“The Ten Insistences” Are the Success Code That Runs Through the Century-Long Party History

The “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century” (hereinafter referred to as the “Resolution”), deliberated and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, points out: “Over the past century, the Party has led the people in a great endeavor. Through this endeavor, the Party has broken new ground in its advance, risen up in the face of setbacks, and improved itself through self-examination, accumulating valuable historical experience.” [1]1 “a heap of loose sand” (一盘散沙, yī pán sǎn shā) is a Chinese idiom describing a state of disunity and lack of organization, often used to characterize China’s political fragmentation before the CPC’s founding. This refers to: upholding the leadership of the Party, putting the people first, advancing theoretical innovation, maintaining independence and self-reliance, following the Chinese path, embracing the world with a broad vision, breaking new ground and forging ahead, standing up for ourselves through struggle, consolidating the united front, and carrying out self-revolution (hereinafter referred to as the “Ten Insistences”). The historical experience of the “Ten Insistences” runs through the Party’s past, present, and future. It embodies the wisdom and hard work of Chinese Communists over a century of struggle, profoundly reveals the code for why the Party was able to succeed in the past and how it can continue to succeed in the future, and holds fundamental and long-term guiding significance. It must be doubly cherished, persistently upheld, and constantly developed.

党的十九届六中全会审议通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》（以下简称《决议》）指出：“一百年来，党领导人民进行伟大奋斗，在进取中突破，于挫折中奋起，从总结中提高，积累了宝贵的历史经验。”即坚持党的领导、坚持人民至上、坚持理论创新、坚持独立自主、坚持中国道路、坚持胸怀天下、坚持开拓创新、坚持敢于斗争、坚持统一战线、坚持自我革命（以下简称“十个坚持”）。“十个坚持”的历史经验贯通党的过去、现在和未来，凝结着中国共产党人百年奋斗的智慧心血，深刻揭示了党过去为什么能够成功、未来怎样才能继续成功的密码，具有根本性和长远指导意义，应当倍加珍惜、始终坚持、不断发展。

I. The “Ten Insistences” Are a Systematic Elucidation of the Historical Experience of the Century-Long Party History

一、“十个坚持”是百年党史历史经验的系统阐释

At the important historical juncture of the Party’s 100th anniversary, the Party summarized the historical experience of the “Ten Insistences.” Adopting a scientific attitude of historical materialism to accurately grasp the Party’s course of struggle, it highlights the main theme, main line, mainstream, and essence of Party history. This holds great historical and practical significance for unifying the thoughts and actions of the entire Party and for marching forward with firmer historical confidence towards the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

党在成立100周年的重要历史时刻，概括了“十个坚持”的历史经验，以历史唯物主义的科学态度准确把握党的奋斗历程，凸显党史的主题主线、主流本质，对全党统一思想和行动，以更加坚定的历史自信向着全面建成社会主义现代化强国的第二个百年奋斗目标奋勇前进具有重大的历史和现实意义。

(A) The “Ten Insistences” Are the Historical Experience That Runs Through the Party’s Century-Long Struggle

（一）“十个坚持”是贯通党的百年奋斗的历史经验

The Communist Party of China has always attached great importance to summing up historical experience. Mao Zedong once quipped, “I rely on summing up experience to get by.” [2]2 “the historical cycle of rise and fall” refers to the cyclical pattern of dynastic rise and fall in Chinese history, a concept famously raised by Huang Yanpei during a 1945 conversation with Mao Zedong about how a ruling party could avoid this cycle. The three historical resolutions formed in different historical periods of the Party are exemplary models of scientifically summing up historical experience. The “Resolution on Certain Historical Questions” adopted at the Seventh Enlarged Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the CPC in 1945 systematically summarized the experiences and lessons from the period after the Party’s founding, especially between the Fourth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee and the Zunyi Conference, playing a significant role in unifying the Party’s thinking and enhancing its unity. [3]3 “the second centenary goal” refers to the goal of building China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2049. The “Resolution on Certain Historical Questions since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC in 1981 reviewed the history before and after the founding of New China, summarized the historical experience of the period of socialist revolution and construction, and scientifically evaluated the historical status of Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought. [4]4 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee (1981) was a key meeting in the post-Mao era that consolidated the reformist line of Deng Xiaoping. This marked the completion of the historical task of bringing order out of chaos ideologically within the Party and laid a solid foundation for the smooth progress of reform and opening up. Unlike the previous two historical resolutions, the historical experience of the “Ten Insistences” summarized in the “Resolution” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC is not a phased summary of specific experiences targeting a certain period or a certain field, nor is it a simple compilation of past policies. Rather, it represents the Party Central Committee, standing at the historical juncture of the Party’s centenary, deeply summarizing the consistent positions, viewpoints, and methods of the Party throughout its century-long struggle. It possesses stronger theoretical, universal, and essential characteristics. Consequently, it can run through the Party’s past, present, and future. It is not only embodied in the specific policies of various periods in Party history but can also exert a profound guiding role in the Party’s direction choices and policy formulation on the new journey. Fully recognizing the fundamental and long-term guiding significance of the “Ten Insistences,” consciously using history to reflect on reality, and enriching and developing the “Ten Insistences” in the practical struggle of the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics are of great significance for the Party to achieve new glories in the next century.

