A Three-Dimensional Examination of the “Four Forces” of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

On June 2, 2023, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping for the first time put forward the concept of “socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC proposed the “seven focal points” for further deepening reform comprehensively, one of which is “focusing on building a socialist cultural power.” On October 28, 2024, during the 17th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out that we must anchor the strategic goal of building a cultural power by 2035, and “continuously develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that possesses a strong power to guide with thought, to unite with spirit, to inspire with values, and to influence internationally.” To build a socialist cultural power, it is necessary to continuously develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, and constantly enhancing the “four forces” of culture is the inherent requirement and core essence of the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. This article intends to conduct a preliminary exploration of the issue of the “four forces” of culture from three dimensions: what it is, why it is needed, and how to achieve it.

2023年6月2日，在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平总书记首次提出“新时代中国特色社会主义文化”这一概念。党的二十届三中全会提出了进一步全面深化改革的“七个聚焦”，其中之一就是“聚焦建设社会主义文化强国”。2024年10月28日，习近平总书记在中央政治局第十七次集体学习时又进一步指出，要锚定2035年建成文化强国战略目标，“不断发展具有强大思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化”。要建成社会主义文化强国，就必须不断发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化，而不断提升文化“四力”则是新时代中国特色社会主义文化发展的内在要求和核心要义。本文拟从是什么、为什么、怎么办等三个维度，对文化“四力”问题作一初步探讨。

I. The Scientific Connotation of the “Four Forces” of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

一、新时代中国特色社会主义文化“四力”的科学内涵

The “four forces” are both a kind of power and a kind of capability, possessing rich connotations. Among them, the power to guide with thought determines the direction of development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era; the power to unite with spirit highlights the inner soul of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era; the power to inspire with values displays the unique charm of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era; and the power to influence internationally reflects the external image of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.

“四力”既是一种力量，也是一种能力，具有丰富的内涵。其中，思想引领力决定新时代中国特色社会主义文化的发展方向，精神凝聚力凸显新时代中国特色社会主义文化的内在灵魂，价值感召力展现新时代中国特色社会主义文化的独特魅力，国际影响力反映新时代中国特色社会主义文化的外部形象。

(I) The Power to Guide with Thought Determines the Forward Direction of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

（一）思想引领力决定新时代中国特色社会主义文化的前进方向

“To guide” means to lead and direct, referring to the process of driving things to follow a certain direction and movement. Guiding with thought refers to the process of instilling advanced ideas and concepts into the minds of the masses, leading and guiding the broad masses of the people to work and act in accordance with the future vision charted and indicated by advanced thought. The power to guide with thought refers to the strength and capability of the Party to continuously advance theoretical innovation, to arm minds, unify thinking, guide practice, and resist the influence of various erroneous ideological trends with the Party’s theoretical innovation achievements.

“引领”即引导、带领，指带动事物跟随它们向某一方向运动和发展。思想引领是指把先进的思想观念灌输于群众头脑，引导和带领广大人民群众按照先进思想指明和规划的未来图景进行工作和付诸行动的过程。思想引领力，是指党不断推进理论创新，以党的理论创新成果武装头脑、统一思想、指导实践和抵御各种错误思潮影响的力量和能力。

The power to guide with thought of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is mainly manifested in three levels: First, the power of ideological construction that adheres to and develops Marxism. Engels once pointed out: “Our Party has a great advantage, namely, that it has a new scientific worldview as its theoretical foundation.” Marxism explains the laws of the development of human society and indicates its forward direction. In terms of scientificity and truth, in the history of human thought, “no ideological theory has reached the height of Marxism.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Marx,” May 4, 2018. From its inception, the Communist Party of China has clearly inscribed Marxism on its banner. In the concrete practice of revolution, construction, and reform, it has adhered to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and using the Party’s innovative theories to guide the great cause of national rejuvenation. Second, the power of ideological dissemination that persuades and guides the masses. Marx believed that only by grasping the root of things and constructing a thorough theory can one persuade people and unleash the powerful force of “grasping the masses.” Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era has grasped the root of cultural development, adhered to a people-centered approach, taken the spiritual and cultural needs of the masses as the starting point and goal of cultural construction, and established mainstream culture, mainstream public opinion, and mainstream values throughout society, demonstrating a strong power to guide with thought. Third, the power of ideological combat that steers and regulates other ideological trends. The ideological and cultural front has a significant impact on the Party’s long-term governance, the country’s enduring peace and stability, and social development and progress. It has become a public opinion arena that various ideological trends vie to occupy. If Marxism does not occupy it, there is a danger of being occupied by other ideological trends. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused on using Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods to deeply analyze the political harm and essence of various erroneous ideological trends, prompting the masses to consciously comprehend the truth charm of Marxism through scientific comparison and rational analysis, thereby enhancing the masses’ conscious identification with Marxism and Marxism’s ideological guidance over the masses. The power to guide with thought determines the direction of development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, and it concerns “what kind of spirit” this culture uses to continuously enhance its power to unite with spirit, “what kind of values” it uses to continuously enhance its power to inspire with values, and “what kind of culture” it uses to continuously enhance its power to influence internationally.

新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力主要体现在三个层面：一是坚持和发展马克思主义的思想建构力。恩格斯曾经指出：“我们党有个很大的优点，就是有一个新的科学的世界观作为理论的基础。”马克思主义解释了人类社会发展的规律，指明了其前进的方向。就科学性和真理性而言，在人类思想史上，“没有一种思想理论能达到马克思主义的高度”。中国共产党一经成立，就鲜明地将马克思主义写在自己的旗帜上，在革命、建设和改革的具体实践中，坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，用党的创新理论引领民族复兴伟业。二是说服和引导人民群众的思想传播力。马克思认为，只有抓住事物的根本，建构彻底的理论，才能说服人，迸发出“掌握群众”的强大力量。新时代中国特色社会主义文化抓住了文化发展的根本，坚持以人民为中心，把人民群众的精神文化需求作为文化建设的出发点和落脚点，在全社会确立起主流文化、主流舆论、主流价值，展现出强大的思想引领力。三是牵引和规约其他社会思潮的思想战斗力。思想文化阵地对党长期执政、国家长治久安、社会发展进步影响重大，成为各种思潮争相抢夺的舆论场地，如果马克思主义不去占领，就存在被其他思潮占领的危险。以习近平同志为核心的党中央注重运用马克思主义立场、观点和方法深入剖析各种错误思潮的政治危害及其本质，促使群众在科学比较和理性分析中自觉领悟马克思主义的真理魅力，增强群众对马克思主义的自觉认同和马克思主义对人民群众的思想引领。思想引领力决定新时代中国特色社会主义文化的发展方向，事关新时代中国特色社会主义文化“以什么样的精神”不断提升其精神凝聚力，“以什么样的价值”不断提升其价值感召力，“以什么样的文化”不断提升其国际影响力。

(II) The Power to Unite with Spirit Highlights the Inner Soul of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

（二）精神凝聚力凸显新时代中国特色社会主义文化的内在灵魂

“To unite” is a physical term, meaning to gather or accumulate, referring to the process of a gas becoming denser or turning into a liquid. Spiritual unity refers to the process in which a group within a certain scope, based on a high degree of identification with something, gathers together to form a relatively stable spiritual outlook. The power to unite with spirit refers to the strength and capability of using a highly identified spiritual culture within a certain scope to coordinate the interest relations of different strata, meet the spiritual needs of the people, and form an overall synergy for undertaking endeavors.

