Correctly Understanding and Scientifically Mastering the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces

Introduction

引言

In September 2023, at the symposium on promoting the full revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Actively cultivate strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing, and electronic information, actively cultivate future industries, accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces, and enhance new momentum for development.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Promoting the Full Revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era,” September 7, 2023. Subsequently, he emphasized: “Integrate scientific and technological innovation resources, lead the development of strategic emerging industries and future industries, and accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Promoting the Full Revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era,” September 7, 2023. At the 2024 Central Economic Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping again stressed: “We must use scientific and technological innovation to drive industrial innovation, especially using disruptive technologies and cutting-edge technologies to spawn new industries, new models, and new momentum, and develop new quality productive forces.” [3]3 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference,” December 11-12, 2023. On January 31, 2024, during the 11th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping elaborated on the causal relationship between the new theory of productive forces and high-quality development: “High-quality development requires a new theory of productive forces to guide it.” [4]4 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee,” January 31, 2024. He clearly revealed that the inherent causal relationship between new quality productive forces and high-quality development in the New Era is that “new quality productive forces have already taken shape in practice and have demonstrated a strong driving force and supporting power for high-quality development,” [5]5 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee,” January 31, 2024. and then profoundly pointed out that “we need to summarize and generalize this theoretically to guide new development practices.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 11th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee,” January 31, 2024. That is to say, the theory of new quality productive forces is the “new theory of productive forces” guiding high-quality development. Since this is the case, what is the source of the theory of new quality productive forces? What exactly is the theory of new quality productive forces? We believe that these two questions involve three issues: the laws of productive forces, the laws of the development of productive forces, and the scientific nature of policy choices for developing new quality productive forces.

2023年9月，习近平总书记在新时代推动东北全面振兴座谈会上指出：“积极培育新能源、新材料、先进制造、电子信息等战略性新兴产业，积极培育未来产业，加快形成新质生产力，增强发展新动能。”随后强调：“整合科技创新资源，引领发展战略性新兴产业和未来产业，加快形成新质生产力。”在2024年中央经济工作会议上习近平总书记再次强调：“要以科技创新推动产业创新，特别是以颠覆性技术和前沿技术催生新产业、新模式、新动能，发展新质生产力。”2024年1月31日，在中央政治局第十一次集体学习时，习近平总书记阐述了新的生产力理论与高质量发展的因果关系，“高质量发展需要新的生产力理论来指导”,明确揭示新时代新质生产力与高质量发展的内在因果关系是“新质生产力已经在实践中形成并展示出对高质量发展的强劲推动力、支撑力”,进而深刻指出“需要我们从理论上进行总结、概括，用以指导新的发展实践。” 这就是说，新质生产力理论是指导高质量发展的“新的生产力理论”,既然如此，新质生产力理论的来源是什么?新质生产力理论到底是什么?我们认为，这两个问题涉及生产力规律、生产力发展规律、发展新质生产力政策选择的科学性等三个问题。

I. Grasping the Laws of Productive Forces Based on the Theory of Productive Forces, and Then Exploring the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces

一、依据生产力理论，把握生产力规律，进而探讨新质生产力理论

The emergence and development of any theory has its theoretical origins; “it must necessarily start from existing intellectual materials.” [7]7 Friedrich Engels, “Socialism: Utopian and Scientific,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 3 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 796. The proposal of new quality productive forces also has its “existing intellectual materials,” namely, the theory of productive forces in Marxist political economy.

任何理论的产生和发展都有其理论渊源，“它必须首先从已有的思想材料出发”。新质生产力的提出，也有其“已有的思想材料”,这就是马克思主义政治经济学生产力理论。

(I) The Theory of Productive Forces

（一）生产力理论

After an in-depth analysis of the concept of productive forces, we find that the theory of productive forces is jointly constituted by five aspects: the theory of advanced productive forces, the theory of the determining role of productive forces, the theory of the standard of productive forces, the theory of the reactionary role of relations of production, and the theory of the development of productive forces. It is a correct reflection and generalization of the objective laws of productive forces.

对生产力概念深入剖析后，我们会发现，生产力理论就是由先进生产力论、生产力决定论、生产力标准论、生产关系反作用论和生产力发展论五个方面共同构成的，是对生产力客观规律的正确反映和概括。

1. The Theory of Advanced Productive Forces

1.先进生产力论

Marx profoundly pointed out that material productive forces are “the material transformation in the economic conditions of production, which can be determined with the precision of natural science.” [8]8 Karl Marx, “Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 2 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 3. Here, Marx emphasizes the materiality of productive forces and emphasizes that these material characteristics are “transformations” that can be “determined” “with the precision of natural science.” Therefore, Marx repeatedly stressed: “The establishment of new industries has become a matter of life and death for all civilized nations.” [9]9 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, “Manifesto of the Communist Party,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 404. The development of large-scale industry “has produced capital and productive forces on an unprecedented scale and has provided the means to infinitely increase these productive forces in a short period of time.” [10]10 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, “Manifesto of the Communist Party,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 403. “It is precisely because of this industrial revolution that human labor productivity has reached a fairly high level.” [11]11 Friedrich Engels, “The Condition of the Working Class in England,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Collected Works, vol. 2 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1957), p. 296. This means that in the era of capitalist industrialization in which Marx lived, material productive forces embodied in industry, large-scale industry, and the industrial revolution were of paramount importance and were the advanced productive forces of the time. It was these advanced productive forces that formed capitalist relations of production and their social formation. The elaboration of these advanced productive forces formed the theory of advanced productive forces.

马克思深刻指出，物质生产力是“生产的经济条件方面所发生的物质的、可以用自然科学的精确性指明的变革”。在这里，马克思强调生产力的物质性，强调这些物质特性是可以“用自然科学的精确性”来“指明”的“变革”。因此，马克思反复强调：“新的工业的建立已经成为一切文明民族的生命攸关的问题”。大工业的发展“产生了空前大规模的资本和生产力，并且具备了能在短时期内无限提高这些生产力的手段”。“正是由于这种工业革命，人的劳动生产力才达到了相当高的水平”。这就是说，在马克思所处的资本主义工业化时代，体现为工业、大工业、工业革命的物质生产力是至关重要的，是当时的先进生产力。正是这些先进生产力，才形成了资本主义生产关系及其社会形态。对这一先进生产力的阐述，形成了先进生产力论。

2. The Theory of the Determining Role of Productive Forces

2.生产力决定论

Marx repeatedly emphasized that productive forces are the material foundation of all human history: “Men cannot freely choose their productive forces—these are the basis of all their history, for every productive force is an acquired force, the product of previous activity.” [12]12 Karl Marx, “Letter to P. V. Annenkov,” December 28, 1846, in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 4 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 409. This means that the productive forces of each era are objective and independent of human will; this is the first layer of meaning of the theory of the determining role of productive forces. Marx further pointed out: “In the social production of their existence, men inevitably enter into definite relations, which are independent of their will, namely relations of production appropriate to a given stage in the development of their material productive forces.” [13]13 Karl Marx, “Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy,” in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works, vol. 2 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2012), p. 2. This means that material productive forces determine relations of production and all social formations; this is the second layer of meaning of the theory of the determining role of productive forces. Productive forces determine relations of production; what kind of productive forces exist should correspond to what kind of relations of production; advanced productive forces determine advanced relations of production. Adhering to the theory of the determining role of productive forces can both avoid establishing relations of production that surpass the stage of development of productive forces and avoid rigid thinking and practices that ignore the fact that productive forces have already developed, cling to old relations of production, and oppose changes in relations of production. The theory of the determining role of productive forces emphasizes that the level of productive forces determines the nature of relations of production. It is a correct understanding of the static relationship of the objective law of the dialectical unity of productive forces and relations of production, and it is the fundamental standard for measuring how to choose appropriate relations of production and social formations in a given era.

马克思反复强调生产力是人类全部历史的物质基础，“人们不能自由选择自己的生产力——这是他们的全部历史的基础，因为任何生产力都是一种既得的力量，是以往的活动的产物”。这就是说，每个时代的生产力都是客观的，是不以人们意志转移的，这是生产力决定论的第一层含义。马克思进而指出：“人们在自己生活的社会生产中发生一定的、必然的、不以他们的意志为转移的关系，即同他们的物质生产力的一定发展阶段相适合的生产关系。”这就是说，物质生产力决定生产关系及其全部社会形态，这是生产力决定论的第二层含义。生产力决定生产关系，有什么样的生产力就应当有什么样的生产关系，先进生产力决定了先进生产关系。坚持生产力决定论，既可以避免建立超越生产力发展阶段的生产关系，也可以避免忽视生产力已经发展了的事实而固守旧的生产关系并且反对生产关系变革的僵化思想和做法。生产力决定论强调生产力水平决定生产关系性质，是对生产力与生产关系辩证统一客观规律静态关系的正确认识，是衡量一个时代如何选择合适的生产关系和社会形态的根本标准。

3. The Theory of the Standard of Productive Forces

3.生产力标准论

The theory of the standard of productive forces can be derived from the theory of the determining role of productive forces. Marx pointed out: “The instruments of labor are not only the measure of the development of human labor power, but also the indicator of the social relations under which labor is carried on.” [14]14 Karl Marx, Capital, vol. 1, in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Collected Works, vol. 23 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1972), p. 204. He further stated: “It is not what is produced, but how it is produced, by what instruments of labor, that distinguishes the various economic epochs.” [15]15 Karl Marx, Capital, vol. 1, in Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Collected Works, vol. 23 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1972), p. 204. This means that the level of development of productive forces depends on the “instruments of labor,” which are the “measure” of the level of development of productive forces and the “indicator” of social relations. The mark distinguishing different epochs is the nature of the “instruments of labor.” This is essentially the standard of productive forces. Lenin once regarded “the development of productive forces” as “the highest criterion of social progress” [16]16 V. I. Lenin, “The Economic Content of Narodism and Its Critique in Mr. Struve’s Book,” in V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1984), p. 462. and “the state of productive forces” as “the main criterion of the entire development of society.” [17]17 V. I. Lenin, “The State and Revolution,” in V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, vol. 31 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1985), p. 41. Since this is the case, what does the standard of productive forces measure and judge? In Marx’s view, it measures and judges whether relations of production are advanced. Therefore, during the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized the importance of liberating and developing productive forces. In response to the erroneous understanding of the “Gang of Four” [18]18 The “Gang of Four” was a political faction during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), consisting of Wang Hongwen, Zhang Chunqiao, Jiang Qing, and Yao Wenyuan, who were later purged for ultra-leftist policies. that reversed the principle of the dialectical unity of productive forces and relations of production, he proposed the “three favorable” standard: “The crux is the question of whether it is ‘socialist’ or ‘capitalist.’ The criterion for judgment should mainly be whether it is conducive to developing the productive forces of a socialist society, whether it is conducive to enhancing the comprehensive national strength of a socialist country, and whether it is conducive to improving the people’s living standards.” [19]19 Deng Xiaoping, “Excerpts from Talks Given in Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanghai,” January 18-February 21, 1992, in Deng Xiaoping, Selected Works, vol. 3 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1993), p. 372. This is the most scientific, complete, and practical elaboration of the standard of productive forces in the history of Marxist political economy, and it is also the first time in the history of our Party that the theory of the determining role of productive forces and the theory of the standard of productive forces were elevated to the level of a theory of productive forces for the first generalization. Under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the report of the 13th National Congress of the CPC correctly pointed out: “Only on the basis of recognizing the determining role of productive forces and recognizing that productive forces are the fundamental standard can we correctly handle the contradictions between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, ensuring that changes in relations of production and the superstructure can truly adapt to the conditions and requirements of the development of productive forces in contemporary China.” [20]20 “Report to the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” October 25, 1987.

由生产力决定论可以引申出生产力标准论。马克思指出：“劳动资料不仅是人类劳动力发展的测量器，而且是劳动借以进行的社会关系的指示器。”他进而又指出：“各种经济时代的区别，不在于生产什么，而在于怎样生产，用什么劳动资料生产。”这就是说，生产力发展水平取决于“劳动资料”,是生产力发展水平的“测量器”,是社会关系的“指示器”,区别各个时代的标志是“劳动资料”的性质，这实质上就是生产力标准。列宁曾把“生产力的发展”看作是“社会进步的最高标准”,把“生产力状况”看作是“整个社会发展的主要标准”。既然如此，生产力标准衡量和评判什么呢?在马克思看来，就是衡量和评判生产关系是否先进。因此，在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平反复强调解放和发展生产力的重要性，针对“四人帮”颠倒生产力与生产关系辩证统一原理的错误认识，提出了“三个有利于”的标准：“要害是姓‘资’还是姓‘社’的问题。判断的标准，应该主要看是否有利于发展社会主义社会的生产力，是否有利于增强社会主义国家的综合国力，是否有利于提高人民的生活水平。”这是在马克思主义政治经济学历史上关于生产力标准最科学、最完整、最实用的阐述，也是在我们党历史上首次把生产力决定论、生产力标准论上升到生产力理论高度进行的首次概括。在邓小平理论指导下，党的十三大报告正确地指出：“只有在承认生产力的决定作用，承认生产力是根本标准的基础上，才能正确处理生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑之间的矛盾，保证生产关系和上层建筑的变革能够真正适应当代中国生产力发展的状况和要求。”

The standard of productive forces is the basis for an era or a country to choose what kind of relations of production and social formation to adopt and to promote their sustained and healthy development. For example, in ancient China, where the level of development of productive forces was at the stage of self-sufficiency, only a feudal social formation could be chosen, and only the development of feudal society could be continuously promoted. In modern Europe and America, based on large-scale socialized production, a capitalist social formation was inevitably chosen, and only the development of capitalist society could be promoted. Since reform and opening up, the Party and the state have made liberating and developing productive forces a fundamental national policy, built socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted the sustained, rapid, and healthy development of our national economy, and maintained the global economic status of the world’s second-largest economy for many consecutive years.

