Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s Strategic Planning for China’s Modernization

In his important speech at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that “Comrade Deng Xiaoping was the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up, and modernization, and the trailblazer of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” that “he clearly put forward the vision of ‘building a moderately prosperous society’ and ‘blazing a Chinese-style path to modernization,’ guiding our Party in formulating the ‘three-step’ development strategy for modernization,” and that he successfully inaugurated the new period of China’s reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, inaugurated socialism with Chinese characteristics, and founded Deng Xiaoping Theory. The blueprint for socialist modernization that Comrade Deng Xiaoping planned for us is being turned into a beautiful reality step by step. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: “The best way to commemorate Comrade Deng Xiaoping is to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he pioneered.”

习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上的重要讲话中指出，“邓小平同志是中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师，中国特色社会主义道路的开创者”，“他明确提出‘建设小康社会’、‘走出一条中国式的现代化道路’的设想，指导我们党制定现代化建设‘三步走’发展战略”，成功开创了我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，开创了中国特色社会主义，创立了邓小平理论。邓小平同志为我们擘画的社会主义现代化蓝图正在一步步变成美好现实。习近平总书记强调：“对邓小平同志最好的纪念，就是把他开创的中国特色社会主义事业继续推向前进。”

I. Discerning Strategic Opportunities

一、洞察战略机遇

For a political party to lead the country and the people in achieving modernization, it must correctly recognize the direction of historical progress, be adept at seizing and making good use of historical opportunities, and ensure that it advances in the logic of historical progress and develops in the current of the times. Whether it can seize opportunities to develop itself concerns not only the speed of China’s modernization but also whether China can realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

一个政党要领导国家和人民实现现代化，就必须正确认识历史前进方向，善于抓住和用好历史机遇，确保在历史前进的逻辑中前进、在时代发展的潮流中发展。能否抓住机遇发展自己，不仅关系到我国现代化建设的速度，而且关系到我国能否以中国式现代化实现中华民族伟大复兴。

Faced with the country’s poverty and backwardness, Comrade Deng Xiaoping keenly discerned that peace and development were the two major themes of the contemporary world, that China’s development enjoyed “relatively favorable international conditions” that had not existed before, and that the Party and the people should foster “lofty ambitions,” form “a revolutionary atmosphere in which everyone strives upward, works hard, and refuses to lag behind,” and “take the world’s advanced scientific and technological achievements as our starting point for development.” On October 26, 1978, during his visit to Japan, Comrade Deng Xiaoping took the Shinkansen “Hikari 81” super-express train to the ancient cultural city of Kyoto. When a Japanese journalist asked about his experience on the Shinkansen, he said with a double meaning: “I just feel fast, as if someone is urging you to run. We are just right for such a train now.” [1]1 Deng Xiaoping’s remark on the Shinkansen is often cited as a metaphor for the urgency of China’s need to accelerate development. Precisely because of his profound grasp of the trend of the times and a strong sense of historical initiative, Comrade Deng Xiaoping issued the urgent call: “If we do not carry out reform now, our modernization drive and our socialist cause will be buried.”