中国共产党历来高度重视总结历史经验，毛泽东曾风趣地说：“我是靠总结经验吃饭的。”在党的不同历史时期形成的3个历史决议就是科学总结历史经验的典范。1945年党的六届七中全会通过的《关于若干历史问题的决议》系统总结了建党以后，特别是党的六届四中全会到遵义会议之间的经验教训，对统一全党思想，增强全党团结发挥了重要作用。1981年党的十一届六中全会通过的《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》，回顾了新中国成立前后的历史，总结了社会主义革命和建设时期的历史经验，科学评价了毛泽东和毛泽东思想的历史地位，标志着党在思想上拨乱反正历史任务的完成，为改革开放的顺利进行奠定了坚实基础。不同于以往两个历史决议，党的十九届六中全会通过的《决议》概括的“十个坚持”的历史经验，并非针对某一时期、某一领域具体经验的阶段性总结，也不是既往方针政策的简单汇总，而是党中央站在建党百年的历史节点，深入总结党在百年奋斗历程中一以贯之的立场、观点和方法，具有更强的理论性、普遍性和本质性，因而能够贯通党的过去、现在和未来，不仅体现在既往党史各个时期的具体方针政策之中，而且能够对党在新征程上的方向选择和政策制定发挥深远的指导作用。充分认识“十个坚持”所具有的根本性和长远性指导意义，自觉用历史映照现实，在中国特色社会主义新时代的奋斗实践中丰富发展“十个坚持”，对党在新的百年再创辉煌具有十分重要的意义。

(B) The “Ten Insistences” Are a Systematic and Complete Organic Whole

（二）“十个坚持”是系统完整的有机整体

As valuable experience gained by the Party through long-term practice, the “Ten Insistences” are not an isolated and one-sided compilation of clauses but a systematic and complete organic whole. Only through mutual connection and mutual reflection can an accurate grasp of this experience be achieved. Human cognition always progresses dialectically from perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge, and from one-sided knowledge to comprehensive knowledge. The Party Central Committee, by summarizing and refining the historical experience of the “Ten Insistences” from the Party’s century-old history, has achieved a cognitive leap in understanding Party history from the perceptual to the rational, and from the phenomenal to the essential. However, if one merely stays at the surface-level understanding of the words of the “Ten Insistences,” it is still impossible to accurately grasp their internal logic and ideological essence. Only by regarding the specific contents and requirements of the “Ten Insistences” as an organic whole that is interconnected and interpenetrating, and through the mutual reflection of other requirements, the holistic understanding of the “Ten Insistences” experience, and the rich connections with the Party’s century-long struggle practice, can one achieve a complete, accurate, and profound grasp of the Party’s historical experience, and realize an elevation from one-sided understanding to dialectical understanding, and from concrete understanding to abstract understanding. For example, understanding and grasping the important experience of upholding the leadership of the Party cannot be separated from the other nine historical experiences. Upholding the leadership of the Party contains historical experiences such as putting the people first, advancing theoretical innovation, and maintaining independence and self-reliance. Understanding the Party’s leadership apart from the other nine historical experiences would inevitably be vague and abstract, making it difficult to achieve a deep comprehension of its specific content.

“十个坚持”作为党在长期实践中得出的宝贵经验，不是孤立片面的条文汇总，而是系统完整的有机整体，只有在相互联系、相互映照中才能实现对这一经验的准确把握。人的认识总是从感性认识上升到理性认识，从片面认识上升到全面认识的辩证发展过程。党中央从党的百年历史中总结提炼出“十个坚持”的历史经验，实现了对党的历史由感性到理性、由现象到本质的认识飞跃。但是如果仅仅停留在对“十个坚持”字句的表面理解上，仍然不能准确把握其中的内在机理和思想精华。只有把“十个坚持”的各项具体内容和具体要求看作相互联系、相互贯通的有机整体，在其他各项要求的相互映照下，在对“十个坚持”经验的整体理解和党的百年奋斗实践的丰富联系过程中，才能实现对党的历史经验的完整准确而又深刻的把握，实现由片面认识向辩证认识、具体认识向抽象认识的提升。例如，理解和把握坚持党的领导这一重要经验，不能脱离其他九条历史经验，坚持党的领导蕴含着坚持人民至上、坚持理论创新、坚持独立自主等历史经验，离开其他九条历史经验理解党的领导必然是空泛抽象的，难以实现对其具体内容的深刻领会。

(C) The “Ten Insistences” Are the Theoretical Expression of the Ideological Essence of the Century-Long Party History

（三）“十个坚持”是百年党史思想精华的理论表达

Since its founding in 1921, the Communist Party of China has traversed a glorious course of 100 years. “Over the past century, the Party has led the people in fighting with tenacity and unyielding determination, achieving great success in the New Democratic Revolution; in working hard with self-reliance and a pioneering spirit, achieving great success in socialist revolution and construction; in emancipating the mind and forging ahead with keen insight, achieving great success in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization; and in demonstrating self-confidence, self-reliance, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, achieving great success for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. The century-long struggle of the Party and the people has written the most magnificent chapter in the millennia-long history of the Chinese nation.” [5]5 This passage is a direct quotation from the “Resolution” of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee. At the important moment of the Party’s centenary, reviewing the magnificent course of struggle aims to sum up history, grasp laws, strengthen confidence, and march towards the future; to draw experience from history, firm up convictions from history, and invigorate the spirit from history, providing spiritual motivation and theoretical support for achieving greater victories on the new journey. From this perspective, the “Ten Insistences,” as the Party’s summary and generalization of its century-long historical experience, essentially express the rich revolutionary, construction, and reform practices of the century-long Party history from a vertical evolution to a horizontal display, from a chronological narrative to a theoretical exposition. They articulate the ideological essence of the century-long Party history in a clear and analytical manner, holding a very important position and significance within the “Resolution.” To study and comprehend the “Resolution” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, one must place the mastery of the historical experience of the “Ten Insistences” in an important position, focusing on understanding and grasping the unfolding mode of this historical experience through the struggle practices of various periods, so as to deepen the scientific understanding and grasp of the Party’s century-long historical experience.

