Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 271
Actively seize historical initiative through theory.
“Theoretical cultivation is the core of the comprehensive quality of Party members and cadres. Theoretical maturity is the foundation for political maturity, and political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity.” For Party members and cadres, fostering a fine academic ethos and strengthening theoretical training are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides all its lawyers with learning opportunities in the form of micro-party classes, thereby enhancing their ideological and political awareness as well as their spirit of learning and inquiry. By establishing a long-term educational mechanism, the firm has created a new platform for self-education and self-improvement.
Possessing and mastering the ideological weapon of Marxist scientific theory is the key to seizing historical initiative and achieving new, even greater victories. Over the course of more than a century of struggle, Chinese Communists have continuously advanced the sinicization and modernization of Marxism, enabling the Chinese nation and the Chinese people to shift from passivity to initiative in spirit. Looking ahead, fulfilling the mission of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization absolutely requires the guidance of scientific theory at every moment.
Being guided by the scientific theory of Marxism is the very foundation upon which our Party firmly upholds its faith and convictions and seizes the initiative in history. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The reason why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good ultimately boils down to the fact that Marxism works—and more specifically, that Marxism adapted to Chinese conditions and the times works.” This statement fully demonstrates that taking the theoretical initiative is the most fundamental kind of initiative. First, Marxism, with its scientific nature and truthfulness, reveals the laws of history; adhering to Marxist guidance in practice is a prerequisite for grasping the general trend of history. Since its founding, our Party has consistently upheld Marxist guidance, enabling us to align ourselves with the overarching trends of historical development, formulate correct strategies and tactics, and lead the people to continuously achieve great victories in revolution, construction, and reform. Second, Marxism answers the question of who are the true creators of history; once the theory is mastered by the masses, it can truly unite the people. It is precisely because the Communists of China have thoroughly upheld the Marxist view of history centered on the masses and continuously used the developing Marxism to arm the masses that they have continually unleashed the tremendous power of the Chinese people to create great historical achievements.
The practice of the new era fully demonstrates the logical thread by which our Party takes the initiative in theory to grasp the initiative in history.
Our Party has entered the new era with a bright prospect of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; yet it has also entered the new era burdened with a series of long-accumulated, salient contradictions and problems. Moreover, we have stepped into this new era precisely as we face the risks and challenges posed by a global transformation of unprecedented magnitude in a century.
Where the world is headed and where China should go both require theoretical answers from contemporary Chinese Communists.
Faced with unprecedented questions from China, the world, the people, and the times, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of original new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for governing the country, thereby establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—a comprehensive and rigorous scientific theoretical system.
Since the advent of a new era, guided by the scientific principles of this thought, our Party has united and led people of all ethnic groups across the country to grasp the general trend of history, manage complex situations, and steer reform and development, continuously achieving historic accomplishments and undergoing historic transformations in all undertakings of the Party and the state.
The new era and the new journey call upon us to further uphold theoretical initiative and seize historical initiative.
Practice has no end, and theoretical innovation has no end either.
On the path forward, we must steadfastly uphold the principle of taking the initiative in theory to seize the initiative in history, harness the power of thought to inspire and fuel our drive for progress, and forge ahead with vigor and determination, united in our efforts. Only then can we create new glories for the new era and accomplish new historic feats.
Upholding and developing Marxism is the fundamental principle underlying our Party’s commitment to theoretical initiative.
“Proactive” means acting without waiting for external forces to push you, thereby creating a favorable situation and ensuring that things proceed according to your own intentions.
Theoretical initiative refers to a political party’s proactive approach to theoretical guidance—that is, a political party possesses ideological and theoretical frameworks that guide its own practice and continuously enriches and develops these theoretical ideas through practical experience.
The Communist Party of China is a political party guided by Marxism. Our Party upholds theoretical initiative and consistently uses Marxism to guide Chinese practice, continuously deepening our understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development.
Specifically, on the one hand, our Party adheres to Marxism as its guiding ideology and consistently employs dialectical materialism and historical materialism to analyze and address the major issues raised by the times and practice. On the other hand, we integrate the fundamental principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s outstanding traditional culture, continuously advancing the sinicization and modernization of Marxism, thereby ensuring that Marxism always maintains its vigorous vitality and dynamic energy.
Continue to advance the “two combinations,” enhance our capacity to grasp historical laws and promote historical progress, and constantly drive our great cause toward new and greater victories.
The “two combinations” profoundly reveal the theoretical characteristics of Marxism and scientifically elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying its innovative development in China.
On the new journey ahead, on the one hand, we need to promote the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities, adhere to a practical approach in everything we do, clearly recognize the stage-specific characteristics of China’s development, accurately assess the evolving global situation, and thoroughly understand the practical issues facing reform and opening-up and socialist modernization in the new era. Only by achieving such “integration” that is grounded in reality and consistent with objective laws can we produce theoretical achievements that keep pace with the times and better guide China’s practice.
On the other hand, we need to promote the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s outstanding traditional culture, firmly uphold our historical and cultural confidence, persist in innovating while drawing on the past, and continuously imbue scientific theory with distinct Chinese characteristics. This will help ensure that Marxism is loved, recognized, and embraced by the Chinese people, and enable it to take firm root in China.
Uphold and effectively apply the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods embodied in the “Six Musts,” harnessing the power of thought to inspire and propel forward momentum.
The 20th National Congress of the Party summarized Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’s worldview, methodology, and the underlying stance, viewpoints, and approaches through “six musts”: we must uphold the people-centered approach; we must uphold self-confidence and self-reliance; we must uphold upholding the correct principles while promoting innovation; we must uphold a problem-oriented approach; we must uphold a systemic perspective; and we must uphold a global vision.
The “Six Musts” constitute an organic whole that is interconnected and internally unified, fully demonstrating the Communist Party of China’s conscious application and innovative development of the Marxist worldview and methodology. They profoundly reveal the theoretical character and distinctive features of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
On this new journey, we must uphold and effectively apply the “Six Musts,” continuously opening up new horizons for the sinicization and modernization of Marxism in the great practice of the new era.
At the same time, we must continuously advance our practice by adhering to the “Six Musts,” consciously applying a scientific worldview and methodology to analyze problems and guide our work, and strive vigorously to achieve new victories in fully building a modern socialist country.
For over a century, the Chinese Communists have consistently upheld theoretical initiative, infusing Marxism with vitality and dynamism through creative Chinese practice. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Party, Chinese Communists in the new era have steadfastly adopted a developmental perspective toward Marxism, promoting its integration with China’s specific realities and with China’s outstanding traditional culture. They have continuously advanced theoretical innovation grounded in practice, ensuring that Marxism remains firmly rooted in Chinese cultural soil, closely connected to China’s actual conditions, and responsive to the challenges of our times—thus opening up new horizons for contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century. History and practice both tell us that adhering to Marxism and developing Marxism are one and the same. Only by constantly driving theoretical innovation based on practice can we maintain theoretical initiative and always stand on the right side of history.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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