Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization Requires Vigorously Cultivating an Innovation Culture

Throughout the history of human development, innovation has always been an important force for the development of a country and a nation, and it has also always been an important force driving the progress of human society. Innovation culture refers to the cultural reflection, cultural form, and cultural environment of innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in his speech at the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, and the Joint Conference of the Two Academies of Sciences [1]1 The Two Academies of Sciences refers to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering., “Persist in cultivating an innovation culture, inherit the innovative genes of fine traditional Chinese culture, create a favorable environment that encourages exploration and tolerates failure, and make advocating science and pursuing innovation a common practice throughout society.” Contemporary China is undergoing the most extensive and profound social transformation in its history, and is also carrying out the most grand and unique practical innovation in human history, which inevitably calls for and gives rise to an innovation culture that corresponds to it. To develop the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, it is necessary to place the cultivation of an innovation culture throughout society in a prominent position, using innovation culture to propel the construction of Chinese-path modernization.

纵观人类发展历史，创新始终是一个国家、一个民族发展的重要力量，也始终是推动人类社会进步的重要力量。创新文化是指创新的文化反映、文化形态、文化环境。习近平总书记在全国科技大会、国家科学技术奖励大会、两院院士大会上讲话时强调，“坚持培育创新文化，传承中华优秀传统文化的创新基因，营造鼓励探索、宽容失败的良好环境，使崇尚科学、追求创新在全社会蔚然成风”。当代中国正经历着我国历史上最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，也正在进行着人类历史上最为宏大而独特的实践创新，必然呼唤、催生与之相适应的创新文化。发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化，必须把在全社会培育创新文化摆在突出位置，以创新文化推动中国式现代化建设。

I. Innovation Culture Provides Strong Momentum for Realizing the Central Tasks of the Party and the State in the New Era and New Journey

一、创新文化为实现新时代新征程党和国家中心任务提供强劲动力

Social history unfolds through the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure. Innovation changes and shapes the world; without innovation, there would be no civilizational progress from primitive society to modern society, nor would there be an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing human society. Innovation is a social-historical phenomenon, influenced by multiple factors, including internal and external factors, technological and institutional factors, social and human factors, and so on. Culture is the reflection of a given society’s economy, politics, etc., in the realms of thought, theory, and spirit. It is determined by productive forces, relations of production, and the superstructure, while simultaneously exerting significant influence and effect on the economy and politics. It is an important factor in developing productive forces, adjusting relations of production, and transforming the superstructure. Culture runs through all fields and acts at all levels; it is an important form of soft power. The state of innovation in a nation or country—whether it can become an innovative nation, whether it can form an innovation-driven institutional mechanism—is closely related to the development of its innovation culture. Innovation culture is a culture that advocates innovation, encourages innovation, and dares to innovate. Since reform and opening up, the cause of the Party and the people has caught up with the times in great strides. In the New Era, comprehensively deepening reform has promoted historic transformations, systemic reshaping, and holistic reconstruction in many fields. These are the fruits of advancing theoretical innovation, practical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and innovation in all other aspects.

社会历史是在生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑的矛盾运动中进行的。创新改变世界、塑造世界，没有创新就没有从原始社会到现代社会的文明进步，就没有日新月异、越来越丰富多样的人类社会。创新是一种社会历史现象，影响创新的因素有多种，包括内部因素和外部因素、技术因素和制度因素、社会因素和人的因素，等等。文化是一定社会的经济、政治等在思想、理论、精神领域的反映，由生产力、生产关系、上层建筑所决定，同时又对经济、政治等产生很大的影响和作用，是发展生产力、调整生产关系、改变上层建筑的重要因素。文化贯通于各个领域、作用于各个层面，是一种重要的软实力。一个民族和国家的创新状况如何，能否成为创新型国家、能否形成创新驱动体制机制，与创新文化的发展状况密切相关。创新文化是崇尚创新、鼓励创新、勇于创新的文化。改革开放以来党和人民事业大踏步赶上时代，新时代全面深化改革推动许多领域实现历史性变革、系统性重塑、整体性重构，就是推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新以及其他各方面创新的成果。

