The Key to Chinese Characteristics Lies in the “Two Integrations”

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内容提要

The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been forged under the guidance of Marxism and also emerged from over five thousand years of Chinese civilization; the “Two Integrations” [1]1 The “Two Integrations” refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. are the necessary path for opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation of our Party in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, manifesting the great significance of the “Two Integrations.”

中国特色社会主义道路是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从五千多年中华文明史中走出来的，“两个结合”是开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路。中国式现代化理论是我们党把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的重大理论创新，彰显了“两个结合”的重大意义。

Direction determines the path, and the path determines destiny. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development: “Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vibrant and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics. The key to Chinese characteristics lies in the ‘Two Integrations.’” [2]2 Xi Jinping, speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. This important thesis profoundly reveals the great significance of the “Two Integrations,” highlights our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence, deepens our Party’s understanding of the laws governing upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and provides scientific guidance for continuously adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation on the new journey.

方向决定道路，道路决定命运。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上指出：“我们的社会主义为什么不一样？为什么能够生机勃勃、充满活力？关键就在于中国特色。中国特色的关键就在于‘两个结合’。”这一重要论断深刻揭示了“两个结合”的重大意义，彰显我们党的历史自信、文化自信，深化了我们党对坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的规律性认识，为新征程上不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化、建设中华民族现代文明提供了科学指引。

The “Two Integrations” Are the Necessary Path for Opening Up and Developing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

“两个结合”是开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路

A river of ten thousand miles always has its source; a tree a thousand feet tall always has its roots. Socialism with Chinese characteristics did not fall from the sky; it is a fundamental achievement obtained by the Party and the people through untold hardships and at various costs. What kind of doctrine a country practices depends on whether that doctrine can solve the historic issues facing that country. Over a hundred years ago, during a period when the Chinese nation was impoverished, weak, and subjected to bullying, the Chinese people rose up in resistance to save the nation from peril, people of lofty ideals shouted and ran about, and various doctrines and currents of thought were tried, but none could solve the question of China’s future and destiny.

江河万里总有源，树高千尺也有根。中国特色社会主义不是从天上掉下来的，是党和人民历尽千辛万苦、付出各种代价取得的根本成就。一个国家实行什么样的主义，关键要看这个主义能否解决这个国家面临的历史性课题。百余年前，在中华民族积贫积弱、任人宰割的时期，为了拯救民族危亡，中国人民奋起反抗，仁人志士奔走呐喊，各种主义和思潮都进行过尝试，但都没能解决中国的前途和命运问题。

The salvo of the October Revolution brought Marxism-Leninism to China. [3]3 The October Revolution (1917) in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China, influencing the founding of the CPC in 1921. Amid the great awakening of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and in the close integration of Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese workers’ movement, the Communist Party of China was born. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “How could the Communist Party succeed? Back then, in the Shikumen [4]4 Shikumen is a traditional Shanghai architectural style; the site of the First National Congress of the CPC in 1921 was in a Shikumen building., on a boat on South Lake [5]5 South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, where the First National Congress of the CPC concluded on a boat after being disrupted in Shanghai. [6, with just over a dozen people, to reach today’s stage. The path here must be clearly understood; the truth must be localized.” [6]6 A line from the poem “Moon over the West River · On a Night Trip to the Big Stone” by the Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji (1140–1207), expressing a broad and lofty vision. Opening the century-long history book of thunderous storms, our Party, through repeated practice and breakthroughs, has integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. History and practice prove that only by taking root in the fertile soil of its own country’s and nation’s history and culture can Marxism maintain its vigorous vitality and strong dynamism, guiding us to create, uphold, defend, and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.