生产力标准，是一个时代、一个国家选择什么样的生产关系及其社会形态、推进其持续健康发展的依据。譬如，在生产力发展水平处于自给自足的古代中国，只能选择封建主义社会形态，只能持续推进封建社会的发展；在社会化大生产基础上的近代欧美各国，必然选择资本主义社会形态，只能推进资本主义社会的发展；改革开放以来，党和国家把解放和发展生产力作为根本国策，建设中国特色社会主义，推进我国国民经济持续快速健康发展，连续多年保持世界第二大经济体的全球经济地位。

4. The Theory of the Reactionary Role of Relations of Production

4.生产关系反作用论

In the actual process of socio-economic movement, the dominant position of productive forces cannot be shaken, but this does not mean that the counteraction of relations of production on productive forces can be denied or ignored. This is the theory of the counteraction of relations of production. Marx believed: “A society that has shed the limitations of capitalist production can advance with greater strides. This society produces all-round developed producers, who understand the scientific foundations of all industrial production and have practical experience of the entire series of production departments from beginning to end, so such a society will create new productive forces.” [21]21 Karl Marx, *Capital*, Volume 1, Chapter 13, Section 4 (paraphrased from the German original; the English translation follows the standard Moscow edition). Therefore, the counteraction of relations of production on productive forces can create “new productive forces.” Marx and Engels also explicitly demanded that after the proletariat seizes political power, it must “increase the total quantity of productive forces as rapidly as possible.” [22]22 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, *Manifesto of the Communist Party*, Chapter II. Entering the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out: “After the basic system of socialism is established, it is still necessary to fundamentally change the economic system that hinders the development of productive forces, and establish a vibrant and vigorous socialist economic system to promote the development of productive forces”; “The essence of socialism is to liberate and develop productive forces, eliminate exploitation, eliminate polarization, and ultimately achieve common prosperity.” [23]23 Deng Xiaoping, “Excerpts from Talks in Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shanghai” (January 18–February 21, 1992), in *Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping*, Volume 3. This is the most complete exposition of the theory of the counteraction of relations of production.

在实际社会经济运动过程中，生产力的主导地位是不能动摇的，但也不能因此而否定或者忽视生产关系对生产力的反作用，这就是生产关系反作用论。马克思认为：“摆脱了资本主义生产的局限性的社会可以更大踏步地前进。这个社会造就全面发展的一代生产者，他们懂得整个工业生产的科学基础，而且每一个人对生产部门的整个系列从头到尾都有实际体验，所以这样的社会将创造新的生产力。”因此，生产关系对生产力的反作用是能够创造“新的生产力”的。马克思、恩格斯还明确要求，无产阶级掌握革命政权后要“尽可能快地增加生产力的总量”。进入改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平深刻指出：“社会主义基本制度确立以后，还要从根本上改变束缚生产力发展的经济体制，建立起充满生机和活力的社会主义经济体制，促进生产力的发展”,“社会主义的本质，是解放生产力，发展生产力，消灭剥削，消除两极分化，最终达到共同富裕”。这是对生产关系反作用论的最完整阐述。

In fact, in any era, relations of production can counteract productive forces. Advanced relations of production, by promoting a qualitative leap in productive forces, can create “new productive forces.” For example, the bourgeois revolution in England established capitalist relations of production, vigorously liberated and developed England’s socialized productive forces, enabling England to take the lead in entering capitalist society and also promoting the gestation and development of the Industrial Revolution first in England; the October Revolution in Russia established a socialist state power, then transformed capitalist relations of production, established socialist relations of production, vigorously promoted the development of Russia’s social productive forces, enabling Russia to take the lead in entering socialist society, and the achievements of socialist construction in Russia and the Soviet Union laid a solid material foundation for the victory of World War II, i.e., the World Anti-Fascist War; the Chinese Revolution overthrew the three mountains of capitalism, feudalism, and imperialism, [24]24 “The three mountains” is a standard Chinese Communist Party (CPC) shorthand for the three oppressive forces that the Chinese Revolution aimed to overthrow: imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. established a socialist state power, carried out socialist transformation of agriculture, handicraft industry, and capitalist industry and commerce, established socialist relations of production, vigorously liberated and developed productive forces, and laid an industrial foundation for the development of the national economy; since reform and opening up, the tremendous achievements in China’s economic development further prove that, first, ideological emancipation established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and second, guided by the theory of the determination of productive forces, reforms were carried out on relations of production and their economic systems that hindered the development of productive forces, effectively promoting the great development of China’s productive forces since reform and opening up.

实际上，在任何时代，生产关系都能够反作用于生产力，先进生产关系推进生产力质的飞跃能够创造“新的生产力”。譬如，英国的资产阶级革命建立了资本主义生产关系，大力解放和发展了英国的社会化生产力，使英国率先进入资本主义社会，也推进了工业革命率先在英国的孕育和发展；俄国十月革命建立了社会主义国家政权，再改造资本主义的生产关系，建立社会主义生产关系，大力促进了俄国社会生产力的发展，使俄国率先进入社会主义社会，俄国和苏联社会主义建设成就为第二次世界大战即世界反法西斯战争的胜利奠定了雄厚物质基础；中国革命推翻了资本主义、封建主义和帝国主义三座大山，建立了社会主义国家政权，对农业、手工业和资本主义工商业进行社会主义改造，建立了社会主义生产关系，大力解放和发展生产力，为国民经济发展奠定了工业基础；改革开放以来，我国经济发展取得的巨大成就更加证明，首先是思想解放确立了实事求是的思想路线，其次是以生产力决定论为指导来改革阻碍生产力发展的生产关系及其经济体制，有力推进了我国改革开放以来生产力的大发展。

5. The Theory of the Development of Productive Forces

5.生产力发展论

In the dialectical unity of productive forces and relations of production, productive forces change with the times, involving both quantitative and qualitative changes; correspondingly, relations of production also change with the times, involving both quantitative and qualitative changes; however, it is the change and development of productive forces that determine the change and transformation of relations of production. Marx profoundly pointed out: “With the acquisition of new productive forces, people change their mode of production; with the change in the mode of production, i.e., the mode of earning a living, people change all their social relations. The hand-mill gives you society with the feudal lord; the steam-mill gives you society with the industrial capitalist.” [25]25 Karl Marx, *The Poverty of Philosophy*, Chapter 2, Section 1. Nevertheless, productive forces and relations of production cannot be transformed simultaneously and synchronously, thus forming a contradiction between them. Advanced relations of production can promote the development of backward productive forces, while backward relations of production can hinder the development of advanced productive forces. These views can be collectively referred to as the theory of the development of productive forces. The theory of the development of productive forces is a correct understanding of the dynamic relationship of the objective law of the dialectical unity of productive forces and relations of production, which will be elaborated in detail in the next section.

在生产力与生产关系的辩证统一过程中，生产力是随着时代变化而变化的，既有量的变化也有质的变化；相应地，生产关系也是随着时代变化而变化的，既有量的变化也有质的变化；只不过，生产力的变化和发展决定了生产关系的变化和变革。马克思深刻指出：“随着新生产力的获得，人们改变自己的生产方式，随着生产方式即谋生的方式的改变，人们也就会改变自己的一切社会关系。手推磨产生的是封建主的社会，蒸汽磨产生的是工业资本家的社会。”尽管如此，生产力与生产关系并不能同时、同步加以变革，于是就形成了生产力与生产关系的矛盾，先进生产关系可以促进落后生产力的发展，落后生产关系会阻碍先进生产力的发展。以上这些观点可以统称为生产力发展论。生产力发展论是对生产力与生产关系辩证统一客观规律动态关系的正确认识，下一节拟将详细阐述。

In summary, this article has expounded the theory of productive forces from five aspects. Since this is the case, is the theory of productive forces applicable to the analysis of new quality productive forces? Is it necessary to develop a theory of new quality productive forces? We believe that new quality productive forces must follow the laws of productive forces and can still be analyzed using the theory of productive forces, but a new theory of productive forces must be developed to form a theory of new quality productive forces in Marxist political economy adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

综上，本文从五个方面阐述了生产力理论。既然如此，生产力理论是否适用新质生产力的分析呢?是否需要发展新质生产力理论呢?我们认为，新质生产力必须遵循生产力规律，仍然可以运用生产力理论来分析，但必须发展新的生产力理论，形成中国化时代化马克思主义政治经济学新质生产力理论。

(II) New Quality Productive Forces Follow the Laws of Productive Forces, and the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces Emerges as the Times Require

（二）新质生产力遵循生产力规律，新质生产力理论应运而生

We can analyze new quality productive forces from the five aspects of the theory of productive forces, correctly understand how new quality productive forces have developed by following the laws of productive forces, and thus form the theory of new quality productive forces.

我们可以从生产力理论的五个方面来分析新质生产力，正确认识新质生产力是如何遵循生产力规律发展而来的，从而形成新质生产力理论。

First, according to the theory of advanced productive forces, new quality productive forces are a type of advanced productive forces. Therefore, new quality productive forces do not transcend the general connotation and general laws of productive forces, i.e., the relationship between humans and nature; nor do they deviate from the laws of productive forces; on the contrary, they follow the laws of productive forces; still less do they depart from the theory of productive forces, especially the theory of advanced productive forces.

第一，依据先进生产力论，新质生产力是先进生产力的一种类型。因而，新质生产力并没有超越生产力的一般内涵、一般规律，即人与自然的关系；也并没有脱离生产力规律，反而是遵循生产力规律；更没有背离生产力理论，尤其是先进生产力论。

We believe that each era has its own new quality productive forces. Regarding the reality that advanced productive forces under capitalism are mainly manifested as industrial productive forces, Marx explicitly pointed out: “The development of the productive forces of the means of labor into an automatic process presupposes the subordination of natural forces to social intelligence.” [26]26 Karl Marx, *Grundrisse*, Notebook VII, “The Fragment on Machines.” This means that capitalist material productive forces are brought about by science and technology (“social intelligence”) based on natural forces, and are the crystallization of science and technology transforming material means (means of labor). This crystallization is manifested in humanity’s ability to transform the material natural world using its own “intelligence and physical strength.” It can be seen from the above that in Marx’s era of industrialization, science and technology enhanced humanity’s ability to transform nature, concentratedly manifested as the improvement of the level of industrialization. Industrial productive forces were the new quality productive forces of that time.

我们认为，每个时代都有各自的新质生产力。针对资本主义先进生产力主要表现为工业化生产力的现实，马克思明确指出：“发展为自动化过程的劳动资料的生产力要以自然力服从于社会智力为前提。”这就是说，资本主义物质生产力是基于自然力的科学技术（“社会智力”）带来的，是科学技术改造物质资料（劳动资料）的结晶，这一结晶表现为人类运用自己的“智力和体力”改造物质自然界的能力。由上可见，在马克思所处的工业化时代，科学技术提升人类改造自然界的能力，集中体现为工业化水平的提升，工业化生产力就是当时的新质生产力。

In today’s world, “the chain of scientific and technological innovation is more agile, technological updates and the transformation of achievements are faster, and industrial upgrading and replacement are accelerating, causing social production and consumption to transform from industrialization to automation and intelligence. Social productive forces will once again greatly increase, and labor productivity will once again make a great leap.” [27]27 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 17th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 12th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering” (May 28, 2014). Starting from this reality of science, technology, and productive forces, the advanced productive forces formed in response to the progress and innovation of science and technology in today’s era of informatization, digitalization, and intelligence are new quality productive forces.

当今世界“科技创新链条更加灵巧，技术更新和成果转化更加快捷，产业更新换代不断加快，使社会生产和消费从工业化向自动化、智能化转变，社会生产力将再次大提高，劳动生产率将再次大飞跃”。从这一科学技术和生产力现实出发，针对当今信息化、数字化、智能化时代科学技术的进步和创新而形成的先进生产力就是新质生产力。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly expounded the advanced nature of new quality productive forces: First, new quality productive forces are “an advanced state of productive forces that conforms to the new development concept.” [28]28 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 20th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee” (January 31, 2024). Second, new quality productive forces “are spawned by revolutionary breakthroughs in technology, innovative allocation of production factors, and deep industrial transformation and upgrading, with the leap in workers, means of labor, objects of labor, and their optimized combination as the basic connotation.” [29]29 Ibid. This reveals the law of formation of new quality productive forces, i.e., technological revolution, innovative allocation of production factors, and industrial transformation and upgrading promote the leap in workers, means of labor, objects of labor, and their optimized combination. Third, the criterion for judging the level of new quality productive forces is “with a substantial increase in total factor productivity as the core indicator.” [30]30 Ibid. Fourth, the characteristics, key, and essence of new quality productive forces are interrelated: “New quality productive forces are dominated by innovation, breaking away from traditional economic growth modes and paths of productive force development, and have the characteristics of high technology, high efficiency, and high quality.” Its “characteristic is innovation, the key is quality, and the essence is advanced productive forces.” [31]31 Ibid.

