The Cultural Leadership of the Party Must Be Upheld on the New Journey of the New Era

In June 2023, at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly expounded on the Party’s cultural leadership, emphasizing that “to uphold fundamental principles means to uphold the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, to uphold the fundamental requirements of the ‘Two Integrations’ [1]1 Quotation from Xi Jinping, reflecting the Marxist view that practice is the foundation of theory and that theoretical innovation must keep pace with practical development., and to uphold the Chinese Communist Party’s cultural leadership and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation.” Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has attached great importance to the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, using culture to guide the direction of progress and to consolidate the strength for struggle. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires the development and flourishing of Chinese culture as a condition; without the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At present, the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century, with strategic opportunities coexisting alongside risks and challenges. Propaganda, ideology, and cultural work face new situations and new tasks, making it all the more necessary to uphold the Party’s cultural leadership, to build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding force, and to provide a firm ideological guarantee, a powerful spiritual force, and favorable cultural conditions for advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

2023年6月，习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上对党的文化领导权作出深刻阐述，强调“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”。中国共产党自成立以来，就高度重视党对宣传思想文化工作的领导，运用文化引领前进方向、凝聚奋斗力量。中华民族伟大复兴需要以中华文化发展繁荣为条件，没有中华文化繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴。当前，世界百年变局加速演进，战略机遇和风险挑战并存，宣传思想文化工作面临新形势新任务，更加需要坚持党的文化领导权，建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，为推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强思想保证、强大精神力量、有利文化条件。

Deeply Understanding the Significance of Upholding the Party’s Cultural Leadership

深刻理解坚持党的文化领导权的重要意义

Culture concerns the foundation and destiny of a nation. Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership bears on the fundamental nature, important principles, development direction, and future fate of cultural construction. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation now requires, more than ever, the exertion of culture’s guiding, cohesive, shaping, and radiating forces. On the new journey of the New Era, upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is of paramount importance.

文化关乎国本、国运。坚持党的文化领导权，事关文化建设的根本性质、重要原则、发展方向和前途命运。实现中华民族伟大复兴比以往更加需要发挥文化的引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力。新时代新征程，坚持党的文化领导权至关重要。

Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is an inherent requirement for a Marxist ruling party to do a good job in ideological work. Ideological work is an extremely important task for the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that propaganda, ideology, and cultural work is “an extremely important task” that “concerns the future and destiny of the Party, concerns the long-term stability and security of the country, and concerns the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation,” and has made overall arrangements and put forward clear requirements for it, promoting historic achievements in the cause of propaganda, ideology, and culture in the New Era, and bringing about an overall and fundamental transformation in the situation in the ideological domain. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to ideological work, upheld the Party’s cultural leadership, consolidated a common ideological foundation, gathered surging forces for struggle, and striven to ensure that the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies win the heartfelt support of the people, thereby further consolidating the Party’s ruling position.

坚持党的文化领导权是马克思主义执政党做好意识形态工作的内在要求。意识形态工作是党的一项极端重要的工作。习近平总书记强调，宣传思想文化工作是一项“事关党的前途命运，事关国家长治久安，事关民族凝聚力和向心力”的“极端重要的工作”，并对其作出全局性部署、提出明确要求，推动新时代宣传思想文化事业取得历史性成就，意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变。新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视意识形态工作，坚持党的文化领导权，筑牢共同思想基础、凝聚磅礴奋进力量，努力使党的理论和路线方针政策得到人民群众衷心拥护，进一步巩固党的执政地位。

Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is an important guarantee for advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. The Chinese Communist Party is a party armed with the scientific theory of Marxism. Precisely because it has always adhered to Marxist theoretical arming and continuously promoted theoretical innovation, and has mastered the scientific truth of Marxism, our Party has fundamentally grasped the leadership of ideology and culture, grasped the initiative in creating history, and powerfully propelled the historical process of China’s revolution, construction, and reform. Since the New Era, the situation in the ideological domain has been complex and intertwined, with sharp and intense struggles. To guard against major risks in the ideological domain and to be able to handle crises with ease, the Party has clearly stated the need to “focus on strengthening the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work” and to “focus on building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding force.” Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership, occupying the positions of propaganda, ideology, and culture, building a solid line of defense in the ideological domain, shaping a new pattern of mainstream public opinion, and promoting the Party’s innovative theories to be truly loved, recognized, and possessed by the people, so that the broad masses of the people are closely united in thought and spirit, thereby gathering the surging great power for advancing the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

