Hold High the Great Banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and Comprehensively Advance the Cause of Building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics into the 21st Century

Contained in the Selected Works of Jiang Zemin Vol. 2. Jiang Zemin's report at the 15th National Congress of the CPC on behalf of the 14th Central Committee on September 12, 1997. The full report is divided into ten parts: (1) Looking back and looking ahead at the turn of the century; (2) The past five years' work; (3) The historical position and guiding significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory; (4) The basic line and platform for the primary stage of socialism; (5) Economic restructuring and economic development strategy; (6) Implementing political restructuring and strengthening democracy and the legal system; (7) Building socialist culture with Chinese characteristics; (8) Promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland; (9) The international situation and our foreign policy; (10) The CPC’s status faced by the new century.

The report uses the concept of “Deng Xiaoping Theory” for the first time, expounds the historical position and guiding significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, and further summarizes the Deng Xiaoping Theory. It is pointed out “Experience demonstrates that Deng Xiaoping Theory, which is a continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought, is the correct theory for guiding the Chinese people in accomplishing socialist modernization through Reform and Opening-up. In present-day China, only Deng Xiaoping Theory, which integrates Marxism with the practices of contemporary China and the characteristics of the times, can determine the future and destiny of socialism. Deng Xiaoping Theory is Marxism for today's China, and a new stage of development of Marxism.

Based on Deng Xiaoping's theory and basic line, the report further clarified and expounded on the basic program of the primary stage of socialism. It emphasized that this platform is an important component of Deng Xiaoping Theory and an elaboration of the Party's basic line in respect to economic, political and cultural fields and encapsulates the major lessons we have learned over the past years. Based on these ideas, the report of Jiang Zemin has provided a comprehensive plan for the near future and the 21st century, in respect to develepment; Reform and Opening-up and modernization construction, and general design of "three-step" development strategy for the first 50 years of the 21st century. The report scientifically clarifies the connotation of “the dominant status” of public ownership. The state-owned economy should the lifeline of the national economy and play a leading role in economic development. Under these conditions, a slight reduction in the proportion of state-owned economy sector will not affect the socialist nature of our country. For the first time, the report identified the issue of governing the country by law and building a socialist country governed by law as the basic strategy for the Party to lead the people in governing the country. The report pointed out that the key to pushing our cause forward into the 21st century is to uphold, strengthen and improve the leadership of the Party and further improve its construction. The report made a comprehensive plan for the cross century development of the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, called on the whole Party and the people of all nationalities to work together and push the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century.