习近平总书记深刻阐述了新质生产力的先进性：一是新质生产力是 “符合新发展理念的先进生产力质态”。二是新质生产力“由技术革命性突破、生产要素创新性配置、产业深度转型升级而催生，以劳动者、劳动资料、劳动对象及其优化组合的跃升为基本内涵”。这就揭示了新质生产力的形成规律，即技术革命、生产要素创新配置、产业转型升级推进劳动者、劳动资料、劳动对象及其优化组合跃升。三是判断新质生产力水平的高低是“以全要素生产率大幅提升为核心标志”。四是新质生产力的特点、关键和本质是相互关联的，“新质生产力是创新起主导作用，摆脱传统经济增长方式、生产力发展路径，具有高科技、高效能、高质量特征”,其“特点是创新，关键在质优，本质是先进生产力”。

Second, according to the theory of the determination of productive forces, one type of productive force is the fundamental prerequisite for the corresponding type of relations of production. This is the fundamental law of socio-economic development in human history. The productive forces of the Stone Age are the material basis for the relations of production of primitive society; the productive forces of the Bronze Age are the material basis for the relations of production of slave society; the small-scale peasant productive forces of men plowing and women weaving, self-sufficient, are the material basis for the relations of production of feudal society; large-scale socialized production is the material basis for the relations of production of capitalist society; new quality productive forces are the objective basis for new types of relations of production.

第二，依据生产力决定论，一种类型的生产力是相应类型生产关系的根本前提，这是人类历史上社会经济发展的根本规律。石器时代的生产力是原始社会生产关系的物质基础，青铜时代的生产力是奴隶社会生产关系的物质基础，男耕女织、自给自足的小农生产力是封建社会生产关系的物质基础，社会化大生产是资本主义社会生产关系的物质基础，新质生产力是新型生产关系的客观基础。

Third, according to the standard theory of productive forces, what kind of productive forces there are determines what kind of relations of production there should be, and what kind of relations of production there are determines what kind of social formation there should be; ultimately, it is productive forces that determine relations of production, and the economic base that determines the superstructure. New quality productive forces are the fundamental standard for how to select appropriate relations of production and social formation, and also the fundamental pathway for how to promote the sustained, healthy, and rapid development of relations of production and their socio-economic formation.

第三，依据生产力标准论，有什么样的生产力就应当有什么样的生产关系，有什么样的生产关系就应当有什么样的社会形态，最终是生产力决定生产关系、经济基础决定上层建筑。新质生产力是如何选择合适的生产关系和社会形态的根本标准，也是如何推进生产关系及其社会经济形态持续健康快速发展的根本途径。

Fourth, according to the theory of the reactive effect of productive forces, based on the fundamental premise that productive forces determine relations of production, relations of production have a reactive effect on productive forces, including both a positive reactive effect and a negative reactive effect, and both a quantitative promoting effect and a qualitative promoting effect. The reactive effect of new-type relations of production is to promote the development of new quality productive forces. Therefore, General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "To develop new quality productive forces, we must further deepen reform comprehensively and form new-type relations of production that are compatible with them." [32]32 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee" (January 31, 2024).

第四，依据生产力反作用论，基于生产力决定生产关系的根本前提，生产关系对生产力有反作用，既有正向的反作用也有负向的反作用，既有量的推进作用也有质的推进作用。新型生产关系的反作用是推进新质生产力的发展。因此，习近平总书记指出：“发展新质生产力，必须进一步全面深化改革，形成与之相适应的新型生产关系。”

Fifth, according to the theory of the development of productive forces, productive forces always develop, involving both quantitative expansion and qualitative leaps. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered the New Era, and it is still necessary to liberate and develop the social productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "To realize socialist modernization and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the most fundamental and most urgent task is still to further liberate and develop the social productive forces." [33]33 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up" (December 18, 2018). Therefore, the level of development of new quality productive forces and how they develop determine the relations of production and social formation after socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era. Since this is the case, how do new quality productive forces develop? This depends on "promoting industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation, especially using disruptive technologies and cutting-edge technologies to give rise to new industries, new models, and new drivers of growth." [34]34 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference" (December 11-12, 2023).

第五，依据生产力发展论，生产力总是发展的，既有量的扩张也有质的飞跃。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，仍然要解放和发展社会生产力，习近平总书记指出：“实现社会主义现代化，实现中华民族伟大复兴，最根本最紧迫的任务还是进一步解放和发展社会生产力”。因此，新质生产力的发展水平和如何发展，决定了中国特色社会主义进入新时代后的生产关系和社会形态。既然如此，新质生产力如何发展呢?这取决于“以科技创新推动产业创新，特别是以颠覆性技术和前沿技术催生新产业、新模式、新动能”。

In summary, we believe that, under the guidance of the theory of productive forces, the theory of new quality productive forces has been formed, with the following five implications: new quality productive forces are the highest grade of productive forces in human history, the most advanced productive forces, thus forming the advanced theory of new quality productive forces; new quality productive forces are the fundamental law of socio-economic development, thus forming the determinist theory of new quality productive forces; new quality productive forces are the fundamental standard for how to select appropriate relations of production and social formation, and also the fundamental pathway for how to promote their sustained, healthy, and rapid development, thus forming the standard theory of new quality productive forces; new-type relations of production reactively effect and promote the development of new quality productive forces, thus forming the theory of the reactive effect of relations of production; the level of development of new quality productive forces and how they develop determine the relations of production, social formation, and their sustained, healthy development after socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, thus forming the development theory of new quality productive forces.

综上，我们认为，在生产力理论指导下，形成了新质生产力理论，有以下五个含义：新质生产力是人类有史以来最高等级的生产力，是最先进的生产力，因而形成了新质生产力先进论；新质生产力是社会经济发展的根本规律，因而形成了新质生产力决定论；新质生产力是如何选择合适的生产关系和社会形态的根本标准，也是如何推进其持续健康快速发展的根本途径，因而形成了新质生产力标准论；新型生产关系反作用并且推进新质生产力的发展，因而形成了生产关系反作用论；新质生产力的发展水平和如何发展，决定了中国特色社会主义进入新时代后的生产关系、社会形态及其持续健康发展，因而形成了新质生产力发展论。

Since this is the case, under the guidance of the theory of productive forces and the theory of new quality productive forces, and based on the advanced theory, determinist theory, standard theory, and theory of reactive effect, we need to focus on how to follow the law of development of productive forces and explore how new quality productive forces develop.

既然如此，在生产力理论和新质生产力理论指导下，基于先进论、决定论、标准论和反作用论，我们需要重点关注如何遵循生产力发展规律，探讨新质生产力是如何发展而来的。

II. Following the Law of Development of Productive Forces, Based on the Theory of the Development of Productive Forces, Exploring the Theory of the Development of New Quality Productive Forces

二、遵循生产力发展规律，依据生产力发展理论，探讨新质生产力发展理论

The theory of the development of productive forces emphasizes that the development of productive forces promotes the transformation of relations of production. It is a correct understanding of the dynamic relationship of the objective law of the dialectical unity of productive forces and relations of production, and it is the theoretical basis for clarifying how to transform existing relations of production and social formation in a given era. To this end, it is necessary to explore what the fundamental driving force for the development of productive forces is and how to develop productive forces, thereby forming the theory of the development of new quality productive forces.

生产力发展论强调生产力发展推进生产关系的变革，是对生产力与生产关系辩证统一客观规律动态关系的正确认识，是明确一个时代如何变革既有的生产关系和社会形态的理论依据。为此，需要探讨生产力发展的根本动因是什么以及如何发展生产力，进而形成新质生产力发展理论。

(I) Scientific and Technological Progress Is the Fundamental Driving Force for the Development of Productive Forces

（一）科学技术进步是生产力发展的根本动因

The theory of the development of productive forces holds that, among the many factors of production that constitute productive forces, science and technology are both an independent factor of production and comprehensively permeate and arm other factors of production. Therefore, the advanced nature of science and technology becomes both the decisive factor in whether various factors of production are advanced and the decisive factor in whether productive forces are advanced, thereby becoming both the measure of advanced productive forces and the fundamental driving force for the development of productive forces.

生产力发展论认为，在构成生产力的众多生产要素中，科学技术既是独立的生产要素，也全面渗透和武装了其他生产要素。因此，科学技术的先进性，既成为各种生产要素是否先进的决定因素也成为生产力是否先进的决定因素，进而既成为先进生产力的衡量标准也成为发展生产力的根本动因。

First, from the perspective of the theory of the development of productive forces, science and technology are an independent scientific activity, which then evolves into an independent science and technology industry. Today, this manifests as high-tech industries, strategic emerging industries, future industries, and so on.

首先，在生产力发展论看来，科学技术是独立的科学活动，进而演进成为独立的科学技术产业，在今天就是高新技术产业、战略性新兴产业、未来产业等等。

Marx profoundly pointed out: "Modern industry, on the other hand, makes science a productive force distinct from labour and presses it into the service of capital." [35]35 Karl Marx, *Capital*, Volume 1, Chapter 14, Section 5. That is to say, scientific and technological activity was originally embedded within labour, land, and even instruments of production, and was not independent. It was only with the progress of industrialization that it gradually became "a productive force distinct from labour," becoming an independent factor of production in the process of industrialization. With the deepening of industrialization and the advancement of informatization, digitalization, and intelligentization, the independence of science and technology has increasingly strengthened, and the penetration of the science and technology industry into all industries has grown ever deeper.

马克思深刻指出：“大工业则把科学作为一种独立的生产能力与劳动分离开来。”这就是说，科学技术活动本来是蕴含在劳动和土地乃至生产工具之中的，并没有独立出来，是随着工业化的进步才逐步“作为一种独立的生产能力与劳动分离开来”,成为工业化进程中的独立生产要素。随着工业化的深入，信息化、数字化、智能化的推进，科学技术的独立性日益增强，科学技术产业向全产业的渗透越来越深。

Given that science and technology have become an independent factor of production, Marx further pointed out: "Social productive forces exist not only in material form but also in the form of knowledge; natural science is general social productive forces characterized by the form of knowledge." [36]36 Karl Marx, *Grundrisse* (Notebook VII). That is to say, with the advent of the era of industrialization, social productive forces are no longer merely material productive forces, but also include knowledge productive forces. In other words, social productive forces = material productive forces + knowledge productive forces. However, with the changing epochs of industrial civilization and the increasing progress of science and technology, the proportional structure of material productive forces and knowledge productive forces within total social productive forces has gradually changed. At the beginning of industrialization, the proportion of material productive forces was relatively large, while knowledge productive forces were in a secondary position. But with the increasing progress of industrialization, which has already experienced three industrial revolutions and is currently undergoing the fourth industrial revolution, the proportion of knowledge productive forces to material productive forces within total social productive forces has undergone a fundamental change. The general trend is that the proportion of material productive forces is becoming smaller and smaller, while the proportion of knowledge productive forces is becoming larger and larger. Overall, with the deepening of informatization, digitalization, and intelligentization, the proportion of material productive forces is becoming smaller and smaller, the proportion of knowledge productive forces is becoming larger and larger, and new quality productive forces are emerging.

鉴于科学技术成为独立的生产要素，马克思进而指出：“社会生产力不仅以物质形态存在，而且以知识形态存在，自然科学就是以知识形态为特征的一般社会生产力。”这就是说，随着工业化时代的来临，社会生产力已经不仅仅是物质生产力，还包括知识生产力。也就是说，社会生产力=物质生产力+知识生产力。只不过，随着工业文明的时代变迁和科学技术的日益进步，物质生产力与知识生产力在整个社会生产力中的占比结构逐步改变。在工业化之初，物质生产力占比较大、知识生产力处于次要地位。但随着工业化的日益进步，已经经历了三次工业革命，目前正在进行第四次工业革命，这就使得知识生产力与物质生产力在整个社会生产力中的占比发生了根本改变，总的趋势是物质生产力占比越来越小而知识生产力占比越来越大。总的来看，随着信息化、数字化和智能化的深入推进，物质生产力的占比越来越小，知识生产力的占比越来越大，新质生产力呼之欲出。

It is precisely based on the development of modern science and technology and their penetration into all aspects of social production that, during the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping keenly put forward the thesis that "science and technology are the primary productive forces," [37]37 Deng Xiaoping, "Science and Technology Are the Primary Productive Forces" (September 5, 1988). profoundly revealing that "modern science opens up avenues for the progress of production technology and determines its direction of development." [38]38 Deng Xiaoping, "Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the National Science Conference" (March 18, 1978). After socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly summarized: "Historical experience shows that those countries that have seized the opportunity of scientific and technological revolutions to achieve modernization are all countries with a strong scientific foundation; those countries that have seized the opportunity of scientific and technological revolutions to become world powers are all countries that are in the leading ranks in important scientific and technological fields." [39]39 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering" (May 28, 2021). Here, General Secretary Xi Jinping has deeply discerned the fundamental pathway, fundamental trend, and fundamental law of the development of productive forces in today's world, and has thus scientifically proposed a theory that can comprehensively reflect the law of development of productive forces, namely, the theory of the development of new quality productive forces.