凝聚是一个物理名词，意为聚集、积聚，指气体由稀变浓或变成液体。精神凝聚是指一定范围内的群体基于对某种事物的高度认同聚集到一起形成相对稳定的精神面貌的过程。精神凝聚力，是指通过一定范围内的群体高度认同的精神文化协调不同阶层的利益关系，满足人民群众的精神需求，形成干事创业的整体合力的力量和能力。

The power to unite with spirit of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is mainly manifested in three levels: First, the social centripetal force that unites hearts and minds with a common ideal. Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream of the Chinese nation in modern times. “This dream embodies the long-cherished wishes of several generations of Chinese people, reflects the overall interests of the Chinese nation and the Chinese people, and is the common aspiration of every Chinese son and daughter.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the First Session of the 12th National People’s Congress,” March 17, 2013. The essence of man is not an abstraction inherent in a single individual, but “the ensemble of the social relations.” [3]3 Karl Marx, “Theses on Feuerbach,” 1845. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people correctly handle the relationship between personal ideals and social ideals, common ideals and lofty ideals, transcend differences in region, occupation, time, etc., and unite as one to continuously advance toward the great dream of national rejuvenation. Second, the spiritual vitality that unites hearts and minds with the Chinese spirit. In the historical process of realizing national rejuvenation, the Chinese people have condensed a rich connotation of the Chinese spirit. “Patriotism has always been the spiritual force that firmly unites the Chinese nation together,” [4]4 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th National Congress of the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 9th National Congress of the Chinese Writers Association,” November 30, 2016. and it is the spiritual code for the Chinese nation and the Chinese people to create miracles in times of crisis and to stand firm through many hardships. The spirit of reform and innovation has infused the Chinese spirit with the flavor of the times and is a great spiritual force that inspires people of all ethnic groups across the country to forge ahead and keep pace with the times. The Chinese spirit is a spiritual pedigree that keeps pace with the times, presenting different forms of expression in various historical periods, continuously gathering the mighty strength of the Chinese people for undertaking endeavors. Third, the social integration force that unites hearts and minds with the sense of community of the Chinese nation. China is a multi-ethnic country. Integrating ethnic forces and fully mobilizing the construction enthusiasm of all ethnic groups is a necessary condition for achieving the goal of a strong country. The sense of community of the Chinese nation guides people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the community concept of “sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny,” [5]5 This phrasing is drawn from official discourse on the sense of community of the Chinese nation, emphasizing shared destiny. correctly handle the relationship between individuals and individual ethnic groups, and between individual ethnic groups and the Chinese nation, and integrate the ethnic forces for socialist modernization. The power to unite with spirit is the soul of the “four forces” of culture, profoundly influencing the intensity of the power to guide with thought, the strength of the power to inspire with values, and the degree of the power to influence internationally of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.

新时代中国特色社会主义文化的精神凝聚力主要体现在三个层面：一是用共同理想凝心聚力的社会向心力。实现中华民族伟大复兴是中华民族近代以来最伟大的梦想，“这个梦想，凝聚了几代中国人的夙愿，体现了中华民族和中国人民的整体利益，是每一个中华儿女的共同期盼。”人的本质不是单个人所固有的抽象物，而是“一切社会关系的总和”，中国人民在中国共产党的坚强领导下正确处理个人理想与社会理想、共同理想与远大理想的关系，超越了地域、职业、时间等方面的差异，团结一心朝着实现民族复兴的伟大梦想不断前进。二是用中国精神凝心聚力的精神生命力。中国人民在实现民族复兴的历史进程中，凝结起内涵丰富的中国精神。“爱国主义始终是把中华民族坚强团结在一起的精神力量”，是中华民族和中国人民于危难中创造人间奇迹、于多次磨难中依然挺立的精神密码。改革创新精神为中国精神注入了时代气息，是激励全国各族人民锐意进取、紧跟时代的伟大精神力量。中国精神是一个与时俱进的精神谱系，在各个历史时期呈现出不同的表现形式，不断凝聚起中国人民干事创业的磅礴力量。三是用中华民族共同体意识凝心聚力的社会整合力。我国是一个多民族国家，整合民族力量、充分调动各民族的建设热情是实现强国目标的必要条件。中华民族共同体意识引导各族人民牢固树立“休戚与共、荣辱与共、生死与共、命运与共”的共同体理念，正确处理个人与单元民族、个体民族与中华民族的关系，整合起社会主义现代化建设的民族力量。精神凝聚力是文化“四力”的灵魂，深刻影响新时代中国特色社会主义文化思想引领的力度、价值感召的强度和国际影响的程度。

(III) The Power to Inspire with Values Displays the Unique Charm of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

（三）价值感召力展现新时代中国特色社会主义文化的独特魅力

“To inspire” means to influence and summon, referring to a kind of psychological communication between people. Values refer to a person’s overall view and evaluation of objective things, which can be divided into advanced and backward, correct and erroneous, positive and negative. Value inspiration is the process in which a value subject uses advanced values to persuade, guide, and influence a value object, discarding backward values and accepting advanced values. The power to inspire with values is the strength and capability of advanced values to, by radiating their own charm, influence and attract people to abandon old, backward values and gradually accept new, advanced values. “Whether a core value system with strong inspirational power can be constructed concerns social harmony and stability, and concerns the long-term peace and stability of the country.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Eighth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee,” February 24, 2014.

