Better Shouldering the New Cultural Mission at the New Historical Starting Point

In his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development on June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era." He emphatically stressed three points: firming up cultural confidence, upholding openness and inclusiveness, and adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. The new cultural mission manifests our Party’s historical responsibility to promote the flourishing of Chinese culture and create a new form of human civilization. At the critical moment when the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation is being advanced in depth, the far-sighted proposal of a new cultural mission possesses strong cohesive and guiding force. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition provides scientific guidance and a course of action for better shouldering the new cultural mission at the new historical starting point.

2023年6月2日，习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中指出：“在新的起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明，是我们在新时代新的文化使命。”他着重强调了三点，即坚定文化自信、秉持开放包容、坚持守正创新。新的文化使命彰显了我们党促进中华文化繁荣、创造人类文明新形态的历史担当。在强国建设、民族复兴伟业深入推进的关键时刻，高瞻远瞩提出新的文化使命，具有强大凝聚力和引领力。习近平总书记的重要论述，为在新的历史起点上更好担负起新的文化使命提供了科学指导和行动指南。

I. Firming Up Cultural Confidence

一、坚定文化自信

Cultural confidence is the self-affirmation of one’s own cultural value and the firm belief held in one’s own culture. It embodies the cultural stance and cultural value orientation of a nation or a country and plays a fundamental and foundational role in cultural development. Firming up cultural confidence is the fundamental prerequisite and prior condition for promoting cultural prosperity and development.

文化自信，是对自身文化价值的自我肯定和对自身文化抱有的坚定信念，体现了一个民族、一个国家的文化立场和文化价值取向，在文化发展中具有基础性、根本性作用。坚定文化自信，是推动文化繁荣发展的根本前提和先决条件。

Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity. The culture of any country or nation has its inherent roots and established traditions. The Chinese nation has always had the confidence of cultural confidence precisely because, with this confidence and pride in its national culture, the Chinese nation has been able, over the long course of history, to maintain the subjectivity of Chinese culture while drawing on and absorbing foreign cultures, thereby forming a uniquely distinctive Chinese civilization.

文化自信来自我们的文化主体性。任何一个国家、一个民族的文化，都有其固有的根本和既有的传统。中华民族素来就有文化自信的底气，正是因为怀有这种对民族文化的自信心和自豪感，中华民族才能在漫长的历史岁月中，在借鉴吸纳外来文化的同时，保持中华文化的主体性，形成了独具特色的中华文明。

The cultural confidence of the Chinese nation is built on the foundation of a civilization heritage spanning more than 5,000 years and on the foundation of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This cultural confidence comes not only from the glorious history of the Chinese nation but, even more, from the successful practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The philosophical thought, humanistic spirit, value concepts, and moral norms in fine traditional Chinese culture constitute the spiritual foundation of our national cultural confidence. In his speech at the 23rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee on September 28, 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "China’s firm confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system are essentially cultural confidence built on the foundation of a civilization heritage spanning more than 5,000 years." The fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured and formed in the development of more than 5,000 years of civilization, and the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture nurtured and formed in the great revolution and construction of the Party and the people, embody the deepest spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation and represent the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit and is the full embodiment of our cultural subjectivity. Fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture with Chinese characteristics are the fundamental strength for us to firm up cultural confidence. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, "Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity. This subjectivity was established by the Chinese Communist Party leading the Chinese people on Chinese soil; it was established on the basis of creatively transforming and innovatively developing fine traditional Chinese culture, inheriting revolutionary culture, and developing advanced socialist culture, and on the basis of drawing on and absorbing all outstanding achievements of human civilization; it was established through integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. The creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful manifestation of this cultural subjectivity. 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 a distinctive cultural characteristic for exchange and mutual learning with other civilizations of the world." Chinese civilization, which has continued uninterrupted for several thousand years and has endured repeated hardships without decline, is the greatest source of confidence for our national cultural confidence.