正是基于现代科学技术的发展及其对社会生产各个方面的渗透，在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平敏锐地提出了“科学技术是第一生产力”的论断，深刻揭示了“现代科学为生产技术的进步开辟道路，决定它的发展方向”。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，习近平总书记深刻总结道：“历史经验表明，那些抓住科技革命机遇走向现代化的国家，都是科学基础雄厚的国家；那些抓住科技革命机遇成为世界强国的国家，都是在重要科技领域处于领先行列的国家。”在这里，习近平总书记深邃地洞察到当今世界生产力发展的根本途径、根本趋势和根本规律，进而科学地提出了能够全面反映生产力发展规律的理论，即新质生产力发展理论。

Second, from the perspective of the theory of the development of productive forces, science and technology also arm other factors of production, thereby enhancing the capacity, quality, and efficiency of these factors of production.

其次，在生产力发展论看来，科学技术还武装了其他生产要素，从而提高了这些生产要素的能力、质量和效率。

Marx believed that "the social productive forces of labour are, first of all, the power of science." [40]40 Karl Marx, *Theories of Surplus Value*, Volume 1, Chapter 4. Science and technology arm the labourer through education and culture, enhancing the labourer's labour skills and labour quality, making them the most active and higher-quality factor of production in social productive forces, and also making them the decisive factor in the level and quality of development of productive forces; science and technology, by creating new instruments of production and discovering new means of production, improve the performance of instruments of production, raise the grade and quality of the means of labour, optimize the structure of the means of labour, and enhance the function and role of the means of labour, making them the objective foundation of social productive forces, and also making them an important indicator of the level of development of social productive forces; it is precisely because of the comprehensive permeation of science and technology into labour power and means of labour that social productive forces can continuously progress and upgrade.

马克思认为“社会的劳动生产力，首先是科学力量”。科学技术通过教育和文化武装了劳动者，提升劳动者的劳动技能和劳动素质，使之成为社会生产力中最活跃的更高质量的生产要素，也使之成为生产力发展水平和发展质量的决定性因素；科学技术通过创造新的生产工具和发现新的生产资料，提高生产工具的性能，提升劳动资料的等级和质量，优化劳动资料的结构，提升劳动资料的功能和作用，使之成为社会生产力的客观基础，也使之成为社会生产力发展水平的重要标志；正是因为科学技术对劳动力和劳动资料的全面渗透，社会生产力才得以持续进步和升级。

This continuous progress and structural upgrading are vividly manifested in capitalist society. Marx profoundly pointed out: “The social control of natural forces, and hence the economical use of them, the appropriation or subjugation of natural forces on a large scale by human labor, — this necessity plays the most decisive role in the history of industry.” [41]41 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *People’s Daily*, February 2, 2024. That is to say, the magnitude of social productive forces is expressed as the extent of control over natural forces and the degree of their utilization, and the ability to control and utilize natural forces depends on the level of scientific and technological progress. Therefore, “the development of fixed capital indicates the degree to which general social knowledge has become a direct productive force, and hence the degree to which the conditions of the social production process are themselves controlled by general intelligence and transformed accordingly.” [42]42 William Petty, *A Treatise of Taxes and Contributions* (Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1978), p. 66. This means that, under the conditions of capitalist social relations of production, all means of production (instruments of production and objects of production) are embodied in what Marx referred to as “fixed capital.” In “fixed capital,” social knowledge (i.e., the achievements of science and technology) has fully permeated material means of production, transforming into direct productive forces, that is, knowledge productive forces are integrated with material productive forces, and material productive forces are “controlled by general intelligence and transformed accordingly.”

这种持续进步和结构升级，在资本主义社会，表现得淋漓尽致。马克思深刻指出：“社会地控制自然力，从而节约地利用自然力，用人力兴建大规模的过程占有或驯服自然力，——这种必要性在产业史上起着最有决定性的作用。”这就是说，社会生产力的大小表现为对自然力控制的大小和利用的多少，而控制和利用自然力的能力取决于科学技术的进步程度。因此，“固定资本的发展表明，一般社会知识，已经在多大程度上变成了直接生产力，从而社会生产过程的条件本身在多么大的程度上受到一般智力的控制并按照这种智力得到改造”。这就是说，在资本主义社会生产关系条件下，全部生产资料（生产工具和生产对象）都体现为马克思所指的“固定资本”。在“固定资本”中，社会知识（即科学技术成果）已经全面渗透到物质生产资料之中，转化为直接生产力，也就是知识生产力与物质生产力融为一体，物质生产力“受到一般智力的控制并按照这种智力得到改造”。

Third, from the perspective of the theory of productive forces development, the level of science and technology determines the level of development of productive forces.

再次，在生产力发展论看来，科学技术水平决定了生产力发展水平。

As times change, the level of science and technology continuously rises. This process of elevation is not balanced but rather transitional and leapfrogging, specifically manifested as the first, second, third, and fourth scientific and technological revolutions. Consistent with the temporal changes in the level of science and technology, the level of productive forces in each era transitions in tandem with the leap in science and technology, specifically manifested as the first, second, third, and fourth industrial revolutions. On this, Marx pointed out: “The productive power of labor is developed with the continuous progress of science and technology.” [43]43 Karl Marx, *Capital*, Vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2004), p. 208.

随着时代变迁，科学技术水平是持续提升的，这种提升过程并不是均衡式的而是跃迁式的、跳跃式的，具体表现为第一次、第二次、第三次和第四次科技革命。与科学技术水平的时代变迁相一致，每个时代的生产力水平都是随着科学技术水平的跃迁而跃迁，具体表现为第一次、第二次、第三次和第四次工业革命。对此，马克思指出：“劳动生产力是随着科学和技术的不断进步而不断发展的”。

Finally, from the perspective of the theory of new quality productive forces development, scientific and technological innovation in the current era is the core element for developing new quality productive forces.

最后，在新质生产力发展论看来，当今时代的科技创新是发展新质生产力的核心要素。

Since the evolution of science and technology has become an independent factor of production and has given rise to high-tech industries, since science and technology has also armed other factors of production and enhanced their capacity, quality, and efficiency, and since the level of science and technology determines the level of development of productive forces, then scientific and technological innovation becomes the fundamental driving force for the development of productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Innovation is the primary driving

既然科学技术演进成为独立的生产要素并且孕育出高新技术产业，既然科学技术还武装了其他各种生产要素并且提高了这些生产要素的能力、质量和效率，既然科学技术发展水平决定了生产力发展水平，那么，科技创新也就成为生产力发展的根本动因。习近平总书记深刻指出：“创新是引领发展的第一动力。”这一重要论述，是对当今世界科技发展大势的重大判断，是我国依据这一科技发展大势制定经济发展战略的主要依据，为进一步发挥科技创新作用、推进我国经济发展指明了方向。

From the perspective of innovation, surveying the contemporary world, the digital technology system formed by the mutual integration and complementarity of information technologies such as computer technology, big data, mobile internet, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, blockchain, robotics, mobile terminal devices, and artificial intelligence has caused the entire national economy to exhibit a development trend toward informatization, digitalization, and intelligence. In response to the reality of informatization, digitalization, and intelligence in today’s world, social productive forces also display new characteristics. These new characteristics determine that social productive forces have undergone a qualitative change and leap, becoming new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Scientific and technological innovation can give rise to new industries, new models, and new drivers of growth, and is the core element for developing new quality productive forces.” [41]41 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *People’s Daily*, February 2, 2024.

从创新视角看，纵观当今世界，计算机技术、大数据、移动互联网、物联网、云计算、区块链、机器人、移动终端设备、人工智能等信息技术相互融合、相辅相成而构成的数字技术体系，使整个国民经济呈现信息化、数字化和智能化的发展趋势。针对当今世界信息化、数字化和智能化的现实，社会生产力也呈现新的特征。这些新特征决定了社会生产力已经发生质的改变和跃升，成为新质生产力。习近平总书记深刻指出：“科技创新能够催生新产业、新模式、新动能，是发展新质生产力的核心要素。”

(II) The Development of Productive Forces Occurs Through the Addition of New Factors of Production and the Consequent Change in the Structure of Factors of Production

（二）生产力发展是由新生产要素的加入并且导致生产要素结构变化而发展的

From the perspective of the theory of the development of productive forces, although the fundamental driving force for the development of productive forces is science and technology, and although science and technology both act as an independent factor of production and permeate other factors of production, one must not overlook that productive forces are a comprehensive force composed of various factors of production (i.e., total factor productivity), nor can one ignore that the development of productive forces results from the quantitative expansion of various factors of production and the qualitative improvement brought about by the addition of new factors of production.

在生产力发展论看来，尽管生产力发展的根本动因是科学技术，尽管科学技术既作为独立的生产要素又渗透到其他生产要素之中，但也不能忽视生产力是由各种生产要素构成的综合力（即全要素生产率）,更不能忽略生产力发展是由于各种生产要素量的扩张和新增生产要素导致质的提升。

Productive forces are a comprehensive force composed of various factors of production. The quantitative expansion of various factors of production determines the expansion of the total volume of productive forces, while the addition of new factors of production leading to a structural leap in the factors of production determines the qualitative improvement and structural upgrading of productive forces. The structural leap in factors of production is mainly manifested in the continuous addition of new advanced factors of production to productive forces as the times progress and science and technology advance; this is the specific evolutionary process of the law of development of productive forces. The continuous summarization of this fact and law leads to the continuous innovation of the theory of the development of productive forces.

生产力是由各种生产要素构成的综合力，各种生产要素量的扩张决定了生产力总量的扩展，新增生产要素导致生产要素的结构跃升决定了生产力质的提升和结构上的升级。生产要素结构的跃升，主要体现为，随着时代进步和科技进步，生产力中不断添加新的先进生产要素，这是生产力发展规律的具体演进过程。对这一事实和规律的持续概括，就导致生产力发展理论的持续创新。

In the history of economic thought, in response to the reality of the addition of new factors of production to productive forces in different eras, economists of their respective times have made timely and accurate summaries, proposing theories of factors of production that conform to the actual factors of production of their eras, and further summarizing them into theories of the development of productive forces that fit the actual conditions of the time.

经济学说史上，针对不同时代生产力中新生产要素加入的现实，所处时代的经济学家们都做出了及时而准确的概括，提出了符合各自时代生产要素实际的生产要素理论，进而概括为符合当时实际情况的生产力发展理论。

In the era of manufacture, advanced productive forces were mainly the productive forces of manufacture. In manufacture, the decisive factors were the labor of workers and the land owned by capitalists; that is, at this time, the factors of production consisted of labor and land. Labor was mainly simple labor; science and technology did not yet require arming workers through a complex educational process, only simple training to get them on the job. The instruments of labor were simple and rudimentary, made from wood directly harvested from nature after simple processing. The means of labor also came directly from agricultural products or mineral products. Clearly, whether instruments of labor or means of labor, like labor itself, they contained little in the way of scientific and technological components. The development of productive forces depended mainly on the quantity of labor and land. Therefore, the amount of labor and the quantity of land determined the total volume and level of development of productive forces at that time. In light of the economic facts of this era, the British classical economist William Petty proposed that “land is the mother of wealth, while labor is the father and active element of wealth.” [42]42 William Petty, *A Treatise of Taxes and Contributions* (Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1978), p. 66. That is to say, in the era of manufacture, the factors of production were labor and land; the comprehensive force of labor and land constituted the productive forces of that time; the increase in the amount of labor and the development of land represented the development of productive forces at that time. Correspondingly, Petty’s theory of factors of production was formed.

在工场手工业时代，先进生产力主要是工场手工业的生产力。在工场手工业中，起决定作用的因素是工人的劳动和资本家占有的土地，也就是说，此时的生产要素是由劳动与土地组成的。劳动，主要是简单劳动，科学技术还不需要通过复杂的教育过程来武装劳动者，只需要简单的培训即可上岗；劳动工具是简单的、简易的，是从自然界直接采伐的木材经过简单加工而成的；劳动资料也直接来自农产品或者矿产品。很明显，无论是劳动工具还是劳动资料，与劳动一样，都没有蕴含多少科学技术的成分，生产力的发展主要取决于劳动和土地数量的多少。因此，劳动量的多少和土地数量的多少，决定了此时的生产力总量和发展水平。鉴于这个时代经济发展的事实，英国古典经济学家威廉·配第提出了“土地为财富之母，而劳动则为财富之父和能动的要素”。这就是说，在工场手工业时代，生产要素是劳动和土地，劳动和土地的综合力就是此时的生产力，劳动量的增加和土地的开发就是此时生产力的发展。与之相应，就形成了配弟的生产要素学说。

In the era of capitalist machine-based large-scale production, Marx and Engels pointed out: “All the elements necessary for the labor process: the material factor and the human factor, i.e., the means of production and labor power.” [43]43 Karl Marx, *Capital*, Vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2004), p. 208. Compared with Petty’s era, the most prominent feature of the level of productive forces in the era of machine-based large-scale production in which Marx and Engels lived was automated production. The factors of production in the automated production process were more abundant: the “land factor” of Petty’s era expanded into the “material factor” of Marx and Engels’ era; the “labor” of Petty’s era was concretized into the “labor power” of Marx and Engels’ era; the means of production and labor power were completely separated. On this basis, Marx comprehensively summarized the factors of production contained in the productive forces of the era of machine-based large-scale production, pointing out: “The productivity of labor is determined by many circumstances, including: the average degree of skill of the workers, the level of development of science and its degree of technological application, the social combination of the process of production, the scale and effectiveness of the means of production, and natural conditions.” [44]44 Karl Marx, *Capital*, Vol. 1 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2004), p. 53. Here, Marx discovered that the factors of production constituting productive forces included workers, science and technology, means of production, natural conditions, and so on. Clearly, the workers here were already workers who had mastered a certain degree of science and technology; science and technology had already become an independent factor of production; the means of production were already tools and raw materials containing a certain degree of science and technology. On this basis, the Marxist political economy theory of the development of productive forces was formed.

