The Formation of the Chinese-Path Modernization Road: Historical Examination and Practical Expansion

The comprehensive elaboration of the theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major innovative achievement of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and a hallmark of the maturation and formation of the Chinese-path modernization road. The Party, uniting and leading the people, has successfully forged the Chinese-path modernization road as a result of long-term exploration; it is the only correct road to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, achieved through enduring setbacks, paying costs, and undergoing trials. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC states: “On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, especially since reform and opening up, and through innovative breakthroughs in theory and practice since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization.” This elaboration outlines the developmental thread of the maturation and formation process of the Chinese-path modernization road. The three landmark temporal concepts—“the founding of the People’s Republic of China,” “since reform and opening up,” and “since the 18th National Congress of the CPC”—provide a historical perspective for examining the Chinese-path modernization road. Scrutinizing it from the perspective of the road’s maturation and formation process not only helps to recognize the hard-won nature of the innovative achievements of Chinese-path modernization but also helps to enhance the ideological consciousness and action consciousness of further expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization, which is of great significance for implementing the spirit and strategic deployments of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

全面阐述中国式现代化理论是党的二十大一个重大创新成果，是中国式现代化道路成熟成形的标志。党团结带领人民成功走出中国式现代化道路是长期探索的结果，是经受挫折、付出代价、历经磨炼而找到的一条实现中华民族伟大复兴的唯一正确道路。党的二十大报告指出：“在新中国成立特别是改革开放以来长期探索和实践基础上，经过十八大以来在理论和实践上的创新突破，我们党成功推进和拓展了中国式现代化。”这个阐述勾勒了中国式现代化道路成熟成形过程的发展脉络，“新中国成立”“改革开放以来”“十八大以来”三个标志性时间概念，为中国式现代化道路提供了历史考察的视角。从道路的成熟成形过程加以审视，既有助于认识中国式现代化创新成果的来之不易，又有利于增强进一步拓展中国式现代化广度和深度的思想自觉和行动自觉，对于贯彻党的二十大精神和战略部署具有重大意义。

I. Foundation of Chinese-Path Modernization Laid: Proposing the “Four Modernizations” Goal

一 中国式现代化基础奠定：提出“四个现代化”奋斗目标

The historical origin of China’s pursuit of modernization dates back to the Opium War of 1840, marking the starting point for Chinese society’s entry into the modern historical stage. This war, which brought humiliation to the Chinese nation, also thrust China into the global tide of modernization. After opening its doors, the Chinese people witnessed the achievements of world modern civilization and conceived the desire to pursue modernization. Generations of advanced Chinese tirelessly sought paths to save the country and the people, attempting to emulate Western-style roads to steer China onto the track of modernization. However, “countless people with lofty ideals painstakingly sought and made various attempts, but all ended in failure. The heavy task of exploring the Chinese path to modernization historically fell upon the Communist Party of China.” [1]1 Quotation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. The founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921 was “a momentous event of epoch-making significance” in modern and contemporary Chinese history. This advanced Marxist political party, which ascended the historical stage, brought historical opportunities and showed bright prospects for the Chinese nation to move from continuous decline to a fundamental reversal of its fate and sustained prosperity and strength.

中国追求现代化的历史源头发端于1840年鸦片战争，中国社会以此为起点进入近代历史的发展阶段。这场让中华民族蒙受耻辱的战争也使中国卷入世界现代化发展大潮，打开国门后的中国人看到了世界现代文明成果，萌生了追求现代化的愿望。一批批先进中国人孜孜不倦地寻找救国救民道路，试图仿效西方式的道路把中国引上现代化的轨道。然而，“无数仁人志士为此苦苦求索、进行各种尝试，但都以失败告终。探索中国现代化道路的重任，历史地落在了中国共产党身上。”1921年中国共产党成立，这是近现代中国历史上“开天辟地的大事变”，这个登上历史舞台的马克思主义先进政党，为中华民族由不断衰落到根本扭转命运、持续走向繁荣富强带来了历史契机和展示了光明前景。

Before the founding of the Communist Party of China, the pursuit of modernization was merely a luxury for the Chinese people. Under the conditions of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, no matter how hard the Chinese tried, they could not succeed on the path of modernization. Since its birth, the CPC’s ideological and action consciousness in leading the Chinese revolution has been concentrated in its scientific understanding of the principal tasks it faced. “Opposing imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, striving for national independence and the liberation of the people, and creating the fundamental social conditions for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” [2]2 Quotation from the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. This was both the Party’s accurate judgment of the principal tasks during the period of the New Democratic Revolution and the primary prerequisite for carrying out modernization in China. In the practice of leading the New Democratic Revolution, the Party proposed the goal of “transforming a backward agricultural country into an advanced industrial country,” expressing its aspiration for modernization. By overthrowing the rule of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, it cleared obstacles for modernization construction, united and led the people in the great struggle to transform the old world, and achieved the victorious outcome of establishing the People’s Republic of China. From then on, China’s development entered a new era.

在中国共产党成立之前，追求现代化对中国人民来说只是一种奢望，在半殖民地半封建社会条件下，中国人无论怎样努力都无法走通现代化的路。中国共产党自诞生后领导中国革命的思想和行动自觉，集中体现在对面临主要任务的科学认知上。“反对帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义，争取民族独立、人民解放，为实现中华民族伟大复兴创造根本社会条件。”这既是党在新民主主义革命时期对于主要任务的准确判断，也是在中国进行现代化建设的首要前提。在领导新民主主义革命实践中，党提出“把落后的农业国转变为先进的工业国”的目标，表达了追求现代化的志向，通过推翻帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义统治为进行现代化建设扫除障碍，团结带领人民在改造旧世界的伟大斗争中取得了建立中华人民共和国的胜利成果，中国发展从此开启了新纪元。

The founding of the People’s Republic of China unveiled the historical curtain of China’s socialist modernization construction. However, the backward economic and cultural conditions made the mission of building a new world extremely arduous, and the harsh international environment made China’s modernization development face great difficulties, with national construction subject to various constraints. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country strengthened their ambition, backbone, and confidence, refusing to believe in evil, fear ghosts, or be intimidated by pressure. They fought tenaciously to change the state of poverty and backwardness, achieved profound social transformation, established the socialist system, and provided the political prerequisite and fundamental guarantee for socialist modernization construction. After completing the task of restoring the national economy, China’s economic construction embarked on a track of unified, coordinated, and integrated development. The Party Central Committee formulated one “Five-Year Plan” after another to orderly arrange modernization construction, established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system, independently developed the “two bombs and one satellite,” [3]3 “Two bombs and one satellite” refers to nuclear bombs (atomic and hydrogen), intercontinental ballistic missiles, and artificial satellites, developed independently by China in the 1960s and 1970s. and became a major country with significant influence in the world. These continuously achieved major accomplishments laid the foundation for modernization development.

