“The Two Integrations”: Historical Context, Theoretical Logic, Practical Power, and Developmental Path

Xi Jinping has stressed: “On the profound foundation of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization to open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the finest traditional Chinese culture is the only correct path. This is the understanding of the laws we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” “‘The Two Integrations’ are the greatest magic weapon for our success.” A deep understanding of the historical context, theoretical connotation, practical power, and developmental path of “the Two Integrations” is of very important practical significance and far-reaching historical significance for enhancing the whole Party’s understanding of the laws governing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and for continuously advancing theoretical innovation on the basis of practical innovation on the new journey of achieving the second centenary goal.

习近平强调：“在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上开辟和发展中国特色社会主义，把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合是必由之路。这是我们在探索中国特色社会主义道路中得出的规律性认识。”“‘两个结合’是我们取得成功的最大法宝。”深刻理解“两个结合”的历史脉络、理论内涵、实践伟力和发展进路，对于提升全党对马克思主义中国化时代化的规律性认识，在实现第二个百年奋斗目标的新征程上，不断推进实践创新基础上的理论创新，具有十分重要的现实意义和深远的历史意义。

I. The Historical Context of the Proposal of “the Two Integrations”

一、“两个结合”提出的历史脉络

“Why is our socialism different? Why can it be vigorous and full of vitality? The key lies in Chinese characteristics. The key to Chinese characteristics lies in ‘the Two Integrations.’”

“我们的社会主义为什么不一样？为什么能够生机勃勃、充满活力？关键就在于中国特色。中国特色的关键就在于‘两个结合’。”

Looking back over the Party’s history of more than one hundred years, the fundamental reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to continuously achieve success lies in its insistence on exploring and opening up the path of revolution, construction, and reform within “the Two Integrations,” consciously rooting Marxism in the fertile soil of Chinese history and culture, insisting on integrating the finest traditional Chinese culture into Marxism, and enabling both Marxism and the finest traditional Chinese culture to radiate new vitality.

回顾百余年党史，中国共产党之所以能够不断取得成功，根本在于坚持在“两个结合”中探索和开辟革命、建设、改革道路，自觉地将马克思主义扎根于中国历史和文化沃土，坚持把中华优秀传统文化融入马克思主义，使马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化均焕发出新的生命力。

(A) The Establishment and Deepening of “the First Integration”

（一）“第一个结合”的确立与深化

Marxism is the guiding ideology and the foundation of the Party for the Communist Party of China. The light of Marxist thought illuminated the path of liberation and development for the Chinese people, and in its integration with China’s specific realities, it guided the cause of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people from victory to victory.

马克思主义是中国共产党的指导思想、立党之本。马克思主义思想之光照亮了中国人民解放和发展的道路，在同中国具体实际的结合中指引着中国共产党和中国人民的事业不断从胜利走向胜利。

In the early period of the Communist Party of China, due to serious interference from erroneous ideas such as dogmatism, for a time some people copied individual phrases and mechanically copied the Russian experience, causing serious losses to the Chinese revolutionary cause. Mao Zedong was the first to expose the dangers of book worship and dogmatism. In 1930, in his “Oppose Book Worship,” he clearly stressed that “the victory of the Chinese revolution depends on the Chinese comrades understanding Chinese conditions.” [1]1 “Oppose Book Worship” (反对本本主义) is a 1930 essay by Mao Zedong criticizing dogmatic reliance on texts and foreign models in revolutionary work. At the Enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party held in 1938, Mao Zedong further explicitly stated: “Marxism must be realized through integration with the specific characteristics of our country and through a certain national form… to sinicize Marxism, so that in every one of its manifestations it possesses the necessary Chinese characteristics, that is to say, to apply it according to Chinese characteristics, has become a problem the whole Party urgently needs to understand and solve.” [2]2 The Enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee (1938) was a key Party meeting during the War of Resistance Against Japan; Mao’s report there formally raised the task of “sinicizing Marxism.” This plenary session first proposed the proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, marking that in the process of applying Marxism, Chinese Communists began to consciously combine the country’s conditions, historical characteristics, etc., to analyze many specific issues of the Chinese revolution.

在中国共产党的早期，由于受到教条主义等错误思想的严重干扰，在一段时间内，一些人照抄个别词句，照搬俄国经验，给中国革命事业造成了严重损失。毛泽东率先揭露了本本主义、教条主义的危害。1930年，他在《反对本本主义》中明确强调“中国革命斗争的胜利要靠中国同志了解中国情况”。在1938年召开的党的扩大的六届六中全会上，毛泽东进一步明确提出：“马克思主义必须和我国的具体特点相结合并通过一定的民族形式才能实现……使马克思主义在中国具体化，使之在其每一表现中带着必须有的中国的特性，即是说，按照中国的特点去应用它，成为全党亟待了解并亟须解决的问题。”这次全会首次提出了马克思主义中国化的命题，标志着中国共产党人在运用马克思主义的过程中，开始自觉地结合本国国情、历史特点等来分析中国革命的诸多具体问题。

After the founding of New China, with the completion of the socialist transformation, socialist construction unfolded intensively. In this process, Mao Zedong put forward a series of important thoughts on socialist construction. In April 1956, Mao Zedong pointed out: “The most important thing is to think independently, to integrate the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete realities of China’s revolution and construction. During the period of the democratic revolution, we only succeeded in this integration after suffering great losses, and we achieved the victory of the New Democratic Revolution. Now is the period of socialist revolution and construction, we must carry out a second integration, to find the path of how to build socialism in China.” [3]3 Mao’s call for a “second integration” was made in April 1956 during discussions on the “Ten Major Relationships,” a speech exploring a Chinese path to socialist construction distinct from the Soviet model. In the process of socialist construction, the exploration of this integration was very arduous; while achieving valuable accomplishments, there were also mistakes and setbacks.

新中国成立后，随着社会主义改造的完成，社会主义建设紧锣密鼓地展开，在这个过程中，毛泽东提出了关于社会主义建设的一系列重要思想。1956年4月，毛泽东指出：“最重要的是要独立思考，把马列主义的基本原理同中国革命和建设的具体实际相结合。民主革命时期，我们吃了大亏之后才成功地实现了这种结合，取得了新民主主义革命的胜利。现在是社会主义革命和建设时期，我们要进行第二次结合，找出在中国怎样建设社会主义的道路。”在社会主义建设过程中，对这一结合的探索是十分艰辛的，在取得宝贵成就的同时，也发生了失误和曲折。

The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party made the historic decision to shift the focus of the whole Party’s work to socialist modernization and implement reform and opening up, achieving a great historical turning point, and also advancing the new exploration of the “second integration” from a new starting point. [4]4 The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee (December 1978) is the historic meeting that launched China’s reform and opening-up policy under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership. Deng Xiaoping proposed at the Twelfth National Congress of the Party: “Integrate the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete realities of our country, take our own path, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics—this is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up long-term historical experience.” [5]5 The Twelfth National Congress of the CPC (1982) formally introduced the concept of “socialism with Chinese characteristics” as the guiding theme for reform and opening up. This important thesis extremely clearly embodied the theme of what Mao Zedong called the “second integration.” In the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, under the guidance of the basic principles of Marxism, the Communist Party of China deeply understood China’s constantly developing and changing realities, established the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism, formulated the development strategy of taking three steps to basically realize socialist modernization by the middle of the twenty-first century, established the reform goals and basic framework of the socialist market economy system, established the basic economic system and distribution system for the primary stage of socialism, and advanced practical innovation, theoretical innovation, and institutional innovation in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. In deepening the understanding of world conditions, national conditions, and Party conditions, the Communist Party of China continuously achieved new theoretical and practical accomplishments.