面对国家贫穷落后的面貌，邓小平同志敏锐地洞察到，和平与发展是当代世界两大主题，中国发展具备过去所没有的“比较好的国际条件”，党和人民要立“雄心壮志”，形成“人人向上、奋发有为、不甘落后的革命风气”，“以世界先进的科学技术成果作为我们发展的起点”。1978年10月26日，邓小平同志访日期间乘新干线“光—81号”超特快列车前往日本的文化古城京都进行访问，当日本记者问起乘坐新干线的感受时，他一语双关地说：“就感觉到快，有催人跑的意思，我们现在正合适坐这样的车。”正是基于对时代潮流的深刻把握和强烈的历史主动精神，邓小平同志发出了“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送”的强烈呼声。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to the “timing” or “opportunity” for development. He said, “What I worry about is losing opportunities,” and repeatedly stressed, “We must seize the opportunity to advance reform,” “We must be good at seizing opportunities to solve our development problems,” and “We must never miss the opportunity.” In June 1990, when meeting with Sir Y.K. Pao, Chairman of the Hong Kong-based World-Wide Shipping Group, Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: “China now has a rare opportunity for development; do not lose it. Many people do not realize that this is an opportunity for the Chinese nation, an opportunity that the descendants of Yan and Huang [2]2 “Descendants of Yan and Huang” is a traditional Chinese expression referring to the Chinese people, tracing their ancestry to the mythical Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) and the Flame Emperor (Yandi). have encountered only once in several hundred years.” Although China was then in difficulty due to sanctions imposed by the Western “Group of Seven,” Comrade Deng Xiaoping believed that as long as China adhered to the socialist path and remained stable, it could turn crises into opportunities and thereby achieve its development goals. Therefore, when talking with some local leaders, he reminded them: “From now until 2010 is a rare opportunity; do not lose it.” “Now is the opportunity! This opportunity is very rare! The Chinese people have had such opportunities many times before, but missed some—a great pity! You must seize it well.” This urgency, evident in his words, expressed the strong sense of mission and responsibility of the Chinese Communists.

邓小平同志十分重视发展的“时机”或“机会”，他说“我就担心丧失机会”，反复强调“要抓住时机，推进改革”，“要善于把握时机来解决我们的发展问题”，“千万不要贻误时机”。1990年6月，邓小平同志在会见香港环球航运集团主席包玉刚时说：“现在中国遇到一个难得的发展机遇，不要丧失这个机遇。许多人不懂得这是中华民族的机遇，是炎黄子孙几百年难得遇到的机遇。”尽管当时中国因西方“七国集团”的制裁而处于困境，但邓小平同志认为，只要中国坚持走社会主义道路，只要中国稳住了，就可以化危为机，进而实现自己的发展目标。因此，他在同一些地方领导同志谈话时提醒道，“从现在开始到2010年是难得的机会，不要丧失了”，“现在是机会啊，这个机会很难得呀！中国人这种机会有过多次，但是错过了一些，很可惜！你们要很好抓住”。这种溢于言表的紧迫之情，表达了中国共产党人强烈的使命感与责任心。

II. Clarifying Strategic Tasks

二、阐明战略任务

What kind of country to build China into is a major theoretical and practical issue that the Party’s leaders have continuously pondered. In 1964, Comrade Zhou Enlai proposed at the First Session of the Third National People’s Congress that within a not-too-long historical period, China should be built into a powerful socialist country with modern agriculture, modern industry, modern national defense, and modern science and technology, catching up with and surpassing the world’s advanced level. [3]3 The “four modernizations” (agriculture, industry, national defense, science and technology) were first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and became a key goal of China’s development strategy before reform and opening up. This goal was reaffirmed at the First Session of the Fourth National People’s Congress in 1975. Comrade Deng Xiaoping was both an inheritor of the “four modernizations” strategic thinking from before reform and opening up and, based on new realities, enriched and improved the goals and tasks of modernization. He firmly stated: “What is our main task for the current period and for a fairly long period to come? In a word, it is to carry out modernization.”

把我国建设成一个什么样的国家是党的领导人接续思考的重大理论和实践问题。1964年，周恩来同志在三届全国人大一次会议上提出，要在不太长的历史时期内，把我国建设成为一个具有现代农业、现代工业、现代国防和现代科学技术的社会主义强国，赶上和超过世界先进水平。1975年的四届全国人大一次会议再次重申了这个目标。邓小平同志既是改革开放前“四个现代化”战略思想的继承者，又根据新的实际对现代化建设的目标任务予以丰富和完善，他坚定地指出：“我们当前以及今后相当长一个历史时期的主要任务是什么？一句话，就是搞现代化建设。”

