Deng Xiaoping’s Major Contributions to Chinese-Path Modernization

The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC points out that “Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China,” which profoundly reveals the intrinsic logical connection between China’s socialist modernization and the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Since modern times, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and achieving modernization have been the long-cherished dreams of the Chinese people, yet before the founding of the Party, no political force was capable of undertaking this great mission. Chinese-path modernization was led, promoted, and initiated by the Communist Party of China, and major Party leaders such as Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping have all made significant contributions to it. After

党的二十大报告指出，“中国式现代化，是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化”，这深刻揭示了中国社会主义现代化同中国共产党领导之间的内在逻辑关联。近代以来，实现中华民族伟大复兴和实现现代化是中国人民梦寐以求的梦想，但在党成立之前却没有任何一个政治力量能够承担这一伟大使命。中国式现代化是中国共产党领导、推动和开创的，毛泽东、邓小平、江泽民、胡锦涛、习近平等党的主要领导人都为其作出过重大贡献。而在党的十一届三中全会以后，以邓小平为主要代表的中国共产党人在实现党和国家的工作重点转移的同时对实现社会主义现代化的整体战略的思考，对中国式现代化道路、理念及其重大举措的提出作出了划时代的贡献。

I. First Advocating “Chinese-Path Modernization,” Continuously Promoting the Enrichment and Development of the Connotation of China’s Socialist Modernization Construction

一、首倡“中国式的现代化”，持续推进中国社会主义现代化建设内涵的丰富发展

Before the founding of the Communist Party of China, faced with the humiliation of the nation, the suffering of the people, and the tarnishing of its civilization, the Chinese people rose up in resistance to save the nation from peril. Various plans to save the country, all based on the background of Western modernization, were tried in turn, but all ended in failure. China urgently needed new ideological theories to guide the salvation movement and urgently needed new social organizations to unite the people’s strength. Realizing socialist modernization was a goal long made clear by Chinese Communists. Before the founding of New China, Mao Zedong repeatedly mentioned the idea of transforming China from an agricultural country into an industrial country. After the founding of New China, during the process of promoting socialist revolution and construction, the Party, based on Mao Zedong’s relevant thinking, formed two versions of the “Four Modernizations” [1]1 The “Four Modernizations” refers to the goal, first formally proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reiterated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, of modernizing agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology. goal: “building a powerful modernized industry, modernized agriculture, modernized transportation, and modernized national defense” [1]1 The “Four Modernizations” refers to the goal, first formally proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reiterated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, of modernizing agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology. (p. 132), and “building our country into a powerful socialist country with modern agriculture, modern industry, modern national defense, and modern science and technology” [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, held in December 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and the shift from class struggle to economic construction as the Party’s central task. (p. 439). The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, held in December 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and the shift from class struggle to economic construction as the Party’s central task. achieved the shift of the focus of the Party and state work from class struggle to economic construction, establishing the historical task of building a powerful socialist modernized country through reform and opening up. In March 1979, Deng Xiaoping first clearly stated, “In the past, when we carried out the democratic revolution, we had to suit the Chinese conditions and take the path of encircling the cities from the countryside, which Comrade Mao Zedong pioneered. Now, when we engage in construction, we must also suit the Chinese conditions and blaze a Chinese-path modernization road” [3]3 The 12th National Congress of the CPC, held in 1982, formally introduced the concept of “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and outlined the general task for the new period. (p. 163). From proposing the important concept of “Chinese-path Four Modernizations” to emphasizing that “Chinese-path modernization must proceed from China’s characteristics” [4]4 The 13th National Congress of the CPC, held in 1987, systematically elaborated the theory of the primary stage of socialism and formulated the “three-step” development strategy for modernization. (p. 164), and then to formally determining the Party’s general task and general goal in the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, this fully reflects the deep thinking of the Chinese Communists, mainly represented by Deng Xiaoping, on realizing socialist modernization. Deng Xiaoping believed that Chinese-path modernization is first and foremost socialist modernization. He repeatedly emphasized, “Now we are carrying out the Four Modernizations; we are carrying out the socialist Four Modernizations, not any other kind of modernization” [5]5 The “five-in-one” structure refers to the overall plan for socialism with Chinese characteristics, encompassing economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization construction. (p. 110). If we took the capitalist road, the result would be that only a very small number of people would become wealthy, the goal of modernization would come to nothing, and the entire country would become an appendage of capitalism. Secondly, Chinese-path modernization is a modernization of coordinated development. “We must pay special attention to building material civilization. At the same time, we must also build socialist cultural-ethical progress” [6]6 The 18th National Congress of the CPC, held in 2012, marked the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership. (p. 28). Thirdly, Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development. China will never seek hegemony. “The goal of China’s foreign policy is world peace. On the premise of striving for peace, we will concentrate wholeheartedly on modernization construction, develop our country, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics” [7]7 “One central task and two basic points” (一个中心、两个基本点): The core of the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism, formulated at the 13th National Congress of the CPC in 1987. “One central task” refers to economic construction; “two basic points” refer to upholding the Four Cardinal Principles (the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought) and upholding reform and opening up. (p. 57).

