确道路则是党不断开创事业发展新局面的重要法宝。以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化必须守正道、走大道，不断坚定道路自信。

(1) Adhering to the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（一）坚守中国特色社会主义道路

As an indispensable finishing touch in "Chinese-path modernization," "Chinese path" can be understood and grasped from different dimensions and levels. But in any case, one of the core essences of "Chinese path" is socialism. That is to say, in terms of the essential attribute of Chinese-path modernization, it is a socialist rather than capitalist modernization. Adhering to the socialist direction and following the socialist path is an inherent requirement of Chinese-path modernization. "The modernization we are pursuing is Chinese-path modernization. The socialism we are building is socialism with Chinese characteristics." In advancing the development of Chinese-path modernization, one must never neglect or underestimate the core element and fundamental nature of "socialism" within Chinese-path modernization. Especially the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics formed after reform and opening up embodies the organic combination of the essential attributes of socialism with conformity to China's national conditions. It is a path that both adheres to the principles of scientific socialism and possesses distinct Chinese characteristics, providing a basic path foundation for the development of Chinese-path modernization in the new period. In contemporary China, adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly adhering to socialism. From a specific dimension and perspective, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the path of Chinese-path modernization began developing almost simultaneously after reform and opening up. There are some overlapping aspects in their content, and they mutually support and promote each other, both being important components of the Chinese path. "In a narrow sense, the path of Chinese-path modernization mainly refers to the path of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics since reform and opening up." The interconnectedness, affinity, and coupling between the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the path of Chinese-path modernization make them an interactive, inseparable organic whole. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to achieve socialist modernization and is also the "only choice" for promoting the continuous development of Chinese-path modernization.

作为“中国式现代化”中必不可少的点睛之笔，“中国式”可从不同维度、不同层面进行理解和把握。但无论如何，“中国式”的核心要义之一都是社会主义。即是说，就中国式现代化的本质属性而言，它是社会主义而非资本主义的现代化。坚持社会主义方向、依循社会主义道路，是中国式现代化的内在要求。“我们搞的现代化，是中国式的现代化。我们建设的社会主义，是有中国特色的社会主义。”推进中国式现代化的发展，决不能忽略或轻视中国式现代化中的“社会主义”这一核心要素和根本性质。尤其是改革开放后形成的中国特色社会主义道路，体现了社会主义本质属性与符合中国国情的有机结合，是一条既坚持科学社会主义原则又具有鲜明中国特色的道路，为新时期中国式现代化的发展提供了基本的道路依托。在当代中国，坚持中国特色社会主义道路，就是真正坚持社会主义。而从特定维度、特定视角出发，中国特色社会主义道路与中国式现代化道路在改革开放后几乎是同时起步发展的，在内容上存在着一些交叉重合的方面，并且二者之间相互支撑、相互促进，都是中国道路的重要组成部分。“狭义的中国式现代化道路主要指改革开放以来的中国特色社会主义现代化建设之路。”中国特色社会主义道路与中国式现代化道路之间的关联性、亲缘性和耦合性，使二者成为一个彼此互动、不可分割的有机体。中国特色社会主义道路是实现社会主义现代化的必由之路，也是推动中国式现代化不断发展的“不二之选”。

The socialist system inherently defines the fundamental nature of Chinese-path modernization, and adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics is one of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the qualitative stipulation of Chinese-path modernization, determining the nature and direction of Chinese-path modernization. Comprehensive and deepening reform is not a reckless or disorderly reform that ignores direction or lacks rules; it takes adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics as its basic premise. It is an elevation, expansion, and improvement of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of following objective laws. "It both uses the Four Cardinal Principles[15]15 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are the four fundamental principles upheld by the CPC: the socialist path, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. to ensure the correct direction of reform and opening up, and endows the Four Cardinal Principles with new era connotations through reform and opening up, eliminating various disturbances and unswervingly taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics." Therefore, advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform must always adhere to the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.

