II. The Great Historical Course of Reform and Opening Up
We will soon be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the start of reform and opening up. In 1978, the Party held the historic Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, which ushered in the new historical period of reform and opening up. Since then, the Chinese Communists and the Chinese people have, in an indomitable enterprising spirit and with their spectacular practice of innovation, composed a new epic recounting the Chinese nation's ceaseless efforts to make progress and become stronger, and historic changes have taken place in the visages of the Chinese people, socialist Chinaand the CPC.
Reform and opening up represent a great new revolution carried on by the people under the Party's leadership in a new era to release and develop the productive forces, modernize the country, bring prosperity to the Chinese people and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; to promotethe self-improvement and development of China's socialist system,inject new vitality into socialism, and build and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics; and to improve the building of the Party as it leads contemporary China in development and progress, preserve and enhance its vanguard nature, and ensure that it is always in the forefront of the times.
We must never forget that the great cause of reform and opening up was conducted on a foundation laid by the Party's first generation of central collective leadership with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, which founded Mao Zedong Thought, led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in establishing the People's Republic and scoring great achievements in our socialist revolution and construction, and gained invaluable experience in its painstaking exploration for laws governing socialist construction. The victory inthenew-democratic revolutionand the establishment of the basic system of socialism provided the fundamental political prerequisite and institutional basis for every inch of development and progress in contemporary China.
We must never forget that the great cause of reform and opening up was initiated by the Party's second generation of central collective leadership with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core leading the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the endeavor. In a precarious situation left by the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), the second generation of central collective leadership, persisting in emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts and displaying immense political and theoretical courage, made a scientific appraisal of Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, thoroughly repudiatedthe erroneous theory and practice of "taking class struggle as the key link,"and made the historic policy decision to shift the focus of the work of the Party and the state onto economic development and introduce reform and opening up. It established the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, sounded the clarion call of the times for taking our own road and building socialism with Chinese characteristics, founded Deng Xiaoping Theory, and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in striding forward on the great journey of reform and opening up.
We must never forget that the great cause of reform and opening up was carried on, developed and successfully carried into the 21st century by the Party's third generation of central collective leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core leading the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups on this mission. From the Fourth Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Central Committee through the Sixteenth Congress, the third generation of central collective leadership, which took over the helm at a critical historical juncture, held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, pressed ahead with reform and opening up andkept up with the times.Relying on the Party and the people, it stood the severe tests of political turbulences and economic risks at home and abroad, safeguarded socialism with Chinese characteristics, initiated the new, socialist market economy and ushered in a new phase of all-round opening up; and it advanced the great new undertaking to build the Party, founded the important thought of Three Represents, and steered the ship of reform and opening up forward on the right course.
Since the Sixteenth Congress, we have followed the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, kept up with new developments and changes in and outside China, grasped the strategic opportunities in this important period, promoted the truth-seeking, pragmatic and pioneering spirit and persisted in innovation in both theory and practice. We have worked hard to promote scientific development and social harmony, improved the socialist market economy, and resolutely carried forward the great cause of reform and opening up in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Reform and opening up constitute the most salient feature of the new period. From the countryside to the cities and from the economic to other areas, the process of sweeping reform has unfolded with irresistible momentum. From the coastal areas to areas along the Yangtze River and the borders, and from the eastern to the central and western regions, the door has been resolutely opened to the outside world. This great undertaking of reform and opening up, never seen before in history, has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of hundreds of millions of Chinese people and brought about China's historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a robust socialist market economy, and from a closed or semi-closed state to all-round opening up. Today socialist China is standing rock-firm in the East, oriented toward modernization, the world and the future.
Rapid development represents the most remarkable achievement in the new period. The Party has been implementingthe three-step strategy for modernization,leading the people in working hard to promote China's sustained rapid development at a rate rarely seen in the world. China's economy, once on the verge of collapse, has grown to rank as the fourth largest in the world, and its import and export volume, the third biggest. The Chinese people, once inadequately fed and clad, are leading a fairly comfortable life on the whole. The impoverished population in rural areas has dropped from more than 250 million to just over 20 million. The country's achievements in political, cultural and social development have captured world attention. China's development has not only enabled its people to move steadily toward prosperity and happiness, but also contributed substantially to the growth of the world economy and the progress of human civilization.
Keeping up with the times is the most prominent hallmark of the new period. Adhering to the Marxist ideological line, the Party has been constantly seeking answers to major theoretical and practical questions such as what socialism is and how to build it, what kind of party we must build and how to build it, and what kind of development China should achieve and how to achieve it. The Party has been constantly adapting Marxism to conditions in China, and adhering to and enriching its ownbasic theory, line, program and experience. Socialism and Marxism have shown great vitality on Chinese soil, brought more benefits to the people, and enabled the Chinese nation to catch up with the trend of the times in great strides and see the bright future of national rejuvenation.
