(Source: "Qiushi" 2024 Issue 10 2024-05-15)

The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing from November 9 to 12, 2013. The plenary session was chaired by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee, delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang

一

Reform and opening up is a key move that determines the fate of contemporary China. It is also a key move that determines the realization of the "Two Centenary Goals" and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Our key move now is reform and opening up. There is no end to practical development, there is no end to emancipating the mind, there is no end to reform and opening up, and there is no way out for stagnation and retrogression. Nowadays, there are many contradictions and difficulties in promoting reform, but it will not work without reform. We must have the courage to adhere to the correct direction of reform and opening up, dare to bite hard bones, dare to venture into dangerous shoals, have the courage to break through the obstacles of ideological concepts and the barriers of solidified interests, so that reform and opening up will not stop.

(Speech while inspecting work in Guangdong from December 7 to 11, 2012)

二

Reform and opening up is a profound revolution, and we must adhere to the right direction and advance along the right path. The direction determines the road, and the road determines the destiny. The key to the great success of my country's reform and opening up is that we regard the party's basic line as the lifeline of the party and the country, and always insist on unifying the two basic points of economic construction as the center, the four basic principles, and reform and opening up in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We neither follow the old path of isolation and rigidity nor the evil path of changing flags. Reform and opening up must have the courage to emancipate the mind, but emancipating the mind has a direction, a stance, and principles, so reform and opening up also has a direction, a stance, and principles. Some people define reform and opening up as changing in the direction of Western "universal values" and Western political systems. Otherwise, there is no reform and opening up. This is a misinterpretation of our reform and opening up. It cannot be generally said that China's reform is lagging behind in some aspects. In some aspects and at a certain period, there may be things that are faster or slower, but overall there is no clear picture of which aspects of China's reform have changed and which aspects have not. The essence of the problem is what should be changed and what should not be changed. Some things cannot be changed and will not be changed no matter how long it takes. We cannot learn to walk in Handan. The world is developing and society is progressing. Failure to implement reform and opening up will lead to a dead end, and pursuing "reform and opening up" that denies the direction of socialism will also lead to a dead end. We must be very clear-headed when it comes to direction. Our direction is to continuously promote the self-improvement and development of the socialist system, rather than change the socialist system. We must adhere to the Four Basic Principles, the foundation of our country, and not only use the Four Basic Principles to ensure the correct direction of reform and opening up, but also give the Four Basic Principles a new era connotation through reform and opening up, eliminate all kinds of interference, and unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(Speech delivered at the second collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on December 31, 2012)

On October 14, 2020, the celebration meeting for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was grandly held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the meeting. This is the afternoon when Xi Jinping came to Lianhuashan Park and laid a flower basket to the bronze statue of Comrade Deng Xiaoping. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye

三

Insist on improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities as the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reforms. Comrade Deng Xiaoping proposed in 1992 that it will take another 30 years before we can form a more mature and stereotyped system in all aspects. Based on Comrade Deng Xiaoping's strategic thinking, this plenary session proposed to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities. This is an inevitable requirement for improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and a necessary necessity for realizing socialist modernization. The reason why we decided to study the issue of comprehensively deepening reform at this Third Plenary Session is not to promote reform in one field, nor to promote reform in several fields, but to promote reform in all fields. This is from the overall perspective of the national governance system and governance capabilities.

(Speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on November 12, 2013)

four

The people are the creators of history and our source of strength. The most fundamental reason why reform and opening up has won the heartfelt support and active participation of the broad masses of the people is that we have made the cause of reform and opening up deeply rooted among the people from the very beginning. The plenary session's decision summarized the valuable experience accumulated through reform and opening up. A very important one of them is to emphasize the need to put people first, respect the people's dominant position, give full play to the initiative of the masses, and rely closely on the people to promote reforms. Without the support and participation of the people, no reform can be successful. No matter what difficulties and challenges we encounter, as long as we have the support and participation of the people, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome and no obstacles that cannot be overcome. We must implement the party's mass line, have a heart-to-heart relationship with the people, share weal and woe with the people, and work in unity with the people.