From 1978 to 1979, Comrade Deng Xiaoping visited developed countries such as Japan, Singapore, and the United States. Witnessing the huge gap between China and the West, he was deeply shaken, gained a new understanding of modernization, and “came to know what modernization really means.” He believed that “by the end of this century we certainly cannot reach the level of Japan, Europe, the United States, or some developed countries in the Third World”; this would be “talking big.” So later he “changed his tune and called it Chinese-style modernization, that is, lowering the standard a bit,” “the modernization of a moderately prosperous society.” The specific standard for a moderately prosperous society was to reach a gross national product of one trillion US dollars by the end of the 20th century, with a per capita income of 800 to 1,000 US dollars. “This is an ambitious plan for China,” but “it is achievable.” In November 1980, when meeting with Romanian guests, Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: “Now our minds are clearer; we have even formed a new concept of what the four modernizations are.” Taking the “moderately prosperous family” and “moderately prosperous society” as a phased strategic task for China’s modernization was both definite and feasible, and it had a profound impact on China’s modernization strategy.

1978年至1979年，邓小平同志考察日本、新加坡、美国等发达国家，亲眼目睹中西之间的巨大差距，受到强烈震撼，对现代化有了全新认识，更加“懂得什么是现代化了”。他认为“在本世纪末我们肯定不能达到日本、欧洲、美国和第三世界中有些发达国家的水平”，这是“开了大口”，所以后来“改了个口，叫中国式的现代化，就是把标准放低一点”，“就是小康社会的现代化”。小康社会的具体标准是到20世纪末国民生产总值达到1万亿美元，人均800至1000美元，“这对中国来讲是一个雄心勃勃的计划”，“是有把握的”。1980年11月，邓小平同志在会见罗马尼亚客人时说：“现在我们的头脑比较清醒了，甚至于对什么是四个现代化也已经形成了新的概念。”把“小康之家”、“小康社会”作为中国现代化建设的一个阶段性的战略任务，具有确定性和可行性，对中国的现代化战略产生了深远影响。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping deeply respected the laws of historical development and economic construction. He opposed rash and impetuous advances, believing that “ambitions that are too big will not work; we must seek truth from facts,” “proceed from the reality that we are in the primary stage of socialism,” and “once we set an ambitious goal and a target for struggle, we must achieve it; we cannot just talk empty words.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed that the most fundamental task of the socialist stage is to develop the productive forces. “Without the development of the productive forces, the prosperity of the country, and the improvement of the people’s living standards, revolution would be empty talk.” “In the final analysis, we must take economic construction as the center.” “All other tasks must be subordinate to this center, revolve around it, and must never interfere with it or disrupt it.” “Unless a large-scale war breaks out, we must unswervingly and consistently focus on this matter.” He required that Pudong and Shenzhen take on the important task of “being pace-setters” and, by the end of the 20th century, “use hundreds and thousands of facts to answer whether reform and opening up is ‘socialist’ or ‘capitalist,’ whether it benefits socialism or capitalism.” In his Southern Talks, he further pointed out: “The essence of socialism is to liberate and develop the productive forces, eliminate exploitation and polarization, and ultimately achieve common prosperity.” [4]4 Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Talks (1992) were a series of speeches during his inspection tour of southern China, in which he reaffirmed the importance of reform and opening up and market-oriented reforms, countering conservative opposition. This provided a practical and feasible approach to fundamentally solving the principal contradiction in Chinese society, thoroughly eradicating poverty, and creating a more solid material foundation for achieving modernization.