新中国的成立揭开了中国社会主义现代化建设的历史帷幕。然而，落后的经济文化条件使建设新世界的使命十分艰巨，恶劣的国际环境使中国发展现代化面临极大困难，国家建设受到各种掣肘。在中国共产党坚强领导下，全党全国各族人民增强志气、骨气、底气，不信邪、不怕鬼、不怕压，为改变一穷二白落后状态顽强奋斗，实现了社会深刻转变，建立起社会主义制度，为社会主义现代化建设提供了政治前提和根本保证。在实现恢复国民经济任务后，我国经济建设走上统一、统筹、统合的发展轨道，党中央制定一个又一个“五年计划”有序安排现代化建设，建立起独立的比较完整的工业体系和国民经济体系，独立研制出“两弹一星”，成为世界上有重要影响的大国，这些不断取得的重大成就奠定了现代化发展的基础。

With the goal of catching up with developed countries in the world, the Party Central Committee clearly put forward the requirement of realizing modernization. In 1954, the First National People’s Congress proposed building “modern industry, modern agriculture, modern transportation, and modern national defense.” In 1956, the Eighth National Congress of the CPC placed the tasks of industrialization and the transformation from an agricultural country to an industrial country on the agenda. Mao Zedong pointed out in the opening address of the congress: “We must change a backward, agricultural China into an advanced, industrialized China.” This task, proposed during the New Democratic Revolution period, spurred the formation of the “Four Modernizations” goal. The Third National People’s Congress, held in December 1964, proposed: “Within a not-too-long historical period, build China into a powerful socialist country with modern agriculture, modern industry, modern national defense, and modern science and technology, catching up with and surpassing the world’s advanced levels.” The proposal of the “Four Modernizations” goal set off a climax in socialist construction, fully stimulating the enthusiasm of the broad masses of the people to strive unremittingly for modernization.

以追赶世界发达国家为目标，党中央鲜明提出了实现现代化的要求。1954年第一届全国人大提出建设“现代化的工业、现代化的农业、现代化的交通运输业和现代化的国防”。1956年，党的八大把工业化建设、由农业国到工业国转型的任务提上议程。毛泽东在大会开幕词中指出“要把一个落后的农业的中国改变成为一个先进的工业化的中国”。新民主主义革命时期提出的这个任务促使“四个现代化”奋斗目标的形成。1964年12月召开的第三届全国人大会议提出：“要在不太长的历史时期内，把我国建设成为一个具有现代农业、现代工业、现代国防和现代科学技术的社会主义强国，赶上和超过世界先进水平。”“四个现代化”奋斗目标的提出，掀起了社会主义建设高潮，广大人民群众为实现现代化而不懈奋斗的热情被充分地激发出来。

In the early period after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the history of the Party uniting and leading the people in preliminary practice around the “Four Modernizations” goal cannot be denied. Due to a lack of experience in socialist construction, mechanical copying of the Soviet model, and also because of the complex domestic and international situation, New China’s exploration of the modernization road took a detour and encountered serious setbacks. With the growth of “Left” erroneous thinking, the Party deviated from the correct track in both thought and practice during the process of leading socialist construction, and the struggle to realize the “Four Modernizations” was also interrupted by the ten-year internal turmoil of the “Cultural Revolution,” [4]4 The “Cultural Revolution” (1966–1976) was a political movement initiated by Mao Zedong, marked by widespread social upheaval, factional conflict, and a breakdown of normal Party and state institutions. with profound and heavy lessons. Any development of things inevitably goes through a process; a person cannot walk when first born. Carrying out modernization construction in a large country like China with backward economic and cultural conditions could not possibly be an easy task accomplished merely by beating drums and gongs. Making mistakes, stumbling, encountering setbacks, and paying tuition fees are very normal. In a sense, it is precisely because of the twists and turns in exploration that a new historical practice of blazing the Chinese-path modernization road could emerge after learning lessons.

新中国成立初期，党团结带领人民围绕“四个现代化”奋斗目标开展初步实践的历史不能否定。由于缺乏社会主义建设经验，机械照搬苏联模式，同时也因为复杂的国内外形势，新中国探索现代化道路走了一段弯路，遭遇了严重挫折。随着“左”倾错误思想的滋长，党领导社会主义建设过程中在思想和实践上偏离了正确轨道，实现“四个现代化”的奋斗进程也因发生“文革”十年内乱而中断，教训沉重而深刻。任何事物发展必然有一个过程，人生下来时都不会走路，在中国这样一个经济文化条件落后的大国进行现代化建设，不可能是一件轻轻松松、仅靠敲锣打鼓就可以完成的事情。犯错误、摔跟头、遭挫折、付学费很正常，从某种意义上说，正是因为有了探索中的曲折，才能有吸取教训后开创中国式现代化道路的历史新实践。

In the history of China’s modernization development, the struggle waged by the Party and the people with the goal of realizing the “Four Modernizations” is of great significance. The thirty years of historical practice before reform and opening up left forward footprints of advancing modernization construction. First, the profound social transformation of establishing the socialist system set the correct direction for China’s modernization construction, determining that the Party-led modernization development embarked on a path different from Western modernization development from the very beginning. Second, throughout the entire period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party Central Committee’s goal of pursuing modernization targeted the most developed countries in the world, reflecting far-reaching aspirations. Third, the series of original theories on socialist construction proposed by the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as the main representative, provided theoretical preparation for creating a new path of modernization in the new period. Fourth, the development of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings in various fields promoted the formation of a basic framework for carrying out modernization construction. Fifth, the significant achievements in economic construction laid the material foundation for modernization construction, and the progress in social development accumulated valuable experience for modernization construction. These achievements must be fully affirmed.

中国现代化发展史上，党和人民以实现“四个现代化”为目标所进行的奋斗意义十分重大，改革开放之前的三十年历史实践留下了推进现代化建设的前进足迹。第一，建立社会主义制度的深刻社会变革，为中国现代化建设树立了正确方向，决定了党领导现代化发展从一开始就走上与西方现代化发展不同的道路。第二，社会主义革命和建设整个时期，党中央追求现代化的目标瞄准世界上最发达国家，体现了远大志向。第三，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人探索社会主义建设提出的一系列独创性理论，为新时期开创现代化建设新道路做了理论准备。第四，党和国家事业在各领域的发展，推动形成了进行现代化建设的基本框架。第五，经济建设取得显著成就为现代化建设奠定了物质基础，社会发展取得的进步为现代化建设积累了宝贵经验。这些成绩必须予以充分肯定。

In January 1979, when discussing China’s modernization development with foreign guests, Deng Xiaoping said: “To realize the grand goal of the four modernizations, we mainly rely on the foundation established and the experience accumulated over the past thirty years.” The Party’s second historical resolution [5]5 The second historical resolution refers to the "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party 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. pointed out: “A large part of the material foundation on which we now rely for modernization construction was built during this period.” Xi Jinping pointed out: “The socialist practice and exploration before reform and opening up is the starting point from which the Party and the people grasp reality and create the future in the new historical period. Without the positive and negative historical experience it provided, without the ideological achievements, material achievements, and institutional achievements it accumulated, reform and opening up could not have proceeded smoothly.” These evaluations are historical conclusions that must be upheld when examining the process of the Chinese-path modernization road from exploration to mature formation.

