Seeking Truth Magazine published an important article by General Secretary Xi Jinping, "Chinese-style Modernization is a good road for the construction of a strong country and National Rejuvenation"

Beijing, Aug. 15 (Xinhua)

The article emphasizes that when a country moves toward modernization, it should not only follow the general rules of modernization, but also conform to its own reality and have its own characteristics. The Chinese style of modernization has not only the common features of the modernization of other countries, but also its distinctive features based on its own national conditions. The report of the Party's 20th National Congress clearly summarizes the Chinese characteristics of the five aspects of Chinese modernization and profoundly reveals the scientific connotation of Chinese modernization. This is not only a theoretical generalization, but also a practical requirement. It has pointed out a good road for building a great modern socialist country in all respects and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The article pointed out that it is necessary to make arduous efforts to turn the Chinese characteristics of Chinese-style modernization into successful practice and its distinctive characteristics into unique advantages.

First, the modernization of the huge population scale. This is the salient feature of Chinese modernization. The modernization of China's 1.4 billion people, larger than the combined population of the existing developed countries, will greatly change the modern world map. This is the largest modernization in human history, but also the most difficult modernization. When we think about problems, make decisions, and handle things, we must first consider the population base problem, consider the reality that China's urban and rural areas have a huge difference in development level, neither good GAO Wuyuan, nor conformity, must maintain historical patience, adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, gradually advancing, and continuously advancing.

Second, the modernization of common prosperity for all the people. This is the essential feature of Chinese modernization, and it is also a significant sign that distinguishes it from Western modernization. While promoting high-quality development and making the pie bigger, we need to further divide the pie so that all people will benefit more fairly from the fruits of modernization and resolutely prevent polarization.

Third, the modernization of material civilization and spiritual civilization in harmony. To be rich both materially and spiritually is the noble pursuit of Chinese modernization. It is necessary to uphold the principle of holding both hands, and promote the coordination and mutual reinforcement of material and spiritual progress. It is necessary to build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding force, constantly enrich the people's spiritual world, raise the level of civilization of the whole society, and promote all-round human development.

Fourth, the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Respecting, adapting to and protecting nature, and promoting harmonious coexistence between man and nature are the distinctive features of Chinese modernization. It is necessary to firmly establish and practice the concept that clear water and green mountains are gold hills and silver mountains, and support high-quality development with high-quality ecological environment.

Fifth, modernization on the path of peaceful development. Upholding peaceful development, seeking its own development while firmly upholding world peace and development, better maintaining world peace and development through its own development, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind are the outstanding features of Chinese modernization. We must always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, pursue a win-win strategy of opening up, practice genuine multilateralism, promote the common values of mankind, and strive to make greater contribution to peace and development of mankind.

The article stressed that since the founding of New China, especially since the reform and opening up, we have completed the industrialization process that Western developed countries have gone through for hundreds of years in a few decades, created a miracle of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and opened up broad prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Practice has proved that the only correct way to build a strong country and rejuvenate the nation is to carry out Chinese-style modernization smoothly and steadily.

Full text

Chinese-style modernization is the road to building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation

Xi Jinping

What kind of modernization path a country chooses is determined by its historical tradition, social system, development conditions, external environment and many other factors. Different national conditions will bring different approaches to modernization. Practice has proved that when a country pursues modernization, it must not only follow the general rules of modernization, but also conform to its own reality and have its own characteristics. The Chinese style of modernization has not only the common features of the modernization of other countries, but also its distinctive features based on its own national conditions. The report of the Party's 20th National Congress clearly summarizes the Chinese characteristics of the five aspects of Chinese modernization and profoundly reveals the scientific connotation of Chinese modernization. This is not only a theoretical generalization, but also a practical requirement. It has pointed out a good road for building a great modern socialist country in all respects and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

A smooth road does not mean a smooth road. To translate the Chinese characteristics of the five aspects of Chinese-style modernization into successful practice, and to turn distinctive features into unique strengths, we need to make arduous efforts.

First, the modernization of the huge population scale. This is the salient feature of Chinese modernization. Depending on the size of the population, the tasks of modernization will be different, and the arduousness and complexity of modernization will vary, and the ways and means of development will certainly have their own characteristics. At present, there are only more than 20 countries in the world that have entered modernization, with a total population of about 1 billion. The modernization of China's 1.4 billion people, larger than the combined population of the existing developed countries, will greatly change the modern world map. This is the largest modernization in human history, but also the most difficult modernization.

The super-large population not only provides sufficient human resources and a super-large market, but also brings a series of problems and challenges. Just feeding more than 1.4 billion people is no small challenge. There are also issues such as employment, distribution, education, medical care, housing, elderly care, and childcare, none of which is easy to solve, and none of which involves an astronomical number of people. When we think about problems, make decisions, and handle things, we must first consider the population base problem, consider the reality that China's urban and rural areas have a huge difference in development level, neither good GAO Wuyuan, nor conformity, must maintain historical patience, adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, gradually advancing, and continuously advancing.

On February 7, 2023, a seminar on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party's 20 National Spirit for newly elected members and alternate members of the Central Committee and major provincial and ministerial leading cadres was held at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, state President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Tao/Photo

Second, the modernization of common prosperity for all the people. This is the essential feature of Chinese modernization, and it is also a significant sign that distinguishes it from Western modernization. The biggest drawback of Western modernization is that it focuses on capital instead of people, and seeks to maximize the interests of capital instead of serving the interests of the vast majority of the people, resulting in a large gap between the rich and the poor and serious polarization. Some developing countries have approached the threshold of developed countries in the process of modernization, but they have fallen into the "middle-income trap" and have been stuck in a state of stagnation for a long time, or even seriously regressed. An important reason is that they have not properly addressed the problems of polarization and solidification of class.

