Several Issues in the Study of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times in the New Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The history of our Party is a history of advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and continuously enriching and developing Marxism, and also a history of using Marxist theory to understand and transform China.” Over more than 100 years, the Communist Party of China, in the historical process of leading the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, has created Mao Zedong Thought, formed the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieving theoretical leaps in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In the historical orientation of the New Era, examining the historical evolution of the connotation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, exploring the new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era, and analyzing the internal logic of the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are of great significance for the Party to continuously promote theoretical innovation in the new journey of realizing the second centenary goal, constantly open up new realms for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and continue to advance toward the grand goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习近平总书记指出：“我们党的历史，是一部推进马克思主义中国化、不断丰富和发展马克思主义的历史，也是一部运用马克思主义理论认识和改造中国的历史。”100多年来，中国共产党在领导中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程中创立了毛泽东思想、形成了中国特色社会主义理论体系、创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化的理论飞跃。在新时代的历史方位上，考察马克思主义中国化时代化内涵的历史演进、探究新时代马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃、分析马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果的内在逻辑，对于党在实现第二个百年奋斗目标新征程中持续推进理论创新、不断开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界、朝着实现中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟目标继续迈进，具有十分重要的意义。

I. The Enrichment and Development of the Connotation of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times in the New Era

一、新时代马克思主义中国化时代化内涵的丰富和发展

“Marxism has profoundly changed China, and China has greatly enriched Marxism.” In the New Era, what new forms does adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times assume, and what new connotations does it possess? This is an important issue in the study of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era. What is called adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the theoretical summary and empirical summation of the Communist Party of China changing with the times, keeping pace with the times, and using the basic principles of Marxism to analyze, study, and solve China’s practical problems. Its specific connotation has been continuously enriched and developed in the Party’s more than one hundred years of struggle.

“马克思主义深刻改变了中国，中国也极大丰富了马克思主义。”在新时代，马克思主义中国化时代化呈现出什么样的新形态、具有哪些新内涵？这是新时代马克思主义中国化时代化研究的重要问题。所谓马克思主义中国化时代化，就是中国共产党因时而变、与时俱进，运用马克思主义基本原理分析、研究和解决中国实际问题的理论概括和经验总结，其具体内涵在党的百余年奋斗中不断得到丰富和发展。

(1) The Proposal of the Concept of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

（一）马克思主义中国化概念的提出

The salvo of the October Revolution brought Marxism-Leninism to China. The introduction of Marxism-Leninism prompted a group of advanced Chinese elements to begin “using the proletarian world outlook as a tool for observing the fate of the nation and reconsidering their own problems.” As the guiding ideology of the Communist Party of China, Marxism provided new perspectives, injected new impetus, and opened up new prospects for the Chinese revolution. However, due to the Party’s insufficient theoretical preparation in its early days, a lack of mature revolutionary experience, and deep influence from the Communist International, dogmatic “Left” errors prevailed within the Party for a time. Blindly copying “textbooks” and Soviet experience, the Party failed to integrate the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete realities of the Chinese revolution, leading to the erroneous tendency of dogmatizing Marxism and sanctifying the resolutions of the Communist International and Soviet experience, which caused enormous losses to the Chinese revolution. In response, in May 1930, Mao Zedong pointed out in his article “Oppose Book Worship”: “Marxist ‘textbooks’ must be studied, but they must be combined with our country’s actual conditions. We need ‘textbooks,’ but we must correct the book worship that is divorced from actual conditions.” This clarified the basic attitude toward correctly handling the relationship between the basic principles of Marxism and China’s specific problems. In 1938, in order to break the superstition of dogmatism, Mao Zedong first proposed the concept of “adapting Marxism to the Chinese context” at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the CPC. He stated: “The sinicization of Marxism, so that it carries Chinese characteristics in every one of its manifestations, that is, applying it according to Chinese characteristics, has become a problem that the entire Party urgently needs to understand and solve.” Here, Mao Zedong initially expounded the connotation and tasks of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, and clearly pointed out that adapting Marxism to the Chinese context means applying, developing, and innovating Marxism according to China’s characteristics. In May 1941, in “Reform Our Study,” Mao Zedong further summarized the connotation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. He pointed out: “The twenty years of the Communist Party of China are the twenty years of the increasingly close integration of the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution.” In summary, during the period of the New Democratic Revolution, adapting Marxism to the Chinese context meant integrating the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with the realities of the Chinese revolution, endowing Marxism with distinct Chinese style, Chinese characteristics, and Chinese manner, so that it could better serve the cause of national independence and people’s liberation.

十月革命一声炮响，给中国送来了马克思列宁主义。马克思列宁主义的传入，促使一批中国先进分子开始“用无产阶级的宇宙观作为观察国家命运的工具，重新考虑自己的问题”。马克思主义作为中国共产党的指导思想，为中国革命提供了新视野、注入了新动力、开创了新局面。但由于党在成立初期理论准备不足，缺乏成熟的革命经验，深受共产国际的影响，致使党内“左”倾教条主义错误盛行一时，照抄照搬“本本”和苏联经验，没能将马克思主义基本原理与中国革命具体实际相结合，导致党内出现了把马克思主义教条化、将共产国际决议和苏联经验神圣化的错误倾向，使中国革命遭受了巨大损失。对此，1930年5月毛泽东在《反对本本主义》一文中指出：“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的，但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合。我们需要‘本本’，但是一定要纠正脱离实际情况的本本主义。”这就明确了正确处理马克思主义基本原理与中国具体问题之间关系的基本态度。1938年，为破除教条主义迷信，毛泽东在党的六届六中全会上首次提出了“马克思主义中国化”的概念，他指出：“马克思主义的中国化，使之在其每一表现中带着中国的特性，即是说，按照中国的特点去应用它，成为全党亟待了解并亟须解决的问题。”在这里，毛泽东初步阐述了马克思主义中国化的内涵与任务，并清晰地指出，马克思主义的中国化就是要根据中国的特点应用马克思主义、发展马克思主义、创新马克思主义。1941年5月，毛泽东在《改造我们的学习》中进一步概括了马克思主义中国化的内涵，他指出：“中国共产党的二十年，就是马克思列宁主义的普遍真理和中国革命的具体实践日益结合的二十年。”概言之，在新民主主义革命时期，马克思主义中国化就是使马克思列宁主义基本原理和中国革命实际相结合，让马克思主义呈现出鲜明的中国风格、中国特色和中国气派，使其更好地服务于民族独立和人民解放事业。

After the founding of New China, influenced by the Soviet Union and the international situation, the concept of “adapting Marxism to the Chinese context” rarely appeared in Party documents. When the Selected Works of Mao Zedong was published, “the sinicization of Marxism” was revised to “making Marxism concrete in China,” and “Marxism must be realized through national forms” was changed to “Marxism must be combined with China’s specific characteristics and realized through certain national forms.” With the arduous exploration of the path of socialist construction, Mao Zedong began to consider how, on the basis of learning from the Soviet Union, to promote the further integration of Marxism with China’s concrete realities in a new way. He believed: “We should combine the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete realities of China’s socialist revolution and construction, and explore the path of building socialism in our country.” Based on this understanding, he further proposed: “We must carry out a second integration, to find a way to build socialism in China.” Thus, the task of the “second integration” of Marxism with China’s realities was put forward, and the use of sinicized Marxism to solve the problems of China’s socialist construction began.