社会主义制度内在规定着中国式现代化的根本性质，坚持中国特色社会主义是中国式现代化本质要求之一。中国特色社会主义是中国式现代化的质的规定性，决定了中国式现代化的性质和方向。全面深化改革不是不看方向、毫无章法的瞎改、乱改，而是以坚守中国特色社会主义道路为基本前提的，是在遵循客观规律的基础上对中国特色社会主义道路的提升、拓展和完善，“既以四项基本原则保证改革开放的正确方向，又通过改革开放赋予四项基本原则新的时代内涵，排除各种干扰，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义道路。”所以，以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化，必须始终坚守中国特色社会主义制度。

(2) Adhering to the "Path of Serving the People"

（二）坚守“为民之道”

The comparison and competition between different modernization models and modernization paths ultimately boil down to a comparison and competition of value goals, value pursuits, and value concepts. Unlike Western modernization, which is thing-oriented and prioritizes interests, Chinese-path modernization adheres to putting people first and prioritizing the people. This is also the fundamental difference between Chinese and Western modernization. The reason Chinese-path modernization stands out and is unique in the world is that it always places people at the core of modernization, continuously advancing modernization closely around this fundamental element of people, thereby achieving a transcendence of the Western modernization model, which is centered on capital, dominated by the logic of material modernization, and oriented toward the pursuit of material wealth and capital accumulation. It is precisely because "vulgar greed" and "unrestrained material desires" have continuously proliferated that Western modernization has led to the decline of people's spiritual world, the alienation of interpersonal relationships, and the accumulation and eruption of social crises including the polarization between rich and poor. "It accomplishes these things by arousing the basest impulses and passions in people and by doing so at the cost of damaging all their other faculties." In contrast, Chinese-path modernization always adheres to the people-centered development concept. The masses are both the practical subjects and the value subjects of Chinese-path modernization. Fundamentally, this is a modernization model that benefits the people and the populace. "We insist on taking the realization of the people's aspiration for a better life as the starting point and落脚点[16]16 The term "落脚点" (luòjiǎo diǎn) literally means "foothold" or "point of landing," and here it is used figuratively to mean the ultimate goal or end point of an action. of modernization, striving to maintain and promote social fairness and justice, and striving to promote common prosperity for all people." Relying on the people to carry out modernization construction gives Chinese-path modernization a solid mass foundation and mass strength; carrying out modernization construction for the people gives Chinese-path modernization clear development goals and strong development momentum; having the people share the fruits of modernization construction, making them benefit all people more and more fairly, gives Chinese-path modernization its fundamental value orientation.

不同现代化模式、现代化道路之间的比较和竞争，归根到底是价值目标、价值追求、价值理念的比较和竞争。与西方现代化的以物为本、利益至上不同，中国式现代化是坚持以人为本、人民至上的，这也是中西方现代化的根本不同之处。中国式现代化之所以在世界上独树一帜、别具一格，就在于它始终把人置于现代化的核心位置，紧紧围绕人这一根本要素而不断推进现代化，从而实现了对以资本为中心，以物质的现代化为主导逻辑，以追求物质财富和资本增殖为价值旨归的西方现代化模式的超越。正是因为“鄙俗的贪欲”和“无节制的物欲”不断泛滥，导致了西方现代化中人的精神世界的沦落、人际关系的异化以及包括贫富两极分化等社会危机的积累和爆发，“它是用激起人们的最卑劣的冲动和情欲，并且以损害人们的其他一切禀赋为代价而使之变本加厉的办法来完成这些事情的。”与其不同，中国式现代化始终坚持以人民为中心的发展理念，人民群众既是中国式现代化的实践主体，也是中国式现代化的价值主体，从根本上说这是一种造福人民、惠及民众的现代化模式，“我们坚持把实现人民对美好生活的向往作为现代化建设的出发点和落脚点，着力维护和促进社会公平正义，着力促进全体人民共同富裕”。依靠人民进行现代化建设，使中国式现代化有了坚实的群众基础、群众力量；为了人民进行现代化建设，使中国式现代化有了明确的发展目标、强大的发展动力；由人民共享现代化建设成果，使其更多更公平地惠及全体人民，则使中国式现代化有了根本的价值旨向。

