Confidence in the Path, Theory, System and Culture

“Four matters of confidence” for short. The concept of “Four confidence” was developed as in the following process: In 2012, the report of the 18th CPC National Congress proposed that “the whole Party should strengthen “confidence in its path, confidence in its theory and confidence in its system”. In 2014, during the 13th collective study of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, Xi Jinping proposed to “enhance confidence in our culture and values”. In 2016, at the commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping clearly stated that to “persist in remaining true to our original aspiration and continuing to move forward”, the Chinese communists are to adhere to the “Four matters of confidence”, namely, “confidence in its path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, confidence in its theory, confidence in its system and confidence in its culture”.

Confidence in the path refers to the conscious confidence in contemporary China’s path of socialism in the process of great national rejuvenation. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to achieve socialist modernization and the only way to create a better life for the people. Confidence in its theory is truthful confidence in Marxism for contemporary China’s theoretical innovations. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a correct theory that guides the Party and the people to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

It is a scientific theory that stands at the forefront of the times and keeps pace with the times. Confidence in its system is the understanding and recognition of the realization and innovation through the socialist system with Chinese characteristics in contemporary China. The socialist system with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental institutional guarantee for the development and progress of contemporary China. It is an advanced system with distinctive Chinese characteristics, obvious institutional advantages and strong self-improvement capabilities. Confidence in its culture is a more basic, broader, and deeper confidence, a firm confidence that fully recognizes and affirms the excellent traditional Chinese culture and the advanced socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and its vitality. Only by adhering to confidence the path can we ensure that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics becomes a realistic path to achieve the “two centenary” goals; only by adhering to confidence in the theoretical system of Socialism can we ensure that the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics becomes a guide for action. Only by adhering to confidence in its system can we make the socialist system with Chinese characteristics become more mature and more stereotyped, providing a more effective system guarantee for the new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics; only by adhering to confidence in its culture can we ensure the progress of the spiritual civilization of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by adhering to the “Four confidences” can we continue in advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.