新中国成立后，受苏联及国际形势的影响，“马克思主义中国化”这一概念鲜见于党的文献，《毛泽东选集》出版时也将“马克思主义的中国化”修改为“使马克思主义在中国具体化”，将“马克思主义必须通过民族形式才能实现”改为“马克思主义必须和我国的具体特点相结合并通过一定的民族形式才能实现”。随着对社会主义建设道路的艰辛探索，毛泽东开始思考如何在以苏为鉴的基础上，以新的方式推进马克思主义与中国具体实际的进一步结合，他认为：“应该把马列主义的基本原理同中国社会主义革命和建设的具体实际结合起来，探索在我们国家里建设社会主义的道路了。”正是基于这种认识基础，他进一步提出“我们要进行第二次结合，找出在中国怎样建设社会主义的道路”。由此提出马克思主义与中国实际“第二次结合”的任务，开始用中国化的马克思主义解决中国社会主义建设问题。

Mao Zedong was the pioneer and founder of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, creatively applied Marxism to the great cause of China’s revolution and construction, forming the first major theoretical achievement of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context—Mao Zedong Thought—and realizing the first historical leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

毛泽东是马克思主义中国化的开拓者和奠基人。以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人把马克思主义创造性地运用于中国革命和建设的伟大事业中，形成了马克思主义中国化的第一个重大理论成果——毛泽东思想，实现了马克思主义中国化的第一次历史性飞跃。

(2) The Enrichment of the Connotation of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

（二）马克思主义中国化内涵的丰富

After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, how to realize the integration of Marxism with China’s realities under new historical conditions became the primary theoretical problem facing the Communist Party of China in leading reform and opening up. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that Marxism is not dogmatic, rigid, or immutable; “true Marxists-Leninists must understand, inherit, and develop Marxism-Leninism based on the current situation.” In his opening speech at the Twelfth National Congress of the CPC, he stated: “To integrate the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete realities of our country, to take our own path, and to build socialism with Chinese characteristics—this is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up our long-term historical experience.” Deng Xiaoping not only faithfully followed Mao Zedong’s basic definition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context but also further interpreted adapting Marxism to the Chinese context within the historical context of reform and opening up, linking Marxism with the realities of China’s socialist modernization construction, thereby more prominently highlighting its theoretical characteristic of changing with the times and continuous innovation.

党的十一届三中全会之后，如何在新的历史条件下实现马克思主义与中国实际相结合，成为中国共产党领导改革开放遇到的首要理论难题。邓小平指出，马克思主义不是教条僵化、一成不变的，“真正的马克思列宁主义者必须根据现在的情况，认识、继承和发展马克思列宁主义”。他在党的十二大开幕词中指出：“把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际结合起来，走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义，这就是我们总结长期历史经验得出的基本结论。”邓小平不仅切实遵循了毛泽东对于马克思主义中国化的基本定义，还进一步将马克思主义中国化置于改革开放的历史语境中加以阐释，把马克思主义同中国的社会主义现代化建设实际联系起来，更加凸显其应时而变、不断创新的理论特质。

Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Talks in early 1992 and the 14th National Congress of the CPC pushed reform and opening up into a new stage of development, and adapting Marxism to the Chinese context also acquired richer conceptual connotations. In the historical process of advancing socialist modernization, Jiang Zemin proposed: “Our Party has consistently and closely integrated the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China’s concrete reality, forming Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. These two major theoretical achievements are Marxism that has been sinicized; they embody both the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism and the fine thought of the Chinese nation and the practical experience of Chinese Communists.” On the basis of the earlier simple emphasis on the integration of Marxism with China’s concrete reality, this also highlighted the characteristic of integrating Marxism with the fine thought and culture of the Chinese nation. When summarizing the historical experience of reform and opening up, Hu Jintao pointed out: “Over the past thirty years, the great success of China’s reform and opening up has been due crucially to the fact that we have both upheld the basic principles of Marxism and continuously advanced the sinicization of Marxism in light of contemporary Chinese practice and the development of the times, forming and developing the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which includes Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development and other major strategic thoughts, thereby endowing contemporary Chinese Marxism with vigorous vitality.” On the basis of deeply revealing the laws of theoretical evolution and the experience of theoretical innovation, it further elucidated the scientific connotation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

1992年年初邓小平的南方谈话和党的十四大将改革开放推向新的发展阶段，马克思主义中国化也拥有了更为丰富的概念意涵。在推进社会主义现代化建设的历史进程中，江泽民提出：“我们党坚持把马克思列宁主义基本原理同中国具体实际紧密结合，形成了毛泽东思想、邓小平理论。这两大理论成果，是中国化了的马克思主义，既体现了马克思列宁主义的基本原理，又包含了中华民族的优秀思想和中国共产党人的实践经验。”这在以往单纯强调马克思主义与中国具体实际相结合的基础上，也突出了马克思主义与中华民族优秀思想文化相结合的特征。胡锦涛在总结改革开放历史经验时指出：“三十年来，我国改革开放取得伟大成功，关键是我们既坚持马克思主义基本原理，又根据当代中国实践和时代发展不断推进马克思主义中国化，形成和发展了包括邓小平理论、‘三个代表’重要思想以及科学发展观等重大战略思想在内的中国特色社会主义理论体系，赋予当代中国马克思主义勃勃生机。”在深入揭示理论演进规律和理论创新经验的基础上，对马克思主义中国化的科学内涵作了进一步阐发。

Since reform and opening up, Chinese Communists, with Comrades Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao as their main representatives, have drawn on Mao Zedong’s historical experience in exploring the sinicization of Marxism, further enriched the connotation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and formed the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is rooted in the land of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of China’s and the times’ development and progress, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

改革开放以来，以邓小平同志、江泽民同志、胡锦涛同志为主要代表的中国共产党人汲取毛泽东对马克思主义中国化探索的历史经验，在中国特色社会主义伟大实践中进一步丰富了马克思主义中国化的内涵，形成了根植于中国大地、反映中国人民意愿、适应中国和时代发展进步要求的中国特色社会主义理论体系，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。

(III) The Development of the Connotation of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

（三）马克思主义中国化内涵的发展

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has insisted on observing the times, grasping the times, and leading the times with Marxism, continuously promoting the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and further enriching the scientific connotation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: “Chinese Communists deeply recognize that only by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete reality and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, and by adhering to the use of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, can we correctly answer the major questions raised by the times and practice, and can we always maintain the vigorous vitality and strong vitality of Marxism.” The proposal of the “Two Integrations” thesis is the inevitable result of the CPC’s continuous deepening of the understanding of the laws of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era, and of continuously promoting the great historical cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It “profoundly interprets the contemporary new form of sinicized Marxism, presenting the Party’s development picture of advancing the sinicization of Marxism in the New Era and innovating 21st-century Marxism.”

