The Key to Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Lies in the “Two Integrations”

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental achievement obtained by the Communist Party of China in leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country, during the long struggle of carrying out revolution, construction and reform, by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture. In his speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage Development, Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: “Why is our socialism different? Why can it be full of vitality and vigor? The key lies in its Chinese characteristics. The key to Chinese characteristics lies in the ‘Two Integrations.’” This important thesis profoundly reveals the intrinsic and necessary connection between the “Two Integrations” and socialism with Chinese characteristics, raising the understanding of the essential laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new height. It is precisely because the Communist Party of China has adhered to the “Two Integrations,” this most powerful magic weapon, that it can continuously open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and unswervingly forge ahead towards achieving the “Two Centenary Goals” [1]1 The “Two Centenary Goals” are the goals of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of the CPC in 2021 and building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the People’s Republic of China in 2049. and fulfilling the Party’s historical mission.

中国特色社会主义是中国共产党领导全国各族人民在进行革命、建设和改革的长期奋斗中，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所取得的根本成就。习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上的讲话中明确指出：“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’。”这一重要论断深刻揭示了“两个结合”与中国特色社会主义内在的、必然的联系，把对中国特色社会主义本质规律的认识提升到新高度。中国共产党正是因为坚持了“两个结合”这一最大法宝，才能不断开辟和发展中国特色社会主义，坚定不移地朝着实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标、完成党的历史使命砥砺前行。

I. The “Two Integrations” Are the Inevitable Path for Opening Up and Developing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

一、“两个结合”是开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路

As early as 1872, Marx and Engels pointed out in the preface to the German edition of the *Communist Manifesto* that the “general principles” expounded in the *Manifesto* “are, on the whole, as correct today as ever. Here and there some detail might be improved. The practical application of the principles will depend, as the *Manifesto* itself states, everywhere and at all times, on the historical conditions for the time being.” The great transformation triggered by socialism with Chinese characteristics “is not a simple continuation of the template of our history and culture, not a simple application of the template envisioned by Marxist classical writers, not a reprint of the socialist practices of other countries, and not a copy of the modernization development of foreign countries.” [2]2 This is a quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in 2016. Rather, it is a great historical creation guided by the basic tenets of Marxism, proceeding from China’s specific realities, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of the best of traditional Chinese culture, and absorbing and drawing on the outstanding achievements of foreign civilizations. As Xi Jinping said: “Opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture, is the inevitable path. This is the regular understanding we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” The opening up and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics are precisely determined and governed by the internal logic of the “Two Integrations,” and are ultimately the inevitable result of the “Two Integrations.”

早在1872年，马克思和恩格斯在《共产党宣言》德文版序言中就指出：《宣言》所阐述的“一般原理整个说来直到现在还是完全正确的。某些地方本来可以作一些修改。这些原理的实际应用，正如《宣言》中所说的，随时随地都要以当时的历史条件为转移”。中国特色社会主义所引发的伟大变革，“不是简单延续我国历史文化的母版，不是简单套用马克思主义经典作家设想的模板，不是其他国家社会主义实践的再版，也不是国外现代化发展的翻版”，而是以马克思主义基本原理为指导，从中国具体实际出发，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，吸收借鉴国外优秀文明成果所进行的伟大历史创造。正如习近平所说：“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。”中国特色社会主义的开辟与发展，正是受“两个结合”的内在逻辑所决定和支配的，归根到底是“两个结合”的必然结果。

(1) The “Two Integrations” Lay the Theoretical Cornerstone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（一）“两个结合”奠定中国特色社会主义的理论基石

Upholding the soul of Marxism and the root of the best of traditional Chinese culture is the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation. The so-called “cornerstone” refers to the most basic basis or principle on which a certain theory or doctrine is produced and developed, occupying a foundational and original position and role within the entire theory or doctrine. Engels believed that Marx had two major discoveries: one was the “new conception of history,” i.e., historical materialism, which revealed the laws of human historical development and “was of the utmost importance for the socialist view”; the other was the theory of surplus value, which clarified the relationship between capital and labor, revealed “the special movement of the modern capitalist mode of production and of the bourgeois society that it produces,” and thereby elucidated the historical inevitability of communism replacing capitalism. Therefore, “modern scientific socialism is based on these two important facts.” Lenin also emphasized that historical materialism and the theory of surplus value are the “cornerstones” of scientific socialism, and it was precisely because of these two discoveries that socialism was transformed from utopia into science.

坚守好马克思主义这个魂脉与中华优秀传统文化这个根脉，是理论创新的基础和前提。所谓“基石”，是指某个理论或学说赖以产生和发展的最基本的根据或原理，在整个理论或学说中处于基础和本原的地位和作用。恩格斯认为，马克思有两大发现：一是“新的历史观”即唯物史观，揭示了人类历史的发展规律，“对于社会主义的观点有极其重要的意义”；二是剩余价值学说，弄清了资本和劳动的关系，揭示了“现代资本主义生产方式和它所产生的资产阶级社会的特殊的运动规律”，进而阐明共产主义代替资本主义的历史必然性。因此，“现代科学社会主义就是以这两个重要事实为依据的”。列宁也强调，唯物史观和剩余价值理论是科学社会主义的“基石”，正因为有了这两大发现，才使社会主义从空想变成科学。

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 root of the best of traditional Chinese culture.” On the one hand, Marxism is the guiding ideology of our Party and state; adhering to the basic tenets of Marxism is the primary prerequisite for the “Two Integrations” and an important theoretical cornerstone of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Marxism profoundly reveals the universal laws of the development of nature, human society, and thought, points out the correct direction, methods, and path for the liberation of the proletariat and humanity, and provides a scientific theoretical weapon for understanding China’s specific realities and the best of traditional Chinese culture. The dialectical materialist conception of history and the lofty ideal of communism elucidated by Marxism resonate with the Chinese nation’s concepts of valuing the people, advocating harmony, and pursuing great unity; correspond to the dreams of ancient Chinese people of insight who pursued fairness, harmony, and a prosperous people and a strong state; and align with the aspirations of modern Chinese progressives for national salvation, survival, and national rejuvenation. Therefore, the basic tenets of Marxism constitute the worldview and methodology foundation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, running through all aspects and the entire process of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the other hand, socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted in the fertile soil of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. The best of traditional Chinese culture is the crystallization and essence of Chinese civilization, and the root and soul of the Chinese nation. The best of traditional Chinese culture contains rich ideological concepts, traditional virtues, and humanistic spirit, providing beneficial enlightenment for people to understand and transform the world, providing beneficial inspiration for governance, and providing a profound historical foundation and rich cultural connotation for socialism with Chinese characteristics. In advancing the process of socialism with Chinese characteristics, our Party uses the truth power of Marxism to activate the vital and excellent factors of the best of traditional Chinese culture, causing Chinese civilization to radiate vigorous vitality. For example, the ideological concepts in the best of traditional Chinese culture, such as advocating benevolence and valuing the people, laid the cultural foundation for the people-centered development thought; the humanistic spirit of social harmony and striving for goodness nurtured the vivid practice of the “Fengqiao Experience” [3]3 The “Fengqiao Experience” originated in the 1960s in Fengqiao Township, Zhejiang Province, as a method of resolving social conflicts through mass-line-based mediation; it has been updated in the New Era as a model for grassroots social governance. in the New Era; and traditional virtues such as unremitting self-improvement, dedication to work and community, and filial piety and care for elders cultivated the deep meaning of the core socialist values.

