Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2018

On the Spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress

(Abstract)

Han Qingxiang, Chen Shuguang, Zhang Yibin, Cai Fang,

Wang Liming and Xie Chuntao

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The 19th CPC National Congress is a meeting of great importance taking place at a critical moment in the decisive stage of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The Congress shoulders the great mission of our times: linking the past and the present, it builds on past achievements and sets a new course for the future. It has great historical significance for our continuing to strive for the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new historical context. Professors Han Qingxiang and Chen Shuguang, from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, hold that correct understanding of China’s new orientation is the logical prerequisite to understanding the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The important judgment in the Report to the 19th Congress that “socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era” has a solid historical grounding. The “three implications” are the fundamental signs that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era; the “five aspects” of our great cause—the goal of our struggle, the people’s happiness, national rejuvenation and our contribution to mankind—encapsulate the main goals of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era; achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the historical mission and task of the times; and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the guide for the era. A representative to the 19th CPC National Congress and Professor at Nanjing University, Zhang Yibin, holds that it is only from the theoretical heights of philosophical epistemology and methodology that we can truly gain an in-depth grasp of the originality and profound historical influence of the Marxist thought in the Report to the 19th Congress. This is embodied in a deep understanding of the Report’s heights of strategic thinking from the perspective of Marxist philosophy; a deep appreciation of the two major political judgments in the Report from the perspective of understanding the laws of history; a deep understanding of the immediate premises of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era from the perspective of the theory of contradictions; a deep appreciation the fundamental aim of the Thought from the theoretical heights of the masses as the makers of history; a deep understanding of the new vision of development of the Thought from the perspective of world outlook; and an earnest appreciation of the great practical significance of the Thought for constructing a Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength from the perspective of fine traditional Chinese culture. Cai Fang, a CASS Research Fellow, holds that forty years of experience in reform and opening up has provided economics with rich materials in terms of retrospection and summing up; analysis of experience; and refinement of theory. However, a prevailing research paradigm for accounting for these successes has taken the form of theoretical interpretations and assessments that fit the criteria of neoclassical economic theories and discourse. The 19th Congress stresses that the Chinese economy is making the transition from a stage of rapid growth to one of high-quality development. We need to start out from Chinese realities and stand firm on a mode of thought that unites historical and theoretical logic; this will help us elucidate the interrelationships and driving logic behind the progress of reform and opening up and promote the advance of the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation on a solid basis of practice. Professor Wang Liming of Renmin University of China holds that the Report to the 19th Congress shows Law-based governance is an essential requirement and important guarantee for socialism with Chinese characteristics; it represents a yet deeper understanding of the rule of law in the new era. At the level of the rule of law, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society is the discrepancy between the unbalanced and inadequate development of the rule of law and the masses’ aspirations for it. To realize the grand blueprint for the construction of the rule of law depicted in the Report, the fundamental objective in terms of the value orientation of the rule of law in the new era is the achievement of a better life for the people; the overall objective of the rule of law in the new era is to construct a Chinese rule of law system and a rule of law nation; and in terms of method, the important mission of the construction of the rule of law in the new era is to use good laws to ensure good governance. A representative to the 19th CPC National Congress and Professor at the Party School of the Central Committee, Xie Chuntao, holds that the Report to the 19th Congress specifies China’s new historical orientation; defines the Party’s guiding thought for the new era; lays down new developmental strategies and dispositions; puts forward the overall demands on Party-building for the new era; provides an effective guarantee for the achievement of the struggle for the two centenary goals and for developing China into a great modern socialist country in terms of politics, thought, organization, and practice; and is the program for action and fundamental compliance for the Party to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.