Perspective丨Zhang Donggang & Liu Wei: It is of decisive significance to understand “Two Establishments” more comprehensively

Abstract:

The “Two Establishments” reflect the common wish of all Chinese people—the CPC members, the People’s Liberation Army and all ethnic groups, and are of decisive significance to the development of the CPC and China in this new era, and the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To embark on our new journey, we should have comprehensive understanding of their decisive significance, and put the “Two Establishments” into practice in our everyday life.

Having striven along in the past century, like water surging high and sweeping forward, the great Communist Party of China is now marching forward vigorously. Over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China has led Chinese people and made great achievements in the New-democratic Revolution, the socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening up to the outside world and socialist modernization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The Party has made a great leap forward, helping the Chinese nation to stand up, become better-off and get stronger and stronger.

The CPC Central Committee’s Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience over the Past Century approved at the 6th plenary session of the 19th Central Committee made it clear that “To establish the core leadership of comrade Xi Jinping in the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, and establish the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era reflects the common wish of all Chinese people—the CPC members, the People’s Liberation Army and all ethnic groups, and are of decisive significance to the development of the CPC and China in this new era, and to the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” We must have comprehensive understanding of the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments”, getting more closely united around the Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as its core, to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and to contribute to glorious victory along our new journey in this new era.

The “Two Establishments” are Chinese people’s historical choice

A Marxist political party must have strong core leadership and scientific theoretical guidelines. Core leadership is of paramount importance to a nation and a party. Establishing and safeguarding the core leadership of a Marxist political party has always been an essential view of the Marxist party building theory, and also an important indicator of whether a Marxist political party is full-fledged. The materialist conception of history stresses the decisive role of people in creating history, and also acknowledges the pioneering and leading role of great leaders as outstanding representatives of people in driving social revolution, historical development and civilization advancement. Marx, Engels, Lenin and so on are great figures in their time. Marxist political parties must follow scientific theoretical guidelines. As Lenin has remarked, only with advanced theoretical guidelines can a party play the role of an advanced fighter. Marxism-Leninism is the great thought that guides proletariats and other laboring people to move towards liberation. Under the leadership of revolution teachers and the guidelines of great thoughts, international labour organizations and various Marxist parties have been successively founded, whose development has been continuously pushing forward socialism in the world and communist practices in various countries.

Safeguarding the core leadership of the Party and the authority of the CPC Central Committee, an important historical experience of the Communist Party of China over the past one hundred years history of revolutionary fighting, represents a political advantage of the Communist Party of China to make continuous achievements. The centennial history of the Communist Party of China clearly tells us that whenever the whole Party unwaveringly safeguards the core leadership of the Party and the authority of the CPC Central Committee, the leadership of the Party will be strengthened, and the undertaking of the Party will win successive victories. Otherwise, the leadership of the Party will be weakened, and the undertaking of the Party will suffer setbacks. The Party has always stayed steadfast in upholding historical materialism and correct cognition of the CPC’s history, and resolved in maintaining the historical position of the Party’s core leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made important remarks at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of the birth of comrade Mao Zedong and the symposium commemorating the 110th anniversary of the birth of comrade Deng Xiaoping, speaking highly of the historical feats of comrade Mao Zedong and comrade Deng Xiaoping. Over the past centennial history, we have all along marked Marxism on our flag, continuously carrying forward Marxism by localizing and modernizing it in China, staying broad-minded in embracing all excellent achievements of human civilizations, and using scientific theories of Sinicized Marxism to guide our great practice, as a result, we have ushered in unceasing new realms of Marxism.

Over the past one hundred years, we have always been applying the basic principles of Marxism to the specific reality of China, and combining it with the fine traditional Chinese culture. We have created Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, formed up the important Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and founded Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—they all provide scientific theoretical guidelines for the progress of the causes of the CPC and Chinese people. Now, as the socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered into a new era, we are in need of a guide to survey the once-in-a-century great change of the world and plan for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as a whole, and adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in this new era, to timely address the issues in this era and people’s concerns, open up the new realms of localization of Marxism in China, and guide the whole Party and all Chinese people to move forward. We are in want of a steersperson who have thorough understanding of this era, hold clear discrimination of major issues, and brave terrifying waves of danger, to lead the whole Party and all Chinese people to win great battles. We are so pressed for a commander in chief to plan and coordinate the undertakings of the Party and the nation as a whole, lead the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and gather the great strength of the whole Party and all Chinese people to promote our realization of the Two Centenary Goals—to complete a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of the CPC (founded in 1921), and to build China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the People's Republic of China (founded in 1949).

General Secretary Xi Jinping who has been leading the Party and Chinese people to advance the great undertaking of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, represents our core leadership who is brave to shoulder heavy burdens and promote historical changes in this era. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is Marxism of contemporary China in the 21st century, representing the essence of Chinese culture and Chinese spirit, and having realized new leap forward in localization of Marxism in China. General Secretary Xi Jinping is the chief founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Such an era calls for strong leadership, and General Secretary Xi Jinping merits the qualifications of the core leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has become the guide to the whole Party’s and all Chinese people’s action to strive for and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese civilization.

