Deng Xiaoping’s Reform Thought and Its Contemporary Value

General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his important speech at the symposium commemorating the

习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上发表的重要讲话，深情回顾了邓小平同志光辉、战斗、伟大的一生，高度评价邓小平同志带领党和人民成功开创了我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期、开创中国特色社会主义、创立邓小平理论的伟大历史功勋，强调要继续深入学习运用邓小平理论，学习邓小平同志的崇高革命风范，把他开创的中国特色社会主义事业继续推向前进。

Socialism with Chinese characteristics was formed and developed in the great practice of reform and opening up. As the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up, and modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping made a series of incisive expositions on China’s reform, forming a complete ideological system that became an important component of Deng Xiaoping Theory. Today, revisiting and studying Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought is of great significance for further comprehensively deepening reform and for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

中国特色社会主义是在改革开放伟大实践中形成和发展的。作为中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师，邓小平同志对中国改革作出了一系列精辟论述，形成了一个完整思想体系，成为邓小平理论的重要组成部分。今天，重温和学习邓小平改革思想，对于进一步全面深化改革，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，具有重要意义。

The Historical Background and Conditions of the Times in Which Deng Xiaoping’s Reform Thought Emerged

邓小平改革思想产生的历史背景和时代条件

Marx and Engels pointed out: “The real content of all epoch-making systems arises from the needs of the period in which they are produced.” The emergence of Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought was by no means accidental; it had profound political and economic roots and socio-historical conditions. To sum up, it was based on “four foundations.”

马克思、恩格斯指出：“一切划时代的体系的真正的内容都是由于产生这些体系的那个时期的需要而形成起来的。”邓小平改革思想的产生决不是偶然，而是有着深刻的政治经济根源和社会历史条件，概括起来，就是“四个基于”。

Based on a profound grasp of the future and destiny of the Party and the state. At the end of the “Cultural Revolution,” national construction was in ruins, with a hundred tasks awaiting attention. The general trend of development at home and abroad required our Party to make political decisions and strategic choices on major policies concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state as soon as possible. At a major historical juncture when the Party and the state faced the question of where to go, Comrade Deng Xiaoping hit the nail on the head, pointing out: “If we do not implement reform now, our modernization cause and socialist cause will be buried.” History and reality show that isolation and rigidity lead nowhere, and that implementing reform and opening up is the only correct choice for accelerating national development and improving people’s lives. Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought was formed and developed in the process of thoroughly correcting the erroneous theories and practices of the “Cultural Revolution,” shifting the focus of the Party and the state’s work, and pushing the Party and the state from crisis to renewed vigor.

基于对党和国家前途命运的深刻把握。“文化大革命”结束时，国家建设百业待兴。国内外发展大势要求我们党尽快就关系党和国家前途命运的大政方针作出政治决断和战略抉择。在党和国家面临何去何从的重大历史关头，邓小平同志一针见血地指出，“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送”。历史和现实表明，封闭和僵化没有出路，实行改革开放是加快国家发展、改善人民生活的唯一正确选择。邓小平改革思想就是在彻底纠正“文化大革命”的错误理论和实践、实现党和国家工作中心转移、推动党和国家从危难到重新奋起中形成和发展起来的。

Based on a profound summary of the practice of socialist revolution and construction. After the founding of New China, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their main representative, united and led the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups across the country to achieve a series of original theoretical achievements and great successes in socialist revolution and construction. However, the exploration process also experienced serious setbacks. Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: “The question is what is socialism and how to build socialism. We have many lessons and experiences, but the most important one is to get this question clear.” The setbacks and mistakes experienced by our socialism before reform and opening up, as well as some confusions encountered in its progress since reform and opening up, were ultimately related to the fact that this question had not been fully clarified. Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought was formed and developed on the basis of summing up the historical experience of our socialism’s victories and setbacks, and drawing on the historical experience of the rise and fall of other socialist countries.