中国共产党成立以前，面对国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘，为了拯救民族危亡，中国人民奋起反抗，各种基于西方现代化背景的救国方案轮番登场，均以失败而告终。中国迫切需要新的思想理论引领救亡运动，迫切需要新的社会组织凝聚人民的力量。实现社会主义现代化，是中国共产党人早就明确的奋斗目标。新中国成立以前，毛泽东就多次提及要使中国从农业国变为工业国的设想。新中国成立后，党在推进社会主义革命和建设的过程中，又根据毛泽东的相关思考，形成“建设起强大的现代化的工业、现代化的农业、现代化的交通运输业和现代化的国防”[1]（P132）“把我国建设成为一个具有现代农业、现代工业、现代国防和现代科学技术的社会主义强国”[2]（P439）两个版本的“四个现代化”奋斗目标。党的十一届三中全会实现了党和国家工作重点由阶级斗争向经济建设的转移，确定了在改革开放中建设社会主义现代化强国的历史任务。1979年3月，邓小平首先明确提出，“过去搞民主革命，要适合中国情况，走毛泽东同志开辟的农村包围城市的道路。现在搞建设，也要适合中国情况，走出一条中国式的现代化道路”[3]（P163）。从提出“中国式的四个现代化”重要概念到强调“中国式的现代化，必须从中国的特点出发”[4]（P164）再到正式确定党在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期的总任务、总目标，充分反映了以邓小平为主要代表的中国共产党人对实现社会主义现代化的深入思考。邓小平认为，中国式现代化首先是社会主义的现代化，他反复强调“现在我们搞四个现代化，是搞社会主义的四个现代化，不是搞别的现代化”[5]（P110）。如果是走资本主义道路，结果只是极少数人富裕起来，现代化的目标就会落空，整个国家成为资本主义的附庸。其次，中国式现代化是协调发展的现代化，“我们要特别注意建设物质文明。与此同时，还要建设社会主义的精神文明”[6]（P28）。再次，中国式现代化是走和平发展道路的现代化。中国永远不称霸，“中国的对外政策的目标是世界和平。在争取和平的前提下，一心一意搞现代化建设，发展自己的国家，建设具有中国特色的社会主义”[7]（P57）。

With the continuous advancement of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Party’s understanding of the goals and tasks of Chinese-path modernization deepened. The 12th National Congress of the CPC [3]3 The 12th National Congress of the CPC, held in 1982, formally introduced the concept of “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and outlined the general task for the new period. proposed that the general task of the new period was to gradually realize the “Four Modernizations” and build China into a “highly civilized and highly democratic socialist country.” The 13th National Congress of the CPC [4]4 The 13th National Congress of the CPC, held in 1987, systematically elaborated the theory of the primary stage of socialism and formulated the “three-step” development strategy for modernization., while systematically elaborating the connotation of the primary stage of socialism, emphasized that “our society is already a socialist society. We must adhere to it and cannot depart from socialism” and “our socialist society is still in the primary stage. We must proceed from this reality and cannot surpass this stage.” At the same time, it clearly proposed the goal of “building China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally advanced modern socialist country.” The proposal of this goal was an inheritance and development of the “Four Modernizations” goal and tasks of the Party’s first generation of central collective leadership, an inevitable requirement of the development of the times, a scientific summary of historical experience, and, moreover, a rational grasp of the practical experience of socialist modernization since reform and opening up. On this basis, the Party achieved an evolution from the “three-in-one” structure of prosperity, strength, democracy, and culture to the “four-in-one” structure of prosperity, strength, democracy, culture, and harmony, and then to the “five-in-one” structure of prosperity, strength, democracy, culture, harmony, and beauty [5]5 The “five-in-one” structure refers to the overall plan for socialism with Chinese characteristics, encompassing economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization construction., deeply demonstrating the rich connotation and basic goal requirements of Chinese-path modernization.

