Excerpts From Talks Given in Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanghai

Deng Xiaoping visited Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanghai between January 18 to February 21, 1992 and made speeches which are generally known as Southern Talks; contained in Vol. 3 of Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping. Due to the confusion of some cadres and the masses at that time in the face of complex domestic and international situations, the talks reiterated the necessity and importance of deepening reform and accelerating development, and from the perspective of China's reality, standing at the height of the times, Deng Xiaoping profoundly summed up the experiences and lessons of Reform and Opening-up over the past ten years, and put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, new judgments, and expounded on a series of major theoretical and practical issues thus opened up a new realm of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Talks were divided into six parts:

(1) Sticking to the Party's Basic Line. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that revolution means the emancipation of the productive forces, and so does reform. The overthrow of the reactionary rule of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism helped release the productive forces of the Chinese people. This was revolution, so revolution means the emancipation of the productive forces. After the basic socialist system has been established, it is necessary to fundamentally change the economic structure that has hampered the development of the productive forces and to establish a vigorous socialist economic structure that will promote their development. In upholding the line, principles and policies formulated since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, it is essential to adhere to the principle of “one central task and two basic points”. Deng Xiaoping emphasized that " If we did not adhere to socialism, implement the policies of reform and opening to the outside world, develop the economy and raise living standards, we would find ourselves in a blind alley. We should adhere to the basic line for a hundred years, with no vacillation. That is the only way to win the trust and support of the people.

(2) If we don’t have the pioneering spirit, if we’re afraid to take risks, if we have no energy and drive, we cannot break a new path, a good path, or accomplish anything new. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that the reason some people hesitate to carry out the reform and the open policy and dare not break new ground is, in essence, that they’re afraid it would mean introducing too many elements of capitalism and, indeed, taking the capitalist road. The crux of the matter is whether the path is capitalist or socialist. “The chief criterion for making that judgement should be whether it promotes the growth of the productive forces in a socialist society, increases the overall strength of the socialist state and raises living standards.” Concerning the relationship between planning and market, Deng Xiaoping said: “The proportion of planning to market forces is not the essential difference between socialism and capitalism. A planned economy is not equivalent to socialism, because there is planning under capitalism too; a market economy is not capitalism, because there are markets under socialism too. Planning and market forces are both means of controlling economic activity.” Deng Xiaoping clearly pointed out that the essence of socialism is liberation and development of the productive forces, elimination of exploitation and polarization, and the ultimate achievement of prosperity for all. To take the path to socialism is to realize common prosperity step by step. Our plan is as follows: where conditions permit, some areas may develop faster than others; those that develop faster can help promote the progress of those that lag behind, until all become prosperous. If the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer, polarization will emerge. The socialist system must and can avoid polarization. When talking about “Left” and “Right”, Deng Xiaoping emphasized that: At present, we are being affected by both Right and “Left” tendencies. But it is the “Left” tendencies that have the deepest roots. Some theorists and politicians try to intimidate people by pinning political labels on them. That is not a Right tactic but a “Left” one. “Left” tendencies have a revolutionary connotation, giving the impression that the more “Left” one is, the more revolutionary one is. China should maintain vigilance against the Right but primarily against the “Left”.

(3) If we are to seize opportunities to promote China’s all-round development, it is crucial to expand the economy. Deng Xiaoping said: “If we are to seize opportunities to promote China’s all-round development, it is crucial to expand the economy.” In developing the economy, we should strive to reach a higher level every few years. Development is the absolute principle. He emphasized: “Since we have the necessary domestic conditions and a favourable international environment, and since under the socialist system we have the advantage of being able to concentrate our forces on a major task, it is now both possible and necessary for us to bring about, in the prolonged process of modernization, several periods of rapid growth with good economic returns. We must have this ambition.” Deng Xiaoping emphasized that rapid development of the economy can only be based on science, technology and education. Science and technology are a primary productive force. We must promote science, for that is where our hope lies.

(4) There are two tasks we have to keep working at: On the one hand, the Reform and Opening-up process, and on the other, the crackdown on crime. We must be steadfast with regard to both. In combating crime and eliminating social evils, we must not be soft. He emphasized that throughout the process of Reform and Opening-up, we must combat corruption. Cadres and Party members should consider it of prime importance to build a clean government. Still, we should rely on the legal system, which is more reliable. Deng Xiaoping also emphasized that throughout the process of reform and opening, we must also adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles. The rampant spread of bourgeois liberalization may have grave consequences. It has taken the special economic zones more than ten years to reach the present stage. They can collapse overnight. Collapse is easy, but construction is difficult. If we don’t nip bourgeois liberalization in the bud, we may find ourselves in trouble. One of the basic concepts of Marxism is that the socialist system must be defended by the dictatorship of the proletariat. It is right to consolidate the people’s power by employing the force of the people’s democratic dictatorship. There is nothing wrong in that. It will take a very long historical period to consolidate and develop the socialist system, and it will require persistent struggle by many generations, a dozen or even several dozens. We can never rest on our oars.

(5) The implementation of the correct political line must be ensured by a correct organizational line. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that imperialists are pushing for peaceful evolution towards capitalism in China, placing their hopes on the generations that will come after us. Therefore, we must educate the army, persons working in the organs of dictatorship, the Communist Party members and the people, including the youth. If any problem arises in China, it will arise from inside the Communist Party. We must keep clear heads. We must pay attention to training people, selecting and promoting to positions of leadership persons who have both ability and political integrity, in accordance with the principle that they should be revolutionary, young, well educated and professionally competent. This is of vital importance to ensure that the Party’s basic line is followed for a hundred years and to maintain long-term peace and stability. It is crucial for the future of China. When talking about formalism, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that formalism is a kind of bureaucratism. When talking about studying the theory of Marxism-Leninism, he emphasized that In studying Marxism-Leninism we must grasp the essence and learn what we need to know. Marxism is the irrefutable truth. The essence of Marxism is seeking truth from facts. That’s what we should advocate, not book worship. The reform and the open policy have been successful not because we relied on books, but because we relied on practice and sought truth from facts.

(6) Full confidence in Marxism and Socialism. Deng Xiaoping said: “I am convinced that more and more people will come to believe in Marxism, because it is a science.” Feudal society replaced slave society, capitalism supplanted feudalism, and, after a long time, socialism will necessarily supersede capitalism. This is an irreversible general trend of historical development, but the path has many twists and turns. Some countries have suffered major setbacks, and socialism appears to have been weakened. But the people have been tempered by the setbacks and have drawn lessons from them, and that will make socialism develop in a healthier direction. So don’t panic, don’t think that Marxism has disappeared, that it’s not useful anymore and that it has been defeated. Nothing of the sort! Deng Xiaoping emphasized that we shall push ahead along the path to Chinese-style socialism. The key points of the talk are the scientific summary of the Party's theory and line from the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, the profound answers to many major cognitive problems that have long constrained people's thinking, and another declaration of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts to push the Reform, Opening-up and modernization construction to a new stage.