基于对社会主义革命和建设实践的深刻总结。新中国成立后，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人团结带领全党全国各族人民，在社会主义革命和建设中取得一系列独创性理论成果和巨大成就，但探索过程中也经历了严重曲折。邓小平同志说，“问题是什么是社会主义，如何建设社会主义。我们的经验教训有许多条，最重要的一条，就是要搞清楚这个问题”。我国社会主义在改革开放前所经历的曲折和失误，改革开放以来在前进中遇到的一些困惑，归根到底都与这个问题没有完全搞清楚有关。邓小平改革思想就是在总结我国社会主义胜利和挫折的历史经验，并借鉴其他社会主义国家兴衰成败历史经验的基础上形成和发展起来的。

Based on a profound insight into the trend of the times. “The tide of the world is mighty; those who follow it prosper, those who go against it perish.” When the major decision on reform and opening up was made, the international situation underwent major changes. Peace and development became the theme of the times. The world economy and technology developed rapidly, and the gap between China’s development and the advanced international level widened significantly. If we did not seize the opportunity and strive to catch up, there was a danger of being left behind by the speeding train of the times. Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out: “We must catch up with the times; that is the goal of reform”; “No country can become developed today if it closes itself off.” It was precisely on the basis of a scientific judgment of the world situation that our Party resolutely pulled open the historical curtain of reform and opening up. Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought was formed and developed in the process of seeing clearly the general trend of world and China’s development, grasping the historical laws of China’s development, and mastering the historical initiative in the development of the Party and the state’s cause.

基于对时代潮流的深刻洞察。“世界潮流，浩浩荡荡，顺之则昌，逆之则亡。”作出改革开放的重大决策时，国际形势发生重大变化，和平与发展成为时代主题，世界经济科技快速发展，我国发展同国际先进水平的差距明显拉大。再不抢抓机遇、奋起直追，就有被飞驰的时代列车甩下的危险。邓小平同志深刻指出，“我们要赶上时代，这是改革要达到的目的”；“现在任何国家要发达起来，闭关自守都不可能”。正是在对世界大势作出科学判断的基础上，我们党一往无前拉开了改革开放的历史大幕。邓小平改革思想就是在看清世界和中国的发展大势、把握中国发展的历史规律、掌握党和国家事业发展的历史主动中形成和发展起来的。

Based on a profound understanding of the people’s expectations and needs. Before reform and opening up, “China’s social productive forces developed slowly, the people’s material and cultural living conditions could not be ideally improved, and the country could not shake off its poverty and backwardness.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping once said with deep feeling: “Socialism must show its superiority. How can it be like this, still so poor after more than twenty years of construction? What is the use of socialism then?” As the saying goes, “It is human nature to think of change when in dire straits.” Our Party responded to the people’s expectations and needs by formulating a series of policies for opening up to the outside world and invigorating the domestic economy. Reform and opening up, which enjoyed popular support, thus unfolded comprehensively across China’s vast land. Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought was formed and developed in the process of grasping the profound aspirations of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and tirelessly striving to improve the people’s well-being.

基于对人民群众期盼和需要的深刻体悟。改革开放前，我国“社会生产力发展缓慢，人民的物质和文化生活条件得不到理想的改善，国家也无法摆脱贫穷落后的状态”。邓小平同志曾深有感触地说：“社会主义要表现出它的优越性，哪能像现在这样，搞了二十多年还这么穷，那要社会主义干什么？”正所谓“凡人之情，穷则思变”，我们党顺应人民群众期盼和需要，制定了一系列对外开放和对内搞活的政策，人心所向的改革开放从此在中国的广袤大地上全面展开。邓小平改革思想就是在把握中国人民和中华民族的深沉愿望、孜孜以求增进人民福祉的过程中形成和发展起来的。

Reviewing the context and trajectory of the development of Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought, it can be seen that Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought progressed in tandem with and mutually promoted China’s reform and opening up practice, and continued to develop as China’s reform and opening up practice gradually deepened. In leading the process of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward many major ideas of pioneering significance, founded Deng Xiaoping Theory, which became the foundational work of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and an important milestone in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Within Deng Xiaoping Theory, Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought occupies a very important position.

