Flourishing and Developing Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era

Cultural flourishing and prosperity is an important hallmark of Chinese-path modernization. Promoting cultural flourishing and development and building a strong socialist culture is an important support for basically realizing socialist modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Constantly develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era that possesses strong ideological guidance, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence.” The “Proposal” of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development,” June 2, 2023. made systematic arrangements for this, pointing out the direction forward and key focal points for flourishing and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era during the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan [2]2 The Two Integrations refers to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture.. We must deeply understand the epochal characteristics and rich connotations of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, deeply grasp the innovative contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture [3]3 From “Preface to the Collected Works of Li Han” by Liu Zongyuan (Tang Dynasty)., and, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, flourish and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era that possesses strong ideological guidance, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence.

文化繁荣兴盛是中国式现代化的重要标志。推动文化繁荣发展、建成社会主义文化强国，是基本实现社会主义现代化的重要支撑。习近平总书记强调：“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”。党的二十届四中全会《建议》对此作出系统部署，为“十五五”时期繁荣发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化指明了前进方向和关键着力点。我们要深刻认识新时代中国特色社会主义文化的时代特征和丰富内涵，深入把握习近平文化思想的创新性贡献，以习近平文化思想为指引，繁荣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。

The Enrichment and Development of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era

中国特色社会主义文化在新时代的丰富和发展

Culture is the accumulation of human spiritual activity and the crystallization of the spiritual world in a given era. Engels pointed out: “The theoretical thought of every age, including our own, is a historical product, which in different ages takes on completely different forms and at the same time completely different content.” Each era has its own culture. For over a hundred years, Chinese Communists have always, based on the characteristics and needs of different eras, united and led the Chinese people to advance with the times and develop new cultures. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era. The “two overall situations” [4]4 From the “Commentary on the Hexagram Ben” in the *Book of Changes* (Yijing). have accelerated their evolution and deeply interacted; world cultural currents have displayed new trends; the development of Chinese civilization has raised new issues; the building of a culturally strong country has entered a new stage; and social thought and culture have presented new characteristics. New changes in the development of the era and new circumstances in the cultural field call for new cultural creation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Work together to create a new culture that belongs to our era” and “Constantly cultivate and create socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.” Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is a new culture that we need to work together to create and that belongs to our era. This new culture is, in essence, a socialist culture guided by Marxism, oriented toward modernization, toward the world, and toward the future, national in form, scientific in content, and popular in character. It is both in the same lineage as the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics formed since the founding of New China, especially since reform and opening up, and reflects the new connotations added to socialist culture with Chinese characteristics as it develops with the times.

文化是一定时代人类精神活动的积淀、精神世界的结晶。恩格斯指出：“每一个时代的理论思维，包括我们这个时代的理论思维，都是一种历史的产物，它在不同的时代具有完全不同的形式，同时具有完全不同的内容。”一个时代有一个时代的文化。百余年来，中国共产党人总是根据不同时代的特点和需要，团结带领中国人民与时俱进发展新的文化。党的十八大以来，中国特色社会主义进入新时代，“两个大局”加速演进并深度互动，世界文化激荡展现新的态势，中华文明发展提出新的课题，文化强国建设进入新的阶段，社会思想文化呈现新的特点。时代发展新变化和文化领域新形势，呼唤新的文化创造。习近平总书记强调：“共同努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化”“不断培育和创造新时代中国特色社会主义文化”。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，是需要我们共同努力创造的、属于我们这个时代的新文化。这个新文化，本质上是以马克思主义为指导的，面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的，民族的科学的大众的社会主义文化，既同新中国成立以来特别是改革开放以来形成的中国特色社会主义文化一脉相承，又在体现中国特色社会主义文化随着时代发展所增添的新内涵。

From the perspective of development purpose, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is a new culture that can better meet the people’s growing needs for a better spiritual life. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The people’s need for spiritual and cultural life exists at all times.” Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics is a culture that focuses on people and is grounded in people. Since entering the New Era, the principal contradiction in Chinese society has been transformed into the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. The main contradiction facing China’s cultural supply is no longer the issue of whether there is enough or not, but the issue of whether it is good or refined. Meeting the people’s ever-growing need for a better life involves, in one important aspect, meeting the people’s ever-growing need for spiritual and cultural life; resolving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development involves, in one important aspect, resolving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate cultural development. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is precisely a new culture cultivated and created with the era as its reference and the people as its center. It can adapt to new changes in the field of cultural construction in the New Era, meet the new expectations of the people for spiritual and cultural life, better safeguard the cultural rights and interests of the people, better meet the diverse, multi-level, and multi-faceted spiritual and cultural needs of the people through new styles, high quality, and personalized cultural supply, and promote common prosperity in the people’s spiritual life.

