Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era is a scientific summary of the Party's theoretical innovations made since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The main founder of this thought is Comrade Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the inheritance and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the “Three Represents” and the Scientific Outlook on Development. It is the latest achievement of Marxism in China, the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people. It is an important part of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and an action guide for the whole Party and the people throughout the country to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, changes both in and outside China, and the progress made in all areas of China’s endeavors, have presented us with a key issue of the times, that is, what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should we uphold and develop in a systematic way that combines the theory with practice in the new era and how should we go about doing it. In answering this question, our Party has adopted an entirely new perspective to deepen its understanding of the laws that underlie governance by a communist Party, socialist construction, and the evolution of human society. It has worked hard to undertake theoretical explorations, and has achieved major theoretical innovations, ultimately giving shape to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Its core essence is:

(1) It makes clear that the overarching goal of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is to realize socialist modernization and national rejuvenation, and, that on the basis of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, a two-step approach should be taken to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the century.

(2) It makes clear that the principal contradiction facing Chinese society in the new era is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life. We must therefore uphold our people-centered development philosophy, and work to promote the well-rounded human development and common prosperity for everyone.

(3) It makes clear that the overall plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the five-sphere integrated plan, and the overall strategy is the four-pronged comprehensive strategy. It highlights the importance of fostering stronger confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(4) It makes clear that the overall goal of deepening reform in every field is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China’s governance system and capacity.

(5) It makes clear that the overall goal of comprehensively advancing law-based governance is to establish a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and build a country of socialist rule of law.

(6) It makes clear that the Party’s goal of building a strong military in the new era is to build the people’s forces into world-class forces that obey the Party’s command, can fight and win, and maintain excellent conduct.

(7) It makes clear that the major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics aims to foster a new type of international relations and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

(8) It makes clear that the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the CPC leadership; the greatest strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics is the CPC leadership; the Party is the highest force for political leadership. It sets forth the general requirements for Party building in the new era and underlines the importance of political work in Party building.

The basic policy of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era is not only an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, but also a practical requirement for adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It mainly includes: ensuring Party leadership over all work, committing to a people-centered approach, continuing to comprehensively deepen reform, adopting a new vision for development, seeing that the people run the country, ensuring every dimension of governance is law-based, upholding socialist core values, ensuring and improving living standards through development, ensuring harmony between human and nature, pursuing a holistic approach to national security, upholding absolute Party leadership over the people’s armed forces, upholding the principle of “one country, two systems” and promoting national reunification, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party.

In October 2017, the 19th CPC National Congress officially put forward the scientific concept of the “Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology that the Party must uphold for a long time.