回顾邓小平改革思想发展的脉络和轨迹，可以发现，邓小平改革思想与我国改革开放实践同步而行、相互促进，并随着我国改革开放实践的逐步深入而不断发展。邓小平同志在领导改革开放和社会主义现代化建设过程中，提出许多具有开创意义的重大思想，创立了邓小平理论，成为中国特色社会主义理论体系的奠基之作，是马克思主义中国化时代化的重要里程碑。在邓小平理论中，邓小平改革思想具有十分重要的地位。

The Rich Connotation and Far-Reaching Influence of Deng Xiaoping’s Reform Thought

邓小平改革思想的丰富内涵和深远影响

Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought is rich in connotation and profound in scope. It profoundly answered major theoretical and practical questions such as “what is China’s socialist reform and how to carry out China’s socialist reform,” adding new content to the treasure house of Marxist theory and opening up a new realm for the development of Marxism.

邓小平改革思想内涵丰富、博大精深，深刻回答了“什么是我国的社会主义改革、怎样进行我国的社会主义改革”等重大理论和实践问题，为马克思主义理论宝库增添了新内容，开拓了马克思主义发展的新境界。

“Led by the Communist Party” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded on the leading force of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “For reform to succeed, it must be carried out in a led and orderly manner”; “China is led by the Communist Party, and China’s socialist modernization cause is led by the Communist Party. This principle cannot be shaken.” He emphasized that upholding the Four Cardinal Principles [1]1 The Four Cardinal Principles (四项基本原则) are: upholding the socialist path, upholding the people’s democratic dictatorship, upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and upholding Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. They were articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979. “is the fundamental prerequisite for realizing the Four Modernizations,” and “if any one of these Four Cardinal Principles is shaken, the entire socialist cause and the entire modernization cause will be shaken.” The core of upholding the Four Cardinal Principles “is upholding the Party’s leadership.” “Without the leadership of the Communist Party, without socialism, without reform and opening up, it would be all over. How could there be today’s China?”

“由共产党领导”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的领导力量。邓小平同志指出，“改革要成功，就必须有领导有秩序地进行”；“中国由共产党领导，中国的社会主义现代化建设事业由共产党领导，这个原则是不能动摇的”。他强调，坚持四项基本原则“是实现四个现代化的根本前提”，“如果动摇了这四项基本原则中的任何一项，那就动摇了整个社会主义事业，整个现代化建设事业”。坚持四项基本原则，核心“是坚持党的领导”，“如果没有共产党的领导，不搞社会主义，不搞改革开放，就呜呼哀哉了，哪里能有现在的中国”。

“Rely closely on the masses” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded on the relying force of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping greatly respected the pioneering spirit of the masses, pointing out: “Many things in reform and opening up were proposed by the masses in practice.” “The household contract responsibility system in rural areas was invented by the peasants. Many things in rural reform were created at the grassroots level; we took them, processed and improved them, and used them as national guidance.” He emphasized: “Only by relying closely on the masses, maintaining close ties with the masses, listening to their voices at all times, understanding their feelings, and representing their interests, can the Party form a powerful force and smoothly complete its various tasks.”

“紧紧地依靠群众”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的依靠力量。邓小平同志十分尊重群众的首创精神，指出：“改革开放中许许多多的东西，都是群众在实践中提出来的。”“农村搞家庭联产承包，这个发明权是农民的。农村改革中的好多东西，都是基层创造出来，我们把它拿来加工提高作为全国的指导。”他强调：“党只有紧紧地依靠群众，密切地联系群众，随时听取群众的呼声，了解群众的情绪，代表群众的利益，才能形成强大的力量，顺利地完成自己的各项任务。”

“Reform is the self-improvement of the socialist system” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded on the nature of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping believed that “reform is China’s second revolution,” but reform by no means negates or discards the socialist system we have established; rather, it is the self-improvement and development of the socialist system. Therefore, “reform can also be called a revolutionary transformation.” He pointed out that the “overall purpose of reform is to be conducive to consolidating the socialist system, to consolidating the Party’s leadership, and to developing the productive forces under the Party’s leadership and the socialist system”; “adhering to the socialist direction in reform is a very important issue.”