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。”一方面，马克思主义是我们党和国家的指导思想，坚持马克思主义基本原理是“两个结合”的首要前提，是中国特色社会主义的重要理论基石。马克思主义深刻揭示了自然界、人类社会、思维发展的普遍规律，为无产阶级和人类解放指明了正确的方向、方法和路径，为认识中国具体实际和中华优秀传统文化提供了科学的理论武器。马克思主义阐明的唯物辩证历史观和共产主义远大理想，与中华民族重民本、尚和合、求大同的理念相契合，与中国古代有志之士追求公平和谐、民富国强的梦想相适应，与近代以来中国先进分子救亡图存、民族振兴的愿望相一致。因此，马克思主义基本原理是中国特色社会主义的世界观和方法论基础，贯穿于中国特色社会主义的各方面和全过程。另一方面，中国特色社会主义植根于中华文明五千多年的文明沃土当中，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。中华优秀传统文化蕴含着丰富思想理念、传统美德、人文精神，为人们认识世界、改造世界提供了有益启迪，为治国理政提供了有益启发，为中国特色社会主义提供了深厚历史底蕴与丰富文化内涵。我们党在推进中国特色社会主义的进程中，用马克思主义的真理力量激活中华优秀传统文化富有生命力的优秀因子，使中华文明焕发出勃勃生机。例如，中华优秀传统文化中讲仁爱、重民本等思想理念奠定了以人民为中心的发展思想的文化根基，社会和谐、向上向善的人文精神孕育了新时代“枫桥经验”的生动实践，自强不息、敬业乐群、孝老爱亲等传统美德涵养了社会主义核心价值观的深层意蕴。

(2) The “First Integration” Determines the Era-Specific Connotation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（二）“第一个结合”决定中国特色社会主义的时代内涵

The “First Integration,” i.e., integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, responds to the specific issues of different development stages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and determines the rich connotation of socialism with Chinese characteristics in different eras. Xi Jinping emphasized: “Marxism is a constantly developing and open theory, always standing at the forefront of the times.” Marxism possesses the theoretical character of keeping pace with the times, originating from its inherent openness; its basic tenets and core viewpoints have enduring classic value. Socialism with Chinese characteristics was precisely produced and developed in the historical process where Chinese Communists used the “arrow” of the basic tenets of Marxism to shoot at the “target” of the era-specific issues of China’s construction and reform. After the founding of New China, facing severe challenges in politics, economy, military, and other aspects, the Party and state, based on the Marxist theory of the state and in light of China’s situation of being “poor and blank” [4]4 “Poor and blank” (一穷二白) is a Mao-era phrase describing China’s economic poverty and cultural/educational backwardness after 1949. and economically and culturally backward, timely promoted industrialization and the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and capitalist industry and commerce, established the basic socialist system, carried out comprehensive and large-scale socialist construction, adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, established China’s status as a major country, and laid the fundamental political prerequisite and institutional foundation for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, at a major historical juncture when the nation faced the question of where to go, our Party profoundly summarized the positive and negative experiences since the founding of New China, scientifically grasped the essence and fundamental tasks of socialism, and, based on the era theme of peace and development, decisively ended “taking class struggle as the key link,” formulated the basic line for the primary stage of socialism centered on economic construction, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles [5]5 The Four Cardinal Principles are: upholding the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. They were articulated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979. and reform and opening up, determined the strategic goal of achieving basic modernization by the middle of the 21st century in three steps, and successfully opened up and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“第一个结合”，即把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，回应中国特色社会主义不同发展阶段的具体问题，决定了中国特色社会主义在不同时代具有丰富的内涵。习近平强调：“马克思主义是不断发展的开放的理论，始终站在时代前沿。”马克思主义具有与时俱进的理论品格，源自其内在的开放性，其基本原理和核心观点具有历久弥新的经典价值。中国特色社会主义正是在中国共产党人以马克思主义基本原理之“矢”，射中国建设和改革的时代课题之“的”的历史进程中产生和发展起来的。新中国成立以后，党和国家面对政治、经济、军事等方面的严峻挑战，根据马克思主义国家学说，结合我国“一穷二白”、经济文化落后的现状，适时推进工业化和对农业、手工业、资本主义工商业的社会主义改造，建立社会主义基本制度，开展全面的大规模的社会主义建设，坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，确立了中国的大国地位，为实现中华民族伟大复兴奠定根本政治前提和制度基础。改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，在国家面临何去何从的重大历史关头，我们党深刻总结新中国成立以来正反两方面经验，科学把握社会主义本质和根本任务，根据和平与发展的时代主题，果断结束“以阶级斗争为纲”，制定以经济建设为中心、坚持四项基本原则、坚持改革开放的社会主义初级阶段基本路线，确定到21世纪中叶分三步走、基本实现社会主义现代化的战略目标，成功开辟和发展中国特色社会主义。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese Communists with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative have coordinated the changes unseen in a century in the world and the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, clearly defined the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, correctly grasped the transformation of the principal contradiction in Chinese society, scientifically judged that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, and, in light of the new historical juncture of China’s development, scientifically answered major epochal 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 powerful 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, founded Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieved a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and opened up new horizons for the development of contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the twenty-first century.

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统筹世界百年未有之大变局和中华民族伟大复兴战略全局，明确坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的基本方略，正确把握我国社会主要矛盾的转化，科学研判中国特色社会主义进入新时代，结合我国发展新的历史方位，科学回答了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，创立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃，开辟了当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义发展的新境界。

(III) The “Second Integration” Thickens the Cultural Foundation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（三）“第二个结合”厚植中国特色社会主义的文化根基

The “Second Integration,” namely, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, uses Marxism to activate the fine genes and strong vitality of Chinese culture, while simultaneously using China’s fine traditional culture to enrich the cultural content and national form of Marxism, thereby making Marxism Chinese and China’s fine traditional culture modern, so that the new culture formed through “integration” becomes the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. Engels pointed out: “We make our own history… but the premises and conditions of politics, etc., and even the traditions that haunt people’s minds, also play a role.” [6]6 Engels, letter to Joseph Bloch, September 21[-22], 1890. Although China’s fine traditional culture and Marxism differ in origin, content, function, and other aspects, they are highly compatible in terms of viewpoints, methods, values, and so on. For example, the world is for all, great harmony under heaven; seeking truth from facts, unity of knowledge and action; the people are the foundation of the state, harmony is most precious; discarding the old and establishing the new, unremitting self-improvement are intrinsically compatible with Marxist concepts such as the abolition of classes and human liberation, materialism and the practical viewpoint, the mass view of history and the unity of opposites, dialectical development and conscious initiative, and can fuse into a new cultural life entity—Sinicized Marxism. This new cultural life entity both embodies the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit, and endows Marxism with a distinct Chinese style and Chinese manner, allowing Marxism to take root, blossom, and bear fruit on Chinese soil.