1979年1月，邓小平在和外宾谈到我国现代化发展时说：“为了实现四个现代化的宏伟目标，我们主要依靠过去三十年建立起来的基础和积累起来的建设经验。”党的第二个历史决议指出：“我国现在赖以进行现代化建设的物质基础，很大一部分是这个期间建设起来的。”[8]习近平指出：“改革开放前的社会主义实践探索，是党和人民在历史新时期把握现实、创造未来的出发阵地，没有它提供的正反两方面的历史经验，没有它积累的思想成果、物质成果、制度成果，改革开放也难以顺利推进。”这些评价，是审视中国式现代化道路从探索到成熟成形发展过程时必须坚持的历史结论。

II. The Initiation of the Chinese-Path Modernization Road: Formation of the Strategic Concept of a “Moderately Prosperous Society”

二、中国式现代化道路开创：形成“小康社会”战略构想

The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC made the historic choice of reform and opening up, leading modernization construction onto a new development path through the innovative practice of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. “After reform and opening up, China entered the fast track of industrialization.” [10]10 The 16th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2002, the 17th in 2007, the 18th in 2012, and the 19th in 2017.358 [6]6 Reference [10]358 is a citation from a Chinese source not provided in the text. Focusing on the main tasks facing the Party, the Party Central Committee united and led the people to break free from the shackles of the Soviet model, continue to explore the correct path for building socialism in China, liberate and develop the productive forces, lift the people out of poverty and enable them to become prosperous as quickly as possible, thereby creating a new practical field for China’s modernization construction.

党的十一届三中全会作出改革开放的历史抉择，以中国特色社会主义事业的创新实践引领现代化建设走上新的发展道路，“改革开放以后，中国驶入工业化的快速路”[10]358。围绕党面临的主要任务，党中央团结带领人民冲破苏联模式的束缚，继续探索中国建设社会主义的正确道路，解放和发展社会生产力，使人民摆脱贫困，尽快富裕起来，为中国现代化建设创造了新的实践场域。

The ideological logic behind the Party Central Committee’s determination to implement reform and opening up was to blaze a new trail; if it remained trapped in a dead end, China’s modernization would have no future. From the very beginning, Deng Xiaoping closely linked reform and opening up with modernization construction, reiterating the goal of the “four modernizations” and restarting the modernization construction process that had been interrupted. As a member of the first generation of central leadership, realizing the “four modernizations” was always a focus of Deng Xiaoping’s attention. In 1977, in some speeches, he again raised the “four modernizations,” pointing out that “to realize the four modernizations, we must catch up with and surpass the world’s advanced level.” On September 10 of that year, Deng Xiaoping met with a delegation from the Japan-China Friendship Diet Members’ Union. When discussing the issue of China’s realization of the “four modernizations,” he pointed out: “This issue is actually a plan and vision put forward by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou during their lifetimes. Due to the interference of the ‘Gang of Four,’ [7]7 The "Gang of Four" was a political faction led by Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong's wife, along with Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen, who were purged in 1976 after Mao's death. not only was time wasted, but considerable damage was also done. Now, our task is to make up for the time wasted and the damage caused by the ‘Gang of Four.’” Thereafter, the discourse of realizing the “four modernizations” repeatedly appeared in Deng Xiaoping’s speeches. He clearly stated: “The goal of China’s economic development is to strive to realize the four modernizations by the end of the twentieth century, bringing our science and technology relatively close to the world’s advanced level.” “The general direction of our realization of the four modernizations is very clear. From the central leadership to the entire people, from top to bottom, all are united. The fundamental point is to realize the four modernizations.” Deng Xiaoping emphasized that realizing the four modernizations was the overriding central task, “a great undertaking of eternal significance that determines the fate of the motherland.” Reform and opening up is a crucial move that determines the fate of China; one of its meanings is that it created a new path for China’s modernization construction.

党中央下决心实施改革开放的思想逻辑是闯出一条新路，如果还是困在死胡同里，中国现代化就看不到前途。邓小平从一开始就把改革开放与现代化建设紧密相联，重申“四个现代化”奋斗目标，重新开启中断了的现代化建设进程。作为第一代中央领导集体的成员，实现“四个现代化”始终是邓小平关注的重点，1977年，他在一些讲话中重新提出“四个现代化”，指出“要实现四个现代化，要赶超世界先进水平”。该年 9月10日，邓小平会见日中友好议员联盟访华团，在谈到中国实现“四个现代化”问题时指出：“这个问题实际上是毛主席和周总理生前提出的计划、设想。由于‘四人帮’的干扰，不仅耽误了时间，而且受到相当的破坏。现在，我们的任务是要把‘四人帮’耽误的时间和破坏的东西抢回来。”此后，实现“四个现代化”的话语反复出现在邓小平的讲话中，他明确指出：“中国经济发展的目标，就是争取在二十世纪末实现四个现代化，使我们的科学技术比较接近世界先进水平”“我们实现四个现代化的大方向是很明确的。从中央领导到全国人民，上上下下都是一致的，根本的一条是要实现四个现代化。”邓小平强调实现四个现代化是压倒一切的中心任务，“是决定祖国命运的千秋大业”。改革开放是决定中国命运的关键一招，含义之一就是开创了中国现代化建设新道路。

In terms of development level, the gap between China and the international community was still relatively small in the 1960s, but it widened in the 1970s. Deng Xiaoping deeply felt that the rapid development of modernization had put China in an awkward position. He said: “Recently, our comrades went abroad to have a look, and the more they saw, the more they felt our backwardness. What is modernization? It was one thing in the 1950s, different in the 1960s, and even more different in the 1970s.” After the smashing of the “Gang of Four,” Deng Xiaoping was gradually able to resume participation in and take up work in the Party Central Committee. Through activities meeting foreign guests, he came into contact with a large amount of information about world development. In 1977, he successively visited Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries. In October 1978, he visited Japan, and in January 1979, he made an official visit to the United States. Through these activities, Deng Xiaoping witnessed with his own eyes the tremendous changes that had taken place in the world during the time China had been delayed, and he felt ashamed of the country’s backwardness. This not only strengthened his determination to lead the Party Central Committee to concentrate wholeheartedly on modernization construction, but also prompted him to form new thinking and make adjustments to the deployment of China’s modernization development based on actual conditions.

就发展水平而言，20世纪60年代我国和国际上的差距还比较小，70年代差距就拉大了。邓小平深切感受到现代化快速发展使我国陷入尴尬的境地，他说：“最近我们的同志出去看了一下，越看越感到我们落后。什么叫现代化？五十年代一个样，六十年代不一样了，七十年代就更不一样了。”粉碎“四人帮”后，邓小平得以逐步恢复参与和担任党中央工作，在会见外宾的活动中接触到世界发展的大量信息。1977年他先后出访了缅甸、尼泊尔、朝鲜、泰国、马来西亚、新加坡等国，1978年10月他前往日本访问，1979年1月他前往美国进行正式访问。通过这些活动，邓小平亲眼目睹了在我国被耽误的时间里世界发生的巨大变化，为国家落后感到汗颜。这既坚定了他领导党中央一心一意搞现代化建设的决心，又促使他根据实际情况对中国现代化发展形成新的思考和作出部署调整。

Building a “moderately prosperous society” was a strategic concept formed by Deng Xiaoping’s thinking on China’s modernization after reform and opening up. In March 1979, when meeting with a delegation from the Executive Committee of the Sino-British Cultural Association, Deng Xiaoping said: “The goal we have set is to realize the four modernizations by the end of this century. Our concept is different from that of the West. I will use a new term for the time being, called Chinese-style four modernizations.” On March 23 of the same year, Deng Xiaoping pointed out in a speech at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: “In my conversation with foreigners, I used a new term: Chinese-style modernization.” On December 6 of the same year, when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira, Deng Xiaoping for the first time put forward the concept of building a “moderately prosperous” society: “Our concept of the four modernizations is not like your concept of modernization, but rather a ‘moderately prosperous society.’” The strategic concept of building a moderately prosperous society became the action program for advancing Chinese-path modernization since reform and opening up.