十月革命一声炮响，给中国送来了马克思列宁主义。在中国人民和中华民族的伟大觉醒中，在马克思列宁主义同中国工人运动的紧密结合中，中国共产党应运而生。习近平总书记指出：“共产党怎么能成功呢？当年在石库门，在南湖上那么一条船，那么十几个人，到今天这一步。这里面的道路一定要搞清楚，一定要把真理本土化。”翻开风雷激荡的百年史册，我们党历经一次次实践、一次次突破，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化。历史和实践证明，马克思主义只有植根本国、本民族历史文化沃土，才能始终保持蓬勃生机和旺盛活力，指引我们开创、坚持、捍卫和发展中国特色社会主义。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the major thesis of the “Second Integration.” [7] The “Second Integration” is our Party’s profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, a deep grasp of the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization. It shows that our Party’s understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height, that our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height, and that our Party’s consciousness in promoting cultural innovation while inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，习近平总书记鲜明提出“第二个结合”的重大论断。“第二个结合”是我们党对马克思主义中国化时代化历史经验的深刻总结，是对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握，表明我们党对中国道路、理论、制度的认识达到了新高度，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度，表明我们党在传承中华优秀传统文化中推进文化创新的自觉性达到了新高度。

Practice has proven that, on the deep foundation of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics requires integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture as the necessary path. This is the understanding of the laws we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is precisely through the “Two Integrations” continuously advancing the “localization of the truth” that Marxism has increasingly merged with the excellent history and culture inherited for thousands of years in our country and the values that the broad masses of people use daily without conscious awareness, demonstrating a more powerful and convincing force of truth on Chinese soil, and leading the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics to continuously open up new prospects.

实践证明，在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上开辟和发展中国特色社会主义，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合是必由之路。这是我们在探索中国特色社会主义道路中得出的规律性认识。正是经由“两个结合”不断推进“真理本土化”，马克思主义日益同我国传承了几千年的优秀历史文化和广大人民日用而不觉的价值观念相融通，在中国大地展现出更强大、更有说服力的真理力量，引领中国特色社会主义伟大事业不断开创新局面。

The “Two Integrations” Are the Greatest Magic Weapon for Our Success

“两个结合”是我们取得成功的最大法宝

“Without the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, where would Chinese characteristics come from? Without Chinese characteristics, how could we have today’s so successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics?” [8] The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been forged under the guidance of Marxism and also emerged from over five thousand years of Chinese civilization. Only by standing on the magnificent history of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization can we deeply understand why the “Two Integrations” have become the greatest magic weapon for our success.

“如果没有中华五千年文明，哪里有什么中国特色？如果不是中国特色，哪有我们今天这么成功的中国特色社会主义道路？”中国特色社会主义道路是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从五千多年中华文明史中走出来的。立足波澜壮阔的中华五千多年文明史，才能深刻理解“两个结合”何以成为我们取得成功的最大法宝。

The “Two Integrations” endow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics with uniqueness. Unique cultural traditions, unique historical destiny, and unique basic national conditions dictate that the Chinese nation must inevitably take a development path suited to its own characteristics; this path is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of Chinese social development; at the same time, the mutual compatibility of fine traditional Chinese culture and Marxism provides the cultural foundation for Marxism to take root in China. The prerequisite for “integration” is mutual compatibility; only mutual compatibility allows for organic integration. The result of “integration” is mutual achievement; through a profound “chemical reaction,” it creates an organically unified new cultural life entity. “Integration” solidifies the foundation of the path. In particular, the “Second Integration” gives the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics a broader and deeper historical depth, expanding the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“两个结合”赋予中国特色社会主义道路独特性。独特的文化传统，独特的历史命运，独特的基本国情，注定了中华民族必然要走适合自己特点的发展道路，这条道路就是中国特色社会主义道路。中国特色社会主义是科学社会主义理论逻辑和中国社会发展历史逻辑的辩证统一；同时，中华优秀传统文化与马克思主义的相互契合也为马克思主义在中国扎根提供了文化基础。“结合”的前提是彼此契合，相互契合才能有机结合。“结合”的结果是互相成就，通过深刻的“化学反应”，造就了一个有机统一的新的文化生命体。“结合”筑牢了道路根基。特别是“第二个结合”让中国特色社会主义道路有了更加宏阔深远的历史纵深，拓展了中国特色社会主义道路的文化根基。