党的十一届三中全会作出了把全党工作着重点转移到社会主义现代化建设上来、实行改革开放的历史性决策，实现了伟大的历史转折，也在新的起点上推进了“第二次结合”的新的探索。邓小平在党的十二大上提出：“把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际结合起来，走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义，这就是我们总结长期历史经验得出的基本结论。”这一重要论断极其鲜明地体现了毛泽东所说的“第二次结合”的主题。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，在马克思主义基本原理指导下，中国共产党深刻认识中国不断发展变化的实际，确立了党在社会主义初级阶段的基本路线，制定了到21世纪中叶分三步走、基本实现社会主义现代化的发展战略，确立了社会主义市场经济体制的改革目标和基本框架，确立了社会主义初级阶段的基本经济制度和分配制度，在全面建设小康社会中推进了实践创新、理论创新、制度创新。在深化对世情、国情、党情的认识中，中国共产党不断取得新的理论和实践成就。

Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has accurately judged changes in the international and domestic situation, promoted the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the finest traditional Chinese culture with a tremendous sense of historical initiative, scientifically answered the questions of the times and the questions of the people, and continuously promoted the Party’s practical and theoretical innovation from a new starting point. In his report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping made a profound summary of adhering to “the First Integration”: “Upholding and developing Marxism requires integrating it with China’s specific realities. In taking Marxism as our guide, we must apply its worldview and methodology to solving problems in China; it does not mean memorizing and reciting its specific conclusions and lines, and still less does it mean treating it as a rigid dogma. We must continue to free our minds, seek truth from facts, move with the times, and take a realistic and pragmatic approach. We must base everything we do on actual conditions and focus on solving real problems arising in our reform, opening up, and socialist modernization endeavors in the new era. We must keep responding to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people, and by the times; in doing so, we should find the right answers suited to the realities of China and the needs of our day, reach conclusions that are compatible with objective laws, and develop new theories that are in step with the times, so as to provide better guidance for China’s practice.” [6]6 The 20th National Congress of the CPC (October 2022) adopted Xi Jinping’ Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is based on the changes unseen in a century in the world and the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, profoundly answers the major issues of the New Era, and is the latest theoretical achievement of the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was founded in adhering to “the Two Integrations” and is a brilliant model of “the Two Integrations.”

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央准确判断国际国内形势变化，以巨大的历史主动精神推动马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，科学回答了时代之问、人民之问，在新的起点上不断推动党的实践创新、理论创新。习近平在党的二十大报告中对坚持“第一个结合”作了深刻总结：“坚持和发展马克思主义，必须同中国具体实际相结合。我们坚持以马克思主义为指导，是要运用其科学的世界观和方法论解决中国的问题，而不是要背诵和重复其具体结论和词句，更不能把马克思主义当成一成不变的教条。我们必须坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，一切从实际出发，着眼解决新时代改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的实际问题，不断回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问，作出符合中国实际和时代要求的正确回答，得出符合客观规律的科学认识，形成与时俱进的理论成果，更好指导中国实践。”习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想立足于世界百年未有之大变局和中华民族伟大复兴战略全局，深刻回答了新时代的重大课题，是新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践的最新理论成果。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是在坚持“两个结合”中创立的，是“两个结合”的光辉典范。

Reviewing the course of the Communist Party of China in advancing “the Two Integrations” helps deepen the understanding of the historical logic of “the Two Integrations.” The principle of “the First Integration” established by Mao Zedong includes the “first integration” during the period of the democratic revolution and the “second integration” during the period of socialist revolution and construction, with the emphasis on integrating with the realities of different historical periods and independently solving the path issues of China’s revolution and construction. Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC, new changes have occurred in the domestic and international situation, urgently requiring us to deeply answer a series of major contemporary questions related to the development of the Party and the country’s cause. The Communist Party of China has bravely engaged in theoretical exploration and innovation, insisted on freeing the mind, seeking truth from facts, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, insisted on using the “arrow” of Marxism to shoot at the “target” of China in the New Era, continuously promoted the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, and continued to write a new chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The social contradictions of a large country like China have complexity and particularity, and the laws of social revolution, construction, and reform also have particularity. It can only rely on the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of Marxism, to understand the national conditions, reveal the laws, and explore the path. This is precisely the historical basis for why the basic tenets of Marxism must be integrated with China’s specific realities.

回顾中国共产党推进“两个结合”的历程，有助于深化对“两个结合”历史逻辑的认识。毛泽东确立的“第一个结合”原则，包含着民主革命时期的“第一次结合”及社会主义革命和建设时期的“第二次结合”，突出强调的是同不同历史时期的实际相结合，独立自主地解决中国革命和建设的道路问题。党的十八大以来，国内外形势出现了新变化，迫切需要我们深入回答关系党和国家事业发展的一系列重大时代课题。中国共产党勇于进行理论探索和创新，坚持解放思想、实事求是、守正创新，坚持用马克思主义之“矢”去射新时代中国之“的”，不断推进马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，续写了马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章。中国这样的大国的社会矛盾具有复杂性、特殊性，社会革命、建设、改革的规律同样具有特殊性。只能依靠中国共产党在马克思主义指导下，认识国情、揭示规律、探索道路，这正是马克思主义基本原理必须同中国具体实际相结合的历史根据。

(B) The Establishment and Deepening of “the Second Integration”

（二）“第二个结合”的确立与深化

Although Mao Zedong did not explicitly propose integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with the finest traditional Chinese culture, the “First Integration” he did propose inherently contained the requirement of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with the essence of traditional Chinese culture. In 1938, at the Enlarged Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the CPC, Mao discussed in depth the significance of studying Chinese history and culture, pointing out: “Our nation has a history of several thousand years, has its own characteristics, and has many precious treasures. In these respects, we are still primary-school students. Today’s China is a development of historical China; we are Marxist historicists and should not cut off history. From Confucius to Sun Yat-sen, we should sum it up and inherit this precious legacy. This is of great help in guiding the great movement of the present… For the Chinese Communist Party, it is to learn to apply the theory of Marxism-Leninism to China’s specific environment.” This was an inevitable path for making Marxism internalized as the conviction and faith of the Chinese people. In 1943, the Central Committee of the CPC stated in a reply to the Comintern: “Chinese Communists are the inheritors of the finest traditions of all our nation’s culture, thought, and morality, regarding all these finest traditions as things intimately connected with their own flesh and blood, and will continue to carry them forward and develop them. The rectification movement [7]7 The rectification movement (整风运动) was a Party-wide ideological education campaign launched by Mao Zedong in Yan’an in 1942–1944, aimed at correcting subjectivism, sectarianism, and stereotyped Party writing to establish a unified Marxist-Leninist style of study, work, and writing. against subjectivism, sectarianism, and Party stereotyped writing that the Chinese Communist Party has carried out in recent years is precisely to further and deeply integrate the revolutionary science of Marxism-Leninism with the practice of the Chinese revolution, Chinese history, and Chinese culture.” These expositions not only laid out the Chinese Communists’ stance and attitude toward the finest traditional Chinese culture but also elucidated the three aspects of the integration of Marxism-Leninism with the finest traditional Chinese culture, representing a rational understanding that advanced the Sinicization of Marxism. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, Mao Zedong emphasized critically inheriting traditional Chinese culture and explicitly opposed the erroneous advocacy of “wholesale Westernization.”

毛泽东虽然没有明确提出要将马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，但是他提出的“第一个结合”内蕴着马克思主义基本原理与中华传统文化的精华相结合的要求。1938年，毛泽东在党的扩大的六届六中全会上深入论述了研究中国历史文化的重要意义，指出：“我们这个民族有数千年的历史，有它的特点，有它的许多珍贵品。对于这些，我们还是小学生。今天的中国是历史的中国的一个发展；我们是马克思主义的历史主义者，我们不应当割断历史。从孔夫子到孙中山，我们应当给以总结，承继这一份珍贵的遗产。这对于指导当前的伟大的运动，是有重要的帮助的……对于中国共产党说来，就是要学会把马克思列宁主义的理论应用于中国的具体的环境。”这是使马克思主义内化为中国人民信念、信仰的必然途径。1943年，中共中央在回复共产国际的一份文件中指出：“中国共产党人是我们民族一切文化、思想、道德的最优秀传统的继承者，把这一切优秀传统看成和自己血肉相连的东西，而且将继续加以发扬光大。中国共产党近年来所进行的反主观主义、反宗派主义、反党八股的整风运动就是要使得马克思列宁主义这一革命科学更进一步地和中国革命实践、中国历史、中国文化深相结合起来。”这些论述，不仅摆明了中国共产党人对中华优秀传统文化的立场和态度，而且阐明了马克思列宁主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合的三个方面，是推进马克思主义中国化的理性认识。在社会主义革命和建设时期，毛泽东注重批判地继承中华传统文化，明确反对“全盘西化”的错误主张。