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持用马克思主义观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，不断推动马克思主义中国化时代化，进一步丰富了马克思主义中国化时代化的科学内涵。习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中指出：“中国共产党人深刻认识到，只有把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，坚持运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义，才能正确回答时代和实践提出的重大问题，才能始终保持马克思主义的蓬勃生机和旺盛活力。”“两个结合”命题的提出，是中国共产党在新时代不断深化马克思主义中国化时代化认识规律、不断推动中华民族伟大复兴历史伟业的必然结果，“深刻诠释了中国化马克思主义的当代新形态，呈现了党推进新时代马克思主义中国化、创新21世纪马克思主义的发展图景”。

First, the proposal of the “Two Integrations” thesis is the proper meaning of the CPC’s deepening of the understanding of the laws of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The fundamental path for us to promote the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the ‘Two Integrations.’” The explicit proposal of the “Two Integrations” reflects the continuous deepening of the understanding of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times by Chinese Communists in the New Era, increasingly highlighting the epochal and national characteristics of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and revealing the practical and cultural paths of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The course of Marxism’s development in China “is not a simple continuation of our historical and cultural template, not a simple application of the template envisioned by the classic Marxist writers, not a reprint of the socialist practices of other countries, nor a copy of the modernization development of foreign countries.” The emphasis on the “Two Integrations” enables the CPC, while grasping the basic premise of integrating Marxism with China’s concrete reality, to further highlight the role of the fine traditional Chinese culture in the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, endowing 21st-century Marxism with distinct Chinese style and Chinese characteristics, enabling the fine traditional Chinese culture to undergo creative transformation and innovative development, achieving the organic integration of the two on the basis of mutual compatibility, thereby making it easier for the broad masses of the people to accept and master it, leading the changes of the times in practical creation and theoretical innovation, and opening up a new realm of 21st-century Marxism in the dialectical unity of understanding and transforming the world.

首先，“两个结合”命题的提出是中国共产党深化对马克思主义中国化时代化认识规律的应有之义。习近平总书记强调：“我们推进马克思主义中国化时代化的根本途径是‘两个结合’。”明确提出“两个结合”，反映出新时代中国共产党人对马克思主义中国化时代化认识的不断深化，日益凸显了马克思主义中国化时代化的时代性特征和民族性特征，揭示了马克思主义中国化时代化的实践路径和文化路径。马克思主义在中国的发展历程，“不是简单延续我国历史文化的母版，不是简单套用马克思主义经典作家设想的模板，不是其他国家社会主义实践的再版，也不是国外现代化发展的翻版”。对“两个结合”的强调，使得中国共产党能够在把握马克思主义同中国具体实际相结合这一基本前提下，进一步突出中华优秀传统文化在马克思主义中国化时代化过程中的作用，让21世纪马克思主义拥有鲜明的中国风格和中国特色，使中华优秀传统文化能够得到创造性转化和创新性发展，在相互契合的基础上实现两者的有机结合，继而更容易为广大人民群众所接受和掌握，在实践创造和理论创新中引领时代之变，在认识世界和改造世界的辩证统一中开创21世纪马克思主义的新境界。

Second, the proposal of the “Two Integrations” thesis is the inherent requirement for the CPC to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Marx and Engels pointed out in the 1872 German edition preface to the *Communist Manifesto*: “The general principles of this *Manifesto* are, on the whole, as correct today as ever... The practical application of these principles will depend, as the *Manifesto* itself states, everywhere and at all times, on the historical conditions obtaining.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong. The CPC has led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. At the new stage of historical development, for the CPC to advance the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it needs to seek endogenous impetus from the fine traditional Chinese culture, promote the integration of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, promote “Marxism becoming Chinese, and the fine traditional Chinese culture becoming modern,” enhance the cultural subjectivity of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, provide inexhaustible spiritual strength for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and both adhere to and develop scientific Marxism, while also promoting the modern transformation of Chinese civilization through new mechanisms and new forms. As General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out: “We have always believed that the basic tenets of Marxism must be closely integrated with China’s concrete reality, and we should treat national traditional culture scientifically, treat the cultures of all countries in the world scientifically, and arm ourselves with all the excellent ideological and cultural achievements created by mankind.”

其次，“两个结合”命题的提出是中国共产党推动中华民族伟大复兴的内在要求。马克思恩格斯在1872年《共产党宣言》德文版序言中指出，“这个《宣言》中所阐述的一般原理整个说来直到现在还是完全正确的……这些原理的实际运用，正如《宣言》中所说的，随时随地都要以当时的历史条件为转移”。党的十八大以来，中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃。中国共产党带领全国各族人民全面建成小康社会，历史性地解决了绝对贫困问题，中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程。在新的历史发展阶段上，中国共产党要推进实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程，就需要从中华优秀传统文化中寻找内生动力，促进马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合，推动“马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的”，增强中华民族现代文明的文化主体性，为中华民族伟大复兴提供不竭的精神力量，既要坚持和发展科学的马克思主义，也要以新的机制、新的形式推动中华文明的现代转型。也正如习近平总书记所指出的：“我们从来认为，马克思主义基本原理必须同中国具体实际紧密结合起来，应该科学对待民族传统文化，科学对待世界各国文化，用人类创造的一切优秀思想文化成果武装自己。”

II. A New Leap in Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times in the New Era

二、新时代马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃

The times are the mother of thought; practice is the source of theory. The Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era “has achieved a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context,” expanded the theoretical themes of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, clarified the historical status of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and opened a new historical chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era. How has this scientific system of thought achieved a “new leap”? And what is “new” about this “new leap”? This has become an important topic in the study of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era.