As an important means and method for realizing Chinese-path modernization, comprehensively deepening reform must adhere to the value stance of putting people first and placing the people above all else; this is something that cannot be changed at any time. The purpose of comprehensively deepening reform is to better safeguard the people’s interests, enhance the people’s well-being, and continuously strengthen the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security. The people are the main body of social practice and also the main body of comprehensively deepening reform. “The people are the main body of reform; we must persist in doing everything for the people and relying on the people.” Only by adhering to the “way of serving the people” (为民之道) and fully stimulating and giving play to the broad masses of the people’s initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity can comprehensively deepening reform and the development of Chinese-path modernization possess an inexhaustible and powerful force. Moreover, the people are also the fundamental judging subject of comprehensively deepening reform; whether reform succeeds ultimately depends on the people’s recognition and satisfaction. It can be said that winning the “public praise” (口碑) of the people and passing the “quality inspection” (质检) of social practice are the fundamental basis for successfully answering the major “examination paper” (考卷) of comprehensively deepening reform and promoting the development of Chinese-path modernization in the New Era.

作为实现中国式现代化的重要途径和手段，全面深化改革必须坚持以人为本、人民至上的价值立场，这是到任何时候都不能改的。全面深化改革的目的是更好地维护人民利益、增进人民福祉，不断增强人民群众的获得感、幸福感、安全感。人民群众是社会实践的主体，也是全面深化改革的主体，“人民是改革的主体，要坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，”只有坚守“为民之道”，充分激发起和发挥好广大人民群众的积极性、主动性、创造性，全面深化改革、中国式现代化发展才会拥有绵延不绝的强大力量。不仅如此，人民群众还是全面深化改革的根本评判主体，改革是否成功归根到底取决于人民群众的认可度、满意度。可以说，收获人民群众的“口碑”、经受社会实践的“质检”,是答好新时代全面深化改革、推动中国式现代化发展这一重大“考卷”的根本基础。

(III) Adhering to the Track of the Rule of Law

（三）坚守法治轨道

The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization” emphasizes, “Adhere to comprehensive law-based governance, deepen reform and advance Chinese-path modernization on the track of the rule of law, and achieve the unity of reform and the rule of law.” In the process of developing Chinese-path modernization and on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, comprehensive law-based governance and comprehensively deepening reform are closely linked and indispensable. Reform is not arbitrary or willful; it must have a basis and constraints, and must be carried out under the premise and norms of the rule of law. “We must strive to properly handle the relationship between reform and the rule of law. Reform and the rule of law complement each other and arise together.” Comprehensive law-based governance, as an important strategy for comprehensively deepening reform, is not only an intrinsic component of advancing Chinese-path modernization but also a basic method and pathway for promoting Chinese-path modernization through reform and innovation, playing an irreplaceable role in regulating and ensuring the correct direction of reform and innovation. That is to say, after reform measures and goals are proposed, the guarantee and regulation of the rule of law must promptly and effectively follow up to safeguard the steady and sustained progress of reform.

《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革 推进中国式现代化的决定》强调，“坚持全面依法治国，在法治轨道上深化改革、推进中国式现代化，做到改革和法治相统一”。在中国式现代化发展过程、全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程中，全面依法治国和全面深化改革是紧密关联、不可缺位的。改革不是随心所欲、任性而为，而必须有所依凭、有所约束，需要在法治的前提下、法治的规范下进行改革。“我们要着力处理好改革和法治的关系。改革和法治相辅相成、相伴而生。”全面依法治国作为全面深化改革的重要方略，既是推进中国式现代化发展的内在构成，又是以改革创新推进中国式现代化发展的基本方式和路径，对确保改革创新的正确方向发挥着不可替代的规范和保障作用。也就是说，在改革的举措和目标提出后，法治的保障和规范要及时有效跟进，以为改革行稳致远保驾护航。