中华民族的文化自信是建立在5000多年文明传承基础上的，是建立在中国特色社会主义文化基础上的。这一文化自信，不仅来自中华民族的辉煌历史，更来自中国特色社会主义的成功实践。中华优秀传统文化中的哲学思想、人文精神、价值理念、道德规范，是我们民族文化自信的精神基础。2020年9月28日，习近平总书记在十九届中央政治局第二十三次集体学习时的讲话中指出，“中国有坚定的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，其本质是建立在5000多年文明传承基础上的文化自信”。在5000多年文明发展中孕育形成的中华优秀传统文化，在党和人民伟大革命和建设中孕育形成的革命文化和社会主义先进文化，积淀着中华民族最深沉的精神追求，代表着中华民族独特的精神标识。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，是我们文化主体性的充分体现。中华优秀传统文化、革命文化、中国特色社会主义先进文化，是我们坚定文化自信的根本力量。正如习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中所指出的，“文化自信就来自我们的文化主体性。这一主体性是中国共产党带领中国人民在中国大地上建立起来的；是在创造性转化、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的基础上，借鉴吸收人类一切优秀文明成果的基础上建立起来的；是通过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建立起来的。创立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想就是这一文化主体性的最有力体现。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”。中华文明历经数千年而绵延不绝、迭遭忧患而经久不衰，是我们民族文化自信的最大底气。

Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, deeper, and more enduring force. Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Cultural confidence is the most important and fundamental spiritual force of a country and a nation. Cultural confidence concerns the fundamental issue of the spiritual independence of a country and a nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out and repeatedly emphasized the extreme importance of cultural confidence on different occasions and in different settings. In his important speech at the opening ceremony of the Tenth National Congress of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Ninth National Congress of the Chinese Writers Association, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed, "Cultural confidence is a more basic, broader, and deeper confidence, and a more fundamental, deeper, and more enduring force. Firming up cultural confidence is a major issue concerning the rise and fall of national fortunes, cultural security, and the independence of the national spirit." In the report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Without a high degree of cultural confidence and without a flourishing and prosperous culture, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." In the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed, "To build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics and enhance cultural confidence." If a country or a nation lacks cultural confidence and spiritual independence, the independence of its politics, ideology, culture, and system will lose its foundational support. Cultural confidence provides spiritual support for cultural construction in the New Era, and cultural confidence plays a deep supporting role for confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Without a high degree of cultural confidence and without a flourishing and prosperous culture, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. When we say we must firm up confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in the final analysis, we must firm up cultural confidence.

文化自信是更基本、更深沉、更持久的力量。文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂。文化自信，是一个国家、一个民族最重要最根本的精神力量。文化自信，关乎国家和民族精神独立的根本性问题。习近平总书记在不同时间不同场合多次指出和反复强调文化自信的极端重要性。在中国文联第十次全国代表大会、中国作协第九次全国代表大会开幕式上的重要讲话中，习近平总书记强调，“文化自信，是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信，是更基本、更深沉、更持久的力量。坚定文化自信，是事关国运兴衰、事关文化安全、事关民族精神独立性的大问题”。在党的十九大报告中，习近平总书记指出，“没有高度的文化自信，没有文化的繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴”。在党的二十大报告中，习近平总书记强调，“全面建设社会主义现代化国家，必须坚持中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，增强文化自信”。一个国家、一个民族，如果没有文化自信和精神的独立，政治、思想、文化、制度等方面的独立性就会失去基础支撑。文化自信为新时代文化建设提供精神支撑，文化自信对中国特色社会主义道路自信、理论自信、制度自信具有深层支撑作用。没有高度的文化自信，没有文化的繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴。我们说要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。

Firming up cultural confidence is the inherent spiritual driving force, fundamental prerequisite, and prior condition for continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new historical starting point. Cultural confidence is the premise and foundation for the survival, innovation, creation, and development of culture, and it is the cultural stance and spiritual pillar for promoting cultural development and prosperity. Marx once pointed out, "Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past." The development and prosperity of culture are built on the basis of cultural heritage; new cultural creation can only be carried out on the basis of existing culture. In his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed, "The primary task of firming up cultural confidence is to base ourselves on the great historical and contemporary practice of the Chinese nation, use Chinese principles to summarize Chinese experience well, elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory, neither blindly follow various dogmas nor mechanically copy foreign theories, and achieve spiritual independence and autonomy." The strength of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity; the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires the development and prosperity of Chinese culture as a condition. Firming up cultural confidence is an inevitable requirement for vigorously promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, vigorously developing advanced socialist culture, carrying out cultural creation in practice, achieving cultural progress in historical progress, striving to create a new culture belonging to our era, and constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. To firm up cultural confidence, to shoulder the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new historical starting point, and to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must exalt our national cultural ideal, hold high the banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and firm up our cultural confidence.