时代是思想之母，实践是理论之源。党的十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》指出，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想“实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃”，拓展了中国化时代化马克思主义的理论主题，明确了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的历史地位，翻开了新时代马克思主义中国化时代化的历史新篇。这一科学思想体系何以实现“新的飞跃”？“新的飞跃”又新在何处？成为新时代马克思主义中国化时代化研究的重要论题。

(I) Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Has Put Forward New Theoretical Propositions

（一）习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想提出了新的理论命题

For a long time, when expounding the generative mechanism of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, the CPC mainly emphasized the integration of Marxism with China’s concrete reality and the characteristics of the times. However, on the basis of adhering to the integration of Marxism with China’s concrete reality, General Secretary Xi Jinping has highlighted the integration of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, that is, he has put forward the entirely new theoretical proposition of the “Two Integrations,” which has become the foundation for achieving a “new leap” in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

长期以来，中国共产党在阐述中国化时代化马克思主义的生成机制时，主要强调马克思主义与中国具体实际、时代特征相结合，而习近平总书记在坚持马克思主义同中国具体实际相结合的基础上，突出了马克思主义同中华优秀传统文化相结合，亦即提出了“两个结合”这一全新的理论命题，成为实现马克思主义中国化时代化“新的飞跃”的基础。

It is true that both Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics bear the distinct imprint of fine traditional Chinese culture, and the integration of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture is also an inherent meaning of the integration of Marxism with China’s concrete realities. As early as the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Mao Zedong, based on the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, emphasized the need to be a Marxist historicist, expounded the basic attitude the Party should uphold toward fine traditional Chinese culture, and provided important guidance for Chinese Communists to form a scientific view of traditional culture. He pointed out: “From Confucius to Sun Yat-sen, we should sum it up and inherit this precious legacy.” [10]10 Mao Zedong, “The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War,” Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. 2. This refers to the need to critically inherit China’s historical cultural legacy from Confucius (551–479 BCE) to Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), the founding father of the Republic of China. He also stressed that adapting Marxism to the Chinese context must “in every manifestation carry Chinese characteristics” and possess “a fresh, lively Chinese style and Chinese manner that the common people of China love to see and hear.” [11]11 Mao Zedong, “The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War,” Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. 2. In the theoretical system of Mao Zedong Thought, ideological content such as seeking truth from facts also possesses very rich characteristics and elements of fine traditional Chinese culture. In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping also attached great importance to the value of fine traditional Chinese culture. He adapted the concept of “moderate prosperity” (xiaokang) from fine traditional Chinese culture to refer to Chinese-style modernization, and the thought on building a moderately prosperous society, as a model of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, also became an important component of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. However, it must be pointed out that fine traditional Chinese culture is the cultural soil, not the theoretical foundation, for the formation and development of Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

诚然，毛泽东思想和中国特色社会主义理论体系都具有鲜明的中华优秀传统文化的特色，马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合也是马克思主义与中国实际相结合的题中之义。早在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东就立足马克思主义的立场观点方法，强调要做马克思主义的历史主义者，阐述了党在对待中华优秀传统文化时所应秉持的基本态度，为中国共产党人形成科学的传统文化观提供了重要指引。他指出：“从孔夫子到孙中山，我们应该给以总结，我们要承继这一份珍贵的遗产。”他也强调马克思主义中国化要“在其每一表现中带着中国的特性”“新鲜活泼的、为中国老百姓所喜闻乐见的中国作风与中国气派”。在毛泽东思想的理论体系中，实事求是等思想内容也具有非常浓郁的中华优秀传统文化的特色和元素。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平也高度重视中华优秀传统文化的价值。他化用中华优秀传统文化中的“小康”概念，来指代中国式的现代化，而小康社会建设思想作为马克思主义中国化的典范，也成为中国特色社会主义理论体系的重要组成部分。但需要指出的是，中华优秀传统文化是毛泽东思想和中国特色社会主义理论体系形成和发展的文化土壤而非理论基础。

Since the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has highly esteemed fine traditional Chinese culture and, in practice, promoted the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. He pointed out: “After Marxism was introduced into China, the propositions of scientific socialism were warmly welcomed by the Chinese people and ultimately took root in Chinese soil and blossomed and bore fruit. This was by no means accidental; it was because they resonated with the excellent historical culture inherited over thousands of years and the values that the broad masses of the people unconsciously apply in their daily lives.” [12]12 He not only regards fine traditional Chinese culture as the “root” of the Party’s innovative theory, “the spiritual lifeline of the Chinese nation, an important source for nurturing core socialist values, and a solid foundation for us to stand firm amidst the cultural currents of the world,” [13]13 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. but also extensively draws on the resources of fine traditional Chinese culture in the process of governing the country, making it an important ideological material and cultural resource for the generation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This enables the Party, within a broader cultural space, to “fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture to explore theoretical and institutional innovations oriented toward the future,” [14]14 The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement (1851–1864) was a massive peasant uprising; the Westernization Movement (1860s–1890s) was a self-strengthening effort by Qing officials; the Hundred Days' Reform (1898) was a failed reformist movement; the Xinhai Revolution (1911) overthrew the Qing dynasty. achieving a breakthrough in the theoretical proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, thereby promoting a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

新时代以来，习近平总书记高度推崇中华优秀传统文化，在实践中推动马克思主义基本原理与中华优秀传统文化相结合。他指出：“马克思主义传入中国后，科学社会主义的主张受到中国人民热烈欢迎，并最终扎根中国大地、开花结果，决不是偶然的，而是同我国传承了几千年的优秀历史文化和广大人民日用而不觉的价值观念融通的。”他不仅认为中华优秀传统文化是党的创新理论的“根”，“是中华民族的精神命脉，是涵养社会主义核心价值观的重要源泉，也是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的坚实根基”，而且在治国理政过程中大量汲取中华优秀传统文化资源，使得中华优秀传统文化成为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想生成的重要思想素材和文化资源，让党能够在更广阔的文化空间中，“充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源，探索面向未来的理论和制度创新”，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化理论命题的突破，由此推动了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。

(II) Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Has Formed a New Theoretical System

（二）习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想形成了新的理论体系

The essence of the new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the innovation of the ideological system. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has been enterprising and unremitting in its exploration under new historical conditions. On the basis of summing up practical experience since reform and opening up, especially since the 18th National Congress, and taking Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics as its theoretical foundation and source, it has put forward a series of new concepts and propositions, establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—a theoretical system with characteristics of the New Era that responds to major issues of the times.

