Accelerating the Construction of a Discourse System for the Chinese National Community

Discourse is a tool for people’s thinking and communication, and also a theoretical instrument used to construct ideas, facts, and images. International discursive power is an important manifestation of a country’s cultural soft power. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during the ninth collective study session of the 20th Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that efforts must be made to “resolutely address the problem of being swayed by Western ethnic theories and discourse systems in China’s ethnological research, and accelerate the formation of an independent Chinese system of historical materials, discourse, and theory for the Chinese national community.” Thoroughly studying and implementing this important exposition by General Secretary Xi holds significant theoretical and practical importance for accelerating the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community and for consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation.

话语是人们思维和交流的工具，也是用来建构思想、建构事实、建构形象的理论工具。国际话语权是国家文化软实力的重要体现。习近平总书记在二十届中央政治局第九次集体学习时指出，要“着力解决我国民族学研究中存在的被西方民族理论思想和话语体系所左右的问题，加快形成中国自主的中华民族共同体史料体系、话语体系、理论体系”。深入学习贯彻习近平总书记这一重要论述，对于加快构建中华民族共同体话语体系，铸牢中华民族共同体意识，具有重要的理论和现实意义。

I

一

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we have continuously advanced the adaptation of Marxist ethnic theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work. This has driven ethnic regions to join the rest of the country in winning the battle against poverty, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The Party’s ethnic work has achieved new historic accomplishments. However, in the process of making consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation the main line of the Party’s ethnic work in the New Era and the main line of all work in ethnic regions, we still face many difficulties and challenges. There is an urgent need to strengthen theoretical construction for the Chinese national community and accelerate the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community.

党的十八大以来，我们不断推进马克思主义民族理论中国化时代化，形成习近平总书记关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想，推动民族地区同全国一道打赢脱贫攻坚战、全面建成小康社会，迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程，党的民族工作取得新的历史性成就。但是，在把铸牢中华民族共同体意识作为新时代党的民族工作主线、民族地区各项工作主线的过程中，还面临着不少困难和挑战，迫切需要加强中华民族共同体理论建设，加快构建中华民族共同体话语体系。

In October 2023, during a collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi emphasized the need to accelerate the construction of a scientifically complete system of historical materials, discourse, and theory for the Chinese national community. This is necessary to advance high-quality development in ethnic work with consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line; it is a theoretical weapon to counter US and Western interference in China’s internal affairs using discourses on ethnicity, religion, and human rights; it is an important component of constructing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics; and it is an objective requirement for promoting the great unity of the Chinese nation and advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. Only by continuously improving the theoretical system for the Chinese national community with Chinese characteristics, and by using a discourse system with Chinese characteristics and our own theoretical methods, can we truly tell the story of the Chinese national community well, clearly explain that the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system are the reliable guarantees for the common development and progress of all ethnic groups in China, clearly explain that the Chinese nation is a community of shared destiny with strong identity and cohesion, and clearly explain the evident superiority of the correct path of solving ethnic problems with Chinese characteristics.

2023年10月，习近平总书记在中央政治局集体学习时强调，要加快构建科学完备的中华民族共同体史料体系、话语体系、理论体系。这是以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线推进民族工作高质量发展的需要，是应对美西方利用民族、宗教、人权话语干涉我国内政的理论武器，也是构建中国特色哲学社会科学的重要内容，更是推进中华民族大团结、以中国式现代化推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的客观需要。只有不断完善中国特色的中华民族共同体理论体系，用中国特色的话语体系、用我们自己的理论方法，才能真正讲好中华民族共同体故事，讲清楚中国共产党领导和社会主义制度是我国各民族共同发展进步的可靠保障，讲清楚中华民族是具有强大认同度和凝聚力的命运共同体，讲清楚中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路所具有的明显优越性。

II

二

Firm cultural confidence is the basic prerequisite for accelerating the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community. Since modern times, due to the aggression and oppression of foreign powers, China gradually degenerated into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The country endured humiliation, the people suffered hardship, and civilization was tarnished. The Chinese nation, with its long history and brilliant culture, experienced unprecedented calamities. The impact of Western civilization and culture led some people to waver in their confidence in Chinese culture and Chinese civilization.