“第二个结合”，即把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，以马克思主义激活中华文化的优秀基因和强大生命力，同时以中华优秀传统文化充实马克思主义的文化内涵和民族形式，从而使马克思主义成为中国的，中华优秀传统文化成为现代的，使经由“结合”而形成的新文化成为中国式现代化的文化形态。恩格斯指出：“我们自己创造着我们的历史……但是政治等等的前提和条件，甚至那些萦回于人们头脑中的传统，也起着一定的作用。”中华优秀传统文化与马克思主义虽然来源、内容、功能等方面有所不同，但在观点、方法、价值等方面高度契合。例如，天下为公、世界大同，实事求是、知行合一，民为邦本、以和为贵，革故鼎新、自强不息与马克思主义主张的消灭阶级、人类解放，唯物主义、实践观点，群众史观、对立统一，辩证发展、自觉能动等理念是彼此契合的，能融合成一个新的文化生命体——中国化的马克思主义。这种新的文化生命体既体现中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，又赋予马克思主义鲜明的中国风格与中国气派，让马克思主义在中华大地生根、开花、结果。

The Communist Party of China is not only a believer and practitioner of Marxism, but also an inheritor and promoter of China’s fine traditional culture. It has always attached importance to the connection and interaction between Marxism and China’s fine traditional culture, emphasizing the need to inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of Chinese culture and advance the great cause of revolution, construction, and reform. Mao Zedong pointed out: “Today’s China is a development of historical China; we are Marxist historicists, we should not cut off history. From Confucius to Sun Yat-sen, we should sum it up and inherit this precious legacy.” [7]7 Mao Zedong, “The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in the National War,” October 1938. “We Chinese Communists are the inheritors of all the finest traditions of our nation’s culture, thought, and morality, regarding all these fine traditions as things intimately connected with our own flesh and blood, and we will continue to carry them forward.” [8]8 Mao Zedong, “On the New Stage,” October 1938. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese Communists with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative have clearly proposed and deeply advanced the “Second Integration,” emphasizing that to strengthen confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, in the final analysis, to strengthen cultural confidence; strengthening cultural confidence cannot be separated from the understanding and application of Chinese national history, and it is necessary to “integrate the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of China’s fine traditional culture, and integrate it with the common values that the people use daily without being fully aware of them, constantly endowing scientific theory with distinct Chinese characteristics, continuously consolidating the historical and mass foundations for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and making Marxism take firm root in China.” [9]9 Xi Jinping, speech at the symposium on the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, July 1, 2021. Precisely because we adhere to the soul vein of Marxism and the root vein of China’s fine traditional culture, socialism with Chinese characteristics possesses a vast and profound historical depth and a deep and rich cultural foundation, thereby possessing strong vitality and lasting appeal.

中国共产党不仅是马克思主义的信仰者和践行者，而且是中华优秀传统文化的继承者和弘扬者，历来重视马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化的联系和互动，强调要继承和发扬中华文化的优良传统，推进革命、建设和改革的伟大事业。毛泽东指出：“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。”“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。”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明确提出和深入推进“第二个结合”，强调坚定中国特色社会主义道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，说到底是要坚定文化自信；坚定文化自信，离不开对中华民族历史的认知和运用，必须“把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来、同人民群众日用而不觉的共同价值观念融通起来，不断赋予科学理论鲜明的中国特色，不断夯实马克思主义中国化时代化的历史基础和群众基础，让马克思主义在中国牢牢扎根”。正因为我们坚守马克思主义这个魂脉、中华优秀传统文化这个根脉，中国特色社会主义才有宏阔深远的历史纵深和深沉丰厚的文化根基，从而具有强大的生命力和持久的感召力。

II. The “Two Integrations” Are the Greatest Magic Weapon for the Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

二、“两个结合”是中国特色社会主义取得成功的最大法宝

As early as the Yan’an period, Mao Zedong, summing up the Party’s historical experience since its founding eighteen years earlier, proposed that “the united front, armed struggle, and Party building are the three magic weapons, the three main magic weapons, with which the Communist Party of China has defeated the enemy in the Chinese revolution.” [10]10 Mao Zedong, “Introducing The Communist,” October 4, 1939. In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Party further proposed that “emancipating the mind is a major magic weapon for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.” [11]11 Hu Jintao, report to the 17th National Congress of the CPC, October 15, 2007. Entering the New Era, Xi Jinping, when discussing major issues such as reform and opening up, upholding the socialist system, strictly regulating political life within the Party, strengthening Party unity and solidarity, and unity between the military, government, and people, has repeatedly used the metaphor of “important magic weapon,” proposing that “reform and opening up is a crucial choice that determined the fate of contemporary China and an important magic weapon for the Party’s and people’s cause to catch up with the times in big strides,” [12]12 Xi Jinping, speech at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, December 18, 2018. “the ability of our socialist system to concentrate resources to accomplish major tasks is an important magic weapon for us to achieve success in our undertakings,” [13]13 Xi Jinping, speech at the National Science and Technology Innovation Conference, May 30, 2016. “adhering to democratic centralism, carrying out criticism and self-criticism, strictly regulating Party life, and strengthening Party unity and solidarity” are important magic weapons for ensuring the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness, [14]14 Xi Jinping, speech at the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, July 1, 2016. and “the rock-solid relationship between the military, government, and people is an important magic weapon for us to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and continuously march from victory to victory.” [15]15 Xi Jinping, speech at the National Conference on Supporting Military Construction and Preferential Treatment for Military Families, July 29, 2016. Xi Jinping emphasized at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development: “The experience of history, both positive and negative, shows that the ‘Two Integrations’ are the greatest magic weapon for our success.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. This sums up the Party’s historical experience in opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics from an overall and profound level, revealing the secret of the Party leading the people to create great historical achievements. Socialism with Chinese characteristics, as the fundamental achievement obtained by the Party leading the people through countless hardships and at great cost, is an organic whole composed of the “four-in-one” structure of path, theoretical system, system, and culture. It is precisely by adhering to the “Two Integrations,” this greatest magic weapon, that we have been able to open up and expand the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, form and enrich the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, establish and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and prosper and develop the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