坚定文化自信，是在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明的内在精神动力、根本前提和先决条件。文化自信，是文化存续创新创造发展的前提和基础，是推动文化发展繁荣的文化立场和精神支柱。马克思曾经指出，“人们自己创造自己的历史，但是他们并不是随心所欲地创造，并不是在他们自己选定的条件下创造，而是在直接碰到的、既定的、从过去承继下来的条件下创造”。文化的发展繁荣是建立在文化传承基础之上的，新的文化创造只能在已有文化基础上进行。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中强调，“坚定文化自信的首要任务，就是立足中华民族伟大历史实践和当代实践，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”。一个国家、一个民族的强盛，总是以文化兴盛为支撑的，中华民族伟大复兴需要以中华文化发展繁荣为条件。坚定文化自信，是大力弘扬中华优秀传统文化，大力发展社会主义先进文化，在实践中进行文化创造，在历史进步中实现文化进步，努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，建设中华民族现代文明的必然要求。坚定文化自信，在新的历史起点上担负起继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命，实现中华民族伟大复兴，必须高扬我们民族的文化理想，高举习近平文化思想的旗帜，坚定我们的文化自信。

II. Upholding Openness and Inclusiveness

二、秉持开放包容

Cultural exchange is an important condition for cultural progress and an inherent requirement for cultural development, prosperity, and flourishing. Those of the same kind are close to each other; those of different kinds respect each other. [1]1 A classical allusion to the principle of harmony in diversity, often cited in Chinese discourse on inter-civilizational relations. Upholding openness and inclusiveness is the basic principle and norm that must be adhered to in correctly handling relations between different civilizations, promoting cultural development and prosperity, building a strong cultural country, and constructing the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

文化交流是文化进步的重要条件，也是文化发展繁荣昌盛的内在要求。同则相亲，异则相敬。秉持开放包容，是正确处理不同文明之间关系，推动文化发展繁荣、建设文化强国，建设中华民族现代文明必须坚持的基本准则和规范。

Chinese civilization possesses a pronounced openness and inclusiveness, which fundamentally determines the historical orientation of cultural exchange and integration between Chinese culture and the cultures of the world, and determines the open-mindedness of Chinese culture in embracing all cultures of the world. From the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods through the Han and Tang dynasties, and even the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, cultural exchanges between China and other countries became increasingly frequent and deep. Chinese civilization actively interacted with, influenced, and coexisted harmoniously with Western, Indian, and Central Asian civilizations. With its open and inclusive mindset, Chinese civilization actively learned and absorbed the essence of foreign cultures, integrated and innovated upon them, and while enriching and developing its own cultural subjectivity, it reciprocated the world with brilliant civilizational achievements, making positive contributions to the development of human civilization. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, "Chinese civilization is an open system formed through continuous exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. From the historical introduction of Buddhism to China and the 'integration of Islam and Confucianism' [2]2 The "integration of Islam and Confucianism" (伊儒会通) refers to the historical process, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties, of Chinese Muslim scholars interpreting and reconciling Islamic teachings with Confucian philosophy, fostering mutual understanding and cultural integration., to the modern-era 'introduction of Western learning to the East' [3]3 The "introduction of Western learning to the East" (西学东渐) refers to the wave of transmission of Western science, technology, and ideas into China from the late Ming dynasty through the 19th and early 20th centuries, significantly influencing Chinese intellectual and political development., the New Culture Movement, and the introduction of Marxism and socialist thought into China, and then to the all-round opening up since reform and opening up, Chinese civilization has always been renewed through inclusiveness." The open and inclusive nature of Chinese culture, which embraces all, has a profound historical foundation. This is an important gene for the enduring prosperity of Chinese civilization for over 5,000 years, and it is precisely this openness and inclusiveness that has brought bright development prospects for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