To promote any major reform, we must grasp and handle major issues related to the reform from the standpoint of the people, and we must plan reform ideas and formulate reform measures based on the interests of the people. Wang Fu of the Han Dynasty said: "The movement of the roc is not the lightness of a feather; the speed of the Qiji is not the strength of a foot." That is to say, the soaring roc does not rely on the lightness of a feather; the rapid running of a horse does not rely on the power of a foot. If China wants to fly high and run fast, it must rely on the strength of its 1.3 billion people.

In the process of comprehensively deepening reforms, when encountering interest issues that are complex and difficult to weigh, we must seriously think about the actual situation of the people. What are the people expecting? How to protect the interests of the masses? Are the masses satisfied with our reforms? To improve the scientific nature of reform decision-making, it is very important to listen extensively to the opinions and suggestions of the masses, promptly summarize the fresh experiences created by the masses, fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the masses to promote reform, gather the wisdom and strength of the vast majority of the people into the reform, and advance the reform together with the people.

(Speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on November 12, 2013)

五

To uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must constantly adapt to the development of social productive forces, adjust production relations, and constantly adapt to the development of the economic base and improve the superstructure. Over the past 35 years of reform and opening up, my country's economic and social development has made significant achievements. The fundamental reason is that we have stimulated the development vitality of social productive forces by constantly adjusting production relations, and adapted to the requirements of economic basic development by constantly improving the superstructure. It is for this purpose that we carry out reform of the economic system, reform of the political system, cultural system, social system, ecological civilization system and party building system.

We propose to carry out comprehensive and deepening reforms in order to adapt to the changes in the basic contradictions of our society and promote social development. The basic contradictions in society are always evolving, so adjusting production relations and improving the superstructure need to be continued accordingly. I have said that there is no end to practical development, there is no end to emancipating the mind, and there is no end to reform and opening up. Reform and opening up can only be ongoing, not completed. This is the attitude of historical materialism.

(Speech delivered at the 11th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on December 3, 2013)

Six

When we considered the topics of the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, we proposed to formulate a plan for comprehensively deepening the reform, instead of just focusing on the reform of the economic system, or only focusing on the reform of the economic system and social system. This consideration is because in order to solve the outstanding contradictions and problems we face, it is difficult to rely solely on reforms in a single field or at a single level. Top-level design and overall planning must be strengthened to enhance the relevance, systematicness, and synergy of various reforms. Only by solving the problems of incompatibility in the production relations and in the superstructure can a comprehensive effect be produced.

At the same time, we also highlighted the need to focus on economic construction and give play to the leading role of economic system reform. This means that we must grasp the main aspects of the basic contradictions in our country's society at this stage, with the focus on development. Only by arranging all aspects of reform closely around the top priority of development, and providing strong impetus for reform by liberating and developing social productive forces, can we better promote the adaptation of production relations and productivity, and the superstructure and economic base. The practice since my country's reform and opening up has fully proved that by firmly liberating and developing social productive forces, we can provide a strong impetus for reforms in other aspects and influence the corresponding advancement of reforms in other aspects.

(Speech delivered at the 11th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on December 3, 2013)

seven

Deepening reforms in a country like China with a population of more than 1.3 billion is by no means easy. After more than 30 years of reform, China has entered deep water. It can be said that the easy reform that everyone is happy with has been completed. All the delicious meat has been eaten, and the rest are hard bones. This requires us to be bold and steady. You have to be bold, you have to move forward even if the reform is difficult, you have to have the courage to take on responsibilities, you have to have the courage to chew hard bones, and you have to have the courage to wade through dangerous shoals. The pace must be steady, that is, the direction must be accurate, the driving must be steady, and especially you must not make subversive mistakes.

