Deng Xiaoping’s Major Contribution to the Methodology of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

Deng Xiaoping always attached great importance to upholding, developing and applying the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, and possessed a high degree of methodological self-awareness. General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his speech at the symposium commemorating the 110th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s birth, pointed out that “seeking truth from facts was the most important ideological characteristic of Comrade Deng Xiaoping throughout his life.” Deng Xiaoping consistently “proceeded from reality, from the overall global situation, and from national conditions, and always upheld the mass line, seeking truth from facts, and independence that our Party has consistently advocated.” In the great practice of leading the people in socialist reform and opening up and modernization, he upheld and developed the methodology of Mao Zedong Thought, resolving major issues concerning the future and destiny of socialism; he innovatively applied the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, leading the Chinese people to find a construction path and methods suited to China’s conditions, opening up a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, advancing the development of the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context in China into a new stage, and making major historical contributions to the innovation of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

邓小平历来重视对马克思主义中国化方法论的坚持、发展与运用，具有高度的方法论自觉。习近平总书记在纪念邓小平诞辰110周年座谈会的讲话中指出，“实事求是，是邓小平同志一生最重要的思想特点”。邓小平始终“从实际出发、从世界大势出发、从国情出发，始终坚持我们党一贯倡导的实事求是、群众路线、独立自主”，在领导人民进行社会主义改革开放和现代化建设伟大实践过程中，坚持和发展毛泽东思想方法论，解决了事关社会主义发展前途和命运的重大问题；创新运用马克思主义中国化方法论，带领中国人民找到了适合中国情况的建设道路和方法，开创了建设有中国特色社会主义的新局面，推进马克思主义中国化理论成果在中国的发展迈入新阶段，为马克思主义中国化方法论的创新作出了重大历史性贡献。

I. Fully Affirming the Historical Status of Mao Zedong Thought, Pointing Out the Fundamental Direction for the Forward Development of the Methodology of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

一、充分肯定毛泽东思想历史地位，为马克思主义中国化方法论向前发展指明根本方向

From the Third Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Party, which restored Deng Xiaoping’s posts, to before the Twelfth National Congress of the Party, Deng Xiaoping’s main contributions to the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context were concentrated in: upholding the basic methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, restoring the Party’s Marxist ideological line, correctly evaluating the historical status of Mao Zedong Thought, accurately summarizing the scientific system of Mao Zedong Thought, revealing the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought, and laying the ideological and theoretical foundation and pointing out the fundamental direction for the forward development of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

从党的十届三中全会恢复邓小平职务到党的十二大之前，邓小平对马克思主义中国化方法论的主要贡献集中体现在：坚持马克思主义中国化基本方法论，恢复党的马克思主义思想路线，正确评价了毛泽东思想的历史地位，准确概括毛泽东思想的科学体系，揭示毛泽东思想活的灵魂，为马克思主义中国化方法论向前发展奠定了思想理论基础、指明了根本方向。

1. Restoring the Authority of the Marxist Ideological Line and Methodology

1.重新恢复马克思主义思想路线和方法论的权威

In the history of the Communist Party of China, the earliest proponent of the Party’s ideological line was Mao Zedong. In his “Speech at the All-Army Conference on Political Work,” Deng Xiaoping systematically summarized Mao Zedong’s establishment and upholding of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. He pointed out: “From the earliest years of his participation in the communist movement and the founding of our Party, Comrade Mao Zedong always advocated and practiced investigation and study of objective social conditions, and always waged a resolute struggle against the erroneous tendency of divorcing theory from reality, proceeding only from subjective wishes, and proceeding only from books and higher-level directives without linking them to concrete reality.” From the resolution written for the Gutian Congress in 1929, to the writing of “Oppose Book Worship” in 1930, and then to “Problems of Strategy in China’s Revolutionary War” in 1936 and “On Practice” and “On Contradiction” in 1937, these immortal works laid the ideological and theoretical foundation of the Party. The ideological line of seeking truth from facts advocated by Mao Zedong played an extremely important role in the development of the Party and the state. Relying on upholding the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, the whole Party creatively solved the problems of the general line, basic program, and path of the new-democratic revolution, led the new-democratic revolution to final victory, and successfully explored a path of socialist transformation suited to China’s characteristics, solving major principled issues of socialist revolution and construction. However, regrettably, this correct Marxist ideological line was, for a period of time, set aside due to complex subjective and objective reasons, leading to “Left” errors in the Party’s guiding ideology. After the end of the “Cultural Revolution,” the crimes of Lin Biao and the “Gang of Four” in undermining the Party’s ideological line had not yet been thoroughly settled, and the “two whatevers” [1]1 The 13th National Congress of the CPC was held in 1987 and formally adopted the basic line of “one central task, two basic points.” policy was put forward within the Party. The long-standing state of ideological rigidity and semi-rigidity remained fundamentally unchanged. Under these historical circumstances, Deng Xiaoping firmly grasped the fundamental methodological issue of the ideological line, clearly pointing out: “If the problem of the ideological line is not solved, if thinking is not emancipated, the correct political line cannot be formulated, and even if formulated, it cannot be implemented.” This acutely seized the historical opportunity, realizing that China’s complex problems must be solved starting from the fundamental issue of the ideological line and ideological method.

在中国共产党的历史上，党的思想路线问题的最早提出者是毛泽东。邓小平在《全军政治工作会议上的讲话》中对毛泽东确立和坚持实事求是思想路线问题进行了系统的总结。他指出：“毛泽东同志从参加共产主义运动、缔造我们党的最初年代开始，就一直提倡和实行对于社会客观情况的调查研究，就一直同理论脱离实际、一切只从主观愿望出发、一切只从本本和上级指示出发而不联系具体实际的错误倾向作坚决的斗争。”从1929年为古田会议写的决议到1930年写作《反对本本主义》，再到1936年的《中国革命战争的战略问题》和1937年的《实践论》《矛盾论》，这些不朽著作奠定了党的思想理论基础。毛泽东倡导的实事求是思想路线为党和国家事业的发展发挥了至关重要的作用。全党依靠坚持实事求是思想路线，创造性地解决了新民主主义革命的总路线、基本纲领及道路问题，引领新民主主义革命取得最终胜利，并成功探索适合中国特点的社会主义改造道路，解决了社会主义革命和建设的重大原则性问题。然而，可惜的是，这条正确的马克思主义思想路线在一段时间内由于复杂的主客观原因而一度被抛开，导致党在指导思想上发生“左”的错误。“文化大革命”结束后，林彪、“四人帮”破坏党的思想路线的罪行尚未彻底清算，党内又提出了“两个凡是”的方针，长期以来形成的思想僵化、半僵化状态依然未能得到根本改变。在这种历史境遇下，邓小平紧紧抓住了思想路线这个根本性思想方法问题，明确指出：“不解决思想路线问题，不解放思想，正确的政治路线就制定不出来，制定了也贯彻不下去。”这就敏锐地抓住了历史的契机，觉察到要从思想路线、思想方法这个根本性问题入手解决中国的复杂问题。

Deng Xiaoping first broke through the shackles of the “two whatevers,” supported the great debate on the criterion of truth, proposed respecting the standard of practice, restored the authority of practice, and thus relatively clearly solved the problem of the ideological line. In June 1978, in his speech at the All-Army Conference on Political Work, Deng Xiaoping emphasized that all our work is done to solve problems, “whether what we say and do can solve problems, and whether the problems are solved correctly, depends on whether we can link theory with reality, whether we are good at summing up experience, and, in light of objective reality, adopt an attitude of seeking truth from facts and proceeding from reality in everything.” In September of the same year, after listening to a report from the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, Deng Xiaoping acutely pointed out: “The problem before us now is still seeking truth from facts, combining theory with practice, and proceeding from reality in everything.” This issue was not only a political and ideological problem but also a practical problem concerning the realization of modernization. In December of the same year, in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Central Work Conference, Deng Xiaoping raised this to the level of preventing the destruction of the Party and the state. The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party re-established the Party’s Marxist ideological line, completing the rectification of the ideological line. In February 1980, at the Fifth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping provided a complete and systematic prescriptive description of the Party’s ideological line, pointing out that “seeking truth from facts, proceeding from reality in everything, linking theory with practice, and insisting that practice is the criterion for testing truth—this is our Party’s ideological line,” giving the Party’s ideological line a more complete theoretical form. This essentially combined the Party’s ideological line with the laws of cognition, re-establishing the theoretical authority of Marxist methodology. Once the scientific ideological line and ideological method were re-established, the political line and organizational line were also smoothly rectified.