中华文明具有突出的开放包容性，从根本上决定了中华文化与世界各国文化交流交融的历史取向，决定了中华文化对世界文化兼收并蓄的开放胸怀。从春秋战国到汉唐乃至宋元明清，中国与世界各国的文化交流日益频繁深入，中华文明与西方文明、印度文明、中亚文明之间积极互动、相互影响，交融交汇、和谐共生。中华文明以其开放包容的心态，积极学习吸收外来文化的精髓，并加以融合创新，在丰富发展自身文化主体性的同时，以辉煌的文明成果回馈世界，为人类文明的发展作出了积极贡献。正如习近平总书记在亚洲文明对话大会开幕式上的主旨演讲中所指出的，“中华文明是在同其他文明不断交流互鉴中形成的开放体系。从历史上的佛教东传、‘伊儒会通’，到近代以来的‘西学东渐’、新文化运动、马克思主义和社会主义思想传入中国，再到改革开放以来全方位对外开放，中华文明始终在兼收并蓄中历久弥新”。中华文化兼收并蓄的开放包容性具有深厚的历史底蕴，这是中华文明绵延5000多年久盛不衰的重要基因，也正是这种开放包容性为中华民族现代文明带来了光明的发展前景。

Fine traditional Chinese culture is constantly enriched by absorbing foreign cultures and innovatively developed through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, continuously radiating new vitality. Openness and inclusiveness have enhanced exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other world civilizations, infusing the flourishing of Chinese civilization with vigorous vitality. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "All living organisms need metabolism; otherwise, life will cease. The same is true for civilizations. If they remain self-enclosed for a long time, they are bound to decline. Exchanges and mutual learning are the essential requirements for the development of civilizations. Only through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, learning from each other's strengths to make up for deficiencies, can they maintain vigorous vitality." In his speech during a visit to UNESCO, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Civilizations are inclusive, and it is because of inclusiveness that human civilizations have the impetus for exchange and mutual learning." In his speech at the General Debate of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly, General Secretary Xi Jinping elucidated the principled stance of "harmony in diversity" in civilizational exchange, emphasizing that the fundamental purpose of civilizational exchange and mutual learning is to promote the progress and development of human civilization. He pointed out, "We should promote civilizational exchanges featuring harmony in diversity and inclusiveness." Human history is a grand picture of different civilizations exchanging, learning from, and integrating with each other. We must respect all civilizations, treat them equally, learn from each other, and embrace inclusiveness, to promote the creative development of human civilization. Chinese civilization is a civilization born on Chinese soil, and it is also a civilization formed through continuous exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. Openness and inclusiveness have injected inexhaustible impetus into the endless vitality of Chinese civilization. Especially in modern and contemporary times, Chinese civilization has transcended "Westernization" and "restoration of ancient ways," embarking on a correct path of civilizational development that combines Marxism with China's reality and with fine traditional Chinese culture, writing a new historical chapter.

中华优秀传统文化总是通过吸收外来文化而不断丰富，通过与其他文明交流互鉴而创新发展，不断焕发新的生命力。开放包容，增进了中华文明与世界其他文明之间的交流互鉴，为中华文明的兴盛带来了旺盛的生命活力。习近平总书记在亚洲文明对话大会开幕式上的主旨演讲中指出，“一切生命有机体都需要新陈代谢，否则生命就会停止。文明也是一样，如果长期自我封闭，必将走向衰落。交流互鉴是文明发展的本质要求。只有同其他文明交流互鉴、取长补短，才能保持旺盛生命活力。”习近平总书记在访问联合国教科文组织的演讲中指出，“文明是包容的，人类文明因包容才有交流互鉴的动力”。在第七十届联合国大会一般性辩论时的讲话中，习近平总书记阐明了文明交流“和而不同”的原则立场，强调文明交流互鉴的根本目的在于推动人类文明的进步发展。他指出，“我们要促进和而不同、兼收并蓄的文明交流”。人类历史就是一幅不同文明相互交流、互鉴、融合的宏伟画卷。我们要尊重各种文明，平等相待、互学互鉴、兼收并蓄，推动人类文明实现创造性发展。中华文明是在中国大地上产生的文明，也是同其他文明不断交流互鉴而形成的文明。开放包容为中华文明的生生不息注入了不竭动力，特别是近现代以来，中华文明超越了“西化”与“复古”，走上了一条马克思主义与中国实际相结合、与中华优秀传统文化相结合的文明发展的正确道路，书写了新的历史篇章。

