Traditions of the Chinese Civilization and the Communist Party of China

Traditions of the Chinese Civilization and the Communist Party of China[1]

Zheng Bijian[2]

The Communist Party of China is 96 years old! This is a fairly brief span of time compared to the more than 5,000-year history of the Chinese civilization. However, it is over this period of time that the Communist Party of China (CPC) has fundamentally changed the course and destiny of the Chinese nation since the dawning of modern times.

Such fundamental change does not mean the discarding of the traditions of the Chinese civilization, one of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world, nor the creation of a different civilization; rather, it means that the Chinese people were freed of the shackles of semi-feudalism and semi-colonialism, stood up, and embarked on the road of socialism, and that the Chinese civilization and nation have been rejuvenating themselves in the course of building socialism with Chinese characteristics since the implementation of reform and opening up.

In order to more fully understand why the CPC has been able to save and revitalize the Chinese civilization, it is necessary that we, first of all, understand the fundamental nature of the CPC and its relationship with the Chinese nation.

What is the fundamental nature of the CPC? The Constitution of the Communist Party of China states, “The Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of the Chinese working class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and represents the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people.” Note here that the CPC, in essence, is the vanguard of both the Chinese working class and the Chinese people and nation.

In fact, that’s how the CPC has consistently and steadfastly defined itself. In December 1935, the Political Bureau of the CPC explicitly stated that it was the vanguard of the Chinese working class and was also the vanguard of the whole Chinese nation. That is, as a communist party, the CPC was the vanguard of a working class; specifically, as China’s communist party, it was the vanguard of the Chinese people and nation.  

It is unprecedented in the International Communist Movement that the CPC defines itself as being a vanguard. Also, it was the first to do so in the history of party politics all over the world.

By defining itself as such, the CPC clearly and unequivocally declares its distinguished positions, viewpoints, and approaches, sets itself wide apart from all the other parties that have emerged in modern China, and proclaims its root and soul.  

Note that the CPC had come into being in an era in Chinese history when the Chinese nation was at a critical juncture and was preoccupied with its very salvation and survival. It is often said that the CPC was born out of the union of Marxism-Leninism and the Chinese workers’ movement. Both the introduction of Marxism-Leninism into China and the ascendance of the Chinese working class on the historical arena were for the mission of saving the Chinese nation. It was in the great historical tide of national salvation that the CPC was founded, and from the first day of its existence it was the vanguard leading the struggle for national liberation. 

Note that all the founding members of the CPC, such as Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu, Mao Zedong, and Zhou Enlai, were deeply under the nurturing influence of the traditions of the Chinese civilization and thus had profound patriotic sentiments. They had sought truths from the West in order to save the nation and people; being strongly patriotic, they went on the road of communism and established the Communist Party of China. Ardent patriotism has been an unshakable tradition among the CPC members, as they are “part of the great Chinese nation, flesh of its flesh and blood of its blood”[3]. 

Note that the theme of the great renaissance of the Chinese nation runs through all the political lines mapped out during different historical periods for saving, building, or rejuvenating the nation. These political lines most eloquently show that the CPC is a responsible party and that it is good at taking the responsibility; that is, it is a vanguard team capable of changing the destiny of the Chinese nation and leading the nation in a course of achieving ever greater prosperity and strength.  

In the surging waves of the national-democratic revolution after the Opium War of 1840, different forces ascended on the scene and tried to save the Chinese nation, including the Conservatives, Westernizers[4], those championing semi-colonialist and semi-feudalist rule by the West, and those within the CPC who preached dogmatic Marxism. However, eventually all of these failed to do so. It was the CPC, as a vanguard team founded on Sinicized Marxism, that proved to be the most qualified for the historical mission. The Chinese people had chosen the CPC based on their experience of hard struggles over the long years, and had reached the ultimate conclusion that only the CPC was able to save the nation based on the outcomes of repeated confrontations among the various political factions since modern days.   

That’s why the CPC has scored earthshaking achievements over the past 96 years, from the revolutionary years to those of nation building and reform and opening up. It has done so bearing firmly in mind the broad interests of the country, nation, and people and taking into consideration both the domestic and international situations. With a daring revolutionary spirit, it has combined patriotism with internationalism, and kept pace with the times while carrying forward the traditions. As a result, it has been able to handle the most complex situations, overcome untold daunting challenges and setbacks, and rectify the mistakes it has made.   

