Foreword
What has happened to the world and how should we respond? The world, as we know, is changing at a pace and scale that has not been seen in a century. The often bewildering transformation poses a great challenge, not only to the world, but also to the rapidly-developing nation of China. At such times, having the capacity to keep abreast of changing trends and having the courage to lead society forward despite the difficulties is precisely what the glorious tradition of the Communist Party of China (CPC) consists of. During the recently convened 19th CPC National Congress, President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, analyzed the challenges and opportunities in the world today and proposed new and greater contributions for China to make to the human race. He also stated that we must intensify theoretical research and development, and quicken our pace to develop philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. We, as theoreticians of the Party, have a bounden duty in this regard. Based on my years of research, I think one of the theoretical and strategical imperatives now is to keep in mind the overall situation at home and abroad, follow the guidelines based on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry out in-depth research on the trend of economic globalization and China's peaceful development road, and on this basis, develop our own theories on development and international relations.
1. Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences
On the morning of May 17, 2016, I attended the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences during which President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.
After the 18th National Congress, in an effort to improve work on publicity, political philosophy, culture, and theoretical research, the Central Committee of the CPC held a series of national conferences on such themes as publicity and political philosophy, art and culture, media communication, cybersecurity and IT applications. President Xi gave important speeches at each of these events. He stated that these conferences were designed as an important vehicle of communication and people could come together to analyze trends, communicate their ideas, build consensus, and plan for China's future. Highly prestigious experts attended the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences. The attendees also included academic leaders with many significant achievements, as well as prominent rising stars, such as consultants or chief experts for the Central Committee project to study and develop Marxist theory, representatives from prestigious national think tanks, students of all levels from institutions of higher education, and senior officials from related agencies. As far as I am able to recall, it is the first time such a high-level symposium has taken place in the field of philosophy and social sciences since the beginning of the reform and opening up. I attended as a seasoned expert and a consultant for the Central Committee project on Marxist theory.
We are aware that philosophy and social science are important tools by which people understand and change the world, and they are a driving power behind historical development and social progress. The degree to which these sciences has evolved in a certain society reflects the capacity of that society to think, its spirit and character, and its level of civilization, and it is also an embodiment of a nation's comprehensive national power and international competitiveness. President Xi has always placed great emphasis on philosophy and social sciences. He has on numerous occasions led the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in studying such social sciences as philosophy, economics, and law, and has also held related conferences so as to drive development in philosophy and social science at the national level. This is very clearly both an ideal in his governance and part of the actualization of the Chinese Dream (the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation).
President Xi's speech was quite efficacious. He emphasized that one must maintain a broad view in observing the current state of China's philosophy and social science, and one must do so within the context of the historical development of China and the world. He stated that every great leap of progress in human society and every great development in human civilization has been closely related to knowledge transformation and pioneering thought in philosophy and social science. The long history of the Chinese civilization has seen a number of philosophies flourish at different time periods, from the pre-Qin Dynasty Hundred Schools of Thought, the study of Confucianism during the two Han dynasties, the metaphysics of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Buddhism of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the confluence of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and the Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming dynasties. Since the beginning of Chinese civilization, the Chinese people have produced such schools of thought as Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Mohism, Logicians, Legalism, the Yin and Yang School, Agriculturalism, and Militarism. Some of China's great philosophers include Laozi (dates of birth and death unknown), Confucius (551-479 BC), Zhuangzi (369-286 BC),Mencius (c. 372-289 BC), Xunzi (c. 313-238 BC), Han Feizi (c. 280-233 BC), Dong Zhongshu (179-104 BC), Wang Chong (27-c. 97), He Yan (?-249), Wang Bi (226-249), Han Yu (768-824), Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073),Cheng Hao (1032-1085), Cheng Yi (1033-1107), Zhu Xi (1130-1200), Lu Jiuyuan (1139-1193), Wang Shouren (1472-1529), Li Zhi (1527-1602),Huang Zongxi (1610-1695), Gu Yanwu (1613-1682), Wang Fuzhi (1619-1692), Kang Youwei (1858-1927), Liang Qichao (1873-1929), Sun Yatsen (1866-1925), and Lu Xun (1881-1936), all of whom contributed to a great array of cultural heritage. The vast number of great works from ancient China includes an abundance of content on philosophy, social science, and wisdom in governance. These writings were an important basis for people of ancient times to understand and improve the world. They were also important for the whole of Chinese civilization and have been a great contribution to human civilization in general. When President Xi emphasized that “a nation that is underdeveloped in the natural sciences cannot possibly rise to the global forefront, and the same is true for a nation that does not flourish in the realms of philosophy and social science,” every expert at the venue felt the burden of their mission for the times and their responsibility to history.
