Continuously Advancing the Adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the opening ceremony of a study session for principal leading officials at the provincial and ministerial level on studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC profoundly expounded the issue of advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. To study and comprehend General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourse on adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, we should base ourselves on the Party’s century-long history of exploration and struggle, and deeply understand such important questions as “why Marxism works,” “why Marxism works in its adaptation to the Chinese context and the needs of the times,” and “how to continue advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.”

习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的十九届六中全会精神专题研讨班开班式上的重要讲话，深刻阐述了推进马克思主义中国化时代化的问题。学习领会习近平总书记关于马克思主义中国化时代化重要论述，应立足党的百年探索史、奋斗史，深入理解“马克思主义为什么行”“马克思主义为什么行在中国化时代化”“如何继续推进马克思主义中国化时代化”等重要问题。

Marxism points the way for the development and progress of human society

马克思主义为人类社会发展进步指明了方向

Why does Marxism work? The fundamental reason lies in the essence and mission of Marxism. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx profoundly summarized and expounded the fundamental nature, distinctive features, and theoretical image of Marxism, providing us with basic guidelines and ideological inspiration for understanding and grasping from the source that “in the final analysis, it is because Marxism works.”

马克思主义为什么行？根本在于马克思主义的本质和使命。习近平总书记在纪念马克思诞辰200周年大会上的讲话深刻概括并阐述了马克思主义的根本性质、鲜明特征、理论形象，为我们从本源上理解把握“归根到底是因为马克思主义行”提供了基本遵循和思想启迪。

First, Marxism reveals the laws of development of human society and is the scientific truth for understanding and changing the world. The emergence of capitalism liberated the impoverished masses at the bottom of society from the feudal relations of personal dependence, but immediately plunged them into new forms of exploitation, enslaved by capitalism. Consequently, utopian socialism, as a negation of the capitalist system, began to germinate. However, at that time, the capitalist mode of production and the antagonism between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat had not yet fully developed. Utopian socialism could neither clarify the essence of wage slavery under the capitalist system, nor discover the laws of capitalist development, nor find the material force to create a new society, and thus it found no effective way to realize social ideals. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Marx founded historical materialism and the theory of surplus value, revealing the general laws of the development of human society and the special laws governing the operation of capitalism. He pointed the way for humanity to leap from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom, and showed the people the path to achieving freedom and liberation.”

第一，马克思主义揭示了人类社会发展规律，是认识世界、改造世界的科学真理。资本主义的出现，促使身栖社会最底层的穷苦大众从人身依附的封建关系中解放出来，但随即又迫使他们陷入新的剥削方式中，为资本主义所奴役。于是，作为否定资本主义制度的空想社会主义开始萌发。但在当时，资本主义生产方式以及资产阶级和无产阶级间的对立还没有充分发展，空想社会主义既不会阐明资本主义制度下雇佣奴隶制的本质，又不会发现资本主义发展的规律，也不会找到创建新社会的物质力量，因而也就没有找到实现社会理想的有效途径。习近平总书记指出：“马克思创建了唯物史观和剩余价值学说，揭示了人类社会发展的一般规律，揭示了资本主义运行的特殊规律，为人类指明了从必然王国向自由王国飞跃的途径，为人民指明了实现自由和解放的道路。”

Second, Marxism for the first time established a system of thought for the people to achieve their own liberation, guiding the people’s actions in pursuing freedom and liberation. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Marxism is broad and profound; in the final analysis, it boils down to one sentence: to seek liberation for humanity.” For the first time, Marxism explored the path of human freedom and liberation from the standpoint of the people, using scientific theory to point the way toward the ultimate establishment of an ideal society without oppression, without exploitation, with equality for all, and with freedom for all, thoroughly breaking the predicament of the proletariat having no advanced theory to guide its practical actions. However, Marxism is not a doctrine confined to the study; it is a theory of practice aimed at “changing the world.” It was founded in the practice of the people’s struggle for liberation in order to change their historical destiny, and it must inevitably return to the people’s actions in pursuing freedom and liberation to play its role and manifest its value. The reason Marxism has an influence that transcends countries and eras is precisely that it provides a living guide to action for the people’s movement to pursue comprehensive development and freedom and liberation.