Reform is an important driving force for Chinese-path modernization, and the rule of law is an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization. Reform focuses on “breaking” (破), breaking through old systems and institutions that constrain the development of productive forces; the rule of law focuses on “establishing” (立), establishing new systems and mechanisms that adapt to the development of productive forces. Comprehensively building a modern socialist country requires neither the absence of reform nor the absence of the rule of law; rather, the two must be organically coordinated and unified, “advancing reform under the rule of law, and perfecting the rule of law through reform.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [17]17 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, focused on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. It issued the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization,” which is the key document referenced in this text. elevated adhering to comprehensive law-based governance as one of the major principles for further comprehensively deepening reform. This requires that, in the process of promoting comprehensively deepening reform, all reform measures must have a legal basis, fully leveraging the rule of law’s guiding and driving role in reform and innovation. Major reform and innovation achievements must be confirmed in legal form and promoted. In other words, it is necessary to organically unify the thinking of the rule of law with the spirit of reform, using the thinking and methods of the rule of law to advance reform, ensuring that the “train” of reform always runs on the “track” of the rule of law. In summary, reform and the rule of law must be advanced as one, without neglecting either.

改革是中国式现代化的重要动力，法治是中国式现代化的重要保障。改革侧重于“破”，冲破束缚生产力发展的旧的体制和制度；法治则侧重于“立”，建立适应生产力发展的新的体制和机制。全面建设社会主义现代化国家既离不开改革，也离不开法治，而是要将二者有机协同和统一起来，“在法治下推进改革，在改革中完善法治”。党的二十届三中全会将坚持全面依法治国作为进一步全面深化改革的重大原则之一，这就要求在推进全面深化改革过程中，要保证各项改革措施于法有据，充分发挥法治对改革创新的引领和推动作用，重大改革创新成果要用法律的形式确定下来并予以推广。换言之，就是要把法治思维和改革精神有机统一起来，运用法治的思维和方式推进改革，确保让改革“列车”始终在法治的“轨道”上运行，总而言之，改革与法治要一体推进、不可偏废。

V. “Reinforcing the Pillar” (砥其柱): The Leading Force for Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization

五、“砥其柱”：全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的领导力量

Practice shows that a weak and incompetent leading force may cause the reform cause to fail at the last hurdle; a low and weak level of leadership may cause the reform cause to stagnate. Therefore, having a strong and capable leading core is an inherent requirement for advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensively deepening reform.

实践表明，领导力量软弱无能，就可能使改革事业功亏一篑；领导水平薄弱低下，就可能使改革事业低迷停滞。所以，有一个坚强有力的领导核心，是以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的内在要求。

(I) Party Leadership Provides the Fundamental Guarantee

（一）党的领导提供根本保证

Further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization in a large socialist country with a population of over 1.4 billion, which is still in the primary stage of socialism, is an extremely arduous and challenging task. This requires a strong and capable leading force to plan, organize, and promote it. The Communist Party of China is the leading core for comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. Over the past 40-plus years of reform and opening up, the fundamental and key reason for the continuous great achievements in the reform and opening up cause and the significant leaps in the development of Chinese-path modernization lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China. In contemporary China, the Communist Party of China is the highest political leadership force; there is no political force or other force greater than the Communist Party of China. That is to say, the leading core status and role of the Communist Party of China in comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization are unshakable and irreplaceable. This is because, compared with other political parties or forces, the Communist Party of China is the most qualified and capable of undertaking leadership responsibilities and playing a leadership role. The Communist Party of China is not only a party that is advanced in nature, selfless, and with a lofty mission, but also a party with a high level of leadership capability and leadership skill. “Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization.” Whether it is adhering to the correct direction of reform and opening up, opening up the correct path of reform and opening up, or drawing up the scientific blueprint for reform and opening up and constructing the strategic framework for reform and opening up, none of this can be done without the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