从发展宗旨上看，新时代中国特色社会主义文化是能够更好满足人民日益增长的美好精神生活需要的新文化。习近平总书记强调：“人民对精神文化生活的需求时时刻刻都存在。”中国特色社会主义文化是着眼于人、落脚于人的文化。进入新时代，我国社会主要矛盾已经转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，我国文化供给面临的主要矛盾已经不是缺不缺、够不够的问题，而是好不好、精不精的问题。满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，一个重要方面是满足人民日益增长的精神文化生活需要；解决发展不平衡不充分的问题，一个重要方面是解决文化发展不平衡不充分的问题。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，正是以时代为观照、以人民为中心培育和创造出来的新文化，它能够适应新时代文化建设领域新变化、满足人民精神文化生活新期待，能够更好保障人民群众文化权益，能够以新风格、高品质、个性化文化供给更好满足人民群众多样化、多层次、多方面的精神文化需求，促进人民精神生活共同富裕。

From the perspective of main content, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era is a new culture forged jointly by fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics originates from the fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured over more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, is forged from the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the Party leading the people in revolution, construction, and reform, and is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era was formed in the great journey of the CPC leading the people in building a new Chinese culture over more than a hundred years, and was formed in the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture according to the new characteristics and new requirements of the New Era; based on the new developments of the New Era, it continues and develops many elements of revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, forming a new culture that both possesses red genes and expands the content of the New Era. Fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture are in the same lineage, connecting the past, present, and future of the Chinese nation. In the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era, they achieve integrated forging and innovative development, jointly forging socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

从主体内容上看，新时代中国特色社会主义文化是由中华优秀传统文化、革命文化和社会主义先进文化共同铸就的新文化。习近平总书记指出：“中国特色社会主义文化，源自于中华民族五千多年文明历史所孕育的中华优秀传统文化，熔铸于党领导人民在革命、建设、改革中创造的革命文化和社会主义先进文化，植根于中国特色社会主义伟大实践。”新时代中国特色社会主义文化是在中国共产党一百多年来领导人民建设中华民族新文化的伟大征程中形成的，是在对中华优秀传统文化的传承发展中形成的。新时代中国特色社会主义文化按照新时代的新特点新要求，推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展；根据新时代的新发展，对革命文化和社会主义先进文化中的诸多元素进行赓续发扬，形成既具有红色基因又拓展新时代内容的新文化。中华优秀传统文化、革命文化、社会主义先进文化一脉相承，贯通中华民族的过去、当下与未来，在新时代中国特色社会主义的伟大实践中实现融合锻造、创新发展，共同铸就了新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

From the perspective of manifestation form, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era exists as the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization. Marxism holds that the form of civilization in a society is a unity of the economic base and superstructure corresponding to a certain stage of development of the productive forces, and is a concrete, historical unity of the economic form, political form, and cultural form of society. Since modern times, humanity has created different forms of social civilization, including multiple cultural forms, through different paths of modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, cultural-ethical progress, social civilization, and ecological civilization, and have created a new path of Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization.” In the New Era, the Chinese-path modernization we promote and expand is, in essence, a socialist modernization led by the CPC. It possesses both the common features of modernization in various countries and, more importantly, Chinese characteristics based on our own national conditions. This determines that the cultural form of Chinese-path modernization must necessarily be the conceptual superstructure corresponding to our country’s economic base, must necessarily be a cultural form reflecting our country’s economic form and political form, and must necessarily embody the socialist nature and possess distinct Chinese characteristics. Such a cultural form is precisely the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era created by our Party uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country in the process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era and advancing courageously along the broad road of Chinese-path modernization.

从表现形态上看，新时代中国特色社会主义文化是作为中国式现代化的文化形态而存在的新文化。马克思主义认为，一个社会的文明形态，是同生产力发展一定阶段相适应的经济基础和上层建筑的统一体，是社会的经济形态、政治形态、文化形态具体的、历史的统一。近代以来，人类通过不同的现代化道路，创造了包括多种文化形态在内的不同社会文明形态。习近平总书记指出：“我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态。”新时代我们推进和拓展的中国式现代化，本质上是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色。这决定了中国式现代化的文化形态，必然是与我国经济基础相适应的观念上层建筑，必然是反映我国经济形态、政治形态的文化形态，必然要体现社会主义性质、具有鲜明中国特色。这样的文化形态，就是我们党团结带领全国各族人民，在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、沿着中国式现代化康庄大道奋勇前进的过程中，创造出来的新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

