Comrade Deng Xiaoping and Reform and Opening Up

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up, and modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “If it were not for Comrade Deng Xiaoping guiding our Party to make the historic decision on reform and opening up, it would be unimaginable for our country to achieve the development accomplishments we have today.” [1]1 “When drinking water, one must not forget those who dug the well” is a Chinese proverb expressing gratitude to those who made benefits possible. “When drinking water, one must not forget those who dug the well.” The Chinese people, who are now living a happy life, will not forget that Comrade Deng Xiaoping united and led the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups in vigorously advancing reform and opening up, making historic contributions to the creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

今年是中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师邓小平同志诞辰120周年。习近平总书记深刻指出：“如果没有邓小平同志指导我们党作出改革开放的历史性决策，我们国家要取得今天的发展成就是不可想象的。”“吃水不忘掘井人”，过上幸福生活的中国人民不会忘记，邓小平同志团结带领全党全国各族人民全力推进改革开放，为开创中国特色社会主义作出的历史性贡献。

The Arduous Course of Persistently Exploring Reform and Opening Up

锲而不舍探索改革开放的艰辛历程

In the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, the Communist Party of China has faced great difficulties in both practical innovation and theoretical innovation. Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s advancement of China’s reform, opening up, and socialist modernization also underwent a persistent and arduous process of exploration.

中国共产党在推进马克思主义中国化的过程中，无论是实践创新，还是理论创新，都是十分不易的。邓小平同志推进中国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设，也经历了锲而不舍的艰辛探索过程。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s earliest reflections and explorations on China’s reform and opening up can be traced back to 1962. At that time, he noticed that in some localities, to mobilize peasants’ enthusiasm and restore and develop agricultural production, new practices such as “household contract production” and “responsibility assigned to the fields” had emerged. [2]2 “Household contract production” and “responsibility assigned to the fields” refer to early forms of agricultural household responsibility systems that later became the basis of the nationwide Household Contract Responsibility System. After deep reflection, he proposed: “As for which form of relations of production is best, I am afraid we must adopt this attitude: whichever form can relatively easily and quickly restore and develop agricultural production in a given place, we should adopt that form; whichever form the masses are willing to adopt, we should adopt that form, and if it is not legal, we should make it legal.” He also cited the metaphor “It does not matter whether it is a yellow cat or a black cat, as long as it catches mice it is a good cat” to vividly illustrate his view. These statements show that Comrade Deng Xiaoping opposed a dogmatic approach to relations of production, emphasizing that the mode of relations of production should be chosen and changed based on the actual development of productive forces and the general will of the people. However, with the subsequent criticism of the “individual farming trend” and “household contract production,” Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s considerations were effectively negated.

邓小平同志最早对中国改革开放的思考与探索，可以追溯到1962年。当时，他注意到一些地方为调动农民积极性、恢复和发展农业生产，出现了“包产到户”“责任到田”等新情况。经过深入思考后他提出：“生产关系究竟以什么形式为最好，恐怕要采取这样一种态度，就是哪种形式在哪个地方能够比较容易比较快地恢复和发展农业生产，就采取哪种形式；群众愿意采取哪种形式，就应该采取哪种形式，不合法的使它合法起来。”他还引用“黄猫、黑猫，只要捉住老鼠就是好猫”来形象阐明自己的主张。这些论述表明，邓小平同志反对教条化地对待生产关系，强调要根据生产力发展的实际与人民的普遍意愿来选择、变化生产关系模式。但是，随着批“单干风”和“包产到户”，邓小平同志的这些考虑实际上被否定了。

At the beginning of 1975, with the support of Comrade Mao Zedong and Comrade Zhou Enlai, Comrade Deng Xiaoping began to preside over the daily work of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. During this period, the comprehensive rectification he carried out vigorously, centered on the task of “getting the national economy moving,” already had the character of “reform and opening up.” [3]3 “Comprehensive rectification” refers to Deng Xiaoping’s 1975 efforts to restore order in industry, agriculture, the military, and other sectors after the Cultural Revolution. Its significance was not only reflected at the time but also made important preparations for our Party’s later smashing of the “Gang of Four” and subsequently shifting the focus of the entire Party’s work to socialist modernization. [4]4 The “Gang of Four” was a political faction led by Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen, purged in 1976 after Mao’s death. Comrade Deng Xiaoping later said: “Speaking of reform, in fact, we had already experimented with it for a period from 1974 to 1975. … The reform at that time was called rectification, emphasizing getting the economy moving, first of all restoring production order. Wherever this was done, it proved effective.” But with the start of the so-called “counterattack against the right-deviationist reversal-of-verdicts trend” in November of that year, the comprehensive rectification was forced to interrupt. [5]5 The “counterattack against the right-deviationist reversal-of-verdicts trend” was a 1975-1976 political campaign criticizing Deng Xiaoping’s rectification measures.