在一个有着14亿多人口、正处于社会主义初级阶段的社会主义大国进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化，是一项十分具有艰巨性、挑战性的工作，这就需要有一个坚强有力的领导力量来予以谋划、组织和推动。中国共产党是全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的领导核心，40多年来，改革开放事业之所以不断取得巨大成就、中国式现代化发展之所以实现重要跃升，其根本和关键就在于有中国共产党的领导。在当代中国，中国共产党是最高政治领导力量，没有大于中国共产党的政治力量或其他什么力量。也就是说，中国共产党在全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化中的领导核心地位和作用是不可动摇、不可替代的。这是因为同其他政党或政治力量相比，中国共产党最有资质、最有能力承担领导责任、发挥领导作用。中国共产党不仅是一个本质先进、毫无私心、使命崇高的政党，而且是一个具有高强领导能力、领导水平的政党，“党的领导是进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的根本保证。”无论是坚持改革开放的正确方向、开辟改革开放的正确道路，还是擘画改革开放的科学蓝图、建构改革开放的战略框架，都离不开中国共产党的领导。

In fact, reform is not unique to China; many countries in the world have been carrying out reforms of varying degrees in different forms to promote the development of their own modernization. But not all reforms have succeeded. Some have gone astray or been thwarted midway; some have changed course or gone in the opposite direction during the reform process; and others, though once vigorous, ultimately ended in failure—for example, the reform cause under the leadership of the Soviet Communist Party was short-lived and all previous achievements were lost, and the economic reforms of some Latin American countries have been fraught with twists and turns and difficult to succeed. While these outcomes are certainly related to a country’s reform objectives, strategies, and orientations, one important reason is that they lacked a strong and capable leading force. Facts have proven that to achieve successful reform and advance the development of modernization, an important prerequisite is that the leading force must be strong and capable, able to play an important role in setting the direction, planning the overall situation, formulating policies, and promoting reform. “The purpose of advancing reform is to continuously promote the self-improvement and development of our socialist system and to endow socialism with new vitality and dynamism. The core of this is to uphold and improve Party leadership and to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Upholding Party leadership is a fundamental experience of comprehensively deepening reform and a distinctive advantage of the development of Chinese-path modernization.

事实上，改革并非中国所独创独有，世界上的很多国家都一直在以不同形式进行着不同程度的改革，以推动本国现代化事业的发展。但并非所有改革都能取得成功，有的改革误入歧途、中途受挫，有的在改革过程中出现改弦更张、南辕北辙的情况，还有的改革虽一度声势浩大但最终走向失败，如苏共领导下的改革事业昙花一现、前功尽弃，拉美一些国家的经济改革曲折不断、难以成功等。这些结果固然与一个国家的改革目的、改革策略、改革取向等有关，但其中一个重要原因就在于它们缺少一个坚强有力的领导力量。事实证明，要实现改革的成功、推进现代化事业的发展，其重要前提就是领导力量必须坚强有力，能够发挥把方向、谋大局、定政策、促改革的重要作用，“推进改革的目的是要不断推进我国社会主义制度自我完善和发展，赋予社会主义新的生机活力。这里面最核心的是坚持和改善党的领导、坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度”，坚持党的领导是全面深化改革的根本经验，也是中国式现代化发展的显著优势。