邓小平首先冲破“两个凡是”的禁锢，通过支持真理标准大讨论，提出尊重实践标准，恢复实践的权威，进而比较明确地解决了思想路线问题。1978年6月，邓小平在全军政治工作会议的讲话中强调，我们做任何工作都是为了解决问题，“我们说的做的究竟能不能解决问题，问题解决得是不是正确，关键在于我们是否能够理论联系实际，是否善于总结经验，针对客观现实，采取实事求是的态度，一切从实际出发”。同年9月，邓小平在听取吉林省委常委汇报后敏锐地指出：“现在摆在我们面前的问题，关键还是实事求是、理论与实际相结合、一切从实际出发。”这个问题不仅是政治与思想问题，更是事关实现现代化的现实问题。同年12月，邓小平在中央工作会议闭幕式上的讲话中，又将之提高到防止亡党亡国的高度加以认识。党的十一届三中全会重新确立了党的马克思主义思想路线，完成了思想路线上的拨乱反正。1980年2月，邓小平在十一届五中全会对党的思想路线作了完整的、系统的规定性描述，指出，“实事求是，一切从实际出发，理论联系实际，坚持实践是检验真理的标准，这就是我们党的思想路线”，使党的思想路线具有更完备的理论形态。这实质上把党的思想路线与认识规律结合起来，重新确立了马克思主义方法论的理论权威。科学的思想路线和思想方法一经重新确立，政治路线、组织路线也顺利地实现了拨乱反正。

2. Correctly Evaluating the Historical Status of the Great Achievement of the First Historical Leap in Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context—Mao Zedong Thought

2.正确评价马克思主义中国化第一次历史性飞跃的伟大成果——毛泽东思想的历史地位

Deng Xiaoping was one of the leaders in the Party who relatively early used the scientific concept of Mao Zedong Thought and proposed that Mao Zedong Thought was an ideological system. He was also an outstanding representative of the Party in waging struggle against various erroneous tendencies that distorted and sundered Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and in upholding and developing the system of Mao Zedong Thought. As early as the period of the democratic revolution, in his speech at the rectification movement meeting of the Party School of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping relatively early used the scientific concept of Mao Zedong Thought. He emphasized that after the Zunyi Conference [2]2 “One central task, two basic points” refers to taking economic construction as the central task and upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening up as the two basic points., the Party, “under the leadership of the Central Committee headed by Comrade Mao Zedong, thoroughly overcame ‘Left’ and Right opportunism within the Party, swept away the atmosphere of subjectivism, sectarianism, and Party jargon, and placed the Party’s work entirely under the guidance of Sinified Marxism-Leninism, i.e., Mao Zedong Thought,” affirming the guiding role of the already relatively complete system of Mao Zedong Thought for the whole Party. Before and after the “Cultural Revolution,” Deng Xiaoping deeply realized that correctly understanding and evaluating Mao Zedong Thought was by no means merely a theoretical issue, but a “very big political issue” both domestically and internationally. With profound political vision and extraordinary theoretical courage, he proposed that “Mao Zedong Thought should be regarded as a scientific system.”

邓小平是党内比较早地使用毛泽东思想科学概念并提出毛泽东思想是个思想体系的领导人之一，也是党同各种歪曲、割裂马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想的错误倾向进行斗争，坚持和发展毛泽东思想体系的卓越代表。早在民主革命时期，邓小平在中共中央北方局党校整风运动会的讲话中就比较早地使用了毛泽东思想这一科学概念。他强调遵义会议后，党“在以毛泽东为首的党中央的领导下，彻底克服了党内‘左’右倾机会主义，一扫主观主义、宗派主义和党八股的气氛，把党的事业完全放在中国化的马列主义即毛泽东思想的指导之下”，肯定已经形成比较完整体系的毛泽东思想对于全党的指导作用。“文化大革命”前后，邓小平深刻地认识到，正确认识和评价毛泽东思想，绝不仅仅是个理论问题，更是国内国际“很大的政治问题”，并以深邃的政治眼光和非凡的理论勇气提出“要把毛泽东思想作为一个科学体系来看待”。

From April to May 1977, before he had yet resumed his post, Deng Xiaoping proposed to the Central Committee of the CPC that “we must guide our entire Party, our entire army, and our entire people with accurate and complete Mao Zedong Thought from generation to generation,” stressing that Mao Zedong Thought is a system of thought, and that “if we are to hold high the banner, we must study and apply this system of thought,” and that we must achieve a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the entire system of Mao Zedong Thought. In his speech at the Third Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Party, he discussed this issue at length under the heading “Comprehend Mao Zedong Thought Completely and Accurately.” Subsequently, he repeatedly pointed out that “one must not use isolated phrases from Chairman Mao to damage

1977年4月至5月，邓小平在尚未恢复工作的情况下给中共中央提出，“我们必须世世代代地用准确的完整的毛泽东思想来指导我们全党、全军和全国人民”，强调毛泽东思想是个思想体系的观点，“我们要高举旗帜，就是要学习和运用这个思想体系”，要对毛泽东思想的整个体系进行全面的、系统的认识。在党的十届三中全会上的讲话中又以“完整地准确地理解毛泽东思想”为题着重论述了这个问题。随后，他更是多次指出，“不能用毛主席的只言片语损害毛泽东思想体系”，有些人“表面上好像是把毛泽东思想抬得很高，实际上是否定毛泽东思想”，反复强调毛泽东思想是一个由一系列基本理论观点构成的完整的体系，不能庸俗化地去理解，而要完整准确地认识，要善于运用毛泽东思想的体系去指导工作。这些论述充满了以“求实”和“辩证”为主要特色的辩证唯物主义与历史唯物主义精神。

In June 1981, the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party unanimously adopted the “Second Historical Resolution.” [3]3 “Theory of two points” (两点论) and “theory of the key point” (重点论) are Maoist dialectical concepts: the former emphasizes analyzing contradictions from two sides, the latter stresses identifying the principal contradiction or the main aspect of a contradiction. This resolution was drafted under the personal direction of Deng Xiaoping, who from the outset took “establishing Comrade Mao Zedong’s historical status and upholding and developing Mao Zedong Thought” as an important task, as the “most central thread” of this resolution, repeatedly stressing the need to carry through this “central intention.” Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized, “This resolution must hold high the great banner of Mao Zedong Thought, and evaluate the ‘Cultural Revolution’ and Comrade Mao Zedong’s merits and demerits in a factual and appropriate manner.” [4]4 The Four Cardinal Principles are: upholding the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. The “Second Historical Resolution” objectively assessed the special social and historical conditions under which Mao Zedong Thought was formed and developed, pointing out that “Mao Zedong Thought is the application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China, a correct theoretical principle and summary of experience concerning the Chinese revolution proven in practice, and the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China.” It correctly answered the relationships between Mao Zedong Thought and the fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism, between Mao Zedong Thought and the practice of the Chinese revolution and construction, and between Mao Zedong’s individual contributions and the contributions of the Party’s collective leadership. It resolutely withstood the erroneous ideological trend of negating Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, thereby correctly evaluating the historical status of Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, and achieving the Party’s rectification of guiding ideology. [5]5 “Grasping with both hands” (两手抓) is a policy approach of simultaneously addressing two complementary or opposing tasks, such as reform and stability.

1981年6月，党的十一届六中全会一致通过了“第二个历史决议”。这个决议是由邓小平亲自主持起草的，从一开始他就把“确立毛泽东同志的历史地位，坚持和发展毛泽东思想”作为重要任务，作为这个决议“最核心的一条”，反复强调要贯彻这一“中心的意思”。邓小平反复强调，“这个决议要高举毛泽东思想的伟大旗帜，实事求是地、恰如其分地评价‘文化大革命’，评价毛泽东同志的功过是非”。“第二个历史决议”客观地评述了毛泽东思想形成发展的特殊社会历史条件，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”，正确回答了毛泽东思想与马克思列宁主义基本原理、毛泽东思想与中国革命和建设实践、毛泽东个人的贡献与党的领导集体的贡献之间的关系，坚决顶住了否定毛泽东同志和毛泽东思想的错误思潮，进而正确评价了毛泽东同志和毛泽东思想的历史地位，实现了党在指导思想上的拨乱反正。

3. Laying an important ideological premise and foundation for putting forward the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought

3.为提出毛泽东思想活的灵魂奠定了重要的思想前提和基础

Deng Xiaoping’s scientific evaluation of Mao Zedong Thought was based on the Marxist worldview and methodology. He repeatedly called on the entire Party to grasp the fundamental standpoints, viewpoints, and methods running through Mao Zedong Thought, and to learn, uphold, and develop the essence and living soul of Mao Zedong Thought.