随着改革开放和社会主义现代化的持续推进，党对中国式现代化目标、任务的认识不断深化。党的十二大提出新时期的总任务是逐步实现“四个现代化”，把我国建设成为“高度文明、高度民主的社会主义国家”。党的十三大在系统阐述社会初级阶段内涵时，强调“我国社会已经是社会主义社会。我们必须坚持而不能离开社会主义”“我国的社会主义社会还处在初级阶段。我们必须从这个实际出发，而不能超越这个阶段”，同时，明确提出了“把我国建设成为富强、民主、文明的社会主义现代化国家”的奋斗目标。这一目标的提出是对党的第一代中央领导集体“四个现代化”目标、任务的继承和发展，是时代发展的必然要求、历史经验的科学总结，更是对改革开放以来社会主义现代化实践经验的理性把握。在此基础上，党实现了从富强、民主、文明“三位一体”到富强、民主、文明、和谐“四位一体”，再到富强、民主、文明、和谐、美丽“五位一体”的演进，深度展现了中国式现代化的丰富内涵和基本目标要求。

Standing at a new historical starting point, the 20th National Congress of the CPC took “comprehensively building a great modern socialist country, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-path modernization” as the central task of the Party on the new journey of the New Era, and made a new summary of the connotation and essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, pointing out that “Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context.” It emphasized that Chinese-path modernization is “modernization of a huge population,” “modernization of common prosperity for all,” “modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement,” “modernization of harmony between humanity and nature,” and “modernization of peaceful development,” thereby profoundly revealing that the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization are “upholding leadership of the Communist Party of China, upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching the people’s cultural world, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and creating a new form of human advancement.” A profound understanding and grasp of the systematic exposition of Chinese-path modernization at the 20th National Congress of the CPC not only helps to deeply understand the Party’s theoretical and practical innovations in advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [6]6 The 18th National Congress of the CPC, held in 2012, marked the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership., and to recognize the arduousness, complexity, and long-term nature of realizing China’s modernization, but also helps to understand the creative value and significance of Deng Xiaoping’s clear proposal of the proposition of “Chinese-path modernization” at the beginning of reform and opening up.

党的二十大站在新的历史起点上，将“全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴”作为新时代新征程中国共产党的中心任务，并对中国式现代化的内涵和本质要求作出新的概括，指出“中国式现代化，是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色”。强调中国式现代化是“人口规模巨大的现代化”“全体人民共同富裕的现代化”“物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化”“人与自然和谐共生的现代化”“走和平发展道路的现代化”，进而深刻揭示了中国式现代化的本质要求是“坚持中国共产党领导，坚持中国特色社会主义，实现高质量发展，发展全过程人民民主，丰富人民精神世界，实现全体人民共同富裕，促进人与自然和谐共生，推动构建人类命运共同体，创造人类文明新形态”。深刻理解和把握党的二十大对中国式现代化的系统阐述，不仅有助于深入理解党的十八大以来党推进和拓展中国式现代化理论和实践的创新突破，认识中国实现现代化的艰巨性、复杂性和长期性，而且有助于理解邓小平在改革开放之初就鲜明提出“中国式的现代化”命题的创造性价值和意义。

II. Proposing the “Three-Step” Development Strategy, Clarifying the Strategic Steps of Chinese-Path Modernization Construction

二、提出“三步走”发展战略，明确中国式现代化建设战略步骤

Building a great modern socialist country on the basis of China’s backward productive forces is an extremely arduous great undertaking. This means that while completing traditional industrialization, it is also necessary to catch up with the world’s new technological and industrial revolutions. Deng Xiaoping adhered to proceeding from reality, scientifically designed the development strategy for Chinese-path modernization, gradually formed a grand blueprint for realizing modernization in “three steps,” and took the “moderately prosperous” society as a prominent goal, laying an important foundation for perfecting the strategic steps of Chinese-path modernization construction.

在我国生产力落后的基础上建设社会主义现代化强国，是一项十分艰巨的伟大事业，这意味着既要完成传统的工业化，又要同时迎头赶上世界新的技术和产业革命。邓小平坚持从实际出发，科学设计中国式现代化的发展战略，逐步形成了分“三步走”实现现代化的宏伟蓝图，并将“小康”社会作为一个突出目标，为完善中国式现代化建设的战略步骤奠定了重要基础。