(II) Party Leadership Provides Ideological Guidance

（二）党的领导提供思想引领

In different periods and different countries, when carrying out reform (or renovation), different reform ideas are formed around questions such as why to reform, how to reform, and what kind of reform to carry out. This is also an important reason for the differences in their styles and prospects. That is to say, reform is not spontaneous or arbitrary, but is influenced or governed by certain ideas, theories, or values. Any reform undertaking is a reflection of the ideas, concepts, and values of a given reform subject. Correct, scientific, and advanced ideas and theories naturally play an important guiding, leading, and promoting role in the reform undertaking, making it flourish; while erroneous, rigid, and backward ideas and theories constrain and shackle the development of the reform undertaking, causing it to decline. This is also an important reason why different types and forms of reform in various countries around the world today end up with vastly different results and fates. China’s reform and opening up is guided by Marxism. Marxism’s important ideas on social change laid the theoretical foundation and provided the theoretical source for China’s reform and opening up. Using Marxism as an ideological weapon and applying a scientific worldview and methodology to guide practice and solve problems encountered in the process of China’s reform and opening up is an important reason why China’s reform and opening up stands out. At the same time, while adhering to and inheriting Marxism in reform practice, Chinese Communists have also promptly summarized the various new experiences and new wisdom condensed in the reform process, forming a Sinicized Marxist thought on reform and opening up with distinct Chinese characteristics, continuously providing ideological guidance and theoretical direction for China’s reform and opening up.

不同时期、不同国家在进行改革（或革新）的过程中，会围绕着为什么进行改革、如何进行改革、进行什么样的改革等问题，形成不同的改革思想，这也是决定它们之间风格各异、前途不同的重要原因。即是说，改革并不是自发的、任意的，而是受一定的思想、理论或价值观念影响或支配的，任何改革事业都是对一定改革主体的思想观念、价值理念的反映。正确的、科学的、先进的思想理论自然会对改革事业起着重要的指导、引领和推动作用，使改革事业呈现出蒸蒸日上之势；而错误的、僵化的、落后的思想理论则会制约和束缚改革事业的发展，使改革事业呈现出江河日下之势。这也是当今世界各国不同类型、不同形式的改革，其最终改革结果、改革命运迥然不同的重要原因。中国的改革开放是以马克思主义为指导思想的，马克思主义关于社会变革的重要思想为中国的改革开放事业奠定了理论基础、提供了理论渊源。以马克思主义为思想武器，运用科学的世界观和方法论指导实践，解决中国改革开放过程中遇到的问题，是中国的改革开放事业卓然而立的重要原因。同时，中国共产党人在改革实践中坚持和继承马克思主义的同时，也及时总结在改革过程中凝结的各种新经验、新智慧，形成了具有鲜明中国特色的中国化马克思主义改革开放思想，持续不断地为中国改革开放事业提供思想指引和理论指南。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions on comprehensive and deepening reform, profoundly answering the questions of why and how to advance comprehensive and deepening reform in the New Era. This has further enriched and developed the Chinese Communist Party’s theoretical system of thought on reform and opening up, deepened Chinese Communists’ understanding and grasp of the laws of reform and opening up, and provided scientific theoretical guidance and practical direction for opening up a new situation and writing a new chapter in comprehensive and deepening reform in the New Era.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，习近平总书记提出了关于全面深化改革的一系列新思想、新观点、新论断，深刻回答了新时代为什么要推进全面深化改革、如何推进全面深化改革等问题，进一步丰富和发展了中国共产党改革开放思想理论体系，深化了中国共产党人对改革开放规律的认识和把握，为新时代开辟全面深化改革新局面、谱写全面深化改革新篇章，提供了科学的理论指导和实践指南。