During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping stressed: “One must understand some Chinese history; this is a spiritual driving force for China’s development.” “We must use history to educate the youth and educate the people.” He used the term “xiaokang” [8]8 “Xiaokang” (小康), literally “moderately prosperous,” is a classical Confucian term for a society of modest well-being, revived by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 to denote China’s goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society by the year 2000., drawn from traditional Chinese classics, to summarize the second-step strategic goal to be achieved in China’s socialist modernization. In July 2001, at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Jiang Zemin put forward the concept of “the finest cultural traditions of the Chinese nation,” pointing out: “The first generation of central leadership with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core and the second generation of central leadership with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core led our Party in firmly integrating the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China’s specific reality, forming Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. These two theoretical achievements are Sinicized Marxism, embodying both the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism and the finest thoughts of the Chinese nation and the practical experience of Chinese Communists.” Hu Jintao pointed out: “The Chinese nation has created a profound and extensive Chinese culture with a long history; the Chinese nation will certainly be able to create new brilliance in Chinese culture on the basis of carrying forward the finest traditional Chinese culture,” emphasizing the need to “unswervingly arm the whole Party and educate the people with the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.” These important expositions all highlighted the foundational status of the finest traditional Chinese culture in developing advanced socialist culture, providing intellectual material for the proposal of the “Second Integration.”

改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平强调：“要懂得些中国历史，这是中国发展的一个精神动力。”“我们要用历史教育青年，教育人民。”他用“小康”这一中华传统典籍中的词语来概括中国社会主义现代化建设要实现的第二步战略目标。2001年7月，江泽民在庆祝中国共产党成立80周年大会上提出了“中华民族的优秀文化传统”的概念，指出：“以毛泽东同志为核心的第一代中央领导集体和以邓小平同志为核心的第二代中央领导集体，带领我们党坚持把马克思列宁主义基本原理同中国具体实际紧密结合，形成了毛泽东思想、邓小平理论。这两大理论成果，是中国化了的马克思主义，既体现了马克思列宁主义的基本原理，又包含了中华民族的优秀思想和中国共产党人的实践经验”。胡锦涛指出：“中华民族创造了源远流长、博大精深的中华文化，中华民族也一定能够在弘扬中华优秀传统文化的基础上创造出中华文化新的辉煌”，强调要“坚持不懈用马克思主义中国化最新成果武装全党、教育人民”。这些重要论述都突出了中华优秀传统文化在发展社会主义先进文化中的根基地位，为“第二个结合”的提出提供了思想资料。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [9]9 The 18th National Congress of the CPC, held in November 2012, marked the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership., amid new practical and theoretical innovations, Xi Jinping has placed great emphasis on inheriting and promoting the finest traditional Chinese culture, profoundly revealing that the finest traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeline and basic gene of the Chinese nation’s survival and development, scientifically expounding its ideological essence, value concepts, and moral quintessence, and making new generalizations from the perspective of understanding the laws governing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In May 2018, at the conference commemorating the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth, Xi Jinping for the first time pointed out the content of the “Two Integrations.” In July 2021, at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, he for the first time put forward the concept of the “Two Integrations,” emphasizing the need to “persist in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific reality and with the finest traditional Chinese culture, using Marxism to observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times, and continue to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century.” The “Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century” adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC [10]10 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, held in November 2021, adopted the third historic resolution on the Party’s history. explicitly stressed that persisting in theoretical innovation requires adhering to the “Two Integrations.” The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC stressed: “Only by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific reality and with the finest traditional Chinese culture, and by persisting in applying dialectical materialism and historical materialism, can we correctly answer the major questions posed by the times and practice, and can we always maintain the vigorous vitality and exuberant vitality of Marxism.” In June 2023, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, Xi Jinping profoundly expounded the significance of the “Two Integrations,” focusing on the rich connotations and major significance of the “Second Integration.” In June 2023, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC held its sixth collective study on opening up new horizons for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. From the height of deepening the understanding of the laws of the Party’s theoretical innovation, Xi Jinping proposed and expounded the scientific methods for advancing theoretical innovation, such as the “Two Integrations” and the “Six Musts” [11]11 The “Six Musts” (六个必须坚持) are six principles for advancing theoretical innovation, including adhering to people-centeredness, self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding integrity and innovation, prioritizing problems, applying systems thinking, and embracing a global vision., providing fundamental guidance for continuing to advance the Party’s theoretical innovation.

党的十八大以来，在新的实践创新和理论创新中，习近平十分重视传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化，深刻揭示了中华优秀传统文化是中华民族生存发展的精神血脉和基本基因，科学阐述了其思想精华、价值理念、道德精髓，并从推进马克思主义中国化时代化规律性认识视角作出了新概括。2018年5月，在纪念马克思诞辰200周年大会上，习近平首次指出了“两个结合”的内容。2021年7月，在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上，他首次提出了“两个结合”的概念，强调要“坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，用马克思主义观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，继续发展当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义”。党的十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》明确强调坚持理论创新必须坚持“两个结合”。党的二十大报告强调:“只有把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，坚持运用辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义，才能正确回答时代和实践提出的重大问题，才能始终保持马克思主义的蓬勃生机和旺盛活力。”2023年6月，习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上深刻阐述了“两个结合”的意义，着重论述了“第二个结合”的丰富内涵和重大意义。2023年6月，中共中央政治局就开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界进行第六次集体学习，习近平从深化党的理论创新的规律性认识的高度，提出并阐述了“两个结合”“六个必须坚持”等推进理论创新的科学方法，为继续推进党的理论创新提供了根本遵循。

The explicit proposal and systematic exposition of the “Second Integration” represent a creative contribution to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. “Integration” itself is innovation; it opens up a cultural space for theoretical and practical innovation. Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “The ‘Second Integration’ is our Party’s profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, a profound grasp of the laws of the development of Chinese civilization, indicating that our Party’s understanding of the Chinese path, theory, and system has reached a new height, indicating that our Party’s historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height, and indicating that our Party’s consciousness in promoting cultural innovation while inheriting the finest traditional Chinese culture has reached a new height.” These three “new heights” profoundly elucidate the major significance of the “Second Integration.” The “Second Integration” is the inevitable development and logical extension of the “First Integration.” The “First Integration” is the integration of theory and practice; Marxist theory is tested, enriched, and developed in China’s practice, and the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific reality drives China’s practice to success. The “Second Integration” is the integration of the ideological and theoretical system with the national cultural form; it uses Marxist theory to activate the excellent factors of traditional Chinese culture and endows them with new contemporary connotations, enabling the essence of traditional Chinese culture to merge with the essence of Marxism, creating local cultural conditions for the “First Integration,” and integrating into theoretical and cultural innovation within the “integration.” The “Two Integrations” are closely linked, interdependent, and unified in the process of advancing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

“第二个结合”的明确提出和系统性论述，是对马克思主义中国化时代化的创造性贡献。“结合”本身就是创新，它开启了理论和实践创新的文化空间。习近平深刻指出：“‘第二个结合’，是我们党对马克思主义中国化时代化历史经验的深刻总结，是对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握，表明我们党对中国道路、理论、制度的认识达到了新高度，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度，表明我们党在传承中华优秀传统文化中推进文化创新的自觉性达到了新高度。”这三个“新高度”深刻阐明了“第二个结合”的重大意义。“第二个结合”是“第一个结合”的必然发展和逻辑延伸。“第一个结合”是理论与实践的结合，马克思主义理论在中国的实践中得到检验、丰富和发展，马克思主义基本原理在与中国具体实际的结合中推动中国实践取得成功。“第二个结合”是思想理论体系与民族文化形态的结合，用马克思主义理论激活中国传统文化的优秀因子，并赋予其新的时代内涵，使中华传统文化的精华与马克思主义的精髓相融通，为“第一个结合”创造本土文化条件，并在“结合”中融入理论创新、文化创新。“两个结合”紧密联系，相互依赖，统一于推进马克思主义中国化时代化的进程之中。

(3) The Historic Leaps Produced in the “Two Integrations”

（三）“两个结合”中产生的历史性飞跃

The Chinese Communist Party has continuously opened up new realms of Marxism through the “Two Integrations.” The historic leaps that have occurred in the process of the Sinicization of Marxism have formed Sinicized Marxism, which, with its distinctive national characteristics and style, has enriched and developed the treasure house of Marxist theory.