坚持党的文化领导权是推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的重要保障。中国共产党是以马克思主义科学理论武装的党，正是因为始终坚持马克思主义理论武装并持续推进理论创新，掌握了马克思主义科学真理，我们党才从根本上掌握了思想文化的领导权，掌握了创造历史的主动权，有力地推动了中国革命、建设和改革的历史进程。新时代以来，意识形态领域形势错综复杂，斗争尖锐激烈，为防范意识形态领域内的重大风险，做到面对危局游刃有余，党明确指出要“着力加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导”和“着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态”。坚持党的文化领导权，占领宣传思想文化阵地，筑牢意识形态防线，塑造主流舆论新格局，推动党的创新理论真正为人民所喜爱、所认同、所拥有，使广大人民群众在思想上精神上紧紧团结在一起，从而汇聚起推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的磅礴伟力。

The Main Focal Points That Must Be Grasped in Upholding the Party’s Cultural Leadership

坚持党的文化领导权必须把握的主要着力点

Ideological unity is the foundation of political unity and unity in action. On the new journey of the New Era, we must always uphold the Party’s cultural leadership and ensure that our Party maintains a high degree of unity in thought. Upholding the Party’s cultural leadership is a systematic project that requires coordinated advancement on multiple fronts.

思想统一是政治统一、行动统一的基础。新时代新征程，必须始终坚持党的文化领导权，确保我们党在思想上保持高度一致。坚持党的文化领导权是一项系统工程，需要多方面协同推进。

We must uphold the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain. A political party must have its own political soul; Marxism is the banner and soul of socialist ideology. For more than a hundred years, the Chinese Communist Party has always adhered to the guidance of Marxism and ensured its implementation through institutional mechanisms, uniting the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country under the Party’s banner into “a piece of hard steel.” On the new journey of the New Era, to do a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work and to consolidate Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, it is necessary to further enhance the execution of the system and better transform institutional advantages into the actual effectiveness of ideological work. Only by adhering to Marxism to consolidate ideological consensus, enhance political identity, and guarantee it through institutional forms can we maintain theoretical sobriety and political firmness on major issues concerning the direction of socialist cultural development and upholding the Party’s cultural leadership; only then can we, in dealing with the “dispute between ancient and modern” and the “debate between China and the West” in the ideological and cultural domain, use Marxist theory and methods to achieve “melding the ancient and the modern” and “connecting China and the West”; only then can we, in the face of the long-standing phenomena of “ideological chaos” and “value chaos” in some areas, use Marxism to cultivate the roots and purify the source.

必须坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度。一个政党必须有自己的政治灵魂，马克思主义是社会主义意识形态的旗帜和灵魂。一百多年来，中国共产党始终坚持以马克思主义为指导，并通过体制机制予以保障落实，使全党全国各族人民在党的旗帜下团结成为“一块坚硬的钢铁”。新时代新征程，做好宣传思想文化工作，巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，要进一步提升制度执行力，把制度优势更好转化为意识形态工作的实际效能。只有坚持以马克思主义凝聚思想共识、增强政治认同并以制度形式予以保障，才能在事关社会主义文化发展方向和坚持党的文化领导权的重大问题上，保持理论清醒和政治坚定；才能在处理思想文化领域“古今之争”和“中西之辩”问题中，运用马克思主义理论和方法实现“熔铸古今”和“汇通中西”；才能在面对一些领域长期存在的“意识形态之乱”和“价值观之乱”的现象时，以马克思主义培根固本和正本清源。

We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [2]2 A classical Chinese allusion, drawing on the Han dynasty text "Huan Kuan: On Salt and Iron" and the "Great Learning" chapter of the "Book of Rites," emphasizing the necessity of adapting to change and continuous self-renewal., the historic achievements and historic changes in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work have been fundamentally due to the helm guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping

必须坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导。党的十八大以来，宣传思想文化工作之所以取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，最根本就在于有习近平总书记领航掌舵，有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，为新时代坚持党的文化领导权提供了最根本的理论遵循，也为推动全党统一思想、统一意志、统一行动奠定了最根本的思想基础。新时代以来，我们党聚焦新形势、新任务和新目标，做到既坚定对马克思主义的信仰，又推动当代中国马克思主义深入人心、落地生根；既坚持“两个结合”，又推动传统和现代有机衔接，在推进马克思主义中国化时代化进程中持续激发马克思主义真理的力量。当前，思想文化领域出现了新变化新情况，宣传思想文化工作面临着新任务新要求。只有深刻把握、全面领会、认真贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的核心要义、精神实质、丰富内涵和实践要求，才能更好地坚持和巩固党的文化领导权。

We must keep pace with the times and advance through innovation. "As practical development never ends, our understanding of truth and our theoretical innovation never end either." [1]1 Quotation from Xi Jinping, reflecting the Marxist view that practice is the foundation of theory and that theoretical innovation must keep pace with practical development. The wise change with the times; the knowledgeable adapt to circumstances; he who does not renew himself daily will surely regress daily. [2]2 A classical Chinese allusion, drawing on the Han dynasty text "Huan Kuan: On Salt and Iron" and the "Great Learning" chapter of the "Book of Rites," emphasizing the necessity of adapting to change and continuous self-renewal. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Doing a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work requires more innovation than ever before," with the focus on innovating in concepts, means, and grassroots work. [3]3 Xi Jinping's directive from the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work (2013), highlighting the need for comprehensive innovation in propaganda work to meet the demands of the New Era. Innovation in concepts requires keen insight and profound thinking, the courage to reform and break through outdated conventions, using new perspectives in ideological understanding to open up new vistas in work and new leaps in ideological understanding to break new ground in work. Innovation in means requires actively employing digital frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence to innovate the methods, forms, carriers, and instruments of propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, continuously enhancing the work's appeal and impact, and improving its quality and effectiveness. Innovation in grassroots work requires placing the center of gravity of innovation at the frontline of the grassroots, through solid and meticulous work, truly consolidating the foundation and stimulating grassroots vitality. On the new journey of the New Era, to do a good job in propaganda, ideology, and cultural work and to uphold the Party's cultural leadership, we must combine new conditions of the times and continuously advance innovation on the basis of practice. Only in this way can we add momentum to cultural development and activate the source of civilizational progress; only in this way can we enrich the people's spiritual world and meet the people's spiritual needs; only in this way can we strengthen the ideological identification of the masses and form a broad cultural consciousness.

必须坚持与时俱进、开拓创新。“实践发展永无止境，我们认识真理、进行理论创新就永无止境。”明者因时而变，知者随事而制，不日新者必日退。进入新时代，习近平总书记指出，“做好宣传思想工作，比以往任何时候都更加需要创新”，重点要抓好理念创新、手段创新、基层工作创新。理念创新要有敏锐的洞察力和深刻的思考力，勇于革新、突破陈规，以思想认识新视角打开工作新局面、以思想认识新飞跃开辟工作新境界。手段创新要积极运用人工智能等数字前沿技术，创新宣传思想文化工作的方式方法、载体手段，不断增强工作的吸引力感染力，提高工作的质量和效果。基层工作创新要把创新的重心放在基层一线，通过扎实细致的工作，真正做到强基固本，激发基层活力。新时代新征程，做好宣传思想文化工作，坚持党的文化领导权，必须结合新的时代条件，不断推进实践基础上的创新。只有这样，才能增添文化发展动力、激活文明进步源泉；才能丰富人民精神世界、满足人民精神需要；才能增强群体思想认同、形成广泛文化自觉。