1975年年初，在毛泽东同志和周恩来同志支持下，邓小平同志开始全面主持中央和国务院的日常工作。在此期间，他围绕“把国民经济搞上去”这个工作重心大刀阔斧进行的全面整顿，就具有了“改革开放”的性质。其意义不仅体现在当时，还为后来我们党粉碎“四人帮”，进而把全党工作的着重点转移到社会主义现代化建设上来作了重要准备。邓小平同志后来说：“说到改革，其实在一九七四年到一九七五年我们已经试验过一段。……那时的改革，用的名称是整顿，强调把经济搞上去，首先是恢复生产秩序。凡是这样做的地方都见效。”但随着这年11月所谓“反击右倾翻案风”运动的开始，全面整顿被迫中断。

From the discussion on the criterion of truth in 1978 providing the ideological precursor for reform and opening up, and the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee making the historic decision to implement reform and opening up, to the proposal in 1982 of the major thesis of “building socialism with Chinese characteristics,” Comrade Deng Xiaoping decisively advanced reform and opening up. At the beginning of 1992, based on a profound summation of the fresh experience created by the Party and the masses and his own reflections, Comrade Deng Xiaoping delivered the famous Southern Talks. [6]6 The Southern Talks were Deng Xiaoping’s 1992 speeches during a tour of southern China, reaffirming market-oriented reforms. The Southern Talks theoretically provided profound answers to many major questions that had long troubled and bound people’s thinking, pushing China’s reform, opening up, and socialist modernization into a new stage. The plenary session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held in March 1992 and the 14th National Congress of the CPC held in October of the same year highly appraised and fully affirmed Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Talks.

从1978年关于真理标准问题的讨论为改革开放提供思想先导、党的十一届三中全会作出实行改革开放的历史性决策，到1982年提出“建设有中国特色的社会主义”重大命题，邓小平同志果断推进改革开放。1992年年初，基于对党与人民群众创造的新鲜经验和自身思考的深刻总结，邓小平同志发表了著名的南方谈话。南方谈话从理论上深刻回答了长期困扰和束缚人们思想的许多重大问题，推动我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设进入了新阶段。1992年3月举行的中共中央政治局全体会议和同年10月召开的党的十四大高度评价和充分肯定了邓小平南方谈话。

Through several ups and downs and repeated explorations, it was precisely with Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s vigorous advocacy and support that the tide of reform converged into a historical current, bringing about historic changes in the face of the Chinese people, the face of socialist China, and the face of the Communist Party of China. The 14th National Congress of the CPC explicitly proposed arming the entire Party with the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. The 15th National Congress of the CPC enshrined Deng Xiaoping Theory, together with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, as the guiding ideology of the Party in the Party Constitution.

几经沉浮，几度探索，正是在邓小平同志的大力倡导和支持下，改革大潮汇聚成时代洪流，使中国人民的面貌、社会主义中国的面貌、中国共产党的面貌发生了历史性变化。党的十四大明确提出用邓小平同志建设有中国特色社会主义的理论武装全党。党的十五大把邓小平理论同马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想一起作为党的指导思想写入党章。

The Unswerving Conviction and Lofty Realm of Advancing Reform and Opening Up

矢志不渝推进改革开放的坚定信念和崇高境界

Reform and opening up was an unprecedented pioneering undertaking, with problems so numerous and difficulties so great that they were rarely seen in the world. Why was Comrade Deng Xiaoping bold enough to take on this burden, able to make this contribution, and successfully create socialism with Chinese characteristics? Clearly, without firm conviction this would be unimaginable, and without a lofty realm it would also be impossible to achieve.