邓小平同志十分尊重历史发展规律和经济建设规律，反对急躁冒进，认为“雄心壮志太大了不行，要实事求是”，“一切从社会主义初级阶段的实际出发”，“我们定下了一个雄心壮志，定下了一个奋斗目标，就要去实现，不能讲空话”。邓小平同志强调，社会主义阶段的最根本任务就是发展生产力，“离开了生产力的发展、国家的富强、人民生活的改善，革命就是空的”，“说到最后，还是要把经济建设当作中心”，“其他一切任务都要服从这个中心，围绕这个中心，决不能干扰它、冲击它”，“除了爆发大规模战争外，就要始终如一地、贯彻始终地搞这件事。”他要求浦东和深圳两地要承担起“做标兵”的重任，到20世纪末“用上百上千的事实来回答改革开放姓‘社’不姓‘资’，有利于社会主义，不利于资本主义。”在南方谈话中，他又指出：“社会主义的本质，是解放生产力，发展生产力，消灭剥削，消除两极分化，最终达到共同富裕。”这就为从根本上解决我国社会的主要矛盾、彻底摆脱贫困、为实现现代化创造更为雄厚的物质基础，提供了切实可行的思路。

III. Putting Forward Strategic Requirements

三、提出战略要求

Comrade Deng Xiaoping emphasized that reform and opening up is “an earth-shaking undertaking, a great experiment, a revolution,” requiring one to “advance in the midst of wind and waves,” and that “one may have to pass through more ‘passes’ and slay more ‘generals’ than Guan Gong [5]5 The second historical resolution refers to the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our 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 in 1981.,” and that “someone always has to be the first to try something before a new path can be opened.” It was precisely on the basis of a profound understanding of the arduousness and complexity of reform and opening up that Comrade Deng Xiaoping engaged in deep reflection and elaboration on such principled issues as the leading force, the direction of advance, and the driving force of China’s modernization. He clearly stated: “To achieve the four modernizations in China, we must uphold the Four Cardinal Principles [6]6 The “three-step” strategy is a medium- and long-term development strategy for China’s modernization, formally proposed by Deng Xiaoping and adopted at the 13th National Congress of the CPC in 1987. in ideology and politics.” This is an important guarantee for ensuring that reform and opening up always advances along the correct political direction. “This reasoning can be stated openly,” and “there is nothing wrong with it, nothing that cannot be brought into the open.” In particular, if there is no problem with the link of upholding Party leadership, China will be as stable as Mount Tai. “If we maintain this for 50 years, 60 years, a socialist China will be invincible

邓小平同志强调，改革开放是“天翻地覆的事业，是伟大的实验，是一场革命”，要“在风浪中前进”，“可能比关公还要过更多的‘关’，斩更多的‘将’”，“什么事情总要有人试第一个，才能开拓新路”。正是基于对改革开放艰巨性和复杂性的深刻认识，邓小平同志对中国现代化建设的领导力量、前进方向、发展动力等原则性问题进行了深入思考和阐述，明确指出：“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”，这是确保改革开放始终沿着正确政治方向前进的重要保障，“这个道理可以敞开来说”，“没有什么输理的地方，没有什么见不得人的地方”。特别是坚持党的领导这个环节不发生问题，中国就稳如泰山，“这样保持五十年，六十年，社会主义中国将是不可战胜的”。邓小平同志还深刻认识到，在资本主义与社会主义两大制度长期共存、长期较量的历史背景下搞现代化建设，必须保持清醒头脑，时刻不能忘记“我们搞的现代化，是中国式的现代化。我们建设的社会主义，是有中国特色的社会主义”。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping often referred to China’s modernization cause as “a cause spanning a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations,” one that “requires the unremitting efforts of several generations, a dozen generations, or even several dozen generations of our people.” It cannot be rushed, nor can it be delayed, and we must never take it lightly. In concrete work practice, Comrade Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to “seizing time,” demanding that the entire Party “must not waste a single day, but concentrate wholeheartedly and single-mindedly” on economic construction. Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed: “Where development is possible, do not hold it back; where conditions permit, try to move as fast as possible,” and “at a certain stage, seize the opportunity to accelerate development for a few years, promptly address problems as they arise, and then continue to advance.” While encouraging “bold experimentation and bold breakthroughs,” he specifically added the precondition “once we are sure of what we are doing,” demanding that “every year the leadership must sum up experience, persist with what is correct, promptly correct what is wrong, and urgently resolve new problems as they emerge,” especially avoiding major mistakes. He proposed relying on collective wisdom to find ways to make modernization proceed “relatively smoothly, relatively able to withstand risks, and relatively able to overcome difficulties.”