The “Two Establishments” are of very decisive significance

To establish the core leadership of comrade Xi Jinping in the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, and establish the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the call of the times, representing the historical choice and the common aspiration of the people, which is of decisive significance to the development of the CPC and China in this new era, and to the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is the “Two Establishments” that have helped the undertaking of the CPC and the Chinese nation to make historical progress and achievements and see historical changes. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as its core and the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party has followed an overall work keynote of seeking improvement in stability, with a series of major policies, guidelines, major measures issued to promote the progress of a series of major tasks. Thus, we have overcome a series of major risks and challenges, settled down many long-term pressing difficult problems, and completed many long-term pressing great deeds. They have promoted the historical achievements of the undertakings of the CPC and the Chinese nation, and ushered in historical changes, and the Chinese nation has made great leap forward from a rise to standing up, to getting better-off, and to becoming stronger and stronger.

The historical achievements of the CPC and Chinese nation’s undertakings and some historical changes in progress since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China have provided more complete institutional assurance, more solid material foundation and more initiative spiritual strength for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is these “Two Establishments” that help Marxism to demonstrate its strong vitality in the 21st century. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has combined the essential principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China, and the fine traditional Chinese culture, and this original theoretical contribution has marked the new height of Marxism in progress. This profound thought has addressed the major tasks of what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics we should adhere to and develop, and how we should adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in this new era. It represents a new leap forward in our understanding of the ways to construct socialism with Chinese characteristics. With better understanding of the major tasks of what kind of great modern socialist country we should construct, and how we should construct such a country in this new era, it has more clearly unfolded the new prospect of Chinese-style modernization. Its explication of the major tasks of what kind of long-term ruling Marxist party we should construct, and how we should build such a party has ushered in the new realm of better party governance and administration to strengthen this rising party.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has adhered to the essential principles of Marxism, and also made original contribution to the development of Marxism as a new leap forward in localization of Marxism in China. It is the “Two Establishments” that have provided fundamental guarantees for us to achieve comprehensive socialist modernization of China. Today, more than ever before in history, we are so close to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in a more approachable manner with more confidence. Meanwhile, we must bear in mind that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is no easy job, and we can never fulfill it by making high-sounding words or playing around. In midstream, a vessel must brave higher waves; halfway uphill, we must ascend harder. Now, the world is experiencing a once-in-a-century change that is evolving at an accelerating pace. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is far-reaching, and the external environment is getting more and more complicated and severe. Various tasks for domestic economic and social development are so heavy and arduous that we have to face unprecedented challenges. The leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as its core is enabling us to always stick to the right direction in the face of the once-in-a-century change interwoven with our strategic aspiration to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, so that the whole Party can stay united to act out in a concerted manner. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is guiding us to plan for our development and always follow the rules of development to brave challenges, so we can proceed with firmer confidence and stay motivated to focus on our undertakings in progress, and embark on the new journey and march forward in a more high-spirited style to make new feats in this new era.

We should put the “Two Establishments” into practice in our life

Proven visionary core leadership in stability is the great fortune of the great Chinese nation in this era, for it is essential for the CPC and the nation to forge ahead for great prosperity. The “Two Establishments” represent a major historical conclusion that we have reached based on the centennial history of the Party, and the great practice since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We have embarked on the new journey to realize the second centennial goal, and we should make continuous efforts to strengthen the “Four Consciousnesses” (maintaining political integrity, thinking in big-picture terms, following the leadership core, and keeping in alignment.), hold firm “four matters of confidence” (confidence in the nation's path, theory, system and culture), and ensure “two safeguardings” (safeguarding the core leadership of comrade Xi Jinping in the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, and safeguarding the authority and concentrated leadership of the CPC Central Committee), so that we can stay more closely united around the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as its core, comprehensively carry out Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and make the “Two Establishments” our ideological, political and practical consciousness to ensure the “Two Safeguardings”, to take new looks and make new achievements on our new journey in this new era.

We should better understand the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments” from the perspectives of ideological originality, revolutionary practice, progressive breakthrough, and symbolic achievements, so that we can forge up our political fidelity to the Party, enhance our political, overall and core consciousness of the need to keep in alignment, continuously improve our political judgement, perception and executive force, and consciously stay in line with the core leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as its core in ideology and politics. We ideologically should trust the core, love and hold the core in high esteem, politically safeguard the core, organizationally obey the core, and follow the core in action all the time. All our conducts are subject to the command of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee. We should become a conscious believer and loyal practitioner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, stay steadfast in using this thought, the contemporary Marxism in China in the 21st century, to make up our mind, guide our practice and make progress in our undertakings.

The great undertakings of the CPC and the Chinese people need the CPC members to fight continuously generation after generation, so we must pay more attention to a matter of fundamental importance—worthy successors. Colleges and universities represent the frontline for ideological and political education of the young, for they are responsible for learning, researching into and publicizing Marxism, cultivating qualified constructors and reliable successors with complete virtue, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and hard-work strengths for the undertaking of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to educate people, the Party’s ideal and belief to gather people, the core socialist values to cultivate people, and the historical mission of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to motivate people, so as to bring up a group of successors who are capable of shouldering the burdens in this era. Renmin University of China is the very first new type of university founded by the Communist Party of China, bearing our distinctive red gene. We shall accurately grasp our own responsibilities and missions, bearing in mind the “great undertaking of the nation”, safeguarding, promoting and explicating the “Two Establishments”, so that we can theoretically, emotionally and ideologically understand the “Two Establishments”, and their decisive significance to the undertakings of the CPC and the Chinese nation in this new era and the historical progress of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, guiding the youth to get close to the Party, and planting the seeds of the Party’s ideal and belief in the heart of many young students so that we can see them taking roots, sprouting, flowering and bearing fruits in the future.

(Initially published on the People’s Daily—Theoretical, Dec. 3, 2021)