These are the historical truths: without keeping abreast of the times, we will lag behind and be bullied and humiliated; without carrying forward our traditions, we will lose our roots; and without being rooted in the Chinese soil, we will go nowhere at all. Chairman Mao Zedong once said, “One won’t make a good Marxist unless one tries to understand China in the process of transforming China and tries to transform China in the process of understanding China.”[5]

Those 96 years have been a process of Sinicizing Marxism, and the CPC now has two major theoretical frameworks to its name, both of which are already well-established. These include Mao Zedong Thought and the body of theories for building socialism with Chinese characteristics that are founded on Deng Xiaoping Theory.

As the first major theoretical achievement resulting from the Sinicization of Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought had guided the CPC in leading the Chinese people in their efforts to catch up with the times while carrying forward the traditions. Finally, the Chinese people stood up, New China was born, and the socialist system was established.  

As the second major theoretical achievement resulting from the Sinicization of Marxism, the body of theories for building socialism with Chinese characteristics that are founded on Deng Xiaoping Theory has guided the CPC in leading the Chinese people in their efforts to catch up with the times. China has now become a moderately well-off society, ranking as the world’s second largest economy, and the socialist system has been continuously improving and strengthening itself amid various arduous challenges.

As the practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics continues, the process of Sinicizing Marxism further deepens. Since the 18^th National Congress of the CPC, the Central Committee of the CPC has been conscientiously pushing forward the lofty cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. A series of breakthrough concepts, ideas, and strategies for governing the country have come to the fore, which cover various fields as follows: reform, development, and stability; domestic and foreign affairs and national defense; governance of the Party, state, and army. These have further developed and enriched the system of theories for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. 

Then, while advancing Sinicization of Marxism, what has the CPC done, from the perspectives of both ideological and political lines, in its endeavor to carry forward the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation? 

By emphasizing how the CPC has carried forward those traditions in terms of ideological and political dimensions, we do not pay particular attention to the levels of learning or cultivation of individual members of the leadership or the specific schools of thought entertained, nor do we consider how the CPC has done so in the cultural area or any other specific areas. Rather, we examine most closely how the CPC has carried forward those traditions through a zigzag historical process, in which they have had both successes and failures and kept learning from mistakes made.

Based on a review of the basic facts of the historical practice of the CPC, we arrive at a total of sixteen points as follows:

First, breaking through the conventions of the International Communist Movement, the CPC raises high its glorious banner that it is the vanguard of both the Chinese working class and the Chinese people and nation, and explicitly declares that its mission in the contemporary era is to achieve the great renaissance of the Chinese nation. This concept has served as a cardinal principle guiding all the theories, methodologies, and practice of the CPC throughout its historical course of struggles.   

Second, the totality of the CPC’s views on the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation can be summarized by Chairman Mao’s well-known remarks. He said, “Our national history goes back several thousand years and has its own characteristics and innumerable treasures.”[6] He emphasized, “We should sum up our history from Confucius to Sun Yat-sen and take over this valuable legacy.”[7] He solemnly pointed out, “Another of our tasks is to study our historical heritage and use the Marxist method to sum it up critically.”[8] Back in the years of war, in accordance with these defining statements and guidelines, the CPC had achieved a number of results in the study of Chinese traditions from Marxist perspectives. These not only dealt a heavy blow to the anti-Communist rhetoric clamoring that Communism did not fit into the Chinese realities, but also contributed to “developing our new national culture and increasing our national self-confidence”[9] in the national struggles for survival. Also, Sinicization of Marxism was furthered in the process.

Third, the CPC had solemnly affirmed that the May 4^th Movement, an anti-imperialist, anti-feudal patriotic movement that directly led to its founding, was a great watershed event marking the end of the old democratic revolution and the beginning of the new democratic revolution. Based on an analysis of the achievements and shortcomings of the Movement, the CPC embraced those aspects of it that were “vigorous and lively, progressive, and revolutionary”[10] and hence energetically pushed forward both the transformation of the its styles of work and learning and the revolution of the people.   

Fourth, the CPC had based itself in the rural areas and ultimately seized national power by using the farmers as the leading force and by encircling the cities from the rural areas and then capturing them. The Party had blazed out such a path to victory by, among other things, a careful examination of both China’s current national conditions and the historical experience of peasants’ uprisings throughout the successive Chinese dynasties. 