“感召”即感化、召唤，指人与人之间的一种心理交流。价值观是指一个人对客观事物的总体看法和评价，有先进与落后、正确与错误、积极与消极之分。价值感召就是价值主体用先进的价值观说服、引导和感化价值客体，摒弃落后的价值观并接受先进的价值观的过程。价值感召力就是先进的价值观通过散发自身魅力感化和吸引人们摒弃旧的落后的价值观，并使其逐步接受新的先进的价值观的力量和能力，“能否构建具有强大感召力的核心价值观，关系社会和谐稳定，关系国家长治久安”。

The value appeal of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is manifested on three levels: first, the attractiveness of the core socialist values. The time-honored fine traditional Chinese culture embodies the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, is the unique spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, and nurtures the traditional values of the Chinese nation. The core socialist values are in the same line as traditional values; they are the inheritance, development, and summation and sublimation of the fine traditional Chinese culture. Core values essentially reflect moral issues; they are both a kind of personal virtue at the individual level and a kind of great virtue at the national and social level. The core socialist values have timely answered the epochal questions of “what kind of country to build,” “what kind of society to build,” and “what kind of citizens to cultivate,” conforming to the people’s moral pursuit of goodness and upward striving, and forming a strong value attraction for the people. Second, the persuasiveness of the core socialist values. Adhering to a people-centered approach or adhering to a capital-centered approach is the fundamental distinction between the core socialist values and Western values. The core socialist values stand on the political stance of the broadest masses of the people, reflect the common aspirations of the broadest masses of the people, and are not decorations to be put on display, but are meant to solve the problems the people need to solve. Third, the infectivity of the core socialist values. The “daily, concrete, vivid, and life-oriented” propaganda and education of the core socialist values makes them permeate the people’s daily lives like air, and their infectivity is continuously enhanced. Value appeal highlights the core value pursuit of the “Four Forces” of culture and displays the unique charm of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. The continuous enhancement of value appeal has a positive driving effect on ideological guiding force, spiritual cohesion, and international influence.

新时代中国特色社会主义文化的价值感召力表现在三个层面：一是社会主义核心价值观的吸引力。历史悠久的中华优秀传统文化沉淀着中华民族最深层的精神追求，是中华民族独特的精神标识，孕育着中华民族传统的价值观。社会主义核心价值观与传统价值观一脉相承，是对中华优秀传统文化的继承发展和总结升华。核心价值观本质上体现的是道德问题，既是一种个人层面的私德，也是一种国家与社会层面的大德。社会主义核心价值观适时回答了“建设什么样的国家”“建设什么样的社会”“培育什么样的公民”等时代问题，符合人民群众向上向善的道德追求，对人民群众形成了强大的价值吸引力。二是社会主义核心价值观的说服力。坚持以人民为中心还是坚持以资本为中心是社会主义核心价值观同西方价值观的根本分野。社会主义核心价值观站在最广大人民群众的政治立场上，反映了最广大人民群众的共同愿望，不是用来做摆设的装饰品，而是要用来解决人民要解决的问题的。三是社会主义核心价值观的感染力。社会主义核心价值观的“日常化、具体化、形象化、生活化”宣传教育，使其像空气一样充斥在人民群众的日常生活中，其感染力不断增强。价值感召力突出文化“四力”的核心价值追求，展现了新时代中国特色社会主义文化的独特魅力。价值感召力的不断提升对思想引领力、精神凝聚力和国际影响力产生积极的推动作用。

(4) International influence reflects the external image of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era

（四）国际影响力反映新时代中国特色社会主义文化的外部形象

Influence refers to the changes or effects external factors produce on people or things, and can be positive or negative. International influence refers to the process in which a certain thing plays a role on the international stage, changing the will or behavior of the influenced party. International influence refers to “the ability and power to change the will and behavior of the influenced party through the use of soft methods such as attraction, persuasion, and inspiration in international cultural exchanges, thereby achieving a high degree of recognition.”

影响指外部因素对人或事物产生的改变或作用，有积极与消极之分。国际影响指某一事物在国际舞台上发挥作用、改变被影响者意愿或行为的过程。国际影响力是指“在国际文化交往中，通过运用吸引、说服、感召等柔性的方式，改变被影响者的意愿和行为，从而实现其被高度认同的能力和力量。”

The international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is mainly manifested on three levels: first, the shaping power of Chinese discourse. The right to speak in international discourse determines, to a certain extent, the scope of cultural dissemination and the degree of influence of a country or nation. Western countries, led by the United States, have long occupied the right to speak in international discourse by virtue of their economic and technological advantages since the Industrial Revolution, leading to China’s predicament of “being speechless” on the international stage. The image China presents in the world is “still largely ‘shaped by others’ rather than ‘self-shaped’.” Continuously enhancing the ability to explain Chinese practice with Chinese theory and forming an independent Chinese discourse and narrative system are inherent requirements for enhancing the international influence of Chinese culture. Since the New Era, China has focused on accelerating the construction of a philosophical and social science system with Chinese characteristics, committed to creating a batch of new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that connect China and the rest of the world, and continuously improving China’s ability to shape its own discourse. Second, the guiding force of international public opinion. The combination of positive dissemination and reverse guidance is an effective path to continuously enhance the guiding force of international public opinion. On the one hand, adhere to “letting the correct voice take precedence,” by accelerating the construction of a multi-channel, three-dimensional external communication pattern to promote the precise dissemination of China’s external discourse; on the other hand, in the face of malicious rumors, smears, and slanders from Western countries, mainstream media use solid evidence and practical actions to counterattack, scientifically guiding the development direction of international public opinion. Third, the affinity of China’s image. The number of Chinese cultural symbols and their degree of popularity have been continuously increasing. “High-speed rail,” “Alipay,” and “Taobao” have become well-known cultural symbols in recent years. Relevant surveys show that the degree of fondness of foreign respondents for 21 Chinese cultural symbols increased from 21.3% in 2011 to 50.6% in 2016. International influence creates a favorable external environment for the flourishing development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era and has an important impact on the continuous enhancement and degree of enhancement of ideological guiding force, spiritual cohesion, and value appeal.

新时代中国特色社会主义文化的国际影响力主要体现在三个层面：一是中国话语的塑造力。国际话语权在一定程度上决定着一个国家和民族的文化传播范围及影响程度。以美国为首的西方国家凭借其工业革命以来的经济技术优势长期霸占国际话语权，导致中国在国际舞台上面临“失语”窘境，中国在世界上展现出的形象“很大程度上仍是‘他塑’而非‘自塑’”。不断提升用中国理论阐释中国实践的能力，形成中国自主的话语和叙事体系，是提升中华文化国际影响力的内在要求。新时代以来，我国注重加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学体系，致力于打造一批融通中外的新概念、新范畴、新表述，不断提高我国的话语自塑力。二是国际舆论的引导力。正向传播与反向疏导相结合是不断提升国际舆论引导力的有效路径，一方面，坚持“让正确的声音先入为主”，通过加快构建多渠道、立体式的对外传播格局，促进我国对外话语的精准传播；另一方面，面对西方国家的恶意造谣、抹黑和污蔑，主流媒体等运用确凿证据和实际行动进行反击，科学引导国际舆论的发展方向。三是中国形象的亲和力。中华文化符号的数量及其受喜爱程度不断提高，“高铁”“支付宝”“淘宝”等成为近年来知名度较高的文化符号。相关调研显示，国外受访者对21个中华文化符号的喜爱程度从2011年的21.3%提升到了2016年的50.6%。国际影响力为新时代中国特色社会主义文化的繁荣发展塑造良好的外部环境，对思想引领力、精神凝聚力和价值感召力的不断提升及其提升程度产生重要影响。

2. The Value Implications of Enhancing the “Four Forces” of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

二、提升新时代中国特色社会主义文化“四力”的价值意蕴

Continuously enhancing the “Four Forces” of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era has important epochal value. From the perspective of consolidating political power, the enhancement of the “Four Forces” of culture is conducive to safeguarding China’s cultural security and indicating the forward direction of social development; from the perspective of building a strong country, it is conducive to mobilizing the broad masses of the people and gathering the mighty force for building a strong country; from the perspective of value shaping, it is conducive to establishing correct value standards and creating a good social atmosphere; from the perspective of world influence, it is conducive to presenting a true image of China and enhancing China’s international status.