The “Two Integrations” activate the creativity of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Why the Communist Party of China can succeed, why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good, ultimately comes down to the fact that Marxism works, and that Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times works. This is a conclusion of history. The major proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times itself determines that we must never abandon the soul of Marxism, nor must we abandon the root of fine traditional Chinese culture. Only by adhering to the “Two Integrations” can we hold fast to this soul and root, can we, under the guidance of Marxism, comprehensively excavate the treasure trove of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, use Marxism to activate the vital and excellent factors in fine traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations, inject the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation more deeply into Marxism, effectively merge the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, transform them into new theoretical advantages, and continuously scale new ideological peaks.

“两个结合”激活中国特色社会主义理论体系创造性。中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行。这是历史的结论。马克思主义中国化时代化这个重大命题本身就决定，我们决不能抛弃马克思主义这个魂脉，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉。只有坚持“两个结合”，才能坚守好这个魂和根，才能以马克思主义为指导对中华五千多年文明宝库进行全面挖掘，用马克思主义激活中华优秀传统文化中富有生命力的优秀因子并赋予新的时代内涵，将中华民族的伟大精神和丰富智慧更深层次地注入马克思主义，有效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，聚变为新的理论优势，不断攀登新的思想高峰。

The “Two Integrations” enhance the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The choice of what kind of state system and state governance system is determined by the country’s history and culture, social nature, and level of economic development, and is determined by the country’s people. In its long-term exploration, our Party has always maintained ideological and cultural initiative, emphasized the organic unity of history and reality, theory and practice, form and content, so that the socialist system with Chinese characteristics not only embodies the basic principles of scientific socialism but also possesses distinct Chinese characteristics, national characteristics, and characteristics of the times. Only by adhering to the “Two Integrations” can we, in a broader cultural space, fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture to explore future-oriented theoretical and institutional innovation, use Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to guide institutional construction, and in the process of self-improvement and development, maintain and continuously enhance the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics in the long term.

“两个结合”增强中国特色社会主义制度优越性。选择什么样的国家制度和国家治理体系，是由这个国家的历史文化、社会性质、经济发展水平决定的，是由这个国家的人民决定的。我们党在长期探索中始终掌握思想和文化主动，注重历史和现实、理论和实践、形式和内容有机统一，使中国特色社会主义制度既体现科学社会主义基本原则，又具有鲜明的中国特色、民族特色、时代特色。只有坚持“两个结合”，我们才能在更广阔的文化空间中，充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源探索面向未来的理论和制度创新，用中国化时代化的马克思主义指导制度建设，在自我完善和发展中长期保持和不断增强中国特色社会主义制度优越性。

The “Two Integrations” consolidate the cultural subjectivity of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Without a high degree of cultural confidence, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Cultural confidence derives from our cultural subjectivity. Our Party has always attached importance to cultural development, persistently taking Marxism as its guide, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, inheriting revolutionary culture, developing advanced socialist culture, never forgetting its origins, absorbing foreign influences, and facing the future, so as to better construct the Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength, and to continuously nurture, refine, elevate, and consolidate the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. The establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful embodiment of this cultural subjectivity. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense; cultural confidence has a fundamental foundation; the Communist Party of China has a powerful cultural force to lead the times; the Chinese nation and the Chinese people have a solid cultural basis for national identity; and Chinese civilization has distinctive cultural characteristics for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations of the world.