Fifth, among the strategic military theories of the CPC were the people’s guerilla war led by the Party, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as a protracted war in three phases[11], and the strategies and tactics for the Chinese Civil War. These theories had been developed based on a grasp of the military thoughts of successive Chinese dynasties as well as the experience and lessons of peasants’ uprisings throughout these dynasties. The military theories of ancient China had been an important source of those of the CPC. 

Sixth, a fundamental historical experience of the CPC has been its successful implementation of a united front. The Party’s theory of a united front has its origins not only from the methodology of class analysis from historical materialism and strategic Marxist thinking but also from the philosophical views cherished by the Chinese nation since ancient times. These views include, among others, “putting the overall interests in the first place”, “seeking harmony but not oneness”, and “seeking common ground while shelving differences”.  

Seventh, in regard to Party building, the CPC attaches primary importance to its ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and associates the motto with Marxist epistemology and hence imbues it with a new flavor. The eclectic study methodology introduced during the Yan’an Rectification Movement (1941-1943)[12] against the prevailing dogmatist tendencies became the fundamental scientific methodology that CPC members were required to observe in those days and thereafter. At the same time, the CPC spelt out the rules governing the political lives of individual CPC members using pithy, vivid language, such as “learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones”, “curing the sickness to save the patient”[13], and “unity-criticism-unity”[14]. No other party had done similar things previously in the International Communist Movement.       

Eighth, “serving the people” and “the mass line” are the CPC’s fundamental aims and lines of work, which are households’ words amongst the Chinese people, and which the CPC has consistently adhered to. These are in line with many ancient philosophical ideas.[15]

 “Men must have some spirit”.[16] From its long years of hard struggles the CPC had formed the Jinggangshan Spirit[17], the Long March Spirit, Yan’an Spirit, and Xibaipo Spirit[18], and so on. These loft spirits had originated from the experience of struggles of the Party and the people as well as from the shining traditions of the Chinese nation. 

Tenth, Chairman Mao’s remark on gan kao[19] and Guo Moruo’s 1944 landmark essay “Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of the Peasant Uprising Led by Li Zicheng”[20], which was listed as a primary reference document for the Yan’an Rectification Movement, have served as moral guides for generations of CPC members in their way forward, especially amidst new historical experiences.

 “Overall planning with all factors taken into consideration”[21] and distinguishing between and correctly handling the two classes of contradictions[22] were the basic principles of the CPC for approaching the complex social contradictions after it became the ruling party. These reflect the principle of inclusiveness inherent in the Chinese thoughts on governance. Chairman Mao Zedong said, “What kind of policy is this? It is one of mobilizing all positive forces to build socialism. It is a strategic policy.”[23]

Twelfth, the principle of “letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend”[24] quoted from the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period emphasized ideological diversity and inclusiveness as major characteristics of the traditions of the Chinese nation and hence played an enormous, far-reaching liberating role among the CPC member s and the Chinese people. Chairman Mao remarked in 1950s that, “Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and sciences and for a flourishing socialist culture in our land.”[25]

Thirteenth, both the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the CPC (December 1978) and the Sixth Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the CPC[26] (which was held in June 1981 and adopted “Resolution on a Number of Historical Issues Since the Founding of New China”) persisted in focusing on the theme of “liberating the mind and seeking truth from facts” for guiding overall work. After the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the CPC, the CPC leadership headed by Deng Xiaoping reestablished the basic ideological line of “seeking truth from facts” and formulated the basic lines of “one central task and two basic points”, i.e., the central task of economic development and adherence to the Four Cardinal Principles and to reform and opening up.   

Fourteenth, building a moderately well-off society, which may be traced to the social ideals of “Small Tranquility” versus “Grand Union”[27] propounded in ancient China, has been set forth as the ultimate objective of the second phase of the efforts to achieve socialist modernization by mid-21^st century. Specifically, after having met the goal that the people are adequately fed and clothed, the CPC has been turning the Chinese society into a moderately well-off society and will, eventually, make it moderately well-off in an all-round way; in another thirty years or so thereafter, China is expected to achieve socialist modernization. The present realities nationwide indicate that these latter two ideals are enthusiastically embraced by the whole Chinese people, and their expectations for the future of the country are high, and thus are playing a big historical role in ensuring that the CPC and the society are unified around a consensus and common goals.   

Fifteenth, achieving the great renaissance of the Chinese nation is an aspiration that closely and vividly links together the past, the present, and the future of the Chinese nation; it is the ultimate dream the Chinese nation has cherished since modern times. It is consistent with the nature of the CPC as a vanguard as mentioned earlier and with the Party’s dual mission of leading the people in carrying forward the traditions and keeping abreast of the times; also, it most strongly embodies the patriotic sentiments and self-confidence of generations of Chinese people and CPC members.    