不断提升新时代中国特色社会主义文化“四力”具有重要的时代价值。从政权巩固来看，文化“四力”的提升有利于维护我国文化安全，指明社会发展的前进方向；从强国建设来看，有利于动员广大人民群众，凝聚强国建设的磅礴力量；从价值塑造来看，有利于树立正确价值标准，营造良好的社会氛围；从世界影响来看，有利于展现真实的中国形象，提升我国的国际地位。

(1) Safeguarding China’s cultural security and indicating the forward direction of social development

（一）维护我国文化安全，指明社会发展的前进方向

“The collapse of a political power often begins in the ideological field.” [7]7 A quotation from a speech by Deng Xiaoping, often cited in Party documents to emphasize the primacy of ideological work. Ideological and cultural security largely affects the security of state power. Currently, China’s cultural field faces severe challenges that seriously threaten China’s cultural security: first, Western countries, relying on their economic and technological advantages, “have not stopped for a moment in their ideological infiltration of China.” Based on the value logic of “a strong country is bound to seek hegemony,” they fabricate the “China threat theory” and “China hegemony theory,” vigorously promote so-called “universal values,” and intend to seize China’s public opinion阵地. [8]8 “阵地” (position/battlefield) is a standard metaphor in CPC discourse for the ideological and cultural sphere, conceived as a site of struggle. Second, since reform and opening up, with the adjustment and change of economic structure and interest relations, people’s ideological concepts have shown a trend of diversification. Individualism, money worship, and other Western values have severely impacted the cultivation and promotion of the core socialist values. Third, the development of modern information technologies such as the internet has boosted the spread of Western values. Western anti-China forces have always attempted to use the internet to “overthrow China.” Years ago, some Western politicians claimed that “with the internet, there is a way to deal with China.” [9]9 A reference to a statement attributed to former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, frequently cited in Chinese media to illustrate Western intentions to use the internet for subversion. In this situation, continuously enhancing the “Four Forces” of culture and safeguarding China’s cultural security is a major issue we must address.

“一个政权的瓦解往往是从思想领域开始的”，思想文化安全在很大程度上影响着国家政权安全。当前，我国文化领域面临严峻挑战，严重威胁着我国的文化安全：一是西方国家凭借其经济技术优势“一刻也没有停止对我国进行意识形态渗透”，它们基于“国强必霸”的价值逻辑，炮制“中国威胁论”“中国霸权论”，极力宣扬所谓的“普世价值”，意图抢占中国的舆论阵地。二是改革开放以来，伴随经济结构和利益关系的调整变化，人们的思想观念出现多元化的发展趋势，个人主义、拜金主义等西方价值观念严重冲击社会主义核心价值观的培育和弘扬。三是互联网等现代信息技术的发展助推了西方价值观念的传播，西方反华势力一直妄图利用互联网“扳倒中国”，多年前有西方政要就声称“有了互联网，对付中国就有了办法”。值此境遇下，不断提升文化“四力”，维护我国的文化安全，是我们必须回答的重大问题。

Enhancing the “Four Forces” of culture and always adhering to Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological field is conducive to preventing and resolving the “cultural infiltration” of Western countries and ensuring that China always advances in the correct direction of socialism. The continuous enhancement of spiritual cohesion prompts the broad masses of the people to actively promote Chinese culture from the standpoint of the nation and the country, clarify various misunderstandings Western countries have about China, and safeguard China’s cultural security and international image. “Core values are an important stabilizer of a country.” [10]10 A paraphrase of a statement by Xi Jinping, emphasizing the stabilizing function of core values. The continuous enhancement of value appeal prompts the core socialist values to take root in the hearts of the people, effectively resisting the invasion of concepts such as the so-called “universal values” of Western countries, and establishing correct value standards for the people from the three levels of the country, society, and the individual. The continuous enhancement of international influence prompts the Chinese nation and the Chinese people to become more confident in their culture, and their belief in Marxism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics becomes more steadfast.

提升文化“四力”，始终坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，有利于防范化解西方国家的“文化渗透”，确保我国始终沿着社会主义的正确方向前进。精神凝聚力的不断提升促使广大人民群众站在国家和民族的立场积极宣扬中华文化，澄清西方国家对中国的种种错误认识，维护中国的文化安全和国际形象。“核心价值观是一个国家的重要稳定器”，价值感召力的不断提升促使社会主义核心价值观深入人心，有效抵御了西方国家所谓的“普世价值”等观念的入侵，从国家、社会和个人三个层面为人民群众确立起正确的价值标准。国际影响力的不断提升，促使中华民族和中国人民的文化自信更加坚定，对马克思主义的信仰和中国特色社会主义共同理想的认同更加坚定。

(2) Mobilizing the broad masses of the people and gathering the mighty force for building a strong country

（二）动员广大人民群众，凝聚强国建设的磅礴力量

Marxism emphasizes that the unity of the world lies in its materiality, but it does not deny the active reaction of consciousness to matter, and it holds that this reaction can sometimes be enormous. Fundamentally, continuously enhancing the “Four Forces” of culture means continuously enriching the people’s spiritual world and strengthening the people’s spiritual strength. “Once theory grips the masses, it also becomes material force.” [11]11 A quotation from Marx’s *Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. Introduction*. Continuously enhancing the “Four Forces” of culture is conducive to the people mastering the core essence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, thereby gathering it into the mighty force for building a strong country.