坚定文化自信是加快构建中华民族共同体话语体系的基本前提。近代以来，由于外国列强的侵略压迫，中国一步步沦落为半殖民地半封建地社会，国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘，历史悠久、文化辉煌的中华民族遭受了前所未有的劫难。西方文明和西方文化的冲击，导致一些人动摇了对中华文化和中华文明的信心。

Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, guided by Marxism, embarked on a arduous exploration to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the original aspiration and founding mission of Chinese Communists, and it is also a contemporary discourse that expresses the spirit of the Chinese nation and embodies cultural confidence and self-strengthening. Over the past century and more, we have adhered to integrating Marxist ethnic theory with the realities of China’s ethnic issues and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, creatively forging a correct path of solving ethnic problems with Chinese characteristics. On this path, the Party has united and led people of all ethnic groups to achieve national independence and people’s liberation, created a new situation of developing relations of equality, solidarity, mutual assistance, and harmony among all ethnic groups, and driven unprecedented progress in the economic and social development of ethnic regions and the lives of ethnic minority people. The confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics among the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups has been continuously strengthened.

在中国共产党领导下，中国人民和中华民族以马克思主义为指导，开启了实现中华民族伟大复兴的艰辛探索。实现中华民族伟大复兴，是中国共产党人的初心使命，也是表达中华民族精神、体现文化自信自强的时代话语。一百多年来，我们坚持把马克思主义民族理论同中国民族问题实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，创造性地走出了一条中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路。在这条道路上，党团结带领全国各族人民实现了民族独立和人民解放，开创了发展各民族平等团结互助和谐关系的新局面，推动民族地区经济社会发展和少数民族群众生活得到前所未有的进步。全党全国各族人民对中国特色社会主义的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信不断增强。

Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence. China’s firm confidence in its path, theory, and system is essentially a cultural confidence built on the inheritance of over 5,000 years of civilization. Without a high degree of cultural confidence, it is impossible to form an independent theoretical and discourse system belonging to the Chinese nation, let alone achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Over thousands of years of historical development, one important reason why the Chinese nation has been able to endure hardships and move forward resiliently is that generations of Chinese people have cultivated and developed a uniquely distinctive, broad, and profound Chinese civilization, providing strong spiritual support for the Chinese nation to overcome difficulties and thrive endlessly. The reason why Chinese culture and Chinese civilization have been continuous and unbroken ultimately stems from the long history of the Chinese nation and its adherence to its own cultural subjectivity. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense, cultural confidence has a fundamental foundation, the CPC has a powerful cultural force to lead the times, the Chinese nation and the Chinese people have a solid cultural foundation for national identity, and Chinese civilization has distinct cultural characteristics for exchange and mutual learning with other world civilizations.” Only by standing on the position of the Chinese nation, using the holistic historical view of the “five commonalities” (namely, that all ethnic groups in China jointly opened up the country’s vast territory, jointly created a unified multi-ethnic state, jointly wrote China’s glorious history, jointly created splendid Chinese culture, and jointly cultivated the great national spirit) to study the history of the formation and development of China and the Chinese nation, to study the pattern of unity in diversity of the Chinese nation, and to study the historical process and development trends of the Chinese nation under the leadership of the CPC achieving a transition from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, can we form an independent discourse system that belongs to ourselves and our era, providing support for the construction of the discourse system for the Chinese national community.