“改革是社会主义制度的自我完善”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的性质。邓小平同志认为，“改革是中国的第二次革命”，但改革决不是否定和抛弃我们建立起来的社会主义制度，而是社会主义制度的自我完善和发展，因此“改革也可以叫革命性的变革”。他指出，改革“总的目的是要有利于巩固社会主义制度，有利于巩固党的领导，有利于在党的领导和社会主义制度下发展生产力”；“在改革中坚持社会主义方向，这是一个很重要的问题”。

“Reform is also liberating the productive forces” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded the purpose of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping believed that “the superiority of socialism must ultimately be manifested in its productive forces developing faster and at a higher level than those of capitalism.” Reform is “to remove the obstacles to the development of the productive forces, so that China can shake off its state of poverty and backwardness.” He stressed: “Revolution is to liberate the productive forces, and reform is also to liberate the productive forces.” “In the past, we only spoke of developing the productive forces under socialism, without mentioning that they must also be liberated through reform. That was incomplete. We should speak of both liberating and developing the productive forces.”

“改革也是解放生产力”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的目的。邓小平同志认为，“社会主义的优越性归根到底要体现在它的生产力比资本主义发展得更快一些、更高一些”。改革就是“为了扫除发展社会生产力的障碍，使中国摆脱贫穷落后的状态”。他强调：“革命是解放生产力，改革也是解放生产力。”“过去，只讲在社会主义条件下发展生产力，没有讲还要通过改革解放生产力，不完全。应该把解放生产力和发展生产力两个讲全了。”

“Reform is comprehensive reform” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded the content and scope of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out that reform “includes economic structural reform, political structural reform, and corresponding reforms in other fields.” With regard to economic structural reform, Comrade Deng Xiaoping creatively put forward the idea that planning and the market are both economic means and that socialism can also practice a market economy, providing guidance for establishing the goal of a socialist market economic system. He stressed that “political structural reform and economic structural reform should be interdependent and mutually reinforcing”; that we must grasp both material progress and cultural-ethical progress, with both hands being strong; that we must grasp both reform and opening up and the punishment of corruption, and “oppose corruption throughout the entire process of reform and opening up.”

“改革是全面的改革”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的内容和范围。邓小平同志指出，改革“包括经济体制改革、政治体制改革和相应的其他各个领域的改革”。就经济体制改革而言，邓小平同志创造性地提出计划和市场都是经济手段、社会主义也可以搞市场经济的思想，为社会主义市场经济体制改革目标的确立提供了指南。他强调，“政治体制改革同经济体制改革应该相互依赖，相互配合”；要坚持物质文明和精神文明两手抓、两手都要硬；一手抓改革开放，一手抓惩治腐败，“在整个改革开放过程中都要反对腐败”。

“Be bold in action, but steady in steps” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded the methods and steps of China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed that “in reform and opening up, we must be bolder in our experiments”; “being bold in action means carrying it out unswervingly; being steady in steps means promptly correcting problems as soon as they are discovered.” We must be good at “crossing the river by feeling the stones,” [2]2 The “Six Upholds” (六个坚持) are six principles for further comprehensively deepening reform, proposed at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in July 2024: upholding the Party’s overall leadership, upholding the people-centered approach, upholding the rule of law, upholding systematic concepts, upholding a pioneering and innovative spirit, and upholding a problem-oriented approach. “persisting in what is right, promptly correcting what is wrong, and urgently solving new problems as they arise.” At the same time, reform involves the vital interests of the people, and every step affects hundreds of millions of people, so “decisions must be made with caution.” The relationship among reform, development, and stability must be handled well, with stability being the overriding priority.

“胆子要大，步子要稳”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的方法和步骤。邓小平同志强调，“改革开放胆子要大一些，敢于试验”；“所谓胆子要大，就是坚定不移地搞下去；步子要稳，就是发现问题赶快改”。要善于摸着石头过河，“对的就坚持，不对的赶快改，新问题出来抓紧解决”。同时，改革涉及人民的切身利害问题，每一步都会影响成亿的人，“决策一定要慎重”，要处理好改革、发展、稳定的关系，稳定压倒一切。

“The three favorable criteria” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded the evaluation criteria for China’s reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The results of correct political leadership must ultimately be manifested in the development of society’s productive forces and in the improvement of the people’s material and cultural life.” “Whether something is favorable or harmful to the realization of the four modernizations should become the most fundamental criterion for judging all work.” In his talks during the southern tour, [3] Comrade Deng Xiaoping further summarized this, proposing that the success or failure of reform and all work should ultimately be judged by “whether it is favorable to developing the productive forces of a socialist society, whether it is favorable to increasing the overall national strength of a socialist country, and whether it is favorable to raising the people’s standard of living.”