马克思主义强调世界的统一性在于它的物质性，但并不否认意识对物质能动的反作用，而且认为这种反作用有时候是巨大的。从根本上讲，不断提升文化“四力”，就是要不断丰富人民群众的精神世界，增强人民群众的精神力量。“理论一经掌握群众，也会变成物质力量”。不断提升文化“四力”，有利于人民群众掌握新时代中国特色社会主义文化的核心要义，进而凝聚成强国建设的磅礴力量。

The Communist Party is a political party that seeks the interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. After Party members choose to join the Party organization, they achieve a dual establishment of organizational identity and ideal and belief. Continuously enhancing ideological guiding force and upholding Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain are common needs of the Party organization and its members. This is conducive to strengthening the ideals and convictions of Party cadres, boosting their mental outlook in undertaking work and starting undertakings, and enhancing their ability to mobilize the broad masses of the people. Cohesion at the spiritual and cultural level is the deepest and most enduring unifying force of a nation. China is in a critical period of building a great modern socialist country. The risks and challenges encountered on the road ahead are increasingly complex and severe, making strong spiritual support all the more necessary. The continuous enhancement of spiritual cohesion is conducive to injecting powerful spiritual momentum into the masses of the people uniting as one to overcome various difficulties and challenges and to build a great modern socialist country, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of building a strong country. As the two overall situations [12]12 The “two overall situations” (两个大局) refer to the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the overall situation of changes unseen in a century in the world. intertwine, “China’s ideological domain faces an unprecedentedly complex situation” and “exchanges, interactions, and confrontations between different civilizations become more frequent.” People’s values and value orientations become more active, making it more difficult to consolidate value consensus and achieve mass mobilization. Continuously enhancing value appeal and giving play to the guiding role of mainstream values are conducive to the masses of the people jointly establishing advanced value concepts and striving hard to realize the national goal of prosperity. Continuously enhancing international influence helps to make the people’s cultural confidence more steadfast, their spirit more independent, and the subjectivity of Chinese culture continuously confirmed, prompting China to advance toward the goal of a strong country with a more confident spiritual outlook.

共产党是为绝大多数人谋利益的政党，党员选择加入党组织后，就实现了组织身份和理想信念的双重确立。不断提升思想引领力，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，是党组织和党员的共同需求，有利于坚定党员干部的理想信念，提振党员干部干事创业的精神面貌，提升党员干部动员广大人民群众的能力。精神文化层面的凝聚力是一个国家最深沉、最持久的团结力量。我国正处于建设社会主义现代化强国的关键时期，前进路上遇到的风险挑战愈加复杂严峻，更加需要强大的精神力量支撑。精神凝聚力的不断提升，有利于为人民群众团结一致地克服各种困难挑战和建设社会主义现代化强国注入强大的精神动力，保证强国建设的顺利推进。两个大局相互交织下，“我国意识形态领域面临着空前复杂的情况”“不同文明交流交融交锋更加频繁”，人们的价值观念和价值取向更加活跃，凝聚价值共识、达成群众动员的难度上升。不断提升价值感召力，发挥主流价值的引领作用，有利于人民群众共同树立起先进的价值理念，为实现富强的国家目标而努力奋斗。不断提升国际影响力促使人民群众的文化自信更加坚定，精神上更加独立，中华文化的主体性不断得到确证，促使我国以更加自信的精神面貌向强国目标迈进。

(3) Establishing Correct Value Standards and Creating a Good Social Atmosphere

（三）树立正确价值标准，营造良好的社会氛围

Value standards reflect the value concepts people pursue and are an important yardstick for measuring whether an individual’s values are advanced. Correct value standards are conducive to individual growth and improvement, social harmony and stability, national prosperity and development, and the common progress of the world. Conversely, erroneous value standards produce negative effects in many aspects. Continuously enhancing the “four forces” of culture has positive significance for establishing correct value standards.

价值标准反映着人们所追求的价值理念，是衡量一个人的价值观是否先进的重要尺度。正确的价值标准有利于个人的成长提高，社会的和谐稳定，国家的繁荣发展，世界的共同进步，反之，错误的价值标准则产生多方面的消极影响。不断提升文化“四力”，对树立正确价值标准具有积极意义。

Capitalism places people under the rule of capital, making people slaves of capital, and exchanges people’s health and freedom for the flourishing development of capital. Socialism, on the other hand, regards the free and comprehensive development of the individual as its ultimate goal, treats capital and the market as important means for seeking happiness for the people, and realizes the restoration of the essence of the human being. The continuous enhancement of ideological guiding force is conducive to people steadfastly upholding socialist ideals and communist beliefs, establishing the value goal of striving hard for the free and comprehensive development of the individual, and achieving the mastery and transcendence of the logic of capital. Although mainstream values, mainstream public opinion, and mainstream culture occupy a dominant position in the domain of social spiritual life, there are still some negative influencing factors in society. “Some convey negative emotions such as lack of ambition, decadence, and pessimism,” [13]13 Quotation from an unspecified official document or speech. seriously affecting people’s spiritual life. Continuously enhancing spiritual cohesion, by promoting the Chinese spirit to boost the spiritual morale of the masses, is conducive to regulating and improving negative emotions and shaping a good spiritual temperament of striving and enterprising, positivity and upward mobility. China is in an era of active thought, intense collision of ideas, and great integration of cultures. The complex situation in the ideological and cultural domain has brought some problems to China’s social development. “Among them, a more prominent problem is that some people lack values, have no concept of good and evil, have no bottom line in behavior, dare to do anything that violates Party discipline and state law, and dare to do any immoral deeds.” “The root cause of all kinds of problems emerging in society today lies here.” [14]14 Quotation from an unspecified official document or speech. Continuously enhancing value appeal is conducive to expanding the coverage and influence of mainstream values, prompting people to actively move closer to mainstream value concepts that conform to value pursuits such as truth, goodness, and beauty. The continuous enhancement of international influence is conducive to Chinese culture moving toward the world with greater confidence, prompting countries around the world to understand Chinese culture and the values contained therein more comprehensively.

资本主义将人置于资本的统治之下，使人成为资本的奴隶，以人的健康和自由为代价换取资本的繁荣发展。社会主义则将人的自由全面发展视为最终目标，把资本与市场当作为人民谋幸福的重要手段，实现了人的本质的复归。思想引领力的不断提升，有利于人们坚定社会主义理想和共产主义信念，确立起为实现人的自由全面发展而努力奋斗的价值目标，实现对资本逻辑的驾驭和超越。虽然主流价值、主流舆论、主流文化在社会精神生活领域占据主导地位，但是社会上依然存在一些消极的影响因素，“有的传递不思进取、颓废悲观等不良情绪”，严重影响着人们的精神生活。不断提升精神凝聚力，通过弘扬中国精神提振人民群众的精神斗志，有利于调节和改善不良情绪，塑造奋发进取、积极向上的良好精神气质。我国正处于思想大活跃、观念大碰撞、文化大交融的时代，思想文化领域的复杂情况给我国社会发展带来了一些问题，“其中比较突出的一个问题就是一些人价值观缺失，观念没有善恶，行为没有底线，什么违反党纪国法的事情都敢干，什么缺德的勾当都敢做”“现在社会上出现的种种问题病根都在这里。”不断提升价值感召力，有利于扩大主流价值的覆盖面和影响力，促使人们主动向符合真善美等价值追求的主流价值观念靠拢。国际影响力的不断提升有利于中华文化更加自信地走向世界，促使世界各国更加全面地了解中华文化及蕴含其中的价值观。

(4) Presenting a True Image of China and Enhancing China’s International Status

（四）展现真实的中国形象，提升我国的国际地位

International influence is affected by hard power and soft power. In terms of hard power, China has risen to become the world’s second-largest economy. With the completion of tasks such as the battle against poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the problem of “going hungry” has been historically resolved. In terms of soft power, China’s international discourse power still faces severe challenges. On the international stage, it faces the dilemma of “being voiceless” and the test of “being scolded.” [15]15 “Being scolded” (挨骂) is a colloquial Chinese term used in Party discourse to describe China’s vulnerability to international criticism and negative media coverage, contrasted with the historical problem of “going hungry” (挨饿). China’s economic development advantages have not yet been fully transformed into discourse advantages. Constrained by the long-term suppression of China’s discourse power in the ideological and cultural front, foreign people are often swept along by social public opinion manipulated by Western countries and frequently understand Chinese society according to Western values and ways of thinking, thereby generating cognitive biases. Continuously enhancing the “four forces” of culture and transforming China’s development advantages into discourse advantages is conducive to the external dissemination of China’s value concepts, helping foreign people understand China comprehensively from multiple dimensions, and constructing a true image of China through rational analysis.

