On May 25, the 110th lecture of “Hundred Lectures on Core Values” co-sponsored by the Publicity and Education Bureau of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Guangming Daily was held in Kunming, Yunnan province. Hao Lixin, researcher at the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of Renmin University of China and distinguished professor of the Yangtze River Scholars Program of the Ministry of Education, delivered a speech entitled “The 100-Year History of the CPC and the Innovative Development of the Party’s Guiding Ideology”, and interacted with the audience and netizens on related issues.

Experts’ opinions:

This year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China. Practice has proved that Marxism is a powerful ideological weapon to seek the truth, understand the world and its laws, and transform it, and the fundamental guiding theory for both the Party and the country. It is precisely with Marxism as the guiding ideology that the CPC has specified objectives and tasks. The CPC led the Chinese people in overcoming many difficulties and travelling an extraordinary 100-year journey, which won great admiration all over the world. In this process, the CPC has always adhered to the scientific truth of Marxism as its guiding ideology, surmounted all difficulties and obstacles and made great strides forward. In this context, the Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation, from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.

The Party’s centennial history is the history of advancing with the times and innovative development.

The salvoes of Russia’s October Revolution in 1917 sent Marxism-Leninism to China. After its founding in 1921, with the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with the realities of China’s revolution and development, the CPC united the Chinese people and led them in waging a fierce struggle with unyielding determination to secure victory in the new democratic revolution and socialist revolution, developed socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and carried out the arduous exploration of socialist construction to create Mao Zedong Thought. Mao Zedong Thought is the first great leap in combining Marxism and China’s reality. On the one hand, it has made a great exploration of the Chinese revolutionary path, answering the question of the times: how to pioneer the Chinese revolutionary path and where is China heading to. On the other hand, it has explored ways of China’s development, addressing the fundamental question of what kind of socialism we should build.

The CPC has always been able to maintain vigor and vitality and stand at the forefront of the times. This is because it has constantly engaged in continuous innovation of its guiding ideology. Since the reform and opening-up, the CPC has united the Chinese people and led them in the great endeavors of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, in pursuing a great struggle, a great project, a great cause, and a great dream. All the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the country have touched every area and broken new ground; the changes in China have been profound and fundamental. In this way, China has made great strides and caught up with the times. In this process, the party’s guiding ideology has innovated and developed in the great practice, and Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are the results.

The Defining Feature and Significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

As the Marxism of contemporary China and in the 21st century, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era represents the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. The 19th National People’s Congress adopted An Amendment to the CPC Constitution and this major political principle has been enshrined in the CPC Constitution.

Focusing on the myriad challenges facing China and the world today. It has considered carefully the new conditions of the era and the new requirements of practice, and adopted an entirely new perspective to deepen its understanding of the laws that underlie governance by a Communist party, the development of socialism, and the evolution of human society. It has systematically answered fundamental issues like the overarching objectives, tasks, plan, and strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, enriched and developed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Aiming at fulfilling the aspiration of the Chinese people for a better life. The unwavering goal of the Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people, which has been practiced in the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To realize common prosperity for all people and well-rounded human development is the concrete manifestation of the people-centered philosophy and putting people first.

Based on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era have been fostered and developed in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promoted the development of Marxism in the 21st century in the constructive interaction between practical innovation and theoretical innovation.

Rooted in the fine traditional Chinese culture. It has highlighted the importance of fostering stronger confidence. Cultural confidence represents a fundamental and profound force that sustains the development of a country and a nation. It has attached great importance to drawing upon and carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture, and promoting the creative evolution of fine traditional culture.

Guided by basic tenets of Marxism, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has scientifically answered the big questions of the new era. Based on China’s national context，it has had an acute analysis of the current situation and challenges facing China and the world under the new historical conditions, comprehensively summarized the practical experience of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, specified the ways and means by which the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can be achieved, and wrote a new chapter in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, keeping it up-to-date, and enhancing its popular appeal.

Only by consistently following the guide of Marxism can the Party continue to score success. In a new era, Chinese Communists should strengthen their awareness of the need to study harder Marxism Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Chinese Communists should study and integrate these guiding ideologies with reality, turn the scientific ideology into powerful material forces to understand the world and its laws, and transform it, and write a new chapter in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The event was hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Kunming Municipal Committee, the Political and Legal Committee of the Kunming Municipal Party Committee, the Office of Kunming Municipal Commission for guiding cultural and ethical progress and Guang Ming Online (GMW), and broadcast live on GMV, Guangming Daily app, and GMV’s Sina Weibo. More than 230 cadres and the masses listened to the lecture on site, 1.221 million netizens across the country watched the program, and 94,000 netizens participated in interactions through Weibo and forums.

Text source: Guangming Daily, May 26, 2021, fourth page