Sixteenth, it is necessary that we realistically refer to the mistakes that the CPC has made in its 96-year tortuous course of hard struggles. The Party has endured untold trials and tribulations during this period of time; however, it is credited with having been able to correct the mistakes made of its own accord and learn from them and hence emerge stronger for greater progress on its road. Isn’t this true of the Party in its 96-year history? Upon serious reflection, we realize that its ability to do so is related primarily to the following: the Party’s nature of being a vanguard and its fundamental principle of “building itself up for the public and exercising state power for the people”[28]; its long-term, deeply entrenched influence among the Chinese people; and its culture, rich experience, and spirit of hard struggle, especially its long-standing tradition of persisting in self-rectifications. In addition, this is a reflection of the deep influence of Chinese cultural traditions, including “taking history as a mirror” (that is, learning lessons from history) and the belief that a mistake confessed is half redressed. 

The above may not constitute an exhaustive list; however, it provides us a broad picture of how the CPC has been able to inherit the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation from the perspectives of its ideological and political lines. The Party has done so in a comprehensive manner, covering cultural and numerous other spheres. Also, it has done so in the entire course it has traversed, from the revolutionary years to those of nation building and reform and opening up, rather than since the founding of New China. By the above sixteen-point list we wished to depict the relationship between the CPC and the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation, and in doing so, to examine how the root and soul of Party have come into being and evolved and developed. 

Since the 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, how has the CPC closely combined carrying forward traditions and keeping abreast of the times? Specifically, how has it done so from a new historical starting point and by centering on the Chinese dream of fulfilling the great renaissance of the Chinese nation?

Since the 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the great movement of emancipating the mind, which was set in motion by the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the CPC, has been in a new historical phase. As a result, in the course of continuously moving forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the central leadership with President Xi Jinping at the core, we have reached new milestones in carrying forward the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation and in keeping abreast of the times. Let it be emphasized that all these have been accomplished over a short period of four years.   

Now we would like to look at the breakthrough progress that the CPC has achieved in inheriting the traditions since the 18^th National Congress of the CPC, paying close attention to the ten major principles of state governance   introduced since then. 

First, socialism with Chinese characteristics and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. “A nation or country must be clear about its identity, origin, and future,” President Xi Jinping has said repeatedly. “After it has figured these out correctly, it should go for its set goals unswervingly.” He has noted that we have had more than thirty years’ experience of building socialism with Chinese characteristics since reform and opening up. The Party had blazed out the path, he has pointed out, based on both continuous exploration since the founding of New China and profound reviews of the history of the Chinese nation since modern times; also, it had done so in the process of carrying forward the traditions of the Chinese civilization with a history of more than 5,000 years. Achieving the two centenary goals[29] and hence realizing the Chinese dream of the great renaissance of the Chinese nation is an aspiration held deeply by the Chinese people today. It is well in line with the tireless pursuits for progress of generations upon generations of the Chinese in past ages.       

Second, the “Four Comprehensives” strategy and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. Since the 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Central Party Committee has mapped out and continuously perfected the strategic blueprint called “Four Comprehensives”.[30] It is required that the whole Party, in carrying out the “Four Comprehensives” with the focus on the strategic goal of a moderately well-off society, improve the system of building socialism with Chinese characteristics by promoting modernization of national governance mechanisms and capabilities. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that whatever governance system a country opts for is determined by its historical traditions, cultural traditions, and levels of social and economic development or, ultimately, by its own people. He has led the members of the Political Bureau of the Central Party Committee in reviewing the governance experiences over the centuries in Chinese history, for these are useful reference in the Party’s efforts to modernize governance mechanisms and capabilities. 

Third, new concepts and theories for development and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. The Central Party Committee emphasizes that it is imperative that we understand the “new normal” phenomenon in the process of economic development and come to terms with it and rise above it in order to tackle the various challenges it has presented. The CPC has proposed a number of new concepts for development in relation to innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and resource sharing. While being targeted at addressing the present tasks amid the “new normal”, these concepts accord with the objective laws of social and economic development and also are saturated with many traditions of the Chinese nation. Among these traditions are the following: exerting oneself constantly; the virtuous bearing onerous duties;[31] improving oneself every day[32]; cherishing peace and harmony; and never “draining the pond to get all the fish”[33].

