Eleventh Collective Study of the Political Bureau of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee

On December 3, 2013, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee conducted the Eleventh collective study on the basic principles and methodology of historical materialism. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the study and delivered a speech. He pointed out that Marxist theory profoundly reveals the general law of the development of the objective world, especially the development of human society, it still has strong vitality in the current era and continues to be the powerful ideological weapon for guiding communists to make progress. Both history and reality demonstrate that only by adhering to historical materialism can we continue to deepen our understanding of the law of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and constantly open up new realms for contemporary Chinese Marxism. We must study and master the method of basic social contradictions analysis, and deeply grasp the significance and urgency of all-round and deeper-level reform. We must study and grasp the viewpoint that material production is the foundation of social life, and accurately grasp the important link of all-round and deeper-level reform. We must study and grasp the view that the people are the creators of history, and rely on the people to advance reforms. He emphasized that the whole Party should be driven to study the basic principles and methodology of historical materialism, so as to better understand the country’s conditions, the development trend of the Party and the country, the law of historical development, and in order to push all kinds of work more actively. Leading cadres at all levels, especially senior cadres, should originally study Marxist classics in a down-to-earth way, strive to use Marxist philosophy as their housekeeping skills, strengthen ideals and convictions, adhere to the correct political direction, improve strategic thinking ability, comprehensive decision-making ability, and overall control ability and unite and lead the people to continuously write a new chapter in the history of Reform and Opening-up. The members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee who have participated in the study, and had a discussion on relevant issues.