Deng Xiaoping’s design of the “three-step” strategic steps was not accomplished overnight, but underwent an exploratory process from “two steps” to “three steps.” In December 1979, when answering a question about the goal of the “four modernizations,” Deng Xiaoping formally proposed the concept of a “moderately prosperous society” and systematically explained its specific connotations. Deng Xiaoping endowed the ancient thinkers’ term “moderately prosperous society,” which described an ideal of a fine society, with entirely new contemporary connotations, summarizing the strategic goal of modernization construction in the New Era. This reflected that the goal of China’s modernization is a product of the combination of China’s specific national conditions and the characteristics of the times. Based on the goal of a “moderately prosperous society,” Deng Xiaoping formulated a step-by-step work deployment, emphasizing that we must quadruple the per capita gross national product by the end of the 20th century, and after reaching the level of a moderately prosperous society, strive towards higher goals, “on such a basis, after another thirty to fifty years of development, we can approach the level of developed countries” [8]8 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are: upholding the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. They were articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979. (P57). In 1985, Deng Xiaoping fully elaborated the “two-step” strategy, namely, “the first step, by the end of this century, to reach the level of a moderately prosperous society, that is, neither poor nor rich, a level where life is relatively comfortable. The second step, using another thirty to fifty years, to approach the level of developed countries economically, making the people’s life relatively prosperous” [9]9 The Southern Talks (南方谈话) refer to Deng Xiaoping’s inspection tour of southern China in early 1992, during which he delivered a series of speeches reaffirming reform and opening up and the market orientation of China’s economic reforms. (P109). While designing the two-step approach to achieve the goal of a moderately prosperous society, Deng Xiaoping began to form the preliminary conception of a “three-step” strategy. He believed that achieving the goal of a moderately prosperous society was certainly important, but what was more important was to bring China into the ranks of moderately developed countries. Therefore, in 1987, Deng Xiaoping formally proposed the “three-step” development strategy. He believed that “the first step is to double the 1980 figure in the 1980s… reaching 500 US dollars per capita. The second step is to double it again by the end of this century, reaching 1,000 US dollars per capita… The goal we set is more importantly the third step, to double it again in the next century over thirty to fifty years, roughly reaching 4,000 US dollars per capita. Achieving this step, China will reach the level of a moderately developed country” [10]10 The “four modernizations” (四个现代化) were the goals of modernizing agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and later adopted as a central policy. (P226). The proposal of the “third step” strategic goal enriched the core content of the strategic goal, making it a more complete long-term strategic goal. The 13th National Congress of the CPC formally established the “three-step” strategy, indicating that we proposed a goal that seeks truth from facts and is relatively steady, not a goal that is too hasty. It also showed that the Chinese people are willing to use a hundred years of arduous struggle to traverse the path that developed countries took several hundred years to walk. This fully reflects the long-term and arduous nature of Chinese-path modernization construction, and even more so demonstrates the lofty aspirations of the Chinese people to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

邓小平关于“三步走”战略步骤的设计不是一蹴而就的，而是经历了从“两步走”到“三步走”的探索历程。1979年12月，邓小平在回答有关“四个现代化”目标的提问时正式提出“小康之家”的概念，还对“小康之家”的具体内涵作出系统阐释。邓小平赋予古代思想家描绘美好社会理想的词汇“小康”以全新的时代内涵，概括出新时期现代化建设的战略目标，反映出我国现代化的目标是中国具体国情结合时代特征的产物。邓小平根据“小康”目标制定出阶梯式工作部署，强调我们要在20世纪末实现人均国民生产总值翻两番，达到小康水平以后朝着更高的奋斗目标努力，“在这样一个基础上，再发展三十年到五十年，我们就可以接近发达国家的水平”[8]（P57）。1985年，邓小平完整阐述了“两步走”的战略，即“第一步，本世纪末，达到小康水平，就是不穷不富，日子比较好过的水平。第二步，再用三五十年的时间，在经济上接近发达国家的水平，使人民生活比较富裕”[9]（P109）。邓小平在设计分两步走实现小康目标的同时，开始形成了“三步走”战略初步构想。他认为达到小康社会的目标固然重要，但更为重要的是让中国进入中等发达国家水平，所以1987年邓小平又正式提出“三步走”发展战略。他认为“第一步在八十年代翻一番…达到五百美元。第二步是到本世纪末，再翻一番，人均达到一千美元…我们制定的目标更重要的还是第三步，在下世纪用三十年到五十年再翻两番，大体上达到人均四千美元。做到这一步，中国就达到中等发达的水平”[10]（P226）。“第三步”战略目标的提出，充实了战略目标的核心内容，使之成为一个更为完整的长远战略目标。党的十三大把“三步走”战略正式确立下来，表明我们提出的是一个实事求是、比较稳妥的目标，不是一个操之过急的目标，又表明中国人民愿用百年艰苦奋斗走完发达国家几百年走过的路程。这充分体现了中国式现代化建设的长期性、艰巨性，更彰显了中国人民实现中华民族伟大复兴的雄心壮志。

The value of theory lies in guiding practice and being applied in practice; a valuable theory will inevitably produce corresponding practical results. With the continuous advancement of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, from the conception of “two steps” to the strategic deployment of “three steps,” Chinese-path modernization construction completely changed China’s backward state. The original goal of doubling the gross national product by 1990 and achieving basic food and clothing was achieved ahead of schedule in 1987. China’s economic strength grew enormously, and the entire national economy reached a new level. In 1995, the original strategic goal of quadrupling the gross national product compared to 1980 by the end of the 20th century was also overfulfilled. The economic doubling greatly improved the quality of people’s lives. Through the efforts of the people of all ethnic groups across the country, by the end of the 20th century, the people’s living standards had generally reached the level of a moderately prosperous society, achieving the first and second step goals of the “three-step” strategy. This is a new milestone in the history of the development of the Chinese nation.

