General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out in the Party’s Report to the 20th CPC National Congress that on the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since the reform and opening-up, our Party has successfully promoted and expanded Chinese modernization through theoretical and practical breakthroughs since the 18th National Congress. Based on the mission of the new era and new journey, our party solemnly declares that from now on, the central task of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in building a socialist modernization power in an all-round way, realize the goal of the second century, and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization.
The Communist Party of China (CPC)’s exploration and practice of leading and promoting Chinese modernization.
The development model of any country and society will not come into being out of thin air, but is the product of its own social and historical movement. Since modern times, China’s struggle to save the nation from extinction has been faced with the choice of modernization road from the very beginning. The Westernization Movement, the Reform Movement of 1898 and the Revolution of 1911 all attempted to promote modernization in China, but these explorations and attempts failed.
The failure of China’s modernization movement in modern times profoundly illustrates a truth: it is not feasible to take the capitalist road in semi-colonial and semi-feudal China, and it is also not feasible to take the westernized modernization road. The birth of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a major historical turning point in the development of China’s modernization. Since then, China’s modernization has a strong leadership and a correct direction, and the people of China have a bright development prospect for their hard work for modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) united and led the people of all ethnic groups in China to win the great victory of the new-democratic revolution, broke the old system that hindered the development of modernization, realized the national independence needed by modernization, fundamentally changed the development direction of China society, cleared the obstacles and created the necessary premise for promoting the development of China’s modernization.
After the founding of New China, marked by the establishment of the basic socialist system, China entered a new stage of modernization. In December 1953, Comrade Mao Zedong initially put forward the idea of realizing the four modernizations. With the continuous enrichment and development of knowledge and practice, at the first meeting of the Third National People’s Congress held from the end of 1964 to the beginning of 1965, Comrade Zhou Enlai officially announced to the people of the whole country the strategic goal of realizing the "four modernizations" of agriculture, industry, national defense and science and technology. The strategic goal of "four modernizations" has clearly outlined the grand blueprint of China’s modernization for the first time and pointed out the direction of struggle for the people of the whole country. In order to realize the strategic goal of "four modernizations", the CPC Central Committee put forward two steps of development: "The first step is to establish an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system; The second step is to fully realize the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense and science and technology, so that China’s economy will be at the forefront of the world. " Through unremitting efforts, by the end of 1970s, China had achieved the first stage goal of two steps, which "laid a solid material foundation and created a reliable forward position" for China’s development.
After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Party and the country rose again from the crisis, but it is not easy to achieve the strategic goal of "four modernizations" at the end of the 20th century. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out that "now we have to seek truth from facts in order to realize the four modernizations". With the practice of creating a new situation in reform, opening up and socialist modernization, in March 1979, Comrade Deng Xiaoping first put forward the concept of "four modernizations in Chinese style", and at the subsequent retreat of the party’s theoretical work, he further pointed out that "the democratic revolution in the past should be suitable for China’s situation" and "the construction now should also be suitable for China’s situation and embark on a Chinese modernization road". In December of the same year, Comrade Deng Xiaoping used "a well-off family" to describe the development goal of Chinese modernization for the first time when meeting foreign guests.
According to Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s strategic vision, the Twelfth National Congress of the Communist Party of China formulated the goal and strategic deployment of "people’s material and cultural life reaching a well-off level" by the end of the 20th century. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly made a "three-step" development strategic arrangement. Through the hard work of the whole party and people, in 1997, China achieved the first and second steps of the "three-step" strategic goal ahead of schedule. Subsequently, the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China further concretized the third step of the "three-step" strategic goal and put forward three phased goals. The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China officially declared that people’s life has reached a well-off level on the whole, and put forward the goal of building a well-off society at a higher level that benefits more than one billion people in the first 20 years of the 21st century. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put forward new and higher requirements for the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way. The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China adjusted "building a well-off society in an all-round way" to "building a well-off society in an all-round way", and put forward the grand goal of ensuring building a well-off society in an all-round way by 2020, which pointed out the direction for accelerating socialist modernization.
China has embarked on a new journey of building a socialist modern country in an all-round way.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core scientifically summed up the practical experience of China’s socialist modernization, constantly promoted the practical development of Chinese modernization, constantly expanded the rich connotation of Chinese modernization, and opened up a new realm of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization.