“三个有利于”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革的评价标准。邓小平同志指出：“正确的政治领导的成果，归根结底要表现在社会生产力的发展上，人民物质文化生活的改善上。”“对实现四个现代化是有利还是有害，应当成为衡量一切工作的最根本的是非标准。”在南方谈话中，邓小平同志进一步作了概括性总结，提出判断改革和各方面工作的是非得失，归根到底要以“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”为标准。

“Opening up to the outside world is also part of reform” — Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly expounded the relationship between China’s reform and opening up. Comrade Deng Xiaoping believed that we must adhere to independence and self-reliance, but at the same time we must not close the country to international intercourse or blindly exclude foreign things; we must implement opening up to the outside world. “No country can develop if it isolates itself and closes its doors to the outside world”; “we must never turn China into a closed country. A

“对外开放也是改革的内容之一”——邓小平同志深刻阐述了我国改革与开放的关系。邓小平同志认为，要坚持独立自主、自力更生，同时不能闭关自守、盲目排外，要实行对外开放。“任何一个国家要发展，孤立起来，闭关自守是不可能的”；“切不要把中国搞成一个关闭性的国家。实行关闭政策的做法对我们极为不利，连信息都不灵通”。他强调：“改革就是搞活，对内搞活也就是对内开放，实际上都叫开放政策。”

Guided by Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought, our Party united and led the people in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, daring to experiment, and boldly making changes, painting a magnificent and grand historical picture and composing a stirring and heroic ode of struggle. Reform and opening up enabled China to achieve a historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy, and from a closed and semi-closed state to all-round opening up. It achieved a historic breakthrough from a situation of relatively backward productive forces to becoming the world’s second-largest economy, profoundly changing the face of China, the face of the Chinese nation, the face of the Chinese people, and the face of the Chinese Communist Party.

在邓小平改革思想指导下，我们党团结带领人民解放思想、实事求是，大胆地试、勇敢地改，绘就了一幅波澜壮阔、气势恢宏的历史画卷，谱写了一曲感天动地、气壮山河的奋斗赞歌。改革开放使我国实现了从高度集中的计划经济体制到充满活力的社会主义市场经济体制、从封闭半封闭到全方位开放的历史性转变，实现了从生产力相对落后的状况到经济总量跃居世界第二的历史性突破，极大改变了中国的面貌、中华民族的面貌、中国人民的面貌、中国共产党的面貌。

Facts have eloquently proven that reform and opening up was a great awakening of our Party, a great revolution in the history of the development of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and the only way to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Only socialism can save China; only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism.

事实雄辩地证明，改革开放是我们党的一次伟大觉醒，是中国人民和中华民族发展史上一次伟大革命，是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、实现中华民族伟大复兴的必由之路。只有社会主义才能救中国，只有改革开放才能发展中国、发展社会主义、发展马克思主义。

Facts have eloquently proven that Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s decision to guide our Party in launching reform and opening up was wise and correct. Comrade Deng Xiaoping is truly worthy of being called the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up, and modernization, and truly worthy of being called the trailblazer of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “It is precisely because of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s outstanding leadership, precisely because of the reform and opening up that Comrade Deng Xiaoping vigorously advocated and fully advanced, that socialism with Chinese characteristics can flourish, the Chinese people can enjoy a moderately prosperous life, and the Chinese nation and the People’s Republic of China can stand tall in the East of the world with a new posture.”

事实雄辩地证明，当年邓小平同志指导我们党作出改革开放的决策是英明的、正确的，邓小平同志不愧为中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师，不愧为中国特色社会主义道路的开创者。习近平总书记指出：“正是由于有邓小平同志的卓越领导，正是由于有邓小平同志大力倡导和全力推进的改革开放，中国特色社会主义才能欣欣向荣，中国人民才能过上小康生活，中华民族和中华人民共和国才能以新的姿态屹立于世界东方。”

The Contemporary Significance of Deng Xiaoping’s Reform Thought for Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