邓小平同志经常把中国的现代化事业称为“千秋万代的事业”，“需要我们几代人、十几代人，甚至几十代人坚持不懈地努力奋斗”，既等不起，也急不得，决不能掉以轻心。在具体工作实践中，邓小平同志高度重视“抢时间”的重要性，要求全党“必须一天也不耽误，专心致志地、聚精会神地”抓好经济建设。邓小平同志强调：“能发展就不要阻挡，有条件的地方要尽可能搞快点”，“要在某一个阶段，抓住时机，加速搞几年，发现问题及时加以治理，尔后继续前进”。他在鼓励“大胆地试，大胆地闯”的同时，特意加上了“看准了的”这一前置条件，要求“每年领导层都要总结经验，对的就坚持，不对的赶快改，新问题出来抓紧解决”，尤其是要避免犯大错误。他提出要依靠集体智慧，想方设法使现代化建设搞得“比较顺，比较能够经得起风险，比较能够克服困难”。

IV. Clarifying Strategic Stages

四、明确战略阶段

Before reform and opening up, the Party had made arduous explorations regarding development stages and development strategies. Summing up past lessons, Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed that modernization strategies must be planned “in line with China’s conditions,” based on the stage of socialism in which the country found itself. The second historical resolution [5]5 The second historical resolution refers to the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our 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 in 1981., formulated under Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s leadership, made the judgment that “our socialist system is still in the primary stage,” pointing out the need to “achieve the goals of modernization step by step and stage by stage.” Subsequently, Comrade Deng Xiaoping further pointed out that China was in the “primary stage of socialism,” and that “everything must proceed from this reality and be planned according to this reality.”

改革开放前，党对发展阶段和发展战略进行过艰辛探索，总结过去的教训，邓小平同志强调要立足于社会主义所处的发展阶段，来规划“适合中国情况”的现代化战略。由邓小平同志领导制定的第二个历史决议作出“我们的社会主义制度还是处于初级的阶段”的判断，指出要“有步骤分阶段地实现现代化的目标”。此后，邓小平同志又进一步指出，中国正处在“社会主义的初级阶段”，“一切都要从这个实际出发，根据这个实际来制定规划”。

In Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s strategic planning, the “three-step” strategy [6]6 The “three-step” strategy is a medium- and long-term development strategy for China’s modernization, formally proposed by Deng Xiaoping and adopted at the 13th National Congress of the CPC in 1987. was the most systematic and scientific medium- and long-term development strategy. He successively proposed strategic concepts for different timeframes, such as 10 years, 20 years, and even 100 years—a grand strategy concerning the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In April 1987, Comrade Deng Xiaoping systematically elaborated on the “three-step” strategy during a meeting with foreign guests. In summary, it was: take two steps in the 20th century to achieve adequate food and clothing and a moderately prosperous society, and then take one more step in the 21st century over 30 to 50 years to reach the level of moderately developed countries. Subsequently, the “three-step” strategy was written into the report of the 13th National Congress of the CPC [7]7 The 13th National Congress of the CPC was held in Beijing in October 1987., becoming a medium- and long-term development strategy with long-term guiding significance.

