Handling the Relationship Between Upholding Fundamental Principles and Innovation

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The exploration of Chinese-path modernization is a historical process of developing through inheritance and innovating while upholding fundamental principles.” In advancing Chinese-path modernization, an unprecedented pioneering undertaking, it is essential to properly handle the relationship between upholding fundamental principles and innovation—to steady the helm and maintain the course while upholding fundamental principles, and to seek breakthroughs and set sail with the wind while innovating.

习近平总书记指出：“中国式现代化的探索就是一个在继承中发展、在守正中创新的历史过程。”在推进中国式现代化这项前无古人的开创性事业中，必须处理好守正与创新的关系，在守正中把稳舵盘、保持航向，在创新中寻求突破、扬帆远航。

Grasp the dialectical unity of upholding fundamental principles and innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has noted: “Upholding fundamental principles ensures that we do not lose our direction or commit subversive errors, while innovation enables us to grasp the times and lead the times.” Upholding fundamental principles and innovation complement each other, embodying the dialectical unity of “change” and “constancy,” inheritance and development, and principledness and creativity.

把握守正与创新的辩证统一。习近平总书记指出：“守正才能不迷失方向、不犯颠覆性错误，创新才能把握时代、引领时代。”守正和创新相辅相成，体现了“变”与“不变”、继承与发展、原则性与创造性的辩证统一。

Upholding fundamental principles and innovation is an important ideological method for our Party’s governance in the New Era. Upholding fundamental principles and innovation is both inherited from the Chinese nation’s cultural tradition of adhering to the right path and discarding the old for the new over thousands of years, and is consistent with our Party’s long-standing character of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has been clear-cut and unambiguous on fundamental issues such as stance, direction, principles, and path, making every effort to restore order and consolidate foundations, to raise high the banner of Marxism and the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to ensure that the Party does not change its nature, color, or character. At the same time, in the face of changes unseen in a century in the world and the new situation, new tasks, and new demands of domestic economic and social development, it has actively recognized, responded to, and sought change, promoting theoretical innovation, practical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and innovation in all other areas with great courage and boldness. This has greatly enhanced the vitality of the Party and the state, greatly promoted innovative economic and social development, and brought a completely new look to the face of the Chinese Communist Party, the face of the Chinese people, the face of socialist China, and the face of the Chinese nation.

守正创新是我们党在新时代治国理政的重要思想方法。守正创新，既与中华民族几千年来恪守正道、革故鼎新的文化传统相承袭，又与我们党一贯坚持的解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实的品格相贯通。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央在立场、方向、原则、道路等根本性问题上旗帜鲜明、毫不含糊，着力正本清源、固本培元，高扬马克思主义旗帜、中国特色社会主义旗帜，确保党不变质、不变色、不变味。同时，面对世界百年未有之大变局和国内经济社会发展新形势新任务新要求，积极识变应变求变，以巨大勇气和魄力推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新以及其他各方面创新，极大增强了党和国家的生机活力，极大促进了经济社会创新发展，中国共产党的面貌、中国人民的面貌、社会主义中国的面貌、中华民族的面貌焕然一新。

Those who understand the constant and discern change prevail; those who uphold fundamental principles and innovate advance. Upholding fundamental principles does not mean sticking to old rules and remaining unchanged, and innovation is not a tree without roots or water without a source. Upholding fundamental principles on the basis of innovation prevents complacency and stagnation, enabling progress with the times and bringing forth the new; innovating on the basis of upholding fundamental principles prevents deviation from the direction, enabling deep roots and lush leaves and a long and continuous flow. On the path of advancing Chinese-path modernization, anchoring established goals and maintaining strategic resolve, keeping pace with the times and adapting to practical development, it is essential to take a clear-cut stance on fundamental issues such as stance, direction, principles, and path, and to embrace all new things with full enthusiasm, continuously expanding the breadth and depth of understanding, daring to say new things that predecessors have not said, daring to do things that predecessors have not done, guiding new practice with new theory, and forging new brilliance with new practice.

