A Major Principle for Further Deepening Reform

The article by the Executive Council of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) was published in the 23rd issue of Qiushi Journal in 2024. It explains that upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is a major principle that must be firmly upheld in further deepening reform.     

General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the opening of a seminar for provincial and ministerial level officials on studying and implementing guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. In this speech, he stressed that upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is a major principle that must be firmly upheld in further deepening reform. This conclusion unveils the underlying logic and internal laws of deepening reform, and fully demonstrates the political wisdom and sense of responsibility of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, providing essential guidance for further deepening reform in the new era.

Further deepening reform has its own direction and principles. As the prerequisite and foundation for reform and innovation, to uphold the fundamental principles means never swaying in our commitment. In the new era, it specifically entails upholding the Party’s overall leadership, Marxism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and people’s democratic dictatorship, with pursuing greater social fairness and justice and increasing wellbeing of the people as ultimate objectives. All of these actually embody the nature and purpose of the Party, conform to China’s national conditions, and are in line with the fundamental interests of the people. With vital and far-reaching implications, they must be followed at any time or under any circumstances.

Where changes are necessary and feasible, we must carry out reform decisively. Upholding the fundamentals serves as the precondition and cornerstone for making innovation, while the latter injects new vitality into the former. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has stated, “Only by upholding fundamental principles can we avoid losing our bearings or making catastrophic mistakes. And only by breaking new ground can we meet the call of the day and shape the trends of our times.” The key to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is to balance the dialectical relationship between the changing and the constant, inheritance and development, and principles and innovation. We should respect objective laws while seizing historical initiative, demonstrating both the strong determination and the courage to innovate and overcome challenges.

In further deepening reform through upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, we recognize that this endeavor represents an extensive and profound social transformation, as well as a historical process of inheritance, development and innovation. It necessitates scientific methodologies, concrete actions, consensus on reform, and emphasis on the effectiveness of reform. In doing so, we can ensure that our modernization drive forges ahead against the odds to secure development and progress.

Editor: Yi Xiaowei