中国共产党自1921年成立以来，已经走过了100年的光辉历程。“一百年来，党领导人民浴血奋战、百折不挠，创造了新民主主义革命的伟大成就；自力更生、发愤图强，创造了社会主义革命和建设的伟大成就；解放思想、锐意进取，创造了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的伟大成就；自信自强、守正创新，创造了新时代中国特色社会主义的伟大成就。党和人民百年奋斗，书写了中华民族几千年历史上最恢宏的史诗。”在建党百年的重要时刻，回顾波澜壮阔的奋斗历程，目的在于总结历史、把握规律、坚定信心、走向未来，从历史中汲取经验，从历史中坚定信念，从历史中振奋精神，为在新的征程中取得更大胜利提供精神动力和理论支撑。从这一视角来看，“十个坚持”作为党对百年历史经验的概括和总结，实际上是将百年党史中丰富的革命、建设、改革实践由纵向演进表达为横向展示，由顺时叙述表达为理论阐释，以条分缕析的方式表达出了百年党史中具有本质意义的思想精华，在《决议》中具有十分重要的地位和意义。学习领会党的十九届六中全会通过的《决议》，要将掌握“十个坚持”历史经验放在重要位置，着重从各个时期的奋斗实践中理解掌握历史经验的展开方式，以加深对党的百年历史经验的科学理解和把握。

II. The “Ten Insistences” Are an Effective Magic Weapon to Ensure the Party’s Enduring Vitality

二、“十个坚持”是确保党基业长青的有效法宝

Xi Jinping pointed out: “These ten historical experiences are a systematic, complete, and interconnected organic whole. They reveal the fundamental guarantee for the continuous success of the Party’s and the people’s cause; they reveal the source of strength for the Party to always remain invincible; they reveal the fundamental reason why the Party has always taken the historical initiative; and they reveal the fundamental path for the Party to forever maintain its advanced nature and integrity, and always stay at the forefront of the times.” [6]6 This is a direct quotation from Xi Jinping’s explanatory remarks on the “Resolution” at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee. Through this systematic exposition from four aspects, the “Ten Insistences” profoundly reveal the fundamental reasons why the Party has been able to continuously achieve victory in its century-long journey towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and decipher the success code of the Party’s century-long struggle.

习近平指出：“这十条历史经验是系统完整、相互贯通的有机整体，揭示了党和人民事业不断成功的根本保证，揭示了党始终立于不败之地的力量源泉，揭示了党始终掌握历史主动的根本原因，揭示了党永葆先进性和纯洁性、始终走在时代前列的根本途径。”通过以上4个方面的系统阐述，“十个坚持”深刻揭示了党在实现中华民族伟大复兴的百年征程中之所以能够不断取得胜利的根本原因，解答了党的百年奋斗的成功密码。

(A) The Fundamental Guarantee for the Major Achievements of the Party’s Century-Long Struggle

（一）党的百年奋斗取得重大成就的根本保证

The Communist Party of China is the core force leading the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and persistently upholding the Party’s leadership is the fundamental guarantee that the cause of the Party and the people can continuously achieve success. In a developing country as vast in territory, large in population, and complex in national conditions as China, there must be a strong core that plays a leadership role in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties. Since modern times, countless people with lofty ideals have made arduous explorations to change the tragic situation of a shattered country, but none were able to end the political situation of pre-1949 China being a heap of loose sand [1]1 “a heap of loose sand” (一盘散沙, yī pán sǎn shā) is a Chinese idiom describing a state of disunity and lack of organization, often used to characterize China’s political fragmentation before the CPC’s founding., and thus they could not effectively organize and mobilize the broad masses of the people to accomplish the historical tasks of opposing imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. The founding of the Communist Party of China enabled the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to begin to have a strong and unified leadership core, opening up the correct path for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Summing up history and looking back on the past, “the Ten Persistences” take persisting in the Party’s leadership as the first of the historical experiences of the CPC’s century-long struggle, and clearly point out that “the most fundamental reason why the Chinese people and the Chinese nation were able to reverse the historical destiny of modern times and achieve today’s great accomplishments is the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. Both history and reality prove that without the Communist Party of China, there would be no New China, and there would be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” thereby revealing the fundamental guarantee for the continuous success of the cause of the Party and the people. Under new historical conditions, as long as we continue to persist in consolidating and strengthening the Party’s leadership unwaveringly, resolutely uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and fully leverage the institutional advantages of the Party’s leadership, the Party will surely be able to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to overcome risks and challenges on the path forward, and ensure the continuous success of the cause of the Party and the people on the new journey.

