2. Xi on culture II

Signed article in People’s Daily: General Secretary leads us to write a new chapter of modern civilization for the Chinese nation

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 7 – People’s Daily signed article on October 8: The General Secretary leads us to write a new chapter of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

People’s Daily reporters: Wen Hongyan, Yang Xuebo, Xu Qing and Song Jingsi

Civilization is a symbol of the progress of a country and a nation. For more than five thousand years, Chinese civilization has been like a majestic river, rushing forward in a mighty way. It has gone through ups and downs, endured vicissitudes, and written a colorful chapter in the history of human civilization.

“During this period, I have been thinking about the major issue of promoting the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” On June 2 this year, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed “building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” “Civilization” is a major issue, and the major judgment that “Chinese-style modernization is the new destiny of the Chinese nation and will surely promote the restoration of Chinese civilization’s glory” is like a navigation beacon for us to continue to promote cultural prosperity and prosperity from a new starting point. It provides fundamental guidelines for building a culturally powerful country and building a modern civilization for the Chinese nation.

The best inheritance of history is to create new history; the greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has united and led the people of all ethnic groups in the country to adhere to the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific reality and with China’s excellent traditional culture, unite struggle and thinking, and inherit the glory. and dreams have activated the strong vitality of Chinese civilization, and the party and the country have made historic achievements and undergone historic changes.

Follow the great road to reach thousands of miles. On the new journey of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for cultural construction with firm cultural awareness, broad historical vision, and far-reaching strategic considerations, leading the creative transformation of Chinese culture. , innovative development, promoting the continuous prosperity of Chinese culture and the everlasting Chinese civilization, and writing a new chapter of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation in the process of promoting Chinese-style modernization.

“Chinese-style modernization gives Chinese civilization modern power, and Chinese civilization gives Chinese-style modernization a profound foundation.”

The Chinese civilization has gone through many vicissitudes and has been passed down from generation to generation. It is the only great civilization in the world that has lasted continuously and developed in the form of a country to this day. The five outstanding characteristics of continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peace have jointly shaped the overall characteristics of Chinese civilization and formed a broad and profound system of values ​​and civilization.

In September 2020 at Yuelu Academy in Changsha, at Zhuxi Garden in Wuyishan in March 2021, at Sansu Temple in Meishan in June 2022, and at Yinxu in Anyang in October 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected and investigated along the way, thinking deeply along the way: “If not What are the Chinese characteristics of China’s five thousand years of civilization? If it were not Chinese characteristics, how could we have such a successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics today?”

General Secretary Xi Jinping examines Chinese civilization from the new era and new journey, and observes Chinese modernization from the historical coordinates of Chinese civilization. “Chinese-style modernization is a modernization that continues ancient civilization, not a modernization that eliminates ancient civilization; it is a modernization that grows from the land of China, not a copy of the modernization of other countries; it is the result of civilization renewal, not the product of civilization rupture.”

The five thousand years of Chinese civilization have provided strong spiritual support for Chinese modernization and highlighted the cultural connotation of Chinese modernization:

The people-oriented thinking of “the people are the foundation of the country, and the foundation is the foundation of the country”, paving the way for “modernization with a huge population”;

The governance philosophy of “governing a country starts with enriching the people” is in line with “modernization that promotes common prosperity for all people”;

The governance experience of “education after getting rich” provides support for “modernization that harmonizes material civilization and spiritual civilization”;

The ancient wisdom of “harmony between man and nature” and “taking things in moderation” complement each other with “modernization of harmonious coexistence of man and nature”;

The long tradition of “harmony without uniformity” and “being kind to neighbors” has made “modernization on the path of peaceful development” a consensus.

If you understand the historical depth of Chinese civilization, you will be able to better understand the unique advantages of Chinese modernization based on its own national conditions, Chinese characteristics, and its own culture.

China’s excellent traditional culture has enriched the cultural life of Marxism, making it show an increasingly distinctive Chinese style and style; Marxism has activated the genes of Chinese civilization with the light of truth and promoted the renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization. The clear assertion that “the country is the people, and the people are the country”, the clear requirement of “discovering and developing the truth in practice, and using practice to realize the truth and test the truth”, and the clear requirement of “let the results of modernization benefit more and more equitably all the people” The persistent pursuit... demonstrates the modern flavor and vitality of Chinese civilization, makes Chinese civilization unique and realizes the leap from tradition to modernity.