改革开放是前无古人的开创性事业，问题之多、难度之大，世所罕见。为什么邓小平同志勇于挑起这副担子、能够作出这个贡献，成功开创中国特色社会主义？显然，没有坚定的信念是不可想象的，没有崇高的境界也是无法做到的。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the Party and the people in advancing reform and opening up, first and foremost to give play to the superiority of the socialist system and to uphold and develop socialism. Comrade Deng Xiaoping was a great Marxist. The immediate motive for his leading the Party and the people in advancing reform and opening up was to liberate and develop the productive forces, while the deeper reason was to better uphold and develop socialism. At the Central Working Conference of the CPC Central Committee held at the end of 1978, when he proposed that China needed reform, he had already clearly pointed out: “If we do not carry out reform now, our modernization cause and socialist cause will be buried.” To further clarify the socialist direction of reform and opening up, in March 1979, Comrade Deng Xiaoping delivered the speech “Uphold the Four Cardinal Principles” at the Party’s Theoretical Work Conference. [7]7 The Four Cardinal Principles are a set of political principles first articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979, requiring adherence to the socialist road, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought. He pointed out that it was necessary to uphold the socialist road, uphold the dictatorship of the proletariat (later expressed as the people’s democratic dictatorship), uphold the leadership of the Communist Party, and uphold Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought—these four cardinal principles—ideologically and politically. It should be noted that, while upholding scientific socialism, he emphasized two important points. First, we cannot attribute the shortcomings in our practical work to scientific socialism; our understanding of socialism is still not entirely clear, and the socialist system we have established is not yet sound or perfect. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “What is socialism? What is Marxism? Our understanding of this question in the past was not entirely clear.” “Socialism is a very good term, but if it is not implemented well, if it is not correctly understood, and if correct policies are not adopted, then the essence of socialism cannot be manifested.” He also clearly stated: “Although we say we are also building socialism now, in fact it is not up to standard. Only when we reach the level of a moderately developed country by the middle of the next century can we say that we are truly building socialism, and can we assert with confidence that socialism is superior to capitalism.” Second, rigidity and isolation cannot develop socialism; socialist society is a society of reform and opening up, and we must build socialism in the course of reform and opening up. Comrade Deng Xiaoping explicitly said: “We must emancipate our minds; this even includes the question of what socialism is—we must also emancipate our minds on this.” He said: “I am in favor of reform; without reform there is no way out. The old set of practices has been proven unsuccessful by decades of practice.” Therefore, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly stated that “reform is China’s second revolution.” To avoid misunderstanding of the term “revolution,” he particularly emphasized: “Reform is the self-improvement of the socialist system; within a certain scope, it also involves a certain degree of revolutionary change.” That is to say, this “revolution” is not about overthrowing socialism; “it has enlivened socialism without harming the essence of socialism.” Regarding the implementation of reform and opening up, some people showed incomprehension or even resistance, believing that reform and opening up was taking the capitalist road. However, the ironclad fact is: the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, opened up by Comrade Deng Xiaoping leading the Party and the people through reform and opening up, has enlivened socialism, strengthened socialism, and developed socialism. The Party and the people have also formed this consensus in the deepening advancement of reform and opening up: only socialism can save China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China.

邓小平同志领导党和人民推进改革开放，首先是要发挥社会主义制度的优越性，坚持和发展社会主义。邓小平同志是伟大的马克思主义者，他领导党和人民推进改革开放，直接的动因是要解放和发展生产力，深层次的原因则是要更好地坚持和发展社会主义。他在1978年年底召开的中共中央工作会议上提出中国要改革的时候，就已经鲜明指出“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送”。为进一步明确改革开放的社会主义方向，1979年3月，邓小平同志在党的理论工作务虚会上发表了《坚持四项基本原则》的讲话。他指出，必须在思想上政治上坚持社会主义道路、坚持无产阶级专政（后表述为人民民主专政）、坚持共产党的领导、坚持马列主义毛泽东思想这四项基本原则。需要指出的是，他在坚持科学社会主义时，强调了两个重要观点。一是，不能把我们实际工作中存在的不足归咎于科学社会主义，我们对社会主义的认识还有偏差，我们建立的社会主义制度还不健全、不完善。邓小平同志指出，“什么叫社会主义，什么叫马克思主义？我们过去对这个问题的认识不是完全清醒的”，“社会主义是一个很好的名词，但是如果搞不好，不能正确理解，不能采取正确的政策，那就体现不出社会主义的本质”。他还明确指出，“现在虽说我们也在搞社会主义，但事实上不够格。只有到了下世纪中叶，达到了中等发达国家的水平，才能说真的搞了社会主义，才能理直气壮地说社会主义优于资本主义”。二是，僵化封闭不能发展社会主义，社会主义社会是改革开放的社会，我们必须在改革开放中建设社会主义。邓小平同志明确说过：“不解放思想不行，甚至于包括什么叫社会主义这个问题也要解放思想。”他说：“我是主张改革的，不改革就没有出路，旧的那一套经过几十年的实践证明是不成功的。”因此，邓小平同志明确指出“改革是中国的第二次革命”。为避免对“革命”一词的误解，他特别强调：“改革是社会主义制度的自我完善，在一定的范围内也发生了某种程度的革命性变革。”也就是说，这场“革命”不是要革社会主义的命，“是活了社会主义，没有伤害社会主义的本质”。对于实行改革开放，一些人表现出不理解甚至抵触情绪，认为改革开放就是走资本主义道路。然而，铁一般的事实是：邓小平同志领导党和人民通过改革开放开辟的中国特色社会主义道路，搞活了社会主义，壮大了社会主义，发展了社会主义。党和人民也在改革开放的深入推进中形成了这样的共识：只有社会主义才能救中国，只有中国特色社会主义才能发展中国。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the Party and the people in advancing reform and opening up, with the aim of revitalizing China, catching up with the times, and realizing China’s socialist modernization. The reform and opening up led by Comrade Deng Xiaoping was rational, not blind; it was pragmatic, not grandiose. As a thoroughgoing Marxist, Comrade Deng Xiaoping deeply understood that the outcome of correct political leadership must, in the final analysis, be manifested in the development of society’s productive forces and the improvement of the people’s material and cultural life; the fundamental task of socialism is to develop the productive forces. As a Chinese Marxist, Comrade Deng Xiaoping understood even more deeply that for China, which is and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism, whether it is firmly grasping economic construction as the central task and concentrating strength on developing the productive forces, or taking reform and opening up as the decisive move for China’s destiny, mobilizing the masses’ initiative, creativity, and activity in reform and opening up, and unleashing and enhancing social vitality, the important purpose lies precisely in “revitalizing China and catching up with the times.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly stated in 1987: “We must catch up with the times; that is the goal reform is to achieve.” In summing up the experience of reform and opening up, he pointed out: “After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee [8]8 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in December 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and the shift from class struggle to economic construction as the Party’s central task., we concentrated our efforts on the four modernizations, focusing on revitalizing the Chinese nation.” It can thus be seen that “revitalizing China” and “catching up with the times” are two interrelated purposes of reform and opening up; “revitalizing China” means “catching up with the times,” and only by “catching up with the times” and “leading the times” can one truly “revitalize China.” Regarding the purpose of reform, Comrade Deng Xiaoping also made this exposition: it is to “remove obstacles to the development of society’s productive forces,” “develop the socialist economy,” and “the overall purpose is to be conducive to consolidating the socialist system, to consolidating the Party’s leadership, and to developing the productive forces under the Party’s leadership and the socialist system,” and so on, all summed up in eight words: revitalize China, catch up with the times. In the process of exploring reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s correct thinking and scientific judgments were denounced by some as “the theory of productive forces only” and “the theory of the extinction of class struggle.” However, history has forcefully refuted this. Facts prove that Comrade Deng Xiaoping was not only a man of great wisdom but also a man of great ambition; “revitalizing China and catching up with the times” was the firm conviction and lofty realm with which he persistently and unswervingly advanced China’s reform and opening up.