(III) Strengthening and Improving Party Leadership

（三）加强和改善党的领导

Advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform is carried out under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. However, the Party’s governing and leading status is not something that can be maintained naturally and permanently; the Party’s core leadership role is not immutable. The broader and deeper comprehensive and deepening reform becomes, and the more deeply Chinese-path modernization develops in practice, the more it requires the Chinese Communist Party to play its leadership role of commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties, and the more it requires the Chinese Communist Party to possess superb leadership ability and leadership level. Currently, in the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform, the Party faces the “four tests”[18]18 The “four tests” (四大考验) refer to the tests of governance, reform and opening up, the market economy, and the external environment. and “four dangers”[19]19 The “four dangers” (四种危险) refer to the dangers of mental slackness, insufficient capability, detachment from the people, and corruption and degeneration. which are long-term, complex, and severe. It remains necessary and important to always maintain the sobriety and firmness to solve the unique problems of a large party, and exploring how to break out of the historical cycle of rise and fall[20]20 The “historical cycle of rise and fall” (历史周期率) refers to the pattern observed in Chinese dynastic history of a ruling house rising, flourishing, declining, and falling. The question of how a political party can avoid this cycle was famously raised by Huang Yanpei during a 1945 conversation with Mao Zedong. remains a heavy and long-term task. If these dangers, difficulties, and challenges are left unchecked and allowed to develop, they will seriously affect the Party’s advanced nature and purity, weaken its cohesion and combat effectiveness, and even endanger the Party’s survival and development. Therefore, it is necessary to have the courage to engage in self-revolution, to govern and manage the Party strictly, to continuously improve the system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, in order to build a stronger and more powerful Marxist political party, “maintain a high degree of consciousness in using the Party’s self-revolution to lead social revolution, persist in governing and managing the Party with the spirit of reform and strict standards, and improve the institutional and normative system for the Party’s self-revolution.”[21]21 This is a quotation from the Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC. Using the Party’s self-revolution to lead social revolution, continuously consolidating the Party’s governing status, and improving the Party’s leadership ability are practical requirements for advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform, and are also the proper meaning of maintaining the Party’s vitality forever.

以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化，是在中国共产党领导下进行的。但是，党的执政地位和领导地位并不是自然而然就能长期保持下去的，党的领导核心作用并非恒定不变的。全面深化改革的广度和深度越是不断拓展，中国式现代化的发展在实践中越是日益深入，就越需要中国共产党发挥总揽全局、协调各方的领导作用，就越需要中国共产党具备高超的领导能力和领导水平。当前，在以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化过程中，党所面临的“四大考验”“四种危险”是长期的、复杂的、严峻的，时刻保持解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定依然是必要的、重要的，探索跳出历史周期率依然是任重而道远的。如果对这些危险、难题和挑战放任不管、任其发展，就会严重影响党的先进性和纯洁性，削弱党的凝聚力和战斗力，甚至危及党的生存发展。因此，必须勇于自我革命，从严管党治党，不断健全全面从严治党体系，以建设一个更加坚强有力的马克思主义政党，“保持以党的自我革命引领社会革命的高度自觉，坚持用改革精神和严的标准管党治党，完善党的自我革命制度规范体系”。以党的自我革命引领社会革命，不断巩固党的执政地位、提高党的领导能力，是以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化的现实要求，也是永葆党的生机活力的应有之义。

To this end, it is necessary to coordinate and advance the Party’s political building, ideological building, organizational building, conduct building, discipline building, and institutional building, highlight the organic connection and integrated synergy among the various aspects of Party building, and promote the mutual integration and complementary advantages of all aspects and links of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. Adhere to the combination of governing the Party by institutions and governing the Party by regulations, build a scientific and rigorous system of intra-Party regulations, achieve top-down coherence and effective implementation of institutions, and promote the improvement and standardization of the system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. Enhance the foresight and effectiveness of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and concentrate the effectiveness of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party on enhancing the Party’s ability to purify, improve, reform, and improve itself. In short, it is necessary to continuously advance the great new project of Party building, laying a solid foundation for the Party to better play its leading role in advancing Chinese-path modernization through comprehensive and deepening reform.

为此，必须统筹推进党的政治建设、思想建设、组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设、制度建设等，突出党的各方面建设之间的有机衔接、联动集成，推动全面从严治党各方面、各环节相互融合、优势互补。坚持制度治党和依规治党相结合，构建科学严密的党内法规体系，实现制度上下贯通、执行有力，推进全面从严治党体系的完善规范。增强全面从严治党的预见性、实效性，将全面从严治党成效集中到增强党的自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高能力上来。总之，要不断推进党的建设新的伟大工程，为党在以全面深化改革推进中国式现代化过程中更好发挥领导作用奠定坚实基础。

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