二、改革開放的偉大歷史進(jìn)程
我們即將迎來改革開放三十周年。一九七八年，我們黨召開具有重大歷史意義的十一屆三中全會，開啟了改革開放歷史新時期。從那時以來，中國共產(chǎn)黨人和中國人民以一往無前的進(jìn)取精神和波瀾壯闊的創(chuàng)新實(shí)踐，譜寫了中華民族自強(qiáng)不息、頑強(qiáng)奮進(jìn)新的壯麗史詩，中國人民的面貌、社會主義中國的面貌、中國共產(chǎn)黨的面貌發(fā)生了歷史性變化。
改革開放是黨在新的時代條件下帶領(lǐng)人民進(jìn)行的新的偉大革命，目的就是要解放和發(fā)展社會生產(chǎn)力，實(shí)現(xiàn)國家現(xiàn)代化，讓中國人民富裕起來，振興偉大的中華民族；就是要推動我國社會主義制度自我完善和發(fā)展，賦予社會主義新的生機(jī)活力，建設(shè)和發(fā)展中國特色社會主義；就是要在引領(lǐng)當(dāng)代中國發(fā)展進(jìn)步中加強(qiáng)和改進(jìn)黨的建設(shè)，保持和發(fā)展黨的先進(jìn)性，確保黨始終走在時代前列。我們要永遠(yuǎn)銘記，改革開放偉大事業(yè)，是在以毛澤東同志為核心的黨的第一代中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)集體創(chuàng)立毛澤東思想，帶領(lǐng)全黨全國各族人民建立新中國、取得社會主義革命和建設(shè)偉大成就以及艱辛探索社會主義建設(shè)規(guī)律取得寶貴經(jīng)驗(yàn)的基礎(chǔ)上進(jìn)行的。新民主主義革命的勝利，社會主義基本制度的建立，為當(dāng)代中國一切發(fā)展進(jìn)步奠定了根本政治前提和制度基礎(chǔ)。
我們要永遠(yuǎn)銘記，改革開放偉大事業(yè)，是以鄧小平同志為核心的黨的第二代中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)集體帶領(lǐng)全黨全國各族人民開創(chuàng)的。面對十年“文化大革命”造成的危難局面，黨的第二代中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)集體堅(jiān)持解放思想、實(shí)事求是，以巨大的政治勇氣和理論勇氣，科學(xué)評價(jià)毛澤東同志和毛澤東思想，徹底否定“以階級斗爭為綱”的錯誤理論和實(shí)踐，作出把黨和國家工作中心轉(zhuǎn)移到經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)上來、實(shí)行改革開放的歷史性決策，確立社會主義初級階段基本路線，吹響走自己的路、建設(shè)中國特色社會主義的時代號角，創(chuàng)立鄧小平理論，指引全黨全國各族人民在改革開放的偉大征程上闊步前進(jìn)。
我們要永遠(yuǎn)銘記，改革開放偉大事業(yè)，是以江澤民同志為核心的黨的第三代中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)集體帶領(lǐng)全黨全國各族人民繼承、發(fā)展并成功推向二十一世紀(jì)的。從十三屆四中全會到十六大，受命于重大歷史關(guān)頭的黨的第三代中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)集體，高舉鄧小平理論偉大旗幟，堅(jiān)持改革開放、與時俱進(jìn)，在國內(nèi)外政治風(fēng)波、經(jīng)濟(jì)風(fēng)險(xiǎn)等嚴(yán)峻考驗(yàn)面前，依靠黨和人民，捍衛(wèi)中國特色社會主義，創(chuàng)建社會主義市場經(jīng)濟(jì)新體制，開創(chuàng)全面開放新局面，推進(jìn)黨的建設(shè)新的偉大工程，創(chuàng)立“三個代表”重要思想，繼續(xù)引領(lǐng)改革開放的航船沿著正確方向破浪前進(jìn)。
十六大以來，我們以鄧小平理論和“三個代表”重要思想為指導(dǎo)，順應(yīng)國內(nèi)外形勢發(fā)展變化，抓住重要戰(zhàn)略機(jī)遇期，發(fā)揚(yáng)求真務(wù)實(shí)、開拓進(jìn)取精神，堅(jiān)持理論創(chuàng)新和實(shí)踐創(chuàng)新，著力推動科學(xué)發(fā)展、促進(jìn)社會和諧，完善社會主義市場經(jīng)濟(jì)體制，在全面建設(shè)小康社會實(shí)踐中堅(jiān)定不移地把改革開放偉大事業(yè)繼續(xù)推向前進(jìn)。