早在延安时期，毛泽东在总结党成立十八年历史经验的基础上，提出“统一战线，武装斗争，党的建设，是中国共产党在中国革命中战胜敌人的三个法宝，三个主要的法宝”。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，党又提出“解放思想是发展中国特色社会主义的一大法宝” 。进入新时代，习近平在论述改革开放、坚持社会主义制度、严肃党内政治生活、加强党的团结统一、军政军民团结等重大问题时，多次以“重要法宝”作比喻，提出“改革开放是决定当代中国命运的关键抉择，是党和人民事业大踏步赶上时代的重要法宝”，“我国社会主义制度能够集中力量办大事是我们成就事业的重要法宝”，“坚持民主集中制，开展批评和自我批评，严格党内生活，加强党的团结统一”是保证党的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力的重要法宝，“坚如磐石的军政军民关系是我们战胜一切艰难险阻、不断从胜利走向胜利的重要法宝”。习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上强调：“历史正反两方面的经验表明，‘两个结合’是我们取得成功的最大法宝。” 这就从总体和深远的层面上总结党开辟和发展中国特色社会主义的历史经验，揭示党领导人民创造历史伟业的成功秘诀。中国特色社会主义作为党领导人民历尽千辛万苦、付出巨大代价取得的根本成就，是包括道路、理论体系、制度、文化“四位一体”构成的有机整体。正是由于坚持“两个结合”这一最大法宝，我们才能够开辟和拓展中国特色社会主义道路，形成和丰富中国特色社会主义理论体系，建立和完善中国特色社会主义制度，繁荣和发展中国特色社会主义文化。

(I) The “Two Integrations” Have Consolidated the Foundation of the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（一）“两个结合”筑牢了中国特色社会主义道路根基

The unique cultural traditions, historical destiny, and basic national conditions of the Chinese nation fundamentally determine that the Party can lead the people to independently take their own development path. Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: “The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is first of all socialism, which comes from Marxism; at the same time, the simple socialist elements in Chinese culture also provided the cultural foundation for China to accept Marxism.” [17]17 Xi Jinping, speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, June 2, 2023. In essence, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics did not fall from the sky, nor is it a priori inherent in the minds of the Chinese people. Rather, relying on the “Two Integrations,” under the guidance of Marxism, proceeding from China’s specific realities, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture, and absorbing and drawing on advanced achievements from ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad, on the deep foundation of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, it has been created.

中华民族独特的文化传统、历史命运、基本国情，从根本上决定了党领导人民能独立自主地走自己的发展道路。习近平明确指出：“中国特色社会主义道路首先是社会主义，这是从马克思主义那里来的；同时，中国文化中朴素的社会主义元素也提供了中国接受马克思主义的文化基础。” 从本原上说，中国特色社会主义道路不是从天上掉下来的，也不是中国人头脑中先验固有的，而是依靠“两个结合”，在马克思主义指导下从中国具体实际出发，推进中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，在五千多年中华文明深厚基础上吸收借鉴古今中外先进成果而创造出来的。

Building socialism in China, a country with a relatively backward economy and culture, is a great undertaking without precedent. In the early days after the founding of New China, influenced by the Soviet model, our understanding of the laws governing socialist construction was still quite inadequate; we needed to repeatedly experiment and accumulate experience in practice, to emancipate the mind and break through conventions, and to correctly treat the conceptions of the classical Marxist writers and the models of other countries. In May 1963, when revising the draft of the Central Committee of the CPC’s reply to the Central Committee of the CPSU, Mao Zedong said: “If a party does not think for itself, does not use its own brains, does not conduct serious investigation and research, does not have a precise grasp of the trends of the various classes in its own country, and is not adept at applying the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism in combination with the concrete practice of its own revolution, but instead parrots others, copies foreign experience without analysis, and dances to the baton of certain foreigners, then it will have both revisionism and dogmatism, becoming a hodgepodge, and will be a party lacking in Marxist-Leninist principle.” After reform and opening up, Chinese Communists deeply recognized that we must place the liberation and development of the productive forces in the primary position and build socialism according to China’s specific national conditions. Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out: “In both revolution and construction, we must pay attention to learning from and drawing on the experience of other countries. But copying and mechanically applying the experience and models of other countries has never been successful. We have had many lessons in this regard. Combining the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete reality of our country, taking our own path, and building socialism with Chinese characteristics—this is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up our long historical experience.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, while adhering to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete reality, have explicitly proposed the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, further highlighting the historical inevitability, cultural connotation, and unique advantages of the Chinese path. It can thus be seen that the “Two Integrations” constitute a profound grasp of the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization and the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, endowing the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a more solid practical foundation and deeper cultural heritage, and propelling the great ship of socialism with Chinese characteristics to sail steadily and far.

在经济文化相对落后的中国建设社会主义，是一项前无古人的伟大事业。新中国成立之初，受苏联模式的影响，我们对社会主义建设规律的认识还比较欠缺，还需要在实践中反复尝试、积累经验，需要解放思想、突破常规，正确对待马克思主义经典作家的设想和他国模式。1963年5月，毛泽东在修改中共中央给苏共中央复信稿时说：“如果不是自己能够思索、能够自己动脑筋，经过认真的调查研究工作，深知本国各阶级的准确动向，善于应用马列主义的普遍真理同本国革命的具体实践结合起来，而只是人云亦云，不加分析地照抄外国经验，跟着外国某些人的指挥棒团团打转，那就是修正主义和教条主义样样都有，成为一个大杂烩，而单单没有马列主义原则性的党。”改革开放以后，中国共产党人深刻认识到，我们必须把解放和发展生产力放在首要位置，根据中国的具体国情建设社会主义。邓小平深刻指出：“无论是革命还是建设，都要注意学习和借鉴外国经验。但是，照抄照搬别国经验、别国模式，从来不能得到成功。这方面我们有过不少教训。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。”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在坚持马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合的同时，明确提出把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，进一步彰显中国道路的历史必然、文化内涵与独特优势。由此可见，“两个结合”是对中华文明发展规律和中国特色社会主义建设规律的深刻把握，赋予中国特色社会主义道路以更加坚实的实践基础和深厚的文化底蕴，推动中国特色社会主义巍巍巨轮行稳致远。

(II) The “Two Integrations” Open Up Space for Theoretical Innovation in Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

（二）“两个结合”打开了中国特色社会主义理论创新空间

The integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete reality and with the fine traditional Chinese culture is itself an innovation, a powerful weapon against erroneous tendencies such as dogmatism, empiricism, nihilism, and revivalism. The “Two Integrations” break down idealist and metaphysical modes of thinking and practices, such as the separation of theory from reality and the mutual exclusion of the ancient and the modern, the Chinese and the Western. They represent a thorough ideological emancipation, allowing us to take the initiative in thought and culture, enabling socialism with Chinese characteristics to draw inexhaustible sources of momentum and valuable resources from the “Two Integrations,” and opening up a vast space for theoretical innovation.