建设“小康社会”是改革开放后邓小平思考中国现代化形成的战略构想。1979年3月，邓小平会见英中文化协会执行委员会代表团时说：“我们定的目标是在本世纪末实现四个现代化。我们的概念与西方不同，我姑且用个新说法，叫做中国式的四个现代化。”同年3月23日，邓小平在中共中央政治局会议上讲话时指出：“我同外国人谈话，用了一个新名词：中国式的现代化。”同年12月6日，邓小平在会见日本首相大平正芳时首次提出建设“小康”社会的构想：“我们的四个现代化的概念，不是像你们那样的现代化的概念，而是‘小康之家’。”建设小康社会的战略构想成为改革开放以来推进中国式现代化的行动纲领。

What is the ideological logic behind using the concept of “moderately prosperous” to distinguish it from Western modernization? From a series of Deng Xiaoping’s expositions, it mainly embodies two spirits. First, it emphasizes that Chinese-style modernization is different from the Western type, pointing out that China adheres to the guidance of Marxism and the leadership of the CPC, and that the word “socialist” precedes “modernization,” which is a stipulation of the development direction of Chinese-style modernization. Second, it emphasizes proceeding from China’s specific reality and advancing modernization construction step by step. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Having too grand ambitions won’t work; we must seek truth from facts. The so-called moderately prosperous society means that although not wealthy, life is good.” The goal of a moderately prosperous society is not magnificent, but the people’s lives are generally good; “more importantly, it lays a good foundation for moving forward.” This explanation of the “moderately prosperous” society embodies a pragmatic spirit. From then on, an obvious change in the deployment of modernization development was that the specific requirements of the “four modernizations” were no longer mentioned; instead, the emphasis was on the primary goal of lifting people out of poverty and enabling them to become prosperous and live a good life. Clearly, compared with the ambitious aspirations of the Party Central Committee in the mid-1960s, building a moderately prosperous society lowered the goal to some extent, but the great strategic significance of this concept lies in its restoration and strengthening of the historical memory of modernization construction, its stimulation of the Party’s and the people’s enthusiasm for striving for modernization, and its clarification of a practical goal for modernization development. Chinese-path modernization was achieved step by step through the deepening of reform and opening up, centered on the goal of building a “moderately prosperous society.”

用“小康”概念与西方现代化作区分基于什么样的思想逻辑？从邓小平一系列论述来看，主要体现两个精神。一是强调中国式的现代化与西方不同，指出我国坚持马克思主义指导和中国共产党领导，“现代化”前面有“社会主义”这四个字的限定，这是对中国式的现代化发展方向的规定。二是强调从中国具体实际出发，一步步推进现代化建设。邓小平指出：“雄心壮志太大了不行，要实事求是。所谓小康社会，就是虽不富裕，但日子好过。”小康社会的目标并不恢宏，但人民日子普遍好过，“更重要的是奠定一个很好的前进的基础”。这样解释“小康”社会体现了务实精神，从此现代化发展部署的明显变化是不再提“四个现代化”的具体要求，而是强调首要目标是摆脱贫困，使人民富裕起来过上好日子。显然，与20世纪60年代中期党中央的雄心壮志相比，建设小康社会从奋斗目标来说有所降低，但这个构想的重大战略意义在于它恢复和强化了现代化建设的历史记忆，激发了党和人民为现代化而奋斗的热情，明确了切合实际的现代化发展目标。中国式现代化就是在改革开放深入发展中围绕建设“小康社会”奋斗目标，一步步干出来的。

It is worth pointing out that the strategic concept of building a moderately prosperous society has been continuously enriched with the deepening of the practice of reform and opening up. First, based on the “three-step” development steps proposed by Deng Xiaoping, the “two centenary goals” were formed, constituting the linkage of the development process of Chinese-path modernization. Second, the construction of a moderately prosperous society was advanced by dividing it into two practical stages, “overall establishment” and “comprehensive establishment,” thereby consolidating the foundation of Chinese-path modernization construction. Third, the requirements and standards for building a moderately prosperous society were gradually refined, supplemented, and improved, making the struggle goals increasingly substantial and full. Fourth, the tasks of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society were deployed through the strategic layout of comprehensively deepening reform, innovating and promoting the construction of institutional mechanisms for modernization. Fifth, the comprehensive establishment of a moderately prosperous society was organically unified with winning the battle against poverty, raising the overall level of national construction and social progress. The 16th and 17th National Congresses of the CPC put forward the struggle tasks and specific goals for building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. The 18th National Congress of the CPC emphasized that “according to the actual situation of our country’s economic and social development, we must strive to achieve new requirements on the basis of the goals for building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way established by the 16th and 17th National Congresses.” The 19th National Congress of the CPC called for “decisively winning the comprehensive establishment of a moderately prosperous society and embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country” and “making the comprehensive establishment of a moderately prosperous society recognized by the people and able to withstand the test of history.” The Party uniting and leading the Chinese people to advance the connotation of Chinese-path modernization around the construction of a moderately prosperous society has been continuously enriched, thought continuously elevated, practice continuously expanded, and the situation continuously innovated. On this basis, the comprehensively established moderately prosperous society is of full quality and has a high gold content.

值得指出的是，建设小康社会的战略构想随着改革开放实践的深入发展而不断丰富。第一，以邓小平提出的“三步走”发展步骤为基础形成了“两个一百年”奋斗目标，构成中国式现代化发展过程的衔接。第二，把建设小康社会分为“总体建成”和“全面建成”两个实践阶段加以推进，夯实中国式现代化建设的基础。第三，小康社会建设的要求和标准逐渐细化、补充、完善，使奋斗目标日益充实丰满。第四，以全面深化改革战略布局部署全面建成小康社会的任务，创新推动现代化建设的体制机制建设。第五，把全面建成小康社会与打赢脱贫攻坚战有机统一，提升国家建设和社会进步总体水平。党的十六大和十七大提出全面建设小康社会的奋斗任务和具体目标，党的十八大强调“根据我国经济社会发展实际，要在十六大、十七大确立的全面建设小康社会目标的基础上努力实现新的要求，党的十九大号召“决胜全面建成小康社会，开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程”“使全面建成小康社会得到人民认可、经得起历史检验”。党团结带领中国人民围绕小康社会建设推进中国式现代化发展的内涵不断丰富，思想不断升华，实践不断拓展，局面不断创新，在这样的基础上全面建成的小康社会成色十足，具有很高的含金量。

On July 1, 2021, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the celebration of the centenary of the founding of the CPC, solemnly declaring on behalf of the Party and the people: “Through the continuous struggle of the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups across the country, we have achieved the first centenary goal and comprehensively established a moderately prosperous society on the land of China.” From a temporal dimension, from Deng Xiaoping’s proposal of the strategic concept of a moderately prosperous society in 1979 to the successful achievement of the goal at the Party’s centenary, the Party and the people have made unremitting efforts for more than 40 years. From a spatial dimension, upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics has been carried out in all directions, advanced in various fields, covered in all aspects, and achieved breakthroughs in all links. The major achievements have exceeded the original goal setting of a moderately prosperous society. In the great leap from standing up, becoming prosperous, to becoming strong, the Party and the people have successfully embarked on the road of Chinese-path modernization. Completing the historical task of eradicating absolute poverty and comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, and achieving the first centenary goal, is one of the three major events of the ten years of the New Era that have significant practical significance for the cause of the Party and the people and have produced far-reaching historical impact, highlighting the great value of realizing the strategic concept of a “moderately prosperous society” for successfully embarking on the road of Chinese-path modernization.

