Let Marxism Take Deep Root in China

“Continuously endow scientific theory with distinct Chinese characteristics, continuously consolidate the historical foundation and mass foundation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and let Marxism take deep root in China.” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC profoundly elucidates, from the dimensions of historical foundation and mass foundation, the major question of why Marxism can take deep root in China and how to ensure Marxism always takes deep root in China, elevating our Party’s understanding of the laws governing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to a new height.

“不断赋予科学理论鲜明的中国特色，不断夯实马克思主义中国化时代化的历史基础和群众基础，让马克思主义在中国牢牢扎根。”习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中的重要论述，从历史基础和群众基础的维度深刻阐明了马克思主义何以在中国牢牢扎根、如何让马克思主义始终在中国牢牢扎根的重大问题，将我们党对马克思主义中国化时代化的规律性认识提升到新的高度。

Marx said: “The degree to which a theory is realized in a country always depends on the degree to which the theory satisfies the needs of that country.” Marxism is an ever-developing and open theory; it can take root only when localized, and it can be full of vitality only when adapted to the times. The key to advancing the localization and adaptation of Marxism to the times lies in continuously exerting effort to consolidate the historical foundation and mass foundation, closely integrating the upholding and development of Marxism with the fulfillment of the historical mission of one’s own country and nation. Since modern times, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become the greatest dream of the Chinese nation. To consolidate the historical foundation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and let Marxism take deep root in China is to use Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to lead the great historical cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

马克思说过：“理论在一个国家实现的程度，总是决定于理论满足这个国家的需要的程度。”马克思主义是不断发展的开放的理论，本土化才能落地生根，时代化才能充满生机。推进马克思主义本土化时代化，关键要在夯实历史基础和群众基础上持续用力，将坚持和发展马克思主义与完成本国家、本民族的历史使命紧密结合起来。近代以来，实现中华民族伟大复兴成为中华民族最伟大的梦想。夯实马克思主义中国化时代化的历史基础，让马克思主义在中国牢牢扎根，就是要用中国化时代化的马克思主义引领中华民族伟大复兴历史伟业。

Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a glorious and arduous undertaking; advancing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a process of pursuing truth, revealing truth, and practicing truth. To consolidate the historical foundation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, it is necessary both to apply the basic principles of Marxism to the concrete realities of different historical periods in China, using the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to analyze and solve practical problems and promote practical innovation, and to continuously sum up experience and explore laws in practice, promote theoretical innovation, and thereby continuously enrich and develop Marxism in the positive interaction between theoretical innovation and practical innovation. Over the past century and more, our Party has insisted on using the basic principles of Marxism to analyze and solve China’s specific problems, continuously advancing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times through upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. It has created Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, formed the important thought of the “Three Represents” and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing scientific theoretical guidance for the development of the Party’s and the people’s cause and for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

实现中华民族伟大复兴是一项光荣而艰巨的事业，推进马克思主义中国化时代化是一个追求真理、揭示真理、笃行真理的过程。夯实马克思主义中国化时代化的历史基础，既要把马克思主义基本原理运用于中国不同历史时期的具体实际，用马克思主义的立场、观点、方法分析和解决实际问题，推动实践创新；又要在实践中不断总结经验、摸索规律，推动理论创新，进而在理论创新和实践创新的良性互动中不断丰富和发展马克思主义。一百多年来，我们党坚持用马克思主义基本原理分析和解决中国具体问题，在守正创新中不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，创立了毛泽东思想、邓小平理论，形成了“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，为党和人民事业发展、为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了科学理论指导。

General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Fine traditional Chinese culture is the ‘root’ of our Party’s innovative theory, and the fundamental path for us to advance adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the ‘Two Integrations’.” [1]1 The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. To let Marxism take deep root in China is, in the final analysis, to let this scientific theory take root in the hearts of the Chinese people. Only by integrating the basic principles of Marxism with the history, culture, mode of thinking, and national psychology of the Chinese nation can Marxism be recognized and grasped by the masses, continuously consolidating the mass foundation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In the process of advancing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, our Party insists on linking the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture and integrating it with the common values that the masses use daily without conscious awareness, continuously endowing scientific theory with distinct Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, [2]2 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership. Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have insisted on combining the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, refining and summarizing a series of major concepts and ideas in light of the requirements of the new era. For example, drawing on and learning from traditional concepts such as “the world is for all,” “the people are the foundation of the state,” and “governing with virtue,” they creatively put forward the people-centered development thought; inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese ecological culture such as “the unity of heaven and humanity,” “following the way of nature,” and “using resources with restraint,” they put forward the concept of building a community of life for humanity and nature; and so on. This series of major theoretical innovations endows Marxist scientific theory with distinct Chinese characteristics and contemporary connotations, making it a theory loved, recognized, and possessed by the people.

习近平总书记指出：“中华优秀传统文化是我们党创新理论的‘根’，我们推进马克思主义中国化时代化的根本途径是‘两个结合’。”让马克思主义在中国牢牢扎根，说到底是要让这一科学理论在中国人民心中落地生根。只有把马克思主义基本原理同中华民族的历史文化、思维方式、民族心理结合起来，才能让马克思主义为人民群众所认同、所掌握，不断夯实马克思主义中国化时代化的群众基础。在推进马克思主义中国化时代化进程中，我们党坚持把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来、同人民群众日用而不觉的共同价值观念融通起来，不断赋予科学理论鲜明的中国特色。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，结合新的时代要求提炼概括出一系列重大理念和思想。例如，吸收借鉴天下为公、民为邦本、为政以德等传统理念，创造性提出以人民为中心的发展思想；传承弘扬天人合一、道法自然、取之有度等中华优秀传统生态文化，提出构建人与自然生命共同体理念；等等。这一系列重大理论创新，赋予马克思主义科学理论鲜明的中国特色和时代内涵，使之成为人民所喜爱、所认同、所拥有的理论。

History is the root of reality; reality is the continuation of history. The historical foundation and mass foundation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are mutually supportive and dialectically unified. Only by continuously consolidating the historical foundation and deepening the understanding of the historical inevitability, scientific truth, theoretical significance, and practical significance of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times can the masses’ historical consciousness and historical confidence in believing in Marxism be enhanced. Only by continuously consolidating the mass foundation, enabling the masses to understand, accept, recognize, believe in, grasp, and apply Marxist scientific theory, can the broad masses’ historical initiative for continuous struggle be stimulated, transforming scientific theory into a powerful material force for understanding and transforming the world.

历史是现实的根源，现实是历史的赓续。马克思主义中国化时代化的历史基础和群众基础是互为支撑、辩证统一的。只有不断夯实历史基础，深化对中国化时代化马克思主义历史必然性和科学真理性、理论意义和现实意义的认识，才能增强人民群众信仰马克思主义的历史自觉和历史自信。只有不断夯实群众基础，让马克思主义科学理论为人民群众所理解和接受、认同和信仰、掌握和运用，才能激发广大人民群众接续奋斗的历史主动精神，将科学理论转化为认识世界和改造世界的强大物质力量。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