It was at this symposium that President Xi made the earnest proposal of accelerating the speed at which philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics are being built up. He stressed that the features, style, and bearing of philosophy and social science reflect a certain degree of development, a mark of maturity, a symbol of power, and an embodiment of self-confidence. China is a great nation in the fields of philosophy and social science: In terms of research teams, the number of studies written, and government involvement, China ranks among the top in the world. However, academic propositions, thought, viewpoints, standards, and discourse have not yet reached the level or capacity of the nation's comprehensive national power or international position. We must be rooted in China, learn from other countries, research history, seize the day, keep humanity in mind, and move toward the future. We must devote ourselves to developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. We must fully embody China's unique features, style, and bearing in the aspects of the orientation of our thought, our academic system, and our discourse system.
Having said that, what makes up the features of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics? President Xi believes that they must reflect Chinese tradition and legacy, and at the same time show originality and a readiness to respond to the call of our times. In addition, they must embody systematization and expertise. Indeed, developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics requires the integration of resources from the past and present, from China and abroad, and gaining a firm grasp of resources on Marxism, resources on the fine traditional Chinese culture, and resources on philosophy and social science from abroad is of particular importance. That is, we must not forget the past, and as we adopt ideas from abroad, we direct ourselves toward the future. We must look inside, making an in-depth study of the immense subject of people's lives, and we must look outward, actively exploring the massive issue of humanity's prospects and destiny. We must look forward, making accurate assessments of the developmental trends of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and we must look back, carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture.
I deeply felt that President Xi's speech was correct in its orientation, directed at the problems of our times and full of detailed facts. It was indeed an insightful guide in our effort to accelerate the speed at which China's unique philosophy and social science are being built up. Moreover, based on current conditions, it is indeed time for developing China's unique socialist philosophy and social sciences.
2. Building up philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics with a focus on the questions of “where from” and “where to”
At the end of the symposium, President Xi asked me, “What have you been working on these days?” I answered, “While you were meeting with political leaders and experts from foreign countries during the 2nd Understanding China Conference(1), you mentioned that the conference was a good platform from which to introduce China to the world. You also stated, ‘Where have we come from, and where are we going? In this day and age for China, I am always reminding myself to maintain this sense of history.’ I felt that what you said was extremely important, and I began bringing experts in various fields together to write a book series on understanding China. I also plan to make a related film for TV so as to further introduce China to the world.” He was pleased with this response.
The reason I am emphasizing President Xi's question of “Where have we come from, and where are we going?” in the introduction of this book is because I believe it is the central theme of understanding China. Is it not? That is, if we can clearly express where we (as a nation) have come from and where we are going, then have we not come to understand China? I ask the reader to refer to how President Xi discussed this topic with world political leaders and experts during the 2nd Understanding China Conference (November 2015). He stated, “There is a relief sculpture on the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tiananmen Square that depicts China's numerous victories attained from the 1840 Opium War to the success of the Chinese revolution in 1949. … We cherish the memories of martyrs of the past, and we follow in their steps in pressing forward. We have the Chinese Dream, and we hold the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as our common denominator.”(2) After that, he elaborated on the CPC Central Committee's current policies in answering questions posed by the international participants. That is indeed the state of things: The integration of the tasks China is faced with today with problems of the past is what is necessary to truly and clearly relate China's current strategy for development and policy measures. In fact, President Xi did not only bring up the question of “Where have we come from and where are we going?” just one time. At a forum with instructors and students on core values of socialism at Peking University on May 4, 2015, he said, “A nation, or people of a country, must know who they are, where they came from and where they are heading. Keep on going when you have made your choice.”(3)
Everyone knows these three questions originally posed by philosophers of the past: Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Philosophers have long been exploring the origins of the universe, life, and the human race. Regarding the origin of the latter, the three questions mentioned above are asked. Numerous philosophers have gone through long-term explorations on this question from a diversity of angles and have come up with a number of assumptions related to this ontological question. President Xi, a statesman, has proposed the study of the ontological question of Chinese politics, which of course is also extremely important and could be said to be an even more profound question. In his discussion with professors and students from Peking University, he spoke on the need to promote the core socialist values. He did not, however, speak about values based on values; he instead came from the angle of those foundational three questions in expounding that we are the Chinese people, that Chinese people have the cultural genes of the Chinese ethnicity (which unconsciously influences our thinking and behavior), and that we must carry on the fine traditional Chinese culture. He also stressed that every era has its respective spirit and values. Based on the demands of the era we live in, we must advocate the values of prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony at the national level, the values of freedom, equality, justice, and rule of law at the social level, and the values of patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship at the individual level. Doing so is an embodiment of the demands of socialism, and it allows for the propagation of the fine traditional Chinese culture, allows us to learn from the achievements of other civilizations, and reflects the spirit of the times. This speech should inspire us to study issues such as the core socialist values, China's unique socialist philosophy and social science while keeping at the forefront of our minds the foundational questions of “Who am I?” “Where am I from?” and “Where am I going?” Only by doing this can we make China's unique philosophy and social science reflect Chinese tradition and legacy, and at the same time show originality and a readiness to respond to the call of our times.