理论的价值在于指导实践、应用于实践，有价值的理论必然会产生相应的实践成效。伴随着改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的持续推进，从“两步走”的设想，再到“三步走”的战略部署，中国式现代化建设彻底改变了中国落后的状态。原定于1990年国民生产总值翻一番，实现温饱这一目标在1987年提前实现，我国经济的实力有了巨大增长，整个国民经济上了一个新台阶。1995年，原定到20世纪末实现国民生产总值比1980年翻两番的战略目标也超额完成，经济的翻番使人民生活质量得到极大的改善。经过全国各族人民的努力，20世纪末人民生活水平总体达到了小康水平，已经实现了“三步走”战略的第一步和第二步的目标，这是中华民族发展史上的一个新的里程碑。

At the same time, in order to smoothly implement the “three-step” development strategy, Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized that “development is the absolute principle” and formed the important idea of “step-by-step” development. He pointed out: “China’s economic development must always strive to reach a new level every few years.” [11] (P375) We must seize opportunities to strive for economic development to reach a new level every few years, steadily and coordinately accelerating economic development. Deng Xiaoping’s thought on “step-by-step” development was mainly established on the basis of China’s socialist modernization construction experience, while also drawing on the experience of modernization construction in some other countries. Facing the question of “whether China can withstand the pressure of hegemonism and power politics and uphold our socialist system” [12] (P356), Deng Xiaoping emphasized that “the key is whether we can achieve a relatively fast growth rate and realize our development strategy” [13] (P356). Deng Xiaoping believed that “our domestic conditions are favorable, the international environment is advantageous, and coupled with the advantage of the socialist system in concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks” [14] (P377), we have sufficient reason to be confident that “our economy can achieve a new level every few years” [15] (P376). Deng Xiaoping also proposed that to realize the “three-step” strategy, we must adhere to seeking truth from facts, neither being too hasty nor failing to properly grasp the issue of speed.

与此同时，为了顺利实施“三步走”发展战略，邓小平还反复强调“发展是硬道理”并形成了“台阶式”发展的重要思想。他指出：“我国的经济发展，总要力争隔几年上一个台阶。”[11]（P375）我们要抓住机遇争取每隔几年就让经济发展登上一个新台阶，稳步协调地加速经济发展。邓小平关于“台阶式”发展的思想主要是建立在我国社会主义现代化建设经验的基础上的，同时也借鉴了一些国家现代化建设的经验。面对“中国能不能顶住霸权主义、强权政治的压力，坚持我们的社会主义制度”[12]（P356），邓小平强调“关键就看能不能争得较快的增长速度，实现我们的发展战略”[13]（P356）。邓小平认为，“我们国内条件具备，国际环境有利，再加上发挥社会主义制度能够集中力量办大事的优势”[14]（P377），使我们有充分的理由确信我国“经济发展隔几年上一个台阶，是能够办得到的”[15]（P376）。邓小平还提出实现“三步走”战略，要坚持实事求是，既不可操之过急，又要切实把握好速度问题。

Entering the 21st century, the 16th National Congress of the CPC clearly proposed comprehensively building a higher-level moderately prosperous society benefiting over one billion people, forming a new “three-step” strategic conception. It emphasized that “in the first two decades of this century, we must concentrate our efforts on comprehensively building a higher-level moderately prosperous society benefiting over one billion people, making the economy more developed, democracy more robust, science and education more advanced, culture more prosperous, society more harmonious, and people’s lives more prosperous” [16] (P14), and basically achieving modernization by the middle of the 21st century. On the basis of the goal of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society established by the 16th and 17th National Congresses of the CPC, the 18th National Congress of the CPC put forward the goal requirements for comprehensively completing the building of a moderately prosperous society. The 19th National Congress of the CPC proposed a new “two-step” strategic arrangement, making a strategic design from comprehensively completing the building of a moderately prosperous society to basically realizing socialist modernization, and then to comprehensively building a great modern socialist country. The 20th National Congress of the CPC further emphasized that the overall strategic arrangement for comprehensively building a great modern socialist country is divided into two steps. All these conceptions are applications, deepening, and developments of the “three-step” development strategy proposed by Deng Xiaoping at the beginning of reform and opening up, fully reflecting the scientific guidance of this strategic arrangement for China’s socialist modernization construction.