Fourth, socialist democracy and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. President Xi Jinping has remarked that improving socialist consultative democracy is an important component of the reform of China’s political system. Citing relevant remarks made by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai[34], he said, “All things should be settled through consultation. So, the problems among the people should be solved through consultation among the people themselves. In this way, we can identify the common wishes and demands to the largest extent possible. This is where the essence of the people’s democracy lies.” As a component of China’s socialist democracy system, consultative democracy is a distinguished, unique form of democracy. Its origins are traced to the following: the long-standing, fine cultural and political traditions of the Chinese nation, including “the world being for all”, “absorbing anything and everything”, and “seeking common ground while shelving differences”; the course of the development of Chinese politics since modern times; the CPC’s long-term practice of leading the people in engaging in revolution, nation building, and reform and opening up; transformation of the political system after the founding of New China, which were made possible jointly by the various parties, ethnic groups, social classes and groups, and personages from different fields; and, finally, continuous transformation of China’s political institutions since reform and opening up. Therefore, the consultative democracy paradigm is deeply rooted in the Chinese culture, theories, institutions, and practice.     

Fifth, the core values of socialism and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. In response to the lacking of certain values and goals, diversified value orientations, nonuniform value criteria, and other related problems in the present-day society, the Central Party Committee has set advocating core socialist values as the focus of the efforts for building up a socialist ideology and culture. President Xi Jinping has made incisive comments on these values from the perspectives of the state, society, and individuals. He has emphatically alluded to the following philosophical ideals prized since ancient China: Investigating the things makes one’s knowledge complete; making one’s thoughts sincere helps rectify one’s heart; cultivating one’s person helps regulates one’s family; and right governing of the states makes the whole kingdom tranquil and happy[35]. The first two of these, together with cultivating one’s person, may be said to rest at the individual level, regulating one’s family at the societal level, and the third at the country level. The proposition of core values of socialism integrates the values existing at state, societal, and individual levels; therefore, it is consistent with the essential nature of socialism. In doing so, it inherits the fine elements of traditional Chinese culture and also draws from the fruits of the world civilization.      

Sixth, combating corruption for clean governance and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. “Winning the hearts of the people is our biggest politics. Righteousness is the most powerful force,” President Xi Jinping has said. “Just as the ancient saying goes, ‘How can the state be governed? It’s governed simply by winning the hearts of the people! Why does disorder reign in the state? The hearts of the people are not won!’”[36] He has also said, “Those who win the hearts of the people win the state, and those who lose the hearts of the people lose the state.[37] The people’s approval and support provide the most solid foundation for the governance by the Party.” These forceful words of the President brim with his political wisdom and determination to govern the Party strictly; while being directed toward addressing the problems in the present age, his remarks hint at the lessons learned from Chinese history. In the process of pushing forward the anti-corruption campaign, President Xi Jinping has presided over specialized meetings of the members of the Political Bureau for studying the anti-corruption experiences in the history of the Chinese nation. He has said, “Learning about China’s anti-corruption history to see where people in the past were most successful in doing so and building up a clean government and where they were less successful is enlightening to us, for this provides us with the historical wisdom we need as we continue to crack down on corruption.”    

Seventh, the building of the ranks of cadres and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. President Xi Jinping has, on many occasions, expressed his views on cadres by citing from classical works[38]. He has required that all organizations make appointments based on the candidates’ moral integrity and professional competence, with emphasis on the former, and improve the system of appointments, promotions, demotions, and dismissals, such that cadres are able to work both at the top and down below. He has remarked that our goal is to build up ranks of outstanding cadres for the Party and the people. He has said, “Cultivating one’s person is essential for good governance.”[39] The CPC members should, all the more, pay attention to strengthening self-cultivation and self-image and play exemplary roles by discharging their duties with honesty and strict self-discipline. President Xi Jinping hopes that cadres of the CPC at various levels should examine themselves daily[40] to ensure that they are strict in cultivating their persons and practicing self-discipline in the exercise of their powers, that is, they govern honestly and cleanly. Particularly, they should bear firmly in mind that empty talk harms the nation while solid work helps it thrive.           

Eighth, China’s road of peaceful development and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. President Xi Jinping has said that pursuing a path of peaceful development is a strategic choice of the CPC not only in accordance with the trends of the times and China’s fundamental interests but also by following and further developing the fine traditions of the Chinese nation. “The Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation,” he has noted. “Since modern times, the Chinese have cherished a profound, earnest yearning for ending all warfare and leading peaceful lives. The fine cultural traditions of the Chinese nation and the sufferings that the Chinese people have been subjected to have inevitably led them to a path of peaceful development.”  