邓小平同志领导党和人民推进改革开放，是要振兴中华、赶上时代，实现中国的社会主义现代化。邓小平同志领导的改革开放，是理性的不是盲目的，是务实的不是好大喜功的。作为一个彻底的马克思主义者，邓小平同志深知：正确的政治领导的成果，归根结底要表现在社会生产力的发展上，人民物质文化生活的改善上；社会主义的根本任务是发展生产力。作为一个中国的马克思主义者，邓小平同志更是深知：处于并将长期处于社会主义初级阶段的中国，无论是紧紧扭住经济建设这个中心不放、集中力量发展生产力，还是把改革开放作为决定中国命运的一招，在改革开放中调动广大人民群众的积极性、主动性、创造性，解放和增强社会活力，其重要目的就在于“振兴中华、赶上时代”。邓小平同志在1987年明确说过：“我们要赶上时代，这是改革要达到的目的。”在总结改革开放的经验时，他指出：“党的十一届三中全会以后，我们集中力量搞四个现代化，着眼于振兴中华民族。”由此可见，“振兴中华”与“赶上时代”是改革开放两个相互联系的目的，“振兴中华”就是要“赶上时代”，只有“赶上时代”并且“引领时代”，才能真正地“振兴中华”。关于改革的目的，邓小平同志还作过这样的论述：是为了“扫除发展社会生产力的障碍”、“发展社会主义经济”，“总的目的是要有利于巩固社会主义制度，有利于巩固党的领导，有利于在党的领导和社会主义制度下发展生产力”，等等，归结起来就是8个字：振兴中华、赶上时代。在探索改革开放的过程中，邓小平同志的正确思考和科学论断被一些人指责为“唯生产力论”“阶级斗争熄灭论”。然而，历史对此进行了有力反驳。事实证明，邓小平同志不仅是一个有大智慧的人，而且是一个有大志向的人，“振兴中华、赶上时代”就是他锲而不舍、矢志不渝推进中国改革开放的坚定信念和崇高境界。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the Party and the people in advancing reform and opening up, ultimately to enable the hundreds of millions of people to live a happy and beautiful life and to embark on the path of common prosperity. Comrade Deng Xiaoping said with deep sincerity: “I am the son of the Chinese people, and I deeply love my motherland and my people.” Whether it was upholding and developing socialism, or revitalizing China and catching up with the times, Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s vigorous advocacy and full promotion of reform and opening up were, in the final analysis, for the benefit of the people. He said: “Whether a socialist economic policy is correct or not must, in the final analysis, be judged by whether the productive forces develop and whether the people’s income increases. This is the overriding criterion. Talking about socialism in the abstract won’t work; the people won’t believe it.” He resolutely criticized the absurd statements of the “Gang of Four” [9]9 The “Gang of Four” was a radical political faction led by Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong’s wife, during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976); they were purged in October 1976. that “we would rather have poor socialism than rich capitalism,” pointing out that “poverty is not socialism; socialism means eliminating poverty,” and “of course we don’t want capitalism, but we also don’t want poor socialism; we want a developed socialism with developed productive forces that makes the country prosperous and strong.” What troubled him was that “we have been making revolution for decades and building socialism for over thirty years, yet as of 1978, the average monthly wage of workers was only forty or fifty yuan, and most rural areas were still in a state of poverty.” He repeatedly used the word “forced” to indicate that our decision to carry out reform and opening up was to change the country’s and the people’s state of poverty. He said: “After establishing the socialist economic base, for many years we failed to formulate policies that would create favorable conditions for developing the productive forces. The development of society’s productive forces was slow, the people’s material and cultural living conditions did not improve as desired, and the country could not shake off its backward and impoverished state. This situation forced us to decide at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in December 1978 to carry out reform.” It must be pointed out that, regarding enabling the masses to live a prosperous and happy life, Comrade Deng Xiaoping both emphasized starting from reality and allowing some people to get rich first, and emphasized that the goal of socialism is common prosperity for the entire people. He clearly stated: “The characteristic of socialism is not poverty, but wealth, but this wealth is the common prosperity of the people,” and “we allow some regions and some people to get rich first, in order to ultimately achieve common prosperity.” Under the guidance of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s reform thinking, and with the efforts of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, by the end of the 20th century, the people’s living standards had generally reached a moderately prosperous level, and the Chinese people had completely shaken off the predicament of inadequate food and clothing. Comrade Deng Xiaoping rendered immortal service to the motherland and the people, winning the heartfelt love of the entire nation. The people commemorate him with the group sculpture “Deng Xiaoping and the People Together”; they remember him with the song “We Tell the Story of Spring, Reform and Opening Up Made Us Rich.”

