Upholding the Two Integrations to Build a Strong Cultural Country

Upholding the Two Integrations [1] is the necessary path for us to open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, and it is also an important way for us to shoulder our cultural mission and build a strong cultural country at a new starting point. Multiple works in the fifth volume of *Xi Jinping: The Governance of China* offer profound discussions on upholding the Two Integrations. *"Bring the Study of Chinese Civilization History Further, Enhance Historical Consciousness and Strengthen Cultural Confidence"* [2] points out that "we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, promoting the adaptation of fine traditional Chinese culture to socialist society." *"Deeply Understand the Great Significance of the Two Integrations"* [3] emphasizes that "the key to Chinese characteristics lies precisely in the Two Integrations." These important discussions chart the course for us to promote cultural prosperity and build a strong cultural country.

坚持“两个结合”，是我们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的必由之路，也是我们在新的起点上担负文化使命、建设文化强国的重要途径。《习近平谈治国理政》第五卷中多篇著作对坚持“两个结合”进行了深刻论述。《把中国文明历史研究引向深入，增强历史自觉坚定文化自信》指出，“要坚持守正创新，推动中华优秀传统文化同社会主义社会相适应”；《深刻理解“两个结合”的重大意义》强调，“中国特色的关键就在于‘两个结合’”。这些重要论述为我们推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国指明了方向。

Culture is the product of the continuous accumulation and ongoing creation of people in the long historical practice. Cultural development and civilizational evolution require both passing down the torch from generation to generation and keeping pace with the times through innovation. Our Party has always adhered to the guidance of Marxist scientific theory, based on the requirements of the times and practice, inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, developing revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, and promoting the new development of Chinese culture while upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. The Two Integrations, especially the Second Integration [4], represent our Party's profound summary of the historical experience of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and a deep grasp of the laws of the development of Chinese civilization, indicating that our Party's historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height.

文化是人们在漫长历史实践中不断积累、持续创造的产物。文化发展和文明演进既需要薪火相传、代代守护，也需要与时俱进、推陈出新。我们党始终坚持以马克思主义科学理论为指导，立足时代和实践要求，传承弘扬中华优秀传统文化，发展革命文化和社会主义先进文化，在守正创新中推动中华文化的新发展。“两个结合”尤其是“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，对中华文明发展规律的深刻把握，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [5], our Party has upheld the Two Integrations, continuously advancing theoretical innovation, making Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times more imbued with Chinese style and Chinese manner, effectively embodying the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. We have deepened theoretical arming, integrating the essence of Marxist thought with the common values that the people use daily without conscious awareness, allowing the Party's innovative theories to "fly into the homes of ordinary people," and promoting a comprehensive and fundamental transformation in the ideological domain through clarifying the fundamentals and establishing the new while abolishing the old. We have promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and developed cultural undertakings and cultural industries in a people-centered manner. We have proposed the Global Civilization Initiative [6], promoted the common values of all humanity, deepened exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and significantly enhanced the country's cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. Amid the breakthrough progress and landmark achievements in cultural construction in the New Era, the practical power of the Two Integrations has been fully demonstrated.

党的十八大以来，我们党坚持“两个结合”，不断推进理论创新，使中国化时代化马克思主义更具中国风格和中国气派，有力体现了中华民族的文化主体性。深化理论武装，把马克思主义思想精髓同人民群众日用而不觉的共同价值观念融通起来，让党的创新理论“飞入寻常百姓家”，在正本清源、立破并举中推动意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变。推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，以人民为中心繁荣发展文化事业与文化产业。提出全球文明倡议、弘扬全人类共同价值、深化文明交流互鉴，推动国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力显著增强。在新时代文化建设取得的突破性进展、标志性成果中，“两个结合”的实践伟力得到充分彰显。

Focusing on the mission and task of promoting cultural prosperity and building a strong cultural country, we must always adhere to the fundamental requirement of the Two Integrations, and uphold fundamental principles and break new ground in developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

着眼推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国的使命任务，需始终坚持“两个结合”的根本要求，守正创新发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

On the one hand, we must hold fast to the soul of Marxism and adhere to the correct path of cultural development. Upholding the Two Integrations and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics requires adhering to Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain, arming minds and educating the people with the Party's innovative theories for the New Era, and moving forward firmly along the path of developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. Upholding the Party's cultural leadership is the fundamental guarantee for taking the path of developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics while upholding the Two Integrations. We must strengthen the coordination and linkage between positive publicity and struggle in public opinion, promote benign interaction between mainstream culture and diverse cultures, promote the connection and resonance between real-world positions and online positions, and continuously consolidate the Party's ruling foundation and mass base in ideology, spirit, and culture.

一方面，坚守马克思主义魂脉，坚持文化发展的正确道路。坚持“两个结合”，发展中国特色社会主义文化，要坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，用新时代党的创新理论武装头脑、教育人民，沿着中国特色社会主义文化发展道路坚定前行。坚持党的文化领导权，是在坚持“两个结合”中走好中国特色社会主义文化发展道路的根本保证。要加强正面宣传与舆论斗争配合联动，推动主流文化与多样文化良性互动，促进现实阵地与网络阵地衔接共振，不断在思想上、精神上、文化上筑牢党的执政基础和群众基础。

On the other hand, we must inherit the root of fine traditional Chinese culture and build a new peak of Chinese culture. The profound and extensive fine traditional Chinese culture is the foundation for us to stand firm amidst the global cultural currents, and it is the deepest cultural soft power. We must strengthen the cultural subjectivity and developmental confidence of the Chinese nation, guiding people to achieve spiritual independence and autonomy. We must forge ahead by continuing the bloodline of national culture, achieving "learning from the ancients without being constrained by them, and breaking the rules without violating the law," focusing on the changes of the times, the progress of China, and the calls of the people to deepen the reform of the cultural system, fully stimulating the cultural creativity of the entire nation, meeting the spiritual needs of the people with high-quality cultural supply, and enhancing the people's spiritual strength. At the same time, we must adhere to making the past serve the present and making foreign things serve China, creating cultural achievements that integrate the ancient and the modern, and connect China and the world within the "sum total of human knowledge," promoting the common prosperity and development of Chinese civilization and human civilization.

另一方面，传承中华优秀传统文化根脉，构筑中华文化新高峰。博大精深的中华优秀传统文化是我们在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的根基，是最深厚的文化软实力。要厚植中华民族的文化主体性和发展自信心，引导人们实现精神上的独立自主。从延续民族文化血脉中开拓前进，做到“学古不泥古、破法不悖法”，着眼时代之变、中国之进、人民之呼深化文化体制改革，充分激发全民族的文化创造活力，以高品质文化供给不断满足人民精神需要，增强人民精神力量。同时，坚持古为今用、洋为中用，在“人类知识的总和”中创造熔铸古今、汇通中外的文化成果，推动中华文明和人类文明共同繁荣发展。

(The author is a researcher at the Hubei Provincial Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Director of the Xi Jinping Cultural Thought Research

（作者系湖北省中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心研究员、武汉大学习近平文化思想研究中心主任）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心