邓小平改革思想对进一步全面深化改革的现实意义

Reform and opening up is always ongoing; it has no end. From ushering in a new period to crossing into a new century, from standing at a new starting point to entering the New Era, the situation and tasks facing China’s reform and opening up are constantly changing day by day. Yet the historical process of reform and opening up is continuous, and the underlying historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic are consistent throughout. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has comprehensively deepened reform with unprecedented resolve and intensity. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions on comprehensively deepening reform, driving reform to exert force in all areas, achieve breakthroughs at multiple points, advance steadily and deeply, and realize historic transformations, systemic restructuring, and holistic reorganization in many fields. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee was epoch-making, ushering in a new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee was also epoch-making, launching a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era, systematically designing and advancing reform as a whole, and creating an entirely new situation for China’s reform and opening up. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, focusing on advancing Chinese-path modernization, has mapped out a blueprint for further deepening reform comprehensively and will surely be recorded in the annals of the Party and the people. The major principle of “Six Upholds” [2]2 The “Six Upholds” (六个坚持) are six principles for further comprehensively deepening reform, proposed at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in July 2024: upholding the Party’s overall leadership, upholding the people-centered approach, upholding the rule of law, upholding systematic concepts, upholding a pioneering and innovative spirit, and upholding a problem-oriented approach. proposed at this plenary session is a profound summary and scientific application of the valuable experience gained from reform and opening up, especially the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era. It fully demonstrates the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it. It also represents the adherence to, enrichment of, and development of Deng Xiaoping’s reform thought under new historical conditions.

改革开放只有进行时，没有完成时。从开启新时期到跨入新世纪，从站上新起点到进入新时代，我国改革开放面临的形势任务与日俱新，但改革开放的历史进程是连续的，背后的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑是一以贯之的。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以前所未有的决心和力度全面深化改革，习近平总书记关于全面深化改革提出一系列新思想、新观点、新论断，推动改革全面发力、多点突破、蹄疾步稳、纵深推进，许多领域实现历史性变革、系统性重塑、整体性重构。党的十一届三中全会是划时代的，开启了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期。党的十八届三中全会也是划时代的，开启了新时代全面深化改革、系统整体设计推进改革新征程，开创了我国改革开放全新局面。党的二十届三中全会紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化擘画进一步全面深化改革，必将载入党和人民的史册。这次全会提出的“六个坚持”重大原则，是对改革开放以来特别是新时代全面深化改革宝贵经验的深刻总结和科学运用，充分彰显了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观方法论以及贯穿其中的立场观点方法，也是在新的历史条件下对邓小平改革思想的坚持、丰富和发展。

Upholding the Party’s overall leadership as the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively. Handling China’s affairs well depends on the Party. Comrade Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized the need for correct centralism, that the entire Party must have a core, and that the Party Central Committee must have authority. It is precisely because we have always adhered to the Party’s leadership that we were able to achieve a great historic turning point, usher in a new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, and push socialism with Chinese characteristics into the New Era. It is precisely because of this that we were able to successfully respond to a series of major risks and challenges, overcome countless difficulties and obstacles, and ensure that the entire Party and the whole country are unified in thought, will, and action on the issue of reform and opening up. To further deepen reform comprehensively, we must resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and resolutely uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. We must give full play to the Party’s core leadership role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all sides, integrate Party leadership into every aspect and the entire process of reform, implement reform with the spirit of driving nails, and effectively transform the strategic deployments of the Party Central Committee into a powerful force for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

把坚持党的全面领导作为进一步全面深化改革的根本保证。办好中国的事情，关键在党。邓小平同志反复强调要有正确的集中，全党要有核心、党中央要有权威。正是因为始终坚持党的领导，我们才能实现伟大历史转折，开启改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，推动中国特色社会主义进入新时代，才能成功应对一系列重大风险挑战、克服无数艰难险阻，才能确保全党全国在改革开放问题上统一思想、统一意志、统一行动。进一步全面深化改革，必须坚决维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，坚决维护以习近平同志为核心的党中央权威和集中统一领导，发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把党的领导贯穿改革各方面全过程，以钉钉子精神抓好改革落实，切实将党中央战略部署转化为推进中国式现代化的强大力量。

Taking people-centeredness as the value orientation for further comprehensively deepening reform. Reform is meaningful only when it is carried out for the people; reform has momentum only when it relies on the people. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The masses are the source of our strength; the mass line and the mass viewpoint are our heirlooms.” Over the past 40-plus years, we have pursued reform and promoted development, ultimately for the purpose of enabling the people to live better lives. To further comprehensively deepen reform, we must adhere to the principle that wherever the people call out, reform responds, respect the people’s principal position and their spirit of pioneering, plan and advance reform from the perspective of the people’s overall interests, fundamental interests, and long-term interests, and ensure that reform is for the people, reform relies on the people, and the fruits of reform are shared by the people.