邓小平同志领导党和人民推进改革开放，归根到底是为了让亿万人民过上幸福美好的生活，走上共同富裕之路。邓小平同志情真意切地说过：“我是中国人民的儿子，我深情地爱着我的祖国和人民。”无论是坚持和发展社会主义，还是振兴中华、赶上时代，邓小平同志大力倡导和全力推进改革开放，归根到底都是为了造福人民。他说过：“社会主义经济政策对不对，归根到底要看生产力是否发展，人民收入是否增加。这是压倒一切的标准。空讲社会主义不行，人民不相信。”他坚决批判“四人帮”“宁要贫穷的社会主义，也不要富裕的资本主义”的荒谬言论，指出“贫穷不是社会主义，社会主义要消灭贫穷”，“当然我们不要资本主义，但是我们也不要贫穷的社会主义，我们要发达的、生产力发展的、使国家富强的社会主义”。他揪心的是“我们干革命几十年，搞社会主义三十多年，截至一九七八年，工人的月平均工资只有四五十元，农村的大多数地区仍处于贫困状态”。他多次使用“迫使”二字来表明我们决定进行改革开放是为了改变国家和人民的贫穷状态。他说：“在建立社会主义经济基础以后，多年来没有制定出为发展生产力创造良好条件的政策。社会生产力发展缓慢，人民的物质和文化生活条件得不到理想的改善，国家也无法摆脱贫穷落后的状态。这种情况，迫使我们在一九七八年十二月召开的党的十一届三中全会上决定进行改革。”必须指出的是，关于要让人民群众过上富裕幸福的生活，邓小平同志既强调从实际出发让一部分人先富起来，又强调社会主义的目的是要全国人民共同富裕。他明确指出，“社会主义的特点不是穷，而是富，但这种富是人民共同富裕”，“我们允许一些地区、一些人先富起来，是为了最终达到共同富裕”。在邓小平同志改革思想指引下，在全党全国各族人民努力下，到20世纪末，人民生活总体上达到了小康水平，中国人民彻底摆脱了温饱不足的困境。邓小平同志为祖国和人民建立了彪炳史册的功勋，赢得了全国人民的衷心爱戴。人民群众用“邓小平和人民在一起”的群雕铭记他；用“我们讲着春天的故事，改革开放富起来”的歌声怀念他。

The Radiant Wisdom of Reform

熠熠生辉的改革智慧

The great cause of reform and opening up was initiated by the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, uniting and leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. The spirit Comrade Deng Xiaoping displayed, the thinking methods he formed, and the valuable experience he accumulated in the process of leading and advancing reform and opening up are always worthy of our study and reference.