马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃的实质是思想体系的创新。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央在新的历史条件下奋发有为、不懈探索，在总结改革开放以来特别是党的十八大以来的实践经验基础上，以马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、中国特色社会主义理论体系为理论基础和源头活水，提出了一系列新的概念命题，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一具有新时代特点、回应重大时代课题的理论体系。

The 19th National Congress of the CPC initially expounded the main content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era using the “Eight Clarifications” and the “Fourteen Basic Policies.” [15]15 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. The “Eight Clarifications” take as their main content: clarifying the overall goal of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; clarifying the principal contradiction facing Chinese society in the New Era; clarifying the overall plan and strategic layout for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics; clarifying the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform; clarifying the overall goal of comprehensively advancing law-based governance; clarifying the goal of building a strong military in the New Era; clarifying major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics; and clarifying the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Together with the “Fourteen Basic Policies,” they constitute the “four beams and eight pillars” [16]16 The "Three Major Transformations" (1953–1956) were the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and capitalist industry and commerce. of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

党的十九大用“八个明确”和“十四个基本方略”初步阐述了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的主要内容。“八个明确”以明确坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的总目标、明确新时代我国社会主要矛盾、明确中国特色社会主义事业总体布局和战略布局、明确全面深化改革总目标、明确全面推进依法治国总目标、明确党在新时代的强军目标、明确中国特色大国外交、明确中国特色社会主义最本质的特征和中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势为主要内容，同“十四个基本方略”共同构成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的“四梁八柱”。

On the basis of the “Eight Clarifications” and the “Fourteen Upholds,” the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC enriched and developed Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It not only placed “Party leadership” at the top of the “Ten Clarifications” but also added a completely new content: “clarifying that we must uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, enable the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation, and better play the role of the government; grasp the new stage of development; apply the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing; accelerate the construction of a new development pattern with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other; promote high-quality development; and coordinate development and security.” In addition, it enriched the original content of the “Eight Clarifications,” adding expressions such as “the entire Party must strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, fortify the Four Confidences, and achieve the Two Upholds,” “advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization,” “develop whole-process people’s democracy,” and “serve national rejuvenation and promote human progress.”

党的十九届六中全会在“八个明确”和“十四个坚持”的基础上，对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想进行了丰富和发展，不仅将“党的领导”置于“十个明确”之首，还增加了“明确必须坚持和完善社会主义基本经济制度，使市场在资源配置中起决定性作用，更好发挥政府作用，把握新发展阶段，贯彻创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念，加快构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，推动高质量发展，统筹发展和安全”这一全新内容。此外，也对原有“八个明确”的内容进行了丰富，增加了“全党必须增强‘四个意识’、坚定‘四个自信’、做到‘两个维护’”“以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴”“发展全过程人民民主”“服务民族复兴、促进人类进步”等表述。

The 20th National Congress of the CPC provided an even more complete summary of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It designated the “Ten Clarifications,” the “Fourteen Upholds,” and the “Thirteen Areas of Achievement” proposed by the 19th National Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee as the main content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and put forward the “Six Musts” as its worldview and methodology, constructing a profound and vast ideological system. [17]17 Xi Jinping, "Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, October 18, 2017. These theoretical innovations are both in the same lineage as and advance with the times compared to Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, realizing a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era.

党的二十大对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想又进行了更为完备的概括，将党的十九大、党的十九届六中全会提出的“十个明确”“十四个坚持”与“十三个方面成就”作为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的主要内容，并提出“六个必须坚持”这一习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观与方法论，构建起磅礴深邃的思想体系。这些理论创新与毛泽东思想和中国特色社会主义理论体系一脉相承又与时俱进，实现了新时代马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃。

(III) Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Has Answered New Major Issues of the Times

（三）习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想回答了新的重大时代课题

The realization of the new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era also lies in the fact that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has scientifically answered the major issues of the times: “what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era; what kind of strong modern socialist country to build and how to build a strong modern socialist country; what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build a long-term governing Marxist party.” [18]18 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021.

新时代马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃的实现还在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学回答了“新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，建设什么样的社会主义现代化强国、怎样建设社会主义现代化强国，建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党等重大时代课题”。

First, it has answered the issue of the times concerning what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is a major issue concerning China’s development direction and overall strategic situation. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the theme of all the Party’s theory and practice since reform and opening up, the only way to develop China, the only way to realize socialist modernization, and the only way to create a better life for the people. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has scientifically elucidated “the basic issues of the overall goal, overall task, overall plan, strategic layout, development direction, development mode, development momentum, strategic steps, external conditions, and political guarantees for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era,” [19]19 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was held in 1981 and adopted a landmark resolution on the Party’s history since 1949. providing a systematic answer for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era and deepening the Party’s understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Moreover, the proposal of the “Two Integrations” has further expanded the historical depth of socialism with Chinese characteristics, giving the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics opened up by the Chinese Communist Party a broader space for development. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vigorous and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics, and the key to Chinese characteristics lies in the ‘Two Integrations.’” [20]20 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in 2021 and adopted a major resolution on the Party’s centenary history.

第一，回答了坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的时代课题。这是一个关乎中国发展方向、战略全局的重大问题。中国特色社会主义是改革开放以来党的全部理论和实践的主题，是发展中国的必由之路，是实现社会主义现代化的必由之路，是创造人民美好生活的必由之路。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央科学阐释了“新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的总目标、总任务、总体布局、战略布局和发展方向、发展方式、发展动力、战略步骤、外部条件、政治保证等基本问题”，为新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供了系统回答，深化了党对中国特色社会主义建设规律的认识。不仅如此，“两个结合”的提出更进一步拓展了中国特色社会主义的历史纵深，使中国共产党开辟的中国特色社会主义道路有了更为广阔的发展空间，亦如习近平总书记所指出的：“我们的社会主义为什么不一样？为什么能够生机勃勃充满活力？关键就在于中国特色，中国特色的关键就在于‘两个结合’。”

Second, it has answered the epochal question of what kind of socialist modernized powerful country to build and how to build it. Achieving socialist modernization has been the unremitting pursuit of the Communist Party of China over more than a century of struggle. From Mao Zedong’s proposal of the goal of the “Four Modernizations” during the period of socialist revolution and construction, to Deng Xiaoping’s concept of “Chinese-style modernization” in the early period of reform and opening up, and then to the formulation of the “three-step” strategy for China’s modernization at the 13th National Congress of the CPC, successive generations of Chinese Communists have continuously advanced the historical process of China’s modernization. On the basis of the “three-step” strategy, the 19th National Congress of the CPC put forward a “two-step” strategy: “The first stage runs from 2020 to 2035. Building on the foundation created by finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, we will work for another 15 years and basically realize socialist modernization… The second stage runs from 2035 to the middle of the 21st century. Building on the foundation created by basically realizing modernization, we will work for another 15 years and develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.” This thus fully laid out the timetable and roadmap for building a socialist modernized powerful country. On the basis of summing up historical experience since the founding of the PRC, especially since reform and opening up, the 20th National Congress of the CPC “summarized and put forward and deeply expounded the theory of Chinese-path modernization,” thereby profoundly revealing the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, enriching the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization, and providing the answer for the New Era for China’s construction of a socialist modernized powerful country.