把坚持以人民为中心作为进一步全面深化改革的价值导向。为了人民而改革，改革才有意义；依靠人民而改革，改革才有动力。邓小平同志指出：“群众是我们力量的源泉，群众路线和群众观点是我们的传家宝。”40多年来，我们抓改革、促发展，归根到底就是为了让人民过上更好的日子。进一步全面深化改革，必须坚持人民有所呼、改革有所应，尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，从人民整体利益、根本利益、长远利益出发谋划和推进改革，做到改革为了人民、改革依靠人民、改革成果由人民共享。

Taking upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground as the basic principle for further comprehensively deepening reform. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth: “We must adhere to the unity of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground; what should be reformed must be resolutely reformed, and what should not be reformed must not be changed.” [3] The great practice of reform and opening up teaches us that no matter how reform proceeds, fundamental things such as adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhering to the people’s democratic dictatorship, adhering to the Party’s leadership, and adhering to Marxism must never be shaken. We must integrate adhering to economic construction as the central task, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles, and adhering to reform and opening up throughout the entire process of socialist modernization, neither taking the old path of closed-door rigidity nor the evil path of changing the banner. [4] At the same time, we must keep pace with the times, and at a new starting point promote theoretical innovation, practical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and innovation in all other areas, so that the tree of theory remains evergreen and the tree of the cause remains evergreen.

把坚持守正创新作为进一步全面深化改革的基本原则。习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上强调：“要坚持守正和创新相统一，该改的坚定不移改，不该改的不改。”改革开放伟大实践启示我们，无论怎么改，坚持中国特色社会主义道路、坚持人民民主专政、坚持党的领导、坚持马克思主义等根本的东西绝对不能动摇。要把坚持以经济建设为中心、坚持四项基本原则、坚持改革开放统一于社会主义现代化建设全过程，既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路。同时要紧跟时代步伐，在新的起点上推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新和其他各方面创新，让理论之树常青、事业之树常青。

Taking the focus on institutional development as the main line as an important requirement for further comprehensively deepening reform. Institutions are fundamental, overarching, stable, and long-term issues concerning the development of the Party and the state. Comrade Deng Xiaoping always emphasized that “institutions are the decisive factor.” [5] Since the New Era, our Party has placed institutional development in a more prominent position, striving to build a system of institutions that is complete, scientifically standardized, and effectively operational. To further comprehensively deepen reform, we must anchor the overall goal of continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, strengthen top-level design and overall planning, establish the new while abolishing the old, and first establish the new before abolishing the old, consolidate fundamental institutions, improve basic institutions, and innovate important institutions, better transforming institutional advantages into national governance effectiveness.

把坚持以制度建设为主线作为进一步全面深化改革的重要要求。制度是关系党和国家事业发展的根本性、全局性、稳定性、长期性问题。邓小平同志始终强调“制度是决定因素”。新时代以来，我们党把制度建设摆在更加突出的位置，着力构建系统完备、科学规范、运行有效的制度体系。进一步全面深化改革，必须锚定继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的总目标，加强顶层设计、总体谋划，破立并举、先立后破，筑牢根本制度，完善基本制度，创新重要制度，把制度优势更好转化为国家治理效能。

Taking law-based governance in all respects as an effective pathway for further comprehensively deepening reform. Reform and the rule of law are like the two wings of a bird and the two wheels of a cart. Comrade Deng Xiaoping consistently advocated “grasping construction with one hand and grasping the legal system with the other.” [6] Only by adhering to the unity of reform and the rule of law, attaching importance to using the rule-of-law mindset and rule-of-law methods to advance reform, ensuring that major reforms have a legal basis, and promptly elevating reform achievements into legal institutions, can we enhance the penetrating power of reform and provide strong guarantees for reform. To further comprehensively deepen reform, we must actively leverage the role of the rule of law in guiding, promoting, regulating, and safeguarding reform, always ensuring that reform is advanced under the rule of law and that the rule of law is perfected in the course of reform, guaranteeing the advancement of Chinese-path modernization on the track of the rule of law.