改革开放伟大事业，是以邓小平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人团结带领全党全国各族人民开创的。邓小平同志在领导和推进改革开放的过程中表现出的精神、形成的思想方法、积累的宝贵经验，永远值得我们学习和借鉴。

First, “seeking truth from facts.” From the moment reform and opening up was conceived, it faced various doubts and challenges. In the face of various problems and disturbances from the “Left” and the Right, economic and political, existing and new, domestic and international, Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s response was always the four words “seeking truth from facts.” At the time of bringing order out of chaos, he supported and led the discussion on the criterion of truth, restoring and re-establishing the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts; while proposing to shift the focus of the Party’s and the state’s work to modernization, he emphasized that modernization must also seek truth from facts; when deeply understanding China’s basic national conditions and formulating China’s modernization development strategy, he pointed out the need to seek truth from facts; when summing up historical experience and handling complex historical issues, he emphasized seeking truth from facts; when responding to the interference of various erroneous ideological trends at home and abroad and various risks and challenges, he still emphasized seeking truth from facts. The reason Comrade Deng Xiaoping was able to creatively propose “taking our own road and building socialism with Chinese characteristics” and the basic line of “one central task and two basic points” [10]10 “One central task and two basic points” refers to the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism: taking economic construction as the central task, and upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and reform and opening up as the two basic points. was precisely because he always adhered to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, integrating the universal truth of Marxism with China’s concrete reality. As Comrade Deng Xiaoping said when meeting with foreign guests from the United States in March 1987: “Some foreigners used to see me as a reformer and others as conservatives. I am a reformer, that’s right; if insisting on the Four Cardinal Principles [11]11 The Four Cardinal Principles are: upholding the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. means being a conservative, then I am a conservative. So, more accurately, I am a seeker of truth from facts.” It can be said that seeking truth from facts was Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s important ideological magic weapon for leading and advancing reform and opening up.

一是“实”。改革开放自酝酿之日起，就面临各种质疑和挑战。面对各种来自“左”的右的、经济的政治的、既有的全新的、国内国际的问题和干扰，邓小平同志的应对之策始终是“实事求是”4个字。在拨乱反正之际，他支持和领导关于真理标准问题的讨论，恢复和重新确立了党的实事求是的思想路线；在提出把党和国家工作重点转移到现代化建设上来的同时，他强调搞现代化也要实事求是；在深刻认识我国基本国情、制定我国现代化发展战略时，他指出要实事求是；在总结历史经验、处理复杂历史问题时，他强调要实事求是；在应对国内外各种错误思潮干扰和各种风险挑战时，他依然强调要实事求是。邓小平同志之所以能够创造性地提出“走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义”，提出“一个中心、两个基本点”的基本路线，就在于他始终坚持实事求是的思想路线，把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际相结合。正如邓小平同志在1987年3月会见美国外宾时所说的：“国外有些人过去把我看作是改革派，把别人看作是保守派。我是改革派，不错；如果要说坚持四项基本原则是保守派，我又是保守派。所以，比较正确地说，我是实事求是派。”可以说，实事求是是邓小平同志领导和推进改革开放的重要思想法宝。

The second is “daring to break through.” [12]12 The term “daring to break through” (闯) refers to a bold, experimental approach to reform, as opposed to passive or overly cautious behavior. Deng’s 1992 Southern Tour talks were a key moment in reaffirming the reform and opening up policy after the 198 In early 1992, Comrade Deng Xiaoping made an inspection tour of the South and delivered a series of important talks. When discussing how to advance reform and opening up, he stressed: “We must be bolder in conducting reform and opening up and dare to experiment. We must not act like women with bound feet. Once we are sure that something should be done, we should dare to try it and break through.” He also pointed out: “Shenzhen’s important experience is precisely its daring to break through. Without a bit of the spirit of breaking through, without a bit of the spirit of ‘taking risks,’ without a certain vigor and drive, it is impossible to blaze a good path, impossible to blaze a new path, and impossible to accomplish a new undertaking.” This “daring to break through” that Comrade Deng Xiaoping spoke of is closely linked to the “seeing” he also discussed. First, “once we are sure that something should be done, we should dare to try it and break through.” “Seeing” is the prerequisite for “trying”; through “seeing” we decide whether to “try” and whether to “reform.” In this sense, “reform” is “experimentation.” For example, from establishing four special economic zones, to opening fourteen coastal port cities, to opening up coastal economic open zones such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou triangle in southern Fujian, to establishing Hainan Province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone, and finally to deciding to develop and open up Shanghai’s Pudong—all were the result of “trying” after being sure. Second, “allowing people to see.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping said, “Our policy is to allow people to see,” and “in implementing the line, principles, and policies since the Third Plenary Session, we do not resort to coercion or mass movements. Those willing to do it can do it; how much they do is up to them. In this way, they will gradually catch up.” In fact, from the implementation of the household contract responsibility system to the emergence of a multi-ownership economy, and even to the establishment of a socialist market economy system, all were the result of “allowing people to see.” Third, “take one step, look at the next.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping not only encouraged bolder reform and opening up, daring to experiment and making judgments through experimentation, but also advocated summing up experience and correcting mistakes in a timely manner at every step. He said, “Our policy is to be bold in vision but steady in steps, taking one step and looking at the next. Our policy is unwavering and will not be shaken; we will keep at it. The important thing is to sum up experience after each stage,” and “the key is to be good at summing up experience; if a step is not appropriate, change it quickly.” It can be said that daring to break through and dare to experiment were important experiences in Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s successful leadership of reform and opening up.