第二，回答了建设什么样的社会主义现代化强国、怎样建设社会主义现代化强国的时代课题。实现社会主义现代化是中国共产党百余年奋斗的不懈追求，从社会主义革命和建设时期毛泽东提出“四个现代化”的奋斗目标，到改革开放初期邓小平提出“中国式的现代化”的概念，再到党的十三大制定了我国现代化建设的“三步走”战略，一代代中国共产党人不断推动我国现代化的历史进程。党的十九大在“三步走”战略的基础上提出了“两步走”战略：“第一个阶段，从二○二○年到二○三五年，在全面建成小康社会的基础上，再奋斗十五年，基本实现社会主义现代化……第二个阶段，从二○三五年到本世纪中叶，在基本实现现代化的基础上，再奋斗十五年，把我国建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。”由此完整展现了社会主义现代化强国建设的时间表与路线图。党的二十大在总结新中国成立以来尤其是改革开放以来的历史经验基础上，“概括提出并深入阐述中国式现代化理论”，使中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求和重大原则得到了深刻揭示，丰富了中国式现代化的理论体系，为我国社会主义现代化强国建设提供了新时代的答案。

Third, it has answered the epochal question of what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build it. The key to handling China’s affairs well lies in the Party. In 1945, Mao Zedong, in a cave dwelling in Yan’an, discussed with the democratic personage Huang Yanpei how to break out of the historical cycle of “rising in vigor and perishing suddenly,” and proposed that “democracy” was the “new path” to break out of the historical cycle. [13]13 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of the severe challenges of the “four tests” and the “four dangers,” [14]14 The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement (1851–1864) was a massive peasant uprising; the Westernization Movement (1860s–1890s) was a self-strengthening effort by Qing officials; the Hundred Days' Reform (1898) was a failed reformist movement; the Xinhai Revolution (1911) overthrew the Qing dynasty. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The longer the Party has been in power,

第三，回答了建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党的时代课题。办好中国的事情，关键在党。1945年，毛泽东在延安窑洞中与民主人士黄炎培探讨如何跳出“其兴也浡焉，其亡也忽焉”的历史周期率，提出“民主”是跳出历史周期率的“新路”。党的十八大以来，面对“四大考验”“四种危险”的严峻挑战，习近平总书记指出：“越是长期执政，越不能丢掉马克思主义政党的本色，越不能忘记党的初心使命，越不能丧失自我革命精神”。在党的坚强领导下，坚持党要管党，全面从严治党，持续推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，落实新时代党的建设总要求，在总结党百年奋斗经验的基础上，提出“自我革命”是跳出历史周期率的第二个答案，不断增强党的政治领导力、思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力，提高党的长期执政能力和水平，“健全全面从严治党体系，全面推进党的自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高，使我们党坚守初心使命，始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心”，由此探明了新时代管党治党的历史新路。

III. The Internal Logic of the Theoretical Achievements of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

三、马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果的内在逻辑

Mao Zedong Thought, the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times at different stages. Mao Zedong Thought, as the "opening work" of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, provided the premises and conditions for the creation of the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, on the basis of inheriting the essence of Mao Zedong Thought, respectively wrote the "first part" and the "second part" of the article on socialism with Chinese characteristics. The three follow one another in succession and are logically connected in the vertical dimension of historical development; they are consistent and unified throughout in the horizontal dimension of theoretical construction and value shaping, forming a continuously developing and innovating theoretical system.

毛泽东思想、中国特色社会主义理论体系、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是马克思主义中国化时代化在不同阶段的理论成果。毛泽东思想作为中国化时代化的马克思主义的“开篇之作”，为中国特色社会主义理论体系的创立提供了前提与条件，中国特色社会主义理论体系和习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在继承毛泽东思想精髓的基础上，又分别书写了中国特色社会主义这篇文章的“上篇”与“下篇”。三者在纵向历史发展维度前后相继、逻辑相通，在横向理论建构与价值塑造维度一以贯之、完整统一，形成了一个不断发展创新的理论体系。

(A) The Unity of the Historical Logic of the Theoretical Achievements of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

（一）马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果历史逻辑的统一性

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China: "Over the past hundred years, all the struggles, sacrifices, and creations the Communist Party of China has carried out for and with the Chinese people boil down to one theme: the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." [13]13 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. Although the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times emerged in different historical periods and each has its own concerns of the era, they are all major achievements that profoundly grasp the main theme and main line of Chinese history. They all closely revolve around the historical theme of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, unfolding along the historical trajectory of the Chinese nation standing up, growing rich, and becoming strong. The successful application of the earlier theoretical achievement creates conditions for the generation of the later theoretical achievement, and the creation of the later theoretical achievement is also inseparable from the exploration of the earlier theoretical achievement. The two are unified in the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上指出：“一百年来，中国共产党团结带领中国人民进行的一切奋斗、一切牺牲、一切创造，归结起来就是一个主题：实现中华民族伟大复兴。”马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果虽然产生于不同历史时期、拥有各自的时代关切，但都是深刻把握中国历史主题主线的重大成果，都紧紧围绕着实现中华民族伟大复兴这一历史主题，沿着中华民族站起来、富起来到强起来这一历史轨迹展开，前一个理论成果的成功运用为后一个理论成果的生成创造条件，后一个理论成果的创立也离不开前一个理论成果的探索，二者统一于实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程。

Since modern times, China gradually degenerated into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and the national crisis became unprecedentedly severe. The peasant class, the landlord class's Westernization faction, the bourgeois reformist faction, and the bourgeois revolutionary faction all carried out practices for national rejuvenation and explored paths for national rejuvenation, successively launching the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the Westernization Movement, the Hundred Days' Reform, and the Xinhai Revolution. [14]14 The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement (1851–1864) was a massive peasant uprising; the Westernization Movement (1860s–1890s) was a self-strengthening effort by Qing officials; the Hundred Days' Reform (1898) was a failed reformist movement; the Xinhai Revolution (1911) overthrew the Qing dynasty. However, they all ultimately ended in failure. "China remained a country torn by war and poverty, and the powers ran amuck in China and plundered its wealth. The Chinese people still lived in misery and humiliation." [15]15 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. After the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their main representative, guided by Marxism-Leninism, scientifically analyzed China's actual national conditions, fought bloody battles and were indomitable under the guidance of the theory of the new-democratic revolution, won the great victory of the new-democratic revolution, established the People's Republic of China, and completely ended the history of old China as a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. After the founding of New China, the Party, under the guidance of the theory of socialist revolution and construction, led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to complete the "Three Major Transformations," [16]16 The "Three Major Transformations" (1953–1956) were the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and capitalist industry and commerce. establish the basic system of socialism, realize the most extensive and profound social change in the history of the Chinese nation, achieve a historic leap, and make foundational contributions in areas such as institutional construction, while also making theoretical preparations and accumulating experience for the formation of the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