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本身就是创新，是打破教条主义、经验主义、虚无主义、复古主义等错误倾向的有力武器。“两个结合”破除了理论脱离实际、古今中西互斥等唯心主义和形而上学的思维方式、观念做法，是彻底的思想解放，让我们掌握了思想和文化主动，使中国特色社会主义能够从“两个结合”中获得取之不尽、用之不竭的动力源泉和宝贵资源，开启广阔的理论创新空间。

Existence determines consciousness; reality comes from history. Mao Zedong believed: “Marxist ‘books’ must be studied, but they must be integrated with the actual conditions of our country. We need ‘books,’ but we must correct bookishness that is divorced from reality.” “For the Chinese Communist Party, it means learning to apply the theory of Marxism-Leninism to the specific environment of China.” It is precisely because we mastered the scientific theoretical weapon of Marxism and applied it creatively to China’s concrete practice that we overcame erroneous tendencies such as dogmatism and empiricism and successfully advanced the great cause of revolution, construction, and reform. As Deng Xiaoping said: “We do not regard Marxism as a dogma; instead, we integrate Marxism with China’s concrete practice and put forward our own policies, which is why we have been able to achieve victory.” Xi Jinping further pointed out: We have always emphasized the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s concrete reality. Now we have explicitly proposed the “Second Integration.” [18]18 The “Second Integration” (第二个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture, as distinct from the “First Integration” of Marxism with China’s concrete reality. It was formally proposed by Xi Jinping in his speech at a ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the CPC in July 2021 and elaborated at a symposium on cultural heritage in June 2023. “‘The Second Integration’ is another ideological emancipation, allowing us to fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture in a broader cultural space to explore theoretical and institutional innovations oriented toward the future.” Adhering to the guidance of Marxism, we extract the essence and discard the dross from fine traditional Chinese culture and the cultures of other countries, making the ancient serve the present and foreign things serve China. We deeply resolve the issue of the interrelationship between Chinese and foreign cultures, ancient and modern, eliminate the mindset and ideological shackles that separate Marxism from Chinese culture and set them in binary opposition, overcome erroneous tendencies such as nihilism and revivalism, and enable the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics to continuously draw historical wisdom and spiritual nourishment from the treasure house of fine traditional Chinese culture. This expands the connotation and extension, methods and approaches, breadth and depth of theoretical innovation, deepens our understanding of the historical experience and basic laws of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and propels the Party’s theoretical creation to achieve a new leap forward.

存在决定意识，现实来自历史。毛泽东认为：“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的，但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合。我们需要‘本本’，但是一定要纠正脱离实际的本本主义。”“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。”正因为我们掌握马克思主义这个科学理论武器，并将其创造性地运用于中国具体实践，才克服了教条主义和经验主义等错误倾向，成功推进革命、建设、改革的伟大事业。正如邓小平所说：“我们不把马克思主义当作教条，而是把马克思主义同中国的具体实践相结合，提出自己的方针，所以才能取得胜利。”习近平进一步指出：我们一直强调把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合，现在我们又明确提出“第二个结合”，“‘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”。坚持以马克思主义为指导，从中华优秀传统文化和世界各国文化中取其精华、去其糟粕，古为今用、洋为中用，深层次解决古今中外文化的相互关系问题，消除将马克思主义同中华文化割裂开来、二元对立的思维定式和思想束缚，克服虚无主义、复古主义等错误倾向，让中国特色社会主义理论从中华优秀传统文化的思想宝库中不断汲取历史的智慧和精神的营养，拓展理论创新的内涵和外延、方式和方法、广度和纵深，使我们对马克思主义中国化时代化的历史经验和基本规律的认识得到深化，推动党的理论创造实现新的跨越。

(III) The “Two Integrations” Promote the Establishment and Improvement of the Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics

（三）“两个结合”推动了中国特色社会主义制度建立完善

“Institutional advantage is a country’s greatest advantage; institutional competition is the most fundamental competition between countries.” The Chinese Communist Party, adhering to the “First Integration,” correctly grasped the basic social contradictions in different historical periods, deeply understood the specific national conditions at each stage of development, creatively applied the Marxist theory of the state, and led the people in establishing and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, thereby endowing us with strong political and institutional advantages. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, our Party applied the basic tenets of Marxism, scientifically understood China’s semi-colonial and semi-feudal social nature, correctly formulated the revolutionary program and policies of opposing imperialism and feudalism, overthrew the reactionary rule of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, established the People’s Republic of China, and created the fundamental prerequisite for establishing a socialist system. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, our Party creatively implemented the classical Marxist writers’ conception of peaceful redemption, carried out socialist transformation of capitalist industry and commerce, while simultaneously completing the socialist transformation of agriculture and individual handicraft industry, vigorously promoted national industrialization, established the basic socialist system, and realized the broadest and most thorough social change in Chinese history. During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, the Party led the people in promoting the self-improvement and development of the socialist system, achieving the historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a socialist market economy, and from a closed and semi-closed state to all-round opening up. It opened up and defended socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing a dynamic institutional guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party leads the people in upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, clearly identifying the principal contradiction in Chinese society as that between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. It upholds and improves the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, advances the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and provides a more complete and mature institutional guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“制度优势是一个国家的最大优势，制度竞争是国家间最根本的竞争。”中国共产党坚持“第一个结合”，正确把握不同历史时期社会基本矛盾，深刻洞察各发展阶段的具体国情，创造性地运用马克思主义国家学说，领导人民建立和完善中国特色社会主义制度，让我们拥有了强大的政治优势和制度优势。新民主主义革命时期，我们党运用马克思主义基本原理，科学认识中国半殖民地半封建的社会性质，正确制定了反帝反封建的革命纲领和方针政策，推翻了帝国主义、封建主义和官僚资本主义反动统治，建立了中华人民共和国，为建立社会主义制度创造了根本前提。社会主义革命和建设时期，我们党创造性地实施马克思主义经典作家的和平赎买设想，对资本主义工商业进行了社会主义改造，同时完成了对农业、个体手工业的社会主义改造，大力推进国家工业化，建立了社会主义基本制度，实现了中国历史上最广泛、最彻底的社会变革。改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，党领导人民推动社会主义制度的自我完善和发展，实现了从高度集中的计划经济体制到社会主义市场经济体制、从封闭半封闭到全方位开放的历史性转变，开辟和捍卫了中国特色社会主义，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了充满新的活力的体制保证。中国特色社会主义新时代，党领导人民守正创新，明确我国社会主要矛盾是人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了更加完备、更加成熟的制度保证。

“What system of state and state governance a country chooses is determined by its history, culture, social nature, and level of economic development.” The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is rooted in the deep soil of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, formed through the great practice of China’s revolution, construction, and reform. It is the product of the “Second Integration” [n19] and the result of the unity of theoretical innovation, practical innovation, and institutional innovation, possessing profound historical foundations and Chinese cultural roots. It is precisely through the “Second Integration” that our Party has adhered to the Marxist theory of the state, absorbed and developed the people-oriented thought from fine traditional Chinese culture — such as the ideas that the people are more important than the sovereign and that governance lies in nourishing the people — established the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, inaugurated the system of people’s congresses, and put forward the fundamental position of being people-centered; our Party has inherited and developed the concept of “shared governance under heaven” and “republicanism” (共和), and with the wisdom of harmony in diversity and seeking common ground while reserving differences, inaugurated the system of political consultation; our Party has followed the great trend of inward cohesion and pluralistic unity in ethnic integration, inherited the tradition of great unity (大一统) in which the nine provinces are interconnected and the six directions share the same customs, established a unitary state form suited to national conditions, and implemented the system of regional ethnic autonomy.

