Forty-third Collective Study of the Political Bureau of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee

On September 29, 2017, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC conducted the 43rd collective study on the thought trend of Marxism in the contemporary world and its influence. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the study and delivered an important speech. He pointed out that studying the world’s Marxist trend of thought in the contemporary world will play a positive role in promoting the Sinicization of Marxism in China and development of Marxism in 21st century and contemporary Chinese Marxism.

Times are changing and society is developing, but the basic principles of Marxism are still scientific truths. Although the era we live in has undergone great and profound changes compared with that of Marx, from the perspective of 500 years of socialism in the world, we are still in the historical era specified by Marxism. This is the scientific basis for us to maintain firm confidence in Marxism and our belief that socialism will certainly prevail. Marxism is the foundation of the towering tree for the continuous development of our Party and the people's cause, and the source of the thousands of miles of rivers where our Party and people continue to forge ahead. If we deviate from or abandon Marxism, our Party will lose its soul and its direction.

On the fundamental issue of adhering to the guidance of Marxism, we should be firm and not vacillate at any time and under no circumstances. Basing ourselves on the characteristics of the times, we should promote the modernization of Marxism, make better use of Marxism to observe, interpret and lead the times, truly understand the new issues brought to the fore by the contemporary times, and profoundly grasp the context and trend of world history. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the Reform and Opening-up, China has undergone through profound changes, the Chinese people who are exposed to this great historical change are more qualified and able to reveal the historical experience and the law of development contained therein, thus can make China’s original contribution to the development of Marxism.

To have such a theoretical consciousness, and more importantly to have such theoretical self-confidence, it is necessary to base ourselves on the reality of our country, take what we are doing as the center, listen to the aspirations of the people, timely respond to practical needs, and thoroughly advance the theorization of the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to better realize the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of contemporary China, and at the same time, we should also broaden our horizons, absorb all the advanced achievements of human civilization, and constantly innovate and develop Marxism. The world pattern is in the process of accelerating its evolution, giving rise to a large number of profound and complex practical issues, and brings to the fore a large number of theoretical issues that need to be urgently answered.

This requires us to strengthen the study of contemporary capitalism, analyze and grasp its various changes and their essence of these changes, and deepen our understanding on the laws of the profound and complex changes in capitalism and international political and economic relations.

One of the most important features of the world’s contemporary world Marxist trend of thought is that many of its branches them have critically revealed the structural contradictions of capitalism, as well as the contradictions in of the mode of production, among classes and within the society, besides they have made an in-depth analysis of the capitalist crisis, the evolution process of capitalism, and the new form and essence of capitalism. These viewpoints put forward by them help us to correctly understand the development trend and the destiny of capitalism, accurately grasp the new changes and new features of contemporary capitalism and deepen our understanding of the prospects in the development trend of contemporary capitalism. We should pay close attention to and study the new achievements of foreign Marxist studies, analyze and distinguish them, neither adopt a totally exclusive attitude nor copy them wholly. At the same time, we should insist on doing our own affairs well, developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, strengthening our comprehensive national strength and fully demonstrating the superiority of our socialist system. We should take Marxism as our own skills, think about and grasp a series of major problems facing the future development with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective, constantly improve the Party's ability to analyze and solve practical problems by using Marxism, and constantly use scientific theory to guide us to meet major challenges and resist heavy loads, resist major risks, ability to overcome major resistance and resolve major contradictions.

We should persevere in arming our minds with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism in China, concentrate on our souls, firmly adhere to the Party's Marxist convictions and communist ideals, and constantly improve the theoretical thinking ability and ideological and political level of the Party, especially the leading cadres.

Leading cadres, especially senior cadres, should take the lead in learning, in creatively studying classical Marxist works, study Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Representatives" and the “Scientific Outlook on Development”, and learning the new ideas and strategies of the new idea of governing the country and government of the Party Central Committee. They should study deeply, persistently and assiduously. In order to better uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, we should transform scientific thought and theory into a powerful material force to understand and transform the world. He emphasized that our Party is a party armed with Marxism, which is the soul of the ideals and beliefs of our Communists. In order to develop Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism in the 21st century, we should base ourselves on China and open our eyes to the world, maintain the theoretical character of keeping pace with the times, deeply understand the significance of the times and practical significance of Marxism, persevere in promoting the Sinicization, modernization and popularization of Marxism, so that it can radiate a more brilliant light of truth.