在邓小平同志的战略擘画中，“三步走”战略是最为系统科学的中长期发展战略，他先后提出过10年、20年乃至100年等不同时间段的战略构想，这是一个事关中华民族伟大复兴全局的宏伟战略。1987年4月，邓小平同志在会见外宾时对“三步走”战略进行了系统阐述，概括起来说就是：20世纪走两步，实现温饱和小康，21世纪用30年到50年时间再走一步，达到中等发达国家的水平。随后，“三步走”战略被写入党的十三大报告，成为具有长远指导意义的中长期发展战略。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping reminded the entire Party that although the “three-step” strategy had “modest goals, achieving them would not be easy,” that “our road is still very long,” and that “we must keep a low profile, be very cautious, and work hard.” He considered the development goals for each step objectively and pragmatically, demanding that a development plan for the last 20 years of the 20th century be well formulated. He said: “The 20 years are counted from 1981 to the end of this century. Roughly speaking, we will take two steps: lay a solid foundation in the first ten years, and achieve high-speed development in the last ten years.” “The key is the last ten years of this century, which must lay the foundation for development in the first 50 years of the next century, creating relatively good conditions and environment.” “The third step will be much more difficult than the first two.” “We still need 50 to 60 years of arduous effort.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping also made the following three statements: First, “If we basically achieve modernization by the middle of the next century, we can further assert the success of socialism.” Second, “If we can approach the level of developed countries by the middle of the next century, that will be a major change. By then, the weight and role of socialist China will be different, and we can make a greater contribution to humanity.” Third, “Our China will use the 20 years of the end of this century, plus the 50 years of the next century, a total of 70 years, to strive to prove to the world that socialism is superior to capitalism.” Not aiming too high, maintaining reform rationality and historical patience, and achieving strategic goals step by step—this is the political wisdom left to posterity by this great man who walked ahead of his time. It also fully demonstrates Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s noble character of unwavering faith in the lofty ideal of communism and in socialism with Chinese characteristics.

邓小平同志提醒全党，“三步走”战略虽然“目标不高，但做起来可不容易”，“我们的路还很长”，“要夹着尾巴做人，要很谨慎，并且要艰苦奋斗”。他对每一步的发展目标考虑得比较客观、实在，要求必须制定好20世纪最后20年的发展规划，他说“20年是从1981年算起，到本世纪末。大体上分两步走，前十年打好基础，后十年高速发展”，“关键是本世纪内的最后十年，要为下个世纪前50年的发展打下基础，创造比较好的条件和环境”，“第三步比前两步要困难得多”，“我们还需要五六十年的艰苦努力”。邓小平同志还说过这样三段话：一是“到下个世纪50年，如果我们基本上实现现代化，那就可以进一步断言社会主义成功”。二是“到下世纪中叶，能够接近世界发达国家的水平，那才是大变化。到那时，社会主义中国的分量和作用就不同了，我们就可以对人类有较大的贡献”。三是“我们中国要用本世纪末期的20年，再加上下个世纪的50年，共70年的时间，努力向世界证明社会主义优于资本主义”。不好高骛远，保持改革理性和历史耐心，循序渐进地实现战略目标，是这位走在时间前面的伟人留给后人的政治智慧，也充分展现了邓小平同志对共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义信念无比坚定的崇高品格。

V. Shaping the Strategic Environment

五、塑造战略环境

Historical development has its laws, but people are not passive within it. As long as we grasp the laws and general trends of historical development, seize the opportunities of historical change, act in accordance with the trend, and strive with vigor, we can advance better. Comrade Deng Xiaoping called modernization “the overriding central task of the people of the whole country for a fairly long period to come, a great cause spanning a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations that determines the destiny of the motherland,” because “it represents the greatest and most fundamental interests of the people.” It is necessary to carry forward the historical initiative. This requires a profound grasp of the world situation, the trend of the times, and the general trend of history, in order to shape a positive and stable strategic environment.

历史发展有其规律，但人在其中不是消极被动的。只要把握住历史发展规律和大势，抓住历史变革时机，顺势而为，奋发有为，我们就能够更好前进。邓小平同志把现代化建设称为“今后一个相当长的时期内全国人民压倒一切的中心任务，是决定祖国命运的千秋大业”，“因为它代表着人民的最大的利益、最根本的利益”，必须发扬历史主动精神。这就需要深刻把握世界大势、时代大势、历史大势，塑造积极稳健的战略环境。