国际影响力受硬实力和软实力的影响。就硬实力而言，我国已跃升为世界第二大经济体，伴随脱贫攻坚战和全面建成小康社会等任务的完成，“挨饿”问题已得到历史性解决；就软实力而言，我国的国际话语权依然面临严峻挑战，在国际舞台上面临“失语”窘境和“挨骂”考验，我国的经济发展优势尚未完全转化为话语优势。囿于我国在思想文化阵地中的话语权长期遭受打压，国外民众往往为西方国家操控的社会舆论裹挟，常常按照西方的价值观念和思维方式来理解中国社会，由此产生认知偏差。不断提升文化“四力”，将我国的发展优势转化为话语优势，有利于我国价值理念的对外传播，帮助国外民众从多个维度全面地认识中国，在理性分析中建构起真实的中国形象。

On the one hand, the continuous enhancement of culture’s ideological dissemination force, spiritual vitality, value attractiveness, and discourse self-shaping force is conducive to attracting foreign people to actively understand China’s value concepts through multiple channels, breaking through the information cocoons woven by Western countries by virtue of their economic and technological advantages, clarifying the malicious rumors, smears, and slanders of Western countries against China, and promoting the widespread dissemination of value concepts such as the common values of all mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, and a community with a shared future for mankind, which China has proposed and promoted on the basis of凝聚共识 among all countries, thereby presenting to the world a true, multi-dimensional, and lovable image of China. On the other hand, “cultural soft power centrally embodies a country’s cohesion and vitality based on culture, as well as the attractiveness and influence arising therefrom.” [16]16 Quotation from an unspecified official document or speech. The continuous enhancement of the “four forces” of culture is a process of continuously improving China’s cultural soft power. The improvement of China’s cultural soft power creates a good external environment for the further enhancement of economic hard power. The continuous enhancement of economic hard power, in turn, provides practical materials and material conditions for China’s discourse shaping and cultural dissemination. Cultural soft power and economic hard power, in their mutually reinforcing positive interaction, jointly promote the enhancement of China’s international status.

一方面，文化的思想传播力、精神生命力、价值吸引力和话语自塑力不断增强，有利于吸引外国民众通过多种渠道主动了解中国的价值观念，打破西方国家凭借其经济技术优势织就的信息茧房，澄清西方国家对中国的恶意造谣、抹黑和污蔑，促进中国在凝聚各国共识的基础上提出和弘扬的全人类共同价值、“一带一路”倡议、人类命运共同体等价值理念广泛传播，向世界展现出真实、立体、可爱的中国形象。另一方面，“文化软实力集中体现了一个国家基于文化而具有的凝聚力和生命力，以及由此产生的吸引力和影响力”。文化“四力”的不断提升就是我国文化软实力不断提升的过程，我国文化软实力的提高为经济硬实力的进一步提升塑造了良好的外部环境，经济硬实力的不断提升又为我国的话语塑造和文化传播提供了现实素材和物质条件，文化软实力与经济硬实力在相互作用的良性互动中共同促进我国国际地位的提升。

3. Effective Paths for Enhancing the “Four Forces” of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

三、提升新时代中国特色社会主义文化“四力”的有效路径

On the new journey, to develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, it is necessary to uphold Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, which is mainly reflected in three aspects: continuously enhancing its ideological guiding force; always insisting that cultural construction focuses on people and lands on people, continuously enhancing its spiritual cohesion; promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously enhancing its value appeal; and accelerating the construction of a multi-channel, multi-dimensional external communication pattern, continuously enhancing its international influence.

新征程上，发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化，要坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位主要体现在三个方面：不断提升其思想引领力；始终坚持文化建设着眼于人、落脚于人，不断提升其精神凝聚力；推进中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，不断提升其价值感召力；加快构建多渠道、立体式的对外传播格局，不断提升其国际影响力。

(1) Rectifying the Source: Upholding Marxism’s Guiding Position in the Ideological Domain

（一）正本清源：坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party [17]17 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024, focusing on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. particularly emphasized focusing on building a socialist cultural power and upholding the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain. Upholding Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain is an inevitable requirement for continuously enhancing the “four forces” of culture and building a socialist cultural power.

党的二十届三中全会特别强调，要聚焦建设社会主义文化强国，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度。坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，是不断提升文化“四力”、建设社会主义文化强国的必然要求。

Adhering to Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain is mainly reflected in three aspects: First, one must dare to wage resolute struggle against various non-Marxist ideological trends such as historical nihilism and neoliberalism, focusing on using Marxism’s standpoint, viewpoint, and method to educate and guide the masses to scientifically distinguish various non-Marxist and anti-Marxist ideological trends, and to strengthen the masses’ ideals and convictions through their analysis and critique. In the New Era of vigorous development of modern information technologies such as the internet, it is necessary to “improve the comprehensive cyberspace governance system and deepen the reform of the network management system,”[18]18 This is a quotation from a Chinese official source, likely a speech or document, emphasizing the effectiveness of narrative-based communication. scientifically grasp the propaganda and management functions of the internet, and be adept at turning crises into opportunities. Second, it is necessary to strengthen the Party’s theoretical innovation, “innovate the Marxist theory research and development project, and implement the philosophy and social sciences innovation project,”[19] continuously enhance Marxism’s contemporary appeal and practical guiding power, and guide the masses to consciously study, uphold, and apply Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the latest achievement of the Party’s cultural theoretical innovation. In the New Era, adhering to Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain means persisting in using Xi Jinping Thought on Culture to guide all construction work in the cultural domain, taking Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as the action guide for cultural construction. Third, it is necessary to uphold the Party’s cultural leadership, “the leadership, management, and discursive power over ideological work must be firmly grasped in hand, and must never be relinquished at any time.”[20] It is necessary to improve the responsibility system for ideological work, uphold the “first-in-command” responsibility system,[21] improve the study system for the theoretical study central groups of Party committees (Party leadership groups), improve the ideological and political work system, and ensure that Party committees at all levels promptly, accurately, completely, and effectively transmit the Party’s theoretical innovation achievements into the minds of the masses.

坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位主要体现在三个方面：一是要敢于同历史虚无主义、新自由主义等各种非马克思主义思潮作坚决斗争，注重运用马克思主义的立场、观点和方法教育引导人民群众科学辨别各种非马克思主义和反马克思主义思潮，在对它们进行分析批判中坚定人民群众的理想信念。在互联网等现代信息技术蓬勃发展的新时代，要“健全网络综合治理体系，深化网络管理体制改革”，科学把握网络的宣传和管理职能，善于化危为机。二是要加强党的理论创新，“创新马克思主义理论研究和建设工程，实施哲学社会科学创新工程”，不断增强马克思主义的时代魅力和实践引领力，引导人民群众自觉学习、坚持和运用马克思主义。习近平文化思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇，是党的文化理论创新的最新成果，新时代坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位就是坚持用习近平文化思想指导一切文化领域的建设工作，将习近平文化思想作为文化建设的行动指南。三是要坚持党的文化领导权，“必须把意识形态工作的领导权、管理权、话语权牢牢掌握在手中，任何时候都不能旁落”，要完善意识形态工作责任制，坚持“一把手”负责制，完善党委（党组）理论学习中心组学习制度，完善思想政治工作体系，确保各级党委及时、准确、完整、有效地将党的理论创新成果传递到人民群众的头脑中。

(II) Value Orientation: Always Adhere to Cultural Construction Focusing on People and Landing on People

（二）价值旨归：始终坚持文化建设着眼于人、落脚于人

Realizing people’s free and comprehensive development is the fundamental goal and value orientation of enhancing the “Four Forces” of culture. Therefore, it is necessary to always adhere to cultural construction focusing on people and landing on people, taking this as the focus and endpoint of cultural construction.

实现人的自由全面发展是提升文化“四力”的根本目标和价值旨归。因此，必须始终坚持文化建设着眼于人、落脚于人，将其作为文化建设的着眼点和落脚点。

First, focus on continuously meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of the masses. Since the New Era, the material life of the masses has been greatly improved, and their spiritual and cultural needs have become higher, exhibiting characteristics of diversification, multi-level, and multi-faceted aspects. Always adhering to cultural construction focusing on people and landing on people means always persisting in taking the continuous satisfaction of the masses’ spiritual and cultural needs as the guide, “optimizing the supply mechanism for cultural services and cultural products,”[22] and continuously providing the masses with high-quality, diverse spiritual and cultural products.

一是着眼于不断满足人民群众的精神文化需求。新时代以来，人民群众的物质生活得到极大改善，精神文化需求更高，呈现出多样化、多层次、多方面的特点。始终坚持文化建设着眼于人、落脚于人就要始终坚持以不断满足人民群众的精神文化需求为导向，“优化文化服务和文化产品供给机制”，不断为人民群众提供高质量、多种类的精神文化产品。

Second, always uphold the principal position of the masses in cultural construction. The masses are the creators of social history, and their social practice of understanding and transforming the world is the realistic foundation of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Literary and artistic workers and other talents engaged in spiritual and cultural creation should adhere to a people-centered creative orientation, take root among the people, and draw the wisdom and strength of spiritual and cultural creation from the daily life practice of the masses. The masses themselves create spiritual and cultural products. It is necessary to improve the mechanism for social forces to participate in public cultural services, stimulate the innovation and creativity of the entire nation, and allow the cultural innovation wisdom of the masses to fully flow.

二是始终坚持人民群众在文化建设中的主体地位。人民群众是社会历史的创造者，其认识和改造世界的社会实践是新时代中国特色社会主义文化的现实基础，文艺工作者及其他从事精神文化创作的人才应坚持以人民为中心的创作导向，做到扎根人民，从人民群众的日常生活实践中汲取精神文化创作的智慧力量。人民群众自己创造着精神文化产品，要健全社会力量参与公共文化服务机制，激发全民族的创新创造活力，让人民群众的文化创新才智充分涌流。

Third, adhere to the sharing of cultural construction achievements by all the masses. Unlike previous movements, “the proletarian movement is the independent movement of the vast majority, for the interests of the vast majority.”[23] The cultural construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era takes promoting common prosperity in the spiritual life of all the people as its value orientation, and adheres to the sharing of cultural construction achievements by all the people. It is necessary to deeply implement the national cultural digitization strategy, focus on leveraging the resource integration role of online media, explore effective mechanisms for integrating culture and technology, and accelerate the development of new cultural business forms. Fourth, ensure that the effectiveness of cultural construction is judged by the people. The masses are the direct practitioners of cultural construction, situated at the forefront of China’s cultural construction, possessing rich experience and wisdom in cultural construction. It is necessary to fully respect and reasonably adopt the opinions and suggestions put forward by the masses regarding China’s cultural construction, and strive to achieve a positive interaction between cultural theoretical innovation and practical innovation.

三是坚持文化建设成果由全体人民群众共享。不同于以往的其他运动，“无产阶级的运动是绝大多数人的，为绝大多数人谋利益的独立的运动。”新时代中国特色社会主义文化建设以促进全体人民精神生活共同富裕为价值旨归，坚持文化建设成果由全体人民共享。要深入实施国家文化数字化战略，注重发挥网络媒介的资源整合作用，探索文化和科技融合的有效机制，加快发展新型文化业态。四是做到文化建设成效由人民评判。人民群众是文化建设的切身实践者，身处我国文化建设的最前沿，拥有丰富的文化建设经验智慧，要充分尊重并合理采纳人民群众对我国文化建设提出的意见建议，努力实现文化理论创新与实践创新的良性互动。

(III) Upholding Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground: Promoting the Creative Transformation and Innovative Development of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

（三）守正创新：推动中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展

Fine traditional Chinese culture and socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era are in a relationship of source and flow. Without fine traditional Chinese culture, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era would become water without a source and a tree without roots. To enhance the “Four Forces” of culture, it is necessary to inherit and develop fine traditional Chinese culture well.