中国共产党在“两个结合”中不断开辟马克思主义新境界。在马克思主义中国化进程中发生的历史性飞跃，形成了中国化的马克思主义，后者以鲜明的民族特色和风格，丰富和发展了马克思主义理论宝库。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context underwent its first historic leap, and the Chinese Communists established Mao Zedong Thought. The process of establishing Mao Zedong Thought was a two-way interactive process in which the Chinese Communists used Marxism to “adapt” China and used Chinese experience to “adapt” Marxism, and it was also a process of critically inheriting and innovating upon traditional Chinese culture. In the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, the Chinese Communists, proceeding from new practice and the characteristics of the times, adhered to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, successfully inaugurated socialism with Chinese characteristics, formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and achieved a new leap in the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have adhered to the Two Integrations, proceeded from new realities, and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. “On major era-specific questions such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, what kind of modern socialist country to build and how to build it, and what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build it, they have put forward a series of original new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for governing the country,” achieving a new leap in the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and providing a powerful ideological weapon for the development of the Party and the state’s undertakings.

在新民主主义革命时期，马克思主义中国化经历了第一次历史性飞跃，中国共产党人创立了毛泽东思想。毛泽东思想的创立过程是中国共产党人运用马克思主义“化”中国和用中国经验“化”马克思主义的双向互动过程，也是对中华传统文化进行批判继承、推陈出新的过程。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，中国共产党从新的实践和时代特征出发，坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，成功开创了中国特色社会主义，形成了中国特色社会主义理论体系，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，坚持“两个结合”，从新的实际出发，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，“就新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，建设什么样的社会主义现代化强国、怎样建设社会主义现代化强国，建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党等重大时代课题，提出一系列原创性的治国理政新理念新思想新战略”，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃，为党和国家事业发展提供了强大的思想武器。

II. The Theoretical Logic of the Two Integrations

二、“两个结合”的理论逻辑

The process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a process of the Two Integrations, a need for the nationalization and localization of Marxism, a need for the Party to lead the people in carrying out the great social revolution, and a need to inherit and promote the fine traditional Chinese culture. As the subjects advancing this historical process, the Chinese Communists’ high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence transforms this historical and practical need and possibility into actuality, manifesting the theoretical logic of the Two Integrations.

马克思主义中国化时代化进程是“两个结合”的过程，是马克思主义民族化、本土化的需要，是中国共产党领导人民进行伟大社会革命的需要，是继承弘扬中华优秀传统文化的需要。作为推进这一历史进程的主体，中国共产党人高度的文化自觉、文化自信，使这种历史和现实的需要与可能性转化为现实性，彰显了“两个结合”的理论逻辑。

(I) The Inevitable Requirement of the Laws of Marxist Development

（一）马克思主义发展规律的必然要求

Marxism continuously opens up the path of understanding truth and developing truth in practice. This path is one of combining with the actual conditions and historical circumstances of different nations and countries. In the process of combining with China’s realities and historical culture, Marxism has both profoundly changed China and enriched and developed itself. Engels once pointed out that the general principles elaborated in the *Communist Manifesto* and their practical application “must always be applied in accordance with the historical conditions existing at the time.” [12]12 Guo Moruo (1892–1978) was a Chinese writer, poet, historian, and later a high-ranking official in the PRC. “Marx Enters the Confucian Temple” (1925) is a short story imagining a dialogue between Marx and Confucius. Lenin also pointed out that Marx’s theory “provides only general guiding principles, and the application of these principles will, in specific terms, differ in England from France, in France from Germany, and in Germany from Russia.” [13]13 “Great Harmony” (datong) is a classical Confucian concept of an ideal, utopian society, described in the Book of Rites (Liji). The reason for these differences is that the national conditions, histories, and cultures of each country are different. Marxism, in the process of combining with and being applied to the realities of different countries, continuously summarizes new experiences, continuously acquires new ideas, and thereby continuously develops.

马克思主义在实践中不断开辟认识真理和发展真理的道路。这条道路是同各民族、各国的实际情况和历史条件相结合的道路。马克思主义在同中国实际和历史文化相结合的过程中，既深刻地改变了中国，又丰富和发展了自身。恩格斯曾经指出，《共产党宣言》所阐述的一般原理及其实际运用，“随时随地都要以当时的历史条件为转移”。列宁也指出，马克思的理论“所提供的只是总的指导原理，而这些原理的应用具体地说，在英国不同于法国，在法国不同于德国，在德国又不同于俄国”。之所以不同，是因为各国的国情、历史文化不同。马克思主义是在同各国实际的结合和运用中，不断总结新的经验，不断获取新的思想，从而不断得到发展的。

The dissemination and application of Marxism requires not only combining with the realities of each country to achieve concretization, but also nationalization and localization, that is, achieving integration with the history and culture of the host country, creating cultural conditions for it to take root and grow, and enabling the people of the host country to accept and identify with Marxism through the fusion of the basic tenets of Marxism with their own history and culture. Marxism always enriches and develops along the broad path of human civilization, constantly absorbing the achievements of various national civilizations and integrating the positive elements of various national cultures. This integration endows the basic tenets of Marxism with distinct local characteristics, thereby giving Marxism itself new momentum for growth and development. The nationalization of Marxism is precisely a requirement of the laws of Marxist development; the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context reflects this objective law and is a successful example of the nationalization of Marxism.

马克思主义的传播和运用，不仅要与各国实际相结合，实现具体化，而且还要民族化、本土化，即实现与所在国的历史文化相结合，为自己创造出扎根生长的文化条件，使所在国人民在马克思主义基本原理同本国历史文化的融通中接受、认同马克思主义。马克思主义总是在人类文明的大道上丰富发展，总是不断地吸纳各民族文明的成果，融合各民族文化中的积极因素。这种融合使马克思主义基本原理获得了鲜明的本土特色，从而使得马克思主义本身获得了生长和发展的新动力。马克思主义民族化正是马克思主义发展规律的要求，马克思主义中国化反映了这一客观规律，是马克思主义民族化的成功范例。

(II) The Practical Needs of China’s Revolution, Construction, and Reform

（二）中国革命、建设、改革的实践需要

Engels pointed out: “The real content of all epoch-making systems arises from the needs of the period that produced them.” [14]14 The “Four Modernizations” (agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology) were a set of goals first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reiterated in the 1970s. Mao Zedong, summing up historical experience, stated: “For a very long period, from the Opium War of 1840 to the eve of the May Fourth Movement of 1919, for over seventy years, the Chinese people had no ideological weapon to resist imperialism.” “The Russian Revolution of 1917 awakened the Chinese people, and the Chinese learned something new, namely, Marxism-Leninism.” [15]15 This is a quotation from the Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China (1981). The Chinese Communists, having chosen Marxism as their guiding ideology, had to solve the problem of how it could guide practice. Reciting isolated phrases from Marxism and mechanically copying the experience of the Russian Revolution had repeatedly led the Chinese Communists to failure and setbacks. It was necessary to use the “arrow” of Marxism to shoot at the “target” of China’s realities, creating new theories in practice to meet objective needs.