Regarding the internal strategic environment for modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to the issue of “order” in development. “If there is no order, and we encounter this or that kind of interference, consuming our energy on them, then reform cannot be carried out.” He had a keen personal understanding of the “chaos” of the past and warned people with a thunderous voice: “China will not tolerate chaos.” “Whoever violates stability and unity will not be accepted by the masses.” The relationship between reform, development, and stability must be handled well, with stability overriding everything. In response to various external opinions, Comrade Deng Xiaoping firmly stated: “The basic line must be maintained for 100 years, and it cannot be shaken.” “We have four things that will not change: adherence to the Four Cardinal Principles [8]8 The Four Cardinal Principles are: adherence to the socialist path, adherence to the people’s democratic dictatorship, adherence to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and adherence to Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. will not change; wholehearted engagement in the four modernizations will not change; the policy of opening up to the outside world will not change; and the policy of carrying out economic system reform and political system reform will not change.” Regarding the external strategic environment for modernization, Comrade Deng Xiaoping believed that “China’s development cannot be separated from the world.” He led our Party in promptly adjusting various foreign policies, creating a favorable external environment for reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed: “We must attach importance to extensive international exchanges; we can deal with all kinds of people, and in the process of dealing with them, we should seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.” In particular, “we must make the pursuit of peace the primary task of our foreign policy.” He told foreign guests: “We hope for 20 years of stability and a stable international environment to develop our economy and increase the people’s income.” We “even more hope for 70 years without war, so that we can calmly and unhurriedly carry out our socialist four modernizations.”

就现代化建设的内部战略环境而言，邓小平同志十分重视发展的“秩序”问题，“如果没有秩序，遇到这样那样的干扰，把我们的精力都消耗在那上面，改革就搞不成了”。他对过去的“乱”有着切肤之痛，振聋发聩地告诫人们：“中国不允许乱”，“谁要违背安定团结，群众是不答应的”，要处理好改革、发展、稳定的关系，稳定压倒一切。针对外界的种种议论，邓小平同志坚定地说，“基本路线要管100年，动摇不得”，“我们有四个不变：坚持四项基本原则不变，一心一意搞四个现代化建设不变，对外开放政策不变，进行经济体制改革和政治体制改革的方针不变”。就现代化建设的外部战略环境而言，邓小平同志认为，“中国的发展离不开世界”，领导我们党及时调整各方面对外政策，为改革开放和社会主义现代化建设创造了良好外部环境。邓小平同志强调，“要重视广泛的国际交往，同什么人都可以打交道，在打交道的过程中趋利避害”，特别是要“把争取和平作为对外政策的首要任务”。他跟外宾说：“我们希望安定20年，有一个安定的国际环境，来发展我们的经济，增加人民的收入”，我们“更希望70年内不打仗，可以从从容容地搞我们的社会主义四个现代化建设。”

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Now, there are only a little more than 10 years left to achieve the goal of basically realizing modernization that we have set, and only a little more than 20 years left to achieve the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects that we have set. Time waits for no one, and it urges us to forge ahead.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC closely centered on advancing Chinese-path modernization to plan strategic measures for further deepening reform comprehensively, fully reflecting our Party’s firm determination to open up broad prospects for Chinese-path modernization through further deepening reform comprehensively. We must deeply study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, closely focus on the central task of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, carry forward the cause and forge ahead into the future, work hard and make progress, and continuously push forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics pioneered by Comrade Deng Xiaoping.

习近平总书记强调：“现在，实现我们确定的基本实现现代化目标只有10年多时间，实现我们确定的全面建成社会主义现代化强国目标也只有20多年时间。时不我待，催人奋进。”党的二十届三中全会紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化擘画进一步全面深化改革战略举措，充分体现了我们党以进一步全面深化改革开辟中国式现代化广阔前景的坚强决心。我们要深入学习领会习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上的重要讲话精神和党的二十届三中全会精神，紧紧围绕以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业这个中心任务，继往开来，奋发进取，不断把邓小平同开创的中国特色社会主义事业继续推向前进。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