Modernization is a worldwide trend since modern times. An important feature of modernization is the rapid development of productive forces and the constant transformation of social relations, creating a new social form different from ancient society. In the process of modernization, the intensity, frequency, and effectiveness of innovation increase; innovation is the engine and propeller of modernization. Chinese-path modernization, whether viewed from the perspective of sharing common features with modernization in other countries or from the perspective of having Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions, is a modernization driven by innovation as the primary driving force. Building a great modern socialist country in all respects in a country with a huge population is an unprecedented feat in the history of world modernization. Its difficulty and complexity are unparalleled; there is no ready-made template to copy, only the path of Chinese-path modernization to blaze. Therefore, Chinese-path modernization is itself innovation. Chinese-path modernization has emerged through adhering to the Two Integrations [2]2 The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture.. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The ‘Two Integrations’ are our greatest magic weapon for achieving success.” To advance Chinese-path modernization, we must adhere to the Two Integrations and develop a unique form of modernization that conforms to the principles of scientific socialism, reflects China’s national conditions, and highlights the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization. The Two Integrations are not only the greatest magic weapon for success but also the greatest magic weapon for innovation. Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is in full swing. Information technology represented by the Internet and artificial intelligence is changing with each passing day. The breadth, depth, speed, and precision of technological innovation are significantly increasing, making it increasingly the core element of competition in comprehensive national power. Not innovating is not allowed, and innovating too slowly is also not allowed. This is an era that calls for an innovative spirit and the cultivation of an innovation culture. Only by enriching the cultural soil for innovation can we create a situation of innovation where a hundred boats contend and a thousand sails compete.

现代化是近代以来的世界性潮流。现代化的一个重要特征，就是生产力的迅速发展、社会关系的不断变革，创造了一种不同于古代社会的新的社会形态。在现代化进程中，创新的力度加大、频率加快、效果加强，是现代化的发动机、推进器。中国式现代化，无论是从具有各国现代化的共同特征来看，还是从具有基于自己国情的中国特色来看，都是以创新为第一动力的现代化。在人口规模巨大的国家全面建成社会主义现代化强国，是世界现代化史上的创举，其艰巨复杂程度前所未有，没有现成的模版可以套用，只有开辟中国式现代化道路。因此，中国式现代化本身就是创新。中国式现代化是在坚持“两个结合”中走出来的。习近平总书记指出，“‘两个结合’是我们取得成功的最大法宝”。推进中国式现代化，坚持“两个结合”，发展出符合科学社会主义原则、反映中国国情、彰显中华文明突出特性的独特的现代化形态。“两个结合”既是成功的最大法宝，也是创新的最大法宝。当前，新一轮科技革命和产业变革方兴未艾，以互联网、人工智能等为代表的信息技术日新月异，科技创新广度显著增大、深度显著加深、速度显著加快、精度显著加强，越来越成为综合国力竞争的核心要素。不创新不行，创新慢了也不行。这是一个呼唤创新精神、培育创新文化的时代，只有厚植创新的文化土壤，才能造就百舸争流、千帆竞发的创新局面。

Since reform and opening up, innovation-driven development has become a consensus, the innovative spirit has been encouraged, and an innovation culture has become common practice, becoming an organic component and distinctive symbol of the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. During the 2025 Spring Festival period, the emergence of DeepSeek and the box office success of *Ne Zha 2: The Devil Child Stirs Up the Sea* [3]3 *Ne Zha 2: The Devil Child Stirs Up the Sea* is a 2025 Chinese animated fantasy film, a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster *Ne Zha*. were, at a deep level, due to the persistent cultivation of an innovation culture, which produced stunning technological and artistic innovations. At the same time, it must also be recognized that, due to reasons such as ideological concepts, institutional mechanisms, and the social environment, various situations that hinder or obstruct innovation still exist in real life. For example, innovation implies risk, including the risk of setbacks and failure. Some people pursue safety, worrying about gains and losses, believing that being stable and steady is best, unwilling to take risks, and consequently missing opportunities for innovation. Innovation requires running ahead, daring to be the first in the world, doing what others have not done. Some people are still accustomed to following the crowd, looking left and right, unwilling to stand out, and never taking the step of innovation. Promoting innovation requires giving encouragement and protection to innovators, and requires those who are willing to take responsibility to support and help innovation. Yet some people are unwilling to take responsibility, not daring to act from the overall perspective of the cause, but instead shirk responsibility and prevaricate. Even when it comes to matters beneficial to development and innovation, they do not give the green light, and so on. All these phenomena indicate that to further comprehensively deepen reform, we must persist in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic. We must further liberate and develop social productive forces, stimulate and enhance social vitality, break free from the shackles of ideological concepts, and resolutely eliminate institutional and mechanistic drawbacks in all aspects.