在资本主义机器大生产时代，马克思、恩格斯指出，“劳动过程所需要的一切要素：物的因素和人的因素，即生产资料和劳动力”。相比于配第时代，马克思恩格斯所处的机器大生产时代生产力水平的最大特征是自动化生产。自动化生产过程中的生产要素更加丰富，配第时代的“土地要素”扩展为马克思恩格斯所处时代的“物的因素”,配第时代的“劳动”具体化为马克思恩格斯所处时代的“劳动力”,生产资料和劳动力完全分离。在此基础上，马克思全面概括了机器大生产时代生产力包含的生产要素，指出：“劳动生产力是由多种情况决定的，其中包括：工人的平均熟练程度，科学的发展水平和它在工艺上应用的程度，生产过程的社会结合，生产资料的规模和效能，以及自然条件。”在这里，马克思发现，构成生产力的生产要素包括工人、科学技术、生产资料、自然条件等等。很显然，这里的工人已经是掌握了一定科学技术的工人，科学技术已经成为独立的生产要素，生产资料已经是蕴含着一定的科学技术的生产工具和原材料。在此基础上形成了马克思主义政治经济学生产力发展理论。

With the further development of capitalism, especially after experiencing the first, second, and third industrial revolutions, the level of capitalist productive forces has undergone multiple qualitative upgrades and structural changes. Based on these facts, bourgeois economists have summarized various theories of economic growth. These theories of economic growth, in essence, are also theories of the development of productive forces. Although they are bourgeois theories of the development of productive forces, they include the scientific core and common characteristics that reflect the laws of development of productive forces, which are worthy of absorption and reference by the Marxist political economy theory of the development of productive forces. Classical economic growth theory summarized the factors of production as labor and capital (including land), constructing various mathematical models of economic growth represented by the Harrod-Domar growth model; neoclassical economic growth theory expanded the factors of production to include labor, capital (including land), and technology, constructing various mathematical models of economic growth represented by the Solow-Swan growth model and the Cobb-Douglas production function.

随着资本主义的进一步发展，尤其是经历了第一次、第二次和第三次工业革命，资本主义生产力水平发生了多次质的升级和结构变化。基于这些事实，资产阶级经济学家们总结出了各种经济增长理论。这些经济增长理论，从本质上看，也是生产力发展理论。尽管是资产阶级生产力发展理论，但其中包括了反映生产力发展规律的科学内核和共性特征，值得马克思主义政治经济学生产力发展理论吸收和借鉴。古典经济增长理论把生产要素概括为劳动、资本（包括土地）,构建了以哈罗德-多玛增长模型为代表的各种经济增长数理模型；新古典经济增长理论把生产要素扩展为劳动、资本（包括土地）和技术，构建了索罗-斯旺经济增长模型和柯布-道格拉斯经济增长函数为代表的各种经济增长数理模型。

From the above, it can be seen that with the progress of the times and the advancement of science and technology, new factors of production are continuously being added. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a profound summary: “Previous industrial revolutions all share some common characteristics: first, they are based on new scientific theories; second, new tools of production emerge correspondingly; third, a large number of new investment hotspots and job positions are formed; fourth, the economic structure and development mode undergo major adjustments and form new economies of scale; fifth, there are significant new changes in the mode of social production and life.” [45]45 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering” (May 28, 2021), in *Xi Jinping: Selected Works*, vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 343. New science, new tools of production, new investment hotspots, new job positions, new economic structures, new development modes, new modes of social production and life—all of these are brought about by new factors of production. In response to the facts of productive forces development in the world today and in our country, General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out, “Digital technology and the digital economy can promote the rapid flow of various resource factors.” [46]46 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering” (May 28, 2021), in *Xi Jinping: Selected Works*, vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 344. This means that data, as a factor of production, also promotes the flow of other factors of production, enhancing the efficiency of combination among all factors of production. Therefore, “data, as a new type of factor of production, has a significant impact on the transformation of traditional modes of production.” [47]47 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering” (May 28, 2021), in *Xi Jinping: Selected Works*, vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 344. It is precisely based on the new factor of production of the present era—data—that General Secretary Xi Jinping timely and keenly proposed the theory of new quality productive forces. This is the latest contribution to the Marxist political economy theory of the development of productive forces, the core principle of Marxist political economy adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and the core content of Xi Jinping’s economic thought.

由上可见，随着时代进步和科技进步，新的生产要素不断加入。习近平总书记做出了深刻总结：“历次产业革命都有一些共同特点：一是有新的科学理论作基础，二是有相应的新生产工具出现，三是形成大量新的投资热点和就业岗位，四是经济结构和发展方式发生重大调整并形成新的规模化经济效益，五是社会生产生活方式有新的重要变革。”新的科学、新的生产工具、新的投资热点、新的就业岗位、新的经济结构、新的发展方式、新的社会生产生活方式，所有这些都是新的生产要素带来的。针对当今世界和我国的生产力发展事实，习近平总书记还指出，“数字技术、数字经济可以推动各类资源要素快捷流动”。这就是说，数据作为生产要素，还推进其他生产要素的流动，提高全部生产要素之间的组合效率，因而，“数据作为新型生产要素，对传统生产方式变革具有重大影响”。正是基于当今时代新的生产要素——数据，习近平总书记及时而敏锐地提出了新质生产力理论，这是对马克思主义政治经济学生产力发展理论的最新贡献，是中国化时代化马克思主义政治经济学的核心原理，是习近平经济思想的核心内容。

(III) The Qualitative Change in Factors of Production Determines the Qualitative Change in Productive Forces and the Qualitative Change in Relations of Production

（三）生产要素的质变决定了生产力的质变和生产关系的质变

From the perspective of the theory of the development of productive forces, the development of productive forces refers not only to the quantitative and qualitative development of the productive forces themselves but also to the development of productive forces promoting the quantitative and qualitative development of relations of production. Marx profoundly pointed out: “No social order is ever destroyed before all the productive forces for which it is sufficient have been developed, and new superior relations of production never replace older ones before the material conditions for their existence have matured within the framework of the old society.” [48]48 Karl Marx, “Preface to *A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy*,” in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *Selected Works*, vol. 1, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1951, p. 329. This clarifies both that the development of productive forces is the determining factor in the development of relations of production, and that only advanced productive forces (i.e., “the material conditions for their existence have matured within the framework of the old society”) can promote the formation of advanced relations of production (i.e., “new superior relations of production”). Marx also pointed out: “At a certain stage of development, the material productive forces of society come into conflict with the existing relations of production or—this merely expresses the same thing in legal terms—with the property relations within the framework of which they have operated hitherto. From forms of development of the productive forces these relations turn into their fetters.” [49]49 Karl Marx, “Preface to *A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy*,” in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *Selected Works*, vol. 1, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1951, p. 329. Here, Marx actually indicates that productive forces are constantly developing, and changes in productive forces inevitably cause changes in relations of production, but the development of productive forces occupies the active position; relations of production are also constantly developing, but the development of relations of production occupies the passive position; the development of productive forces ultimately determines the development of relations of production; however, changes in productive forces and relations of production are not absolutely simultaneous or synchronous, thus forming a contradiction between the two; “existing relations of production,” due to the contradictory movement of productive forces and relations of production, and because of the emergence and growth of advanced productive forces, advanced productive forces are always incompatible with the “existing relations of production” of that era, even developing into “fetters” on the productive forces; the way to break free from the fetters may be either revolution or reform. From the above, it can be seen that each era forms its own advanced productive forces, which in turn promote corresponding changes and revolutions in relations of production. Therefore, Marx and Engels pointed out: relations of production “change and transform with the change and development of the material means of production, the productive forces.” [50]50 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *The Communist Manifesto*, in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, *Selected Works*, vol. 1, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1951, p. 42.

在生产力发展论看来，生产力发展既是指生产力自身在量和质上的发展，也是指生产力发展促进生产关系在量和质上的发展。马克思深刻指出：“无论哪一个社会形态，在它们所能容纳的全部生产力发挥出来以前，是决不会灭亡的，而新的更高的生产关系，在它存在的物质条件在旧社会的胎胞里成熟以前，是决不会出现的。”这既明确了生产力发展是生产关系发展的决定因素，也明确了只有先进生产力（即“物质条件在旧社会的胎胞里成熟”）才能推进先进生产关系（即“新的更高的生产关系”）的形成。马克思还指出：“社会的物质生产力发展到一定阶段，便同它们一直在其中运动的现存生产关系或财产关系（这只是生产关系的法律用语）发生矛盾。于是这些关系便由生产力发展的形式变成生产力的桎梏。”在这里，马克思实际上指出，生产力是不断发展的，生产力的变化必然引起生产关系的变化，但生产力的发展处于主动地位；生产关系也是不断发展的，但生产关系发展处于被动地位；生产力的发展最终决定了生产关系的发展；但生产力与生产关系的变化并非绝对同时、同步的，从而形成了两者之间的矛盾；“现存生产关系”,因为生产力与生产关系的矛盾运动，由于先进生产力的出现和壮大，先进生产力总是与这个时代的“现存生产关系”不相容甚至发展成为“生产力的桎梏”,摆脱桎梏的途径既可能是革命也可能是改革。由上可见，每个时代都会形成各自的先进生产力，进而推进生产关系作出相应的变革和革命。因此，马克思、恩格斯指出：生产关系是“随着物质生产资料、生产力的变化和发展而变化和改变的”。

The above exposition on advanced productive forces, productive forces determining relations of production, and the development of productive forces determining the development of relations of production, fully demonstrates that the qualitative change in the structure of factors of production (i.e., the addition of new factors of production) determines the qualitative change in productive forces and the qualitative change in relations of production. We also find that in each era, advanced productive forces and backward productive forces coexist; however, it is the advanced productive forces that first come into conflict with the existing relations of production, thereby causing changes in relations of production. Therefore, it is precisely the advanced productive forces of each era that play a leading role in the productive forces and relations of production of the entire society. In the present era, this advanced productive force is the new quality productive forces.

以上关于先进生产力、生产力决定生产关系、生产力发展决定生产关系发展的阐述，充分说明生产要素结构的质变（即添加新的生产要素）决定了生产力的质变和生产关系的质变。我们还发现，每个时代总是先进生产力与落后生产力并存，然而，是先进生产力率先与现存生产关系发生冲突，进而引起生产关系的变革。因此，正是每个时代的先进生产力起着对整个社会的生产力和生产关系的牵引作用。在当今时代，这个先进生产力就是新质生产力。

One connotation of new quality productive forces is digital productive forces. Digital technology innovation represented by the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, 3D printing technology, 6G, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, databases, operating systems, etc., as well as cross-border collaboration and digital technology collaborative innovation between digital technology and other technical fields achieved through digital networks and intelligent algorithms, are the fundamental source and fundamental driving force of new quality productive forces. The further penetration, coverage, and application of these digital technologies in various industrial fields will lead to the digital transformation of all traditional industries, realizing the informatization, digitalization, and intelligentization of the entire social economy. This new quality productive force determines the qualitative state of relations of production.

新质生产力的内涵之一是数字生产力。以物联网、云计算、大数据、3D打印技术、6G、集成电路、人工智能、高性能计算、数据库、操作系统等为代表的数字技术创新，以及通过数字网络和智能算法使数字技术与其他技术领域不断实现的跨界协同和数字技术协同创新，是新质生产力的根本来源和根本动力。这些数字技术在各产业领域的进一步渗透、覆盖和应用，就会引致全部传统产业的数字化转型，实现整个社会经济的信息化、数字化和智能化。这种新质生产力决定了生产关系的质态。

Another connotation of new quality productive forces is green productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Green development is the hallmark of high-quality development; new quality productive forces are themselves green productive forces.” [51]51 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering” (May 28, 2021), in *Xi Jinping: Selected Works*, vol. 2, Foreign Languages Press, 2023, p. 345. So-called green development refers to development that does not come at the expense of the natural environment, in order to achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature; it is sustainable development based on the virtuous cycle of the natural world, and is one of the connotations of Chinese-path modernization. So-called green productive forces means that the sustainable development of the natural environment is itself an organic component of productive forces, distinguishing it from past productive forces that came at the expense of the natural environment and the plundering of natural resources.