二是“闯”。1992年年初，邓小平同志前往南方视察，发表了一系列重要谈话。在论述如何推进改革开放时，他强调：“改革开放胆子要大一些，敢于试验，不能像小脚女人一样。看准了的，就大胆地试，大胆地闯。”他还指出：“深圳的重要经验就是敢闯。没有一点闯的精神，没有一点‘冒’的精神，没有一股气呀、劲呀，就走不出一条好路，走不出一条新路，就干不出新的事业。”邓小平同志所说的这种“闯”和他所说的“看”是紧密联系的。一是“看准了的，就大胆地试，大胆地闯”。“看”是“试”的前提，通过“看”决定要不要“试”、要不要“改”。在这个意义上，“改革”就是“试验”。比如从建立4个经济特区，到开放14个沿海港口城市，再到开辟长江三角洲、珠江三角洲、闽南厦漳泉三角地区等沿海经济开放区，以及设立海南省和建立海南经济特区，直到决定开发开放上海浦东，都是看准了“试”的结果。二是“允许看”。邓小平同志说过，“我们的政策就是允许看”，“我们推行三中全会以来的路线、方针、政策，不搞强迫，不搞运动，愿意干就干，干多少是多少，这样慢慢就跟上来了”。事实上，从家庭联产承包责任制的实行到多种所有制经济的出现，乃至于建立社会主义市场经济体制，等等，都是“允许看”的结果。三是“走一步，看一步”。邓小平同志不仅鼓励改革开放胆子要大一些，敢于试验，通过试验来作判断，同时又倡导每走一步都要及时总结经验、纠正错误。他说过，“我们的方针是，胆子要大，步子要稳，走一步，看一步。我们的政策是坚定不移的，不会动摇的，一直要干下去，重要的是走一段就要总结经验”，“关键是要善于总结经验，哪一步走得不妥当，就赶快改”。可以说，敢闯敢试是邓小平同志领导改革开放取得成功的重要经验。

The third is “vitality.” [13] In leading and advancing reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping prominently emphasized the concept of “invigorating.” He said, “Reform means invigoration.” In May 1987, when meeting with foreign guests from the Netherlands, the theme of his talk was “Reform and opening up have truly enlivened China.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s series of discussions on “invigoration” have rich connotations. “Invigoration” first requires the emancipation of the mind. At the very beginning of reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, addressing the rigid and semi-rigid state existing among the cadre ranks, said: “Emancipate the mind, use our heads, seek truth from facts, and unite as one in looking to the future. Emancipating the mind comes first.” “Invigoration” fundamentally means stimulating the initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity of the masses. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Many things in reform and opening up were proposed by the masses in practice.” “Invigoration” most importantly means invigorating the economy. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, we have determined the policy of invigorating the domestic economy and opening up to the outside world. Without such a policy, success would be impossible.” “Invigoration” also includes promoting socialist democracy and forming a political atmosphere that is both stable and united and lively. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “To concentrate on the four modernizations, we must concentrate on maintaining and developing a political situation that is stable, united, and lively.” When discussing that the first goal of political system reform is to always maintain the vitality of the Party and the state, he noted: “Vitality here mainly refers to the rejuvenation of leading cadres.” Of course, the “vitality” Comrade Deng Xiaoping emphasized is by no means the “vitality” of extreme individualism or anarchism, but rather the “vitality” that adheres to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party—a “vitality” that combines democracy with centralism, democracy with the legal system, democracy with discipline, and democracy with Party leadership. It can be said that “invigoration” is a major highlight of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s reform wisdom.