改革开放以来，创新发展成为共识，创新精神受到鼓励，创新文化蔚然成风，成为中国特色社会主义文化的有机构成和鲜明标识。2025年春节期间，DeepSeek横空出世、《哪吒之魔童闹海》热映登顶，一个深层原因是创新文化的坚持培育，由此产生了震撼的科技创新和艺术创新。同时也要看到，由于思想观念、体制机制、社会环境等方面原因，在现实生活中还存在着这样那样的妨碍、阻碍创新的情况。比如，创新意味着风险，存在受挫、失败的风险，有的人就追求保险，患得患失，认为平平稳稳最好，不愿担风险，结果错失了创新的机遇。创新要跑在前面，敢为天下先，做别人没有做过的事，有的人还是习惯从众，左顾右盼，不愿冒尖，始终迈不出创新的一步。推动创新需要为创新者给予鼓励和保护，要有支持帮助创新的担当者，有的人却不愿担责任，不是从事业大局出发敢于担当，而是推诿扯皮、敷衍塞责，即使是有利于发展创新的事也不放行，等等。凡此种种都表明，进一步全面深化改革，必须坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，进一步解放和发展社会生产力、激发和增强社会活力，冲破思想观念束缚，坚决破除各方面体制机制弊端。

The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC [4]4 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was the party congress held in October 2022. clearly stated that we must adhere to the principles that science and technology are the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. We must thoroughly implement the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the nation through human resource development, and the innovation-driven development strategy, opening up new fields and tracks for development, and continuously shaping new drivers and advantages for development. To a large extent, it can be said that science and technology become the primary productive force because they contain immense innovative energy; talent becomes the primary resource because talent is the source of innovation; innovation becomes the primary driving force because, among all factors of production, development, and society, innovation is the universal and substantive factor. Thoroughly implementing the strategy of invigorating China through science and education focuses on improving the scientific and technological innovation system, optimizing the allocation of innovation resources, cultivating socialist builders and successors who are well-developed morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and labor-wise, and building a learning society and a learning country, thereby consolidating the scientific and educational foundation for innovation. Thoroughly implementing the strategy of strengthening the nation through human resource development requires cultivating and bringing forth a large number of high-quality talents with both integrity and ability, focusing on cultivating top-notch innovative talents, accelerating the construction of a world-class talent center and innovation highland, thereby solidifying the talent foundation for innovation. Thoroughly implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, accelerating the achievement of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, focusing on enhancing independent innovation capabilities, and promoting the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain, thereby accelerating the establishment and improvement of a national innovation system with organic interaction and efficient synergy among all entities, aspects, and links, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the innovation system. These important positions and major strategies are, in essence, all about cultivating an innovation culture and providing a solid and powerful foundational support for promoting the innovative spirit.

党的二十大报告明确提出，必须坚持科技是第一生产力、人才是第一资源、创新是第一动力，深入实施科教兴国战略、人才强国战略、创新驱动发展战略，开辟发展新领域新赛道，不断塑造发展新动能新优势。很大程度上可以说，科技成为第一生产力，是由于科技蕴含着极大的创新能量；人才成为第一资源，是由于人才是创新之源；创新成为第一动力，是由于在所有的生产要素、发展要素、社会要素中，创新是普遍的、实质的要素。深入实施科教兴国战略，重在完善科技创新体系，优化配置创新资源，培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人，建设学习型社会、学习型大国，从而夯实创新的科教基础。深入实施人才强国战略，要求培养造就大批德才兼备的高素质人才，着力造就拔尖创新人才，加快建设世界重要人才中心和创新高地，从而筑牢创新的人才基础。深入实施创新驱动发展战略，加快实现高水平科技自立自强，着力增强自主创新能力，推动创新链产业链资金链人才链深度融合，从而加快建立健全各主体、各方面、各环节有机互动、协同高效的国家创新体系，提升创新体系整体效能。这些重要定位和重大战略，实质上都是在培育创新文化，为弘扬创新精神奠定坚实有力的基础支撑。