新质生产力的内涵之二是绿色生产力。习近平总书记指出：“绿色发展是高质量发展的底色，新质生产力本身就是绿色生产力。”所谓绿色发展，就是指不以牺牲自然环境为代价的发展，以便实现人与自然的和谐共生，是基于自然界良性循环的可持续发展，是中国式现代化的内涵之一；所谓绿色生产力，就是指自然环境的可持续发展本身就是生产力的有机内容，区别于过去以牺牲自然环境和掠夺自然资源为代价的生产力。

From the above, it can be seen that new quality productive forces are the multiplier of digital productive forces and green productive forces: New Quality Productive Forces = Digital Productive Forces × Green Productive Forces.

由上可见，新质生产力是数字生产力与绿色生产力的乘数：新质生产力=数字生产力×绿色生产力。

In summary, we believe that the theory of the development of productive forces mainly includes: the fundamental driving force of the development of productive forces is science and technology; the hallmark of the development of productive forces is the addition of new factors of production; the qualitative change in the structure of factors of production leads to the qualitative change in productive forces and relations of production. Correspondingly, the theory of the development of new quality productive forces mainly includes: science and technology of informatization, digitalization, intelligentization, and greening bring about new quality productive forces; the hallmark of new quality productive forces is the multiplier of digital productive forces and green productive forces; new quality productive forces lead to comprehensively deepening reform, in order to innovate more advanced socialist new-type relations of production.

综上，我们认为，生产力发展理论主要包括：生产力发展的根本动因是科学技术；生产力发展的标志是新生产要素的加入；生产要素结构上的质变引致生产力和生产关系的质变。与之相应，新质生产力发展理论主要包括：信息化、数字化、智能化、绿色化的科学技术带来新质生产力；新质生产力的标志是数字生产力和绿色生产力的乘数；新质生产力引致全面深化改革，以便创新更加先进的社会主义新型生产关系。

III. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices for Developing New Quality Productive Forces

三、发展新质生产力政策选择的科学性

The above has elaborated five aspects of the theory of productive forces (abbreviated as the “Five Theses”) and three aspects of the theory of the development of productive forces (abbreviated as the “Three Theses”), and further proposed the “Five Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces and the “Three Theses” of the theory of the development of new quality productive forces. The purpose of this elaboration is to further expound, on the basis of the “Five Theses” and the “Three Theses,” the scientific nature of China’s policy choices regarding productive forces in the New Era. We believe that, although new quality productive forces were first proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in September 2023, because theory and practice cannot achieve absolute simultaneity and synchronicity (i.e., theory can lag behind practice for a period, and practice can also lag behind theory for a period), we cannot achieve a situation where the theory of new quality productive forces and the practice and policies of new quality productive forces are proposed simultaneously and synchronously. In fact, since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [52]52 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering" (May 28, 2021)., relevant policy practices regarding productive forces have already embodied the guidance of the theory of new quality productive forces. The Party and government have implemented the innovation-driven development strategy, placed greater emphasis on the development of high-tech and future technologies, placed greater emphasis on the cultivation and development of advanced manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, and future industries, and adopted a series of policy measures to promote the development of science and technology and the incubation and development of new industries, effectively promoting the development of new quality productive forces. Thus it can be seen that the practice of new quality productive forces in China predates the theory of new quality productive forces. It is precisely on the basis of China’s practice of developing new quality productive forces in the New Era that General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively elaborated the theory of new quality productive forces. Conversely, the theory of new quality productive forces also fully proves the scientific nature of the policy choices for new quality productive forces implemented in China.

以上阐述了生产力理论的五个方面（简称“五论”）和生产力发展理论的三个方面（简称“三论”）,进而提出了新质生产力理论的“五论”和新质生产力发展理论的“三论”。阐述的目的是基于“五论”和“三论”,进一步阐述新时代我国生产力相关政策选择的科学性。我们认为，尽管新质生产力是习近平总书记2023年9月首次提出来的，但是由于理论与实践并不能做到绝对的同时性、同步性（亦即理论可以落后于实践一段时间、实践也可以落后于理论一段时间）,因此，我们无法做到新质生产力理论与新质生产力实践及其政策是同时、同步提出来的。实际上，党的十八大以来的相关生产力政策实践已经体现了新质生产力理论的指导，党和政府实施了创新驱动发展战略，更加重视高新技术、未来技术的发展，更加重视先进制造业、战略性新兴产业、未来产业的培育和发展，采取了一系列推进科学技术发展、推进新产业孕育和发展的政策举措，有力促进了新质生产力的发展。由此可见，我国新质生产力的实践早于新质生产力的理论。正是基于新时代我国发展新质生产力的实践，习近平总书记创造性地阐述了新质生产力理论。反过来，新质生产力理论也充分证明了我国实施的新质生产力政策选择的科学性。

(I) The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the “Five Theses” of the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces in the New Era

（一）新时代基于新质生产力理论“五论”政策选择的科学性

1. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the Thesis of the Advanced Nature of New Quality Productive Forces

1.依据新质生产力先进论政策选择的科学性

Because new quality productive forces are the advanced productive forces of the New Era, accelerating the development of new quality productive forces is the fundamental starting point and fundamental purpose of China’s high-quality development policies in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Developing new quality productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and a key focus for promoting high-quality development; we must continue to do a good job on the article of innovation and promote the accelerated development of new quality productive forces.” [53]53 "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" (March 2021). How to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: First, we must place science and technology, talent, and innovation in a prominent position, and adhere to the three “firsts,” namely, “we must adhere to the principle that science and technology are the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force”; second, we must implement the correct development strategy and implement the three strategies, namely, “thoroughly implement the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the nation through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy”; third, in response to the actual situation of China’s social and economic development in the New Era, we must “open up new fields and new tracks for development, and continuously shape new drivers of development and new advantages.” [54]54 Ibid.

因为新质生产力是新时代的先进生产力，所以加快发展新质生产力是我国新时代高质量发展政策的根本出发点和根本目的。习近平总书记指出：“发展新质生产力是推动高质量发展的内在要求和重要着力点，必须继续做好创新这篇大文章，推动新质生产力加快发展。”如何加快新质生产力发展?习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中指出：一是要摆正科技、人才和创新的突出位置，坚持三个“第一”,即，“必须坚持科技是第一生产力、人才是第一资源、创新是第一动力”；二是要实施正确的发展战略，落实三个战略，即，“深入实施科教兴国战略、人才强国战略、创新驱动发展战略”；三是要针对新时代我国社会经济发展实际，“开辟发展新领域新赛道，不断塑造发展新动能新优势”。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered the New Era, the Party and the state have implemented relevant policies to promote strategic emerging industries, digital industries, and future industries, continuously promote high-quality development, and gradually form new quality productive forces.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，党和国家已经实施了相关政策，推进战略性新兴产业、数字产业和未来产业，持续推进高质量发展，逐步形成了新质生产力。

Regarding policies for strategic emerging industries, the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: “Promote the integrated and clustered development of strategic emerging industries, and cultivate a number of new growth engines such as next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, and green environmental protection.” [55]55 Ibid. Clearly, strategic emerging industries originate from high technology, and the various industries they lead to are necessarily advanced industries, and the productive forces within them are new quality productive forces.

关于战略性新兴产业的政策，党的二十大报告指出：“推动战略性新兴产业融合集群发展，构建新一代信息技术、人工智能、生物技术、新能源、新材料、高端装备、绿色环保等一批新的增长引擎。”很显然，战略性新兴产业源于高新技术，引致的各种产业必然是先进产业，其中的生产力亦即新质生产力。

Regarding policies for promoting the development of the digital industry, the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: “Accelerate the development of the digital economy, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and build digital industry clusters with international competitiveness.” [56]56 Ibid. Why is it necessary to accelerate the development of the digital economy? General Secretary Xi Jinping has provided a profound explanation. First, digital

关于推进数字产业的发展，党的二十大报告指出：“加快发展数字经济，促进数字经济和实体经济深度融合，打造具有国际竞争力的数字产业集群。”为什么要加快发展数字经济?习近平总书记进行了深刻阐述。首先，数字技术已经融入国民经济各个领域，“近年来，互联网、大数据、云计算、人工智能、区块链等技术加速创新，日益融入经济社会发展各领域全过程”,这是对当今世界数字技术创新并且融入经济社会各领域的精准把握，是我国打造具有国际竞争力数字产业集群的客观事实依据；其次，加快发展数字经济是当今世界各国政府的政策选择，“各国竞相制定数字经济发展战略、出台鼓励政策”,因此，加快发展数字经济的政策是我国保持与世界同步的重要举措；再次，数字技术既创造了数字产业也推进传统产业的数字化转型，形成数字经济，“数字经济发展速度之快、辐射范围之广、影响程度之深前所未有”,加快发展数字经济是新时代我国经济发展战略的必然选择；最后，加快发展数字经济能够推进我国更高水平开放，推进开放型世界经济的形成，因为数字经济“正在成为重组全球要素资源、重塑全球经济结构、改变全球竞争格局的关键力量。”因此，习近平总书记指出：“要大力推进新型工业化，发展数字经济，加快推动人工智能发展。”新型工业化的突出特征是数字经济，数字经济的亮点是人工智能在经济领域的广泛运用和深度渗透，推进人工智能成为引领未来的战略性技术，加快形成人工智能产业，推进新质生产力的加快形成。

Regarding the advancement of future industries, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "At present, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is brewing and emerging on a global scale, and countries around the world are vying to seize the commanding heights of future industries." [52]52 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering" (May 28, 2021). Future industries are advanced industries oriented toward the future; seizing these future industries first is equivalent to making the "opening move" and gaining a first-mover advantage. Since this is the case, how can we seize the commanding heights of future industrial development? China has implemented policy measures in the following four areas. First, it is necessary to identify the domains in which future industries lie, "in frontier technologies and industrial transformation fields such as brain-inspired intelligence, quantum information, gene technology, future networks, deep-sea and deep-space development, hydrogen energy and energy storage, organize and implement future industry incubation and acceleration plans, and plan and lay out a number of future industries." [53]53 "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" (March 2021). Second, it is necessary to build innovation and entrepreneurship platforms for emerging industries to lead the development of future industries, "establish innovation and entrepreneurship platforms for emerging industries, and catch up with and surpass advanced levels in new-generation mobile communications, integrated circuits, big data, advanced manufacturing, new energy, new materials, etc., to lead the development of future industries." [54]54 Ibid. Third, establish future industry technology research institutes to increase the supply of emerging technologies, "in regions with prominent scientific and educational resource advantages and a strong industrial base, lay out a number of national future industry technology research institutes, and increase the multi-path exploration, cross-integration, and supply of disruptive technologies in frontier technologies." [55]55 Ibid. Fourth, create demonstration projects to accelerate the formation of future industries, "implement industrial cross-border integration demonstration projects, create future technology application scenarios, and accelerate the formation of a number of future industries." [56]56 Ibid. Fifth, create a pattern of coordinated and linked development among various industries. In January of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other departments issued the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of Future Industries," which clearly stated "build a development pattern of coordinated linkage between future industries and advantageous industries, emerging industries, and traditional industries, form a long-term mechanism for sustainable development, and become an important source of future industries in the world." [57]57 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology et al., "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of Future Industries" (January 2024). Therefore, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Create a number of strategic emerging industries such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and low-altitude economy," and "open up new tracks for future industries such as quantum and life sciences." [58]58 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference" (December 2023). Specifically, developing future industries includes but is not limited to: promoting the expansion of biomanufacturing into fields such as mining, metallurgy, electronic information, and environmental protection; developing commercial aerospace, relying on China's hardware foundation for the aerospace industry such as satellites, rockets, and launch sites, to cultivate the future economy; developing the low-altitude economy, promoting the construction of infrastructure such as general aviation airports, aviation parks, aviation towns, drone bases, and flight camps, to form future industries. Future industries are the top and apex of industrial structure optimization and upgrading, representing the highest level and newest fields of a country's industrial structure, that is, the development field of new quality productive forces.

关于推进未来产业的发展，习近平总书记指出：“当前，新一轮科技革命和产业变革正在全球范围内孕育兴起，世界各国纷纷抢占未来产业发展制高点。”未来产业是着眼于未来的先进产业，抢先占领这些未来产业就等于抢得“先手棋”,赢得先发优势。既然如此，如何抢占未来产业发展制高点?我国实施了以下四个方面的政策措施。第一，需要确定未来产业所在的领域，“在类脑智能、量子信息、基因技术、未来网络、深海空天开发、氢能与储能等前沿科技和产业变革领域，组织实施未来产业孵化与加速计划，谋划布局一批未来产业”。第二，需要搭建新兴产业创业创新平台，引领未来产业发展，“设立新兴产业创业创新平台，在新一代移动通信、集成电路、大数据、先进制造、新能源、新材料等方面赶超先进，引领未来产业发展”。第三，设立未来产业技术研究院，加大新兴技术供给力度，“在科教资源优势突出、产业基础雄厚的地区，布局一批国家未来产业技术研究院，加大前沿技术多路径探索、交叉融合和颠覆性技术供给。”第四，创造示范工程，加速形成未来产业，“实施产业跨界融合示范工程，打造未来技术应用场景，加速形成若干未来产业”。第五，开创各类产业的协同联动发展格局。今年1月份，工信部等七部门发布《关于推动未来产业创新发展的实施意见》明确提出“构建未来产业和优势产业、新兴产业、传统产业协同联动的发展格局，形成可持续发展的长效机制，成为世界未来产业重要策源地”。因此，习近平总书记指出：“打造生物制造、商业航天、低空经济等若干战略性新兴产业”,“开辟量子、生命科学等未来产业新赛道”。具体说来，发展未来产业包括但不限于：推进生物制造向采矿、冶金、电子信息、环保等领域拓展；发展商业航天，依托我国卫星、火箭、发射场等航天产业的硬件基础，培育未来经济；发展低空经济，推进通用机场、航空园区、航空小镇、无人机基地、飞行营地等基础设施的建设，形成未来产业。未来产业是产业结构优化升级的顶部、顶端，代表了一个国家产业结构的最高水平、最新领域，亦即新质生产力的发展领域。

The aforementioned policies adopted and implemented by the Party and the state to advance strategic emerging industries, digital industries, and future industries not only align with the current direction of global scientific and technological development but also conform to the development trend of advanced productive forces in China in the New Era. They will profoundly reshape the industrial structure and economic structure of our existing national economy and will also lead to technological upgrading and digital transformation of traditional industries. Therefore, they represent the correct choice of policies for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and possess a high degree of scientific validity.