把坚持全面依法治国作为进一步全面深化改革的有效途径。改革和法治如鸟之两翼、车之两轮。邓小平同志一贯主张，“一手抓建设，一手抓法制”。坚持改革和法治相统一，重视运用法治思维和法治方式推进改革，做到重大改革于法有据、及时把改革成果上升为法律制度，才能增强改革穿透力，为改革提供有力保障。进一步全面深化改革，必须积极发挥法治引导、推动、规范、保障改革的作用，始终做到在法治下推进改革、在改革中完善法治，确保在法治轨道上推进中国式现代化。

Taking a systematic approach as the scientific method for further comprehensively deepening reform. Comrade Deng Xiaoping paid attention to designing reform and opening up as a systematic project, reflecting profound dialectics and meticulous systematic thinking. The comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era is unprecedented in its comprehensiveness, depth of content, and breadth of impact; it is a comprehensive and systematic reform and improvement, a linkage and integration of reforms and improvements across all fields. To further comprehensively deepen reform, we must enhance the systematic nature, holistic nature, and synergy of reform, take economic system reform as the driving force, promote mutual coordination and efficient synergy among reforms in all areas, and properly handle major relationships such as those between the economy and society, the government and the market, efficiency and fairness, vitality and order, and development and security.

把坚持系统观念作为进一步全面深化改革的科学方法。邓小平同志注重把改革开放作为一个系统工程来设计，体现出深刻的辩证法和缜密的系统思维。新时代全面深化改革任务之全面、内容之深刻、影响之广泛前所未有，是全面的系统的改革和改进，是各领域改革和改进的联动和集成。进一步全面深化改革，必须增强改革系统性、整体性、协同性，以经济体制改革为牵引，推动各方面改革相互配合、协同高效，处理好经济和社会、政府和市场、效率和公平、活力和秩序、发展和安全等重大关系。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping placed high hopes on our country’s reform and opening up and the cause of socialist modernization during his lifetime. What can reassure Comrade Deng Xiaoping is that through 40-plus years of reform and opening up, our Party has led the people not only in creating two miracles rare in the world—rapid economic development and long-term social stability—but also in successfully embarking on the path of Chinese-path modernization and creating a new form of human civilization. Reform and opening up have become the most distinctive feature and the most magnificent scene of contemporary China.

邓小平同志生前对我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设事业寄予厚望。可以告慰邓小平同志的是，通过40多年的改革开放，我们党领导人民不仅创造了世所罕见的经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹，而且成功走出了中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态。改革开放已成为当代中国最显著的特征、最壮丽的气象。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping saw far and thought deeply about reform and opening up. As early as 1985, he foresightedly pointed out: “The significance of reform is to lay a good foundation for sustained development in the next decade and the first fifty years of the next century. Without reform, there will be no sustained development in the future. Therefore, reform is not just about looking at three or five years, but at twenty years, and at the first fifty years of the next century. This matter must be resolutely carried forward.” [7]

邓小平同志对改革开放看得很远、想得很深。早在1985年，他就高瞻远瞩地指出：“改革的意义，是为下一个十年和下世纪的前五十年奠定良好的持续发展的基础。没有改革就没有今后的持续发展。所以，改革不只是看三年五年，而是要看二十年，要看下世纪的前五十年。这件事必须坚决干下去。”

Today, reform and opening up have traversed thousands of mountains and rivers, but there is still a need to wade through streams and climb mountains. The more great and arduous Chinese-path modernization becomes, the more we must seek momentum from reform and vitality from opening up. Let us unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi

今天，改革开放已走过千山万水，但仍需跋山涉水。中国式现代化越是伟大而艰巨，越要向改革要动力、向开放要活力。让我们更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，深入贯彻党的二十大和二十届三中全会精神，高举改革开放旗帜不动摇，以时不我待的紧迫感把党中央关于进一步全面深化改革的各项重大决策部署落到实处，不断谱写以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的壮丽篇章。

(Author: President of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee)

（作者：中共中央党史和文献研究院院长）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心