中国共产党是领导中华民族伟大复兴的核心力量，始终坚持党的领导是党和人民事业能够不断取得成功的根本保证。在中国这样一个幅员辽阔、人口众多、国情复杂的发展中国家，必须有一个坚强的核心发挥总揽全局、协调各方的领导作用。近代以来，无数仁人志士为改变山河破碎的悲惨状况进行了艰辛探索，但都没能结束旧中国一盘散沙的政治局面，因而也就不可能有效组织并发动广大人民群众，实现反对帝国主义、封建主义和官僚资本主义的历史任务。中国共产党的成立，使中华民族的伟大复兴事业开始有了坚强统一的领导核心，开辟了中华民族伟大复兴的正确道路。总结历史，回望过往，“十个坚持”将坚持党的领导作为中国共产党百年奋斗历史经验的第一条，并明确指出“中国人民和中华民族之所以能够扭转近代以后的历史命运、取得今天的伟大成就，最根本的是有中国共产党的坚强领导。历史和现实都证明，没有中国共产党，就没有新中国，就没有中华民族伟大复兴”，从而揭示了党和人民事业不断取得成功的根本保证。新的历史条件下，只要继续坚持巩固和加强党的领导不动摇，坚决维护党中央的集中统一领导地位，充分发挥党的领导制度优势，党就一定能够团结带领全国各族人民克服前进道路上的风险挑战，在新的征程中确保党和人民的事业不断成功。

(II) The Fundamental Driving Force Behind the CPC’s Century-Long Struggle, Which Has Endured Hardships and Continuously Achieved Success

（二）党的百年奋斗历经磨难而不断走向成功的根本动力

“The country is the people, and the people are the country. To secure the country and govern it, one must win the people’s hearts. The Communist Party of China has its roots in the people, its bloodline in the people, and its strength in the people.” The heartfelt support of the masses is the foundation of the Party’s long-term governance and the source of strength for the Party to remain invincible. The *Communist Manifesto* points out: “The Communists are not a special party opposed to other working-class parties.” “They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole.” The Communist Party of China is a faithful representative of the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the Chinese people; it has no special interests different from the interests of the people, and “has never represented the interests of any interest group, any power group, or any privileged stratum” — this is the fundamental reason why the Party has always been able to gain the support and endorsement of the people. “The Ten Persistences” unequivocally emphasize persisting in putting the people first, reiterating that the Party does not represent the private interests of any interest group. “This is both a response to the attempts of some people with ulterior motives to separate and oppose our Party to the people, and a reminder to the entire Party to be particularly clear-headed and firm in stance on the fundamental question of for whom to govern, for whom to exercise power, and for whom to seek benefits,” revealing that only the support and endorsement of the masses are the source of strength for the Party to stand firm forever. Whether the Party always closely relies on the masses determines whether it can achieve new victories in the great struggle on the new journey. As long as the Party can always maintain the good style of being modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness, guide and lead all work in the New Era with the historical materialist view of the masses, respect the creative spirit of the masses, safeguard the fundamental interests of the masses, enhance the masses’ sense of gain and happiness, and stand firmly together with the masses, it will surely be able to obtain an inexhaustible force of struggle from the support of the people and lead the people to new victories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“江山就是人民、人民就是江山，打江山、守江山，守的是人民的心。中国共产党根基在人民、血脉在人民、力量在人民。”人民群众的衷心拥护是党长期执政的根基所在，是党始终立于不败之地的力量之源。《共产党宣言》指出：“共产党人不是同其他工人政党相对立的特殊政党。”“他们没有任何同整个无产阶级的利益不同的利益。”中国共产党是中国最广大人民根本利益的忠实代表，它没有不同于人民利益的任何特殊利益，也“从来不代表任何利益集团、任何权势团体、任何特权阶层的利益”，这是党始终能够得到人民拥护和支持的根本所在。“十个坚持”旗帜鲜明地强调坚持人民至上，重申党不代表任何利益集团的私利，“这既是回击一些别有用心的人想把我们党同人民分割开来、对立起来的企图，也是提醒全党，在为谁执政、为谁用权、为谁谋利这个根本问题上头脑要特别清醒、立场要特别坚定”，揭示了只有人民群众的拥护和支持才是党始终屹立不倒的力量源泉。是否始终紧紧依靠人民群众，决定着党能否在新的征程上取得伟大斗争的新胜利。只要党能够始终保持谦虚谨慎不骄不躁的良好作风，以历史唯物主义的群众观指导和引领新时代的各项工作，尊重人民群众的创造精神，维护人民群众的根本利益，增强人民群众的获得感和幸福感，坚定地与人民群众站在一起，就一定能够从人民的拥护中获得源源不断的奋斗伟力，带领人民取得中国特色社会主义事业的新胜利。

(III) The Fundamental Reason Why the CPC’s Century-Long Struggle Has Adhered to the Correct Direction and Grasped Historical Initiative