2021年7月1日，习近平在庆祝中国共产党成立一百周年大会上发表重要讲话，代表党和人民庄严宣告：“经过全党全国各族人民持续奋斗，我们实现了第一个百年奋斗目标，在中华大地上全面建成了小康社会。”从时间维度看，自 1979年邓小平提出小康社会战略构想到建党百年胜利实现目标，党和人民为此进行了40多年的不懈奋斗。从空间维度看，坚持和发展中国特色社会主义在全方位展开、各领域推进、各方面覆盖、各环节突破，取得的重大成就超出了小康社会原先的目标设定，党和人民在迎来从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃中，成功走出了中国式现代化道路。完成脱贫攻坚、全面建成小康社会的历史任务，实现第一个百年奋斗目标，是新时代十年对党和人民事业具有重大现实意义和产生深远历史影响的三件大事之一，凸显了实现“小康社会”战略构想对成功走出中国式现代化道路的重大价值。

III. Innovation and Breakthrough in Chinese-Path Modernization: Preliminary Construction of a Theoretical System

三、中国式现代化创新突破：初步构建理论体系

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has continued to advance on the existing foundation, continuously achieving innovative breakthroughs in theory and practice, and successfully advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization.” Our Party’s understanding of the connotation and essence of Chinese-path modernization has continuously deepened, “summarizing and forming the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, preliminarily constructing the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization, making Chinese-path modernization clearer, more scientific, more perceptible, and more feasible.” Taking the entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the New Era as a new historical starting point, advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization has entered a new stage of maturity and formation. The historical monument shaped by the great transformation of the ten years records the fruitful achievements of theoretical and practical innovation in Chinese-path modernization, creating a new context, a new field, and a new meaning for Chinese-path modernization.

习近平指出：“党的十八大以来，我们党在已有基础上继续前进，不断实现理论和实践上的创新突破，成功推进和拓展了中国式现代化。”我们党对中国式现代化内涵与本质的认识不断深化，“概括形成中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求和重大原则，初步构建中国式现代化的理论体系，使中国式现代化更加清晰、更加科学、更加可感可行”。以中国特色社会主义进入新时代为历史新起点，推进和拓展中国式现代化进入了成熟成形的新阶段，十年伟大变革塑造的历史丰碑记录了中国式现代化理论和实践创新的丰硕成果，创造了中国式现代化新的语境、新的场域和新的意蕴。

The maturity and formation of Chinese-path modernization is a major gain from the great transformation of the New Era, a product of the comprehensive culmination of China’s modernization construction since the founding of New China, and a landmark achievement of creating a new road of Chinese-path modernization since reform and opening up. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the innovative practice of advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implements the Party’s basic line and basic policies, adopts a series of strategic measures to promote transformative practice, achieves a series of breakthrough progress to obtain landmark results, overcomes a series of risks and challenges to create historic achievements, and “propels our country onto a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.” The CPC promotes Chinese-path modernization towards maturity and formation, presenting an excellent answer sheet of modernization construction to history and the people.

中国式现代化成熟成形是新时代伟大变革的重大收获，是新中国成立以来中国现代化建设集大成的产物，是改革开放以来开创中国式现代化新道路标志性的成果。在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，推进和拓展中国式现代化的创新实践坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的基本路线、基本方针，采取一系列战略性举措推进变革性实践，实现一系列突破性进展取得标志性成果，战胜一系列风险挑战创造历史性成就，“推动我国迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。”中国共产党推动中国式现代化走向成熟成形，向历史、向人民交出一份现代化建设的优异答卷。

From a practical perspective, the maturity and formation of Chinese-path modernization is mainly reflected in the following aspects. First, socialism with Chinese characteristics has formed a “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” overall construction layout. On the basis of previously advancing economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, and social construction, ecological civilization construction has been elevated to a strategic position and incorporated into the overall layout, which is of great significance for creating a Chinese-path modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. Second, centering on the principal contradiction in Chinese society in the New Era, common prosperity for all the people has been placed on the agenda. Based on the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, Chinese-path modernization construction must achieve more obvious substantive progress in realizing common prosperity for all the people. Third, in writing a new chapter of the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, the resilience and vitality of our country’s development are demonstrated, providing Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese experience for solving common global governance challenges. Fourth, grasping the new development stage, implementing the new development philosophy, constructing a new development pattern, and promoting Chinese-path modernization construction to reflect the requirements of the times, conform to historical trends, meet the needs of the people, and achieve the goal of advancing with the times. Fifth, demonstrating the global significance of Chinese-path modernization through comprehensively deepening reform and opening up, shaping China’s image of reform and opening up, increasing the intensity of China’s integration into the world, and expanding our country’s international influence by making greater and more contributions to the world. Sixth, adhering to the path of peaceful development to advance Chinese-path modernization, standing on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress, unifying the pursuit of one’s own development with the maintenance of world peace and development, and making efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind through concrete actions. These outstanding performances in these aspects showcase the vivid scenes of Chinese-path modernization. The extensive, rich, and profound practice has laid a solid foundation for the 20th National Congress of the CPC to construct the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization.

从实践层面看，中国式现代化成熟成形主要体现在以下几个方面。第一，中国特色社会主义形成“五位一体”的建设总布局，在此前推进经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设的基础上，把生态文明建设提到战略地位，纳入总布局之中，对打造人与自然和谐共生的中国式现代化具有重大意义。第二，围绕新时代我国社会主要矛盾，把全体人民共同富裕提上议事日程。基于人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，中国式现代化建设要在实现全体人民共同富裕方面取得更为明显的实质性进展。第三，在书写经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹新篇章中彰显我国发展的韧性和活力，为解决全球治理共同难题提供中国智慧、中国方案、中国经验。第四，把握新发展阶段，贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动中国式现代化建设体现时代要求、顺应历史大势、满足人民需要，实现与时俱进发展目标。第五，以全面深化改革彰显中国式现代化的世界意义，塑造改革开放的中国形象，加大中国融入世界的力度，在对世界作更大更多贡献中扩大我国的国际影响力。第六，坚持和平发展道路推进中国式现代化，站在历史正确的一边、站在人类文明进步的一边，把谋求自身发展与维护世界和平与发展相统一，以实际行动为构建人类命运共同体而努力。这些方面的突出表现展示了中国式现代化的生动场景，广泛、丰富、深刻的实践为党的二十大构建中国式现代化理论体系奠定了坚实基础。

