The theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics

The 12th CPC National Congress in 1982 put forward the idea of "building socialism with Chinese characteristics by integrating the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete reality of China."

The 13th CPC National Congress in 1987 emphasized that building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the second historic leap in the process of combining Marxism with practice in China following the realization of the first one after China found its path in the New-Democratic Revolution.

The 14th CPC National Congress in 1992 pointed out that the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics systematically answers for the first time the basic questions of how to build, consolidate and develop socialism in a country like China that is comparatively backward economically. Employing new thinking and ideas, the theory carries forward and develops Marxism.

The theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics has the following main features:

Regarding the way to develop socialism, it stresses that China should follow its own path instead of copying foreign models, take Marxism as the guide and proceed from reality with practice as the sole criterion of truth.

Regarding the development stage of socialism, it offers a scientific thesis that China is still at the primary stage of socialism. It emphasizes that as this is a long historical stage that will span at least role. This is attributed to the fact that the CPC corresponds to the trend of advanced productive forces, advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of people in China.

The "Three Represents" mirror the practical requirements for realizing the general objectives of the new great project of Party building. The 15th CPC National Congress held in 1997 set forth the general objectives of a new project for accelerating Party building in an all-round way in the face of the new century. It pointed out that the project is designed to make the CPC a Marxist political party that is armed with Deng Xiaoping Theory, that serves the people wholeheartedly, that is completely consolidated ideologically, politically and organizationally, that can withstand all trials and tribulations, that is always at the forefront of the times and leads the people of the country in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Jiang Zemin has stressed that the "Three Represents" further clarify the direction of efforts in realizing the general objectives of Party building under the new historical circumstances.

Jiang's "Three Represents" theory is a new summary of the nature, purpose and historical tasks of the CPC, a new development in the Marxist Party-building theory and a new demand on CPC organizations at all levels and on its members under new circumstances.

Jiang said the key to handling China's concerns well lies with the CPC. And, as long as the CPC unswervingly represents the development trend of advanced productive forces, the orientation of advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China, it can remain invincible, win wholehearted support from people of all ethnic groups and lead the people to make steady progress.

100 years, all principles and policies must be based on this basic national condition and may not diverge from this reality and transcend the stage.

Regarding the fundamental task of socialism, it deems it the nature of socialism to liberate and develop productive forces, eliminate exploitation, do away with polarization and eventually achieve common prosperity. It maintains that the main contradiction in Chinese society is between the growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward productive forces. Thus top priority must be given to the development of productive forces so as to accelerate all-round social progress with economic development at the core. All in all, work in all fields should be judged according to whether it contributes to developing the productive forces of a socialist society, whether it is conducive to enhancing comprehensive national strength, and whether it helps to improve the people's standard of living. It also holds that science and technology are the primary productive forces and that economic development must rely on scientific and technological progress and improvements in the competence of laborers.

Regarding the driving force in the development of socialism, it stresses that as a revolution aimed at liberating productive forces, reform is the only way leading to modernization in China. The objective of economic restructuring is to establish and perfect the socialist market economic structure that is dominated by public ownership and the concept of distribution based on work and supplemented by other forms of ownership and distribution. Reform of the political system aims at developing socialist democratic politics through improving the people's congress system and the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation. In coordinating reform and development of the economic and political system, it is imperative to promote socialist cultural and ethical progress so that citizens will have high ideals, moral integrity, a good education and a strong sense of discipline.

Regarding the external conditions for building socialism, it maintains that peace and development are the main themes of the present world and an independent foreign policy of peace must be pursued to create a favorable international environment for China's modernization drive. It stresses that opening up is vital to reform and development. Advanced achievements created by every country in the world, including developed capitalist countries, should be absorbed and used in developing socialism. Isolation can only lead to backwardness.

Regarding the political guarantees for building socialism, it highlights the four cardinal principles - the socialist road, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. It deems the four principles to be the foundation underlying the efforts to build the country and the guarantee of the sound development of reform, opening up and the modernization drive.

Regarding the steps for building socialism, it puts forward a three-step formula for basically realizing modernization, that is, doubling the 1980 GNP by 1990, doubling the 1990 GDP and achieving modest level of prosperity by 2000, and reaching the level of moderately developed countries in the middle of the 21st century.

Regarding the forces leading and supporting socialism, it holds that as the vanguard of the working class, the CPC is the core of leadership of the socialist cause. The CPC must adapt to the needs of reform, opening up and the modernization drive, improve and strengthen leadership over work in various fields, and enhance party building.

Regarding reunification, it stands for the creative formula of "one country, two systems." The basic idea of this formula is that on the premise of one China, the main part of China sticks to the socialist system while Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan may retain the current capitalist system for a long time to come, and the great cause of national reunification should be promoted in accordance with this principle.