Viewed from its spiritual characteristics, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is a new culture that strengthens cultural confidence, upholds openness and inclusiveness, and adheres to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, broader, and deeper form of confidence. Strengthening cultural confidence is essentially about strengthening confidence in the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is a culture established by the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people on Chinese soil in the New Era. It is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, fully manifests the spiritual independence and subjectivity of the Chinese people in the New Era, and enables the Chinese nation to be fully confident and strengthen its cultural confidence in the New Era. Openness and inclusiveness are the source of vitality for the development of civilization and a notable hallmark of cultural confidence. Upholding openness and inclusiveness means enriching and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics by actively learning from and drawing upon all the outstanding achievements of human civilization. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is a culture formed through the process of embracing diverse elements, drawing on the strengths of others, integrating Chinese and foreign elements, and connecting the past and the present. It is a culture formed in the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, inheriting and developing the fine traditional Chinese culture, and promoting the localization of foreign cultures. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “For cultural development, upholding fundamental principles is necessary to avoid losing our bearings and direction, while breaking new ground is necessary to grasp the times and lead the times.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development,” June 2, 2023. Adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground means promoting the innovative development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era on the basis of preserving the cultural soul and roots. While adhering to the cultural leadership of the Communist Party of China and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era continuously innovates in cultural development ideas, communication discourse, reform mechanisms, and forms of presentation.

从精神特质上看，新时代中国特色社会主义文化是坚定文化自信、秉持开放包容、坚持守正创新的新文化。文化自信是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信。坚定文化自信，实质上是坚定对中国特色社会主义文化的自信。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，是新时代中国共产党带领中国人民在中国大地上建立起来的文化，它植根于新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践，充分彰显新时代中国人民的精神独立性和主体性，能够让中华民族在新时代充满底气、坚定文化自信。开放包容是文明发展的活力来源，也是文化自信的显著标志。秉持开放包容，就是通过积极主动地学习借鉴人类创造的一切优秀文明成果来丰富发展中国特色社会主义文化。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，是在兼容并蓄、博采众长、融通中外、贯通古今中形成的文化，是在推动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过程中形成的文化。习近平总书记指出：“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。”坚持守正创新，就是在守住文化魂脉和根脉的基础上推动新时代中国特色社会主义文化创新发展。新时代中国特色社会主义文化，在坚守中国共产党文化领导权和中华民族文化主体性的同时，不断创新文化发展思路、传播话语、改革机制、呈现形式。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the scientific guide for the flourishing development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era

习近平文化思想是新时代中国特色社会主义文化繁荣发展的科学指南

The most shining symbol in the culture of an era is often the most guiding and dominant thought of that era. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, formed in the practice of building socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, is a major achievement in 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 best of fine traditional Chinese culture. and advancing the theoretical innovation of Marxist culture. It is also an important, creative, and iconic component of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. To flourish and develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, we must take Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as a guide, cultivate and create a new culture for the New Era.

一个时代的文化中最闪亮的标识，往往是该时代最具引领性、主导性的思想。在新时代中国特色社会主义文化建设实践中形成的习近平文化思想，是坚持“两个结合”、推进马克思主义文化理论创新的重大成果，也是新时代中国特色社会主义文化中最具有创造性、标志性的重要内容。繁荣发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化，必须以习近平文化思想为指导，培育和创造新时代的新文化。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the latest achievement in adapting Marxist cultural theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. In terms of principles and positions, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture inherits the Marxist theory on the essence of culture and the subject of cultural creation, especially its distinct political principles and people’s standpoint. It creatively puts forward major propositions such as upholding the Party’s cultural leadership, adhering to the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, adhering to a people-centered work orientation, and fully stimulating the cultural creativity and innovation vitality of the entire nation. In terms of principles and methods, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture emphasizes the important role of culture for the nation, the people, and economic and social development. It puts forward important expositions such as building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, promoting the coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, cultivating and practicing core socialist values, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. These fully embody and creatively develop the basic principles of Marxism concerning the dialectical relationship between the economic base and the superstructure, ideology, spiritual production, the all-round development of human beings, and spiritual communication. It puts forward important concepts such as the Two Integrations, “creative transformation and innovative development,” and “strengthening cultural confidence, upholding openness and inclusiveness, and adhering to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground.” These fully embody and innovatively develop the fundamental methods of Marxist cultural construction. In terms of original content, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, in light of the new situation facing the cultural field in the New Era, creatively proposes new concepts and expressions such as “the cultural mission of the New Era,” “cultural subjectivity,” “a new cultural life form,” “the independent knowledge system of Chinese philosophy and social sciences,” “governance capacity in the cultural field under information technology conditions,” “digital empowerment and information transformation of cultural construction,” “Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system,” “the common values of all humanity,” and “a new form of human civilization.” These have greatly enriched the treasure house of Marxist cultural theory.