The Chinese style of modernization has upheld the principle that development is for the people, by the people, and the fruits of development are shared by the people. Important progress has been made in promoting common prosperity for all the people. In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have won the battle against poverty and lifted nearly 100 million rural people out of poverty. At present, we have put in place a set of ideas, institutional arrangements and policy measures to promote common prosperity for all our people. While promoting high-quality development and making the "pie" bigger, we need to make sure that the pie is divided up and that people's livelihood issues such as employment, distribution, education, health care, housing, elderly care, and childcare are well addressed. We need to put in place a coordinated system for the three stages of distribution, standardize income distribution and wealth accumulation mechanisms, and guide and regulate the sound development of capital in accordance with the law. We will gradually expand the middle-income group, narrow the gap in income distribution, ensure that the fruits of modernization benefit all people in a more equitable manner, and resolutely prevent polarization. Achieving common prosperity is a long-term task. We must work hard for a long time, stay committed to the green mountains, and constantly make new progress.

Third, the modernization of material civilization and spiritual civilization in harmony. To be rich both materially and spiritually is the noble pursuit of Chinese modernization. Material poverty is not socialism, nor is spiritual poverty socialism. The early modernization of the West was characterized by accumulation of wealth, lack of faith and excessive material desire. Today, Western countries are increasingly Mired in difficulties, an important reason is the inability to curb the nature of capital greed, unable to solve the expansion of materialism, spiritual poverty and other chronic diseases.

Chinese modernization requires not only great material wealth, but also great spiritual wealth, ideological and cultural confidence and self-improvement. We need to work hard on both sides and promote coordination and mutual reinforcement of material and spiritual progress, so that all the people will always have the ideological basis for unity and hard work, the initiative to forge ahead, and the healthy pursuit of values. In response to the people's ever-growing spiritual and cultural needs, we should develop a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding power, strengthen education in ideals and convictions, and publicize and educate the Four Histories, cultivate and carry forward core socialist values, develop advanced socialist culture, publish more excellent literary and artistic works, constantly enrich the people's spiritual world, and raise the level of civilization of the whole society. Promote all-round human development.

Fourth, the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Respecting, adapting to and protecting nature, and promoting harmonious coexistence between man and nature are the distinctive features of Chinese modernization. Since modern times, the modernization of most western countries has gone through the stage of wanton plundering of natural resources and vicious destruction of ecological environment. While creating huge material wealth, it often causes serious problems such as environmental pollution and resource exhaustion. China's per capita energy resource endowment is seriously insufficient, accelerated development faces more energy resources and environmental constraints, which determines that China can not follow the old road of Western modernization.

From July 25 to 27, 2023, Xi Jinping, General secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the State and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Sichuan. This is the afternoon of the 25th, Xi Jinping visited Cuiyun corridor in Jiangue County, Guangyuan City. Photo by Xie Huanchi, Xinhua News Agency

The Chinese style of modernization adheres to the principle of sustainable development, giving priority to conservation, protection and natural restoration, and unswervingly follows the path of civilized development featuring increased production, a prosperous life and a sound ecology. This has opened up broad prospects for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. It is necessary to firmly establish and practice the concept that clear waters and lush mountains are gold and silver mountains, adhere to the integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, promote ecological priority, conservation and intensive, green and low-carbon development, accelerate the green transformation of development modes, enhance the diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem, actively yet prudently promote carbon peak carbon neutrality, and support high-quality development with a high-quality ecological environment.

Fifth, modernization on the path of peaceful development. Upholding peaceful development, seeking its own development while firmly upholding world peace and development, better maintaining world peace and development through its own development, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind are the outstanding features of Chinese modernization. The modernization of Western countries is full of bloody crimes such as wars, slave trafficking, colonization and plunder, which have brought untold suffering to the vast number of developing countries. Having experienced the tragic history of aggression and humiliation by Western powers, the Chinese nation knows full well the value of peace and will never repeat the old path of Western countries.

The Chinese style of modernization is independent and self-reliant. It relies on the hard work, innovation and creation of all its people to develop and strengthen itself. It achieves national development through a combination of generating internal impetus and peaceful use of external resources. We must always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the world with China's new development. We will actively participate in the reform and development of the global governance system, practice genuine multilateralism, promote the common values of mankind, promote the implementation of global development initiatives and global security initiatives, and strive to make greater contribution to peace and development of mankind.

On the evening of July 28, 2023, the 31st Summer Universiade opened in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Xi Jinping, CAI Qi, Ding Xuexiang and other Party and state leaders attended the opening ceremony. Photo by Xie Huanchi, Xinhua News Agency

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since reform and opening-up, in just a few decades we have completed the industrialization process that took Western developed countries hundreds of years to complete. We have created a miracle of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and opened up broad prospects for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Practice has proved that the only correct way to build a strong country and rejuvenate the nation is to carry out Chinese-style modernization smoothly and steadily.

※ This is part of the speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the seminar for newly elected members and alternate members of the Central Committee and major provincial and ministerial leading cadres on learning and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party's 20 National Spirits on February 7, 2023.

Source: Chinese government website