第二，马克思主义第一次创立了人民实现自身解放的思想体系，指引着人民追求自由解放的行动。习近平总书记指出：“马克思主义博大精深，归根到底就是一句话，为人类求解放。”马克思主义第一次站在人民的立场探求人类自由解放的道路，以科学的理论为最终建立一个没有压迫、没有剥削、人人平等、人人自由的理想社会指明了方向，彻底打破了无产阶级没有先进理论用以指导现实行动的窘境。但是，马克思主义不是书斋里的学问，而是以“改变世界”为旨趣的实践中的理论；它为了改变人民历史命运而在人民求解放的实践中创立，也必然要回到人民追求自由解放的行动中去发挥作用、显扬价值。马克思主义之所以具有跨越国度、跨越时代的影响力，正是在于它为人民追求全面发展、自由解放的运动提供了活的行动指南。

Third, Marxism is an open theory that constantly develops and always stands at the forefront of the times. The theoretical thinking of each era is a product of history, taking completely different forms and content in different times. Engels points out: “Our theory is a theory of development, not a dogma to be learned by rote and mechanically repeated.” Lenin stated even more sharply: “Only hopeless pedants can rely solely on quoting Marx’s statements about a different historical era to solve the unique and complex problems that arise at the present moment.” Marxism is a science of historical development; it must change with changes in practice and develop with the development of the times. Only in this way can Marxism remain forever young. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “The history of the development of Marxism is the history of Marx, Engels, and their successors constantly developing according to the development of the times, practice, and understanding, and the history of constantly enriching itself by absorbing all the excellent ideological and cultural achievements of human history.”

第三，马克思主义是不断发展的开放的理论，始终站在时代前沿。每一个时代的理论思维，都是一种历史的产物，它在不同的时代具有完全不同的形式和内容。恩格斯指出：“我们的理论是发展着的理论，而不是必须背得烂熟并机械地加以重复的教条。”列宁更为尖锐地表明：“只有不可救药的书呆子，才会单靠引证马克思关于另一历史时代的某一论述，来解决当前发生的独特而复杂的问题。”马克思主义是历史发展的科学，必须随着实践的变化而变化、随着时代的发展而发展。只有这样，马克思主义才能永葆青春。习近平总书记正是在这个意义上指出：“一部马克思主义发展史就是马克思、恩格斯以及他们的后继者们不断根据时代、实践、认识发展而发展的历史，是不断吸收人类历史上一切优秀思想文化成果丰富自己的历史。”

Marxism originated from the era of Marx and yet transcended that era; it is both the essence of the spirit of that era and the essence of the entire human spirit. Although the era we live in has undergone tremendous and profound changes compared with the era of Marx, from the broad perspective of five hundred years of world socialism, we are still in the historical era indicated by Marxism. The basic principles of Marxism remain scientific truth, and Marxism remains a powerful ideological weapon for us to understand the world, grasp the laws, pursue truth, and change the world.

马克思主义源于马克思所处的那个时代又超越了那个时代，既是那个时代精神的精华又是整个人类精神的精华。尽管我们所处的时代同马克思所处的时代相比发生了巨大而深刻的变化，但从世界社会主义五百年的大视野来看，我们依然处在马克思主义所指明的历史时代，马克思主义基本原理依然是科学真理，马克思主义依然是我们认识世界、把握规律、追求真理、改造世界的强大思想武器。

Marxism must be adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times

马克思主义必须中国化时代化

Marxism has not exhausted truth; rather, it has opened up the path to truth. Practice has proven that the fate of Marxism has long been closely linked with the fate of China. Its scientific nature and truth have been fully tested in China, its affinity with the people and practicality have been fully implemented in China, and its openness and contemporaneity have been fully demonstrated in China. And this practice, in the final analysis, is the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Whether Marxism can solve China’s problems and point the way for China’s path in practice depends crucially on whether the basic principles of Marxism can be integrated with China’s concrete realities and the characteristics of the times.