习近平文化思想是马克思主义文化理论中国化时代化的最新成果。在原则立场方面，习近平文化思想继承了马克思主义关于文化本质和文化创造主体的理论，特别是其中鲜明的政治原则和人民立场，创造性提出了坚持党的文化领导权，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，坚持以人民为中心的工作导向，充分激发全民族文化创新创造活力等重大论断。在原理方法方面，习近平文化思想强调文化对国家、民族和经济社会发展的重要作用，提出建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态、推动物质文明和精神文明协调发展、培育和践行社会主义核心价值观、铸牢中华民族共同体意识、促进文明交流互鉴等重要论述，充分体现并创造性发展了马克思主义关于经济基础和上层建筑辩证关系、意识形态、精神生产、人的全面发展、精神交往等基本原理；提出“两个结合”“创造性转化、创新性发展”“坚定文化自信，秉持开放包容，坚持守正创新”等重要理念，充分体现并创新发展了马克思主义关于文化建设的根本方法。在原创内容方面，习近平文化思想结合新时代文化领域面临的新形势，创造性提出“新时代的文化使命”“文化主体性”“新的文化生命体”“中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系”“信息化条件下文化领域治理能力”“文化建设数字化赋能、信息化转型”“中国话语和中国叙事体系”“全人类共同价值”“人类文明新形态”等新概念、新表述，极大丰富了马克思主义文化理论宝库。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a shining example of promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. For instance, in terms of cultural function, fine traditional Chinese culture emphasizes that “literature is the vessel for conveying the Way” [3]3 From “Preface to the Collected Works of Li Han” by Liu Zongyuan (Tang Dynasty). and “observing the patterns of humanity to transform the world.” [4]4 From the “Commentary on the Hexagram Ben” in the *Book of Changes* (Yijing). Xi Jinping Thought on Culture proposes “using culture to promote undertakings, to cultivate foundations, to establish the heart, and to forge the soul,” pointing out that cultural and artistic workers, as well as philosophy and social science workers, all shoulder the important responsibility of enlightening thought, cultivating sentiment, and nourishing the soul, and bear the mission of educating and transforming people through culture, thus realizing the inheritance and development of the Chinese nation’s wisdom regarding literature as a vehicle for the Way and culture as a means of transformation. In terms of cultural spirit, famous lines from fine traditional Chinese culture such as “Be the first to worry about the world’s troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures” [5]5 From “Record of Yueyang Tower” by Fan Zhongyan (Song Dynasty). and “Since ancient times, who has escaped death without a trace? Let me leave a loyal heart shining in the annals of history” [6]6 From “Crossing Lingdingyang” by Wen Tianxiang (Song Dynasty). have been passed down through the ages. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture emphasizes that “patriotism is the deepest and most enduring emotion in the world, and the source of a person’s moral foundation and achievements” and “efforts should be made to cultivate patriotic feelings,” which includes the inheritance and development of the national spirit centered on patriotism. In terms of cultural cultivation, fine traditional Chinese culture emphasizes “guiding them with virtue, aligning them with ritual, so that they will have a sense of shame and correct themselves.” [7]7 From the *Analects of Confucius*, “Wei Zheng.” Xi Jinping Thought on Culture proposes implementing a project for civic moral construction, promoting traditional Chinese virtues, strengthening the construction of family, family education, and family traditions, strengthening and improving the ideological and moral construction of minors, promoting the understanding of great virtue, observance of public virtue, and strictness in private virtue, and raising the moral standards and civilized literacy of the people. This reflects the inheritance and development of the Chinese nation’s cultural tradition of emphasizing morality and humanistic cultivation. And so on.