Ninth, the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. Amidst the new changes taking place in the global economic landscape, President Xi Jinping, referring to the opening up of the Silk Road by Zhang Qian more than 2,000 years ago, proposed the “One Belt, One Road” strategic framework. It consists of two components, namely “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21^st Century Maritime Silk Road”, to be developed jointly by China and the rest of Eurasia. He has said that China’s history of engaging in foreign exchanges over the past 2,000 years and more shows that different nations with different cultural backgrounds, creeds, and beliefs are fully able to promote joint development based on mutual trust, equality, learning from each other, and cooperation for mutual benefits.    

Tenth, China’s self-confidence in the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the traditions of the Chinese civilization. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that the traditional Chinese culture that has been developed and evolved over a history of several thousand years is the soul of the Chinese nation. Deeply rooted in the Chinese soil, it shapes, in one way or another and explicitly or implicitly, our way of thinking and doing things and hence the formation of the Chinese nation’s unique values, beliefs, aesthetics, and outlook on life and the world. “We need to strength our self-confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” President Xi Jinping has pointed out. “However, such self-confidence boils down to cultural self-confidence in the final analysis, which is a more fundamental, profound, and enduring force. Both history and the present realities show that a nation that leaves behind its own cultural traditions will not go anywhere and instead may bring disaster upon itself as a consequence.        

The above list may not be exhaustive; however, it is sufficient to convince us that all the major principles and policies adopted since the 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are deeply rooted in the traditional Chinese culture, despite the fact that they bear the prominent features of our times. On the other hand, however, culture is not static but keeps evolving, as does the human society. In carrying forward the fine Chinese cultural traditions, we need to “properly balance inheritance and creative development, putting emphasis on doing a good job in the latter”. [41] This represents the basic principle of the CPC in approaching traditional Chinese culture.

Achieving the Two Centenary Goals under the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, by keeping abreast of the times while carrying forward the traditions

It is unprecedented in the history of the International Communist Movement that the CPC defines itself as a vanguard. The Party is guided by Sinicized Marxism, which it integrates with patriotism. It carries forward the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation, in which its very soul lies; at the same time, it keeps abreast of the times. This amounts to a most fundamental experience of the Party throughout its entire 96-year history.  

With profound changes continuously taking place both domestically and internationally, President Xi Jinping exhorts us to never forget our soul as we move forward. This requires that we adhere to and further deepen the aforementioned fundamental experience under new historical conditions. In other words, this requires that we hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and consistently adhere to Sinicized Marxism ideologically and to patriotism, which is in conformity with socialism with Chinese characteristics, spiritually.  

Patriotism has been an enormous spiritual force in the Chinese history for no other reason than that the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, including, first and foremost, the working class, possess mighty abilities in making history.

The Chinese nation has created vast amounts of material and spiritual wealth, with the wisdom, ingenuity, and hard work of the Chinese people. Its long history of more than 5,000 years attests that the creativity and vitality of the Chinese people know no bounds. Ahead of the nation is an immense future with unlimited possibilities. Its patriotic traditions will continue to have tremendous effects ideologically, politically, and morally. Any attempts to play down or deny the future potential of the Chinese nation are unjustified.     

The patriotism we are advocating today is closely linked to socialism; hence it belongs to our present age.

We love our socialist country not only because it has a vast and beautiful territory or it has, like our mother, nurtured generations upon generations of Chinese but, more importantly, because the people are truly its master today.  

Patriotism in today’s China means the love of our great socialist country, the soil, history, and fine cultural traditions of our motherland, as well as the people who have made a brilliant history with their hard struggles on our soil and are continuing to make a brilliant history. Also, it means the love of the path on which we are forging ahead toward building a powerful socialist modern society.

Such patriotism serves as an important ideological and political foundation for the most broadly-based unity among the Chinese people of all ethnic groups; also, it is a most powerful spiritual force to rely upon as we endeavor to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The CPC is a progressive party while it never loses its soul; also, it keeps abreast of the times while it carries forward the traditions of the Chinese civilization and nation. We expect that it will be able to lead the Chinese people in achieving the great renaissance of the Chinese nation. The fulfillment of the grand dream will be an epic-making event in the history of mankind.