“Historical resolutions” are rare but immensely important strategy documents in the history of the Communist Party of China, the reason being that each resolution provides a new theoretical foundation for charting a new long-term development strategy for China. A new long-term development strategy is called for because both the CPC and China find themselves in a new era and facing new domestic and international situations, which feature enormous new challenges and problems as well as calling for new missions and tasks.
So far, only three historical resolutions have been passed by the CPC. Each new development strategy charted by the historical resolution draws and builds on the lessons gathered from past actions and experiences. The 1945 historical resolution repudiates the “ultraleft” line and affirms Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding principle in the struggle to seize national power. The 1981 historical resolution denounces the “cultural revolution”, endorses the theory of Deng Xiaoping and shifts the mission of the CPC from class struggle to economic modernization. The third historical resolution, passed by the CPC on Thursday, puts forward a new strategy to build a strong and modernized China in a new era under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This time, a new long-term development strategy is called for because both the CPC and China again find themselves in a new and difficult situation both at home and abroad.
The third historical resolution, passed by the CPC on Thursday, puts forward a new strategy to build a strong and modernized China in a new era under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This time, a new long-term development strategy is called for because both the CPC and China again find themselves in a new and difficult situation both at home and abroad
One hundred years since the founding of the CPC, China has made miraculous progress in building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation. The first centenary goal of “building a moderately prosperous society in all respects” has been accomplished after China went through two phases of development, namely, “socialist revolution and reconstruction” as well as reform and opening-up. The second centenary goal to “build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful” is scheduled to be reached by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. However, the closer China is to achieving the second centenary goal, the more serious and gargantuan the challenges inside and outside China have become. Accordingly, it is imperative that the CPC devise a new long-term development strategy derived from a new grand development theory for China to ensure that the second centenary goal is attained on schedule.
The most crucial challenges coming from abroad stem from the determination of the United States and its allies to contain, weaken, Westernize and isolate China so as to prevent her from achieving the status of a great power and displacing the West as the hegemon of the world. Deglobalization, the surge of protectionism and populism in the West, as well as the feebleness of the Western economy render it impossible for China to “overdepend” on Western capital, markets and technology for her development. Internally, as China has already reached an impressive level of development, to ensure long-term sustained development, promote high-quality, green and inclusive development, increase the standard of living and quality of life of the Chinese people, achieve technological parity with the West, expand China’s economic hinterland, build up China’s military might, tackle the serious social problems and conflicts, attain common prosperity and enlarge China’s influence in global affairs, a new comprehensive development strategy which still insists on deepening and widening reform and opening-up but is more reliant on self-strengthening and domestic resources is urgently needed.
Xi Jinping Thought provides a grand theory to understand and tackle the challenges and problems facing China in the new era. Xi’s Thought builds upon the past achievements of China in socialist revolution, socialist reconstruction and reform and opening-up. According to Xi, for China to build a strong and modernized country, to achieve national rejuvenation and to make the Chinese dream come true, the country must follow a unique and independent development path based on socialist theories, China’s culture, China’s history and reality, strong and united Party leadership and unswerving public devotion and support.
There are a number of essentials here. Of utmost importance is the need for a strong and capable CPC playing a leading role in all sectors of society and the economy. Hence, the CPC has to be strictly managed to ensure that its members are incorrupt, morally intact, highly motivated, competent and determined to care for the nation and the people. Politically, China is to develop a “whole-process people’s democracy” where people can participate in all the phases of public decision-making and be assured of a government which can build a rich and strong nation, bring about a stable and vibrant society as well as promote public well-being. China’s economic development has to be balanced, sustainable, propelled by technology and innovation, environmentally friendly, equitable, and conducive to common prosperity. The conservation of the ecosystem has to be enhanced in order to create a beautiful China. The aspiration of the Chinese people for a good life has to be satisfied. The law is to play a central, indispensable and decisive role in the country, governing and regulating the activities of the CPC, the government, and the economy as well as the people. The way China is administered has to be modernized and improved in accordance with scientific principles and international best practices. Cultural self-confidence has to be enhanced by combining the glorious Chinese tradition with other fine modern cultures. Chinese culture and China’s socialist practices have to be made attractive to people elsewhere to increase China’s soft power in the world. The armed forces of China have to be greatly strengthened to become an invincible fighting force capable of safeguarding national security and territorial integrity. China’s foreign policy has to foster an international environment favorable to the country’s development, effectively manage the relationship between great powers and allow China to play a central and crucial role in building a fair and equitable international order. China’s territorial integrity has to be safeguarded by forcefully suppressing the secessionist elements and tendencies in China’s periphery. Furthermore, a rising China will contribute to the well-being of mankind by pioneering the formation of “a community with a shared future for mankind” where the increasingly interconnected peoples around the world will work together for their common good and overcome global challenges.
More concretely, among many things, a major component of the CPC’s long-term development strategy is the strategy of internal-external “dual circulation”. This strategy is to significantly transform China’s economy by prioritizing domestic consumption and innovation while remaining open to international trade and development. At the same time, for the sake of promoting common prosperity, the Chinese government will assume an even more proactive role in curbing the disorderly expansion of capital, the suppression of monopolies, the redistribution of wealth and income, and redressing the imbalance in regional development. To enlarge the economic space of the country so as to counter Western containment, China will step up efforts to forge close economic ties with the countries in Asia-Pacific, particularly Southeast Asia, through the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership program.
Given the importance of China in the world today, the impact of the CPC’s development strategy on other countries is bound to be wide-ranging and enormous. Unfortunately, but also inevitably, this development strategy and the Xi Jinping Thought behind it will be greeted with skepticism, repugnance, worries or even horror in the West, particularly the US, which is reluctant to see China succeeding by adopting an “authoritarian”, “predatory”, “State-driven” and particularly non-Western development path, at a time when the Western model is faltering and losing international appeal, and when Westerners themselves are having a lot of doubts about their own institutions and their future. At the same time, the pursuit of this grand strategy is bound to generate conflicts within China as it entails redistribution of power and interests, reallocation of national resources, resistance by certain vested interests, and short-term sacrifices by some sectors of society.
Accordingly, the successful implementation of this ambitious and laudable long-term strategy of China based on Xi Jinping Thought requires sustained and devoted efforts by the CPC and the 1.4 billion Chinese people as well as collaboration with friendly peoples around the world. The strong leadership of the CPC, with Xi Jinping at the core, is expected to be able to galvanize, unite and energize the Chinese people in pursuit of the goals of this strategy. While pushing forward this strategy forcefully, the CPC under Xi’s leadership will act carefully and prudently so that no “subversive mistakes” will be inadvertently committed. The preparedness of China to allow peoples around the world to participate and benefit from China’s development will create a favorable international environment for China’s rise in spite of the cynicism, hostility and obstruction of the West.
The author is a professor emeritus of sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.