邓小平对毛泽东思想的科学评价建立在马克思主义世界观和方法论基础之上。他一再要求全党注重把握贯穿毛泽东思想的根本立场、观点和方法，学习、坚持和发展毛泽东思想的精髓和活的灵魂。

Mao Zedong applied the Marxist worldview and methodology to all the work of Party and state construction, forming a distinctive set of ideological and working methods. Deng Xiaoping summarized seeking truth from facts as the fundamental viewpoint and fundamental method of Mao Zedong Thought. He emphasized, “Seeking truth from facts is the starting point and fundamental point of Mao Zedong Thought,” and also “the foundation of the proletarian worldview and the ideological foundation of Marxism,” thereby establishing the fundamental status of seeking truth from facts within Mao Zedong Thought and Marxist theory. Deng Xiaoping also advocated the mass line as a fundamental method of Mao Zedong Thought and a fine tradition of the Party, pointing out: “Of the work styles Comrade Mao Zedong advocated, the mass line and seeking truth from facts are the two most fundamental things,” and “The masses are the source of our strength; the mass line and the mass viewpoint are our heirlooms.” This indicated the extreme importance of the mass line as the Party’s fundamental line, work style, and method within Mao Zedong Thought. In addition, Deng Xiaoping also placed great emphasis on the methodological significance of independence and self-reliance. Summarizing the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, while putting forward the scientific proposition of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, he attached great importance to independence. He pointed out: “Whether in revolution or construction, we must pay attention to learning from and drawing on the experience of foreign countries. However, copying and mechanically transplanting the experience and models of other countries has never been successful.” “China’s affairs must be handled according to China’s conditions and by relying on the strength of the Chinese people themselves. Independence and self-reliance have always been, are now, and will always be our foothold.” This not only highly and accurately summarized the scientific connotation of Mao Zedong’s thought on independence but also indicated the important status of this thought. Deng Xiaoping’s summary of the historical status of seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence laid an important theoretical foundation for the “Second Historical Resolution” to put forward the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought.

毛泽东把马克思主义的世界观方法论运用于党和国家建设的全部工作，形成了独具特色的思想方法和工作方法。邓小平把实事求是概括为毛泽东思想的根本观点和根本方法。他强调，“实事求是，是毛泽东思想的出发点、根本点”，也是“无产阶级世界观的基础，是马克思主义的思想基础”，确立了实事求是在毛泽东思想、马克思主义理论中的根本地位。邓小平也把群众路线作为毛泽东思想的根本方法、党的优良作风加以提倡，指出：“毛泽东同志倡导的作风，群众路线和实事求是这两条是最根本的东西”，“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”，这就指明了群众路线作为党的根本路线、作风、方法在毛泽东思想中的极端重要性。此外，邓小平也十分注重独立自主、自力更生的方法论意义。他总结马克思主义中国化历史经验，在提出建设中国特色社会主义科学命题的同时，高度重视独立自主。他指出：“无论是革命还是建设，都要注意学习和借鉴外国经验。但是，照抄照搬别国经验、别国模式，从来不能得到成功。”“中国的事情要按照中国的情况来办，要依靠中国人自己的力量来办。独立自主，自力更生，无论过去、现在和将来，都是我们的立足点。”这不仅高度准确地概括了毛泽东独立自主思想的科学内涵，而且指明了这一思想的重要地位。邓小平关于实事求是、群众路线和独立自主历史地位的概括，为“第二个历史决议”提出毛泽东思想活的灵魂奠定了重要的理论基础。

Deng Xiaoping’s profound revelation of the methodology of Mao Zedong Thought greatly enriched and developed the theoretical treasury of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. On the basis of continuing and developing the methodology of Mao Zedong Thought, he led the people in opening a new path for socialist modernization and construction, promoting a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

邓小平对毛泽东思想方法论的深刻揭示，极大地丰富和发展了马克思主义中国化方法论的理论宝库，在赓续、发展毛泽东思想方法论的基础上，带领人民开启了社会主义现代化建设的崭新道路，推动马克思主义中国化实现了新的飞跃。

II. Clearly Putting Forward the Main Theme and Main Line of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Laying Down the Basic Principles for the Upward Elevation of the Methodology of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context

二、明确提出中国特色社会主义的主题主线，为马克思主义中国化方法论向上提升奠定基本原则

Guided by the Marxist worldview and methodology, Deng Xiaoping devoted himself to exploring a new path for socialist construction suited to China’s national conditions. He insisted on combining the fundamental principles of Marxism with China’s concrete reality and the characteristics of the times, clearly put forward the main theme and main line of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, inaugurated the practical development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, founded Deng Xiaoping Theory as the foundational theoretical achievement of contemporary Chinese Marxism, and propelled the upward elevation of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.

邓小平以马克思主义世界观和方法论为指导，致力于探索适合中国国情的社会主义建设新路径。他坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际和时代特征相结合、明确提出建设有中国特色社会主义的主题主线，开创了中国特色社会主义实践发展道路，创立了邓小平理论这一当代中国马克思主义的基础性理论成果，推进马克思主义中国化方法论实现向上提升。

1. Upholding the Main Line of Combining the Fundamental Principles of Marxism with the Concrete Practice of Modernization

1.坚持把马克思主义基本原理同现代化的具体实践相结合的主线

The combination of the fundamental principles of Marxism with the concrete practice of China’s modernization is a fundamental main line running through the entire theoretical system of Deng Xiaoping Theory. It is the fundamental path for advancing reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and it reveals the profound philosophy that theory should achieve concrete and historical unity with practice. Every truth has certain applicable conditions and scope. As a general truth revealing the objective laws of the development of human society, if Marxism is divorced from developing, concrete, and historical practice, it can only be an empty and abstract theory dwelling outside reality. Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out, “Only Marxism that is combined with China’s reality is the true Marxism we need”; otherwise, Marxism-Leninism would have no vitality. In the new period of reform and opening up, new situations and characteristics emerged in China’s concrete reality and the developmental features of the times, and Marxism-Leninism had to be combined with the new and changed reality of China.

马克思主义基本原理同中国现代化的具体实践相结合是贯穿于邓小平理论体系的一条根本主线，是推进改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的根本路径，揭示了理论应与实践实现具体的、历史的统一的深刻哲理。任何真理都具有一定的适用条件和范围，马克思主义作为揭示人类社会发展客观规律的一般真理，如果脱离了发展的具体的、历史的实践，就只能是蛰居于现实之外的空洞的、抽象的理论。邓小平深刻指出，“只有结合中国实际的马克思主义，才是我们所需要的真正的马克思主义”，否则，马克思列宁主义就没有生命力。改革开放新时期，中国客观实际、时代发展特征涌现出新的情况和特点，马克思列宁主义必须要同新的、变化了的中国实际情况相结合。

The integration of the fundamental principles of Marxism with the concrete practice of modernization contains profound reasoning and theoretical logic. Deng Xiaoping elaborated in detail from the dimensions of historical and practical development that this “integration” is a historical necessity and a practical imperative. He pointed out that the principle of “integrating the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution,” formally established at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC, was summed up by the Party based on the experiences of successes and failures in past revolutions and was affirmed at both the Seventh and Eighth National Congresses of the CPC. However, this principle will encounter many new problems in its concrete application. “A country’s problems are multifaceted; whether in the period of revolution or construction, how to integrate Marxism-Leninism with the concrete conditions of each period is a problem that needs constant resolution.” This in fact clarifies the reasoning that the connotation of “integration” must keep pace with the times and that Marxism-Leninism must be integrated with China’s construction reality. Deng Xiaoping emphasized that “integrating the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete reality of one’s own country” is itself a universal truth. What exactly does “universal truth” grasp? In the view of the CPC, there is this one: “it is to eliminate feudalism and capitalism, realize socialism, and in the future realize communism.” If this is departed from, the CPC and the People’s Republic of China would lose the reason for their existence

马克思主义基本原理同现代化的具体实践相结合具有深刻的道理学理。邓小平从历史和现实发展维度，详细地阐发了这一“结合”是历史必然、实践必需。他指出，党的七大正式确定“马克思列宁主义的普遍真理与中国革命的具体实践相结合”的原则，是党根据过去革命中成功和失败的经验总结起来的，并在第七、第八两次党的代表大会上加以肯定。但这一原则在具体运用中还会遇到许多新的问题，“一个国家的问题是多方面的，不论是革命时期还是建设时期，如何使马克思列宁主义与各个时期的具体情况相结合，这是一个需要不断解决的问题”，事实上就讲明了“结合”的内涵必须与时俱进、马克思列宁主义要与中国建设实际相结合的道理。邓小平强调，“马克思列宁主义的普遍真理与本国的具体实际相结合”本身就是普遍真理。“普遍真理”究竟抓什么？在中国共产党看来有这样一条，“就是消灭封建主义、资本主义，实现社会主义，将来还要实现共产主义”，如果离开这一条，中国共产党和中华人民共和国就失去存在的理由。那么，如何来实现这一真理？就必须研究本国实际和特点。为此，“要努力把马克思主义的普遍原则同我国实现四个现代化的具体实践结合起来”。这里把中国的具体实际具体表达为“四个现代化的具体实践”，指向了国家发展的战略目标，使“结合”更具有针对性和实效性，进一步深化了“结合”的内涵，增强了马克思主义普遍真理指导中国的生命力和创造力。