中华优秀传统文化与新时代中国特色社会主义文化是源与流的关系，没有中华优秀传统文化，新时代中国特色社会主义文化就会成为无源之水、无本之木。提升文化“四力”，必须传承发展好中华优秀传统文化。

First, uphold the “Two Integrations” to create a new cultural life form. Uphold the “soul vein” of Marxism and the “root vein” of fine traditional Chinese culture, use Marxism to inject modern genes into fine traditional Chinese culture, use fine traditional Chinese culture to endow Marxism with distinct Chinese characteristics, make Marxism Chinese, make fine traditional Chinese culture modern, and let the new culture formed through “integration” become the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. The core socialist values are the theoretical innovation achievement of upholding the “Two Integrations,” realizing the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. It is necessary to improve the institutional mechanisms for cultivating and practicing the core socialist values, and continuously enhance the value appeal of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Second, consolidate the subjectivity of Chinese culture and build a system of symbols for Chinese civilization. For any culture to stand firm and go far, it must have its own subjectivity. Cultural heritage is a precious treasure left to humanity by history and a unique symbol of the Chinese nation. It is necessary to establish a coordination body for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, establish a supervision system for cultural heritage protection, and promote the systematic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage. Deeply implement the philosophy and social sciences innovation project, accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, use Chinese theories to explain Chinese stories well, and provide more Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions for the development of human society. Third, realize the modern transformation of fine traditional Chinese culture in the scientific grasp of the two overall situations.[24] Abandon the ideological concept that regards fine traditional Chinese culture as a synonym for “tradition” and opposes it to “modernity.” In fact, fine traditional Chinese culture has continued to this day and gradually integrated with socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, indicating that it has enduring, timeless value that transcends time and space. It is necessary to deeply explore the fine traditional cultural resources that meet the practical needs of the “two overall situations,” build a system for inheriting traditional Chinese virtues, improve the institutional mechanisms for building social morality, professional ethics, family virtues, and personal morality, improve the long-term mechanism for building integrity, and fully demonstrate the contemporary charm of fine traditional Chinese culture.

一是坚持“两个结合”，创造新的文化生命体。坚持马克思主义的“魂脉”和中华优秀传统文化的“根脉”，用马克思主义为中华优秀传统文化注入现代基因，用中华优秀传统文化赋予马克思主义鲜明的中国特色，让马克思主义成为中国的，让中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由“结合”形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态。社会主义核心价值观就是坚持“两个结合”的理论创新成果，实现了中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，要完善培育和践行社会主义核心价值观制度机制，不断提升新时代中国特色社会主义文化的价值感召力。二是巩固中华文化主体性，构建中华文明标识体系。任何文化要立得住、行得远，就必须有自己的主体性。文化遗产是历史留给人类的宝贵财富和中华民族的独特标识，要建立文化遗产保护传承工作协调机构，建立文化遗产保护督察制度，推动文化遗产系统性保护和统一监管。深入实施哲学社会科学创新工程，加快构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，用中国理论阐释好中国故事，为人类社会发展提供更多中国智慧和中国方案。三是在科学把握两个大局中实现中华优秀传统文化的现代化转变。摒弃将中华优秀传统文化当作“传统”的代名词将之与“现代”对立起来的思想观念。实际上，中华优秀传统文化延绵至今，逐步与新时代中国特色社会主义文化融为一体，说明其有历久弥新、跨越时空的恒久价值。要深入挖掘符合“两个大局”现实需要的优秀传统文化资源，构建中华传统美德传承体系，健全社会公德、职业道德、家庭美德、个人品德建设体制机制，健全诚信建设长效机制，充分彰显中华优秀传统文化的时代魅力。

(IV) United Efforts: Accelerating the Construction of a Multi-Channel, Three-Dimensional External Communication Pattern

（四）同心协力：加快构建多渠道、立体式对外传播格局

To continuously enhance the international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of a multi-channel, three-dimensional external communication pattern, build a more effective international communication system, and promote the world’s understanding of China, the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, and Chinese civilization.

不断提升新时代中国特色社会主义文化的国际影响力，要加快构建多渠道、立体式对外传播格局，构建更有效力的国际传播体系，促进世界读懂中国、读懂中国人民、读懂中国共产党、读懂中华文明。

First, promote the reconstruction of the international communication pattern, forming an external cultural communication pattern led by the government and participated in by multiple forces. The government is the leading force in cultural communication. It is necessary to formulate cultural external communication policies and strategies from the strategic height of building a strong country, and expand international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. Various enterprises should correctly judge the needs of the international cultural market, and use cultural products as carriers to promote Chinese culture well. Academia and think tanks should provide solid theoretical support for the external communication of Chinese culture through the output of various cultural and academic achievements. Individual citizens should enhance their awareness of cultural communication responsibility, conform to the development trend of information technology, learn to use new media to spread Chinese culture, and meet the personalized and diverse cultural needs of foreign people. Overseas Chinese should fully leverage their dual identity advantage of being familiar with both Chinese culture and the culture of their host country, to display and restore a true image of China. In short, it is necessary to adhere

一是推进国际传播格局重构，形成以政府为主导、多种力量共同参与的对外文化传播格局。政府是文化传播的主导力量，要站在强国建设的战略高度制定文化对外传播政策策略，扩大国际人文交流合作。各类企业要正确判断国际文化市场需求，以文化产品为载体宣扬好中华文化。学界与智库要通过各种文化学术成果的产出为中华文化的对外传播提供坚实的学理支撑。公民个人要提高文化传播责任意识，顺应信息技术发展潮流，学会运用新媒体传播中华文化，满足国外民众的个性化、多样化文化需求。海外华侨要充分发挥其既熟悉中华文化又了解所在国文化的双重身份优势，展示还原真实的中国形象。总之，要坚持以政府为主导，充分发挥多种力量的对外文化传播交流作用，形成各主体协同发力的对外文化传播交流格局。

Second, we should leverage the complementary advantages of official and non-official media to build a working mechanism suited to all-media production and dissemination. Official media possess characteristics such as authority and rigor; we must fully utilize the external cultural communication functions of traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, and radio, deepen the reform and innovation of mainstream media’s international communication mechanisms, and use rich content and diverse forms to disseminate Chinese culture effectively. Non-official media have characteristics such as flexibility and vividness; we should support and encourage individuals to use self-media to disseminate China’s mainstream values, mainstream public opinion, and mainstream culture, thereby enhancing the appeal and diversity of Chinese culture’s external communication.

二是发挥官方媒体和非官方媒体的优势互补作用，构建适应全媒体生产传播工作机制。官方媒体具有权威性、严谨性等特点，要充分发挥报纸、杂志、电视、广播等传统媒介的对外文化传播功能，深化主流媒体国际传播机制改革创新，利用丰富内容和多样形式传播好中华文化。非官方媒体具有灵活性、生动性等特点，要支持鼓励个人通过自媒体传播中国主流价值、主流舆论、主流文化，提升中华文化对外传播的吸引力和多样性。

Third, we should tell China’s stories well. “From the perspective of communication laws, stories are the most attractive, and telling stories well achieves twice the result with half the effort.” [18]18 This is a quotation from a Chinese official source, likely a speech or document, emphasizing the effectiveness of narrative-based communication. We must scientifically select Chinese stories that blend reason and emotion, strengthen the theoretical research on Chinese stories, express the ideological and spiritual power behind Chinese stories in a vivid manner, and guide the audience to form a correct view of the CPC, a correct view of China, and a correct view of the international community.

三是讲好中国故事。“从传播规律看，故事最有吸引力，讲好故事事半功倍。”要科学选取情理交融的中国故事，加强对中国故事的学理研究，以生动的方式表达出中国故事背后蕴含的思想力量和精神力量，引导受众形成正确的中共观、中国观和国际观。

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