马克思主义没有穷尽真理，而是开辟了通向真理的道路。实践证明，马克思主义的命运早已同中国的命运紧紧连在一起，它的科学性和真理性在中国得到充分检验，它的人民性和实践性在中国得到充分贯彻，它的开放性和时代性在中国得到充分彰显。而这个实践，归根到底就是马克思主义中国化时代化。马克思主义能不能在实践中解决中国问题、指明中国道路，关键就在于能否把马克思主义基本原理同中国实际和时代特征结合起来。

First, Marxism must be Sinicized to take root, and localized to gain deep popular support. As mentioned above, Marxist theory is not a dogma but a guide to action. The question is, how does Marxism become a guide to action, and how does it guide the concrete practice of a specific country at a specific time? Marx emphasized: “Correct theory must be clarified and developed in connection with specific circumstances and based on existing conditions.” Lenin, combining it with Russian practice, further elucidated the general laws of the nationalization and temporalization of Marxism. In his view, what Marxism provides are only general principles. To insist on using Marxism to analyze and solve a country’s problems, one must first place the problem within a specific historical scope, ascertain the national characteristics for concretely applying these principles, and then correctly modify these principles in certain details to adapt them correctly to national and nation-state differences, and apply them correctly in light of these differences. When we say that Marxism works because it works in its adaptation to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and emphasize that Marxism must be adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to guide practice, the fundamental principle we follow is precisely the one stated above.

第一，马克思主义必须中国化才能落地生根、本土化才能深入人心。如前所述，马克思主义理论不是教条而是行动指南。问题在于，马克思主义如何成为行动指南，如何指导一国一时的具体实践？马克思强调：“正确的理论必须结合具体情况并根据现存条件加以阐明和发挥。”列宁结合俄国实践，进一步阐发了马克思主义民族化时代化的一般规律。在他看来，马克思主义所提供的只是一般原则，坚持以马克思主义分析解决一国问题，必须首先把问题提到一定的历史范围之内，查明具体运用这些原则的民族的特点，进而把这些原则在某些细节上正确地加以改变，使之正确地适应于民族的和民族国家的差别，并针对这些差别正确地加以运用。我们说，马克思主义行就行在中国化时代化，强调马克思主义必须中国化时代化并用以指导实践，根本上所遵循的就是上面这个道理。

Second, adhering to the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times means unifying adherence to Marxism with the development of Marxism. Comrade Mao Zedong said early in the revolutionary period: “We say Marxism is correct, not because Marx was some kind of ‘sage,’ but because his theory has been proven correct in our practice and in our struggle.” Unfortunately, some comrades within the Party, ignoring the warnings of the “forefathers,” constantly invoked the “textbooks” of Marxism-Leninism and the Communist International. In response, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly recognized: “We must study the ‘textbooks’ of Marxism, but they must be combined with China’s actual conditions.” He resolutely broke the shackles of “textbookism” and took the lead in proposing the thesis of “Sinicizing Marxism,” emphasizing that to use Marxism to solve China’s problems, it must be endowed with Chinese characteristics in every manifestation, and the rich practical experience of the Chinese revolution must also be Marxistized. In the final analysis, the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is both an objective need for solving China’s problems and an inherent requirement for promoting the forward development of Marxism.

第二，坚持马克思主义中国化时代化，就是坚持马克思主义和发展马克思主义相统一。毛泽东同志早在革命早期就说过，“我们说马克思主义是对的，决不是因为马克思这个人是什么‘先哲’，而是因为他的理论，在我们的实践中，在我们的斗争中，证明了是对的。”遗憾的是，党内一些同志不顾“老祖宗”的告诫，开口闭口拿马列主义和共产国际的“本本”来。对此，毛泽东同志清醒地认识到，“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的，但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合”。他毅然冲破“本本主义”的枷锁而率先提出“马克思主义中国化”的命题，强调用马克思主义解决中国问题，必须使之在其每一表现中带着中国的特性，还必须使中国革命丰富的实际马克思主义化。说到底，马克思主义中国化时代化既是解决中国问题的客观需要，又是推动马克思主义向前发展的内在要求。