（三）党的百年奋斗坚持正确方向、掌握历史主动的根本原因

For a nation to lead the tide of the times, it cannot be without the guidance of theoretical thinking for a single moment; for a political party to win historical initiative, it is even more impossible to be without the guidance of theoretical thinking. The key reason why the Party has been able to seize opportunities and win the initiative in the long-term revolutionary struggle lies in its mastery of scientific ways of thinking and correct theoretical weapons, firmly grasping the pulse of the times, profoundly perceiving the laws of history, and promoting the rolling forward of the wheel of history with correct policies and guidelines. “The Ten Persistences,” as a systematic summary of the historical experiences of the Party’s century-long struggle, condense the Party’s struggle wisdom in understanding history and grasping the times, revealing the fundamental reason why the Party has always grasped historical initiative. This is reflected not only in the fact that “the Ten Persistences” emphasize practical experiences such as “theoretical innovation,” “independence and self-reliance,” and “pioneering and innovation,” providing intellectual tools for analyzing the times and theoretical guidance for seizing the initiative, but also in the fact that “the Ten Persistences,” as an organic whole expounding the Party’s century-long struggle experience, are themselves throughout the Party’s practice of analyzing situations and seizing the initiative in various periods, and are correct theoretical principles and experience summaries proven by practice. To continue advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under new historical conditions and firmly occupy the dominant position in historical development, it is necessary to fully absorb and always adhere to “the Ten Persistences,” using the scientific thinking they contain to understand the situation, formulating policies based on the effective principles they embody, and bravely standing at the forefront with the innovative spirit they manifest.

一个民族要想引领时代的浪潮，就一刻不能没有理论思维的指引，一个政党想要赢得历史的主动，更加不能没有理论思维的指引。党之所以能够在长期的革命斗争中把握先机、赢得主动，关键就在于掌握了科学的思维方式和正确的理论武器，牢牢把握时代脉搏，深刻洞察历史规律，以正确的方针政策推动历史车轮滚滚向前。“十个坚持”作为党百年奋斗的历史经验的系统总结，凝结着党认识历史、把握时代的斗争智慧，揭示了党始终掌握历史主动的根本原因。这不仅体现在“十个坚持”强调“理论创新”“独立自主”“开拓创新”等实践经验，为分析时代提供了思想工具，为把握主动提供了理论指引，而且体现在“十个坚持”作为阐述党百年奋斗经验的有机整体，其本身就贯穿于各个时期党分析局势、抢占主动的实践之中，是被实践证明了的正确的理论原则和经验总结。在新的历史条件下继续推进中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程，牢牢占据历史发展的主动地位，需要充分吸收并始终做到“十个坚持”，以其蕴含的科学思维认识局势，以其体现的有效原则制定政策，以其彰显的创新精神勇立潮头。

(IV) The Fundamental Path for the Party to Always Stand at the Forefront of the Times and Lead the Trend in Its Century-Long Struggle

（四）党在百年奋斗中始终勇立时代潮头、走在时代前列的根本途径

The Party exercises overall leadership over all sectors: Party, government, military, civilian, and academic; east, west, south, north, and center. Since the founding of the Communist Party of China, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has had a strong and powerful leadership core. Only by continuously advancing self-revolution, tempering and forging the Party’s ranks in practice, maintaining the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and ensuring that the Party always stays at the forefront of the times can the great historical cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation continuously move from victory to victory. However, “an advanced Marxist political party is not born naturally; it is forged through continuous self-revolution. The reason why the Party, after a century of vicissitudes, is still full of vitality lies in its persistent adherence to truth and correction of errors. The greatness of the Party lies not in never making mistakes, but in never concealing its faults, actively engaging in criticism and self-criticism, daring to face problems, and bravely carrying out self-revolution.” The historical experiences of “the Ten Persistences” include not only the successful secrets summarized from the Party’s historical smooth sailing but also the profound lessons reflected from the Party’s historical adversity. History proves that following the historical experiences of “the Ten Persistences,” Party building can conform to historical laws, and the Party’s cause can flourish; deviating from “the Ten Persistences,” the Party’s ranks will stray from the correct historical track, and the Party’s cause will fall into difficulty. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, to answer the major contemporary question of “what kind of long-term governing Marxist political party to build and how to build a long-term governing Marxist political party,” the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has closely focused on the general requirements for Party building in the New Era, continuously advancing the great new project of Party building, taking strengthening the Party’s long-term governance capacity, advanced nature, and purity as the main line, and putting forward a series of original new thoughts, new concepts, and new judgments on Party building, revealing the basic laws of the CPC’s long-term governance in the New Era. After finding the first answer to the historical cycle of rise and fall [2]2 “the historical cycle of rise and fall” refers to the cyclical pattern of dynastic rise and fall in Chinese history, a concept famously raised by Huang Yanpei during a 1945 conversation with Mao Zedong about how a ruling party could avoid this cycle., the Chinese Communists in the New Era have given a second answer within “the Ten Persistences,” namely, persisting in self-revolution. The reason why the Communist Party of China, after a century of wind and rain, is still in its prime is not that the Party never makes mistakes or takes detours, but that the Party dares to admit mistakes, scientifically analyze mistakes, and earnestly correct mistakes, overcoming errors made on the path forward on the basis of summing up historical experiences, ensuring that it always remains the strong leadership core of the socialist cause.