恩格斯指出：“一切划时代的体系的真正的内容都是由于产生这些体系的那个时期的需要而形成起来的。”毛泽东总结历史经验，提出：“在一个很长的时期内，即从一八四○年的鸦片战争到一九一九年的五四运动的前夜，共计七十多年中，中国人没有什么思想武器可以抗御帝国主义。”“一九一七年的俄国革命唤醒了中国人，中国人学得了一样新的东西，这就是马克思列宁主义。”中国共产党人选择马克思主义作为指导思想，必须解决后者如何指导实践的问题。背诵马克思主义个别词句，照抄照搬俄国革命经验，曾使得中国共产党屡遭失败和挫折。必须以马克思主义之“矢”，射中国实际之“的”，在实践中创造新的理论以顺应客观需要。

The Chinese Communists have always adhered to exploring and opening up the path of revolution, construction, and reform through the Two Integrations. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the Chinese Communists always adhered to integrating Marxism with the realities of the Chinese revolution, seeking the correct path for armed struggle and seizing state power in a large Eastern semi-feudal and semi-colonial country like China, formulating the line for the New Democratic Revolution, and unswervingly carrying the revolution through to the end. The Chinese Communists united and led the Chinese people in arduous struggles, overthrew the three great mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, established the People’s Republic of China, and opened a new epoch in China’s development. During the period of promoting the transition from the New Democratic Revolution to the socialist revolution, Mao Zedong led the entire Party in formulating and implementing the general line for the transition period, exploring and opening up a path of socialist transformation suited to China’s realities. By the end of 1956, the socialist transformation was basically completed, and by establishing the socialist economic system and political system, an important foundation was laid for all of China’s progress and development. In opening up and leading the cause of socialist construction, Mao Zedong proposed “taking the Soviet Union as a mirror,” [16]16 This is a quotation from the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle (2021). promoted the “Second Integration” of Marxism with China’s specific realities, wrote important works such as *On the Ten Major Relationships* and *On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People*, formed a series of important thoughts on socialist construction, and achieved original theoretical results and great achievements in socialist construction. However, the Chinese Communists’ exploration of the “Second Integration” also encountered serious setbacks. In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was convened, achieving a great historical turning point. Under the guidance of the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the Chinese Communists integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with the realities of the primary stage of socialism in China, answered era-specific questions such as what socialism is and how to build it, established new theories, and guided reform and opening up and socialist modernization to continuously open up new prospects.

中国共产党始终坚持在“两个结合”中探索和开辟革命、建设、改革的道路。新民主主义革命时期，中国共产党始终坚持把马克思主义与中国革命实际相结合，寻找在中国这样的半封建半殖民地东方大国进行武装斗争、夺取政权的正确道路，制定新民主主义革命路线，坚定不移地把革命进行到底。中国共产党团结带领中国人民进行艰苦卓绝的斗争，推翻了帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义三座大山，建立了中华人民共和国，开辟了中国发展的新纪元。在推动新民主主义革命向社会主义革命转变时期，毛泽东领导全党制定和贯彻过渡时期总路线，探索和开辟了符合中国实际的社会主义改造道路，于1956年底基本完成社会主义改造，通过建立社会主义经济制度、政治制度，为中国一切进步和发展奠定了重要基础。毛泽东在开辟和领导社会主义建设事业中，提出“以苏为鉴”，推进马克思主义与中国具体实际的“第二次结合”，撰写了《论十大关系》《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》等重要著作，形成了关于社会主义建设的一系列重要思想，取得了独创性的理论成果和社会主义建设的伟大成就。但是，中国共产党对“第二次结合”的探索，也遭遇过严重挫折。1978年12月，党的十一届三中全会召开，实现了伟大历史转折。在解放思想、实事求是思想路线的指引下，中国共产党把马克思主义基本原理同中国社会主义初级阶段实际相结合，回答了什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义等时代课题，创立新的理论，指引改革开放和社会主义现代化建设不断开创新局面。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the principal contradiction in Chinese society has undergone a historic shift. Under the new international and domestic circumstances, China’s strategic opportunities for development coexist with risks and challenges. This requires scientifically answering major era-specific questions such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to studying new situations and solving new problems through the Two Integrations, continuously advancing theoretical and practical innovation, and in particular, preliminarily constructing the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization. In further comprehensively deepening reform, it has injected powerful spiritual momentum into Chinese-path modernization, provided more complete institutional guarantees, and opened up a broad path for building a strong country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Xi Jinping has

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，中国社会主要矛盾发生历史性变化。在新的国际国内形势下，中国发展的战略机遇和风险挑战并存。这就要求必须科学回答新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义等重大时代课题。以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持在“两个结合”中研究新情况、解决新问题，不断推进理论创新和实践创新，特别是初步构建了中国式现代化理论体系，在进一步全面深化改革中为中国式现代化建设注入了强大的精神动力，提供了更为完善的制度保障，开辟了强国建设、民族复兴的康庄大道。习近平揭示了坚持“两个结合”的必然性和强大力量：“在中国特色社会主义新时代，党和国家的事业之所以取得了历史性成就、发生了历史性变革，一个重要原因就是我们坚持了‘两个结合’。”

(3) The Intrinsic Compatibility between Marxism and Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

（三）马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的内在融通性

“After Marxism was introduced into China, the propositions of scientific socialism were warmly welcomed by the Chinese people and ultimately took root, blossomed, and bore fruit on Chinese soil. This was no accident; rather, it was due to their convergence with the excellent historical culture passed down over millennia in China and with the values that the broad masses of the people use daily without conscious awareness.” In 1925, Guo Moruo wrote “Marx Enters the Confucian Temple,” [12]12 Guo Moruo (1892–1978) was a Chinese writer, poet, historian, and later a high-ranking official in the PRC. “Marx Enters the Confucian Temple” (1925) is a short story imagining a dialogue between Marx and Confucius. a fictional dialogue between Marx and Confucius about the ideal future society. Through the mouths of these two great thinkers, Guo proposed that the communist ideal of a society where each contributes according to his ability and receives according to his needs is compatible with the ideal of a Great Harmony world [13]13 “Great Harmony” (datong) is a classical Confucian concept of an ideal, utopian society, described in the Book of Rites (Liji). where the Great Way prevails and all under Heaven is held in common. This romantic fiction illustrates a truth: Marxism and China’s excellent traditional culture, two products of human civilization formed in different historical periods, possess an inherent compatibility, and this is the precondition for their “integration.” The result of “integration” is mutual achievement—Marxism took root, flourished, and grew luxuriantly in the fertile soil of China’s excellent traditional culture; at the same time, it profoundly changed China, injecting new ideological elements into China’s excellent traditional culture, activating the genes of Chinese civilization, promoting the modern transformation of Chinese civilization, and boosting the spirit and morale of the Chinese people. As Mao Zedong said: “From the time when the Chinese learned Marxism-Leninism, the Chinese people, in their spiritual life, moved from passivity to initiative. From that time on, the era in modern world history in which the Chinese people and Chinese culture were looked down upon came to an end.”

“马克思主义传入中国后，科学社会主义的主张受到中国人民热烈欢迎，并最终扎根中国大地、开花结果，决不是偶然的，而是同我国传承了几千年的优秀历史文化和广大人民日用而不觉的价值观念融通的。”1925年，郭沫若写作了《马克思进文庙》，虚构了马克思与孔子关于未来理想社会的对话。郭沫若借这两位伟大哲人之口，提出各尽所能、各取所需的共产主义社会理想与大道之行、天下为公的大同世界理想是相通的。这次浪漫主义的虚构，说明了一个道理：在不同历史时期形成的马克思主义和中华优秀传统文化这两种人类文明成果有着内在的融通性，这是二者“结合”的前提。“结合”的结果是彼此成就——马克思主义在中华优秀传统文化的沃土中落地生根、枝繁叶茂；同时，它也深刻地改变了中国，为中华优秀传统文化注入了新的思想元素，激活了中华文明的基因，推动了中华文明进行现代转型，提振了中国人民的精气神。正如毛泽东所说的：“自从中国人学会了马克思列宁主义以后，中国人在精神上就由被动转入主动。从这时起，近代世界历史上那种看不起中国人，看不起中国文化的时代应当完结了。”

Xi Jinping has revealed the points of convergence between the fundamental tenets of Marxism and China’s excellent traditional culture: “China’s excellent traditional culture, extensive and profound, is the crystallization of the wisdom of Chinese civilization. It contains such concepts as the common good for all under Heaven, the people as the foundation of the state, governing with virtue, discarding the old and embracing the new, appointing people on their merits, the unity of Heaven and humanity, unremitting self-improvement, embracing all things with virtue, stressing good faith and harmony, and being amicable to neighbors. These are important manifestations of the Chinese people’s worldview, view of the world, view of society, and view of morality accumulated over long-term production and life, and they are highly compatible with the value propositions of scientific socialism.” These homogeneities are the internal basis and prerequisite for the integration and interpenetration of China’s excellent traditional culture and Marxism. In promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s excellent traditional culture, the Communist Party of China, leading the Chinese people, continues the thread of Chinese civilization and composes contemporary chapters. Contemporary China’s cultural construction is guided by the soul of Marxist scientific theory, nourished by the fertile soil of China’s excellent traditional culture, and simultaneously absorbs all positive achievements of human civilization. On the broad road of human civilization, it manifests a new form of coordinated development of material civilization, cultural-ethical progress, political civilization, social civilization, and ecological civilization.