It is imperative to uphold the unity of Party spirit and people-centeredness. In our country, Party spirit and people-centeredness are consistent and unified; there is no Party spirit divorced from people-centeredness, nor is there any people-centeredness divorced from Party spirit. In the New Era, our Party has consistently taken “the Party supervising propaganda, the Party supervising ideology, and the Party supervising media” as an important aspect of upholding the Party’s cultural leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The principle of Party spirit must not only be discussed, but must be discussed with full confidence; it cannot be evasive or hesitant.” [4]4 This is a direct quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideology Work (2013), emphasizing the necessity of openly and confidently upholding the Party’s leadership in ideological and cultural work. The work of propaganda, ideology, and culture must necessarily reflect the Party’s propositions, embody the Party’s will, and manifest the Party’s character, achieving “firmly propagating the Party’s theories, lines, principles, and policies; firmly propagating the major work deployments of the Party Central Committee; and firmly propagating the Central Committee’s major analytical judgments on the situation.” At the same time, our Party has consistently taken “making the Party’s theory truly become a theory loved, recognized, and possessed by the people” as an important requirement for upholding the Party’s cultural leadership. On the one hand, we actively promote the popularization, simplification, and universalization of scientific theory, so that the Party’s innovative theory can be understood and comprehended by the masses to the greatest extent possible. In disseminating the Party’s theory, one must not pick and choose phrases or read from a script; one must “speak in language that the people can understand and are willing to listen to.” [5]5 This phrase is from Xi Jinping’s remarks on improving the effectiveness of theoretical propaganda, stressing the need for accessible language to reach ordinary people. Centering on the fundamental goal of studying, understanding, and practically applying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must take root in grassroots life, face grassroots masses, construct a vibrant and down-to-earth popular discourse system, and create a series of outstanding works that intensively reflect the new thoughts and new styles displayed by the masses in the great transformations of the New Era and in socialist modernization. This will enhance the coverage and timeliness of propaganda, ideology, and culture work, enabling theory to be grasped by the broad masses and drawing the largest concentric circle of thought. [6]6 “Concentric circle of thought” (思想同心圆) is a metaphor used in Chinese political discourse to describe the unity of the people’s thinking around the Party’s core ideology. On the other hand, the Party’s theory is a theory that comes from the people, serves the people, and benefits the people. To uphold the Party’s cultural leadership, we must think what the people think, resolve what the people worry about, and do what the people hope for, striving to achieve the great enrichment of society’s material wealth and spiritual wealth, and building a solid bridge connecting scientific theory to the masses. To uphold the Party’s cultural leadership, we must adhere to the unity of Party spirit and people-centeredness. Only in this way can we find the correct direction of advance and hold firm the political stance of upholding the Party’s cultural leadership on the new journey of the New Era; only in this way can we clarify the value orientation and stand firm on the people’s stance of upholding the Party’s cultural leadership on the new journey of the New Era; only in this way can we grasp the correct orientation and, on the new journey of the New Era, persist in unifying the expression of the Party’s propositions with the reflection of the people’s voices.

必须坚持党性和人民性的统一。在我国，党性和人民性是一致的、统一的，没有脱离人民性的党性，也没有脱离党性的人民性。新时代，我们党始终将“党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体”作为坚持党的文化领导权的重要方面。习近平总书记指出：“党性原则不仅要讲，而且要理直气壮讲，不能躲躲闪闪、扭扭捏捏。”宣传思想文化工作务必要反映党的主张、体现党的意志、彰显党的品格，做到“坚定宣传党的理论和路线方针政策，坚定宣传中央重大工作部署，坚定宣传中央关于形势的重大分析判断”。与此同时，我们党始终将推动“党的理论真正成为人民所喜爱、所认同、所拥有的理论”作为坚持党的文化领导权的重要要求。一方面，积极推进科学理论大众化、通俗化、普及化，使党的创新理论能够最大限度地被人民群众认知和理解。传播党的理论，不能寻章摘句、照本宣科，要“讲人民群众听得懂、听得进的话语”。要围绕学懂弄通做实习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这个根本目标，扎根基层生活、面向基层群众，构建有朝气、接地气的大众话语体系，创作一系列集中反映人民群众在新时代伟大变革和社会主义现代化建设中展现的新思想新风貌的精品力作，增强宣传思想文化工作的覆盖面和时效性，让理论为广大人民群众所掌握，画出最大的思想同心圆。另一方面，党的理论是来自人民、为了人民、造福人民的理论。坚持党的文化领导权，必须想人民之所想、解人民之所忧、干人民之所盼，努力实现社会物质财富和精神财富的极大丰富，架起科学理论通向人民群众的坚实桥梁。坚持党的文化领导权，必须坚持党性和人民性的统一。只有这样，才能找准前进方向，坚守新时代新征程坚持党的文化领导权的政治立场；才能明确价值指向，站稳新时代新征程坚持党的文化领导权的人民立场；才能把握正确导向，在新时代新征程中坚持把体现党的主张和反映人民心声统一起来。

(The authors are, respectively, Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Marxism, Shandong University; and a graduate student of the School of Marxism, Shandong University.)

（作者系山东大学马克思主义学院院长、教授、博士生导师；山东大学马克思主义学院研究生）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