(Answers during an exclusive interview with Russian TV on February 7, 2014)

eight

What direction should we take to modernize the national governance system and governance capabilities? This is a fundamental question that must be answered well. To consider this issue, we must fully understand and grasp the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reforms, which is a whole composed of two sentences, namely, improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities. There is a question about the relationship between the previous sentence and the next sentence. The previous sentence stipulates the fundamental direction. Our direction is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, not any other path. That is what I often say, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, neither the old path of isolation and rigidity, nor the evil path of changing flags. The latter sentence stipulates a clear direction for improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics under the guidance of the fundamental direction. It is complete if you say both sentences. It would be incomplete and incomplete to only talk about the second sentence without mentioning the first sentence.

(Speech delivered at a special seminar on comprehensively deepening reforms for main leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels on studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on February 17, 2014)

Nine

All regions and departments must firmly establish a sense of the overall situation and a sense of responsibility, regard reform as a major political responsibility, strengthen their determination and confidence in reform, and enhance their ideological consciousness and action consciousness to promote reform. They must be both reform promoters and reform doers. They must grasp the implementation of reforms with a nail-driving spirit, seize key points, make precise efforts, dare to gnaw hard bones, stare at them, and repeatedly grasp them until they achieve results.

(Speech at the 21st meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms on February 23, 2016)

十

Insist on comprehensively deepening reforms. Only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can develop China, socialism, and Marxism. We must uphold and improve the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, continuously promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities, resolutely eliminate all outdated ideological concepts and institutional shortcomings, break through the barriers of solidified interests, absorb the beneficial achievements of human civilization, build a system that is complete, scientific and standardized, and effectively operated, and give full play to the superiority of our country's socialist system.

(Report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 18, 2017)

On December 18, 2018, a meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up was held grandly in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the conference. This is Xi Jinping applauding to congratulate the commended personnel. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi

Eleven

The Chinese people have a great dream spirit, and the Chinese nation is full of reform and openness. Thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Chinese nation upheld the spirit of "Although Zhou was an old state, its destiny was restored" and started the great practice of creating Chinese civilization. Since ancient times, there have been countless reforms and movements to strengthen China, leaving behind heroic declarations such as "Government is not done according to one's own way, and the country's interests are not governed by the past." Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has confidently and magnanimously carried out exchanges and cultural exchanges with ethnic groups outside the region with the broad mind of "university under heaven" and "harmony among all nations". It once composed the grand song of the Silk Road with thousands of miles of camel bells and thousands of miles of waves, and also created the prosperous Tang Dynasty where the clothes of all nations were in peace. It is this spirit of change and openness that "the heaven moves vigorously, the gentleman strives for self-improvement" and "the terrain is strong, the gentleman carries it with virtue", which has made the Chinese civilization the only splendid civilization in human history that has lasted for more than 5,000 years without interruption. From the perspective of thousands of years of history, change and opening up are generally the historical norm of China. The Chinese nation continues to move toward the future with its reform and opening up attitude, which has far-reaching historical origins and profound cultural foundation.

(Speech at the conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up on December 18, 2018)

Twelve

The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party was epoch-making, ushering in a new historical period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was also epoch-making, ushering in a new era of comprehensively deepening reforms and advancing reforms through overall system design, creating a new situation in my country's reform and opening up. We have pushed forward the comprehensive deepening of reform with unprecedented determination and intensity. We have cracked many hard bones and overcome many rapids. The reform has been fully launched, with multiple breakthroughs and in-depth advancement. The main framework of reform in major areas has been basically established, which has effectively promoted the development of various undertakings.

(Speech at the summary meeting on deepening the reform of party and state institutions on July 5, 2019)

Thirteen

Reform and opening up in the new era has many new connotations and characteristics. One of the important points is that system construction is more important. The reform faces more deep-seated institutional and mechanism problems. The requirements for the top-level design of the reform are higher. The requirements for the systemic, holistic and collaborative nature of the reform are stronger. Accordingly, the tasks of establishing regulations and building systems are heavier. When planning to comprehensively deepen reforms in the new era, we must adhere to and improve the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities as the main axis. We must deeply grasp our country's development requirements and the trend of the times, place institutional construction and governance capability building in a more prominent position, continue to deepen the reform of systems and mechanisms in all fields and aspects, promote all aspects of systems to become more mature and stereotyped, and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities.