II. Actively Foster a Cultural Atmosphere that Advocates Innovation, Encourages Innovation, and Dares to Innovate

二、积极营造崇尚创新、鼓励创新、勇于创新的文化氛围

Chinese civilization possesses a pronounced quality of innovativeness, and the spirit of innovation is deeply embedded within China’s excellent traditional culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “The Chinese nation has always created its material civilization, cultural-ethical progress, and political civilization with the spirit of ‘if you can improve yourself in a day, do so each day, day after day’ [5]5 A classical allusion from the *Great Learning* (*Daxue*), attributed to the Shang dynasty founder Tang, emphasizing continuous self-renewal., standing in the world for a very long historical period as the most prosperous and powerful civilization. The innovativeness of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation, which upholds what is right without clinging to the old and respects antiquity without restoring ancient ways, and determines the fearless character of the Chinese nation, which fears no new challenges and is always ready to accept new things.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, speech at a symposium on cultural heritage, 2023. On the new journey of the New Era, to comprehensively advance the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to inherit the innovative genes of China’s excellent traditional culture; this will also inevitably greatly enhance the innovativeness of Chinese civilization and greatly enrich the innovation culture of the Chinese nation.

中华文明具有突出的创新性，创新精神深深蕴藏在中华优秀传统文化之中。习近平总书记指出：“中华民族始终以‘苟日新，日日新，又日新’的精神不断创造自己的物质文明、精神文明和政治文明，在很长的历史时期内作为最繁荣最强大的文明体屹立于世。中华文明的创新性，从根本上决定了中华民族守正不守旧、尊古不复古的进取精神，决定了中华民族不惧新挑战、勇于接受新事物的无畏品格。”新时代新征程，以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，必须传承中华优秀传统文化的创新基因，也必将大大增强中华文明的创新性，大大丰富中华民族的创新文化。

Strengthen confidence in innovation and take the initiative in innovation. Innovation arises from the initiative and creativity of the subject; promoting innovation first requires a high degree of confidence in daring to innovate and being capable of innovation. Independence and self-reliance are the soul of the Chinese national spirit, and adhering to independence and self-reliance is an important historical experience of the Party’s century-long struggle. An important aspect of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through it is “must adhere to self-confidence and self-reliance.” [7]7 One of the “Six Musts” (six principles) of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, formally articulated at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. In promoting Chinese-path modernization, there has never been a textbook, let alone a ready-made answer; it is a path independently explored and opened up by the Party leading the people, to be answered by the Chinese people themselves. Without innovation, there is no way out. As General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “The cause we are undertaking—we are pioneers and explorers; no one provides us with experience that we can adopt in a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ manner.” [8]8 Xi Jinping, remarks on reform and opening up, 2018. Confidence in innovation is the prerequisite for taking the initiative in innovation. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that fully develops the historical initiative spirit and historical creative spirit, demonstrating the initiative in innovation while mastering historical initiative. Cultivating an innovation culture means vigorously promoting in the whole Party and the whole society the spirit of daring to innovate and daring to be the first in the world, keeping pace with the times, conforming to the development of practice, daring to say new things that predecessors have not said, daring to do things that predecessors have not done, and opening up new prospects for Chinese-path modernization through continuous innovation.