In the new era of ten years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core, the whole party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country have worked in unity to overcome difficulties, and pushed forward Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era with a spirit of hard work, providing a more perfect institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation and a more active spiritual force for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In this decade, we are celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Push Socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era; Accomplishing the historical task of getting rid of poverty and building a well-off society in an all-round way, and realizing the goal of the first century, the United struggle of the people of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China won a historic victory that stood out in the history of the development of the Chinese nation and had a far-reaching impact on the world. In the past ten years, we have fully implemented the Party’s basic theory, basic line and general plan, adopted a series of strategic measures, promoted a series of revolutionary practices, achieved a series of breakthrough progress, achieved a series of landmark achievements, founded the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, comprehensively strengthened the Party’s leadership, made scientific and complete strategic arrangements for the development of the Party and the country in the new era, and realized the Millennium dream of a well-off society as a Chinese nation. Put forward and implement new development concepts, comprehensively deepen reform with great political courage, implement a more proactive opening strategy, adhere to the road of political development in Socialism with Chinese characteristics, establish and adhere to the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological field, thoroughly implement the people-centered development thought, and adhere to Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’s concept.Implementing the overall concept of national security, establishing the party’s goal of strengthening the military in the new era, comprehensively and accurately promoting the practice of "one country, two systems", comprehensively promoting the diplomacy of a big country with China characteristics, and deepening the comprehensive and strict administration of the party, etc., the party and the state have made historic achievements and undergone historic changes, pushing China to embark on a new journey of building a socialist modern country in an all-round way.
The great achievements of the decade in the new era were achieved under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core, under the scientific guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, and through joint efforts of the Party and the people. Practice has fully proved that the "two establishment" is the most significant political achievement in the new era, the decisive factor to promote the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the party and the state, and the greatest certainty, confidence and guarantee for the party to deal with all uncertainties. In the new era and journey, to push forward the cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way with Chinese modernization, the most important thing is to deeply understand the decisive significance of "two establishment", strengthen "four consciousnesses", strengthen "four self-confidences" and achieve "two maintenance", and consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee with the supreme leader as the core.
The fundamental follow-up to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization
In the great practice of the new era, with a broad international vision, a lofty strategic vision and a firm mission, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader made profound thinking and scientific judgment on major theoretical and practical issues of Chinese modernization, put forward a series of original new ideas, new ideas and new strategies, and formed a series of important expositions of General Secretary of the Supreme Leader on Chinese modernization.
The first is the China characteristics of Chinese modernization.. This is: Chinese modernization is a modernization with a huge population; Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all people; Chinese modernization is a modernization in which material civilization and spiritual civilization are coordinated; Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature; Chinese modernization is the modernization that takes the road of peaceful development. In the world, there is neither a model of modernization based on one respect nor a universal standard of modernization. Chinese-style modernization is the socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), which has both the common features of modernization in all countries and the characteristics of China based on its own national conditions. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "China is the largest socialist country in the world. When China becomes the first socialist modernization power in the world, it will take the socialist road instead of the capitalist road to successfully build a modern power. The great social revolution led by our party in China will more fully demonstrate its historical significance."
The second is the essential requirement of Chinese modernization.. That is, adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieve high-quality development, develop people’s democracy in the whole process, enrich people’s spiritual world, achieve common prosperity for all people, promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature, promote the construction of a community of human destiny and create a new form of human civilization. This summary is concise and rich in connotation, which emphasizes the fundamental requirements of adhering to the leadership of the Party and the Socialism with Chinese characteristics system, covers the goal of prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony and beauty, and also highlights the world significance and contribution of Chinese modernization.
Third, the major principles that must be firmly grasped in promoting Chinese modernization.. That is, to uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership, adhere to the Socialism with Chinese characteristics Road, adhere to the people-centered development thought, persist in deepening reform and opening up, and persist in carrying forward the spirit of struggle. To ensure the socialist direction of modernization, the most fundamental and crucial thing is to uphold and strengthen the overall leadership of the party; To promote Chinese-style modernization, we must stick to the same goal and road, neither take the old road of being closed and rigid, nor take the evil road of changing the flag, and always follow the road of Socialism with Chinese characteristics; The essence of modernization is people’s modernization, people are the main body to promote modernization, and realizing people’s yearning for a better life is the starting point and the end result of modernization. From solving the problem of food and clothing to overall well-off society and then to overall well-off society, we have come to this day step by step through reform and opening up. In the future, we will basically realize socialist modernization and build a socialist modernization power in an all-round way, and we still have to rely on reform and opening up to become a reality step by step; Promoting Chinese-style modernization is not a smooth road, and it will not be smooth sailing. This requires carrying forward the spirit of struggle, enhancing the skills of struggle, rallying the will and strength of the whole party and people, and overcoming all foreseeable and unpredictable risk challenges. The five major principles, which condense the valuable experience of the party and the people in their long-term struggle, embody the party’s basic theory, line and strategy, and are major issues related to the overall situation of socialist modernization.