近代以来，中国逐步沦为半殖民地半封建社会，民族危机空前严重，农民阶级、地主阶级洋务派、资产阶级维新派和资产阶级革命派都曾进行民族复兴实践、探索民族复兴道路，先后发起了太平天国运动、洋务运动、戊戌变法、辛亥革命，但最终都以失败告终，“中国依然是山河破碎、积贫积弱，列强依然在中国横行霸道、攫取利益，中国人民依然生活在苦难和屈辱之中”。中国共产党成立后，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人以马克思列宁主义为指导，科学分析中国现实国情，在新民主主义革命理论的引领下浴血奋战、百折不挠，夺取了新民主主义革命伟大胜利，建立了中华人民共和国，彻底结束了旧中国半殖民地半封建社会的历史。新中国成立后，党又在社会主义革命和建设理论的指导下，带领全国各族人民完成了“三大改造”，建立了社会主义基本制度，实现了中华民族有史以来最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，实现了历史性飞跃并在制度建构等方面作出了奠基性贡献，也为中国特色社会主义理论体系的形成作了理论准备与经验积累。

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Party, the Party shifted its work center from "taking class struggle as the key link" to "taking economic construction as the center," and made the historic decision to implement reform and opening up. The Chinese Communists, with Comrades Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao as their main representatives, on the basis of summing up historical experiences from both positive and negative aspects, continuously promoted socialist modernization, created Deng Xiaoping Theory, formed the important thought of the "Three Represents" and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and formed the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the guidance of the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a historic leap was achieved in the people's lives from having only enough food and clothing to being moderately well-off and then to achieving moderate prosperity in all respects, promoting the great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up to growing rich, and laying the foundation for the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

党的十一届三中全会后，党把工作中心从“以阶级斗争为纲”转移到“以经济建设为中心”上来，作出了实行改革开放的历史性决策，以邓小平同志、江泽民同志、胡锦涛同志为主要代表的中国共产党人在总结正反两方面历史经验的基础上，不断推动社会主义现代化建设，创立了邓小平理论，形成了“三个代表”重要思想和科学发展观，形成了中国特色社会主义理论体系。在中国特色社会主义理论体系的指引下，实现了人民生活从温饱不足到总体小康、奔向全面小康的历史性跨越，推动中华民族从站起来到富起来的伟大飞跃，为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的创立奠定了基础。

Since the New Era, China's economy has grown rapidly, the level of modernization has increased dramatically, the country's comprehensive national strength, economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and people's living standards have significantly improved, the Human Development Index ranks among the top in the world, and China has become the world's largest industrial country and the second-largest economy. The path of Chinese-path modernization is broadening. The report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: "With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. This is a new historic juncture in China's development." [17]17 Xi Jinping, "Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, October 18, 2017. General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China: "The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process!" [18]18 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China," July 1, 2021. It is precisely against this historical backdrop that the Party, drawing on the theoretical essence of Mao Zedong Thought and the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as practical experience since reform and opening up, especially since the New Era, created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing the fundamental guiding ideology for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

新时代以来，中国经济高速增长，现代化水平迅猛提高，我国综合国力、经济实力、科技实力和人民生活水平大幅提升，人类发展指数位居世界前列，成为世界第一大工业国和第二大经济体，中国式现代化道路越走越宽。党的十九大报告指出：“经过长期努力，中国特色社会主义进入了新时代，这是我国发展新的历史方位。”习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上进一步指出：“中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程！”也正是在这一历史背景下，党汲取毛泽东思想、中国特色社会主义理论体系的理论精华和改革开放以来尤其是新时代以来的实践经验，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了根本的指导思想。

(II) The Unity of the Theoretical Logic of the Theoretical Achievements of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

（二）马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果理论逻辑的统一性

“Why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics can work is ultimately because Marxism works!” Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for the CPC to establish the Party and the state, the soul and banner of the Party, and the living source of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Over more than 100 years, the CPC, taking Marxism as its theoretical foundation and seeking truth from facts as its theoretical essence, has continuously promoted adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, making the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context a closely linked and inseparable organic whole.

“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是因为马克思主义行！”马克思主义是中国共产党立党立国的根本指导思想，是党的灵魂与旗帜，也是马克思主义中国化的源头活水。100多年来，中国共产党以马克思主义为理论基础、以实事求是为理论精髓，不断推动马克思主义中国化时代化，让马克思主义中国化理论成果成为一个紧密联系、密不可分的有机整体。

On the one hand, the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times all take Marxism as their theoretical foundation. The “Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC [19]19 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was held in 1981 and adopted a landmark resolution on the Party’s history since 1949. pointed out: “Mao Zedong Thought is the application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China, a correct theoretical principle and a summary of experience proven by practice concerning the Chinese revolution, and a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the CPC.” The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is also a theoretical form formed under the historical conditions of reform and opening up: “In contemporary China, upholding the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly upholding Marxism.” The “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC [20]20 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in 2021 and adopted a major resolution on the Party’s centenary history. pointed out: “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, Marxism of the 21st century, and the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit of the times.” The specific content and logical structure of the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times differ, and the main tasks and principal contradictions they face are not entirely the same, but they all adhere to the guiding position of Marxism, all insist on using the basic principles of Marxism to solve China’s practical problems, and achieve theoretical coherence and unity.

一方面，马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果都以马克思主义作为理论基础。党的十一届六中全会通过的《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》指出：“毛泽东思想是马克思列宁主义在中国的运用和发展，是被实践证明了的关于中国革命的正确的理论原则和经验总结，是中国共产党集体智慧的结晶。”中国特色社会主义理论体系也是马克思主义在改革开放历史条件下形成的理论形态：“在当代中国，坚持中国特色社会主义理论体系，就是真正坚持马克思主义。”党的十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》指出：“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华。”马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果的具体内容与逻辑结构不同，面临的主要任务和主要矛盾也不尽相同，但是都坚持马克思主义的指导地位，都坚持用马克思主义基本原理解决中国实际问题，实现了理论上的贯通与统一。

Moreover, the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times all adhere to the theoretical essence of seeking truth from facts. Seeking truth from facts is the core of the Party’s ideological line and also the essence of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Mao Zedong explained the concept of “seeking truth from facts” in “Reform Our Study,” pointing out: “‘Facts’ are all the things that exist objectively, ‘truth’ is the internal connection of objective things, that is, regularity, and ‘seeking’ means we study them.” Seeking truth from facts, as the essence of Mao Zedong Thought, runs through the entire process of its formation and development. After reform and opening up, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their main representative, upheld and restored the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. Deng Xiaoping believed: “Emancipating the mind means making thought conform to reality and making the subjective conform to the objective; this is seeking truth from facts.” Seeking truth from facts became the logical starting point and theoretical essence of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has also adhered to this theoretical essence of seeking truth from facts, making seeking truth from facts the starting point and foothold for the Party to think about problems, make decisions, and handle affairs, and promoting the continuous progress of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the dialectical unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said: “Seeking truth from facts is the fundamental viewpoint of Marxism, the fundamental requirement for Chinese Communists to understand and transform the world, and our Party’s basic method of thinking, working, and leading.”