坚定创新自信，掌握创新主动。创新来自主体的主动性和创造性，推动创新首先要具有敢于创新、能够创新的高度自信。独立自主是中华民族精神之魂，坚持独立自主是党的百年奋斗的重要历史经验。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观方法论和贯穿其中的立场观点方法，一个重要方面就是“必须坚持自信自立”。推进中国式现代化，从来就没有教科书，更没有现成答案，是党领导人民自主探索开辟出来的，是由中国人自己来解答的，不创新就没有出路。正如习近平总书记指出的，“我们搞的事业，我们是先行者、探索者，没有人给我们提供可以采用拿来主义态度的经验”。创新自信是创新主动的前提。中国式现代化是充分发扬历史主动精神、历史创造精神的现代化，在掌握历史主动中展现创新主动。培育创新文化就是要在全党全社会大力弘扬勇于创新、敢为天下先的精神，紧跟时代步伐，顺应实践发展，敢于说前人没有说过的新话，敢于干前人没有干过的事情，在不断创新中开创中国式现代化新局面。

Strengthen innovative thinking and follow the laws of innovation. Whether in any field or at any level, innovation must undergo thinking innovation and has inherent laws. Without innovation in thinking, it is difficult to achieve innovation in practice. Cultivating an innovation culture should start with cultivating innovative thinking, popularizing scientific knowledge, promoting the scientific spirit, disseminating scientific ideas, advocating scientific methods, strengthening the cultivation of scientific thinking and creative thinking, and making innovation a conscious behavior and a scientific activity. Promoting Chinese-path modernization unfolds against the backdrop of changes unseen in a century accelerating, science and technology and economic and social development accelerating their integration and penetration, and China’s development facing new strategic opportunities and risks and challenges. This places new and higher demands on enhancing innovative thinking, and even more so requires improving scientificity and grasping regularity. The essence of scientificity and regularity is seeking truth from facts. It is necessary to adhere to a problem-oriented approach and achieve innovation in the process of resolving contradictions and problems. Further comprehensively deepening reform faces problems in all aspects, including key issues in transforming the grand blueprint of Chinese-path modernization into vivid practice, shortcomings and weaknesses in leveraging institutional advantages and improving governance efficiency, prominent problems of unbalanced and inadequate development facing the promotion of high-quality development, and urgent issues in effectively responding to various risks and challenges on the road ahead. Solving these major problems requires innovation and will also bring about major innovations. China’s development has entered a period where strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexist, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increase. It is necessary to accurately identify changes, scientifically respond to changes, and actively seek changes, fostering new opportunities amidst crises and opening up new prospects amidst changes.

强化创新思维，遵循创新规律。创新无论是在哪个领域、哪个层面，都要经过思维创新，都有内在规律。没有思维的创新，就难以有实践的创新。培育创新文化，要从养成创新思维入手，普及科学知识、弘扬科学精神、传播科学思想、倡导科学方法，强化科学思维和创造性思维培养，使创新成为自觉的行为、科学的活动。推进中国式现代化，是在世界百年未有之大变局加速演进、科学技术和经济社会发展加速渗透融合、我国发展面临新的战略机遇和风险挑战的大背景下展开的，对增强创新思维提出了新的更高要求，更加要求提高科学性、把握规律性。科学性和规律性的实质是实事求是，要坚持问题导向，在解决矛盾和问题中实现创新。进一步全面深化改革，面临着方方面面的问题，包括推动中国式现代化宏伟蓝图转化为生动实践的关键问题，发挥制度优势、提高治理效能的短板弱项问题，推动高质量发展面临的发展不平衡不充分突出问题，有效应对前进道路上各种风险挑战的紧迫问题，等等。解决好这些重大问题，需要创新，也将会带来重大创新。我国发展进入战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期，必须准确识变、科学应变、主动求变，在危机中育新机、于变局中开新局。

Improve innovation capacity and cultivate innovative talent. Innovation requires corresponding capacity support; the more original, complex, and cutting-edge the innovation, the higher the requirements for innovation capacity. For a country, innovation capacity includes factor capacity, institutional capacity, organizational capacity, subject capacity, etc. Innovation is a systematic project, and national innovation capacity is a kind of systemic capacity, that is, the effective use of various innovation resources, overall layout, systematic organization, cross-border integration, and integration into major innovation achievements. Only by enhancing national innovation capacity can we maintain the initiative and remain invincible in international competition. The competition in innovation is primarily the competition for talent. The quantity and quality of innovative talent, to some extent, determine the height and depth of innovation. No matter how AI (artificial intelligence) technology develops or to what extent it reaches, it is only the externalization, materialization, and integration of human capabilities, and it cannot replace the role of innovative talent. Cultivating a high-quality innovation army is a necessary condition for comprehensively building a great modern socialist country. Respecting labor, respecting knowledge, respecting talent, and respecting creation are precisely the innovation culture conducive to the growth of innovative talent. This requires vigorously promoting a culture of identifying, cherishing, respecting, and employing talent, “innovation does not ask about background, heroes are not judged by their origins,” [9]9 A contemporary slogan promoting meritocracy in innovation, often used in official discourse. so that the innovative wisdom hidden among the hundreds of millions of people is fully released and the innovative forces fully surge.

