Opening up new frontiers for the sinicization and adaptation to the times of Marxism 

Xi Jinping 

Today, the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee held its sixth group study session, focusing on opening up new frontiers for the sinicization and adaptation to the times of Marxism. This is an important arrangement by the Political of the CPC Central Committee to deepen the theoretical study of the theme education.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) proposed the major task of opening up a new realm the sinicization and adaptation to the times of Marxism, emphasizing that this is a solemn historical responsibility for contemporary CPC members. We hold this collective study session on this theme to our regular understanding of the Party's theoretical innovation, further clarify its orientation, direction, and methods, and achieve even more fruitful theoretical innovation achievements on the new journey of the new era.

Looking back at the Party's century-long history of struggle, the reason why our Party was able to achieve great accomplishments in various historical periods of revolution, construction, and, and lead the people to complete arduous tasks that other political forces in China could not, lies fundamentally in mastering the scientific theory of Marxism and continuously promoting theoretical innovation in line with new realities, which has the Party to grasp a powerful force of truth. Why the CPC can succeed, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good, ultimately boils down to the fact that Marxism works, Marxism sinicized and adapted to the times works. This is the conclusion of history. 

In the historical process of promoting the sinicization and adaptation to the times of Marxism, our has achieved major theoretical achievements such as Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought on the "Three Represents", the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We have always adhered to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being pragmatic, which has allowed Marxism radiate a powerful vitality in China. On the basis of summarizing historical experiences, the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed and elaborated on scientific methods for promoting the Partys theoretical innovation, such as the "two combinations" and the "six musts", providing a fundamental guide for continuing to advance the Party's theoretical innovation, which we must firmly to and effectively apply.

First, we must always adhere to the soul and roots of theoretical innovation. The major proposition of theicization and modernization of Marxism itself determines that we must never abandon Marxism as our soul and the excellent traditional Chinese culture as our roots. Firmly adhering to this soul and roots is foundation and prerequisite of theoretical innovation, and theoretical innovation is also for the purpose of better adhering to this soul and roots. Persistence is for better development, and development is for better persistence Theoretical innovation must speak new words, but it must not lose the old ancestors. To forget one's origins is equivalent to severing the soul and roots, which will ultimately lead the subversive error of losing the soul and roots. My proposal of "upholding integrity and pursuing innovation" emphasizes that we should neither follow the old path of being closed and rigid nor the wrong path of changing our flag and banner; both paths are dead ends.

We must unswervingly adhere to Marxism as the foundation for establishing and developing the Party and country, and unswervingly develop Marxism by rooting it in the fertile soil of the country's and the nation's history and culture. We must firmly maintain historical and confidence, adhere to using the past to serve the present and bringing forth new from the old, and comprehensively excavate the treasure trove of over 5,000 years of civilization guided by Marxism. We should use Marxism to activate the vital and excellent elements in excellent traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations, injecting the great spirit and rich wisdom of Chinese nation more deeply into Marxism. We must effectively integrate the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of excellent traditional Chinese culture, fusing them into new theoretical advantages and continuously climbing new ideological. Of course, emphasizing the firm adherence to the soul and roots of the Party's theory does not mean being closed, rigid, and conservative. Marxism does not reject any truth, of when or where it comes from; as long as it is a truthful understanding, it can serve as nourishment to enrich and develop itself. We must broaden our theoretical horizons, learn from and draw upon all the excellent achievements of human civilization with an open mind like the ocean, and draw upon excellent ideological and cultural resources from the "sum of human knowledge" to and develop the Party's theory, forming a grand theoretical pattern and atmosphere that is inclusive and draws on the strengths of all.

Second, we must promptly and scientifically answer the new of the times. The era is the mother of thought, and practice is the source of theory. All epoch-making theories are products that meet the needs of the times. Theories to observe, grasp, and lead the times must reflect the voice of the times, must never be detached from the practice of the era, and must constantly summarize practical experience to condense into the ideological essence of the times. The leap of theory is not reflected in the novelty of words and phrases, nor in the self-consistency and self-proof of logic;, it must be reflected in answering practical questions and leading practical development. Marxism is a theory of practice. The theoretical innovation we promote is theoretical innovation based on practice, not idle speculation within an ivory tower. We must persist in discovering truth and developing truth in practice, and using practice to realize and test truth.