习近平文化思想是推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展的光辉典范。比如，在文化功能方面，中华优秀传统文化强调“文者，贯道之器也”“观乎人文，以化成天下”。习近平文化思想提出“以文弘业、以文培元，以文立心、以文铸魂”，指出文化文艺工作者、哲学社会科学工作者都肩负着启迪思想、陶冶情操、温润心灵的重要职责，承担着以文化人、以文育人、以文培元的使命，实现了对中华民族关于文以载道、文以化人等思想智慧的传承发展。在文化精神方面，中华优秀传统文化中“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”“人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青”等名句千古流传。习近平文化思想强调，“爱国，是人世间最深层、最持久的情感，是一个人立德之源、立功之本”“要在厚植爱国主义情怀上下功夫”，这包含着对以爱国主义为核心的民族精神的传承发展。在文化修养方面，中华优秀传统文化强调“道之以德，齐之以礼，有耻且格”。习近平文化思想提出实施公民道德建设工程，弘扬中华传统美德，加强家庭家教家风建设，加强和改进未成年人思想道德建设，推动明大德、守公德、严私德，提高人民道德水准和文明素养，体现了对中华民族注重道德与人文修养等文化传统的传承发展。等等。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture adheres to the Two Integrations, is based on the specific realities and rich practices of China’s cultural construction in the New Era, both inherits and innovates Marxist cultural theory, and inherits and develops the positive intellectual achievements concerning culture in the history of the Chinese nation. It has formed a series of major innovative viewpoints on the status and significance of culture, principles and positions, development path, leading force, creative subject, mission of the times, and international dissemination. With a broad historical depth and civilizational perspective, it has greatly deepened and expanded the understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialist culture, the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization, and the laws governing the progress of human civilization. It has written a new chapter in adapting Marxist cultural theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, has pioneering and landmark significance in the history of the development of Marxist cultural theory, and is an important milestone in the history of Chinese cultural thought. This thought, through a series of principled judgments, theoretical achievements, and original contributions, systematically answers the major questions of what kind of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it. It provides a scientific guide for the innovative development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, lays a new foundation for cultural confidence and self-strengthening, forges new brilliance in socialist culture, and forms a new peak of Chinese culture.

习近平文化思想坚持“两个结合”，立足新时代中国文化建设具体实际和丰富实践，既继承和创新了马克思主义文化理论，又传承和发展了中华民族历史上关于文化的积极思想成果，在文化的地位意义、立场原则、发展道路、领导力量、创造主体、时代使命、对外传播等方面形成了一系列重大创新观点，以宏阔的历史纵深和文明视野，极大深化和拓展了对社会主义文化建设规律、中华文明发展规律、人类文明进步规律的认识，书写了马克思主义文化理论中国化时代化的新篇章，在马克思主义文化理论发展史上具有开创性、标志性意义，在中国文化思想史上具有重要里程碑意义。这一思想以一系列原则性论断、原理性成果、原创性贡献，系统回答了新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义文化、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化的重大课题，为新时代中国特色社会主义文化创新发展提供了科学指南，奠定了文化自信自强的新基石，铸就了社会主义文化的新辉煌，形成了中华文化的新高峰。

Strive to enhance the ideological leading power, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era

着力增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力

General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed: “When culture thrives, the nation

习近平总书记强调：“文化兴国运兴，文化强民族强。”一个国家、一个民族的文化力量，集中体现了这个国家和民族基于文化而具有的向心力和生命力，以及由此产生的吸引力和辐射力。文化力量的强弱，关系到国运兴衰、民族存续。党的二十届四中全会《建议》提出了“十五五”时期经济社会发展的主要目标，其中就有“社会文明程度明显提升。文化自信更加坚定，主流思想舆论不断巩固壮大，社会主义核心价值观广泛践行，全民族文化创新创造活力不断激发，人民精神文化生活更加丰富，中华民族凝聚力和中华文化影响力显著增强，国家软实力持续提高”。锚定这些目标，要紧紧围绕增强思想引领力、精神凝聚力、价值感召力、国际影响力，繁荣发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

Strengthen the Party’s leadership over propaganda, ideology, and cultural work, continuously consolidate and expand the mainstream ideological public opinion, and enhance the ideological guiding force of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Ideological guiding force is the power or ability to use ideological theory to guide people to advance in a certain direction. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “For a nation to stand at the forefront of the times, it cannot for a moment do without theoretical thinking, nor for a moment do without correct ideological guidance.” [8]8 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Conference Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party” (July 1, 2021). Thought is the most essential part of culture, and the height reached by thought centrally represents the height of cultural development. To strengthen cultural power, we must first enhance its ideological guiding force. Only by striving to enhance the ideological guiding force of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era can we ensure that the Chinese nation always stands at the forefront of the times in the direction guided by the new thought of the New Era, and ensure that the entire people, inspired by the mainstream ideological public opinion, continuously advance toward the grand goal of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. We must continuously advance the Party’s theoretical innovation on the basis of basing ourselves on China’s national conditions and grasping the general trend of world development, and scientifically answer the questions of China, the questions of the world, the questions of the people, and the questions of the times. Persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate souls and forge spirits, deepen the study, propaganda, and education of the Party’s innovative theories, and let the Party’s innovative theories truly enter the mind and heart. Innovatively implement the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project, deepen the systematic and theoretical research and interpretation of the latest theoretical achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, and carry out disciplinary integration and theoretical interpretation of China’s path, China’s governance, and China’s principles. Deepen the systematic transformation of mainstream media, promote the integrated management of news propaganda and online public opinion, and improve the ability to guide mainstream public opinion. Enhance the governance capacity in the cultural field under the conditions of informatization, promote the digital-intelligent empowerment and information-based transformation of cultural construction, and use advanced information technology to enhance the dissemination and guiding power of advanced thought and culture.