From a theoretical perspective, the theoretical contribution of the great transformations of the New Era in achieving innovative breakthroughs in Chinese-path modernization lies in the systematization of thought and the systematization of knowledge. The theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization initially constructed by the 20th National Congress of the CPC includes basic content such as what Chinese-path modernization is, what features Chinese-path modernization possesses, what principles the Chinese-path modernization road has successfully followed to take shape, and what major principles must be grasped on the path forward for Chinese-path modernization. “Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernizations of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context.” [12]12 Xi Jinping, “Holding High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Striving in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects—Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” October 16, 2022. This is a scientific elaboration of the connotation of Chinese-path modernization. Huge population size, common prosperity for all, coordination between material and cultural-ethical progress, harmony between humanity and nature, and taking the path of peaceful development—these five aspects are the distinctive features of Chinese-path modernization. Upholding leadership by the Communist Party of China, upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching the people’s spiritual world, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and creating a new form of human civilization are the essential requirements that the construction of Chinese-path modernization must follow. Upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership, upholding the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, upholding a people-centered development philosophy, upholding and deepening reform and opening up, and upholding the spirit of struggle—these “five upholds” are the major principles that must be firmly grasped in advancing Chinese-path modernization. These basic contents have initially constructed the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization, and Chinese-path modernization has already been presented in a mature and fully formed state.

从理论层面看，新时代十年伟大变革实现中国式现代化创新突破的理论贡献就是思想的系统化和知识的体系化。党的二十大初步构建的中国式现代化理论体系包含了什么是中国式现代化、中国式现代化具有怎样的面相、中国式现代化道路是坚持什么样的遵循成功走出来的、中国式现代化前进道路上必须把握哪些重大原则等基本内容。“中国式现代化，是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色”，这是对中国式现代化内涵的科学阐述。人口规模巨大、全体人民共同富裕、物质文明和精神文明相协调、人与自然和谐共生、走和平发展道路，这五个方面是中国式现代化的鲜明特色。坚持中国共产党领导，坚持中国特色社会主义，实现高质量发展，坚持和发展全过程人民民主，丰富人民精神世界，实现全体人民共同富裕，促进人与自然和谐共生，推动构建人类命运共同体，创造人类文明新形态，是中国式现代化建设遵循的本质要求。坚持和加强党的全面领导，坚持中国特色社会主义道路，坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，坚持深化改革开放，坚持发扬斗争精神，这“五个坚持”是推进中国式现代化必须牢牢把握的重大原则。这些基本内容初步构建了中国式现代化的理论体系，中国式现代化已经以成熟成形的样态呈现出来。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has united and led the Chinese people to achieve great practical accomplishments and rich theoretical results under extremely unusual and extraordinary historical conditions and social environments, creating a new context, a new field, and a new meaning for Chinese-path modernization. From a dynamic development perspective, advancing Chinese-path modernization in the New Era has responded to the earlier demands of eradicating poverty, further elevating the goal of struggle to the new positioning of creating a new form of human civilization. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC points out: “Chinese-path modernization provides a new choice for humanity to achieve modernization.” [13]13 Ibid. Xi Jinping further points out: “Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced essence of scientific socialism, draws on and absorbs all outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the direction of human civilization progress, presents a new picture different from the Western modernization model, and is a completely new form of human civilization.” [14]14 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Study Seminar on the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Central Party School (National School of Administration),” February 7, 2023. If, in the 1960s, the Party Central Committee expressed its lofty aspirations by achieving the Four Modernizations, [15]15 The Four Modernizations (四个现代化) were a policy goal first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reaffirmed by Deng Xiaoping after 1978, aiming to modernize agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology. then the 20th National Congress of the CPC, by comprehensively elaborating the theory of Chinese-path modernization, has formed a new expression of the lofty aspirations of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese nation. The systematic theory and knowledge system of Chinese-path modernization reflects that our Party’s cognition of modernization has reached a new height.

党的十八大以来，党团结带领中国人民在极不寻常、极不平凡的历史条件和社会环境下取得了伟大的实践成就和丰硕的理论成果，创造了中国式现代化新的语境、新的场域和新的意蕴。从动态发展看，新时代推进中国式现代化回应了摆脱贫困的前期诉求，将奋斗目标进一步提升到创造人类文明新形态的新定位。党的二十大报告指出：“中国式现代化为人类实现现代化提供了新的选择。”习近平进一步指出：“中国式现代化，深深植根于中华优秀传统文化，体现科学社会主义的先进本质，借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果，代表人类文明进步的发展方向，展现了不同于西方现代化模式的新图景，是一种全新的人类文明形态。”[2]如果说20世纪60 年代党中央以实现四个现代化表达雄心壮志的话，那么，党的二十大则以全面阐述中国式现代化理论形成中国共产党和中华民族雄心壮志的新表达。中国式现代化系统理论和知识体系体现我党对现代化的认知达到了一个新的高度。

Xi Jinping points out: “The unique worldview, values, historical perspective, view of civilization, view of democracy, view of ecology, and other aspects contained in Chinese-path modernization, along with its great practice, represent a major innovation in world modernization theory and practice.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Study Seminar on the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Central Party School (National School of Administration),” February 7, 2023. Examining the innovative breakthroughs in practice and theory in the New Era from the perspective of the mature formation of Chinese-path modernization, their major significance is mainly reflected in three aspects. First, the unique connotation of Chinese-path modernization has created and enriched the practical content of world modernization construction, overcoming the limitations of focusing mainly on creating material wealth, enhancing military strength, developing science and technology, and improving comprehensive national power. It endows modernization construction with a value orientation that combines the modernization of things with the modernization of people, reflecting the systematic nature of the content of modernization construction, the comprehensiveness of its tasks, and the coordination of its practice. Second, the real-world case of Chinese-path modernization proves that there is no single modernization model that is universally applicable, nor any modernization standard that is universally valid, providing successful experience for countries to independently explore their own paths of modernization construction. Third, it promotes innovation in global modernization theory, breaking the long-standing hegemonic discourse on modernization by Western countries. In this regard, Xi Jinping points out: “The theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation based on China’s national conditions and China’s reality, reflecting the direction of China’s modernization development, and is a major innovation in global modernization theory.” [17]17 Ibid. From this, it can be seen that the major significance of the mature formation of Chinese-path modernization is not limited to China itself. From Deng Xiaoping’s proposal of the concept of “Chinese-style modernization” [18]18 Deng Xiaoping first used the term “Chinese-style modernization” (中国式的现代化) in a meeting with Japanese visitors in March 1979, to distinguish China’s development path from Western models. to the comprehensive elaboration of the theory of Chinese-path modernization at the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has united and led the Chinese people to continuously advance in creating great historical achievements. The experience and inspiration of Chinese-path modernization have reference significance for the modernization construction of other countries in the world.