“两个结合”巩固中国特色社会主义文化主体性。没有高度的文化自信，就没有中华民族伟大复兴。文化自信就来自我们的文化主体性。我们党历来重视文化建设，始终坚持以马克思主义为指导，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，继承革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化，不忘本来、吸收外来、面向未来，更好构筑中国精神、中国价值、中国力量，持续涵养、提炼升华并不断巩固中华民族的文化主体性。创立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，就是这一文化主体性的最有力体现。有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我，文化自信就有了根本依托，中国共产党就有了引领时代的强大文化力量，中华民族和中国人民就有了国家认同的坚实文化基础，中华文明就有了和世界其他文明交流互鉴的鲜明文化特性。

The theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement of the “Two Integrations”

中国式现代化理论是“两个结合”的重大成果

On the new journey of the New Era, the central task of the Communist Party of China is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to comprehensively build a great modern socialist country, achieve the second centenary goal, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, fully embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, draws on and absorbs all outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the direction of progress in human civilization, presents a new picture different from the Western model of modernization, and is a completely new form of human civilization. Summarizing, proposing, and deeply elaborating the theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation by our Party in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. It is the latest major achievement of scientific socialism and highlights the great significance of the “Two Integrations.”

新时代新征程，中国共产党的中心任务就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。中国式现代化深深植根于中华优秀传统文化，充分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。概括提出并深入阐述中国式现代化理论，是我们党把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的重大理论创新，是科学社会主义的最新重大成果，彰显了“两个结合”的重大意义。

The cultural lineage runs through; here lies the refined essence. Chinese civilization endows Chinese-path modernization with profound foundations; fine traditional Chinese culture enriches the cultural life of Marxism, propelling Marxism to continuously achieve new leaps in adapting to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, increasingly displaying a distinct Chinese style and Chinese manner. Sinicized Marxism has become the essence of the times in Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit. The “Second Integration” makes Marxism Chinese and fine traditional Chinese culture modern, turning the new culture formed through “integration” into the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization, enriching and developing Marxist cultural theory, and promoting the formation of the cultural chapter of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, namely Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that continues ancient civilization, not one that eliminates it; it is a modernization that grows out of Chinese soil, not one that copies other countries; it is the result of civilizational renewal, not the product of civilizational rupture. Chinese-path modernization is the new mission of the ancient Chinese nation and will surely enable Chinese civilization to regain its glory.

文脉贯通，斯文在兹。中华文明赋予中国式现代化以深厚底蕴，以中华优秀传统文化充实马克思主义的文化生命，推动马克思主义不断实现中国化时代化的新飞跃，显示出日益鲜明的中国风格与中国气派，中国化马克思主义成为中华文化和中国精神的时代精华。“第二个结合”让马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，让经由“结合”而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态，丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，推动形成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇，也就是习近平文化思想。中国式现代化是赓续古老文明的现代化，而不是消灭古老文明的现代化；是从中华大地长出来的现代化，不是照搬照抄其他国家的现代化；是文明更新的结果，不是文明断裂的产物。中国式现代化是中华民族的旧邦新命，必将推动中华文明重焕荣光。

“Riding the wind, go forth, through the vast sky, straight down to see the mountains and rivers.” [6]6 A line from the poem “Moon over the West River · On a Night Trip to the Big Stone” by the Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji (1140–1207), expressing a broad and lofty vision. Universal truth can only be transformed into the material force that sweeps away all obstacles and transforms heaven and earth when it is integrated with concrete realities; scientific theory can only be internalized as the spiritual force that moistens all things and unites people’s hearts when it is integrated with excellent culture. In the great practice of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we must study, research, and elucidate Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, always adhere to the “Two Integrations,” more deeply discover mutual compatibility, promote mutual achievement, consolidate the foundation of the path, open up space for innovation, better shoulder the new cultural mission, and at the new starting point continue to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

“乘风好去，长空万里，直下看山河。”普遍真理只有同具体实际相结合，才能转化为摧枯拉朽、改天换地的物质力量；科学理论只有同优秀文化相结合，才能内化为润泽万物、凝聚人心的精神力量。在推进中国式现代化的伟大实践中，我们要学习、研究、阐释好习近平文化思想，始终坚持“两个结合”，更加深入地发现彼此契合、推动互相成就、筑牢道路根基、打开创新空间，更好担负起新的文化使命，在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明。

Online editor: Zhang Fujun

网络编辑：张福军