Practice the “Two Integrations” and Lay the Groundwork for Development

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is a century-old party. It is also the largest governing party in the world. Among the socialist movements worldwide, no party has ever achieved what the CPC achieved. It’s so huge, yet so united, brimming with vitality after all sorts of setbacks, creating miraculous achievements in China and leading the process of human civilization.

Why is the CPC so capable? Why is socialism with Chinese characteristics good? In this regard, the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC offered an incisive answer. At the fundamental level, Marxism works, particularly when it is adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of our times. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology, upon which our Party and our country are founded and thrive.

The reason why Marxism works is that it reveals the general patterns of the objective world, especially the general laws governing the development of human society. It provides us a scientific worldview and methodology for understanding and shaping the world. The reason why localized and modernized Marxism in China works is that it reflects the characteristics of the times and takes root in China, which bestows the scientific truth of Marxism with new vitality.

It is precisely the fact that Marxism works, particularly when it is adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of our times, that laid a solid foundation for the CPC’s success. So how does the CPC engage in theoretical innovation, and adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times?

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out that only by integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and fine traditional culture, and only by applying dialectical and historical materialism, can we provide correct answers to the major questions presented by the times and discovered through practice, and can we ensure that Marxism always retains its vigor and vitality.

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important remark on the “Two Integrations”profoundly reveals Marxism’s realistic path and inherent law behind its innovation and development in China. First, the “Two Integrations”summarized the experience of the localization and modernization process of Marxism in China and the laws it followed. It is precisely because the CPC insists on proceeding from the concrete reality of China, and draws from fine Chinese traditional culture, that Marxism took root in China and continued to enrich and develop, resulting in a series of great achievements in the localization and modernization of Marxism in China, and providing scientific and theoretical guidance for the cause of the Party and the country.

Second, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest theoretical achievement of the “Two Integrations”. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has led the Party and the people in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities, and clearly emphasizing the need to strengthen cultural confidence, rolled out a series of major decisions promoting innovative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture.

The world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century, the mission and task shouldered by our Party on the new journey is arduous, the risks are complex and severe, bringing new challenges to the Party’s governance of the country, while posing new and higher requirements for theoretical innovation. We should fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, adhere to the “Two Integrations” more consciously, and constantly promote theoretical innovation based on practice.

There is no end to practice or theoretical innovation, we should actively advocate and practice the “Two Integrations”, and write a new chapter on the localization and modernization of Marxism in China, shoulder up the historical mission and sacred duty of the CPC.