加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导，不断巩固壮大主流思想舆论，增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力。思想引领力，就是用思想理论引导人们按一定方向前进的力量或能力。习近平总书记指出：“一个民族要走在时代前列，就一刻不能没有理论思维，一刻不能没有正确思想指引。”思想是文化中最精华的部分，思想达到的高度集中代表着文化发展的高度。增强文化力量，首先要提升其思想引领力。只有着力增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的思想引领力，才能确保中华民族始终按照新时代新思想引领的方向走在时代前列，确保全体人民在主流思想舆论的鼓舞下朝着强国建设、民族复兴的宏伟目标不断迈进。要在立足中国国情、把握世界发展大势的基础上不断推进党的理论创新，科学回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问。坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，深化党的创新理论学习和宣传教育，让党的创新理论真正入脑入心。创新实施马克思主义理论研究和建设工程，深化对马克思主义中国化时代化最新理论成果的体系化学理化研究阐释。加快构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，对中国之路、中国之治、中国之理进行学科化整合、学理化阐释。深化主流媒体系统性变革，推进新闻宣传和网络舆论一体化管理，提高主流舆论引导能力。提升信息化条件下文化领域治理能力，推动文化建设数智化赋能、信息化转型，以先进信息技术增强先进思想文化传播力、引导力。

Cultivate the whole nation’s high-spirited and vigorous spiritual temperament, further enrich the people’s spiritual and cultural life, and enhance the spiritual cohesion of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Spiritual cohesion is the power or ability to use spiritual will to condense and unite people together. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “We must build the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation, so that all ethnic groups can gather their hearts and depend on each other spiritually, forming a powerful spiritual bond that unites hearts and minds and forges ahead in unity.” [9]9 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs” (August 27, 2021). Spirit is the basic and dominant content in culture. Once a common spiritual gene is formed in a nation’s culture and spiritual cohesion is produced, it can promote the unification of will and maintain unity among members of all ethnic groups. Only by striving to enhance the spiritual cohesion of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era can we unite the hearts and minds of the entire Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups in the country, pooling the mighty force to forge ahead on the new journey of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. We must promote the Chinese people’s great spirit of creation, great spirit of struggle, great spirit of unity, and great spirit of dream, promote the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists originating from the great founding spirit of the Party, and forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Coordinate and advance the construction of spiritual civilization in urban and rural areas, enhance the people’s civilized quality and the level of social civilization, and jointly build and safeguard the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation. Enhance the original creative capacity of culture, cultivate and form a high-level cultural talent team, and flourish the new mass literature and art under the conditions of the internet. Vigorously flourish cultural undertakings, implement actions to improve the quality and efficiency of public cultural services, and extensively carry out mass cultural activities. Accelerate the development of the cultural industry, strengthen the humanistic economy, and promote the deep integration of culture and technology, culture and tourism. Accelerate the improvement of the cultural management system and production and operation mechanisms, stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation, and use deeply resonant fine works to compose the glorious chapter of the times and gather the strength for forging ahead.

涵养全民族昂扬奋发的精神气质，进一步丰富人民精神文化生活，增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的精神凝聚力。精神凝聚力，就是用精神意志把人们凝结聚合到一起的力量或能力。习近平总书记指出：“必须构筑中华民族共有精神家园，使各民族人心归聚、精神相依，形成人心凝聚、团结奋进的强大精神纽带。”精神是文化中基本的、起主导作用的内容。一个民族的文化中一旦形成了共同精神基因，产生了精神凝聚力，就能促进各民族成员统一意志、保持团结。只有着力增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的精神凝聚力，才能使全党全军全国各族人民团结一心、众志成城，汇聚起奋进强国建设、民族复兴新征程的磅礴力量。要弘扬中国人民的伟大创造精神、伟大奋斗精神、伟大团结精神、伟大梦想精神，弘扬以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系，铸牢中华民族共同体意识。统筹推进城乡精神文明建设，提升人民文明素养和社会文明程度，共同建设好守护好中华民族共有精神家园。提升文化原创能力，培育形成高水平文化人才队伍，繁荣互联网条件下新大众文艺。大力繁荣文化事业，实施公共文化服务提质增效行动，广泛开展群众性文化活动。加快发展文化产业，壮大人文经济，推进文化和科技、文化和旅游深度融合。加快完善文化管理体制和生产经营机制，激发全民族文化创新创造活力，用深入人心的精品力作谱写时代华章、凝聚奋进力量。