党政军民学，东西南北中，党是领导一切的。自从有了中国共产党，中华民族的伟大复兴有了坚强有力的领导核心。只有不断推进自我革命，在实践中锤炼锻造党的队伍，保持党的先进性和纯洁性，确保党始终走在时代前列，中华民族伟大复兴的历史伟业才能不断从胜利走向胜利。然而，“先进的马克思主义政党不是天生的，而是在不断自我革命中淬炼而成的。党历经百年沧桑更加充满活力，其奥秘就在于始终坚持真理、修正错误。党的伟大不在于不犯错误，而在于从不讳疾忌医，积极开展批评和自我批评，敢于直面问题，勇于自我革命”。“十个坚持”的历史经验不仅包含着党在历史顺境中从正面总结的成功秘诀，而且蕴含着党在历史逆境中从反面体现的深刻教训。历史证明，遵循“十个坚持”的历史经验，党的建设就能顺应历史规律，党的事业就能够兴旺发达，背离“十个坚持”，党的队伍就会偏离历史正轨，党的事业就会陷入困顿。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，为解答“建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党”这一重大时代课题，以习近平同志为核心的党中央紧紧围绕新时代党的建设总要求，不断推进党的建设新的伟大工程，以加强党长期执政能力建设、先进性和纯洁性建设为主线，提出了一系列具有原创性的党建新思想新理念新论断，揭示了新时代中国共产党长期执政的基本规律。在找到了跳出治乱兴衰的历史周期率的第一个答案后，新时代中国共产党人在“十个坚持”中又给出了第二个答案，即坚持自我革命。中国共产党之所以能够历经百年风雨而仍风华正茂，不是党从不犯错误、走弯路，而是党敢于承认错误、科学分析错误、认真纠正错误，在总结历史经验的基础上克服前进路上所犯错误，确保自身始终成为社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。

III. “The Ten Persistences” Are the Scientific Guide for Strengthening Confidence and Continuing the Struggle

三、“十个坚持”是坚定信心接续奋斗的科学指南

Drawing lessons from history to create the future, summarizing and refining the historical experiences of the Party’s century-long struggle, and fully understanding the significant meaning of “the Ten Persistences” for the Party’s great achievements are for the purpose of continuously strengthening the historical confidence of Chinese Communists, persisting in, applying, and enriching these experiences under new historical conditions, taking historical experiences as the scientific guide for continuing the struggle, and striving forward towards achieving the second centenary goal [3]3 “the second centenary goal” refers to the goal of building China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2049..

以史为鉴，开创未来，总结提炼党的百年奋斗历史经验，充分认识“十个坚持”对党取得伟大奋斗成就的重要意义，为的是不断坚定中国共产党人的历史自信，在新的历史条件下坚持经验、运用经验、丰富经验，将历史经验作为接续奋斗的科学指南，向着实现第二个百年奋斗目标奋勇前进。

(I) Ideological Weapon for Leading the Times

（一）引领时代的思想武器

“The Ten Persistences,” as the scientific summation of the practical experience of the Party and the people in their struggle, are the ideological essence of the spirit of the present era and a powerful weapon for leading the development of the times. Standing at the new starting point of striving for the second centenary goal, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the overall strategic situation of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, deeply observes the changes of the times. “Our country is in the best period of development since modern times, while the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century; the two are interwoven and mutually reinforcing.” [1]1 “a heap of loose sand” (一盘散沙, yī pán sǎn shā) is a Chinese idiom describing a state of disunity and lack of organization, often used to characterize China’s political fragmentation before the CPC’s founding. On the one hand, with the drastic changes in the international situation, the external environment facing our country is becoming increasingly severe, and our country’s core interests and development interests are facing major challenges. On the other hand, with the in-depth development of world multipolarity, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversification, the balance of international forces is becoming more balanced, the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be in an important period of strategic opportunity for a long time. Facing the complex world situation and the development environment where crises and opportunities coexist, we must be better at drawing wisdom from history and finding answers from practice, “taking the Party’s historical experience as an important ideological weapon for correctly judging the situation, scientifically foreseeing the future, and grasping the historical initiative, to better observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times,” [2]2 “the historical cycle of rise and fall” refers to the cyclical pattern of dynastic rise and fall in Chinese history, a concept famously raised by Huang Yanpei during a 1945 conversation with Mao Zedong about how a ruling party could avoid this cycle. so as to remain calm and steady no matter what storms arise, and continue to stay at the forefront of the times on the new great journey.

“十个坚持”作为党和人民奋斗实践经验的科学总结，是当今时代精神的思想精华，也是引领时代发展的有力武器。站在实现第二个百年奋斗目标的新起点，以习近平同志为核心的党中央，立足实现中华民族伟大复兴战略全局，深刻洞察时代变化。“我国处于近代以来最好的发展时期，世界处于百年未有之大变局，两者同步交织、相互激荡。”一方面，随着国际形势的急剧变化，我国面临的外部环境日趋严峻，我国核心利益和发展利益遭受着重大挑战；另一方面，随着世界多极化、经济全球化、社会信息化、文化多样化深入发展，国际力量对比更趋均衡，百年未有之大变局加速演进，实现中华民族伟大复兴将长期处于重要战略机遇期。面对纷繁复杂的世界形势和危机并存的发展环境，要更加善于从历史中汲取智慧，从实践中寻找答案，“把党的历史经验作为正确判断形势、科学预见未来、把握历史主动的重要思想武器，更好观察时代、把握时代、引领时代”，做到任凭风浪起、稳坐钓鱼台，在新的伟大征程中继续走在时代前列。

(II) Practical Guidance for Winning Struggles

（二）赢得斗争的实践遵循

“The Ten Persistences,” as the valuable experience of the Party’s hundred-year struggle, are fundamental and have long-term guiding significance. They are not only an effective magic weapon for the Party to continuously win struggles in the past, but also a necessary guide for the Party to continue to win practical struggles in the new historical period. “All the achievements made by the Party and the people did not fall from the sky, nor were they bestowed by others, but were obtained through continuous struggle,” [3]3 “the second centenary goal” refers to the goal of building China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2049. and they will surely be continuously consolidated and developed in the new great struggle. At present, the great historical cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is at a critical period of climbing over hurdles. Old and new contradictions are intertwined, internal and external risks are sharply increasing, and there may even be unimaginable stormy waves.