Deng Xiaoping not only grasped the depth of the “integration” [6]6 The “three-in-one strategic goal” refers to the goal of building a prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally advanced socialist modern country, as outlined in the basic line of the 13th National Congress. vertically from China’s history, but also grasped its breadth horizontally from the world situation and the characteristics of the times, emphasizing that the universal truth of Marxism must also be integrated with the features of the times. The features of the times are inherent in “reality” while also possessing their own distinctive characteristics. Faced with the turbulent changes in the world pattern and international situation since the 1970s, Deng Xiaoping adhered to the Marxist worldview and methodology to study and judge the characteristics of the times, keenly making a scientific judgment on the transformation of the theme of the times. He stressed that peace and development are the two major issues of the contemporary world, that “the issue of development should be understood from the height of all humanity, and problems should be observed and solved from this height,” and he put forward a series of important guiding principles and methodologies for safeguarding

邓小平既从中国的历史出发纵向把握“结合”的深度，也从世界形势和时代特征出发横向把握“结合”的广度，强调马克思主义普遍真理还要同时代特征相结合。时代特征内蕴于“实际”之中，同时又具有自己的显著特点。面对20世纪70年代以来世界格局和国际局势风云激荡的变化，邓小平坚持以马克思主义世界观方法论研判时代特点，敏锐地对时代主题的转换作出了科学判断，强调指出，和平与发展是当代世界的两大问题，“应当把发展问题提到全人类的高度来认识，要从这个高度去观察问题和解决问题”，并提出了一系列维护中国独立和主权、处理对外关系的重要指导方针和方法论。对于国际局势，要冷静观察、稳住阵脚、沉着应付，用“一国两制”的方法解决港澳台问题，用“搁置争议、共同开发”政策来解决部分领土争端问题，用“结束过去、开辟未来”来解决意识形态的争论问题，以务实、实事求是的态度和方法推进改革开放和社会主义现代化建设事业。正是由于邓小平始终坚持把马克思主义普遍原理同中国具体实际相结合，才有“建设有中国特色社会主义”重大命题的提出和邓小平理论的创立，也才有新时期马克思主义中国化方法论的理论和实践创新及持续发展。

2. Creatively Putting Forward the Theme of Building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

2.创造性提出中国特色社会主义建设的主题

“Building socialism with Chinese characteristics” is a major theoretical and practical achievement of the “integration” [of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities] and the fundamental theme running through Deng Xiaoping Theory and its methodology. Whether carrying out revolution or engaging in construction, China must take its own path. In his opening address to the 12th National Congress of the CPC, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Taking our own road and building socialism with Chinese characteristics — that is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up long historical experience.” [6]6 The “three-in-one strategic goal” refers to the goal of building a prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally advanced socialist modern country, as outlined in the basic line of the 13th National Congress. He creatively put forward the scientific proposition of “building socialism with Chinese characteristics.” This new theoretical proposition not only emphasized the Party’s adherence to the basic tenets of Marxism and the socialist path, but also expressed the subjective initiative of proceeding from reality in everything, maintaining independence and self-reliance, and boldly innovating. It provided a scientific line of thinking for the Party’s methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context in the New Period.

“建设有中国特色社会主义”是“结合”的重大理论和实践成果，是贯穿于邓小平理论及其方法论的根本主题。无论是进行革命还是搞建设，中国都要走属于自己的路。邓小平在党的十二大会议开幕词中指出：“走自己的路，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”，创造性提出了“建设有中国特色的社会主义”这一科学命题。这一崭新理论命题既强调了党对马克思主义基本原理、社会主义道路的坚守，更表达了一切从实际出发、独立自主、大胆创新的主观能动性，为党在新时期推进马克思主义中国化方法论提供了科学的思路。

“Building socialism with Chinese characteristics” is a model of the effective integration of “theory” and “reality.” It profoundly embodies Deng Xiaoping’s major contribution to adhering to the scientific method of integrating theory with reality, and highlights his adherence to and creative application of the methodology of independence and self-reliance and seeking truth from facts. From the perspective of the methodology of independence and self-reliance, he pointed out that “socialism with Chinese characteristics” means “mainly relying on our own efforts based on our own actual conditions and our own circumstances.” “China was originally a poor country. Why is there talk of a ‘great triangle’ of China, the United States, and the Soviet Union? It is because China is an independent and sovereign state. Why do we say we are independent and sovereign? It is because we adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [7]7 The “six musts” (六个必须坚持) are: must uphold people-centeredness, must uphold self-confidence and self-reliance, must uphold integrity and innovation, must uphold problem-orientedness, must uphold a systems perspective, and must uphold a global vision. They were emphasized by Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. This fully demonstrates that the “ism” that “socialism with Chinese characteristics” upholds and develops is not a copy or appendage of the development of socialism in other countries, but possesses complete autonomy and independence. From the perspective of the methodology of seeking truth from facts, “building socialism with Chinese characteristics” practices the fundamental principle and method of proceeding from reality in everything and seeking truth from facts. Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized that “it is meaningless to talk about Marxism while departing from the actual conditions of one’s own country” and that “China is building socialism with Chinese characteristics precisely according to its own actual conditions.” It is necessary to grasp the new realities and master the basic theories of Marxism. [8]8 Deng Xiaoping, “Building a Socialism with a Specifically Chinese Character,” *Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping*, Vol. 3, p. 191.

“建设有中国特色的社会主义”是“理论”与“实际”有效结合的典范，深刻体现了邓小平坚持理论联系实际科学方法的重大贡献，凸显了他对独立自主、实事求是方法论的坚持和创造性应用。从独立自主方法论意义而言，他指出，“有中国特色的社会主义”“主要是根据自己的实际情况和自己的条件，以自力更生为主”，“中国本来是个穷国，为什么有中美苏‘大三角’的说法？就是因为中国是独立自主的国家。为什么说我们是独立自主的？就是因为我们坚持有中国特色的社会主义道路”。这充分彰显出“中国特色社会主义”所坚守发展的“主义”并不是其他社会主义国家发展的翻版或附庸，而是具有完全的自主性、独立性；从实事求是方法论意义而言，“建设有中国特色的社会主义”践行了一切从实际出发、实事求是的根本原则和方法。邓小平一再强调，“离开自己国家的实际谈马克思主义，没有意义”，“中国正是根据自己的实际情况，建设有中国特色的社会主义”，必须要掌握新的实际、掌握马克思主义基本理论。

After the 12th National Congress of the CPC, Deng Xiaoping repeatedly stressed that “all work must help to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.” After reform and opening up, we had already found a correct path, namely “the path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.” “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” became the theme of all the Party’s and the state’s theory and practice, marking a leap in the Party’s understanding of Chinese socialism and providing scientific theoretical and methodological guidance for the construction of the Four Modernizations. [9]9 The Four Modernizations refer to the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and formally adopted as a national goal at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in 1978.

党的十二大以后，邓小平反复强调“各项工作都要有助于建设有中国特色的社会主义”，改革开放以后我们已经找到了一条正确的道路，即“建设有中国特色的社会主义的道路”。“中国特色社会主义”成为党和国家全部理论和实践的主题，标志着党对中国社会主义认识的飞跃，为四个现代化建设提供了科学的理论和方法指导。

3. Founding Deng Xiaoping Theory, a Foundational Theoretical Achievement of Contemporary Chinese Marxism

3.创立邓小平理论这一当代中国马克思主义的基础性理论成果

The most important ideological legacy Deng Xiaoping left us is the founding of Deng Xiaoping Theory, a foundational theory of contemporary Chinese Marxism. The rich methodological thought contained in Deng Xiaoping Theory is an important treasure trove for the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Just as with the understanding of the system of Mao Zedong Thought, the scientific system of Deng Xiaoping Theory also needs to be comprehensively and systematically grasped. What is particularly important is to thoroughly master the most basic viewpoints that run through Deng Xiaoping Theory, and to grasp their internal connections, basic spirit, and methods. The most basic viewpoints of Deng Xiaoping Theory mainly consist of three aspects: “namely, emphasizing practice, emphasizing productive forces, and emphasizing the creativity of the masses, along with the unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the unity of liberating productive forces and developing productive forces, and the unity of liberating the creative power of the masses and caring for their fundamental interests. These three interconnected and interpenetrating basic viewpoints not only constitute the basic line of thinking for Deng Xiaoping’s observation and resolution of contemporary Chinese socialist issues, but also embody the distinctive features of his theoretical methodology.” [10]10 Tian Keqin, “On the Basic Characteristics of the Methodology of Deng Xiaoping Theory,” *Journal of Northeast Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition)*, 1995, No. 1.