Promote and practice the core socialist values, give play to the role of culture in nourishing the will and cultivating sentiment, and enhance the value appeal of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Value appeal is the power or ability to use values to influence and summon people and make them accept and respond. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Both history and reality show that building core values with strong appeal is related to social harmony and stability, and to the long-term peace and stability of the country.” [10]10 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 13th Collective Study Session of the 18th Politburo of the CPC Central Committee” (February 24, 2014). Among the many values of a country, core values are the deepest-level elements that determine the nature and direction of culture. The strength or weakness of a country’s cultural soft power fundamentally depends on the strength or weakness of the appeal of its core values. Only by striving to enhance the value appeal of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era and promoting the core socialist values to enter the mind and heart can we effectively build the core value support for building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. We must strive to cultivate and practice the core socialist values, lead the direction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, adhere to using culture to educate people and using literature to nurture people, and use Chinese culture to cultivate value pursuits and refine moral sentiments. Starting from improving institutional mechanisms, perfecting the work system, and innovating activity carriers, promote the organic integration of the core socialist values into all fields of cultural construction, subtly influencing the spiritual world of contemporary Chinese people. Give play to the exemplary and leading role of Party members and cadres, advanced models, etc., using their exemplary words and deeds and noble personalities to drive the masses to practice the core socialist values, and create a cultural atmosphere of advocating virtue and goodness throughout society. Deeply implement the project for the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, vigorously promote revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, and provide abundant cultural nourishment for the propaganda and education of the core socialist values. Promote the culture of integrity and clean governance, and use the Party’s glorious traditions and fine work styles to inspire Party members. Strengthen and improve ideological and political work, advance the construction of campus culture, make good use of red cultural resources, strengthen education in ideals and beliefs, and guide young people to become conscious practitioners of the core socialist values and qualified builders of the socialist cause.

弘扬和践行社会主义核心价值观，发挥文化养心志、育情操的作用，增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的价值感召力。价值感召力，就是用价值观念感化召唤人并使之接受响应的力量或能力。习近平总书记指出：“历史和现实都表明，构建具有强大感召力的核心价值观，关系社会和谐稳定，关系国家长治久安。”在一个国家的诸多价值观念中，核心价值观是决定文化性质和方向的最深层次要素。国家文化软实力的强弱，根本上取决于其核心价值观感召力的强弱。只有着力增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的价值感召力，推动社会主义核心价值观入脑入心，才能有力构筑起强国建设、民族复兴的核心价值支撑。要着力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，引领新时代中国特色社会主义文化前进方向，坚持以文化人、以文育人，用中华文化涵养价值追求、陶冶道德情操。从完善制度机制、健全工作体系、创新活动载体入手，推动社会主义核心价值观有机融入文化建设各领域，潜移默化地影响当代中国人的精神世界。发挥党员干部、先进典型等表率示范作用，以其模范言行和高尚人格带动群众践行社会主义核心价值观，在全社会营造崇德向善的文化氛围。深入实施中华优秀传统文化传承发展工程，大力弘扬革命文化和社会主义先进文化，为社会主义核心价值观宣传教育提供充沛的文化养料。弘扬诚信文化、廉洁文化，用党的光荣传统和优良作风感召党员。加强和改进思想政治工作，推进校园文化建设，用好红色文化资源，加强理想信念教育，引导青少年做社会主义核心价值观的自觉践行者、社会主义事业的合格建设者。