Once upon a time, the concept of “well-off society” proposed by ancient sages and sages was the ideal social state pursued by the Chinese nation since ancient times, but it was only a beautiful vision that existed in ancient books and classics.

Today, through the continuous struggle of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups, we have achieved the first centenary goal and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China. A thousand-year dream has come true today.

In the past, people with lofty ideals wrote the modernization plan of “building 1.6 million kilometers of roads, about 160,000 kilometers of railways, three world-class seaports, and building the Three Gorges Dam.” However, at that time, the country was humiliated, the people suffered, and civilization was covered in dust, and the blueprint failed to come to fruition. become reality.

Today, railways enter Qinghai-Tibet, highways are densely networked, high gorges lead out of Pinghu Lake, ports are connected to the five oceans, industrial categories are diverse, rice and wheat are fragrant everywhere, Shenzhou flies into space, and national defense is stronger, far beyond what was originally imagined.

In the past, scholars of all ages had an insight into the rise and fall of chaos and chaos, but could not find an answer beyond the historical cycle rate.

Today, after a century of struggle, especially new practices since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has given the second answer of “self-revolution” on the basis of the first answer of “letting the people supervise the government” .

After more than 5,000 years of inheritance and development of Chinese civilization, more than 180 years of the Chinese nation’s decline to prosperity in modern times, more than 100 years of struggle led by our Party in leading the people to carry out the great social revolution, more than 70 years of continuous exploration since the founding of New China, and 40 years of reform and opening up. Years of great practice, many people’s long-cherished wishes, and countless historical questions have clear answers today.

“Promote the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization and ecological civilization”

Modernization is a comprehensive development process including economy, politics, culture, society, ecology, etc., and is a significant symbol of the development and progress of human civilization.

General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared to the world at a conference celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China: “We adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization, and ecological civilization, and create Chinese-style modernization The new path creates a new form of human civilization.”

Development is the basis for the progress of human civilization and the material condition for the improvement of civilization.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has been thinking and planning about what kind of development and how to achieve China in the new era.

From proposing that our country’s economy is in a “three-phase superposition” period to proposing a “new normal”; from proposing a “new development concept” to proposing “strengthening supply-side structural reform”; from proposing “building a domestic macro-cycle as the main body, “A new development pattern in which domestic and international dual cycles promote each other” to proposing that “high-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way”; from proposing that “no one can be left behind in building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way” to proposing “common prosperity for all people” “Modernization”...

Today, our country’s economy has shifted towards high-quality development, and the achievements of material civilization have continued to emerge, laying a solid foundation for Chinese modernization. Hundreds of millions of people are working harder and harder, and they are more confident and confident in comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.

Democracy is a common value for all mankind and a distinctive feature of modern political civilization.

In November 2019, at the Gubei Civic Center, Hongqiao Street, Changning District, Shanghai, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the Chinese and foreign residents who participated in the consultation meeting for opinions and suggestions on the draft law. He profoundly pointed out that “we are following a path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, and the people Democracy is a whole-process democracy.” The sincere words reveal the characteristics and advantages of China’s socialist democratic politics.

Looking back at history, our party created the People’s Congress system and the political consultation system, which are deeply related to the people-oriented thinking of Chinese civilization, the concept of world-wide governance, the governance tradition of “republic” and “consultation”, and the political wisdom of “inclusiveness, seeking common ground while reserving differences” ; We have established the form of a unitary state, implemented a system of regional ethnic autonomy, conformed to the general development trend of the Chinese nation of inward cohesion and pluralism, and inherited the great unification tradition of Chinese culture that nine states share common ground, six six states share the same style, and four seas are one family.

“Everyone in the world has the same goal but different paths, and unity has many considerations.” China did not follow the old Western path, but created a Chinese-style modernization path; China did not copy the Western democratic model, but created a Chinese-style democracy. “There are many ways to achieve democracy, and they cannot all be the same. It is undemocratic in itself to measure the world’s rich and colorful political systems with a single yardstick, and to examine the colorful political civilization of mankind with a monotonous eye.” General Secretary Xi Jinping thought deeply.