提高创新能力，造就创新人才。创新需要相应的能力支持，越是原创、复杂、尖端的创新，对创新能力的要求越高。对一个国家来说，创新能力包括要素能力、制度能力、组织能力、主体能力等。创新是一个系统工程，国家创新能力是一种系统能力，即有效运用各种创新资源，整体布局、系统组织、跨界集成，整合而成重大创新成果。增强国家创新能力才能在国际竞争中保持主动、立于不败之地。创新的竞争首要是人才的竞争。创新型人才的数量和质量，在某种程度上决定了创新的高度和深度。无论AI（人工智能）技术怎样发展、达到什么程度，都只是人的能力的外化、物化、集成化，都不可能替代创新人才的作用。造就一支高素质创新大军，是全面建成社会主义现代化强国的必要条件。尊重劳动、尊重知识、尊重人才、尊重创造，正是有利于创新型人才成长的创新文化。这就要大兴识才爱才敬才用才之风，“创新不问出身、英雄不论出处”，使蕴藏在亿万人民中间的创新智慧充分释放、创新力量充分涌流。

Cultivate an innovation environment and improve the innovation system. Innovation occurs under certain environmental conditions; it is necessary to build an innovation environment conducive to the emergence of “thousands of pear trees blooming.” [10]10 A poetic line from Tang dynasty poet Cen Shen, used here as a metaphor for the flourishing of innovation. Promoting Chinese-path modernization requires building an innovation environment where innovation becomes the primary driving force and innovation drives development. At the same time, the broad space of Chinese-path modernization itself constitutes the overall macro innovation environment. Innovation is a cumulative process that requires repeated experimentation and is difficult to achieve overnight. It is necessary to base ourselves on “long-termism,” invest “patient capital,” focus on the long term, and not be eager for quick success. Innovation is a trial-and-error process, with the possibility of failure, and it is difficult to succeed at once. This requires creating an atmosphere in the whole society that encourages innovation and tolerates failure, not judging heroes by success or failure in a single instance. The institutional mechanism and evaluation system are important factors in the innovation environment. It is necessary to break down ideological concepts and institutional mechanisms that constrain innovation, build a system and mechanism that supports comprehensive innovation, strengthen the talent incentive mechanism, establish a talent evaluation system oriented by innovation capacity, quality, effectiveness, and contribution, create a good environment for innovative talent to stand out and fully display their talents, fully stimulate the vitality of innovation and creation, and cultivate new momentum for innovative development.

培育创新环境，完善创新体制。创新是在一定的环境条件下发生的，必须构建有利于催生“千树万树梨花开”的创新环境。推进中国式现代化，需要建设使创新成为第一动力、让创新驱动发展的创新环境。同时，中国式现代化的广阔空间，就是整体的宏观的创新环境。创新是一个积累的过程，需要经过反复的实验，很难一蹴而就。必须立足“长期主义”、投入“耐心资本”，着眼长远，不能急功近利。创新是一个试错的过程，会有夭折的可能，难以一次成功。这就要在全社会营造鼓励创新、宽容失败的氛围，不以一时一事的成败论英雄。体制机制、评价体系是创新环境的重要因素。必须破除束缚创新的思想观念和体制机制障碍，构建支持全面创新体制机制，强化人才激励机制，建立以创新能力、质量、实效、贡献为导向的人才评价体系，为创新人才脱颖而出、尽展才华创造良好环境，充分激发创新创造活力、培育创新发展新动能。

III. Cultivating an Innovation Culture in the Continuous Development of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era