To enhance the communication power and influence of Chinese civilization, continuously raise the country’s cultural soft power, and strengthen the international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. International influence in the cultural sense is the power or ability of a culture to spread and radiate globally, attracting and persuading the people of other countries. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Strive to enhance the influence of international communication, the appeal of Chinese culture, the affinity of China’s image, the persuasiveness of Chinese discourse, and the guiding power of international public opinion.” [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 30th Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee” (May 31, 2021), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping’s Works*, vol. 2, p. 536. In today’s world, the pattern of cultural development and the trajectory of its evolution are undergoing profound adjustment and reshaping. Enhancing cultural international influence is an inevitable requirement for flourishing and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era. Only by striving to enhance the international influence of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era and better occupying the commanding heights in the global cultural landscape can we stand firm and take the initiative in the fierce international cultural competition, creating a positive external public opinion environment for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. It is necessary to improve the institutional mechanisms that coordinate all forces and resources to actively participate in international communication work, and accelerate the construction of a multi-channel, three-dimensional external communication pattern. Innovate communication carriers and methods, and innovatively carry out online and offline external propaganda. Promote the coordinated efforts of departments, localities, media, think tanks, enterprises, universities, and other entities, and build a strong team of specialized personnel suited to the needs of international communication in the New Era. Study international communication theory, grasp the laws of international communication, and enhance the international communication capacity of mainstream media. Accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system, so that the thought and theory, spiritual symbols, and value propositions of contemporary China can better reach the world. Strengthen research on regional and country-specific studies, promote the globalization, regionalization, and segmented expression of Chinese stories and Chinese voices, and enhance the affinity and effectiveness of international communication. Deeply practice the Global Civilization Initiative, vigorously promote a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, and actively advocate the common values of all humanity. [12]12 The Global Civilization Initiative was proposed by Xi Jinping at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on March 15, 2023, calling for respect for the diversity of civilizations and enhanced exchanges and cooperation. Extensively carry out international cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepen civilizational dialogue between countries, and promote mutual understanding and affinity among peoples. Increase efforts to promote high-quality cultural products overseas and support cultural trade services, encourage cultural enterprises to expand their overseas business, so that the international community can gain a deeper and broader understanding of Chinese culture.

提升中华文明传播力影响力，持续提高国家文化软实力，增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的国际影响力。文化意义上的国际影响力，就是文化向全球传播辐射并吸引、说服别国民众的力量或能力。习近平总书记指出：“着力提高国际传播影响力、中华文化感召力、中国形象亲和力、中国话语说服力、国际舆论引导力。”当今世界，文化发展格局和演进态势正经历深刻调整和重塑，增强文化国际影响力是繁荣发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化的必然要求。只有着力增强新时代中国特色社会主义文化的国际影响力，更好地在世界文化格局中占据制高点，才能在激烈的国际文化竞争中站稳脚跟、掌握主动，为强国建设、民族复兴营造积极的外部舆论氛围。要健全统筹协调各方力量资源共同积极参与国际传播工作的体制机制，加快构建多渠道、立体式对外传播格局。创新传播载体和方式，创新开展网上网下外宣。推动部门、地方、媒体、智库、企业、高校等主体协同发力，建强适应新时代国际传播需要的专门人才队伍。研究国际传播理论，掌握国际传播规律，增强主流媒体国际传播能力。加快构建中国话语和中国叙事体系，使当代中国的思想理论、精神标识、价值主张更好走向世界。加强区域国别研究，推进中国故事和中国声音的全球化、区域化、分众化表达，增强国际传播的亲和力和实效性。深入践行全球文明倡议，大力弘扬平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，积极倡导全人类共同价值。广泛开展国际人文交流合作，深化国家间文明对话，促进民间相知相亲。加大文化精品海外推广力度、文化贸易服务支持力度，鼓励文化企业拓展境外业务，使国际社会对中华文化了解得更多更深。

Building a socialist cultural power is a major strategic decision made by our Party, bearing on the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization. The period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a critical period for advancing the construction of a socialist cultural power. [13]13 The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) is the next five-year plan for China’s national economic and social development, succeeding the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). On the basis of the fruitful achievements in promoting the construction of a cultural power during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we must anchor the strategic goal of building a cultural power by 2035, adhere to Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, take root in the broad and profound Chinese civilization, conform to the development trends of information technology, develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for a New Era that possesses strong ideological guiding power, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence, solidly advance the construction of a cultural power, and consolidate the cultural foundation for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

建设社会主义文化强国是我们党作出的重大战略决策，事关中国式现代化建设全局。“十五五”时期是推进社会主义文化强国建设的关键时期，要在“十四五”时期推进文化强国建设成果斐然的基础上，锚定2035年建成文化强国的战略目标，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，植根博大精深的中华文明，顺应信息技术发展潮流，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，扎实推进文化强国建设，筑牢强国建设、民族复兴的文化根基。

(The author is a professor at the School of Marxism, Wuhan University)

（作者为武汉大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Hui Hui

网络编辑：慧慧