(October 28, 2019 "Explanation on the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues to Uphold and Improve the Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics and Promote the Modernization of the National Governance System and Governance Capacity")

Fourteen

Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has used unprecedented determination and intensity to break through the shackles of ideological concepts, break through the barriers of solidified interests, resolutely eliminate the shortcomings of systems and mechanisms in all aspects, actively respond to risks and challenges brought about by changes in the external environment, and start a vigorous and magnificent reform process. The goals and tasks set by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China have been fully advanced. The basic institutional framework in various fields has been basically established. Historical changes, systematic reshaping, and overall reconstruction have been achieved in many fields. This has laid a solid foundation for promoting the formation of a complete, scientific and standardized institutional system that operates effectively, making all aspects of the system more mature and finalized, and comprehensively deepening reforms to achieve historic achievements. We must strengthen our confidence in reform, gather synergy for reform, make persistent efforts, forge ahead with determination, and promote greater breakthroughs and greater achievements in reform in the new stage of development.

Looking back at the reform work over the years, we can see that the series of innovative theories we have proposed, the series of major measures we have taken, and the series of major breakthroughs we have achieved are all revolutionary, creating a new situation in which reform and opening up has promoted historic achievements and changes in various undertakings of the party and the country.

(Speech at the 17th meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensive Deepening Reforms on December 30, 2020)

Fifteen

Insist on deepening reform and opening up. We will deepen reform and innovation, unswervingly expand opening up, strive to break down deep-seated institutional obstacles, continuously demonstrate the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously enhance the power and vitality of socialist modernization, and better transform our country's institutional advantages into national governance effectiveness.

(Report at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 16, 2022)

Sixteen

We must make good use of the key strategy of reform, adhere to the direction of socialist market economic reform, strengthen reform system integration, coordination and efficiency, consolidate and deepen the reform results in solving institutional obstacles, mechanical obstructions, and innovative policies, and achieve new breakthroughs in important areas and key links.

(Speech at the First Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on October 23, 2022)

The Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing from February 26 to 28, 2023. This is Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and others on the rostrum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi

Seventeen

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed a series of major reform measures. This is a major strategic deployment made by the Party Central Committee to comprehensively deepen reforms in the new era and new journey. We must closely focus on the goal of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, launch a number of strategic, creative, and leading reforms, strengthen the integration, coordination and efficiency of the reform system, and achieve new breakthroughs in important areas and key links. It is necessary to uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, further deepen the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises, and improve the competitiveness of state-owned enterprises; optimize the development environment of private enterprises, enhance confidence in the development of the private economy, and promote the development and growth of private enterprises. Improve the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics, build a high-standard market system, improve the macroeconomic governance system, give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and better play the role of the government. Strengthen and improve modern financial supervision, strengthen the financial stability guarantee system, and regulate and guide the healthy development of capital in accordance with the law. Promote high-level opening up to the outside world, steadily expand institutional opening up such as rules, regulations, management, and standards, and promote the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" with high quality. While focusing on promoting the reform of the economic system, we must coordinate and plan reforms in the fields of education, science and technology, talent, politics, rule of law, culture, society, ecology, national security and party building. Focus on improving the reform implementation mechanism, promote the implementation of reform measures to achieve results, continuously demonstrate the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, continuously enhance the power and vitality of socialist modernization, and better transform our country's institutional advantages into national governance effectiveness.

(Speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on February 28, 2023)

Eighteen

This year is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It is also the 45th anniversary of reform and opening up and the 10th anniversary of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. To achieve the goals and tasks of the new era and new journey, we must comprehensively deepen reform as the fundamental driving force for promoting Chinese-style modernization and as an important starting point for stabilizing the overall situation, adapting to the situation, and starting a new game. We must keep the right direction, keep integrity and innovate, work hard, and write a new chapter of reform and opening up on the new journey.