文化自信是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信。中国有坚定的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，其本质是建立在5000多年文明传承基础上的文化自信。没有高度的文化自信，就形成不了属于中华民族自主的理论和话语体系，就更没有中华民族伟大复兴。在几千年的历史发展中，中华民族之所以能历经磨难而坚韧向前，其中一个很重要的原因就是世世代代的中华儿女培育和发展了独具特色、博大精深的中华文明，为中华民族克服困难、生生不息提供了强大精神支撑。中华文化和中华文明之所以连绵不绝，归根结底源自中华民族的悠久历史，源自中华民族对自身文化主体性的坚守。正如习近平总书记指出的，“有了文化主体性，就有了文化意义上坚定的自我，文化自信就有了根本依托，中国共产党就有了引领时代的强大文化力量，中华民族和中国人民就有了国家认同的坚实文化基础，中华文明就有了和世界其他文明交流互鉴的鲜明文化特性”。只有站在中华民族的立场上，用“五个共同”（即我国各民族共同开拓了祖国的辽阔疆域、共同缔造了统一的多民族国家、共同书写了辉煌的中国历史、共同创造了灿烂的中华文化、共同培育了伟大的民族精神）的整体史观研究中国和中华民族的形成发展史，研究中华民族的多元一体格局，研究中华民族在中国共产党的领导下实现从站起来、富起来到强起来的历史过程和发展趋势，才能形成属于我们自己和属于我们这个时代的自主话语体系，为中华民族共同体话语体系建设发挥好支撑作用。

III

三

Accelerating the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community requires grasping the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and adhering to and applying the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through it.

加快构建中华民族共同体话语体系建设，要把握习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法。

Follow the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic of the formation and development of the Chinese nation, and scientifically reveal the rationale, principles, and philosophy of the formation and development of the Chinese nation. Carefully study and sort out the century-long process since the founding of the CPC, during which it united and led the Chinese people and the Chinese nation in arduously exploring their own development path; summarize and refine the rich practical experience of advancing Chinese-path modernization over the 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially the brilliant achievements of rapid economic development and long-term social stability over more than 40 years of reform and opening up; compare the correct path of solving ethnic problems with Chinese characteristics with the experiences and lessons of various countries in handling their own ethnic issues; and thereby form new theories, new viewpoints, and new discourses on the history of Chinese civilization, the history of the development of the Chinese nation, the history of the Chinese people’s struggle, and especially the history of the struggle of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation under the leadership of the CPC to achieve a transition from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.

遵循中华民族形成和发展的历史逻辑、理论逻辑、实践逻辑，科学揭示中华民族形成和发展的道理、学理、哲理。认真研究梳理中国共产党成立以来，团结带领中国人民和中华民族艰辛探索自身发展道路的百余年历程，总结提炼中华人民共和国成立75年来推进中国式现代化的丰富实践经验，特别是在改革开放40余年来经济快速发展和社会长期稳定的辉煌成就，比较中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路与世界各国处理本国民族问题的经验教训，进而形成关于中华文明史、中华民族发展史、中国人民抗争史，特别是在中国共产党领导下，中国人民和中华民族实现从站起来、富起来到强起来的奋斗史的新理论、新观点和新话语。

Based on the long history of the Chinese nation, advance the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community. There are inextricable internal connections between history and reality; they are inseparable. The Chinese national community is the result of historical development, requiring academia to seek theoretical answers from the history of the birth, formation, and development of the Chinese nation. In the long river of history, the convergence of various ethnic groups on the land of China into the Chinese nation, with its vast territory and large population, is determined by the fundamental characteristics of Chinese civilization and by the unique path of the Chinese nation’s inward cohesion and peaceful development. Only by following this historical thread can we understand the history of the Chinese nation and see clearly the current situation and future development direction of the Chinese nation. Constructing a theoretical system for the Chinese national community must elucidate the mainstream trend of the continuous enhancement of commonalities among various ethnic groups living and producing together on the land of China over a long period, and the continuous growth and strengthening of the Chinese national community; it must elucidate the principle that the people of various ethnic groups, who have been inseparable from each other throughout history, are firmly consolidated together as the Chinese national community.