“一个国家选择什么样的国家制度和国家治理体系，是由这个国家的历史文化、社会性质、经济发展水平决定的。”中国特色社会主义制度植根于五千多年中华文明史的深厚土壤，形成于中国革命、建设、改革的伟大实践，是“第二个结合”的产物，是理论创新、实践创新、制度创新相统一的成果，具有深厚历史底蕴与中华文化根基。正是通过“第二个结合”，我们党坚持马克思主义国家学说，汲取并发展了中华优秀传统文化中民贵君轻、政在养民的民本思想，确立了全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，开创了人民代表大会制度，提出了坚持以人民为中心的根本立场；我们党继承并发展了天下共治与“共和”理念，以和而不同、求同存异的智慧，开创了政治协商制度；我们党顺应向内凝聚、多元一体的民族融合大趋势，承继九州共贯、六合同风的大一统传统，确立了符合国情的单一制国家形式，实行了民族区域自治制度。

Our confidence in the system must be guided by confidence in the theory and supported by confidence in the culture. It is by relying on the “Two Integrations” [n20] as the greatest magic weapon that we can break the governance myth of taking the West as the sole model, find the theoretical weapons and cultural foundations for establishing and consolidating the socialist system in China, and endow the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics with strong resilience, vitality, and superiority.

我们的制度自信要以理论自信为引领，以文化自信作支撑。正是依靠“两个结合”这一最大法宝，我们才能打破唯西方马首是瞻的治理迷思，找到在中国建立和巩固社会主义制度的理论武器和文化底蕴，赋予中国特色社会主义制度以强大韧性、活力和优越性。

(IV) The “Two Integrations” Consolidate the Subjectivity of Chinese Culture

（四）“两个结合”巩固了中华文化主体性

Cultural subjectivity refers to people’s awareness and attitude toward the identification with, inheritance of, and self-renewal of their own national culture. It embodies self-awareness in cultural identification and autonomous capacity in cultural construction, and manifests the consciousness, initiative, and independence of cultural development. Xi Jinping pointed out: “For any culture to stand firm and go far, to have leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity.” [n21] The Chinese Communists, with a high degree of cultural consciousness and firm cultural confidence, through the “Two Integrations,” creatively transform and innovatively develop fine traditional Chinese culture, inherit revolutionary culture, develop advanced socialist culture, and, on the basis of drawing on and absorbing all outstanding achievements of human civilization, establish and consolidate our cultural subjectivity.

文化主体性是指人们对自己民族文化的认同、传承和自我更新的意识和态度，体现文化认同中的自我意识和文化建构中的自主能力，表现文化发展的自觉性、主动性和独立性。习近平指出：“任何文化要立得住、行得远，要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，就必须有自己的主体性。” 中国共产党人以高度的文化自觉和坚定的文化自信，通过“两个结合”，创造性转化、创新性发展中华优秀传统文化，继承革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化，在借鉴吸收人类一切优秀文明成果的基础上，建立和巩固我们的文化主体性。

The river of Chinese civilization is long and vast, surging through ancient and modern times. Since modern times, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, the nation endured humiliation, the people suffered hardship, and civilization was covered in dust, and the subjectivity of Chinese culture encountered a great crisis. At the critical moment of survival for Chinese civilization, the Chinese Communists unhesitatingly took on the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the great practice of leading the people in revolution, construction, and reform, with a high degree of cultural consciousness and cultural confidence, they adhered to the “Two Integrations,” reshaping and consolidating the subjectivity of Chinese culture. From building a national, scientific, and mass-oriented new-democratic culture, to developing an advanced socialist culture oriented toward modernization, the world, and the future; from adhering to letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, making the past serve the present and foreign things serve China, to adhering to understanding the substance and applying it, integrating substance and function, and integrating China and foreign countries and connecting ancient and modern times — the Chinese Communist Party has always represented the forward direction of advanced culture, continuously creating new glories for Chinese culture. With regard to traditional Chinese culture, which was generated on the basis of a small-peasant economy and monarchical autocracy and to a certain extent reflected the ideology of an agricultural era and feudal society, we adhere to the basic principles of Marxism in conducting a dialectical analysis of it, and, in accordance with changes in the times and practical needs, “strive to realize the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture, so that it integrates and interconnects with contemporary culture, jointly serving the contemporary task of educating people through culture.” [n22] Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful embodiment of consolidating cultural subjectivity, providing the greatest confidence for enhancing cultural confidence. “With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense; cultural confidence has a fundamental support; the Chinese Communist Party 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 distinctive cultural characteristics for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations of the world.” [n23] It is precisely through the “Two Integrations” that the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core promotes cultural innovation, plans from a strategic and overall perspective major issues such as how Chinese culture can go global and how to create the future, thereby further consolidating and promoting the subjectivity of Chinese culture, and continuously enhancing the influence, radiating power, and leading power of Chinese civilization.

中华文明之长河，源远流长，浩浩汤汤，涤荡古今。近代以来，中国逐步沦为半殖民地半封建社会，国家蒙辱、人民蒙难、文明蒙尘，中华文化主体性遭遇了巨大危机。在中华文明危急存亡之际，中国共产党人义无反顾地承担起了实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史使命，在领导人民进行革命、建设、改革的伟大实践中，以高度的文化自觉和文化自信，坚持“两个结合”，重塑和巩固中华文化主体性。从建设民族的科学的大众的新民主主义文化，到发展面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的社会主义先进文化；从坚持百花齐放、百家争鸣，古为今用、洋为中用，到坚持明体达用、体用贯通，融通中外、贯通古今等，中国共产党始终代表着先进文化的前进方向，不断创造中华文化的新辉煌。对生成于小农经济和君主专制的基础之上、一定程度上反映农业时代和封建社会意识形态的中国传统文化，我们坚持马克思主义基本原理对其进行辩证分析，并根据时代变化与现实需求，“努力实现传统文化的创造性转化、创新性发展，使之与现实文化相融相通，共同服务以文化人的时代任务”。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是巩固文化主体性的最有力体现，为增强文化自信提供了最大底气。“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。”正是通过“两个结合”，以习近平同志为核心的党中央推动文化创新，从战略和全局高度谋划中华文化如何走向世界、如何开创未来等重大问题，使中华文化主体性得到进一步巩固和发扬，中华文明的影响力、辐射力、引领力不断增强。

III. The “Two Integrations” Are an Inevitable Requirement for Upholding and Developing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

三、“两个结合”是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必然要求

At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, Xi Jinping pointed out: “In building socialism with Chinese characteristics, our path is becoming broader and our steps firmer. In the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, an important reason why the cause of the Party and the state has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic changes is that we have adhered to the ‘Two Integrations.’” [n24] This is both a profound summary of the historical experience of reform and opening up and a solemn declaration of the future prospects of socialism with Chinese characteristics. At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, Xi Jinping comprehensively elucidated the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization and the great significance of the “Two Integrations,” and put forward clear requirements for continuing to promote cultural prosperity and build a strong cultural nation at a new starting point, and for jointly striving to create a new culture belonging to our era. This series of important expositions points out the correct direction and provides fundamental guidance for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics through the “Two Integrations” on the new journey of the New Era.