邓小平留给我们最重要的思想遗产，就是创立了邓小平理论这一当代中国马克思主义的基础性理论。邓小平理论所蕴含的丰富方法论思想，是马克思主义中国化方法论的重要宝库。如同对毛泽东思想体系的认识一样，邓小平理论的科学体系也需进行全面系统的把握。尤为重要的是，融会贯通地掌握贯穿邓小平理论的一系列最基本的观点，掌握其内在的联系、基本精神和方法。邓小平理论最基本的观点主要有三个方面：“即重视实践、重视生产力、重视群众创造性，以及与之相联系的解放思想与实事求是的统一，解放生产力与发展生产力的统一，解放人民群众的创造力与关心人民群众根本利益的统一。这三个相互联系、相互渗透的基本观点，不仅组成了邓小平观察和解决当代中国社会主义问题的基本思路，而且体现了其理论方法论的鲜明特色。”

First, respecting the authority of practice and upholding the unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. This is the essence running through the content of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the most distinctive feature of Deng Xiaoping’s scientific worldview. Under new historical conditions, Deng Xiaoping creatively expounded the method of seeking truth from facts, making seeking truth from facts the fundamental basis for emancipating the mind and making emancipating the mind an important prerequisite for adhering to seeking truth from facts. Emancipating the mind means making thought conform to reality; making the subjective conform to the objective is seeking truth from facts. Only by emancipating the mind can one break through various constraints, shatter ideological shackles, and understand and solve problems in a manner that seeks truth from facts. Deng Xiaoping regarded the two as mutually linked and interpenetrating basic viewpoints of the ideological line, thereby providing the necessary conditions for placing our understanding of the fundamental issues of socialism on a scientific basis.

第一，尊重实践的权威性，坚持解放思想与实事求是的统一。这是贯穿邓小平理论内容的精髓，是邓小平科学世界观最鲜明的特征。邓小平在新的历史条件下创造性地阐发实事求是方法，把实事求是作为解放思想的根本依据，把解放思想作为坚持实事求是的重要前提。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。只有解放思想，才能冲破各种禁锢、砸碎思想枷锁、实事求是地认识和解决问题。邓小平把二者看作思想路线的两个互相联系和渗透的基本观点，这就为我们把对社会主义基本问题的认识置于科学的基础之上提供了必要的条件。

Second, attaching importance to productive forces and upholding the unity of liberating and developing productive forces. From shortly after the Eighth National Congress of the CPC, when Deng Xiaoping proposed that “the main task from now on is to engage in construction” and to build China into a great socialist industrial country; to the early 1960s, when he explicitly put forward the view that the specific form of relations of production should be determined according to the actual development of productive forces; to the mid-1970s, when he promoted rectification centered on boosting the national economy; to the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, when he explicitly proposed ceasing to “take class struggle as the key link” and gradually formulated the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism with “one central task, two basic points” as its core content; and then to his talks during his southern tour, when he explicitly set forth the essence of socialism—it was precisely by relying on the basic viewpoint of attaching importance to productive forces and upholding the unity of liberating and developing productive forces that Deng Xiaoping clarified various unscientific and even erroneous understandings on the primary fundamental theoretical question of “what is socialism and how to build socialism,” profoundly revealed the essence of socialism, and thus laid a solid theoretical foundation for the establishment of a new outlook on socialism. [11]11 The “southern tour talks” (南方谈话) refer to a series of speeches Deng Xiaoping made during an inspection tour of southern China in early 1992, which reaffirmed the direction of reform and opening up and market-oriented reforms.

第二，重视生产力，坚持解放生产力与发展生产力的统一。从党的八大后不久邓小平提出“今后的主要任务是搞建设”，要把中国建设成一个伟大的社会主义工业国；到20世纪60年代初明确提出应该根据生产力发展的实际来确定生产关系的具体形式的观点；到70年代中期推行以把国民经济搞上去为中心的整顿；到党的十一届三中全会上明确提出停止“以阶级斗争为纲”、逐步制定以“一个中心、两个基本点”为核心内容的党在社会主义初级阶段的基本路线；再到南方谈话中明确地提出社会主义的本质，邓小平正是凭借重视生产力，坚持解放生产力与发展生产力统一的基本观点，才澄清了在“什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义”这一首要的基本理论问题上的种种不科学的乃至错误的认识，深刻揭示了社会主义的本质，从而为新的社会主义观的确立奠定了坚实的理论基础。

Third, respecting the masses and upholding the unity of liberating the creative power of the masses and caring for their fundamental interests. Deng Xiaoping insisted on liberating the creative power of the people, drawing strength from the people’s activities in creating history, and emphasized that the masses are the source of the Party’s strength, stating that “many things in reform and opening up were put forward by the masses in practice,” and warning Party members and Party organizations that they must be one with the masses, otherwise they would surely fail. At the same time, Deng Xiaoping closely cared for the fundamental interests of the masses. The practice of reform and opening up and socialist modernization was precisely aimed at enhancing the people’s well-being. The “three favorable criteria” in his southern tour talks unified the criterion of the people’s interests with the criterion of practice and the criterion of productive forces, and took helping the broad masses shake off poverty, achieve complete economic emancipation, and move toward common prosperity as the fundamental goal of consolidating and developing socialism. This not only greatly deepened people’s understanding of socialist issues but also laid a deep mass foundation for truly adhering to the socialist path. Among the above three aspects, emancipating the mind, liberating productive forces, and liberating the creative power of the masses, along with the related criterion of practice, criterion of productive forces, and criterion of the people’s interests, can be said to be the more distinctive ideas. The organic connection and unity among these basic viewpoints fully reflect the inherent interconnection and consistency among Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guiding ideology of the Party, and also provide a scientific approach and method for us to comprehensively understand and grasp Deng Xiaoping Theory and its fundamental spirit.

第三，尊重群众，坚持解放人民群众的创造力与关心人民群众的根本利益的统一。邓小平坚持解放人民的创造力，从人民创造历史的活动中吸取力量，强调群众是党的力量的源泉，“改革开放中许许多多的东西，都是群众在实践中提出来的”，告诫党员、党组织必须同群众打成一片，否则就一定要失败。同时，邓小平密切关心人民群众的根本利益。改革开放和社会主义现代化建设实践就是为了增进人民福祉，南方谈话的“三个有利于”标准，把人民利益标准与实践标准、生产力标准统一起来，把帮助广大群众摆脱贫困、实现经济上的彻底解放，走向共同富裕，作为巩固和发展社会主义的根本目标，这不仅大大深化了人们对社会主义问题的认识，而且为真正坚持社会主义道路奠定了深厚的群众基础。在上述三个方面的观点中，解放思想、解放生产力、解放群众的创造力，以及与之相联系的实践标准、生产力标准、人民利益标准，应该说是更具特色的思想。这些基本观点之间的有机联系和统一，充分体现了作为党的指导思想，马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论相互之间的内在联系和一致性，而且也为我们全面理解和掌握邓小平理论及其基本精神提供了科学的思路和方法。

The 15th National Congress of the CPC placed Deng Xiaoping Theory together with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding ideology of the Party and wrote it into the Party Constitution. This emphasized that Deng Xiaoping Theory, as the inheritance and development of Mao Zedong Thought, is the correct theory guiding the Chinese people to successfully achieve socialist modernization in reform and opening up, is the second historic leap in the integration of Marxism-Leninism with China’s actual conditions, and “is Marxism of contemporary China and a new stage in the development of Marxism in China.” As Xi Jinping evaluated: “Comrade Deng Xiaoping, for the first time, systematically and preliminarily answered a series of basic questions about how to build, consolidate, and develop socialism in a country like China, which is economically and culturally relatively backward, profoundly revealed the essence of socialism, and achieved another historic leap in the integration of Marxism with China’s actual conditions.” [12]12 The 15th National Congress of the CPC was held in 1997. The “second historic leap” refers to the formation of Deng Xiaoping Theory as the second major theoretical achievement after Mao Zedong Thought in the sinicization of Marxism.

党的十五大把邓小平理论与马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想放在一起，作为党的指导思想写入党章。这强调了，作为毛泽东思想的继承和发展的邓小平理论，是指导中国人民在改革开放中胜利实现社会主义现代化的正确理论，是马克思列宁主义同中国实际相结合的第二次历史性飞跃，“是当代中国的马克思主义，是马克思主义在中国发展的新阶段”。如习近平所评价的：“邓小平同志第一次比较系统地初步回答了在中国这样经济文化比较落后的国家如何建设社会主义、如何巩固和发展社会主义的一系列基本问题，深刻揭示了社会主义的本质，实现了马克思主义同中国实际相结合的又一次历史性飞跃。”

III. Creatively Applying the Methodology of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context to Provide a Basic Theoretical Framework for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Chinese-Path Modernization

三、创造性运用中国化马克思主义方法论，为中国特色社会主义、中国式现代化建设提供了基本理路

In the process of successfully pioneering the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Deng Xiaoping always focused on creatively applying the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context to study new situations and solve new problems. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “What are the most important new situations and the most important new problems in our country today? They are, of course, the realization of the four modernizations, or, as I said earlier, the realization of Chinese-style modernization.” He creatively applied the basic methods of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context—seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence and self-reliance—to provide a basic theoretical framework for solving a series of fundamental issues concerning socialism with Chinese characteristics and Chinese-path modernization, such as its fundamental basis, fundamental driving force, development path, and strategic layout.