知常明变者赢，守正创新者进。守正不是墨守成规、一成不变，创新不是无本之木、无源之水。在创新基础上守正，才不会故步自封，才能与时俱进、推陈出新；在守正基础上创新，才不会偏离方向，才能根深叶茂、源远流长。在推进中国式现代化道路上，锚定既定目标、保持战略定力，紧跟时代步伐、顺应实践发展，必须旗帜鲜明对待立场、方向、原则、道路等根本性问题，必须满腔热忱对待一切新生事物，不断拓展认识的广度和深度，敢于说前人没有说过的新话，敢于干前人没有干过的事情，以新的理论指导新的实践，以新的实践铸造新的辉煌。

Use upholding fundamental principles to set the direction for Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “On the new journey of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we must first safeguard the foundation, source, root, and soul of Chinese-path modernization.” Upholding fundamental principles is the prerequisite and foundation of Chinese-path modernization. Adhering to the right path, holding fast to one’s own principles and bottom lines, neither taking the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing the banner, is the way to clarify the direction of advance and gather immense strength.

以守正为中国式现代化举旗定向。习近平总书记指出，“在推进中国式现代化新征程上，首先要守好中国式现代化的本和源、根和魂”。守正是中国式现代化的前提和根本。恪守正道，坚守自己的原则和底线，不走封闭僵化的老路，不走改旗易帜的邪路，才能明确前进方向、汇聚起磅礴力量。

On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since reform and opening up, and through theoretical and practical innovation breakthroughs since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has further deepened its understanding of the connotation and essence of Chinese-path modernization, initially constructed a theoretical system for Chinese-path modernization, and successfully advanced and expanded Chinese-path modernization. To safeguard the foundation, source, root, and soul of Chinese-path modernization, we must unswervingly uphold the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, adhere to the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, and adhere to the series of major policies and guidelines since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, ensuring the correct direction of Chinese-path modernization.

在新中国成立特别是改革开放以来长期探索和实践的基础上，经过党的十八大以来理论和实践的创新突破，我们党进一步深化了对中国式现代化的内涵和本质的认识，初步构建起中国式现代化的理论体系，成功推进和拓展了中国式现代化。守好中国式现代化的本和源、根和魂，必须毫不动摇坚持中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求和重大原则，坚持党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略，坚持党的十八大以来的一系列重大方针政策，确保中国式现代化的正确方向。

Upholding the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is one of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Realizing Chinese-path modernization requires a strong and capable leading core. History and practice have proven that our Party is the most reliable backbone of the Chinese people and the designer and promoter of China’s modernization cause. Only by safeguarding the fundamental “correctness” of the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership can we gather the immense strength of the people across the country and better shoulder the historical burden of Chinese-path modernization. Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization; socialism determines the nature and direction of Chinese-path modernization. The Chinese people’s choice of the socialist path to modernization is not an accident of development but a historical necessity. The ultimate success of Chinese-path modernization will also prove that capitalism is not the only gateway to modernization, and that through socialism, it is entirely possible to embark on the broad road to modernization.

坚持中国共产党领导，是中国式现代化的本质要求之一。实现中国式现代化需要一个坚强有力的领导核心。历史和实践证明，我们党是中国人民最可靠的主心骨，也是中国现代化事业的设计者和推动者。守好中国共产党领导这个根本之“正”，才能汇聚起全国人民的磅礴力量，更好挑起中国式现代化的历史重担。中国式现代化是社会主义的现代化，社会主义决定了中国式现代化的性质和方向。中国人民选择社会主义的现代化道路，不是发展的偶然，而是历史的必然。中国式现代化的最终成功也必将证明，资本主义不是实现现代化的不二法门，通过社会主义完全可以走上现代化的康庄大道。

Use innovation to open up the future for Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Advancing Chinese-path modernization is an exploratory undertaking; there are still many unknown areas that require us to boldly explore in practice, to promote the development of the cause through reform and innovation, and we must never be as rigid as marking the boat to find the sword or waiting by the tree stump for the hare.” [1]1 “Marking the boat to find the sword” (刻舟求剑) is a classical Chinese idiom from the Lüshi Chunqiu, referring to a rigid, dogmatic approach that ignores changing circumstances. “Waiting by the tree stump for the hare” (守株待兔) is from Han Feizi, describing passive reliance on luck rather than active effort. By firmly standing on the people’s side, respecting the people’s creativity, concentrating the people’s wisdom, and focusing on summarizing fresh experience and refining innovative achievements from the people’s practical creations, can we create achievements that withstand the test of the times and history.