不仅如此，马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果都坚持实事求是的理论精髓。实事求是是党的思想路线的核心，也是中国化时代化的马克思主义的精髓。毛泽东在《改造我们的学习》中阐释了“实事求是”的概念，他指出：“‘实事’就是客观存在着的一切事物，‘是’就是客观事物的内部联系，即规律性，‘求’就是我们去研究。”实事求是作为毛泽东思想的精髓贯穿于其形成发展的全过程。改革开放后，以邓小平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人坚持和恢复了实事求是的思想路线。邓小平认为：“解放思想，就是使思想和实际相符合，使主观和客观相符合，就是实事求是。”实事求是成为中国特色社会主义理论体系的逻辑起点和理论精髓。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央也坚持实事求是这一理论要义，将实事求是作为党想问题、作决策、办事情的出发点和落脚点，在解放思想与实事求是的辩证统一中推动中国特色社会主义事业不断前进。诚如习近平总书记所说：“实事求是，是马克思主义的根本观点，是中国共产党人认识世界、改造世界的根本要求，是我们党的基本思想方法、工作方法、领导方法。”

(III) The Unity of the Value Logic of the Theoretical Achievements of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

（三）马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果价值逻辑的统一性

“The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.” Adhering to a people-centered approach is the consistent value criterion of the theory of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are rooted in the people and serve the people. Only by taking the interests of the people as the starting point and ultimate goal, closely combining theoretical innovation with the social practice of the people, and relying on the strength and wisdom of the people to enrich and develop Marxism, can adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times play a huge role.

“人民，只有人民，才是创造世界历史的动力。”坚持以人民为中心是马克思主义中国化时代化理论一以贯之的价值准则。马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果根植于人民群众，也服务于人民群众，只有以人民群众的利益为出发点和最终归宿，将理论创新和人民群众的社会实践紧密结合，依靠人民群众的力量与智慧丰富马克思主义、发展马克思主义，马克思主义中国化时代化才能发挥出巨大作用。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Mao Zedong emphasized relying on the people, serving the people, and drawing wisdom from the masses. He pointed out: “Another notable hallmark distinguishing us Communists from any other political party is our closest ties with the broadest masses of the people. Serving the people wholeheartedly, never for a moment divorcing ourselves from the masses; proceeding from the interests of the people in all things, not from the interests of individuals or small groups; being responsible to the people and being responsible to the leading organs of the Party—these are our starting points.” “All words and deeds of Communists must take the broadest interests of the broadest masses of the people and being supported by the broadest masses of the people as the highest standard.” “Serving the people” became an important value core of Mao Zedong Thought. After reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping inherited and developed Mao Zedong’s thought of serving the people, and took “whether it is conducive to improving the people’s living standards” as one of the fundamental criteria for judging the success or failure of reform and various work. Jiang Zemin also pointed out: “Our Party’s greatest political advantage is its close ties with the masses, and the greatest danger after the Party comes to power is its separation from the masses,” “Our Party comes from the people, is rooted in the people, and serves the people. The starting point and foothold of all work in building socialism with Chinese characteristics is to seek benefits for the people wholeheartedly.” The “Three Represents” important thought also took “always representing the interests of the broadest masses of the people” as one of its main connotations. The Scientific Outlook on Development proposed by the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their main representative, emphasized “people-oriented, governing for the people.” Hu Jintao pointed out: “Respect the principal position of the people, give play to the people’s pioneering spirit, protect the people’s various rights and interests, take the road of common prosperity, promote the all-round development of people, and achieve development for the people, development relying on the people, and development results shared by the people.” Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed the people at the primary position of development. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed: “The people’s aspiration for a better life is our goal.” “Adhering to a people-centered approach” is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and a basic strategy the Party adheres to in the new journey of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In 2021, in his speech at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The country is the people, and the people are the country. To secure the country and govern it, one must secure the people’s hearts.” The 20th National Congress of the CPC [21]21 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022. even placed “must adhere to the supremacy of the people” as the first of the “six musts,” further highlighting the people-centered character of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东就强调要依靠人民、服务人民，从人民群众中汲取智慧。他指出：“我们共产党人区别于其他任何政党的又一个显著的标志，就是和最广大的人民群众取得最密切的联系。全心全意地为人民服务，一刻也不脱离群众；一切从人民的利益出发，而不是从个人或小集团的利益出发；向人民负责和向党的领导机关负责的一致性；这些就是我们的出发点。”“共产党人的一切言论行动，必须以合乎最广大人民群众的最大利益，为最广大人民群众所拥护为最高标准。”“为人民服务”成为毛泽东思想的重要价值内核。改革开放后，邓小平继承发展了毛泽东为人民服务的思想，并将“是否有利于提高人民的生活水平”作为判断改革和各方面工作是非得失的根本标准之一。江泽民也指出：“我们党的最大政治优势是密切联系群众，党执政后的最大危险是脱离群众”，“我们党来自人民，植根于人民，服务于人民。建设有中国特色社会主义全部工作的出发点和落脚点，就是全心全意为人民谋利益”。“三个代表”重要思想也将“始终代表广大人民利益”作为其主要内涵之一。以胡锦涛同志为主要代表的中国共产党人提出的科学发展观强调“以人为本，执政为民”，胡锦涛指出：“尊重人民主体地位，发挥人民首创精神，保障人民各项权益，走共同富裕道路，促进人的全面发展，做到发展为了人民、发展依靠人民、发展成果由人民共享。”新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央把人民群众放置于发展的首要位置，习近平总书记提出：“人民对美好生活的向往，就是我们的奋斗目标。”“坚持以人民为中心”是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要内容，也是党在实现中华民族伟大复兴新征程中坚持的基本方略。2021年，习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上的讲话中指出：“江山就是人民、人民就是江山，打江山、守江山，守的是人民的心。”党的二十大更将“必须坚持人民至上”作为“六个必须坚持”之首，进一步彰显了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的人民性特质。

(Author’s brief introduction: Xiao Guiqing, Executive Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Tsinghua University, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Marxism)

（作者简介：肖贵清，清华大学习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究院常务副院长、马克思主义学院教授、博士研究生导师）

(Project: Phased results of the 2023 Major Project of the National Social Science Fund for the Study and Interpretation of the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, “Research on the Historical Logic, Theoretical Logic, and Practical Logic of the CPC’s Promotion of Theoretical Innovation in the New Era” (23ZDA005))

（项目：2023年度研究阐释党的二十大精神国家社会科学基金重大项目“新时代中国共产党推进理论创新的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑研究”（23ZDA005）的阶段性成果）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心