进入21世纪，党的十六大明确提出全面建设惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会，形成新“三步走”战略设想。强调“要在本世纪头二十年，集中力量，全面建设惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会，使经济更加发展、民主更加健全、科教更加进步、文化更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、人民生活更加殷实”[16]（P14），到21世纪中叶基本实现现代化。党的十八大在党的十六大、十七大确立的全面建设小康目标的基础上，提出全面建成小康社会的目标要求。党的十九大提出新“两步走”战略安排，作出从全面建成小康社会到基本实现社会主义现代化，再到全面建成社会主义现代化强国的战略设计。党的二十大进一步强调，全面建成社会主义现代化强国总的战略安排是分两步走。所有这些设想，都是对邓小平在改革开放之初提出“三步走”发展战略的运用、深化和发展，充分体现了这一战略安排对我国社会主义现代化建设的科学引领。

III. Adhering to the Party’s Basic Line Unswervingly, Guiding Chinese-Path Modernization to Advance Continuously

三、坚持党的基本路线不动摇，引领中国式现代化持续前进

The Party’s basic line is the action guide and fundamental policy proposed by the Party within a certain historical period to resolve the principal contradiction in society. In order to realize Chinese-path modernization, the Chinese Communists, with Deng Xiaoping as the main representative, regarded the realization of modernization as China’s biggest political issue, formulated and adhered to the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism with “one central task and two basic points” as its core content, providing the fundamental direction and scientific guidance for upholding and expanding the path of Chinese-path modernization.

党的基本路线是在一定历史时期内党为解决社会主要矛盾提出的行动指南和根本方针。为了实现中国式现代化，以邓小平为主要代表的中国共产党人把实现现代化当作中国最大的政治，制定并坚持党在社会主义初级阶段以“一个中心、两个基本点”为核心内容的基本路线，为坚持和拓展中国式现代化道路提供了根本方向和科学引领。

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, Chinese Communists with Deng Xiaoping as their main representative, in the practice of deeply pondering the fundamental question of “what is socialism and what kind of socialism to build,” scientifically judging the historical orientation of China’s being in the primary stage of socialism, and continuously advancing reform and opening up as well as modernization construction, became increasingly mature in their conception of the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee shifted the focus of the Party’s and the state’s work to economic construction as the center, from explicitly stating that to achieve modernization and make China prosperous and strong, it was necessary to implement the policy of reform and opening up and to uphold the Four Cardinal Principles, to systematically elaborating the scientific connotation and basic characteristics of the primary stage of socialism and fully summarizing the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism, namely, “to lead and unite the people of all ethnic groups across the country, take economic construction as the center, uphold the Four Cardinal Principles, persist in reform and opening up, rely on our own efforts, and work hard to build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and modern socialist country” [17] (P13). The basic line for the primary stage of socialism is rich in content and clear in structure, scientifically summarizing the goals, basic pathways, leading force, relying force, and basic policies for achieving the goals of Chinese-path modernization construction. First, the basic line clearly stipulates that the Party’s goal in the primary stage of socialism is to build a modern socialist country, fully reflecting the requirements of the development of socialist economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, and other aspects. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to unswervingly uphold the Party’s basic line; “only by adhering to this line will the people trust you and support you” [18] (P371). Second, the basic line clearly stipulates that the basic pathways to achieve these goals are to take economic construction as the center, persist in reform and opening up, and uphold the Four Cardinal Principles. “One center and two basic points” form an integrated whole; only by completely and accurately adhering to the “one center and two basic points” can the realization of the goals of Chinese-path modernization be ensured. Third, it reveals the practical subjects of Chinese-path modernization construction, namely, the CPC as the leading core, the most essential characteristic, the greatest political advantage, and the highest political leadership force of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country as the relying force of socialism with Chinese characteristics, who are the source of strength for realizing Chinese-path modernization. Fourth, it clearly stipulates the basic policy of adhering to “relying on our own efforts and working hard,” which is both a glorious tradition of the CPC and the fundamental foothold for achieving the goals. These aspects are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, fully reflecting the inherent requirements of the essence of socialism with Chinese characteristics, reflecting the laws of development of socialist society, and pointing out the correct development path for Chinese-path modernization and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

党的十一届三中全会以后，以邓小平为主要代表的中国共产党人在深入思考“什么是社会主义、建设什么样的社会主义”根本问题，科学判断我国所处社会主义初级阶段的历史方位，不断推进改革开放和现代化建设的实践中，对党在社会主义初级阶段基本路线的构想越来越成熟。党的十一届三中全会将党和国家工作重点转移到以经济建设为重心上来以后，从明确提出搞现代化建设使中国兴旺发达起来，必须实行改革开放政策，必须坚持四项基本原则，到系统阐述社会主义初级阶段的科学内涵和基本特征并完整概括党在社会主义初级阶段的基本路线，即“领导和团结全国各族人民，以经济建设为中心，坚持四项基本原则，坚持改革开放，自力更生，艰苦创业，为把我国建设成为富强、民主、文明的社会主义现代化国家而奋斗”[17]（P13）。社会主义初级阶段的基本路线内容丰富、层次分明，科学概括了中国式现代化建设的奋斗目标、基本途径、领导力量、依靠力量以及实现奋斗目标的基本方针。其一，基本路线明确规定了党在社会主义初级阶段的奋斗目标是建设社会主义现代化国家，充分体现了社会主义经济、政治、文化、社会、生态和其他各方面发展的要求。实现这些奋斗目标必须坚持党的基本路线不动摇，“只有坚持这条路线，人民才会相信你，拥护你”[18]（P371）。其二，基本路线明确规定了实现这些奋斗目标的基本路径是坚持以经济建设为中心，坚持改革开放、坚持四项基本原则。“一个中心、两个基本点”是一个整体，只有完整准确地坚持“一个中心、两个基本点”，才能保证中国式现代化建设目标的实现。其三，揭示了中国式现代化建设的实践主体，即作为中国特色社会主义领导核心及最本质特征、最大政治优势、最高政治领导力量的中国共产党，作为中国特色社会主义依靠力量的全国各族人民，是实现中国式现代化的力量源泉。其四，明确规定了坚持“自力更生、艰苦创业”的基本方针，既是中国共产党的光荣传统，又是实现奋斗目标的根本立足点。这几个方面内容相互联系，互相促进，充分体现了中国特色社会主义本质的内在要求，反映了社会主义社会的发展规律，指明了中国式现代化、中国特色社会主义的正确发展道路。