习近平指出：“中国式现代化蕴含的独特世界观、价值观、历史观、文明观、民主观、生态观等及其伟大实践，是对世界现代化理论和实践的重大创新。”从中国式现代化成熟成形的视角审视新时代实践和理论上的创新突破，其重大意义主要体现在三个方面。第一，中国式现代化的独特内涵创造丰富了世界现代化建设的实践内容，克服了主要注重创造物质财富、提升军事实力、发展科学技术、提高综合国力等方面发展的局限，赋予现代化建设把物的现代化与人的现代化相结合的价值取向，体现现代化建设内容的系统性、任务的全面性和实践的统筹性。第二，以中国式现代化的现实案例证明世界上不存在定于一尊的现代化模式，不存在放之四海而皆准的现代化标准，为各国独立探索现代化建设道路提供了成功经验。第三，推动全球现代化理论创新，打破了长期以来西方国家的现代化话语霸权。对此，习近平指出：“中国式现代化理论是基于中国国情、中国现实的重大理论创新，体现了我国现代化发展方向，是对全球现代化理论的重大创新。”由此可见，中国式现代化成熟成形的重大意义并不局限于中国自身范围。从邓小平提出“中国式的现代化”概念，到党的二十大全面阐述中国式现代化理论，党团结带领中国人民在创造历史伟业中不断前进，中国式现代化的经验启示对于世界其他国家的现代化建设具有借鉴意义。

IV. The Arduous Task of Chinese-Path Modernization: Further Expanding Its Breadth and Depth

四、中国式现代化艰巨任务：进一步拓展广度和深度

The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC points out: “Building a modern socialist country in all respects is a great and arduous undertaking.” [19]19 Xi Jinping, report to the 20th National Congress of It is recognized that further expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization will inevitably face more severe tests. “Advancing Chinese-path modernization is an exploratory undertaking, and there are still many unknown areas that require us to boldly explore in practice.” [20]20 The “Two Establishments” refers to establishing Facing the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world in the New Era, and embarking on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, the entire Party and the entire people can only compose a more splendid chapter of Chinese-path modernization by firmly grasping strategic focus, strengthening historical confidence, and enhancing historical initiative.

党的二十大报告指出：“全面建设社会主义现代化国家，是一项伟大而艰巨的事业，前识到进一步拓展中国式现代化的广度和深度必将面临更为严峻的考验。“推进中国式现代化是一个探索性事业，还有许多未知领域，需要我们在实践中去大胆探索。”面对中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局的新时代形势，迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程，全党全国人民只有牢牢把握战略定力，坚定历史自信，增强历史主动，才能谱写中国式现代化更加绚丽的华章。

First, to expand the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization on the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to follow the essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization of upholding leadership by the Communist Party of China. This is the fundamental guarantee for adhering to the correct direction and path. Chinese-path modernization neither takes the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing the banner. [21] There can be no doubt or wavering on the issue of upholding the Party’s overall leadership. In the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization constructed by the 20th National Congress of the CPC, upholding the Party’s leadership occupies a prominent position in the revelation of the connotation of Chinese-path modernization, its essential requirements, and the stipulation of major principles. Leadership by the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires effectively implementing the Party’s leadership over everything in all areas, aspects, and links of the practice of governing the country. “The Party’s leadership directly determines the fundamental direction, future, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-path modernization. The Party’s leadership determines the fundamental nature of Chinese-path modernization.” “The Party’s leadership ensures that Chinese-path modernization anchors its goals and advances steadily.” “The Party’s leadership stimulates the strong driving force for building Chinese-path modernization.” “The Party’s leadership gathers the mighty strength for building Chinese-path modernization.” [22] Only by fully leveraging the Party’s core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties can the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization be further expanded.

第一，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须遵循坚持中国共产党领导的中国式现代化本质要求，这是坚持正确方向和道路的根本保证。中国式现代化既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路，在坚持党的全面领导这个问题上不能有任何疑惑和动摇。党的二十大构建的中国式现代化理论体系中，坚持党的领导在中国式现代化内涵揭示、本质要求和重大原则规定中都占据突出位置。中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势，拓展中国式现代化广度和深度要求把党领导一切有效地落实到治国理政实践的各领域各方面各环节。“党的领导直接关系中国式现代化的根本方向、前途命运、最终成败。党的领导决定中国式现代化的根本性质”“党的领导确保中国式现代化锚定奋斗目标行稳致远”“党的领导激发建设中国式现代化的强劲动力”“党的领导凝聚建设中国式现代化的磅礴力量”。只有充分发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，才能进一步拓展中国式现代化的广度和深度。

Second, to expand the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization on the new journey of the New Era, it is necessary to comprehensively implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, taking contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism of the 21st century as the fundamental guidance for Chinese-path modernization. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC requires “opening up new frontiers in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times,” pointing out that “continuously writing new chapters in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the solemn historical responsibility of contemporary Chinese Communists.” [23] The road of Chinese-path modernization has been successfully forged in the concrete practice of the Party uniting and leading the Chinese people to adhere to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. By using the Party’s latest theoretical innovation achievements to consolidate the soul and gather the heart, by grasping the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and by adhering to and applying the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through it, a powerful ideological weapon will be provided for expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization.

第二，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，以当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义为中国式现代化的根本遵循。党的二十大报告要求“开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界”，指出“不断谱写马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章，是当代中国共产党人的庄严历史责任”。中国式现代化道路是在党团结带领中国人民坚持把马克思主义基本原理和中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的具体实践中成功走出来的。用党的最新理论创新成果凝心铸魂，把握好习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法，拓展中国式现代化广度和深度就有了强大的思想武器。

Third, on the new journey of the New Era, expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires firm political stance, firm political direction, and maintaining political acumen. Since world history entered modern society, people have long empirically regarded modernization as a material construction and economic phenomenon, lacking attention to modernization’s impact on the superstructure. Successive leading collectives of the Party Central Committee have emphasized the necessity of understanding modernization from a political perspective, always leading China’s modernization construction with political sobriety and firmness. Facts tell us that deviating from the correct track of political development makes it impossible for Chinese-path modernization to succeed. The distinctive features of Chinese-path modernization embody political values; the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization reveal political guidelines; the major principles that must be firmly grasped on the path of Chinese-path modernization form political demands. In the practical development of expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments”[20]20 The “Two Establishments” refers to establishing, strengthen the “Four Consciousnesses”[21], firm up the “Four Confidences”[22], and achieve the “Two Upholds”[23] — this is the inherent requirement for the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to unify thinking, unify will, and unify action.

第三，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须坚定政治立场、坚定政治方向，保持政治头脑。世界历史进入现代社会以来，人们长期经验性地把现代化视为一种物质建设和经济现象加以认识，缺乏对现代化影响上层建筑的重视。党中央历届领导人都强调必须从政治上认识现代化，始终以政治上的清醒和坚定领导中国现代化建设。事实告诉我们，偏离政治发展的正确轨道，中国式现代化不可能取得成功。中国式现代化的鲜明特色体现政治价值，中国式现代化的本质要求揭示政治遵循，中国式现代化前进道路上必须牢牢把握的重大原则形成政治要求。拓展中国式现代化广度和深度的实践发展中，要深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，这是全党全国各族人民统一思想、统一意志、统一行动的内在要求。

Fourth, on the new journey of the New Era, expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires fully utilizing the historical experience of the Party’s century-long struggle, and more forcefully gathering the mighty force of united struggle. An important highlight of the theoretical innovation at the 20th National Congress of the CPC[24] is connecting Chinese-path modernization with the realization of the Chinese Dream, and the new expression of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization endows the great Chinese Dream with new connotations. Realizing national rejuvenation has been the long-cherished wish lingering in the hearts of all Chinese people since the Opium War[25]. Generations of Chinese people have advanced wave upon wave and made continuous efforts to create the new achievements of Chinese-path modernization. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC[26] comprehensively summarized the century-long struggle history, and the condensed and summarized historical experience has practical enlightening significance for expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization. Chinese-path modernization is a great historical undertaking in which all Chinese people have a share, participate jointly, and create through joint efforts. Unity formed around the struggle goals can generate powerful force to expand the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization. Only by firmly relying on united struggle can we promote Chinese-path modernization to go solid, go deep, and go far.