Third, the history of the Communist Party of China is a history of continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Marxism profoundly changed China, and China also greatly enriched Marxism. During the periods of the New Democratic Revolution and the Socialist Revolution, Chinese Communists with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative created Mao Zedong Thought, achieving the first historic leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Chinese Communists with Comrades Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao as their chief representatives, proceeding from new realities and the characteristics of the times, upheld and developed Marxism, forming the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, including Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. In the New Era, Chinese Communists with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, profoundly summarizing and fully applying the historical experience of the Party since its founding, proceeding from new realities, created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

第三，中国共产党的历史，就是一部不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化的历史。马克思主义深刻改变了中国，中国也极大丰富了马克思主义。新民主主义革命和社会主义革命时期，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人创立了毛泽东思想，实现了马克思主义中国化的第一次历史性飞跃。改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，以邓小平、江泽民、胡锦涛同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，从新的实际和时代特征出发坚持和发展马克思主义，形成了包括邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观在内的中国特色社会主义理论体系。在新时代，以习近平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，深刻总结并充分运用党成立以来的历史经验，从新的实际出发，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。

History shows that the fundamental reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to lead the people in completing arduous tasks of revolution, reform, and development lies in adhering to the basic principles of Marxism and continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. At the same time, the continuous success of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times has presented Marxism to the world in a new image, causing the historical evolution and contest between the two ideologies and two social systems of socialism and capitalism worldwide to undergo a major shift favorable to socialism, thereby effectively proving that Marxism works.

历史表明，中国共产党之所以能够领导人民在完成艰巨的革命、改革和发展任务，根本在于坚持马克思主义基本原理，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化。同时，马克思主义中国化时代化不断取得成功，使马克思主义以崭新形象展现在世界上，使世界范围内社会主义和资本主义两种意识形态、两种社会制度的历史演进及其较量发生了有利于社会主义的重大转变，切实证明了马克思主义行。

Requirements of the New Era for Advancing the Adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

推进马克思主义中国化时代化的新时代要求

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Facing a rapidly changing world and China, if we stick to old ways, become rigid in thinking, lack the courage for theoretical innovation, and cannot scientifically answer the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, not only will the cause of the Party and the state be unable to move forward, but Marxism will also lose its vitality and persuasiveness.” [4] To learn from history and create the future, we must persist in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and continue to advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

习近平总书记强调：“面对快速变化的世界和中国，如果墨守成规、思想僵化，没有理论创新的勇气，不能科学回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问，不仅党和国家事业无法继续前进，马克思主义也会失去生命力、说服力。”以史为鉴、开创未来，必须坚持解放思想、实事求是、守正创新，继续推进马克思主义中国化时代化。

First, persist in using the “arrow” of Marxism to shoot at the “target” of China in the New Era, and continue to advance the “Two Integrations” in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. [5] In his speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly proposed “upholding the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture,” [6] incisively elucidating the internal mechanism of Marxism’s innovative development in China, and profoundly indicating the development impetus and forward direction for advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context in the New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is precisely the historical product and epochal model of upholding the “Two Integrations.”

第一，坚持用马克思主义之“矢”去射新时代中国之“的”，继续推进马克思主义中国化“两个结合”。习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上的讲话鲜明提出“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”，精辟阐发了马克思主义在中国创新发展的内在机理，深刻指明了新时代推进马克思主义中国化的发展动力和前进方向。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想正是坚持“两个结合”的历史产物、时代典范。

Contemporary China is undergoing the most extensive and unique practical innovation in human history. The weight of tasks for reform, development, and stability, the multitude of contradictions, risks, and challenges, and the magnitude of tests for governance are all unprecedented; the profound changes in the world unseen in a century are unprecedented, raising a large number of theoretical and practical issues urgently requiring answers. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Only what is national can be global; only what leads the times can reach the world.” [7] On the new journey, on the one hand, we must base ourselves on the characteristics of the times, have the courage to stand at the forefront of human development, better use Marxism to observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times, profoundly grasp the trajectory and direction of world history, and thereby make original Chinese contributions to advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the needs of the times. On the other hand, we must base ourselves on China’s actual conditions, listen to the voices of the people, respond to practical needs, better realize the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, continue to develop Marxism for contemporary China and Marxism for the 21st century, and write a new chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