习近平揭示了马克思主义基本原理与中华优秀传统文化的契合之处：“中华优秀传统文化源远流长、博大精深，是中华文明的智慧结晶，其中蕴含的天下为公、民为邦本、为政以德、革故鼎新、任人唯贤、天人合一、自强不息、厚德载物、讲信修睦、亲仁善邻等，是中国人民在长期生产生活中积累的宇宙观、天下观、社会观、道德观的重要体现，同科学社会主义价值观主张具有高度契合性。”这些同质性是中华优秀传统文化与马克思主义融会贯通的内在根据和前提条件。中国共产党领导中国人民在推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展中，赓续中华文脉，谱写当代华章。当代中国的文化建设，既有马克思主义科学理论的灵魂统领，又有中华优秀传统文化的沃土滋养，同时还吸纳了人类文明的一切积极成果，在人类文明的大道上，彰显了物质文明、精神文明、政治文明、社会文明、生态文明协同发展的新形态。

(4) The High Degree of Subjective Consciousness of the Chinese Communists

（四）中国共产党人的高度主体自觉

As the subject advancing the “Two Integrations,” the Chinese Communists’ high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence has transformed this historical and practical necessity and possibility into reality. China’s excellent traditional culture is not only the cultural condition and fertile soil for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context but also the subjective element in the formation of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context. The subjective consciousness of the Chinese Communists was formed and continuously strengthened through ideological emancipation. The “First Integration” was the first ideological emancipation of the Chinese Communists. “The ‘Second Integration’ is another ideological emancipation, allowing us to fully utilize the precious resources of China’s excellent traditional culture in a broader cultural space to explore theoretical and institutional innovations oriented toward the future.” This major assertion marks a further deepening of the Chinese Communists’ understanding of the laws governing the development of Marxism. When Mao Zedong proposed the “First Integration,” he established three central concepts: Marxist theory, China’s concrete reality, and China’s history and culture. Adapting Marxism to the Chinese context is the integration and mutual transformation of these three. The subjective consciousness of the Chinese Communists in promoting the “Two Integrations” comes from their scientific understanding and grasp of these three elements and their interrelationships. First, they treat Marxism with a scientific attitude, especially by learning from the dogmatic errors they themselves have committed, breaking free from the influence of book worship and ideological rigidity, correctly understanding the laws of Marxist development, and applying Marxism as a scientific guide and scientific method. Second, guided by Marxist epistemology, they scientifically understand China’s reality, grasp the laws and essence of its development and change, and continuously raise their level and capacity for understanding China’s reality through the cycle of practice–cognition–practice–cognition. Finally, they view China’s traditional culture from a historical and dialectical perspective, distinguishing the essence from the dross, and in a critical and discerning inheritance, they transmit and promote China’s excellent traditional culture. It is precisely these three aspects that form the correct points of convergence for the “Two Integrations,” embodying the concrete and historical unity of subjective understanding and objective reality.

作为推进“两个结合”的主体，中国共产党人高度的文化自觉、文化自信，促进了这种历史和现实的需要与可能性转化为现实。中华优秀传统文化不仅是马克思主义中国化的文化条件和沃土，还是中国化马克思主义形成的主体性要素。中国共产党人的主体自觉是在思想解放中形成和不断增强的。“第一个结合”是中国共产党人的第一次思想解放。“‘第二个结合’是又一次的思想解放，让我们能够在更广阔的文化空间中，充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源，探索面向未来的理论和制度创新。”这一重大论断标志着中国共产党进一步深化了对马克思主义发展规律的认识。毛泽东在提出“第一个结合”时，确立了三个中心概念：马克思主义理论、中国的具体实际、中国的历史文化，马克思主义中国化是这三者的结合和互化。中国共产党推动“两个结合”的主体自觉，来自于对这三者及其相互关系的科学认识与把握。首先，以科学的态度对待马克思主义，特别是从自身所犯过的教条主义错误中吸取教训，破除本本主义、思想僵化的影响，正确认识马克思主义发展规律，把马克思主义作为科学指南和科学方法来运用。其次，以马克思主义认识论为指导，科学认识中国实际，把握其发展变化的规律与本质，在实践—认识—实践—认识……中不断提升对中国实际的认识水平和认识能力。最后，以历史的辩证的观点看待中华传统文化，区分精华和糟粕，在批判的、有鉴别的继承中，传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化。正是这三个方面形成了“两个结合”的正确结合点，体现了主观认识与客观实际具体的历史的统一。

3. The “Two Integrations” Generate Powerful Practical Force for Realizing National Rejuvenation

三、“两个结合”生成实现民族复兴的强大实践伟力

“All the struggles, sacrifices, and creations the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in carrying out boil down to one theme: realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Adhering to the “Two Integrations” has the fundamental purpose of guiding China’s great social revolution and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The “Two Integrations” are the fundamental path for continuously advancing theoretical innovation on the basis of practice and also a powerful practical driving force for realizing national rejuvenation.

“中国共产党团结带领中国人民进行的一切奋斗、一切牺牲、一切创造，归结起来就是一个主题：实现中华民族伟大复兴。”坚持“两个结合”，根本目的在于引领中国伟大的社会革命，实现中华民族伟大复兴。“两个结合”是不断推进实践基础上理论创新的根本途径，也是实现民族复兴的强大实践动力。

(1) Promoting the Fulfillment of the Party’s Central Tasks in Each Period

（一）推动实现党在各个时期的中心任务

Guided by Marxism and adhering to proceeding from China’s national conditions in all matters, the Communist Party of China has explored and opened up the correct path for China’s revolution, construction, and reform. The Communist Party of China promptly analyzes and grasps changes in the principal contradiction in Chinese society, establishes the Party’s central tasks in each period, and promotes and fulfills the Party’s central tasks through the “Two Integrations.”

中国共产党以马克思主义为指导，坚持一切从中国国情出发，探索并开辟了中国革命、建设和改革的正确道路。中国共产党及时分析和把握中国社会主要矛盾变化，确立党在各个时期的中心任务，在“两个结合”中推动和实现党的中心任务。

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Mao Zedong led the Chinese people, through arduous and tortuous exploration, to recognize that the Chinese revolution could not mechanically copy the experience of the Russian revolution but had to proceed from China’s actual conditions. On this basis, he opened up the revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing state power by armed force, won the great victory of the New Democratic Revolution, and founded the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese people won democracy and became masters of their own country, society, and destiny.

新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东领导中国人民从艰辛曲折的探索中认识到，中国革命不能照抄照搬俄国革命经验，而要从中国实际出发，在此基础上，开辟了农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的革命道路，赢得了新民主主义革命的伟大胜利，成立了中华人民共和国。中国人民争得了民主，成为国家、社会和自己命运的主人。

During the period of socialist revolution and construction, Mao Zedong insisted on integrating the basic principles of scientific socialism with China’s national conditions and historical background, led the Chinese people in opening up a unique path of socialist transformation, established the basic system of socialism, and carried out large-scale socialist construction. During this period, the Communist Party of China led the Chinese people in striving to build the “Four Modernizations,” [14]14 The “Four Modernizations” (agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology) were a set of goals first proposed by Zhou Enlai in 1964 and reiterated in the 1970s. “realized the great leap of a large Eastern country that was poor and blank into a socialist society,” [15]15 This is a quotation from the Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China (1981). and “provided valuable experience, theoretical preparation, and material foundation for creating socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new historical period.” [16]16 This is a quotation from the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centenary Struggle (2021).