三、在不断发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化中培育创新文化

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that it is necessary to anchor the strategic goal of building a strong cultural country by 2035, adhere to Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, take root in the broad and profound Chinese civilization, conform to the development trend of information technology, continuously develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era that has strong ideological guidance, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence, continuously strengthen the people’s spiritual strength, and consolidate the cultural foundation for building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is the fertile soil that nurtures an innovation culture. Cultivating an innovation culture is an inherent requirement of the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

习近平总书记强调，要锚定2035年建成文化强国的战略目标，坚持马克思主义这一根本指导思想，植根博大精深的中华文明，顺应信息技术发展潮流，不断发展具有强大思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力的新时代中国特色社会主义文化，不断增强人民精神力量，筑牢强国建设、民族复兴的文化根基。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，是孕育创新文化的丰厚沃土。培育创新文化，是新时代中国特色社会主义文化建设的题中应有之义。

Cultivate an innovation culture under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture profoundly answers major questions such as how to promote civilizational renewal on the basis of a civilization with over 5,000 years of history and how to create a new form of human civilization. It contains a series of major innovative viewpoints, scientific methodologies, and strategic deployments for cultural construction. It is a continuously unfolding, open, scientific, and systematic system of thought, providing a powerful ideological weapon for cultural innovation in the New Era and theoretical guidance for what kind of innovation culture to build and how to build it. We must deeply comprehend the scientific truth value contained in Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the powerful spiritual strength it manifests, the broad cultural sentiments it embodies, and the distinct practical character it displays. We must effectively achieve the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, forging ahead with determination while upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. We must strengthen the Party's overall leadership over cultural work, firmly grasp the leading power and initiative in cultural construction, accelerate the improvement of the cultural management system and production and operation mechanisms, and establish and improve a cultural creation and production system and mechanism that prioritizes social benefits while integrating social and economic benefits. This provides a complete institutional framework and rule system for liberating and developing cultural productive forces and unleashing the cultural innovation and creation potential of the entire nation. Adhere to cultural construction focusing on people and landing on people, enhance the capacity for cultural services and cultural product supply, attach importance to the role of culture in nurturing aspirations and cultivating sentiments, and cultivate the entire nation's spirited and uplifting ethos. Establish a scientific spirit, cultivate innovative thinking, enhance innovation awareness, and demonstrate the courage for bold innovation, the sharpness for daring to be the first, and the vitality of vigorous progress. More proactively learn from and draw upon all outstanding achievements of human civilization, broadening the horizon of the innovation culture in the New Era. Accelerate the transformation of ideas, ways of thinking, modes of behavior, and working methods that do not meet the requirements of innovative development, tap into innovation potential, enhance innovation capability, maintain innovation determination, and unleash innovation vitality.

以习近平文化思想为指导培育创新文化。习近平文化思想深刻回答了如何在5000多年中华文明基础上推动文明更新、创造人类文明新形态等重大课题，蕴含一系列重大创新观点、科学方法论和关于文化建设的战略部署，是一个不断展开的、开放式的、科学系统的思想体系，为新时代文化创新提供了强大思想武器，为建设什么样的创新文化、怎样建设创新文化提供了理论指导。必须深刻领悟习近平文化思想蕴含的科学真理价值、彰显的强大精神力量、充盈的博大文化情怀、展现的鲜明实践品格，切实做到学思用贯通、知信行统一，锐意进取、守正创新。必须加强党对文化工作的全面领导，牢牢把握文化建设的主导权和主动权，加快完善文化管理体制和生产经营机制，建立健全把社会效益放在首位、社会效益和经济效益相统一的文化创作生产体制机制，为解放和发展文化生产力、释放全民族文化创新创造潜力提供完善的制度框架与规则体系。坚持文化建设着眼于人、落脚于人，提升文化服务和文化产品供给能力，重视发挥文化养心志、育情操的作用，涵养全民族昂扬奋发的精神气质。树立科学精神、培养创新思维、增强创新意识，展示锐意创新的勇气、敢为人先的锐气、蓬勃向上的朝气。更加积极主动地学习借鉴人类一切优秀文明成果，开阔新时代创新文化的格局。加快转变不适应创新发展要求的思想观念、思维方式、行为方式和工作方法，挖掘创新潜能、提高创新能力，保持创新定力、迸发创新活力。