邓小平在成功开创中国特色社会主义的理论与实践过程中，始终注重创造性运用中国化马克思主义方法论研究新情况、解决新问题。邓小平指出：“什么是我国今天最重要的新情况，最重要的新问题呢？当然就是实现四个现代化，或者像我在前面说的，实现中国式的现代化。”他创造性运用实事求是、群众路线、独立自主等马克思主义中国化基本方法，为解决中国特色社会主义和中国式现代化建设的根本依据、根本动力、发展道路、战略布局等一系列基本问题提供了基本理路。

1. Creatively Applying the Basic Method of Seeking Truth from Facts to Reveal the Fundamental Basis of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Modernization

1.创造性运用实事求是的基本方法，揭示中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的根本依据

Deng Xiaoping did not stop at grasping the general meaning and status of seeking truth from facts. Instead, he linked seeking truth from facts with emancipating the mind, creatively applied this essence of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, clarified people’s traditional misunderstandings about socialism, and put forward the primary stage of socialism as the fundamental basis for building socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing Chinese-path modernization.

邓小平没有停留在对实事求是的一般性含义与地位的把握上，而是将实事求是与解放思想相衔接，创造性运用实事求是这一马克思主义中国化方法论的精髓，厘清人们对于社会主义的传统认识误区，提出社会主义初级阶段这一中国特色社会主义建设、中国式现代化建设的根本依据。

Deng Xiaoping insisted on taking emancipating the mind as the precursor and seeking truth from facts as the ultimate goal. He resolutely refuted the “left” dogmatism of being impatient for success and rashly advancing in building socialism, as well as the “right” dogmatism of engaging in bourgeois liberalization and blindly copying foreign experiences. He explicitly pointed out, “We must criticize ‘left’ erroneous ideas, and we must also criticize right erroneous ideas,” and “Emancipating the mind also means opposing both ‘left’ and right. The Third Plenary Session proposed emancipating the mind, targeting the ‘two whatevers,’ with the focus on correcting ‘left’ errors. Later, a rightist tendency emerged, which of course also had to be corrected.” He emphasized that ideological and cognitive issues must be concretely analyzed in a manner that seeks truth from facts, and that socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization must recognize China’s actual characteristics and cannot transcend or deviate from China’s reality. In this regard, Deng Xiaoping explicitly stated, “We have only been building socialism for a few decades and are still in the primary stage,” which is “socialism in the primary stage.” This concentrated expression that socialism, as the primary stage of communism, is a very long historical stage, and socialism in the primary stage is socialism in an underdeveloped stage; any policy formulation cannot deviate from this greatest reality. [13]13 The “two whatevers” (两个凡是) refers to the slogan “Whatever Mao Zedong said is correct; whatever Mao Zedong decided must be followed,” which was promoted after Mao’s death and opposed

邓小平坚持以解放思想为先导，以实事求是为旨归，坚决批驳搞社会主义急于求成、急躁冒进的“左”教条，以及搞资产阶级自由化、照搬照抄外国经验的“右”教条，明确指出，“要批判‘左’的错误思想，也要批判右的错误思想”，“解放思想，也是既要反‘左’，又要反‘右’。三中全会提出解放思想，是针对‘两个凡是’的，重点是纠正‘左’的错误。后来又出现右的倾向，那当然也要纠正”，强调对思想认识问题必须要实事求是地进行具体分析，中国特色社会主义和现代化建设必须要认清中国的实际特点，不能超越或脱离中国实际。对此，邓小平明确指出，“我们搞社会主义才几十年，还处在初级阶段”，是“初级阶段的社会主义”，集中表达了社会主义作为共产主义的初级阶段是一个很长的历史阶段，初级阶段的社会主义是不发达阶段的社会主义，任何政策的制定都不能脱离这一最大实际。

Advancing Chinese-style modernization must also proceed from the greatest reality of the primary stage of socialism. Deng Xiaoping emphasized, “Chinese-style modernization must proceed from China’s characteristics,” and focused on analyzing the two characteristics of “a weak foundation” and “a large population with little arable land.” He worriedly stated, “For example, modernized production requires only a few people, but we have such a large population—how to balance the two.” This shows that he fully recognized that a huge population scale combined with a low level of productive forces development is a distinctive feature of Chinese-path modernization, and that appropriate methods must be found to properly address it. Deng Xiaoping, using the ideological method of seeking truth from facts, accurately positioned the historical stage of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization, fully reflecting a major innovation in the Marxist theory of social development, and laying the fundamental basis for the Party to determine its development orientation and historical coordinates in the New Era and to continue advancing Chinese-path modernization suited to China’s national conditions.

推进中国式的现代化，也要从社会主义初级阶段这个最大实际出发。邓小平强调，“中国式的现代化，必须从中国的特点出发”，并着重对“底子薄”“人口多、耕地少”这两个特点进行了分析。他忧虑地讲道，“比方说，现代化的生产只需要较少的人就够了，而我们人口这样多，怎样两方面兼顾”。这说明，他已经充分认识到，人口规模巨大而生产力发展水平低下，是中国式现代化的显著特征，要找出适当的办法来妥善解决。邓小平以实事求是思想方法准确定位了中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的历史阶段，充分体现了对马克思主义社会发展理论的重大创新，为新时代党判定发展方位和历史坐标、继续推进符合中国国情特点的中国式现代化建设奠定了根本依据。

2. Creatively Applying the Basic Method of the Mass Line to Elucidate the Fundamental Driving Force of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Modernization

2.创造性运用群众路线的基本方法，阐明中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的根本动力

Deng Xiaoping consistently adhered to the basic principle of historical materialism that the masses are the creators of history, and further enriched and developed the mass line in both theory and practice. He revealed the fundamental stance, the force to rely on, and the leadership methods of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization, thereby scientifically elucidating the fundamental driving force behind socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization.

邓小平始终坚持群众是历史创造者这一唯物史观基本原理，并在理论和实践中进一步丰富和发展群众路线，揭示中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的根本立场、依靠力量、领导方法等基本问题，从而科学阐明了中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的根本动力。

First, Deng Xiaoping consistently adhered to the fundamental stance of doing everything for the people. He pointed out that “the entire task of the Party is to serve the people wholeheartedly,” and that the Party’s work lies in pointing the way for the people and helping them create their own happy lives. This determined that the interests of the people must be put first, and that achieving common prosperity must be taken as the essential attribute of socialism. Deng Xiaoping repeatedly stressed that “the goal of socialism is to make all the people of the country prosperous together, not to polarize them,” and that in the process of achieving common prosperity, equal development is impossible, so it is necessary to “let some people and some regions get rich first” and then drive the majority of people and regions to accelerate development, while the great principle remains common prosperity. Common prosperity is also an important feature of Chinese-path modernization; the modernization built by the Party leading the people is a modernization in which all Chinese people achieve common prosperity, which is a distinctive marker distinguishing it from Western modernization.

首先，邓小平始终坚持一切为了人民的根本立场。他指出，“党的全部任务就是全心全意地为人民群众服务”，党的工作在于为人民群众指明方向、帮助人民群众创造自己幸福生活。这就决定了要坚持人民利益至上，把实现共同富裕作为社会主义的本质规定。邓小平反复强调，“社会主义的目的就是要全国人民共同富裕，不是两极分化”，而在实现共同富裕过程中，平均发展是不可能的，因而要“让一部分人、一部分地区先富起来”再带动大部分人、地区加速发展，而大原则始终是共同富裕。共同富裕同时也是中国式现代化的一个重要特征，党领导人民建设的现代化是全体中国人民共同富裕的现代化，这是区别于西方现代化的显著标志。

Second, Deng Xiaoping consistently adhered to the basic viewpoint of relying on the people for everything. The people are the fundamental source of strength for the Chinese revolution to win victory and for advancing modernization. The victory of China’s New Democratic Revolution was the result of relying on the people’s strength. Deng Xiaoping once recalled, “During the Agrarian Revolutionary War, during the War of Resistance Against Japan, and during the War of Liberation, the people gave up everything to support the army,” and “as long as we truly rely on the people and explain the truth to them,” the people are sensible and take the overall situation into account, believing that following the Party is right. In the new period of reform and opening up, in advancing the modernization of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, it is also necessary to rely on the people. He stressed that implementing the open policy would inevitably bring some bad things, and “the people are very disgusted with corruption, bribery, theft, and other filthy things; by relying on the people’s strength, we will certainly be able to overcome them step by step,” thus putting forward the basic idea of relying on the people’s strength to overcome the negative risks and drawbacks brought by economic development.