立足中华民族悠久历史，推进中华民族共同体话语体系建设。历史与现实之间存在千丝万缕的内在联系，不可分割。中华民族共同体是历史发展的结果，需要学术界从中华民族诞育、形成和发展史中寻求理论答案。在历史长河中，中华大地上的各民族人民凝聚成幅员辽阔、人口众多的中华民族，是由中华文明的根本特性决定的，也是中华民族坚持内向凝聚、和平发展的独特道路决定的。只有遵循这样的历史脉络，才能读懂中华民族的历史，看清中华民族的现状和未来发展方向。构建中华民族共同体理论体系，必须阐明各民族在中华大地上长期共同生活、生产中共同性不断增强，中华民族共同体不断发展壮大的主流趋势，阐明历史上相互离不开的各民族人民牢固凝结在一起就是中华民族共同体的道理。

Following the inherent laws of the formation and development of the Chinese nation, we must construct an independent Chinese discourse system for the Chinese national community. Bloodline integration, shared beliefs, cultural interconnectedness, economic interdependence, and emotional affinity are the endogenous driving forces behind the Chinese nation’s creation of a unified multi-ethnic state; they are also the cultural genes that forge a pluralistic and integrated civilizational pattern and the powerful force behind the construction of a unified economic entity. Moreover, they constitute the historical foundation for the formation and development of the Chinese national community and the strong bond that promotes the unity of the Chinese nation as one family. For a long time, the people of all ethnic groups within the Chinese nation have shared a common homeland, a common identity, and a common name, laying the historical precondition and objective foundation for realizing the common dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In-depth analysis and research into the laws of the formation and development of the Chinese national community are the realistic basis for constructing an independent Chinese theory and discourse system on ethnic groups.

遵循中华民族形成和发展的内在规律，构建中国自主的中华民族共同体话语体系。血脉相融、信念相同、文化相通、经济相依、情感相亲，是中华民族缔造统一的多民族国家的内生动力，也是铸就多元一体文明格局的文化基因和构建统一经济体的强大力量，更是中华民族共同体形成和发展的历史根基、推动中华民族一家亲的坚强纽带。长期以来，中华民族各族人民拥有共同家园、共同身份和共同名字，为实现中华民族伟大复兴这一共同梦想奠定了历史前提和客观基础。深入分析研究中华民族共同体的形成和发展规律，是构建中国自主的民族理论和话语体系的现实依托。

Further strengthen the construction of a historical materials system for the Chinese national community. Objective conclusions and theoretical interpretations regarding the history of the formation and development of the Chinese national community must be supported by a sufficiently detailed and reliable historical materials system for the Chinese national community. It is imperative to vigorously advance the construction of a historical materials system for the Chinese national community. Through full excavation and utilization of various historical materials, especially newly discovered archaeological materials, we can better display the complete historical picture of the formation and development of the Chinese national community, form a correct historical view of the Chinese nation, and produce a scientific narrative concerning the environment, driving forces, processes, characteristics, and laws of the development of the Chinese national community, thereby revealing the historical foundation for the continued existence and development of the Chinese national community.

进一步加强中华民族共同体史料体系建设。关于中华民族共同体形成发展历史的客观结论和理论阐释，必须依靠充分详实的中华民族共同体史料体系来支撑。必须大力推进中华民族共同体史料体系建设，通过对各种史料尤其是新发现的考古资料进行充分的挖掘利用，更好地展示中华民族共同体形成和发展的历史全貌，形成正确的中华民族历史观，形成关于中华民族共同体发展环境、动力、过程、特征、规律等方面的科学叙述，揭示中华民族共同体存续和发展的历史基础。

Further strengthen disciplinary construction and optimize disciplinary structures. A new pattern must be formed in which multiple disciplines jointly participate in research on ethnic groups and ethnic groups, ethnic groups and the state, and the laws and trends of the self-development of ethnic groups. The leading role of the research bases for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation, established by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and three other ministries and commissions, should be fully leveraged. This will promote collaborative research and mutual coordination among relevant research bases on major issues, produce more research results on the Chinese national community, and lay the academic and theoretical foundation for the construction of the discourse system for the Chinese national community.