“十个坚持”作为党百年奋斗的宝贵经验，具有根本性和长期指导性，既是党以往不断取得斗争胜利的有效法宝，又是党在新的历史时期继续赢得斗争实践的必要遵循。“党和人民取得的一切成就，不是天上掉下来的，不是别人恩赐的，而是通过不断斗争取得的”，也必将在新的伟大斗争中得到不断巩固和发展。当前，中华民族伟大复兴的历史伟业正处于爬坡过坎的关键时期，新旧矛盾纵横交织，内外风险急剧增加，甚至会出现难以想象的惊涛骇浪。对此，习近平深刻指出：“新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义是一场艰巨而伟大的社会革命，各种敌对势力绝不会让我们顺顺利利实现中华民族伟大复兴。基于此，我向全党反复强调，必须进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争”。“十个坚持”作为党在长期斗争中形成的有效法宝，是被实践证明了的可靠遵循，新时代继续进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争，应当继承发扬蕴含于其中的斗争精神和斗争智慧，“同企图颠覆中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度、企图迟滞甚至阻断中华民族伟大复兴进程的一切势力斗争到底”，在向第二个百年奋斗目标奋进的新征程中不断取得新的胜利。

(3) The Basis for Judging Political Right and Wrong

（三）判断政治是非的依据

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. As a summary and generalization of the Party’s century-long struggle experience, “the Ten Persistences” are scientific knowledge that has been repeatedly tested through the practice of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, and thus they are also the effective judgment standard and measuring yardstick for various policies and guidelines. It is necessary to “consciously align and compare with them on issues of direction and principle.” [7]7 “Consciously align and compare with them on issues of direction and principle” is a common expression in CPC political discourse, referring to the requirement for Party members and cadres to ensure their actions and decisions are consistent with the Party’s central policies and leadership. Over the past 100 years, the Communist Party of China has always adhered to its original aspiration and founding mission, led the people to write a magnificent chapter in human history, changed the future and destiny of the Chinese nation, opened up the correct path for national rejuvenation, enabled Marxism to radiate new vitality in today’s world, and exerted a profound impact on the course of world history. The historical experience of “the Ten Persistences” formed in this process is not only a revelation of the laws of the Party’s century-long historical development but also an accurate expression of practical experience. It is the crystallization of the thoughts of successive generations of Chinese Communists in their relay exploration and the consistent guide for action in the century-long struggle. It has provided scientific guidance for the Party’s cause in history and will inevitably become the code of conduct that the Party should follow to win future victories and glory. Under new historical conditions, to continue striving for the historical goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and to continuously enhance the historical confidence of Chinese Communists, we must fully recognize the important significance and practical value of “the Ten Persistences,” take them as the basic yardstick for measuring the merits and demerits of all work, consciously align and compare with them on major issues and key matters, “never commit subversive errors on fundamental issues,” [8]8 “Never commit subversive errors on fundamental issues” is a phrase used by Xi Jinping, emphasizing the need to avoid mistakes that could undermine the basic system or direction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. and use historically tested experience to ensure that the cause of socialist modernization and the process of national rejuvenation proceed steadily and far.

实践是检验真理的唯一标准，“十个坚持”作为党的百年奋斗经验的概括总结，是经过中国革命、建设、改革实践反复检验了的科学认识，因而也就是各项方针政策行之有效的判断标准和衡量尺度，要“在方向性、原则性问题上自觉对标对表”。100年来，中国共产党始终坚守初心使命，领导人民书写了人类历史的壮美篇章，改变了中华民族的前途命运，开辟了民族复兴的正确道路，使马克思主义在当今世界绽放出新的生机活力，对世界历史进程产生了深刻影响。在这一过程中形成的“十个坚持”的历史经验，既是党的百年历史发展规律的揭示，又是实践经验的准确表达，是一代又一代中国共产党人接力探索的思想结晶，是百年奋斗一以贯之的行动指南。它既在历史上为党的事业提供了科学指引，也必将成为党赢得未来胜利和荣光所应当遵循的行为准则。在新的历史条件下继续为实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史目标而奋斗，不断增强中国共产党人的历史自信，应当充分认识“十个坚持”的重要意义和实践价值，将其作为衡量各项工作是非得失的基本尺度，在重大问题和关键事项上自觉看齐对照，“决不能在根本性问题上出现颠覆性错误”，以经过实践检验的历史经验确保社会主义现代化建设事业和民族复兴进程行稳致远。