其次，邓小平始终坚持一切依靠人民的基本观点。人民是中国革命取得胜利、推进现代化建设的根本力量源泉。中国新民主主义革命的胜利是依靠人民力量的结果。邓小平曾回忆道，“在土地革命战争的时候，在抗日战争的时候，在解放战争的时候，人民为了支援军队，把什么东西都拿出来了”，“只要我们真正依靠人民，跟人民讲清道理”，人民是识大体、顾大局的，都相信跟着党走是对的。改革开放新时期，在推进物质文明、精神文明的现代化建设中，同样也必须要依靠人民。他强调，实行开放政策必然会带来一些坏的东西，“对贪污、行贿、盗窃以及其他乌七八糟的东西，人民是非常反感的，我们依靠人民的力量，一定能够逐步加以克服”，提出了依靠人民力量克服经济发展所带来的负面风险和弊端的基本思路。

Finally, Deng Xiaoping consistently adhered to the leadership method of coming from the masses and going to the masses. The mass-line method determines whether the Party’s leadership work can remain correct; only by correctly implementing this method can work achieve success, while once it is violated, work and the people’s interests will inevitably suffer losses. The same applies to the task of achieving the Four Modernizations. [14]14 The Four Modernizations (四个现代化) refers to the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, a goal first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reaffirmed by Deng Xiaoping after 1978. Regarding new situations and new problems in modernization, Deng Xiaoping stressed that “as long as we trust the masses, follow the mass line, and explain the situation and problems clearly to the masses, any problem can be solved and any obstacle can be removed.” This indicates that the mass line is a scientific leadership method for advancing Chinese-path modernization and must be consistently upheld. It is particularly important to note that Deng Xiaoping also scientifically distinguished the relationship between the mass line and mass movements. In summing up the experiences and lessons of socialist construction, he stressed that the mass line is not equivalent to mass movements; mass movements “are only one form of the mass line,” not the only form. If a mass movement is not voluntary on the part of the masses, it violates the mass line, becomes boastful and formalistic, and will only alienate the masses and cause losses to the Party’s cause and the people’s interests. These important expositions by Deng Xiaoping on the mass viewpoint and the mass line provide important guidance for deepening the mass foundation of Chinese-path modernization in the New Era and advancing the modernization of common prosperity for all the people.

最后，邓小平始终坚持从群众中来、到群众中去的领导方法。群众路线方法决定党的领导工作能否保持正确，只有正确地实行此方法，工作才能得到成功，而一旦违背，工作、人民的利益就一定会遭受损失。对于实现四个现代化的任务也是同样如此。对于现代化建设中的新情况、新问题，邓小平强调，“只要我们信任群众，走群众路线，把情况和问题向群众讲明白，任何问题都可以解决，任何障碍都可以排除”。这就指明了群众路线是推进中国式现代化的科学领导方法，必须要一以贯之地坚持下去。尤为需要注意的是，邓小平还科学地辨析群众路线与群众运动的关系。他在总结社会主义建设的经验教训中强调，群众路线不等同于群众运动，群众运动“只是群众路线的一种形式”而不是唯一形式。如果群众运动不是群众自愿的，那是违反群众路线的，变成浮夸、形式主义了，只会脱离群众、使党的事业和人民的利益蒙受损失。邓小平这些关于群众观点和群众路线的重要论述，为新时代深化中国式现代化建设的群众基础、推进全体人民共同富裕的现代化提供了重要指导。

3. Creatively applying the basic method of independence and self-reliance to plan the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization

3.创造性运用独立自主的基本方法，规划中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的发展道路

Deng Xiaoping based national development on the practical activities of the subject itself, creatively applied the methodology of independence and self-reliance, and, in comparison with the construction experiences of other socialist countries and the modernization experiences of capitalist countries, solved the major problems of how China should build socialism and how it should achieve modernization, scientifically planning a unique development path for China to build socialism and realize modernization.

邓小平将国家发展奠立于主体自身实践活动之上，创造性运用独立自主方法论，在与其他社会主义国家建设经验、与资本主义国家建设现代化经验的比较中，解决了中国如何建设社会主义、如何建设现代化的重大问题，科学规划了中国建设社会主义、实现现代化的独特发展道路。

Regarding the choice of the socialist path, Deng Xiaoping clearly stated, “When we build socialism, to be precise, we build socialism with Chinese characteristics; only in this way do we truly uphold Marxism.” There is no center in the international communist movement; independence and self-reliance truly embody Marxism. China must develop socialism with Chinese characteristics self-reliantly, based on its own conditions and capabilities. Regarding the path of modernization, the same fundamental methodological principle of independence and self-reliance must be applied. In a context distinguishing it from Western modernization, Deng Xiaoping proposed the entirely new development path of “Chinese-style modernization,” profoundly pointing out: “The goal we have set is to achieve the Four Modernizations by the end of this century. Our concept is different from that of the West; for the time being, I will use a new term, called Chinese-style Four Modernizations.” [15]15 “Chinese-style Four Modernizations” (中国式的四个现代化) was an early formulation used by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 to distinguish China’s modernization path from the Western model; it was later shortened to “Chinese-style modernization” (中国式的现代化). Deng Xiaoping later simplified the formulation “Chinese-style Four Modernizations” to “Chinese-style modernization,” clearly expressing that “Chinese-style modernization” is a development model completely different from Western-style modernization. It is shaped and developed in the construction practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully demonstrating its value implications of independence and autonomy.

对于社会主义道路的选择，邓小平明确指出，“我们建设社会主义，准确地说是建设有中国特色的社会主义，这样才是真正地坚持了马克思主义”。国际共产主义运动没有中心，独立自主才真正体现了马克思主义，中国要从自己的条件、能力出发，自力更生地发展中国特色社会主义。对于现代化建设的道路问题，同样要以独立自主为根本方法论原则。邓小平在与西方现代化相区分的语境中提出了“中国式的现代化”的崭新发展道路，深刻指出：“我们定的目标是在本世纪末实现四个现代化。我们的概念与西方不同，我姑且用个新说法，叫做中国式的四个现代化。”邓小平后来又将“中国式的四个现代化”的提法简化为“中国式的现代化”，明确表达了“中国式的现代化”是与西方式现代化截然不同的发展模式，其塑造和发展于中国特色社会主义的建设实践，充分彰显了其独立性、自主性的价值意蕴。

In terms of discourse expression and the standards of modernization, Deng Xiaoping expressed the connotation of Chinese-style modernization as “moderately prosperous society” (xiaokang) from fine traditional Chinese culture, stressing that “our concept of the Four Modernizations is not the same as your concept of modernization; it is a ‘moderately prosperous society’,” and that “Chinese-style modernization” still has a considerable gap with the technological level of Western countries, so the standards of modernization should be set a bit lower, “especially the gross national product, which will not be very high per capita.” Using the concept of “moderately prosperous society” to interpret the connotation of Chinese-style modernization and autonomously establishing the standards of Chinese-style modernization not only reflects Deng Xiaoping’s inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture and Chinese civilization but also profoundly demonstrates the independence, autonomy, and historical initiative in the interpretation of Chinese-style modernization. Deng Xiaoping’s creative application of the method of independence and self-reliance to plan the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization pointed the way for the Communist Party of China in the New Era to hold high the banner, continuously expand and deepen the path and connotation of Chinese-style modernization.

在话语表达和现代化建设标准方面，邓小平将中国式现代化的内涵表述为中华优秀传统文化中的“小康”，强调，“我们的四个现代化的概念，不是像你们那样的现代化的概念，而是‘小康之家’”，“中国式现代化”与西方国家技术水平存在较大差距，要把现代化的标准放低一点，“特别是国民生产总值，按人口平均来说不会很高”。用“小康”概念诠释中国式现代化的内涵，自主地确立中国式现代化的标准，不仅体现了邓小平对中华优秀传统文化、中华文明的传承发展，更深刻地彰显了对中国式现代化诠释的独立自主性和历史主动性。邓小平创造性运用独立自主方法规划中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的发展道路，为新时代中国共产党举旗定向、持续拓展和深化中国式现代化建设道路和内涵指明了方向。

4. Creatively applying dialectical thinking methods to plan the strategic layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization

4.创造性运用辩证思维方法，谋划中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的战略布局

Deng Xiaoping creatively applied dialectical thinking methods to advance Chinese-style modernization, plan the strategic layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics, profoundly reveal the nature and essential characteristics of Chinese-style modernization, put forward a series of “grasping with both hands” policies, [16]16 “Grasping with both hands” (两手抓) refers to Deng Xiaoping’s policy of simultaneously advancing two complementary tasks, such as material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, or reform and opening up and combating corruption. solve major problems in the construction of the economic, political, and cultural spheres of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and effectively advance the process of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics.