Facing the volatile international situation at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s and a series of risks and tests affecting China’s reform, development, and stability, Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized that the Party’s basic line must be upheld unswervingly. In early 1992, during his Southern Talks, Deng Xiaoping reaffirmed the Party’s basic line, stressing that the Party’s basic line should govern for a hundred years and must be firmly and unwaveringly upheld. The 15th National Congress of the CPC emphasized the need to unswervingly uphold the Party’s basic line and unify the “one center and two basic points” in the great practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. From the 16th National Congress of the CPC proposing that “the Party’s basic line and basic program are the fundamental guidelines for all work” [19] (P6), to the 17th National Congress of the CPC emphasizing that “the Party’s basic line is the lifeline of the Party and the state and the political guarantee for achieving scientific development” [20] (P13), and then to the 18th National Congress of the CPC reiterating that the Party’s basic line is the lifeline of the Party and the state and proposing that “building socialism with Chinese characteristics takes the primary stage of socialism as its general basis, the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan as its overall layout, and the general task of realizing socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” [21] (P10). The 19th National Congress of the CPC further proposed, “firmly uphold the Party’s basic line, which is the lifeline of the Party and the state and the line of happiness for the people” [22] (P10). The Party has always adhered to and continuously deepened its understanding of the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, and has unified taking economic construction as the center with upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and persisting in reform and opening up in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is “the most valuable experience since reform and opening up and the most reliable guarantee for the victorious advance of our cause” [23] (P17). This closely linked the realization of Chinese-path modernization with upholding the Party’s basic line, making it a powerful driving force guiding Chinese-path modernization construction.

面对20世纪80年代末90年代初风云变幻的国际形势和影响我国改革发展稳定的一系列风险考验，邓小平反复强调，必须坚持党的基本路线不动摇。1992年初，邓小平在南方谈话中重申了党的基本路线，强调党的基本路线要管一百年，必须牢牢坚持、毫不动摇。党的十五大强调，要毫不动摇地坚持党的基本路线，把“一个中心、两个基本点”统一于建设中国特色社会主义的伟大实践中。从党的十六大提出“党的基本路线和基本纲领是各项工作的根本指针”[19]（P6），到党的十七大强调“党的基本路线是党和国家的生命线，是实现科学发展的政治保证”[20]（P13），再到党的十八大重申党的基本路线是党和国家的生命线，并提出“建设中国特色社会主义，总依据是社会主义初级阶段，总布局是五位一体，总任务是实现社会主义现代化和中华民族伟大复兴”[21]（P10）。党的十九大进一步提出，“牢牢坚持党的基本路线这个党和国家的生命线、人民的幸福线”[22]（P10）。党始终坚持并不断深化自己对社会主义初级阶段基本路线的认识，并把以经济建设为中心同坚持四项基本原则和改革开放统一于中国特色社会主义的伟大实践，这是改革开放以来“最可宝贵的经验，是我们事业胜利前进最可靠的保证”[23]（P17）。这就将实现中国式现代化同坚持党的基本路线紧密衔接起来，使之成为引领中国式现代化建设的强大动力。