Upholding openness and inclusiveness fundamentally lies in promoting the localization of foreign cultures, cultivating and creating socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, and making China's contribution to the common development of human civilization. Openness and inclusiveness are essential requirements for cultural development. Building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation requires both adhering to the subjectivity of one's own culture and promoting the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese culture. Every civilization has its unique value of existence. Upholding openness and inclusiveness means more actively absorbing and drawing lessons from all outstanding achievements of human civilization to cultivate the new culture of our era. On August 19, 2019, during a symposium at the Dunhuang Academy, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that today, to forge new brilliance in Chinese culture, we must engage in cultural exchanges with other countries with an even broader mind, and more actively learn from and draw upon all outstanding achievements of world civilization. The purpose of learning and drawing lessons is innovation and creation. History and reality fully demonstrate that the purpose of civilizational exchange and mutual learning is to enrich and develop the subjectivity of one's own culture through integration and exchange with other civilizations, absorbing and drawing lessons from them. In his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphatically pointed out, "We must adhere to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, inherit and develop fine traditional Chinese culture, promote the localization of foreign cultures, and continuously cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era." Guided by Marxism, creatively inheriting and innovatively developing fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously endowing fine traditional Chinese culture with new contemporary connotations and modern forms of expression; learning from foreign cultures with an open and inclusive mind, embracing all, drawing on diverse strengths, promoting the localization of foreign cultures, forming a batch of modern civilizational achievements that connect the ancient and the modern and integrate China and the West, cultivating and creating socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, enhancing national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture, and contributing Chinese thought, Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength to the progress of human civilization—this is the fundamental unity of the openness, inclusiveness, innovation, and creativity of Chinese civilization. A series of Chinese propositions put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping to the international community, such as building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, have injected new and powerful driving forces for deepening civilizational exchange and mutual learning and promoting the progress of human civilization. They provide a model of equal dialogue, mutual learning, and inclusiveness for the development of world civilizations, highlighting the world significance of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

秉持开放包容，根本在于促进外来文化本土化，培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化，为人类文明的共同发展作出中国贡献。开放包容是文化发展的本质要求，建设中华民族现代文明，既离不开坚守自身文化的主体性，也离不开发扬中华文化的开放包容性。每一种文明都有其独特的存在价值，秉持开放包容，就是要更加积极主动地吸收借鉴人类创造的一切优秀文明成果，培育我们时代的新文化。2019年8月19日，习近平总书记在敦煌研究院座谈时指出，今天，我们要铸就中华文化新辉煌，就要以更加博大的胸怀，更加广泛地开展同各国的文化交流，更加积极主动地学习借鉴世界一切优秀文明成果。学习借鉴的目的，在于创新创造。历史和现实都充分表明，文明交流互鉴的目的就是通过与其他文明交融交汇，吸收借鉴，丰富发展自身文化的主体性。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上的重要讲话中强调指出，“我们必须坚持马克思主义中国化时代化，传承发展中华优秀传统文化，促进外来文化本土化，不断培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化”。以马克思主义为指导，创造性继承创新性发展中华优秀传统文化，不断赋予中华优秀传统文化以新的时代内涵和现代表达形式；以开放包容的胸怀学习借鉴外来文化，兼收并蓄、博采众长，促进外来文化本土化，形成一批贯通古今、融汇中西的现代文明成果，培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化，建设中华民族现代文明，提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，为人类文明进步贡献中国思想、中国精神、中国价值、中国力量，是中华文明开放包容性、创新创造性相统一的根本所在。习近平总书记向国际社会提出的构建人类命运共同体、共建“一带一路”倡议、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议和全球文明倡议等一系列中国主张，为推动深化文明交流互鉴，促进人类文明进步，注入了新的强大驱动力，为世界文明发展提供了平等对话、互鉴包容的典范，彰显了中华民族现代文明的世界意义。