General Secretary Supreme Leader’s series of important expositions on Chinese-style modernization further profoundly answered the topic of "what kind of socialist modernization power to build and how to build a socialist modernization power", which is a scientific summary of China’s long-term exploration and practice of socialist modernization, a significant enrichment and development of world modernization theory, and an important part of Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era.
Under the guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, on the basis of the "two-step" strategic arrangement for building a socialist modernized country in an all-round way made by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, further made a macro outlook on the development goals in 2035 and the middle of this century, made key arrangements for the strategic tasks and major initiatives in the critical period of building a socialist modernized country in an all-round way in the next five years, and clearly outlined the timetable and road map for continuing to promote Chinese modernization in the new era.
General Secretary Supreme Leader’s series of important expositions on Chinese modernization are the theoretical support for the strategic layout of building a socialist modernized country in an all-round way, and the strategic layout of building a socialist modernized country in an all-round way is the practice of this theory. In the magnificent historical process of integrating theory with practice, building a socialist modern country in an all-round way will surely write a new glorious chapter.
The great significance of the innovation breakthrough of Chinese modernization in the new era
The Chinese-style modernization road is a modernization road that not only conforms to the reality of China, but also embodies the law of socialist development and the law of human society development. It has written its own modern civilization and made great achievements that attract worldwide attention.
Chinese-style modernization has opened up a brand-new road for the governance of socialist countries and made scientific socialism glow with great vitality in China in the 21st century. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "In fact, how to govern a brand-new society like a socialist society was not well solved in the past world socialism." In the new era, the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core has made Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s system mature and stereotyped, advanced the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, achieved unprecedented theoretical achievements, practical achievements and institutional achievements, and embarked on a new road to solve the world socialist problem of national governance.
Chinese-style modernization has expanded the way for developing countries to modernize. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "To govern a country and promote a country’s modernization, there is not only the western system model, but all countries can go out of their own way." The diversity of historical conditions and realistic national conditions determines the diversity of development paths chosen by countries. In the process of human modernization, there are no more than 30 industrialized countries with a population of no more than 1 billion. Moreover, the modernization of these countries is mostly based on the primitive accumulation of bloody foreign colonial plunder and cruel exploitation of people at home, and it took more than 200 years to reach the current level. Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of a late-developing country. The pace of building modernization and catching up with the times in a developing country with relatively backward economy and culture is doomed to make it impossible for us to keep pace with the development of modernization in western developed countries. Under the leadership of the Party, we have taken advantage of our backwardness, based on the reality of China, adhered to independence and eclecticism, embarked on a new road of Chinese modernization, and provided new choices for those countries and nations in the world who want to accelerate their development and maintain their independence.
Chinese-style modernization has contributed China’s wisdom and China’s plan to solving human problems. Chinese modernization pays attention to the future and destiny of mankind, and advocates working hand in hand with all progressive forces in the world to develop itself and benefit the world. China’s successful road to modernization of "being strong but not hegemonic" has proved to the world with practical actions that a strong China is not a threat to world peace, but the backbone of maintaining world peace and promoting world development. Along the road of Chinese modernization, China, together with all peace-loving countries and people, actively promotes the construction of new international relations, the building of a community of human destiny, the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road", the promotion of the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom of all mankind, the contribution of China wisdom, China’s plan and China’s strength to solving human problems, and the new and greater contribution to creating a better future for human society.
Chinese modernization is a great and arduous undertaking. Only it is arduous, so it is great; Only it is arduous and more glorious. On the new journey, we must unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core, fully implement the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, always maintain a high-spirited and enterprising spirit, be firm in our determination to remain unchanged, adhere to the Socialism with Chinese characteristics road, and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization. We will certainly be able to complete the historical ambition of building a socialist modern country in an all-round way, create new achievements worthy of the party, the people and the times, and win even greater victories and victories. (Huang Yibing)
(Source: Party Construction Magazine, No.12, 2022)