第四，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须充分运用好党的百年奋斗历史经验，更加有力地凝聚起团结奋斗的磅礴力量。党的二十大理论创新的一个重要亮点是把中国式现代化与实现中国梦连接起来，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的新表述，赋予伟大中国梦以新内涵。实现民族振兴是鸦片战争以来全体中国人民萦绕心中的长期夙愿，一代又一代中国人前赴后继、接续努力，才创造出中国式现代化新成就。党的十九届六中全会全面总结百年奋斗历史，凝练概括的历史经验对拓展中国式现代化广度和深度具有现实启迪意义。中国式现代化是全体中国人民人人有份、共同参与、合力创造的历史伟业，围绕奋斗目标形成的团结才能产生拓展中国式现代化广度和深度的强大力量，紧紧依靠团结奋斗才能推动中国式现代化走实走深走远。

Fifth, on the new journey of the New Era, expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires carrying forward the great fighting spirit and overcoming various risks and challenges on the forward path. The historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible. Some countries are unwilling to see the fact of China becoming strong, view China’s development through colored glasses, and adopt various measures and means to set up obstacles, attempting to undermine and interrupt the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The changes unseen in a century are deeply evolving, “changes in the world, changes in the times, and changes in history are unfolding in unprecedented ways,” and “human society faces unprecedented challenges, and the world once again stands at a historical crossroads.” Under such circumstances, expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization must be prepared to undergo major tests of high winds and choppy waters, even raging waves. On the forward path, we must not harbor any illusions. Although Chinese-path modernization has achieved remarkable accomplishments, it cannot be completed easily or merely by beating drums and gongs[27]. The road of future development will not be smooth. Enhancing awareness of potential dangers, improving the ability and capability to overcome risks and challenges, and relying on tenacious struggle to open up new horizons for the development of Chinese-path modernization are necessary to fully leverage the “time” and “trend” on our side in coordinating the “two overall situations”[28], maximize the use of both domestic and international resources, expand the development space of Chinese-path modernization, insist on placing national and ethnic development on the foundation of our own strength, and firmly grasp the destiny of our country’s development and progress in our own hands.

第五，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须发扬伟大斗争精神，战胜前进道路上各种风险挑战。中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程不可逆转，一些国家不愿意看到中国强大起来的事实，戴着有色眼镜看待中国的发展，采取各种措施和手段设置障碍，企图破坏、打断中华民族伟大复兴的进程。世界百年未有之大变局深度演化，“世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开”，“人类社会面临前所未有的挑战，世界又一次站在历史的十字路口”。在这样的局势下，拓展中国式现代化的广度和深度必须准备经受风高浪急甚至惊涛骇浪的重大考验。前进道路上决不能抱有任何幻想，中国式现代化虽然已经取得了令人瞩目的成就，但不是轻轻松松、仅凭敲锣打鼓就可以完成的，未来发展的路不会顺顺当当。增强忧患意识，提高战胜风险挑战的能力和本领，依靠顽强斗争打开中国式现代化发展新天地，才能充分发挥统筹“两个大局”在我们这边的“时”和“势”，最大限度地用好国内国际两种资源，拓展中国式现代化的发展空间，坚持把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持把我国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中。

Sixth, on the new journey of the New Era, expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires vigorously advancing the great new project of Party building in the New Era, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. “The key to comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation lies in the Party.” The 20th National Congress of the CPC put forward the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China on the new journey of the New Era, combined with the new requirements of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, made new deployments for advancing the great new project of Party building in the New Era, emphasized that comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is always on the road, and the Party’s self-revolution is always on the road, demanded “always maintaining the sobriety and firmness to solve the unique problems of a large Party,” and put forward new strategies such as persisting in and strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, unswervingly using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to solidify the soul, perfecting the institutional normative system of the Party’s self-revolution, building a high-quality cadre team capable of shouldering the heavy task of national rejuvenation, strengthening the political function and organizational function of Party organizations, and resolutely winning the protracted battle of the fight against corruption. Expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization requires enhancing the sense of mission and responsibility for establishing, rejuvenating, and strengthening the Party, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, keeping in mind the “Three Imperatives”[29], ensuring that the Party never deteriorates, never changes color, and never changes flavor, taking building the world’s strongest political party as the goal, and building the Party to be stronger and more powerful.

第六，新时代新征程拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，必须大力推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。“全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，关键在党。”党的二十大提出新时代新征程中国共产党的使命任务，结合以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的新要求，对推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程作出新的部署，强调全面从严治党永远在路上，党的自我革命永远在路上，要求“必须时刻保持解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定”，提出坚持和加强党中央集中统一领导、坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂、完善党的自我革命制度规范体系、建设堪当民族复兴重任的高素质干部队伍、增强党组织政治功能和组织功能、坚决打赢反腐败斗争攻坚战持久战等新战略。拓展中国式现代化广度和深度，要求增强立党兴党强党的使命感和责任感，弘扬伟大建党精神，牢记“三个务必”，确保党永远不变质、不变色、不变味，以建设世界上最强政党为目标，把党建设得更加坚强有力。

V. Concluding Remarks

五 结束语

Xi Jinping pointed out: “Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement obtained by our Party leading the people of all ethnic groups in the country through long-term exploration and practice, through countless hardships and at great cost. We must doubly cherish it, always adhere to it, and continuously expand and deepen it... Practice has proven that Chinese-path modernization works and is stable, and is the only correct path for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.” Deepening the understanding of Chinese-path modernization from the perspectives of historical examination and realistic expansion is of extremely important significance for fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and earnestly implementing the strategic deployment of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Striving vigorously, advancing bravely, and uniting in struggle on the glorious and dream-filled expedition, cherishing the achievements of Chinese-path modernization, continuously expanding the breadth and depth of Chinese-path modernization, and further raising the level and realm of Chinese-path modernization are the sacred mission of the Communist Party of China to live up to history and the people, and also the splendid glory of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation in displaying their grand plans.

习近平指出：“中国式现代化是我们党领导全国各族人民在长期探索和实践中历经千辛万苦、付出巨大代价取得的重大成果，我们必须倍加珍惜、始终坚持、不断拓展和深化……实践证明，中国式现代化走得通、行得稳，是强国建设、民族复兴的唯一正确道路。”从历史审视和现实拓展角度加深认识中国式现代化，对全面贯彻党的二十大精神，认真落实全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的战略部署，具有极其重要的意义。在充满光荣和梦想的远征中踔厉奋发、勇毅前行、团结奋斗，珍惜中国式现代化取得的成果，不断拓展中国式现代化的广度和深度，进一步提高中国式现代化的水平和境界，是中国共产党不负历史、不负人民的神圣使命，也是中国人民和中华民族大展宏图的璀璨荣光。

Source: *Huxiang Forum*, Issue 2, 2023

文章来源：《湖湘论坛》2023年第2期

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