(Speech at the first meeting of the 20th Central Committee for Comprehensive Deepening Reforms on April 21, 2023)

From April 22 to 24, 2024, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Chongqing. On the afternoon of the 22nd, Xi Jinping visited the Chongqing Science and Technology Innovation and Industrial Development Achievements Exhibition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye

Nineteen

We must further deepen reform and opening up. Reform and opening up is an important magic weapon for contemporary China to make great strides to catch up with the times. It is a key move that determines the success or failure of Chinese modernization. To advance Chinese-style modernization, we must further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, continuously liberate and develop social productive forces, and liberate and enhance social vitality. We must conform to the new trends of the times, new requirements for practical development, and new expectations of the people, and with strong determination to reform to the end, we must be serious, dare to confront tough situations, make precise, coordinated and sustained efforts, and resolutely remove all institutional obstacles that restrict the smooth advancement of Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the economic system, give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, better play the role of the government, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, build a unified national market, improve the macroeconomic governance system, stimulate the vitality of various business entities, and accelerate the formation of systems and mechanisms conducive to high-quality development. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the science and technology system, give full play to the advantages of the new national system, strengthen the national strategic science and technology strength, strengthen the main position of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, optimize the allocation of innovation resources, strive to break through key core technologies, and promote the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance. It is necessary to coordinately promote reforms in various fields such as the cultural system, social system, and ecological civilization system, and continuously inject new impetus into Chinese-style modernization in an all-round way.

(Speech at the symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Comrade Mao Zedong on December 26, 2023)

Twenty

Production relations must adapt to the requirements of productivity development. To develop new productive forces, we must further comprehensively deepen reforms and form new production relations that are compatible with them. New productivity requires not only advanced planning guidance and scientific policy support from the government, but also market mechanism regulation and continuous innovation by micro entities such as enterprises. It is jointly cultivated and driven by the "visible hand" of the government and the "invisible hand" of the market. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the reform of the economic system, science and technology system, etc., strive to open up the blockages that restrict the development of new productive forces, establish a high-standard market system, innovate the allocation of production factors, and allow all kinds of advanced and high-quality production factors to flow smoothly to the development of new productive forces. At the same time, we must expand high-level opening up to the outside world and create a good international environment for the development of new productive forces.

(Speech at the 11th collective study session of the 20th Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on January 31, 2024)

From March 18 to 21, 2024, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Hunan. On the morning of the 19th, Xi Jinping had a cordial exchange with shopkeepers and tourists while inspecting Changde River Street. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye

Twenty-one

Comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, and continue to enhance the endogenous power and vitality of development. It is necessary to plan major measures to further comprehensively deepen reforms and continue to inject strong impetus into promoting high-quality development and promoting Chinese-style modernization. We must focus on building a high-level socialist market economic system, deepen market-oriented reform of factors, build a high-standard market system, and accelerate the improvement of basic market economic systems such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, and social credit. It is necessary to continuously improve and implement the "two unwavering" systems and mechanisms, effectively remove obstacles that restrict private enterprises from participating fairly in market competition, support the development and growth of the private economy and private enterprises, and stimulate the endogenous motivation and innovative vitality of various business entities. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the science and technology system, the education system, and the talent system, and strive to clear up the blockages that restrict the development of new productive forces. It is necessary to increase institutional opening up, continue to build a market-oriented, legalized, and international first-class business environment, and create new advantages for a higher-level open economy.

(Speech delivered during the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 5, 2024)

Twenty-two

To further deepen the reform in an all-round way, we must highlight the problem orientation and focus on solving the stuck problems that restrict the construction of a new development pattern and the promotion of high-quality development, the painful and difficult problems in the development environment and people's livelihood fields, and the hot issues that are contrary to social fairness and justice, effectively prevent and resolve major risks, and continuously add power and vitality to economic and social development.

(Speech during the inspection in Hunan on March 21, 2024)

This is an excerpt from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition from December 2012 to March 2024 on comprehensively deepening reform and opening up and continuing to inject strong impetus into Chinese-style modernization.

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