The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century. Contemporary China, at a critical stage of national rejuvenation, experiencing the most extensive and profound social transformation in history, and is advancing Chinese-style modernization, a grand and unique practical innovation in human history. Against the backdrop of the accelerating evolution and interaction of the "two overall situations", human society faces many common problems that urgently need to be solved. In China, various fields such as reform, development, and stability, domestic affairs foreign affairs, national defense, and the governance of the Party, the state, and the armed forces are also facing a series of new major issues. The questions posed by China, the world the people, and the times present us with new challenges that are more complex and difficult than in the past, urgently requiring us to provide answers through the combination of theory and practice. Today, our task advancing the sinicization and modernization of Marxism is not lighter, but heavier. We must firmly establish a grand historical perspective, grasp the development trajectory and correct direction of world history with broader vision and a longer-term outlook, recognize the major logic and trends of social development in China and human society, understand the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-style, deepen our understanding of the laws of promoting high-quality development and building a new development pattern amidst the new round of scientific and technological revolution, the overall pattern of global economic development, the phased characteristics of China's development, deepen our understanding of the laws of the Party's strategic thought on self-revolution amidst the comparison of the fates of Marxist parties worldwide and realistic tests faced by our Party in its long-term governance, and comprehensively and systematically propose scientific concepts and effective countermeasures to solve realistic problems, so that Marxism in contemporary China and in the 21st century can demonstrate a more powerful and convincing force of truth.

Third, we must strive to advance the systematization and theorization of the Party' innovative theoretical system. Advancing the systematization and theorization of theory is an inherent requirement and an important way for theoretical innovation. The profound influence of Marxism lies in its use of theory to reveal the truth of human social development, and its use of a complete system to demonstrate the scientific nature of its theory. Marx once said that his works were an artistic whole, and also said that Marxist philosophy was a solid piece of steel. Engels wrote works such as "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific", systematically expounding the basic principles of Marxism, scientifically demonstrating internal unity among the three components of Marxism, defending and developing the scientific nature of Marxism with profound theory, and avoiding and correcting the fragmentation and vulgarization of Marxism with a complete system This fully demonstrates the importance of systematization and theorization for adhering to and developing Marxism.

The report to the 19th CPC National Congress summarized the main contents of the Party's innovative theories since the 18th CPC National Congress as the "Eight Clarifications" and "Fourteen Persistences". After being summarized by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress summarized them as the "Ten Clarifications", "Fourteen Persistences", and "Thirteen Aspects of Achievements", and summarized, refined, and profoundly expounded scientific methods for advancing the Party's theoretical innovation such as the "Two Combinations" and "Six Musts". This indicates that the development of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a process of continuous enrichment and expansion, as well as continuous systematization and theorization. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a complete system composed of several components, such as economic thought, rule of law thought, ecological civilization thought, strengthening the military thought, and diplomatic thought, which need to be further enriched and developed. As the process of practice deepens, the Party's theoretical innovation achievements will become increasingly abundant. The Marxist theory research and construction project must continuously deepen theoretical research and interpretation, focusing on researching and interpreting the principled theoretical achievements in the new concepts and new judgments proposed by our Party, grasping the mutual internal connections, and educating and guiding the entire Party and the whole country to better learn and grasp the theoretical system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Fourth, we must focus on drawing theoretical innovation wisdom from the creative endeavors of the masses. Marxism is a theory that speaks for the people and represents; it was founded to change the people's destiny and enriched and developed in the people's practice of seeking liberation. The creative practice of the people is an inexhaustible source of for Marxism. As the creators of history, the people are not only the creators of material wealth but also the creators of spiritual wealth. The masses are not only a vast sea of but also a vast sea of wisdom. China has a population of over 1.4 billion; who can match the combined strength and wisdom of hundreds of millions of people? As long as we maintain ties with the masses, frequently go deep among them, and rely heavily on them, truly taking the people as our teachers, sincerely learning from them, and humbly seeking their advice, we be able to obtain an endless stream of practical strength and theoretical wisdom

This is exactly the case. The achievements of the sinicization and adaptation to the times of Marxism are the crystallization of the practical and collective wisdom of the Party and the people. Whether it is Mao Zedong Thought, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, or the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a Era, they all originate from the wisdom, exploration, and creativity of the people. The masses are at the forefront of practice, are most sensitive to and deeply feel the changes in, and are also the wisest. As long as we go among the masses, many problems that are baffling can be clearly understood and answered. Our various practical works must follow the line, and the advancement of the Party's theoretical innovation must also follow the mass line; we must never work behind closed doors, engage in empty discussions, or fall into idle speculation. When planning thematic education, I proposed vigorously carrying out investigation and research to urge leading cadres at all levels to firmly establish a historical materialist view, strengthen the mass viewpoint and awareness of the Party' purpose, adhere to goal-orientation and problem-orientation, step out of the offices and go to the grassroots front lines, widely listen to the voices of the people, consciously seek advice from and the needs of the people, and use the Party's innovative theories to research and solve prominent problems required for development, urgent for reform, expected by the grassroots, and desired by the, while simultaneously drawing inspiration for theoretical and practical innovation from the profound insights of the masses. We must respect the people's pioneering spirit, focus on summarizing fresh experiences from the peoples creative practices, elevate them into rational understanding, and refine them into new theoretical achievements, striving to make the Party's innovative theories deeply rooted in the hearts of hundreds of millions people, becoming a theory that is grounded, gathers the people's wisdom, aligns with the people's will, and wins the people's hearts.

This is from speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping on June 30, 2023, at the sixth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central.