III. Upholding Fundamental Principles and Breaking New Ground

三、坚持守正创新

For cultural construction, upholding fundamental principles prevents losing oneself and losing direction, while breaking new ground enables grasping the era and leading the era. Upholding fundamental principles means upholding the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain, upholding the fundamental requirements of the Two Integrations, and upholding the Party's cultural leadership and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. Breaking new ground means creating new ideas, new discourses, new mechanisms, and new forms. Under the guidance of Marxism, it is necessary to truly make the past serve the present, make foreign things serve China, adopt a dialectical approach and discard the dross, and bring forth the new through the old, achieving an organic connection between tradition and modernity. Cultural workers in the New Era must, with the integrity and sharpness of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, continue the historical lineage and write contemporary chapters. Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is the cultural tradition of the Chinese nation over thousands of years of adhering to the right path and discarding the old for the new. It is the unity of adhering to inheritance and development, principle and creativity, embodying the dialectical unity of adherence to truth and practical exploration. It is the methodology for promoting cultural prosperity and development.

对文化建设来说，守正才能不迷失自我、不迷失方向，创新才能把握时代、引领时代。守正，守的是马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，守的是“两个结合”的根本要求，守的是中国共产党的文化领导权和中华民族的文化主体性。创新，创的是新思路、新话语、新机制、新形式，要在马克思主义指导下真正做到古为今用、洋为中用、辩证取舍、推陈出新，实现传统与现代的有机衔接。新时代的文化工作者必须以守正创新的正气和锐气，赓续历史文脉、谱写当代华章。守正创新是中华民族几千年来恪守正道、革故鼎新的文化传统，是坚持继承与发展、原则性与创造性的统一，体现了真理性坚守与实践性探索的辩证统一，是推动文化繁荣发展的方法论。

Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is the fundamental path for realizing the integration of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, and an inevitable requirement for shouldering the new cultural mission. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for the founding of our Party and the governance of our country, the guide to action for the Party, the soul and banner of the Party, and the spiritual lifeline for our adherence to and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Fine traditional Chinese culture has provided rich nourishment for the endless vitality and growth of the Chinese nation; it is the matrix of our cultural development, the spiritual lifeline of the Chinese nation, the cultural foundation for us to stand firm amid the cultural currents of the world in the present era, and the root and vein of the Chinese nation. Adhering to the soul and the root and vein is the foundation and prerequisite for cultural innovation, development, and flourishing. To develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and to build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, the fundamental path is to adhere to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and to advance the integration of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. Fine traditional Chinese culture must undergo a “switching” of the times under the guidance of Marxism, undergo creative transformation and innovative development, and realize its modernization transformation, before it can become an organic component of the new culture of our era. Only by adhering to the guidance of Marxism, using Marxism to lead, integrate, and transform fine traditional Chinese culture, can we ensure that the creative inheritance and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture advance in the correct direction and build the new culture of our era well.

坚持守正创新，是实现马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合的根本路径，是担负起新的文化使命的必然要求。马克思主义是我们立党立国的根本指导思想，是党的行动指南，是党的灵魂和旗帜,是我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的魂脉。中华优秀传统文化为中华民族生生不息、发展壮大提供了丰厚滋养，是我们文化发展的母体，是中华民族的精神命脉，是我们在当今时代世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的文化根基，是中华民族的根脉。坚守好魂脉和根脉，是文化创新发展繁荣的基础和前提。在5000多年中华文明深厚基础上发展中国特色社会主义，建设中华民族现代文明，根本路径就是要坚持守正创新，推进马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合。中华优秀传统文化必须在马克思主义的指导下经历时代的“切换”，进行创造性转化、创新性发展，实现其现代化转化，才能成为我们时代新的文化的有机组成部分。只有坚持以马克思主义为指导，用马克思主义引领、融会、转化中华优秀传统文化，才能保证中华优秀传统文化的创造性继承、创新性发展沿着正确的方向前进,建设好我们时代新的文化。

Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and forging a new cultural life form. Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and advancing the integration of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, means taking Chinese civilization as the source of living water, drawing on the philosophical thought, humanistic spirit, value concepts, and moral norms contained in fine traditional Chinese culture, integrating the ideological essence of Marxism with the ideological content of fine traditional Chinese culture, injecting new vitality into the development of Marxism, providing rich historical and cultural resources and strong spiritual and cultural support for Marxism in the Chinese context, enriching and developing contemporary Chinese Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, enabling Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture to inspire and achieve each other, making Marxism Chinese and making fine traditional Chinese culture contemporary, realizing the Sinicization of Marxism and the modernization of fine traditional Chinese culture, forging them under the conditions of the new era into an organic, unified, new cultural life form, creating a new culture belonging to our era, and providing a powerful spiritual driving force for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

坚持守正创新，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，造就新的文化生命体。坚持守正创新，推进马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相结合，就是要以中华文明为源头活水，汲取中华优秀传统文化所蕴含的哲学思想、人文精神、价值理念、道德规范，把马克思主义的思想精髓与中华优秀传统文化的思想内容融会贯通，为马克思主义的发展注入新的活力,为中国化马克思主义提供丰富的历史文化资源和强大的精神文化支撑，以中华优秀传统文化丰富发展当代中国马克思主义，使马克思主义与中华优秀传统文化相互激发、相互成就，让马克思主义成为中国的，让中华优秀传统文化成为时代的，实现马克思主义中国化、中华优秀传统文化现代化，在新的时代条件下熔铸成有机的、统一的、新的文化生命体，创造属于我们这个时代的新的文化，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供强大的精神动力。

Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground fundamentally lies in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as the guide to forge new brilliance in socialist culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, with its rich connotations and profound thought, is the theoretical summary of the Party’s practical experience in cultural leadership in the New Era, the essence of the times of Chinese culture and Chinese spirit, the fundamental guide for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and the fundamental principle for creating the new culture of our era. To shoulder the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new historical starting point, the most fundamental and important thing is to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, especially to correctly grasp and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods contained therein, strive to continue the Chinese cultural lineage, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, strive to promote the flourishing development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries, continuously cultivate and create advanced socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, continuously consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, continuously enhance the country’s cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture, and forge new brilliance in socialist culture.

坚持守正创新,根本在于以习近平文化思想为指导，铸就社会主义文化的新辉煌。习近平文化思想，内涵丰富、思想深刻，是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，是建设中华民族现代文明的根本指针，是创造我们这个时代的新的文化的根本遵循。在新的历史起点上担负起继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命,最根本、最重要的就是坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实习近平文化思想,尤其是正确掌握运用蕴含其中的立场观点和方法，着力赓续中华文脉、推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，着力推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展，不断培育和创造中国特色社会主义先进文化,不断巩固全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础，不断提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，铸就社会主义文化的新辉煌。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: “To continue theoretical innovation on the basis of practice, we must, first of all, gain a good grasp of the worldview and methodology of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and adhere to and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through it.” [4]4 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022. The quotation is from the congress report. Strengthening cultural confidence, upholding openness and inclusiveness, and adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground enrich the theoretical connotation of Marxist historical materialism and dialectical materialism, develop Marxist philosophical methodology, provide us with the correct positions, viewpoints, and methods for promoting cultural development in the New Era, and provide the fundamental principle for shouldering the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new historical starting point.

习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中指出：“继续推进实践基础上的理论创新，首先要把握好新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法。”坚定文化自信、秉持开放包容、坚持守正创新，丰富了马克思主义历史唯物主义和辩证唯物主义的理论内涵，发展了马克思主义的哲学方法论，为我们推动新时代文化发展提供了正确的立场、观点、方法，为在新的历史起点上担负起继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命提供了根本遵循。

(Author: Distinguished Chair Professor, Institute for Marxist Studies in the New Era, Tianjin Normal University)

（作者：天津师范大学新时代马克思主义研究院特聘讲座教授）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