习近平在文化传承发展座谈会上指出：“建设中国特色社会主义，我们的道路越走越宽广、越走越坚定。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’。”这既是对改革开放历史经验的深刻总结，也是对中国特色社会主义未来前景的庄严宣示。在文化传承发展座谈会上，习近平全面阐明中华文明的突出特性和“两个结合”的重大意义，提出在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国，共同努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化的明确要求。这一系列重要论述为新时代新征程坚持“两个结合”发展中国特色社会主义指明了正确方向，提供了根本遵循。

(I) Upholding Self-Confidence and Self-Reliance in Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times

（一）坚持自信自立推进马克思主义中国化时代化

Theory originates from practice and dynamically guides practice. The reason why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is, in the final analysis, that Marxism works, and that Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times works. The Chinese chapter of Marxism and the Chinese path of socialism were independently explored by the Chinese Communist Party leading the people. The essence running through them is that China’s problems must be solved by the Chinese people themselves, and that the destiny of China’s development and progress must be firmly held in our own hands, rather than relying on external forces or becoming an appendage of other countries. To develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must strengthen our faith in Marxism and our belief in socialism, strengthen confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture, make new contributions to the development of Marxism with a more active historical responsibility, and continuously open up new horizons for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

理论来源于实践，又能动地指导实践。中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行。马克思主义的中国篇章，社会主义的中国道路是中国共产党领导人民独立自主探索出来的，贯穿其中的精髓要义就是中国的问题要由中国人自己来解答，要把中国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中，而不能依赖外部力量，成为别国附庸。发展中国特色社会主义必须坚定马克思主义信仰和社会主义信念，坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信，以更加积极的历史担当为发展马克思主义作出新贡献，不断开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界。

Only with confidence and self-reliance can one become strong; only a nation that is confident and self-reliant can prosper and grow strong. The primary task of upholding confidence and self-reliance is to base oneself on the great historical creation of the Chinese nation, “using Chinese principles to summarize Chinese experience well, elevating Chinese experience into Chinese theory, neither blindly following various dogmas nor copying foreign theories, and achieving spiritual independence and autonomy.” We must recognize that Chinese principles, Chinese experience, and Chinese theory are all products of the “Two Integrations”[25]25 "Great unity" (大一统) refers to the traditional Chinese political ideal of a unified, centralized state under a single sovereign, historically associated with the Qin and Han dynasties., possessing a profound endogenous nature and Chinese characteristics that cannot be explained by mechanically applying Western principles, Western experience, or Western theories. We must oppose both the dogmatization of Marxism and the copying of Western dogmas. Since reform and opening up, and especially the world-renowned achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, the “theory of the obsolescence of Marxism” has been rendered obsolete, the “theory of the failure of socialism” has failed, and the “theory of the collapse of China” has collapsed.

自信自立才能自强，只有自信自立的民族，才能兴盛富强。坚持自信自立的首要任务，是立足中华民族伟大历史创造，“用中国道理总结好中国经验，把中国经验提升为中国理论，既不盲从各种教条，也不照搬外国理论，实现精神上的独立自主”。我们要认识到，中国道理、中国经验、中国理论都是“两个结合”的产物，具有深厚的内生性质和中国特色，是无法生搬硬套西方道理、西方经验、西方理论解释得了的。我们既要反对把马克思主义教条化，又要反对照搬西方教条。改革开放以来，特别是新时代中国特色社会主义取得举世瞩目成就，宣告了“马克思主义过时论”的过时，“社会主义失败论”的失败，“中国崩溃论”的崩溃。习近平指出：“在解读中国实践、构建中国理论上，我们应该最有发言权，但实际上我国哲学社会科学在国际上的声音还比较小，还处于有理说不出、说了传不开的境地。”要坚持以马克思主义为指导，把握好习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，融通古今中外各种思想资源，加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学和中国自主的知识体系，敢于提出解答世界之问、时代之问、人民之问的中国理论，让当代中国马克思主义更能体现中国特色、中国风格、中国气派。

(2) Adhering to openness and inclusiveness in advancing Chinese-path modernization

（二）坚持开放包容推进中国式现代化

Achieving modernization on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a fundamental requirement for building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation. Our modernization is one that continues an ancient civilization rather than erasing it; it is one created independently rather than by copying other countries' models. This type of modernization possesses both the general attributes of modernization in countries around the world and Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC clearly states: Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It is modernization with a huge population, common prosperity for all the people, coordination between material and cultural-ethical progress, harmony between humanity and nature, and a path of peaceful development. This modernization, which differs from Western capitalist modernization, was successfully pioneered and expanded by the Party leading the people under the guidance of Marxism by adhering to the "Two Integrations," breaking the myth that "modernization equals Westernization." Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization, and at the same time, the excellent traditional Chinese culture endows it with a profound foundation. For example, "a huge population" is rooted in the state concept of "great unity" (大一统); "common prosperity for all the people" is rooted in the interest concept of "shared benefit under heaven" (天下同利); "coordination between material and cultural-ethical progress" is rooted in the value concept of "balancing righteousness and benefit" (义利兼顾); "harmony between humanity and nature" is rooted in the cosmological concept of "unity of heaven and humanity" (天人合一); and "a path of peaceful development" is rooted in the worldview of "harmony among all nations" (协和万邦). Comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization is the greatest practical innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics, setting new goals, tasks, and higher requirements for adhering to the "Two Integrations" in the New Era.

在中国特色社会主义道路上实现现代化，是强国建设、民族复兴的根本要求。我们的现代化是赓续古老文明，而不是消灭古老文明的现代化；是独立自主创造出来的，而不是照搬照抄他国模式的现代化。这种现代化既有世界各国现代化的一般属性，更有基于自己国情的中国特色。党的二十大报告明确指出：中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，是人口规模巨大、全体人民共同富裕、物质文明和精神文明相协调、人与自然和谐共生、走和平发展道路的现代化。这种不同于西方资本主义的现代化，是党领导人民在马克思主义指导下坚持“两个结合”才成功开创和拓展出来的，打破了“现代化=西方化”的迷思。中国式现代化是社会主义现代化，同时中华优秀文化传统又赋予中国式现代化深厚底蕴。例如，“人口规模巨大”植根于“大一统”的国家观，“全体人民共同富裕”植根于“天下同利”的利益观，“物质文明和精神文明相协调”植根于“义利兼顾”的价值观，“人与自然和谐共生”植根于“天人合一”的宇宙观，“走和平发展道路”植根于“协和万邦”的天下观。以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴是中国特色社会主义最伟大的实践创新，为新时代坚持“两个结合”提出了新的目标任务和更高要求。