社会主义革命和建设时期，毛泽东坚持把科学社会主义基本原理与中国国情和历史背景相结合，领导中国人民开辟了独特的社会主义改造道路，建立起社会主义基本制度，开展了大规模社会主义建设。这一时期，中国共产党带领中国人民为建设“四个现代化”而奋斗，“实现了一穷二白、人口众多的东方大国大步迈进社会主义社会的伟大飞跃”，“为在新的历史时期开创中国特色社会主义提供了宝贵经验、理论准备、物质基础”。

During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Communist Party of China actively explored the path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, made good use of reform and opening up as the crucial move, enabled the entire people to become prosperous as quickly as possible, and China caught up with the times in big strides.

在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，中国共产党积极探索中国特色社会主义建设道路，用好改革开放这个关键一招，使全体人民尽快富裕起来，中国大踏步赶上了时代。

As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, the Communist Party of China led the Chinese people in successfully completing the First Centenary Goal, [17]17 The First Centenary Goal is the goal of building a moderately prosperous society (xiaokang) in all respects by the centenary of the CPC’s founding in 2021. embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and in the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, continuously promoted the realization of common prosperity for all the people, stimulated the creative vitality of all the people, and revealed the brilliant prospect of drawing ever closer to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中国共产党领导中国人民顺利完成第一个百年奋斗目标，开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程，在推进中国式现代化进程中，不断促进实现全体人民共同富裕，激发全体人民创造活力，展现出越来越接近中华民族伟大复兴的辉煌前景。

(2) Opening Up and Developing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（二）开辟和发展中国特色社会主义

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the theme of the CPC’s theoretical and practical innovation, and it has been opened up and continuously developed in the process of the Two Integrations. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was formed by integrating the basic principles of Marxism with the particularities of China’s national conditions; it was walked out under the guidance of Marxism, and it was also walked out from the more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization history. After the end of the “Cultural Revolution,” China was at a historical juncture of where to go. The nationwide great discussion on “practice is the sole criterion for testing truth” opened the valve of people’s ideological emancipation. The CPC and the Chinese people began to re-understand China’s national conditions and Marxism, broke through the shackles of ideological rigidity and semi-rigidity, restored the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and provided the ideological preparation, theoretical preparation, and mass foundation for the historic turning point of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee. [18]18 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, held in December 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and a shift away from the Maoist focus on class struggle toward economic development. Without the integration of Marxism with China’s concrete reality on the basis of scientific understanding, there would have been no reform and opening up and no opening up of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

中国特色社会主义是中国共产党理论创新、实践创新的主题，是在“两个结合”的进程中开辟和不断发展的。中国特色社会主义道路是将马克思主义的基本原理同中国国情的特殊性相结合而形成的，是在马克思主义指导下走出来的，也是从5000多年的中华文明史中走出来的。“文化大革命”结束以后，中国处在向何处去的历史关头。在全国范围内开展的“实践是检验真理的唯一标准”大讨论，打开了人们思想解放的阀门，中国共产党和中国人民开始对中国国情和马克思主义进行再认识，冲破了思想僵化、半僵化的束缚，恢复了实事求是的思想路线，为党的十一届三中全会这一历史性转折提供了思想准备、理论准备和群众基础。如果没有科学认识基础上的马克思主义与中国具体实际的结合，就不会有改革开放和中国特色社会主义道路的开辟。

The Two Integrations provide timely theoretical guidance for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. “Each era has its own problems; as long as we scientifically recognize, accurately grasp, and correctly solve these problems, we can continuously push our society forward.” The course of opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is precisely a process of continuously answering the questions of the era and the questions of the people through the Two Integrations, a process of continuously resolving deep-seated contradictions, and also a process of responding to risks and challenges. The Marxism that has been adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times formed in this process leads the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in overcoming difficulties and forging ahead.

“两个结合”为坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供了与时俱进的理论指引。“每个时代总有属于它自己的问题，只要科学地认识、准确地把握、正确地解决这些问题，就能够把我们的社会不断推向前进。”中国特色社会主义开辟和发展的历程，就是在“两个结合”中不断回答时代之问、人民之问的过程，是不断破解深层次矛盾的过程，也是应对风险挑战的过程。在这个过程中形成的中国化时代化的马克思主义，引领着中国特色社会主义事业攻坚克难、跋涉前进。

The Two Integrations provide practical guidance for upholding and developing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era must advance Chinese-path modernization in the course of further deepening reform comprehensively. This major historical task is a big article; we must continuously deepen our understanding of its difficult points, key points, internal logic, scientific methods, etc., grasp the laws, and master the initiative. This requires that, under the premise of unifying the problem-oriented approach with the people-centered value orientation, we dare to explore, be good at exploring, be good at summarizing and improving, and be good promoters and doers of reform through the Two Integrations.

“两个结合”为坚持和发展中国特色社会主义事业提供了实践指引。新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，必须在进一步全面深化改革中推进中国式现代化，这一重大历史性课题是一篇大文章，要不断深化对其难点重点、内在逻辑、科学方法等的认识，把握规律性，掌握主动性。这就要求在坚持问题导向和以人民为中心的价值取向相统一的前提下，在“两个结合”中勇于探索、善于探索、善于总结提高，当好改革的促进派、实干家。

(III) Continuously consolidate cultural subjectivity, enhance historical confidence and cultural confidence

（三）不断巩固文化主体性，增强历史自信、文化自信

The Two Integrations have raised the whole Party’s understanding of consolidating cultural subjectivity and help us continuously enhance historical confidence and cultural confidence in practice. The CPC emphasizes upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground; that is, to uphold the fundamental principles of Marxism and to uphold the fundamental principles of Chinese cultural subjectivity. Modern China once suffered aggression from Western powers, who attempted to rule the Chinese people with Western civilization and values. After Marxism spread to China, the Chinese people shifted from passivity to initiative in spirit. The cultural construction goal of the New Democratic Revolution led by the CPC was to develop a national, scientific, and mass-oriented new democratic culture. From this time on, the national subjectivity and people’s subjectivity of this advanced culture began to be established. Thereafter, cultural subjectivity was continuously consolidated in the socialist revolution and construction and gained a continuous driving force for development in reform and opening up. In today’s world, various civilizations, cultures, and trends of thought interact and clash. Faced with this, we must keep a clear head, prevent erroneous trends such as cultural nihilism, and resist various errors of “Westernization.” Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, with its unique original theories, distinctive national style, and firm people’s stance, fully demonstrates the essence and value of cultural subjectivity. We must deeply understand the possibility, necessity, inevitability, and legitimacy of the Two Integrations, and persist in continuously raising historical confidence and cultural confidence to new heights through “integration.”

“两个结合”提高了全党对巩固文化主体性的认识，有助于我们在实践中不断增强历史自信、文化自信。中国共产党强调守正创新，就是要守马克思主义基本原理之正，守中华文化主体性之正。近代的中国曾遭受西方列强的侵略，西方列强企图以西方文明和价值观统治中国人民。马克思主义传到中国后，中国人民在精神上由被动转为主动。中国共产党领导的新民主主义革命的文化建设目标，是发展民族的、科学的、大众的新民主主义文化，从这时起，这种先进文化的民族主体性和人民主体性开始确立。此后，文化主体性在社会主义革命和建设中不断得到巩固，在改革开放中获得源源不断的发展动力。当今世界，各种文明、文化、思潮相互激荡，对此，我们必须保持清醒的头脑，防止文化虚无主义等错误思潮，抵制“西化”的种种错误。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，以独特的原创性理论、鲜明的民族风格、坚定的人民立场，充分彰显了文化主体性的本质和价值。我们必须深刻认识关于“两个结合”的可能性、必要性、必然性和正当性，坚持在“结合”中不断把历史自信、文化自信提升到新高度。

IV. The Two Integrations Illuminate the Developmental Path of Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

四、“两个结合”昭示马克思主义中国化时代化的发展进路

Xi Jinping put forward requirements for the Two Integrations: “Continue to advance the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s concrete reality and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, so that Marxism exhibits more Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner, and continue to write a new chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.” Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a theory that conforms to the will of the people, wins the hearts of the people, and brings benefits to the people. In the historical process of comprehensively building a great modern socialist country, the Party’s theoretical innovation will surely achieve even more fruitful results.