(4) An Important Guide for Cultivating Party Spirit

（四）党性修养的重要指引

A bright mirror reflects forms; past events illuminate the present. [9]9 “A bright mirror reflects forms; past events illuminate the present” is a classical Chinese allusion from the *Han Feizi* and later used in historical texts, meaning that history serves as a mirror for understanding the present. The historical experience of “the Ten Persistences” formed by the Party in its long-term struggle, as the precious spiritual wealth of the entire Party, embodies the painstaking efforts and sweat of countless Chinese Communists, contains the practical wisdom and fighting spirit that enabled the Party to grow from small to large and from weak to strong, provides rich nourishment and sustenance for the development of Communists in the New Era, and is an important guide for cultivating Party spirit. Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must take the Party’s historical experience as an important guide for strengthening Party spirit, be adept at using the Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods running through it to transform the subjective world, strengthen ideals and convictions, and continuously improve the political awareness, ideological realm, and moral level of the vast number of Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres.” [10]10 This quotation is from Xi Jinping’s speech at the meeting on the study and education of Party history, February 20, 2021. “The entire Party must bear in mind the fundamental question of what the Communist Party of China is and what it is to do,” [11]11 This quotation is from the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century,” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee in November 2021. draw lessons from the Party’s glorious history, grasp the laws of practice from the Party’s exploratory journey, earnestly understand from “the Ten Persistences” the specific answers to why the Communist Party of China can succeed, why Marxism works, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good, continuously strengthen the value pursuit of striving for a better life for the people, continuously enhance the ability to cope with risks and challenges on the road ahead, continuously consolidate the enterprising spirit of self-revolution on the road of the “examination,” [12]12 “The road of the ‘examination’” (赶考路) is a metaphor originating from Mao Zedong’s speech before the CPC entered Beijing in 1949, comparing the Party’s governance to taking an imperial examination, implying the need for constant vigilance and self-improvement. and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with a more vigorous posture.

明镜所以照形，往事所以知今。党在长期奋斗历程中形成的“十个坚持”的历史经验作为全党的宝贵精神财富，凝结着无数中国共产党人的心血和汗水，蕴含着党之所以能够由小到大、由弱到强不断发展的实践智慧和斗争精神，为新时代共产党人的发展提供着丰富的涵养、滋养和营养，是党性修养的重要指引。习近平指出：“要把党的历史经验作为加强党性修养的重要指引，善于运用贯穿其中的马克思主义立场、观点、方法，改造主观世界，坚定理想信念，不断提高广大党员、干部特别是领导干部的政治觉悟、思想境界、道德水平。”“全党要牢记中国共产党是什么、要干什么这个根本问题”，从党的光辉历史中汲取经验教训，从党的探索历程中把握实践规律，从“十个坚持”中认真领会中国共产党为什么能、马克思主义为什么行、中国特色社会主义为什么好的具体答案，不断坚定为人民美好生活而奋斗的价值追求，不断提升应对前进道路上风险挑战的能力水平，不断巩固赶考路上自我革命的进取精神，以更加昂扬的姿态为实现中华民族的伟大复兴而奋斗。

The century-long road to rejuvenation, with hardships revealing glory. The precious experience of “the Ten Persistences” accumulated by the Party in its century-long journey enables us to deeply comprehend the strong will, immense courage, superb wisdom, and boundless strength demonstrated by the Party in dealing with various setbacks, adversities, risks, and challenges. “We must use history to illuminate reality and look far into the future, to see clearly from the century-long struggle of the Communist Party of China why we succeeded in the past and to understand how we can continue to succeed in the future, so that on the new journey we can more firmly and consciously bear in mind our original aspiration and founding mission and create a better future.” [13]13 This quotation is from Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, July 1, 2021. Looking ahead on the road ahead, continuing to use the Party’s historical experience to enlighten wisdom and temper character, working hard and forging ahead courageously in the great practice of the new journey, and advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation with the sobriety of “the last half of a journey is the hardest,” [14]14 “The last half of a journey is the hardest” (行百里者半九十) is a classical Chinese proverb from the *Strategies of the Warring States*, meaning that the closer one is to completing a task, the more effort is required to finish it. is both the baton that history has handed over to Chinese Communists in the New Era and the inescapable mission and responsibility of the Party. We firmly believe that as long as the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country are united as one and carry out the blueprint to the end, we can open up a bright and magnificent waterway on the new voyage and write a new magnificent chapter on the road of “examination” and rejuvenation in the New Era.

百年复兴路，苦难显辉煌。党在百年征程中积累的“十个坚持”的宝贵经验，使我们深刻领悟到党在应对各种挫折逆境、风险挑战中所展现出的坚强意志和巨大勇气、高超智慧和无穷力量。“我们要用历史映照现实、远观未来，从中国共产党的百年奋斗中看清楚过去我们为什么能够成功、弄明白未来我们怎样才能继续成功，从而在新的征程上更加坚定、更加自觉地牢记初心使命、开创美好未来。”远眺前行的路，继续用党的历史经验启迪智慧、砥砺品格，在新征程的伟大实践中埋头苦干、勇毅前行，以行百里者半九十的清醒向前推进中华民族复兴伟业，既是历史交予新时代中国共产党人的接力棒，也是党责无旁贷的使命与责任。我们坚信，只要全党全国各族人民上下一心，一张蓝图绘到底，就能在新的航程上开辟出波澜壮阔的光明航道，在新时代的“赶考”复兴之路上书写新的恢弘篇章。

(Author’s brief introduction: Xiao Guiqing, Executive Deputy Director of the Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Tsinghua University, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Marxism.)

（作者简介：肖贵清，清华大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院常务副院长、马克思主义学院教授、博士生导师）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心