“The broadest, most authentic, and most effective democracy.” In today’s China, democracy has changed from a value concept to an institutional form and governance mechanism rooted in the land of China. More than 1.4 billion people enjoy unprecedented rights and dignity. The trend of the times is vast. The true meaning and value of people’s democracy in the whole process will surely be promoted and sublimated in the rolling torrent of human civilization and progress.

The rejuvenation of a nation requires strong material strength as well as strong spiritual strength.

The large-scale historical document series “Fuxing Library” published before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China echoes the cultural tradition of compiling scriptures in the prosperous times and compiling books in Taiping; in the Pingjiang Historical and Cultural District in the northeastern corner of the ancient city of Suzhou, the historical and cultural heritage complements the modern life of the residents. ; The dance drama “Only Green”, performed from “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”, uses the classic colors of oriental aesthetics to unfold the picturesque Chinese landscape... Tradition and modernity shake hands, history and the present blend, and the “Chinese culture” “A pool of spring water” was activated, showing a prosperous atmosphere of “delightful and elegant”.

Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. In the past ten years of the new era, the spirit and charm of China’s excellent traditional culture, the vigor and excitement of revolutionary culture, and the prosperity of advanced socialist culture have been integrated in the great practice of the new era, providing a more proactive and more comprehensive way to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. For powerful spiritual power.

Emphasizing that “cultural self-confidence is a more basic, broader and deeper self-confidence”, it is clear that “to comprehensively build a modern socialist country, we must adhere to the development path of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and enhance cultural self-confidence”, pointing out that “continue to promote Cultural prosperity, building a culturally powerful country, and building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation are our new cultural missions in the new era.” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new thoughts, new perspectives, and new judgments on cultural construction inject solid foundation into the continuous Chinese cultural context. , The ideological power of establishing roots and forging souls has boosted the ambition, backbone and confidence to inherit and develop Chinese civilization.

The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation requires the all-round development of people.

Replacing backwardness with progress and eradicating poverty with prosperity are the general trend of history and the moral imperative of human civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the people-centered development concept and launched a series of pioneering measures to promote common prosperity and achieve fairness and justice, and firmly grasp the people’s most immediate concerns and most important issues. Regarding practical interests, we should focus on solving the urgent, difficult and anxious problems of the people, so that the people’s sense of gain, happiness and security will be more substantial, more secure and more sustainable.

Common prosperity is not only material wealth, but also spiritual wealth. It is the lofty pursuit of Chinese-style modernization. Today, the core socialist values ​​that contain the ancient wisdom of “everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world” and “continuous self-improvement and virtue” have gradually been internalized into people’s spiritual pursuits and externalized into people’s conscious actions. The Chinese spirit, China The value and strength of China continue to be demonstrated. The Chinese people have shown unprecedented historical initiative and gathered the spiritual strength of self-confidence, self-reliance and self-improvement.

The construction of ecological civilization is a fundamental plan related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

“Harmonious coexistence between man and nature” is a distinctive feature and essential requirement of Chinese modernization. It comes from the essence of the long-standing Chinese civilization and continues the roots of civilization of “harmony between man and nature” and “Tao follows nature”.

“Three hundred miles into the sky, the whole sky is green.” In July this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Jiange County, Sichuan to inspect Cuiyun Corridor, walked along the ancient road to observe the growth of thousand-year-old cypresses, and asked in detail about the history of cypress planting and protection.

There are more than 12,000 cypress trees planted on both sides of Cuiyun Corridor’s more than 300 miles of roads, making it the largest artificial ancient Berlin in the world.

“The Cuiyun Corridor is truly breathtaking!” the general secretary said with emotion, “You can get a lot of inspiration and unearth a lot of meaning here, and you must have awe of nature.”

The historical outlook of “the prosperity of ecology will lead to the prosperity of civilization”, the natural outlook of “adhering to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature”, the development outlook of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”... General Secretary Xi Jinping has a series of iconic, innovative and strategic The major ideas and viewpoints contain not only the profound wisdom of ancient Chinese civilization, but also the characteristics of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

Chinese-style modernization abandons the Western capital-centered modernization, polarized modernization, materialist expansion modernization, and external expansion and plunder modernization, and represents the development direction of human civilization and progress.