At the same time, to promote the sustained development of Chinese-path modernization, Deng Xiaoping also proposed a series of strategic policies of “grasping with both hands, both hands being firm.” He repeatedly emphasized that to realize Chinese-path modernization, it was necessary to adhere to the policy of “grasping reform and opening up with one hand and cracking down on crime with the other, grasping economic construction with one hand and democracy and legal system with the other, grasping material civilization with one hand and cultural-ethical progress with the other,” and other such “grasping with both hands, both hands being firm” policies, laying an extremely important methodological foundation for advancing Chinese-path modernization. In 1979, when meeting with Japanese friends, Deng Xiaoping first proposed the idea of “grasping with both hands,” pointing out that “democracy must be upheld, and the legal system must be upheld; these are like two hands, and weakening either hand is not allowed” [24] (P189), closely linking democracy and the legal system as an important policy for advancing Chinese-path modernization. In 1982, Deng Xiaoping proposed that in carrying out socialist modernization, “we must have two hands: one hand is to persist in the policy of opening up to the outside world and invigorating the domestic economy, and the other hand is to resolutely crack down on economic criminal activities” [25] (P404). This linked “grasping with both hands” with socialist modernization construction, pointing out its important status. From 1986, when Deng Xiaoping explicitly emphasized at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee that “to achieve the four modernizations, we must have two hands; having only one hand will not do. The so-called two hands mean grasping construction with one hand and grasping the legal system with the other” [26] (P154); to 1989, when he pointed out in a conversation with leading comrades of the Central Committee that “we grasp reform and opening up with one hand and punish corruption with the other; combining and comparing these two things can make our policies clearer and more able to win people’s hearts” [27] (P314); and then to 1992, when he emphasized in his Southern Talks that “we must adhere to grasping with both hands: grasping reform and opening up with one hand and cracking down on various criminal activities with the other. Both hands must be firm” [28] (P378). Deng Xiaoping also particularly emphasized that Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material civilization and cultural-ethical progress are coordinated, and that both hands must be grasped to prevent one hand being firm and the other soft; only when both civilizations are well-developed can it be considered socialism with Chinese characteristics. This fully reflects the special significance of the policy of “grasping with both hands, both hands being firm” for upholding the Party’s basic line and advancing Chinese-path modernization construction.

与此同时，为推动中国式现代化的持续发展，邓小平还提出一系列“两手抓、两手都要硬”的战略方针。他反复强调，实现中国式现代化，必须坚持“一手抓改革开放、一手抓打击犯罪，一手抓经济建设、一手抓民主法制，一手抓物质文明、一手抓精神文明”等“两手抓、两手都要硬”的方针，为推进中国式现代化奠定了极为重要的方法论基础。1979年邓小平在会见日本友人时首次提出“两手抓”的思想，指出“民主要坚持下去，法制要坚持下去，这好像两只手，任何一只手削弱都不行”[24]（P189），将民主与法制紧密衔接起来，作为推进中国式现代化的一项重要方针；1982年邓小平提出进行社会主义现代化建设，“我们要有两手，一手就是坚持对外开放和对内搞活经济的政策，一手就是坚决打击经济犯罪活动”[25]（P404）。将“两手抓”同社会主义现代化建设联系起来，指明了其重要地位。从1986年，邓小平在中央政治局常委会上明确强调“搞四个现代化一定要有两手，只有一手是不行的。所谓两手，即一手抓建设，一手抓法制”[26]（P154）；到1989年他在同中央负责同志谈话时指出，“我们一手抓改革开放，一手抓惩治腐败，这两件事结合起来，对照起来，就可以使我们的政策更加明朗，更能获得人心”[27]（P314）；再到1992年他在南方谈话中强调指出，“要坚持两手抓，一手抓改革开放，一手抓打击各种犯罪活动。这两只手都要硬”[28]（P378）。邓小平还特别强调，中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，必须坚持两手都要抓，防止一手硬、一手软，只有两个文明都搞好，才是中国特色社会主义。这充分体现了“两手抓，两手都要硬”方针对于坚持党的基本路线、推进中国式现代化建设所具有的特殊重要意义。

New practice calls for new theory. Since reform and opening up, the great, vibrant, and creative practice of socialist modernization by the Chinese people has laid a solid practical foundation for the formation and enrichment of the path, theory, and concepts of Chinese-path modernization, and thus for the entire theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and has provided continuous scientific guidance for its innovative development in the New Era. Xi Jinping pointed out, “The blueprint for socialist modernization drawn up by Comrade Deng Xiaoping is gradually turning into a beautiful reality; our great motherland is moving towards prosperity and strength day by day; the Chinese nation is moving step by step towards great rejuvenation” [29].

新的实践呼唤新的理论。改革开放以来，中国人民伟大的、生动活泼的、富有创造性的社会主义现代化实践，为中国式现代化道路、理论、理念，从而也为整个中国特色社会主义理论体系的形成和丰富发展奠定了坚实的实践基础，并为之在新时代的创新发展提供了持续的科学引领。习近平指出，“邓小平同志为我们擘画的社会主义现代化蓝图正在一步步变成美好现实，我们伟大的祖国正在一天天走向繁荣富强，中华民族正在一步步走向伟大复兴”[29]。

(Author profiles: Tian Keqin, professor and doctoral supervisor at the Department of Marxism, Northeast Normal University; Zhao Yecheng, doctoral student at the Department of Marxism, Northeast Normal University)

（作者简介：田克勤，东北师范大学马克思主义学部教授、博士生导师；赵业程，东北师范大学马克思主义学部博士研究生）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心