Cultivate an innovation culture while upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, "Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground are dialectically unified; only by upholding fundamental principles can we ensure that innovation always proceeds in the correct direction, and only through continuous innovation can we better uphold fundamental principles." Upholding fundamental principles means upholding the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain, upholding the fundamental requirement of the Two Integrations [11]11 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture., and upholding the cultural leadership of the Communist Party of China 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, we must truly make the past serve the present, make foreign things serve China, adopt a dialectical approach of discarding the dross and selecting the essential, and innovate by discarding the outdated and bringing forth the new, achieving an organic connection between tradition and modernity. Innovation does not mean negating history or ignoring predecessors; rather, it means innovating on the basis of historical achievements and the work of predecessors. Only such innovation has a foundation, confidence, and a future. Upholding fundamental principles does not mean being closed and rigid or resting on one's laurels; rather, it is for more stable, reliable, and effective innovation. Only such upholding of fundamental principles can carry forward the cause and forge ahead into the future. To advance cultural innovation under the premise of upholding fundamental principles and to adhere to upholding fundamental principles under the guidance of cultural innovation, we must accurately grasp the general trend of the times, have the courage to stand at the forefront of human development, listen to the voices of the people, respond to practical needs, focus on solving major theoretical and practical problems, and use innovation to grasp and lead the times.

在坚持守正创新中培育创新文化。习近平总书记强调，“守正和创新是辩证统一的，只有守正才能保证创新始终沿着正确方向前进，只有持续创新才能更好地守正”。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。创新不是否定历史、无视前人，而是在历史成就、前人成果的基础上创新，这样的创新才有根基、有底气、有前途。守正也不是封闭僵化、固步自封，而是为了更稳健、更可靠、更有效的创新，这样的守正才能承前启后、继往开来。在守正前提下推进文化创新、在文化创新牵引下坚持守正，必须准确把握时代大势，勇于站在人类发展前沿，聆听人民心声，回应现实需要，着力解决重大理论和实践问题，以创新把握时代、引领时代。

Cultivate an innovation culture in promoting the Second Integration [12]12 The Second Integration (第二个结合) specifically refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture.. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out that the Second Integration is another ideological emancipation, allowing us to fully utilize the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture within a broader cultural space to explore theoretical and institutional innovations oriented towards the future. Innovation and creation are the lifeblood of culture, the vital source of cultural prosperity and flourishing, and the inexhaustible driving force for the continuous development of civilization. To adhere to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, we must combine the development requirements of the times with the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and on the basis of inheriting and developing fine traditional Chinese culture, continuously cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, striving to create a new culture belonging to our era. Attach importance to excavating the essence of China's five-thousand-year civilization, promote fine traditional culture, combine its essence with the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, and unswervingly follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. Continuously excavate and elucidate the contemporary value of fine traditional Chinese culture, tell China's story well, promote the formation of cultural consciousness, and provide strong spiritual support and cultural confidence for innovation and creation. Promote the life renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization, and enhance the cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality of Chinese civilization for self-development, responding to challenges, and breaking new ground. Effectively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, strive to promote the great development and flourishing of socialist culture and build a socialist cultural power, and consolidate the foundation of the innovation culture.

在推动“第二个结合”中培育创新文化。习近平总书记指出，“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。创新创造是文化的生命力，是文化繁荣兴盛的活力源泉，也是文明绵延繁盛的不竭动力。坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，必须结合时代发展要求和中国特色社会主义实践，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，在传承发展中华优秀传统文化的基础上，不断培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化，努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化。重视挖掘中华五千年文明中的精华，弘扬优秀传统文化，把其中的精华同马克思主义立场观点方法结合起来，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义文化发展道路。不断挖掘和阐发中华优秀传统文化的时代价值，讲好中国故事，推动形成文化自觉，为创新创造提供强大的精神支撑和文化自信。推动中华文明的生命更新和现代转型，增强中华文明自我发展、回应挑战、开创新局的文化主体性与旺盛生命力。有效推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，着力推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣、建设社会主义文化强国，夯实创新文化的根基。

(The author is the Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University)

（作者系天津大学马克思主义学院院长）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