用创新为中国式现代化开辟未来。习近平总书记指出：“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，通过改革创新来推动事业发展，决不能刻舟求剑、守株待兔。”站稳人民立场、尊重人民创造、集中人民智慧，注重从人民的实践创造中总结新鲜经验，提炼创新成果，方能创造经得起时代和历史检验的业绩。

At present, changes unseen in a century in the world are accelerating, and the international and domestic environments are undergoing profound changes. On the path of Chinese-path modernization, we face both many major opportunities and many risks and challenges. Innovation must be placed in a prominent position in the overall national development, conforming to the developmental demands of the times, focusing on solving major theoretical and practical problems, and striving to advance Chinese-path modernization, a very grand and unique practical innovation in human history. Seize the window of opportunity, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development concept, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, solidly promote high-quality development, correctly respond to various domestic and international risks and challenges, even stormy waves, and ensure that the cause of reform and development proceeds steadily and far. Actively create a thick atmosphere that advocates innovation, encourages innovation, and dares to innovate, so that innovation becomes a common practice throughout society.

当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，国际国内环境发生深刻变化，中国式现代化前进道路上既面临很多重大机遇，也面临很多风险挑战。必须把创新摆在国家发展全局的突出位置，顺应时代发展要求，着眼于解决重大理论和实践问题，奋力推进中国式现代化这一人类历史上非常宏大而独特的实践创新。抓住机遇窗口，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，扎实推进高质量发展，正确应对国际国内各种风险挑战甚至惊涛骇浪，确保改革发展事业行稳致远。积极营造崇尚创新、鼓励创新、勇于创新的浓厚氛围，让创新在全社会蔚然成风。

Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Chinese Communist Party. It shares the common features of modernization in all countries but is more characterized by Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions. In the process of advancement, there will inevitably be various problems and obstacles of all kinds, many of which are unprecedented new topics with no obvious answers. This requires us to adhere to a problem-oriented approach, actively carry out ideological emancipation and theoretical innovation, break the shackles of development with ideological breakthroughs and lead development out of difficulties, clarify understanding and dispel doubts with theoretical innovation, and transform new breakthroughs in ideology and theory into effective forces for solving the difficulties of Chinese-path modernization. Leading cadres at all levels should accelerate the transformation of ideas, ways of thinking, modes of behavior, and working methods that are incompatible with the demands of innovative development, truly becoming leaders and promoters of innovation.

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。在推进过程中肯定会碰到这样那样的问题，遇到形形色色的障碍，很多是前所未有的全新课题，不会有显而易见的答案。这就需要我们坚持问题导向，积极进行思想解放、理论创新，以思想破冰打破发展桎梏、引领发展突围，以理论创新廓清认识、解疑释惑，把思想理论的新突破转化为解决中国式现代化难题的有效力量。各级领导干部应加快转变不适应创新发展要求的思想观念、思维方式、行为方式和工作方法，真正成为创新的引领者、推动者。

Institutional issues are more fundamental, holistic, stable, and long-term. It is necessary to identify key areas and critical links based on the reality of advancing Chinese-path modernization, and focus on innovation and breakthroughs in systems and mechanisms. Persist in seeking momentum from reform and vitality from innovation, introduce a batch of reform plans and policy measures that meet the needs of the times, strive to break down institutional and mechanistic obstacles that constrain development, and help open up new fields and new tracks for development, shaping new drivers and new advantages for development. Use breakthrough achievements in institutional and mechanistic innovation to provide a continuous and powerful driving force and a solid and strong institutional guarantee for the giant ship of Chinese-path modernization to cleave through waves and forge ahead undaunted.

制度问题更带有根本性、全局性、稳定性、长期性。必须根据推进中国式现代化的实际，找准重点领域和关键环节，着力在体制机制上进行创新和突破。坚持向改革要动力，向创新要活力，推出一批适应时代需要的改革方案、政策举措，着力破解制约发展的体制机制障碍，助力开辟发展新领域新赛道，塑造发展新动能新优势。以体制机制创新的突破性成果，为中国式现代化这艘巨轮劈波斩浪、一往无前，提供源源不断的强劲动力和坚实有力的制度保障。

Online editor: Zhang Fujun

网络编辑：张福军