Chinese-path modernization is the broad path for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation, and it is also the necessary path for China to seek human progress and global harmony. Only by not forgetting the past can we open up the future; only by absorbing from the outside can we better innovate. Chinese-path modernization not only requires building a great modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also providing new opportunities for world peace and common development, and offering new impetus for the cause of human progress and liberation. Therefore, it urgently needs to absorb outstanding achievements from ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad, with an open and inclusive broad mind, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Xi Jinping emphasized: "Whether it is enhancing the cohesion and appeal of advanced culture domestically or strengthening the communication power and influence of Chinese civilization internationally, it is inseparable from integrating China and foreign countries and connecting ancient and modern times. After long-term efforts, we are more capable than any previous era of resolving the 'dispute between ancient and modern, Chinese and Western,' and we are also more urgently in need than any previous era of a batch of cultural achievements that fuse ancient and modern and integrate Chinese and Western." Only by truly achieving openness and inclusiveness under the guidance of Marxism, discarding the outdated and fostering the new, making the past serve the present, and making foreign things serve China, inheriting and developing the excellent traditional Chinese culture, promoting the localization of foreign cultures, and cultivating socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, can we provide ideological guarantees for advancing Chinese-path modernization and make greater contributions to building a better world.

中国式现代化是我们强国建设、民族复兴的康庄大道，也是中国谋求人类进步、世界大同的必由之路。不忘本来才能开辟未来，吸收外来才能更好创新。中国式现代化不仅要建设社会主义现代化强国，实现中华民族伟大复兴，而且要为世界和平与共同发展提供新机遇，为人类进步与解放事业提供新助力，因而亟须以开放包容的宽广胸怀吸收古今中外优秀成果，促进文明交流互鉴。习近平强调：“无论是对内提升先进文化的凝聚力感召力，还是对外增强中华文明传播力影响力，都离不开融通中外、贯通古今。经过长期努力，我们比以往任何一个时代都更有条件破解‘古今中西之争’，也比以往任何一个时代都更迫切需要一批熔铸古今、汇通中西的文化成果。”只有在马克思主义指导下真正做到开放包容、推陈出新、古为今用、洋为中用，继承发展中华优秀传统文化，促进外来文化本土化，培育新时代中国特色社会主义文化，才能为推进中国式现代化提供思想保证，为建设更加美好世界作出更大贡献。

(3) Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground to create a new form of human civilization

（三）坚持守正创新创造人类文明新形态

Chinese-path modernization is based on China's actual national conditions while focusing on the future development of the world, taking the creation of a new form of human civilization as its essential requirement and fundamental goal. In his speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping pointed out: "We have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted coordinated development of material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological civilization, created a new path for Chinese-path modernization, and created a new form of human civilization." At the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, he further emphasized: "The best way to inherit history is to create new history, and the greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization." This series of important expositions and strategic deployments answers the major questions concerning the creation of a new form of human civilization and its interrelationship with Chinese-path modernization, guiding us to compose magnificent chapters of the new form of human civilization in the great process of advancing Chinese-path modernization.

中国式现代化既立足中国现实国情，又着眼世界发展前途，以创造人类文明新形态为本质要求和根本目标。习近平在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上的讲话中指出：“我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态。”在文化传承发展座谈会上他又强调：“对历史最好的继承就是创造新的历史，对人类文明最大的礼敬就是创造人类文明新形态。”这一系列重要论述和战略部署，解答了创造人类文明新形态的重大问题及其与中国式现代化的相互关系，指引我们在推进中国式现代化的伟大进程中，谱写人类文明新形态的壮美篇章。

From the perspective of essential characteristics and development trends, the new form of human civilization created by Chinese-path modernization adheres to the "Two Integrations" and is a new type of civilization established by promoting the inheritance and development of civilization. This civilization not only follows the universal laws of the development of human civilization but also possesses national characteristics based on its own cultural traditions and epochal features reflecting the trends of the contemporary world. It is a new type of socialist civilization jointly created by the Communist Party of China leading people of all ethnic groups. This civilization is a sublation and transcendence of ancient Chinese civilization and modern Western civilization. It is a civilization of dialectical interaction between the material and the spiritual and comprehensive social progress, a civilization form that adheres to sustainable development and protects the ecological environment, a civilization that is people-centered and promotes the free and comprehensive development of individuals, and a civilization that maintains world peace and common development and builds a community with a shared future for mankind. This civilization has solved many difficult problems in the development of human society, presenting a new picture different from the Western model of civilization; it embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, represents the direction of human civilization development, and has broad space for development and bright prospects for the future.

从本质特征和发展趋势看，中国式现代化所创造的人类文明新形态，坚持“两个结合”，是推进文明传承发展所建立的新型文明形态。这种文明既遵循人类文明发展的普遍规律，又有基于自己文化传统的民族特色和体现当今世界潮流的时代特征，是中国共产党领导各族人民共同创造的社会主义新型文明。这种文明是对中国古代文明和西方近代文明的扬弃和超越，是物质与精神辩证互动、经济社会全面进步的文明，是坚持可持续发展、保护生态环境的文明形态，是以人民为中心、促进人的自由全面发展的文明，是维护世界和平与共同发展、构建人类命运共同体的文明。这种文明破解了人类社会发展的诸多难题，展现了不同于西方文明模式的新图景；体现了科学社会主义先进本质，代表着人类文明发展方向，具有广阔发展空间和美好发展前景。

The progress of human civilization is a process of the unity of critique and inheritance, continuity and innovation, following the laws of the transformation of quantity into quality, the unity of opposites, and the negation of the negation. For the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, upholding fundamental principles ensures we do not lose our direction, while breaking new ground enables us to lead the times. Upholding fundamental principles means upholding the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain, the fundamental requirement of the "Two Integrations," the Communist Party of China's cultural leadership, and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Breaking new ground means creating new ideas, new concepts, new mechanisms, and new forms for the construction of civilization, striving to create a new form of human civilization. Only by adhering to the "Two Integrations," deeply exploring and following the essential laws of the development of human civilization, upholding the concept of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, seeking the development prospects of openness, innovation, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit, and promoting civilized exchanges that are harmonious yet diverse and inclusive, can we open up new horizons for the development of socialist civilization with Chinese characteristics and make greater contributions to the progress of human civilization!

人类文明的进步是一个批判与继承、延续与创新相统一的过程，遵循质量互变、对立统一和否定之否定规律。对于中华文明的传承发展来说，守正才能不迷失方向，创新才能引领时代。守正是守马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度、“两个结合”的根本要求、中国共产党的文化领导权和中华民族的文化主体性。创新是创文明建设的新思路、新理念、新机制、新形式，努力创造人类文明新形态。只有坚持“两个结合”，深入探索和遵循人类文明发展的本质规律，坚持平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，谋求开放创新、包容互惠的发展前景，促进和而不同、兼收并蓄的文明交流，才能开辟中国特色社会主义文明发展新境界，为人类文明进步作出更大贡献！

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