上述党和国家采取和实施的推进战略性新兴产业、数字产业和未来产业的相关政策，既符合当今世界科学技术发展方向，也符合新时代中国先进生产力发展趋势，必将深刻改变我国既有国民经济的产业结构、经济结构，也必将导致传统产业的技术升级和数字化转型，因此，是关于加快发展新质生产力政策的正确选择，具有高度科学性。

2. The Scientific Validity of Policy Choice Based on the Determinism of New Quality Productive Forces

2.依据新质生产力决定论政策选择的科学性

New quality productive forces determine new relations of production. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “The decisive factor in shaping a nation’s destiny is the development of social productive forces and the improvement of labor productivity. Only by continuously advancing scientific and technological innovation, constantly unleashing and developing social productive forces, and steadily raising labor productivity can we achieve sustained and healthy economic and social development and avoid falling into the ‘middle-income trap.’” [59]59 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. Because the development of new quality productive forces determines the transformation of advanced relations of production in the New Era, comprehensively deepening reform and opening up at a higher level constitute the fundamental pathway for China’s economic development policies in the New Era.

新质生产力决定新型生产关系。习近平总书记深刻指出：“主导国家命运的决定性因素是社会生产力发展和劳动生产率提高，只有不断推进科技创新，不断解放和发展社会生产力，不断提高劳动生产率，才能实现经济社会持续健康发展，避免陷入‘中等收入陷阱’。”因为新质生产力发展决定了新时代先进生产关系的变革，所以全面深化改革和更高水平开放是我国新时代经济发展政策的根本途径。

3. The Scientific Validity of Policy Choice Based on the Criterion Theory of New Quality Productive Forces

3.依据新质生产力标准论政策选择的科学性

New quality productive forces serve as the criterion for judging whether relations of production in the New Era are advanced, whether comprehensively deepening reform and opening up at a higher level are effective, and thus whether relevant policy choices in the New Era are scientific.

新质生产力是判断新时代生产关系是否先进、全面深化改革和更高水平开放是否有效的标准，进而成为新时代相关政策选择是否科学的标准。

First, it is necessary to clarify the policy orientation for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. On January 22, 2024, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council presided over an executive meeting of the State Council, which emphasized the need to coordinate high-quality development with high-level security, take the deep integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing as the main line, take intelligent manufacturing as the main direction of attack, take scenario application as the driving force, accelerate the intelligent upgrading of key industries, vigorously develop intelligent products, empower the industrial manufacturing system at a high level, and accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces, thereby providing strong support for building a manufacturing powerhouse, a cyber powerhouse, and a digital China.

首先，要明确加快发展新质生产力的政策取向。2024年1月22日，国务院总理李强主持召开国务院常务会议强调，要统筹高质量发展和高水平安全，以人工智能和制造业深度融合为主线，以智能制造为主攻方向，以场景应用为牵引，加快重点行业智能升级，大力发展智能产品，高水平赋能工业制造体系，加快形成新质生产力，为制造强国、网络强国和数字中国建设提供有力支撑。

Second, it is necessary to establish and improve the working mechanism for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly demanded: “In accordance with the requirements for developing new quality productive forces, we must smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent, and improve the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, utilization, and rational flow of talent.” [60]60 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. As mentioned earlier, since the Industrial Revolution, social productive forces have manifested as the sum of material productive forces and knowledge productive forces. In the era of digital civilization, knowledge productive forces have long surpassed material productive forces and become the main force of social productive forces. The fundamental pathway for developing knowledge productive forces lies in education, science and technology, and talent. The improvement of quality and level in education, science and technology, and talent requires the guarantee of “smoothing the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent.” To achieve “smoothing the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent” and to enhance the level and quality of education, science and technology, and talent, it is necessary to “improve the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, utilization, and rational flow of talent.” On the basis of “smoothing the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent” and “improving the working mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, utilization, and rational flow of talent,” it becomes possible to develop the fundamental force of knowledge productive forces and form innovation teams. General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly demanded: “We must vigorously

其次，要建立健全加快发展新质生产力的工作机制。习近平总书记明确要求：“要按照发展新质生产力要求，畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环，完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制。”如前所述，自工业革命以来，社会生产力表现为物质生产力和知识生产力的总和；在数字文明时代，知识生产力早已经超越了物质生产力，成为社会生产力的主力军。发展知识生产力的根本途径是教育、科技和人才，教育、科技和人才等方面质量和水平的提升需要“畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环”的保障；为了实现“畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环”,提升教育、科技、人才的水平和质量，必须“完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制”。在“畅通教育、科技、人才的良性循环”和“完善人才培养、引进、使用、合理流动的工作机制”基础上，就能够发展知识生产力的根本力量，形成创新团队，习近平总书记明确要求：“要大力造就世界水平的科学家、科技领军人才、卓越工程师、高水平创新团队。”

Third, it is necessary to improve the incentive mechanisms for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must improve the income distribution mechanism for factors of production, stimulate the vitality of production factors such as labor, knowledge, technology, management, capital, and data, better reflect the market value of knowledge, technology, and talent, and create a favorable atmosphere that encourages innovation and tolerates failure.” [59]59 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. New quality productive forces are knowledge-intensive productive forces. Knowledge-based productive forces are essentially the comprehensive force of “production factors such as labor, knowledge, technology, management, capital, and data.” Therefore, the development of new quality productive forces mainly relies on “knowledge, technology, and talent.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must optimize the disciplinary structure of higher education institutions and talent cultivation models in accordance with new trends in scientific and technological development, in order to cultivate urgently needed talent for developing new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development.” [60]60 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. From the above, it can be seen that how to stimulate the potential of “knowledge, technology, and talent” and turn them into actual new quality productive forces, “improving the income distribution mechanism for factors of production,” “better reflecting the market value of knowledge, technology, and talent,” and “creating a favorable atmosphere that encourages innovation and tolerates failure” are all correct policy choices for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.

再次，要完善加快发展新质生产力的激励机制。习近平总书记指出：“要健全要素参与收入分配机制，激发劳动、知识、技术、管理、资本和数据等生产要素活力，更好体现知识、技术、人才的市场价值，营造鼓励创新、宽容失败的良好氛围。”新质生产力是知识密集型的生产力，知识生产力本质上是“劳动、知识、技术、管理、资本和数据等生产要素”的综合力，因此，新质生产力的发展主要依赖“知识、技术、人才”。习近平总书记指出：“要根据科技发展新趋势，优化高等学校学科设置、人才培养模式，为发展新质生产力、推动高质量发展培养急需人才。”由上可见，如何激发“知识、技术、人才”的潜能，使之成为现实的新质生产力，“健全要素参与收入分配机制”“更好体现知识、技术、人才的市场价值”“营造鼓励创新、宽容失败的良好氛围”都是加快发展新质生产力政策的正确选择。

4. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the Theory of the Reaction of Relations of Production

4.依据生产关系反作用论政策选择的科学性

Deepening reform comprehensively and opening up at a higher level in the New Era will inevitably accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, and are correct policy choices for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. Regarding deepening reform comprehensively, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must deepen reforms of the economic system, the science and technology system, and others, focus on removing blockages and bottlenecks that constrain the development of new quality productive forces, establish a high-standard market system, innovate the allocation methods of production factors, and enable all types of advanced and high-quality production factors to flow smoothly toward the development of new quality productive forces.” [61]61 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. The focus of reforms to the economic system, science and technology system, and others is to “remove blockages and bottlenecks that constrain the development of new quality productive forces,” the goal is to “establish a high-standard market system,” the purpose is to “innovate the allocation methods of production factors,” and the function is to “enable all types of advanced and high-quality production factors to flow smoothly toward the development of new quality productive forces.” It can thus be seen that China’s reforms to the economic system, science and technology system, and others are correct and scientific policy choices. Regarding opening up at a higher level, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must expand high-standard opening up to the outside world, creating a favorable international environment for the development of new quality productive forces.” [62]62 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. New quality productive forces originate from the ongoing fourth scientific and technological revolution and the fourth industrial revolution. Whether it is a scientific and technological revolution or an industrial revolution, both are global in nature and difficult to achieve by the strength of a single country alone. Therefore, expanding high-standard opening up is an inevitable, necessary, and correct policy choice. In summary, the guidelines and policies of accelerating the deepening of reform comprehensively and high-standard opening up can promote the transformation of relations of production needed to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. This not only determines the orientation of the transformation of new-type relations of production in China in the New Era, but also determines the destiny of our country, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the transformation of the economic and social form in the New Era. Hence, they are correct policy choices for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.

新时代全面深化改革和更高水平开放必将加快新质生产力的发展，是加快发展新质生产力政策的正确选择。关于全面深化改革，习近平总书记指出：“要深化经济体制、科技体制等改革，着力打通束缚新质生产力发展的堵点卡点，建立高标准市场体系，创新生产要素配置方式，让各类先进优质生产要素向发展新质生产力顺畅流动。”经济体制、科技体制等改革的着力点是“打通束缚新质生产力发展的堵点卡点”,目标是“建立高标准市场体系”,目的是“创新生产要素配置方式”,作用是“让各类先进优质生产要素向发展新质生产力顺畅流动”。由此可见，我国的经济体制、科技体制等改革是正确而科学的政策选择。关于更高水平开放，习近平总书记指出：“要扩大高水平对外开放，为发展新质生产力营造良好国际环境。”新质生产力来源于正在发生的第四次科技革命和第四次工业革命，无论是科技革命还是工业革命，都是世界性的，单靠一国的力量是难以实现的，因此，扩大高水平对外开放是必然的、必需的、正确的政策选择。总之，加快全面深化改革和高水平开放的方针和政策，可以推进加快发展新质生产力所需要的生产关系变革，既决定了新时代我国的新型生产关系变革取向，也决定了新时代我国国家命运、中华民族伟大复兴和经济社会形态的变革，因而是加快发展新质生产力正确的政策选择。

5. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the Theory of the Development of New Quality Productive Forces

5.依据新质生产力发展论政策选择的科学性

Scientific and technological innovations such as informatization, digitalization, intelligentization, and greenization bring new momentum, new driving forces, and new production factors (especially data) to productive forces, promoting the development of new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Accelerate the cultivation of new development momentum, transform and upgrade traditional comparative advantages, enhance sustained growth momentum, and promote an overall improvement in the level of our country’s social productive forces.” [63]63 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Economic Work Conference,” *People’s Daily*, December 22, 2015. This is the guiding principle for promoting the development of new quality productive forces in China’s New Era.

信息化、数字化、智能化、绿色化等科技创新带来生产力的新动能、新动力、新的生产要素（尤其是数据）,推进新质生产力发展。习近平总书记深刻指出：“加快培育新的发展动能，改造提升传统比较优势，增强持续增长动力，推动我国社会生产力水平整体改善。”,这是我国新时代推进新质生产力发展的指导方针。

To accelerate the cultivation of new development momentum and rely on innovation-driven development, it is necessary to implement the innovation-driven development strategy. General Secretary Xi Jinping correctly pointed out: “The most fundamental aspect of implementing the innovation-driven development strategy is to enhance independent innovation capabilities, and the most urgent task is to remove institutional and mechanistic obstacles, to the greatest extent liberating and stimulating the enormous potential contained in science and technology as the primary productive force.” [64]64 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Ninth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *People’s Daily*, October 1, 2014.

加快培育新的发展动能，依靠创新驱动，必须实施创新驱动发展战略。习近平总书记正确地指出：“实施创新驱动发展战略，最根本的是要增强自主创新能力，最紧迫的是要破除体制机制障碍，最大限度解放和激发科技作为第一生产力所蕴藏的巨大潜能。”

Accelerate the development of green productive forces and promote the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Firmly establish the concept that green development is the development of new quality productive forces. Regarding how to achieve green development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: First, we must “firmly establish and practice the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and unswervingly follow the path of prioritizing ecological protection and green development.” [65]65 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection,” *People’s Daily*, May 20, 2023. Second, we must achieve synergy between green economic policy tools and green finance, green industry clusters, and green lifestyles, “continuously optimize the economic policy toolbox supporting green and low-carbon development, leverage the guiding role of green finance, and build efficient and ecological green industry clusters.” [66]66 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. Third, we must optimize the lifestyle of the whole society, “vigorously advocate a green and healthy lifestyle throughout society.” [67]67 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6. Fourth, we must promote the green transformation of the development model, “must accelerate the green transformation of the development model, and contribute to achieving peak carbon and carbon neutrality.” [68]68 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Twentieth Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” *Qiushi*, 2024, no. 6.