进一步加强学科建设、优化学科结构。要形成多学科共同参与研究关于民族与民族、民族与国家、民族自身发展规律和趋势的新格局。充分发挥中央统战部等四部委设立的铸牢中华民族共同体意识研究基地的引领作用，促进各相关研究基地围绕重大问题协同攻关、相互配合，产出更多的中华民族共同体研究成果，为中华民族共同体话语体系建设奠定学术和理论基础。

Further strengthen the construction of a high-level talent team for research on ethnic theory and policy. Strengthening the construction of the talent team, especially the team of young talents, is the key to accelerating the formation of an independent Chinese discourse system for the Chinese national community. Measures must be taken to form a system and mechanism in which talents in ethnological research emerge in large numbers and masters gather. On the one hand, this relies on improving the external environment, strengthening support and incentives; on the other hand, it requires continuously enhancing the sense of responsibility and dedication of ethnic research workers. The cultivation of young experts and scholars in various disciplines must be vigorously strengthened, creating more opportunities for them, providing larger platforms, and encouraging them to devote themselves to in-depth research, accumulate knowledge steadily, and produce original results that are rooted in Chinese history, interpret Chinese practice, answer Chinese questions, and promote reform and development, thereby contributing to the formation of a scientific and complete discourse system for the Chinese national community.

进一步加强民族理论政策研究高水平人才队伍建设。加强人才队伍尤其是青年人才队伍建设，是加快形成中国自主的中华民族共同体话语体系的关键。要采取措施形成民族学研究工作人才辈出、大师云集的体制机制。一方面靠外部环境改善，加强支持、激励；另一方面则需要不断提升民族研究工作者的责任心和奉献精神。要大力加强各学科青年专家学者的培养，为他们创造更多的机会，提供更大的舞台，鼓励他们潜心钻研、厚积薄发，产出更多立足中国历史、解读中国实践、回答中国问题、助推改革发展的原创性成果，为形成科学完备的中华民族共同体话语体系添砖加瓦。

Deeply engage in practice and solidly carry out investigation and research. The theory and discourse of the Chinese national community do not emerge out of thin air. They must not only summarize the historical story of the Chinese nation moving from diversity to unity from the history of exchange, interaction, and integration among the Chinese nation, but also carry out theoretical summarization and sublimation from the historical process in which the Party leads the people of all ethnic groups in revolution, construction, and reform, especially from the practice of promoting the construction of the Chinese national community in the New Era. The initiative, activity, and creativity of the vast number of experts and scholars must be stimulated, encouraging them to deeply engage in practice, study assiduously, explore with concentration, and have the courage to innovate. Based on the long history of the Chinese nation and the new practice of the new journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, efforts should be made to achieve creative transformation and innovative development in practicing the Two Integrations [2]2 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the principle of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, as articulated by Xi Jinping., and to accelerate the construction of a discourse system for the Chinese national community in the New Era.

深入实践扎实开展调查研究。中华民族共同体的理论和话语不是凭空产生的，既要从中华民族的交流交往交融史中总结好中华民族从多元走向一体的历史故事，更要从党领导全国各民族人民进行革命、建设、改革的历史进程中，尤其是新时代推进中华民族共同体建设的实践中进行理论总结和升华。要激发广大专家学者的积极性、主动性、创造性，深入实践，刻苦钻研，潜心探索，勇于创新，立足中华民族悠久历史和中华民族伟大复兴新征程的崭新实践，在践行“两个结合”中努力做好创造性转化、创新性发展，加快构建新时代的中华民族共同体话语体系。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