This reminds me of another critical issue: Understanding China requires an understanding of the CPC. Only by understanding the latter can one truly understand the China of today. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, “The defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” Furthermore, both issues require a solid grasp of the three questions of “Who am I?”“Where am I from?” and “Where am I going?” During the 95th anniversary celebration of the founding of the CPC, President Xi stated that we must remain true to our original aspiration and must forge ahead boldly. During the 19th CPC National Congress, he again stated that we must remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind. Remain true to our original aspiration means remembering clearly who we are and where we are from; forging ahead boldly and keeping our mission firmly in mind means (on the foundation of understanding who we are and where we are from) to go further and become clear on where we are going. In brief, the three questions are central to our efforts toward the goal of developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics as proposed by President Xi.
This theme needs to be firmly grasped in relation not only to domestic issues but also to international issues. For example, President Xi gave a keynote speech entitled “Towards a Community of Shared Future for Mankind” at the UN headquarters in Geneva on January 18, 2017. The speech attracted global attention and had a strong impact. He opened by saying, “…that today's world is full of uncertainties and that people long for a bright future but are bewildered about what lies ahead. What has happened to the world and how should we respond? The world is reflecting on these questions, and they are also very much on my mind. I believe that to answer these questions, we need to be clear about fundamental issues: Where did we come from? Where are we now? And where are we going?”(4) As can be seen, he attributed a vast and complex international issue to those three fundamental questions. He looked back on over 100 years of history, at hot wars and the Cold War, and issues that came up after the Cold War; he stated that the universe only has one earth and that we must cherish it. From there, he proposed the Chinese idea for solving these problems: “The Chinese proposition is: build a global community of shared future and achieve shared and win-win development.” His important speech and discussion of problems show us that whether we are studying domestic or international issues, where we are from and where we are going are principal issues.
3. Pride in the peaceful rise of China
In discussing developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, some people have asked whether I was the one who proposed the concept of “the path of China's peaceful rise.” I have never shied away from this. It is true, and denying the truth is meaningless. What needs to be pointed out is that the peaceful rise of China and the path of China's peaceful rise are objective facts based on the great changes of the times, and I am only emphasizing this fact. In addition, I am very proud of China's peaceful rise and the associated path it has taken, because I am Chinese.
My ancestral home is in Sichuan of southwestern China. I remember my father said that when my ancestors lived there in 1900, far from Beijing, they heard that the Eight-Nation Alliance had occupied Beijing. When that happened, all the elderly people in his hometown held their heads and cried. An intense sorrow resulting from national humiliation became rooted deep within the hearts of many Chinese people. Generation after generation of our people have dreamed of the rise of China and held steadfast in pursuing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Beginning with the Opium War, the Chinese people fought for this for 109 years, engaging in bitter struggles until the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Then, during the 1980s, the world entered a period of focus on peace and development, and China's development accelerated with reform and opening up. Such dream and such pursuit are actualized step by step. China is indeed peacefully attaining the rejuvenation of its people along with strength and prosperity for the nation. This is quite an inspiring turn of events for history!
Particularly inspiring is that I have lived through the greatest turnaround since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC. I personally heard the insight of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of reform and opening up, regarding persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. I deeply understood that if Deng had held to old ideas and ignored the fact that peace and development were the theme of the times, we might have once again missed the opportunity for the rejuvenation of our nation and our peaceful rise. Deng's proposal that peaceful development was a theme of the times took place over 30 years ago. History has proven that his assessment changed China and is still valid today. For me, his assessment is the basic prerequisite for the ideas of the rise of China and the path of China's peaceful rise.
As workers in China's field of philosophy and social science, there is no reason why we should not study how China has realized such a transformation and such historic progress. There is no reason why we should not place great importance in the Chinese experience created under Deng's leadership and, in turn, refining Chinese theory, which has led to the formation of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics. That is to say, in the face of China's peaceful rise, we have an inevitable responsibility to history to research the origins of, conditions for, and challenges faced on the path of China's peaceful rise.