In the new era, China is prosperous and colorful. The coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization, and ecological civilization has profoundly reshaped the development pattern of human civilization and demonstrated the great progress of human civilization.

“As a new form of human civilization, Chinese-style modernization will learn from other civilizations around the world and will greatly enrich the garden of world civilization.”

“Before they go out to see the world after the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s, China can already look at the world.” During the National Two Sessions in 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s words were deeply moved.

Where does the confidence to “look at the world” come from? The Chinese civilization has endured for thousands of years and endured many hardships. This is the miracle of human civilization and the basis for our self-confidence.

At the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping elaborated on his thoughts on “cultural subjectivity.”

——”Cultural self-confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity”;

——”For any culture to stand and go far, and to have leadership, cohesion, shaping, and radiation, it must have its own subjectivity”;

——With cultural subjectivity, “Chinese civilization will have distinctive cultural characteristics for exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations in the world.”

Not long ago, at the welcome banquet for the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, General Secretary Xi Jinping clarified the importance of the Universiade to the progress of human civilization: “Civilizations are diverse and the world is colorful.” “We must take this Universiade as an opportunity to carry forward the The common values ​​of mankind write a new chapter in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.”

It is precisely by strengthening our cultural self-confidence, insisting on walking our own path, and adhering to spiritual independence that we have cultivated the calmness of “mutual respect and equal treatment”, the atmosphere of “beauty, beauty and beauty”, and the spirit of “openness and tolerance, mutual learning and mutual learning”. The frankness of “learning from each other” and the spirit of “advancing with the times and innovating and developing”.

It is also a grand event of sports and youth. At the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, 44 children from the depths of the Taihang Mountains, wearing tiger head clothes and wearing tiger head shoes, took the stage and sang the Olympic anthem in Greek. .

The ancient and the modern merge here, and the nation and the world learn from each other. The pure singing tells the story of an open and inclusive China, gathering the power of “together for the future”.

It is by adhering to openness and inclusiveness that we have enriched the broad atmosphere of Chinese civilization. Whether it is Dunhuang, which has a long history and is well integrated, or Chengdu, which is open to all rivers and is inclusive, it has been confirmed that openness and tolerance are always the source of vitality for the development of civilization and a significant sign of cultural confidence. “Only a civilization that is full of self-confidence can tolerate, learn from, and absorb various civilizations while maintaining its own national characteristics.” To compose the contemporary chapter of Chinese civilization, we must carry out cultural exchanges with other countries more broadly with a broader mind. , and be more proactive in learning from all the outstanding civilizational achievements in the world.

“We have the ability to do China’s things well, but not the ability to tell China’s story well? We should have this confidence!” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that we not only want the world to know “China on the tip of the tongue”, but also let the world know “ “China in Academics”, “China in Theory”, and “China in Philosophy and Social Sciences” let the world know about “China in development”, “China in opening up” and “China making contributions to human civilization”.

It is precisely by adhering to integrity and innovation that we insist on using the past for the present, using foreign materials for China, dialectical selection, and innovation, so as to nurture great stories in a great era and let wonderful China have wonderful narratives.

The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is also a party that seeks progress for mankind and great harmony for the world. The great changes in the new era are not only milestones in the history of the development of Chinese civilization, but also promote the tremendous progress of human civilization.

“China has no gene for seeking hegemony, no impulse for great-power competition. It firmly stands on the right side of history and firmly pursues the principle of ‘walking on the great road, and the world is for the common good.’” On August 22, at the closing ceremony of the 2023 BRICS Business Forum In his speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again clarified China’s firm stance of unswervingly pursuing the path of peaceful development from the perspective of civilization.

In the face of changes in the world, the times, and history, the Communist Party of China has always upheld the common values ​​of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all mankind, and is committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and promoting the progress of human civilization. “Chinese-style modernization, as a new form of human civilization, will learn from other civilizations around the world and will greatly enrich the garden of world civilization.”

The road is not alone, the world is one family. The road is like a stone, and the traveler has no boundaries. In the new era and new journey, the light of thought illuminates the path forward for Chinese modernization, and the power of truth promotes the restoration of the glory of Chinese civilization.