当代中国正在经历人类历史上最为宏大而独特的实践创新，改革发展稳定任务之重、矛盾风险挑战之多、治国理政考验之大都前所未有，世界百年未有之大变局深刻变化前所未有，提出了大量亟待回答的理论和实践课题。习近平总书记强调：“只有民族的才是世界的，只有引领时代才能走向世界。”新的征程上，一方面，要立足时代特点，勇于站在人类发展前沿，更好地用马克思主义观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，深刻把握世界历史的脉络和走向，从而为推进马克思主义时代化作出中国的原创性贡献。另一方面，要立足我国实际，聆听人民心声，回应现实需要，更好实现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，继续发展当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义，续写马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章。

Second, persist in embracing the world with a broad mind, and continuously temper a global vision and cultivate a global character. Marx and Engels pointed out: “The proletarian movement is the independent movement of the immense majority, in the interests of the immense majority.” [8] As the world’s largest proletarian party, the Communist Party of China has always, with the communist vision of Marxism seeking liberation for humanity, paid attention to the future and destiny of humanity, correctly understood and handled relations with the external world from the perspective of the great trends of human development, the great structure of world changes, and the great history of China’s development, and accumulated valuable historical experience over a century of struggle — embracing the world with a broad mind.

第二，坚持胸怀天下，不断锤炼世界眼光、涵养世界品格。马克思恩格斯指出：“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。”中国共产党作为世界上最大的无产阶级政党，始终以马克思主义为人类求解放的共产主义眼光关注人类前途命运，从人类发展大潮流、世界变化大格局、中国发展大历史正确认识和处理同外部世界的关系，在百年奋斗中积累了宝贵的历史经验——坚持胸怀天下。

For over a hundred years, the Communist Party of China has not only sought happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, but also sought progress for humanity and common harmony for the world, profoundly influencing the course of world history through unremitting struggle, and thereby achieving the global vision and global character of Chinese Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era upholds the value pursuit of human liberation and the spiritual quality of benefiting the whole world, bases itself on China’s New Era and the great changes in the world, and with philosophical reflection profoundly answers the urgent question of “What is wrong with the world and what should we do about it?” [9] It provides a new choice for modernization for those countries and nations that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence, and also points out the right path for humanity to build a community with a shared future for mankind in order to solve major human problems and jointly build a better world, fully demonstrating the global vision of this thought and its character as Marxism for the 21st century.

一百多年来，中国共产党既为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴，也为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同，以自强不息的奋斗深刻影响了世界历史进程，并由此成就了中国化马克思主义的世界眼光和世界品格。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想坚持人类解放的价值追求和兼济天下的精神品质，立足中国新时代和世界大变局，以哲学思考深切回答了“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”的迫切问题，为世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了走向现代化的全新选择，还为解决人类重大问题、共建更加美好世界指明了构建人类命运共同体的人间正道，充分彰显了这一思想的世界眼光，以及它同时作为21世纪马克思主义的世界品格。

The great changes the world is currently undergoing are not limited to a single event, time, country, or region, but are profound and broad changes of the era. The changes of the era and the century-old pandemic are superimposed, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. In response, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly asks: “How to defeat the pandemic? How to build

当今世界正在经历的这场大变局，不限于一时一事、一国一域，而是深刻而宏阔的时代之变。时代之变和世纪疫情相互叠加，世界进入新的动荡变革期。对此，习近平总书记深刻发问：“如何战胜疫情？如何建设疫后世界？”这是世界各国人民共同关心的重大问题，也是新时代马克思主义中国化时代化必须回答的紧迫的重大课题。这同时深刻启示、提醒我们，坚持和发展马克思主义，从理论到实践都需要全世界的马克思主义者进行极为艰巨、极具挑战性的努力。

Web Editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