Looking back on history, there is no doubt that the establishment of the People's Republic of China and its socialist system drove the political rise of China, which in turn opened the door to all of China's future progress. The historical event of China's peaceful rise occurred mainly after the reform and opening up. The reform and opening up was a great practice, providing the most solid foundations and prerequisite from which to propel our theories and innovation while creating and allowing for the development of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics. All we have done and all of the scientific achievements we have attained can be traced back to that era, to the leadership of the CPC, and to the sinicization of Marxism as advocated by the CPC.
With peace and development being the theme of the times, a huge step forward has been China's reform of establishing a socialist market economy system. Another big step has been linking China to economic globalization (as marked by its entry into the WTO) instead of economic separatism. During the first ten years after entering the WTO, China's national economy saw average annual growth of 10.6%, which also means the overall GDP saw rapid growth. Thus, the eight industrialized nations (except for the US and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the latter long since having ceased to exist) that had occupied Beijing in 1900 have oneby-one been surpassed economically by China. Russia was the first to be overtaken. Later, between 2000 and 2002, China's GDP surpassed that of Italy and ranked sixth in the world; in 2005, it moved up to fifth place over France; in 2006, it moved up to fourth place over the UK; in 2007, it moved up to third place over Germany; and in 2010, it moved up to second place over Japan (Japan had reached second place in 1968 when it surpassed West Germany). This history of China's economy surpassing that of other countries is part of the story of China's peaceful rise. It is this important fact of history that inspired me to form the following basic concept: With peace and development being the theme of the times, China has independently built up socialism with Chinese characteristics during the process of becoming linked to economic globalization instead of economic separatism. This is my summary of the whole and highly meaningful history of the modernization of Chinese society.
Special gratitude must be given to Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of the reform and opening up, for the progress made along the path of China's peaceful rise and the resulting benefits for the Chinese people. It is he who led the whole Party in liberating thinking, bringing order from chaos in transferring the focus to economic modernization. It is he who opened the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics, formulating the basic route of “one central task and two basic points.” It is he who assessed that the theme of the times was changing from one of war and revolution to one of peace and development. It is he who pointed out that the rapid changes and revolutions in new technology are the perfect opportunities for China to achieve modernization. It is he who made opening up to the world a fundamental policy. It is he who introduced a peaceful foreign policy of independence and autonomy, establishing China's general framework for peaceful and multilateral relations with large nations, neighboring nations, and developing nations. It is he who proposed that China cannot draw lines in foreign affairs based on ideology or social systems, but that we must find common interests with other countries.(5) It is he who emphasized that a socialism with Chinese characteristics is a socialism that helps to constantly develop the productive forces and that favors peace.(6) When all is said and done, Deng Xiaoping Theory is what has made possible the opening up of a path for the peaceful rise of China and the guidance provided by the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which includes Theory of the Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
(1)The Understanding China Conference was jointly organized by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and the world-renowned think tank 21st Century Council. The first (2013) and second (2015) conferences were held in Beijing, each conference drawing over 40 political leaders from foreign countries. The international attendees, Chinese government officials, high-ranking officers of the PLA, and entrepreneurs and experts from China and abroad engaged in sincere and indepth discussions on the topic of “Understanding China” based on the following: the new global structure, social media and its regulation, whether the Chinese economy can continue to thrive, China's national defense policies, China's decision-making processes, the worldview and international responsibility of the Chinese people, and how to establish an all-inclusive community of common interests. CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping attended both conferences and spoke candidly with international participants. He believes that a conference based on understanding China helps further mutual understanding between China and other countries. The Chinese people are currently working diligently toward realizing the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream (the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation). The Chinese Dream is linked to the Chinese people's pursuit of good lives as well as the global pursuit of peace and development. In order to fulfill the Chinese Dream, we must persist in upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is the correct path as found by the Chinese people's long and arduous journey of exploration. Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, both of whom are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, respectively attended and gave speeches at the openings of the First and Second Understanding China Conferences.
(2)People's Daily, January 5, 2016.
(3)Xi Jinping: “Young People Should Practice the Core Socialist Values,” Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Vol. I, second edition, Foreign Languages Press, 2018, p. 191.
(4)Xi Jinping: “Towards a Community of Shared Future for Mankind,” Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Vol. II, Foreign Languages Press, 2017, p. 588
(5)While meeting with Henry Kissinger on November 10, 1989, Deng Xiaoping stated, “The era in which the relations between two countries was decided by their social systems has passed. Nations with different social systems can coexist in peace, develop their friendships, and find common interests. China and the US are certainly able to find common interests.” Chronicles of Deng Xiaoping (1975-1997), Vol. II, Central Party Literature Press, 2004, Chinese edition, p. 1297.
(6)Deng Xiaoping: “No One Can Shake Socialist China,” Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, Vol. III, Foreign Languages Press, 1995, p. 318.