邓小平创造性运用辩证思维方法推进中国式现代化建设，谋划中国特色社会主义的战略布局，深刻揭示了中国式现代化的性质和本质特点，提出了一系列“两手抓”方针，解决了中国特色社会主义经济、政治、文化领域建设的重大问题，有力地推进中国特色社会主义现代化建设进程。

Deng Xiaoping explicitly discussed the strategic layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics, profoundly pointing out: “China adheres to socialism and will not change. The 13th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 13th National Congress of the CPC was held in 1987 and formally adopted the basic line of “one central task, two basic points.” established the strategic layout of ‘one central task, two basic points.’ [2]2 “One central task, two basic points” refers to taking economic construction as the central task and upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening up as the two basic points. We proposed this ten years ago, and the 13th National Congress summarized it in this language. This strategic layout must be upheld forever and never changed.” This strategic layout embodies both the unity of the theory of two points and the theory of the key point [3]3 “Theory of two points” (两点论) and “theory of the key point” (重点论) are Maoist dialectical concepts: the former emphasizes analyzing contradictions from two sides, the latter stresses identifying the principal contradiction or the main aspect of a contradiction. and contains profound dialectical thinking; it is an organic whole. Upholding the Four Cardinal Principles [4]4 The Four Cardinal Principles are: upholding the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. and upholding reform and opening up are internally unified in the practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is particularly important to deeply grasp the important status and significance of the Four Cardinal Principles; upholding the Four Cardinal Principles is the fundamental political guarantee for reform and opening up and modernization. Deng Xiaoping clearly pointed out: “Before ‘four modernizations’ there are the four characters ‘socialist,’ called ‘socialist four modernizations’”; “To realize the four modernizations in China, we must uphold the Four Cardinal Principles in ideology and politics. This is the fundamental prerequisite for realizing the four modernizations.” This explains that Chinese-path modernization must take adherence to the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism as its fundamental road, institutional, political, and theoretical prerequisites, profoundly revealing the nature and essential characteristics of Chinese-path modernization.

邓小平明确论述了中国特色社会主义的战略布局，深刻指出：“中国坚持社会主义，不会改变。十三大确定了‘一个中心、两个基本点’的战略布局。我们十年前就是这样提出的，十三大用这个语言把它概括起来。这个战略布局我们一定要坚持下去，永远不改变。”这个战略布局既体现了两点论和重点论的统一，又蕴含了深刻的辩证思维，是一个有机整体。坚持四项基本原则和坚持改革开放内在地统一于建设有中国特色社会主义的实践中。尤为需要注意的是，必须要深刻把握四项基本原则的重要地位和意义，坚持四项基本原则是改革开放和现代化建设的根本政治保证。邓小平明确指出，“四个现代化前面有‘社会主义’四个字，叫‘社会主义四个现代化’”，“我们要在中国实现四个现代化，必须在思想政治上坚持四项基本原则。这是实现四个现代化的根本前提”。这阐释了中国式现代化必须以坚持社会主义道路、无产阶级专政、中国共产党领导和马克思列宁主义作为根本道路、制度、政治和理论前提，深刻揭示了中国式现代化的性质和本质特点。

Only by standing at the height of the strategic layout of “one central task, two basic points” can one correctly understand and accurately grasp the series of policies of “grasping with both hands.” [5]5 “Grasping with both hands” (两手抓) is a policy approach of simultaneously addressing two complementary or opposing tasks, such as reform and stability. In response to new situations and new problems in reform and opening up and the multifaceted tasks of modernization, which require comprehensive balance in all aspects, Deng Xiaoping proposed the dialectical thinking method of “grasping with both hands, and both hands must be firm.” For example: “One hand is to persist in the policy of opening up to the outside world and invigorating the domestic economy, and the other hand is to resolutely crack down on economic crime”; one hand grasps development, the other grasps stability; one hand grasps reform and opening up, the other grasps punishing corruption; and so on. Among these strategic policies of “grasping with both hands,” Deng Xiaoping placed greater emphasis on the mutual complementarity and mutual promotion of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress. He clearly pointed out: “The socialist country we want to build must not only have a high degree of material civilization but also a high degree of cultural-ethical progress.” On the one hand, we must unswervingly take economic construction as the central task and consolidate the material foundation of Chinese-path modernization; on the other hand, we must highlight the important significance of cultural-ethical progress, emphasizing that “cultural-ethical progress is an important guarantee for realizing the four modernizations.” Only by adhering to the policy of “grasping with both hands” can the strategic layout of socialist modernization be fully reflected, thereby comprehensively and accurately implementing the Party’s basic line, which takes “one central task, two basic points” and the three-in-one strategic goal [6]6 The “three-in-one strategic goal” refers to the goal of building a prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally advanced socialist modern country, as outlined in the basic line of the 13th National Congress. as its main content, ensuring that reform and opening up and modernization develop healthily along the correct track. Deng Xiaoping creatively used dialectical thinking methods to plan the strategic layout of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernization, exerting a profound influence on the continuous expansion of the overall layout of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics in the new century and also on the planning of the strategic layout and strategic goals of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.

只有站在“一个中心、两个基本点”战略布局的高度，才能正确认识和准确把握一系列“两手抓”的方针。针对改革开放新情况新问题、多方面的现代化建设任务，各方面需要综合平衡，邓小平提出了“两手抓、两手都要硬”的辩证思维方法。如“一手就是坚持对外开放和对内搞活经济的政策，一手就是坚决打击经济犯罪活动”；一手抓发展，一手抓稳定；一手抓改革开放，一手抓惩治腐败；等等。在这些“两手抓”的战略方针中，邓小平更为强调物质文明与精神文明应相辅相成、相互促进。他明确指出：“我们要建设的社会主义国家，不但要有高度的物质文明，而且要有高度的精神文明。”一方面，要坚持以经济建设为中心不动摇，夯实中国式现代化建设的物质基础；另一方面，突出精神文明的重要意义，强调“精神文明建设是实现四个现代化的重要保证”。只有坚持“两手抓”的方针，才能完整地体现社会主义现代化建设的战略布局，进而全面准确地贯彻党的以“一个中心、两个基本点”和三位一体战略目标为主要内容的基本路线，保证改革开放和现代化建设沿着正确的轨道健康发展。邓小平创造性运用辩证思维方法谋划中国特色社会主义和现代化建设的战略布局，为新世纪持续拓展中国特色社会主义建设总体布局、同时也对新时代中国特色社会主义现代化建设战略布局和战略目标的筹划产生了深远影响。

In summary, Deng Xiaoping always adhered to the dialectical materialist and historical materialist worldview and methodology, both based on China and facing the world, both summarizing history and facing reality and looking to the future, both inheriting tradition and keeping pace with the times. He combined the basic principles of Marxism with China’s actual conditions and the characteristics of the times, proposing creative thinking methods in the process of studying new situations and solving new problems, and carrying out persistent practical exploration, providing scientific theoretical guidance and basic methodological principles for continuously creating a new situation in socialist modernization. On the new journey of the New Era, we must continue to develop and innovatively apply the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context created and developed by the Chinese Communists mainly represented by Comrade Mao Zedong and Comrade Deng Xiaoping, continuously open up new realms of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, deeply study, thoroughly understand, and flexibly use the “six musts” [7]7 The “six musts” (六个必须坚持) are: must uphold people-centeredness, must uphold self-confidence and self-reliance, must uphold integrity and innovation, must uphold problem-orientedness, must uphold a systems perspective, and must uphold a global vision. They were emphasized by Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. of the New Era as the Party’s “common language,” grasp the essence and core of the Party’s innovative theory, and unremittingly promote the theoretical development of the methodology of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the practical innovation of Chinese-path modernization.

总之，邓小平始终秉持辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义世界观和方法论，既立足中国又面向世界，既总结历史又正视现实、放眼未来，既继承传统又跟进时代，把马克思主义基本原理同中国实际和时代特征结合起来，在研究新情况、解决新问题过程中提出创造性思想方法，进行锲而不舍的实践探索，为不断开创社会主义现代化发展的崭新局面提供了科学的理论指导和基本的方法论遵循。新时代新征程，我们要赓续发展、创新运用好以毛泽东同志、邓小平同志等为主要代表的中国共产党人所创立和发展的马克思主义中国化方法论，不断开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界，学深悟透用活新时代“六个必须坚持”这一党内“共同语言”，领会党的创新理论精髓要义，驰而不息地推进马克思主义中国化方法论理论发展与中国式现代化的实践创新。

References:

参考文献：

[1]1 The 13th National Congress of the CPC was held in 1987 and formally adopted the basic line of “one central task, two basic points.” Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, Vol. 2, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1994.

[1]《邓小平文选》第2卷，北京：人民出版社，1994年。

[2]2 “One central task, two basic points” refers to taking economic construction as the central task and upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening up as the two basic points. Selected Works of Xi Jinping, Vol. 1, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2023.

[2]《习近平著作选读》第1卷，北京：人民出版社，2023年。

[3]3 “Theory of two points” (两点论) and “theory of the key point” (重点论) are Maoist dialectical concepts: the former emphasizes analyzing contradictions from two sides, the latter stresses identifying the principal contradiction or the main aspect of a contradiction. Tian Keqin, Research on Deng Xiaoping’s Theoretical System, Changchun: Northeast Normal University Press, 1997.

[3]田克勤：《邓小平理论体系研究》，长春：东北师范大学出版社，1997年。

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