加快绿色生产力发展，推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化。牢固树立绿色发展就是发展新质生产力的理念。如何实现绿色发展，习近平总书记指出：一是要“牢固树立和践行绿水青山就是金山银山的理念，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色发展之路”。二是要实现绿色经济政策工具与绿色金融、绿色产业集群、绿色生活方式的协同，“持续优化支持绿色低碳发展的经济政策工具箱，发挥绿色金融的牵引作用，打造高效生态绿色产业集群”。三是要优化全社会生活方式，“在全社会大力倡导绿色健康生活方式”。四是要推进发展方式的绿色转型，“必须加快发展方式绿色转型，助力碳达峰碳中和”。

In summary, in order to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, General Secretary Xi Jinping has explicitly demanded that “we must strengthen scientific and technological innovation, especially original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation, accelerate the achievement of high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology, win the battle in key core technologies, enable original and disruptive scientific and technological innovation achievements to emerge in abundance, and cultivate new drivers for the development of new quality productive forces.” [69]69 Xi Jinping, speech at the 11th collective study session of the Politburo of the 20th CPC Central Committee, January 31, 2024. Therefore, implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating green development are the correct choices for China’s policies to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces in the New Era.

总之，为了加快发展新质生产力，习近平总书记明确要求，“必须加强科技创新特别是原创性、颠覆性科技创新，加快实现高水平科技自立自强，打好关键核心技术攻坚战，使原创性、颠覆性科技创新成果竞相涌现，培育发展新质生产力的新动能”。因此，实施创新驱动发展战略，加快绿色发展，是我国新时代加快发展新质生产力政策的正确选择。

(II) The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices in the New Era Based on the “Three Theses” of the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces Development

（二）新时代基于新质生产力发展理论“三论”政策选择的科学性

1. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on Science and Technology as the Fundamental Driver of Productive Forces Development

1.基于科技是生产力发展根本动因政策选择的科学性

The most prominent features of the current global technological revolution are digitalization and greening. General Secretary Xi Jinping demands that “we should widely apply digital-intelligent technologies and green technologies to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.” [70]70 Xi Jinping, speech at a meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, May 5, 2023. Digital-intelligent technologies bring digital productive forces, and green technologies bring green productive forces. As discussed above, digital productive forces × green productive forces constitute new quality productive forces. Moreover, new quality productive forces also bear the task of transforming traditional productive forces. In the process of accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, “we must promptly apply scientific and technological innovation achievements to specific industries and industrial chains, transform and upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and strengthen emerging industries, plan and build future industries, and improve the modern industrial system.” [71]71 Xi Jinping, speech at the 11th collective study session of the Politburo of the 20th CPC Central Committee, January 31, 2024. This clarifies that the fundamental goal of accelerating the development of new quality productive forces is to improve the modern industrial system, and the fundamental method for improving the modern industrial system is to “promptly apply scientific and technological innovation achievements to specific industries and industrial chains,” with the fundamental pathway being to “transform and upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and strengthen emerging industries, plan and build future industries.” Such policy choices conform to the laws of new quality productive forces development and the laws of improving the modern industrial system.

当今世界科技革命的最突出特征是数字化和绿色化。习近平总书记要求，“广泛应用数智技术、绿色技术，加快传统产业转型升级”,数智技术带来数字生产力，绿色技术带来绿色生产力。如前所述，数字生产力×绿色生产力就是新质生产力。不仅如此，新质生产力还承担着改造传统生产力的重任。在加快发展新质生产力过程中，“要及时将科技创新成果应用到具体产业和产业链上，改造提升传统产业，培育壮大新兴产业，布局建设未来产业，完善现代化产业体系”。这就明确了加快发展新质生产力的根本目标是完善现代化产业体系，而完善现代化产业体系的根本方式是“及时将科技创新成果应用到具体产业和产业链上”,根本途径是“改造提升传统产业，培育壮大新兴产业，布局建设未来产业”。这样的政策选择是符合新质生产力发展规律和完善现代化产业体系规律的。

2. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the Fact That Productive Forces Development Is Brought About by the Entry of New Production Factors and the Resulting Upgrading of the Production Factor Structure

2.基于生产力发展是由新生产要素的加入并且导致生产要素结构升级而带来的政策选择的科学性

Data has become an important production factor in the New Era, and it is necessary to build digital industry clusters and promote the development of digital productive forces. Because data stands alongside labor, land, capital, and technology, and they synergistically promote the development of new quality productive forces and increase total factor productivity, developing the digital economy has become one of the fundamental pathways for developing new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must vigorously develop the digital economy, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and build digital industry clusters with international competitiveness.” [72]72 Xi Jinping, speech at the 34th collective study session of the Politburo of the 19th CPC Central Committee, October 18, 2021.

数据成为新时代的重要生产要素，必须打造数字产业集群，推动数字生产力发展。因为数据与劳动、土地、资本和技术并列，彼此协同推进新质生产力发展，提高全要素生产率，所以，发展数字经济成为发展新质生产力的根本途径之一。习近平总书记指出：“要大力发展数字经济，促进数字经济和实体经济深度融合，打造具有国际竞争力的数字产业集群。”

Promote harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and develop green productive forces. Because in the current era, social productive forces show a trend of a continuous decline in the proportion of material productive forces and a continuous rise in the proportion of knowledge productive forces, and each element of the productive forces reflects the trend of promoting harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The essence of this trend is greening and green transformation. Therefore, technology and data play an increasingly large role in production factors and greatly promote greening and green transformation, creating green productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping correctly points out: “Accelerate green scientific and technological innovation and the promotion and application of advanced green technologies, strengthen green manufacturing, develop green services, expand the green energy industry, develop green and low-carbon industries and supply chains, and build a green and low-carbon circular economic system.” [73]73 Xi Jinping, speech at the 11th collective study session of the Politburo of the 20th CPC Central Committee, January 31, 2024.

推进人与自然和谐共生，发展绿色生产力。因为当今时代社会生产力呈现出物质生产力比重持续下降和知识生产力比重持续上升的趋势，生产力的各个要素都体现了推进人与自然和谐共生的趋势，这一趋势的本质就是绿色化、绿色转型，所以，技术和数据在生产要素中的作用越来越大并且极大地推动了绿色化、绿色转型，创造出来了绿色生产力。习近平总书记正确地指出：“加快绿色科技创新和先进绿色技术推广应用，做强绿色制造业，发展绿色服务业，壮大绿色能源产业，发展绿色低碳产业和供应链，构建绿色低碳循环经济体系。”

In summary, with the entry of production factors such as advanced technology and data, new quality productive forces have emerged. To accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, it is necessary to develop digital productive forces and green productive forces, to enhance the resilience and security level of industrial and supply chains, and to cultivate urgently needed talent for high-quality development.

总之，随着先进技术和数据等生产要素的进入，带来了新质生产力。加快发展新质生产力，必须发展数字生产力和绿色生产力，必须提升产业链供应链韧性和安全水平，必须培养高质量发展急需人才。

3. The Scientific Nature of Policy Choices Based on the Qualitative Change in Productive Forces Determining the Qualitative Change in Relations of Production

3.基于生产力质变决定生产关系质变政策选择的科学性

Marxist political economy asserts that a qualitative change in productive forces leads to a qualitative change in relations of production; the Marxist political economy adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times asserts that the fourth scientific and technological revolution gives rise to the development of new quality productive forces, and new quality productive forces lead to the transformation and improvement of China’s new-type relations of production in the New Era.

马克思主义政治经济学主张，生产力的质变导致生产关系质变；中国化时代化马克思主义政治经济学主张，第四次科技革命催生新质生产力的发展，新质生产力导致新时代我国新型生产关系变革和完善。

To transform and improve China’s new-type relations of production in the New Era, it is necessary to enhance the resilience and security level of industrial and supply chains and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. Any productive forces, whether advanced or not, are realized through the reliability of industrial and supply chains. The same applies to the development of new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must lay out industrial chains around the development of new quality productive forces, enhance the resilience and security level of industrial and supply chains, and ensure that the industrial system is self-controllable, safe, and reliable.” [74]74 Xi Jinping, speech at the 11th collective study session of the Politburo of the 20th CPC Central Committee, January 31, 2024.

变革和完善新时代我国新型生产关系，必须提升产业链供应链韧性和安全水平，加快新质生产力发展。任何生产力，无论是先进生产力还是非先进性的生产力，都是由产业链供应链的可靠性来实现的。新质生产力的发展也是如此。习近平总书记指出：“要围绕发展新质生产力布局产业链，提升产业链供应链韧性和安全水平，保证产业体系自主可控、安全可靠。”

Transforming and improving China’s new-type relations of production in the New Era is aimed at advancing the construction of a great modern socialist country. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must scientifically lay out scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation around strategic tasks such as promoting new-type industrialization and accelerating the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse, a quality powerhouse, a cyber powerhouse, a digital China, and an agricultural powerhouse.” [75]75 Xi Jinping, speech at the 11th collective study session of the Politburo of the 20th CPC Central Committee, January 31, 2024.

变革和完善新时代我国新型生产关系，是为了推进社会主义现代化强国的建设进程。习近平总书记指出：“要围绕推进新型工业化和加快建设制造强国、质量强国、网络强国、数字中国和农业强国等战略任务，科学布局科技创新、产业创新。”

IV. Basic Conclusions

四、基本结论

The discussion in this article has reached the following conclusions.

本文的探讨，得出了以下结论。

First, the “Five Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces have been summarized.

第一，概括出了新质生产力理论“五论”。

This article argues that the “Five Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces are: new quality productive forces are the highest-grade productive forces in human history and the most advanced productive forces, thus forming the thesis of the advanced nature of new quality productive forces; new quality productive forces are the fundamental law of social and economic development, thus forming the thesis of the determinacy of new quality productive forces; new quality productive forces are the fundamental criterion for how to choose appropriate relations of production and social forms, and also the fundamental pathway for how to promote their sustained, healthy, and rapid development, thus forming the thesis of the criterion of new quality productive forces; new-type relations of production react upon and promote the development of new quality productive forces, thus forming the thesis of the reaction of relations of production; the development level and mode of new quality productive forces determine new-type relations of production, social forms, and their sustained and healthy development, thus forming the thesis of the development of new quality productive forces.

本文认为，新质生产力理论“五论”是：新质生产力是人类有史以来最高等级的生产力，是最先进的生产力，因而形成了新质生产力先进论；新质生产力是社会经济发展的根本规律，因而形成了新质生产力决定论；新质生产力是如何选择合适的生产关系和社会形态的根本标准，也是如何推进其持续健康快速发展的根本途径，因而形成了新质生产力标准论；新型生产关系反作用并且推进新质生产力的发展，因而形成了生产关系反作用论；新质生产力的发展水平和如何发展，决定了新型生产关系、社会形态及其持续健康发展，因而形成了新质生产力发展论。

Second, the “Three Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces development have been summarized.

第二，概括出了新质生产力发展理论“三论”。

On the basis of the “Five Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces, this article focuses on elaborating the theory of new quality productive forces development, arguing that the “Three Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces development are: informatization, digitalization, intelligentization, and greening of science and technology bring about new quality productive forces; the hallmark of new quality productive forces is the multiplier of digital productive forces and green productive forces; new quality productive forces are the result of a qualitative change in productive forces, and also lead to comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era, in order to innovate more advanced socialist relations of production that meet the requirements of new quality productive forces.

在新质生产力理论“五论”基础上，本文重点阐述了新质生产力发展理论，认为，新质生产力发展理论“三论”是：信息化、数字化、智能化、绿色化的科学技术带来新质生产力；新质生产力的标志是数字生产力和绿色生产力的乘数；新质生产力是生产力质变的结果，也引致了新时代的全面深化改革，以便创新符合新质生产力要求的更加先进的社会主义生产关系。

Third, the scientific nature of implementing policies to promote the development of new quality productive forces has been demonstrated.

第三，论证了推进新质生产力发展政策实施的科学性。

Under the guidance of the “Five Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces and the “Three Theses” of the theory of new quality productive forces development, combined with the implementation of policies to promote the development of new quality productive forces, the scientific nature of various policies to promote the development of new quality productive forces in the New Era has been demonstrated.

在新质生产力理论“五论”和新质生产力发展理论“三论”指导下，结合推进新质生产力发展的政策实施，论证了新时代推进新质生产力发展各项政策的科学性。

(Author’s bio: Li Zhengtu, Distinguished Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of International Finance and Trade, Shanghai International Studies University, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Political Economics; Zhu Qiu, Professor at Xianda College of Economics and Humanities, Shanghai International Studies University)

（作者简介：李正图，上海外国语大学国际金融贸易学院特聘教授、博士生导师，中国政治经济学学会副会长；朱秋，上海外国语大学贤达经济人文学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心