习近平对“两个结合”提出要求：“继续推进马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，使马克思主义呈现出更多中国特色、中国风格、中国气派，续写马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章。”习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是顺民意、得民心、为民造福的理论。在全面建成社会主义现代化强国的历史进程中，党的理论创新也一定会取得更丰硕的成果。

(I) Adhere to the soul of Marxism and the roots of fine traditional Chinese culture, strive to form a theoretical grand pattern and grand vision that is inclusive and draws on the strengths of others

（一）坚守马克思主义魂脉和中华优秀传统文化根脉，努力形成兼容并蓄、博采众长的理论大格局大气象

Xi Jinping emphasized: “The major proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times itself determines that we must never abandon the soul of Marxism, and must never abandon the roots of fine traditional Chinese culture. Adhering to this soul and these roots is the foundation and premise of theoretical innovation.” On the one hand, Marxism is the banner and soul of the CPC and the foundation of the Party and the state. The scientific nature and truth of Marxism have been fully tested in China, and its affinity to the people and practicality have been fully demonstrated in China. No matter when, we must not abandon this “soul.” On the other hand, “fine traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization and essence of the wisdom of Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and the foundation for us to stand firm amidst the clash of world cultures.” No matter when, we must not abandon these “roots.” Only by adhering to and applying the basic principles of Marxism without wavering can theoretical innovation have a basis and follow; only by integrating Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture can theoretical innovation have profound cultural heritage and spiritual support. Connect the “soul” with the “roots,” promote the localization of Marxism, make it “Chinese” at a new starting point, and acquire a “national form”; inherit, enrich, and sublimate fine traditional Chinese culture, make it “modern,” and acquire a “contemporary form.” The Two Integrations are precisely the integration of the “soul” and the “roots.” Because of their high degree of compatibility, they mutually achieve, mutually support, and mutually connect, allowing the “soul” to become Chinese and the “roots” to become modern, which helps shape a new cultural form of Chinese-path modernization.

习近平强调：“马克思主义中国化时代化这个重大命题本身就决定，我们决不能抛弃马克思主义这个魂脉，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉。坚守好这个魂和根，是理论创新的基础和前提。”一方面，马克思主义是中国共产党的旗帜和灵魂，是立党立国之本。马克思主义的科学性和真理性在中国得到了充分检验，人民性和实践性在中国得到了充分彰显。无论到什么时候，我们都不能抛弃马克思主义这个“魂脉”。另一方面，“中华优秀传统文化是中华文明的智慧结晶和精华所在，是中华民族的根和魂，是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的根基。”无论到什么时候，我们都不能抛弃这个“根脉”。坚持和运用马克思主义基本原理不动摇，理论创新才有基点和遵循；坚持马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合，理论创新才有深厚的文化底蕴和精神支撑。把“魂脉”同“根脉”贯通起来，促进马克思主义本土化，使其在新的起点上成为“中国的”，获得“民族形式”；传承、丰富和升华中华优秀传统文化，使其成为“现代的”，获得“当代形式”。“两个结合”，就是“魂脉”和“根脉”相结合。二者因彼此高度契合而相互成就、相互支撑、相互贯通，让“魂脉”成为中国的、“根脉”成为现代的，有助于塑造中国式现代化崭新的文化形态。

(II) Persist in connecting the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, converging into new theoretical advantages

（二）坚持把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华相贯通，聚变为新的理论优势

Under the guidance of Marxism, we must expand the practical path for the continuation of Chinese civilization and demonstrate the upholding of fundamental principles and breaking new ground of the CPC in the New Era in cultural construction practice. In this process, grasping the essential requirements of the Two Integrations requires clarifying the following three points: First, Marxism and the national culture are not in a relationship of mutual substitution; Marxism always occupies a guiding position. Second, the essence of Marxist thought must be effectively connected with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, converging into new theoretical advantages, so that Marxism blooms with new flowers of the era in China. Third, in inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, we must oppose both cultural nihilism and cultural restorationism, and focus on the rational absorption and modern transformation of traditional culture. On the new journey of the New Era, we must take the basic principles of Marxism as the guide, assume the sense of responsibility and mission for the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, display the new posture and features of fine traditional Chinese culture, vigorously promote the deep interaction, deep integration, and deep development of the basic principles of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, so that it serves the Party’s theoretical innovation, and gathers strong spiritual strength for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

要在马克思主义指导下，拓展中华文明赓续的实践路径，展现新时代中国共产党人在文化建设实践上的守正和创新。在这一过程中，把握“两个结合”的本质要求，需要明确以下三点：一是马克思主义与本民族的文化，不是相互替代的关系，马克思主义始终居于指导地位；二是要使马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华有效贯通，聚变为新的理论优势，使马克思主义在中国绽放出新的时代之花；三是继承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化，既要反对文化虚无主义，又要反对文化复古主义，着力对传统文化进行合理吸收和现代性转化。新时代新征程，我们要以马克思主义基本原理为指引，承担对中华文明传承发展的责任感、使命感，展现中华优秀传统文化崭新的姿态和风貌，大力推动马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化深度互动、深度融合、深度发展，使之服务于党的理论创新，为实现中华民族伟大复兴凝聚强大的精神力量。

(III) Persist in drawing fresh experience from the practice of the people, so that the Party’s innovative theories gather the wisdom of the people, benefit the people, and win the hearts of the people

（三）坚持从人民群众实践中汲取新鲜经验，让党的创新理论聚民智、惠民利、得民心

Marxism is a theory that speaks for and on behalf of the people; it is a theory founded to change the people’s destiny and enriched and developed in the practice of the people’s liberation. Xi Jinping emphasized: “The achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are all the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people. Whether it is Mao Zedong Thought, the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, or the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, none of them does not originate from the wisdom of the people, the exploration of the people, and the creation of the people.”

马克思主义是为人民立言、为人民代言的理论，是为改变人民命运而创立、在人民求解放的实践中丰富和发展的理论。习近平强调：“马克思主义中国化时代化成果，都是党和人民实践经验和集体智慧的结晶。无论是毛泽东思想、中国特色社会主义理论体系，还是新时代中国特色社会主义思想，无不源自于人民的智慧、人民的探索、人民的创造。”

The Party’s theoretical innovation must listen to the people’s aspirations, be adept at drawing experience from the practice of the people’s masses, draw wisdom from the opinions of the people’s masses, and form theoretical results universally recognized by the people’s masses. In advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times through the Two Integrations, adhering to the value orientation of the people’s character is a very important principle. Only by answering the questions of the times and the questions of the people in the Two Integrations can we create a theory that the people need and accept. We must persist in summarizing experience from the practice of the people’s masses, elevating it to rational understanding, and extracting new theoretical results from it; we must respect the people’s pioneering spirit, focus on testing new theoretical results in the practice of the people’s masses, so that they are perfected, enriched, and developed; we must persist in transforming the power of theory into a powerful material force in the practice of the people’s masses, realizing the fundamental purpose of theoretical innovation. As we continue to advance the Party’s theoretical innovation, we must by no means engage in working behind closed doors, indulge in empty talk, or lapse into utopian thinking; instead, we must go deep into the grassroots, go deep among the masses, promptly respond to the people’s real needs and concerns, study new situations, solve new problems, summarize new experiences, explore new laws, and form more fruitful theoretical results.

党的理论创新，要倾听人民的愿望，善于从人民群众的实践中汲取经验，从人民群众的意见中汲取智慧，形成人民群众普遍认同的理论成果。在“两个结合”中推进马克思主义中国化时代化，坚持人民性这一价值导向是十分重要的原则。只有在“两个结合”中回答时代之问、人民之问，才能创造出人民需要和接受的理论。要坚持从人民群众的实践中总结经验，使之上升为理想认识，从中提炼出新的理论成果；要尊重人民的首创精神，注重从人民群众的实践中检验新的理论成果，使之获得完善、丰富和发展；要坚持在人民群众的实践中把理论的力量转化为强大的物质力量，实现理论创新的根本目的。我们继续推进党的理论创新，决不能闭门造车、坐而论道、流于空想，而是要深入基层、深入群众、及时回应人民的现实需要与关切，研究新情况，解决新问题，总结新经验，探索新规律，形成更加丰硕的理论成果。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