Deng Xiaoping—A Great Son of the Chinese People

The 16th issue of Qiushi Journal in 2024 published an article by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, emphasizing the need to continuously advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics initiated by Deng Xiaoping.

According to the article, Deng Xiaoping was a remarkable leader with high prestige recognized by the entire Party, the military, and all the Chinese people. He was also a great Marxist, proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, and diplomat, as well as a long-tested communist fighter; he was the chief architect of China’s socialist reform, opening up and modernization drive, the pioneer of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as the main founder of Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s birth coincides with the time when the Party, the military, and all the Chinese people are thoroughly studying and implementing the guiding principles of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. At this very moment, to commemorate his great achievements and learn from his noble conduct is of vital importance for us to closely rally around the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, and build a great country and advance national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

The life of Deng Xiaoping is closely linked to the founding and development of the CPC, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and the People’s Republic of China. It is also closely connected to the great endeavors of China’s revolution, construction, and reform as well as the Chinese nation’s struggle, independence, and revitalization. It is commonly acknowledged that Deng’s life was one of glory, bravery, and greatness.

The contributions of Deng Xiaoping to the Party and the people could be valued from both historical and global perspectives, which not only changed the destiny of the Chinese people but altered the course of world history. This can be seen clearly when we look back at the path we have taken, compare it with other countries’ paths, and look forward to the path ahead.

In his glorious life dedicated to the tireless struggle for the Chinese people, Deng Xiaoping fully demonstrated noble aspirations, broad mind, extraordinary courage, and revolutionary demeanor of a true communist, which made him worthy of the prestigious title of “a great son of the Chinese people.” Deng’s great achievements and noble conduct will always be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese people, inspiring us to forge ahead on the new journey in the new era. 

The most important ideological and political legacy left to us by Deng is the socialism with Chinese characteristics he pioneered along with the Party and the people, and the Deng Xiaoping Theory he founded. Deng Xiaoping Theory is the product of combining Marxism-Leninism’s basic tenets with practice in contemporary China and the particular features of the era; it is a continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought under new historical conditions; it represents a new stage for the development of Marxism in China; it is the Marxism of contemporary China and a crystallization of CPC’s collective wisdom.

To achieve modernization is the goal our Party has been striving for over a hundred years. Embodying the lifelong efforts of revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, this cause was handed over to us by old revolutionaries as their unfulfilled wish. Now, the best way to commemorate Deng Xiaoping for us is to steadfastly implement the major arrangements made at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and make unremitting efforts and do solid work to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Editor: Yi Xiaowei