三是“活”。邓小平同志在领导和推进改革开放时，突出强调的一个概念就是“搞活”。他说过，“改革就是搞活”。在1987年5月会见荷兰外宾时，他谈话的主题就是“改革开放使中国真正活跃起来”。邓小平同志关于“搞活”的一系列论述具有丰富的内涵。“搞活”，首先是思想要解放。邓小平同志在改革开放伊始就针对干部队伍中存在的僵化、半僵化状态说过：“解放思想，开动脑筋，实事求是，团结一致向前看，首先是解放思想。”“搞活”，从根本上说是要激发人民群众的积极性、主动性、创造性。邓小平同志指出：“改革开放中许许多多的东西，都是由群众在实践中提出来的。”“搞活”，最重要的是经济要搞活。邓小平同志指出：“党的十一届三中全会以来，我们确定了对内经济搞活、对外经济开放的政策，没有这样的政策不可能成功。”“搞活”，也包括发扬社会主义民主，形成安定团结而又生动活泼的政治氛围。邓小平同志指出：“一心一意地搞四个现代化建设，必须一心一意地维护和发展安定团结、生动活泼的政治局面。”在谈到政治体制改革的第一个目标是始终保持党和国家的活力时，他指出：“这里说的活力，主要是指领导层干部的年轻化。”当然，邓小平同志强调的“活”，决不是极端个人主义、无政府主义的“活”，而是坚持党的集中统一领导的“活”，是民主和集中、民主和法制、民主和纪律、民主和党的领导结合起来的“活”。可以说，“搞活”是邓小平同志改革智慧的一大亮点。

The fourth is “stability.” [14] “Be bold in vision but steady in steps” is the principle and guideline for reform and opening up that Comrade Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized must be followed. The “stability” he spoke of has a dual meaning: first, being prudent and steady, “being steady in steps means promptly correcting problems once discovered.” In the history of socialism, reform and opening up is a completely new undertaking that our predecessors had not attempted and other socialist countries had not carried out. It involves great risks, will not be smooth sailing, and mistakes are inevitable. Therefore, while we must boldly reform and experiment, we must also allow for mistakes; the key is to promptly discover and solve problems. That is to say, “stability” does not mean not reforming; the key is to be good at summing up experience and correcting deviations. Second, stability means “to carry out reform, a stable political environment is essential.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out: “For China, the overriding issue is stability. Without a stable environment, nothing can be achieved, and even the gains already made will be lost.” “Prudence and steadiness” and “stability” are dialectically unified. If the pace of reform and opening up is prudent and steady, it can avoid intensifying contradictions and help maintain social stability; social stability, in turn, facilitates the prudent handling of various problems arising in reform and opening up. It can be said that “prudence and steadiness” and “stability” are an important principle in Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s leadership and advancement of reform and opening up.

四是“稳”。“胆子要大，步子要稳”是邓小平同志反复强调的改革开放必须遵循的方针和原则。他所说的“稳”，具有双重含义：一是稳妥，“步子要稳，就是发现问题赶快改”。在社会主义发展史上，改革开放是一项我们的前人没有做过、其他社会主义国家没有干过的全新事业，要冒很大风险，不会一帆风顺，难免要犯错误，因此既要大胆改、大胆试，又要允许错，关键是要及时发现和解决问题。也就是说，“稳”不是不改革，关键是要善于总结经验、校正偏差。二是稳定，“要改革，就一定要有稳定的政治环境”。邓小平同志深刻指出：“中国的问题，压倒一切的是需要稳定。没有稳定的环境，什么都搞不成，已经取得的成果也会失掉。”“稳妥”和“稳定”是辩证统一的。改革开放的步子稳妥了，可以避免激化矛盾，有利于保持社会稳定；社会稳定了，也有利于稳妥处理改革开放中出现的各种问题。可以说，“稳妥”和“稳定”是邓小平同志领导和推进改革开放的一条重要原则。

Starting from reform and opening up, Chinese Communists have opened a new path of concentrating on construction, achieving historic accomplishments that have attracted worldwide attention. The blueprint for socialist modernization drawn up by Comrade Deng Xiaoping is being turned into a beautiful reality step by step. On the new journey of the New Era, we must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, unswervingly carry reform and opening up through to the end, and inject an inexhaustible source of momentum into Chinese-path modernization.

以改革开放为起点，中国共产党人打开了一条一心一意搞建设的新路，并且取得了举世瞩目的历史性成就，邓小平同志擘画的社会主义现代化蓝图正在一步步变成美好现实。新时代新征程，我们要更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，坚定不移把改革开放进行到底，为中国式现代化注入不竭动力源泉。

Author: Li Junru, former Vice President of the Central Party School

作者：李君如，原中央党校副校长

Online Editor: Jin Qiu

网络编辑：金秋