新時期最鮮明的特點(diǎn)是改革開放。從農(nóng)村到城市、從經(jīng)濟(jì)領(lǐng)域到其他各個領(lǐng)域，全面改革的進(jìn)程勢不可當(dāng)?shù)卣归_了；從沿海到沿江沿邊，從東部到中西部，對外開放的大門毅然決然地打開了。這場歷史上從未有過的大改革大開放，極大地調(diào)動了億萬人民的積極性，使我國成功實(shí)現(xiàn)了從高度集中的計(jì)劃經(jīng)濟(jì)體制到充滿活力的社會主義市場經(jīng)濟(jì)體制、從封閉半封閉到全方位開放的偉大歷史轉(zhuǎn)折。今天，一個面向現(xiàn)代化、面向世界、面向未來的社會主義中國巍然屹立在世界東方。
新時期最顯著的成就是快速發(fā)展。我們黨實(shí)施現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)“三步走”戰(zhàn)略，帶領(lǐng)人民艱苦奮斗，推動我國以世界上少有的速度持續(xù)快速發(fā)展起來。我國經(jīng)濟(jì)從一度瀕于崩潰的邊緣發(fā)展到總量躍至世界第四、進(jìn)出口總額位居世界第三，人民生活從溫飽不足發(fā)展到總體小康，農(nóng)村貧困人口從兩億五千多萬減少到兩千多萬，政治建設(shè)、文化建設(shè)、社會建設(shè)取得舉世矚目的成就。中國的發(fā)展，不僅使中國人民穩(wěn)定地走上了富裕安康的廣闊道路，而且為世界經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展和人類文明進(jìn)步作出了重大貢獻(xiàn)。
新時期最突出的標(biāo)志是與時俱進(jìn)。我們黨堅(jiān)持馬克思主義的思想路線，不斷探索和回答什么是社會主義、怎樣建設(shè)社會主義，建設(shè)什么樣的黨、怎樣建設(shè)黨，實(shí)現(xiàn)什么樣的發(fā)展、怎樣發(fā)展等重大理論和實(shí)際問題，不斷推進(jìn)馬克思主義中國化，堅(jiān)持并豐富黨的基本理論、基本路線、基本綱領(lǐng)、基本經(jīng)驗(yàn)。社會主義和馬克思主義在中國大地上煥發(fā)出勃勃生機(jī)，給人民帶來更多福祉，使中華民族大踏步趕上時代前進(jìn)潮流、迎來偉大復(fù)興的光明前景。
事實(shí)雄辯地證明，改革開放是決定當(dāng)代中國命運(yùn)的關(guān)鍵抉擇，是發(fā)展中國特色社會主義、實(shí)現(xiàn)中華民族偉大復(fù)興的必由之路；只有社會主義才能救中國，只有改革開放才能發(fā)展中國、發(fā)展社會主義、發(fā)展馬克思主義。
改革開放作為一場新的偉大革命，不可能一帆風(fēng)順，也不可能一蹴而就。最根本的是，改革開放符合黨心民心、順應(yīng)時代潮流，方向和道路是完全正確的，成效和功績不容否定，停頓和倒退沒有出路。
在改革開放的歷史進(jìn)程中，我們黨把堅(jiān)持馬克思主義基本原理同推進(jìn)馬克思主義中國化結(jié)合起來，把堅(jiān)持四項(xiàng)基本原則同堅(jiān)持改革開放結(jié)合起來，把尊重人民首創(chuàng)精神同加強(qiáng)和改善黨的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)結(jié)合起來，把堅(jiān)持社會主義基本制度同發(fā)展市場經(jīng)濟(jì)結(jié)合起來，把推動經(jīng)濟(jì)基礎(chǔ)變革同推動上層建筑改革結(jié)合起來，把發(fā)展社會生產(chǎn)力同提高全民族文明素質(zhì)結(jié)合起來，把提高效率同促進(jìn)社會公平結(jié)合起來，把堅(jiān)持獨(dú)立自主同參與經(jīng)濟(jì)全球化結(jié)合起來，把促進(jìn)改革發(fā)展同保持社會穩(wěn)定結(jié)合起來，把推進(jìn)中國特色社會主義偉大事業(yè)同推進(jìn)黨的建設(shè)新的偉大工程結(jié)合起來，取得了我們這樣一個十幾億人口的發(fā)展中大國擺脫貧困、加快實(shí)現(xiàn)現(xiàn)代化、鞏固和發(fā)展社會主義的寶貴經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
改革開放以來我們?nèi)〉靡磺谐煽兒瓦M(jìn)步的根本原因，歸結(jié)起來就是：開辟了中國特色社會主義道路，形成了中國特色社會主義理論體系。高舉中國特色社會主義偉大旗幟，最根本的就是要堅(jiān)持這條道路和這個理論體系。
中國特色社會主義道路，就是在中國共產(chǎn)黨領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下，立足基本國情，以經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)為中心，堅(jiān)持四項(xiàng)基本原則，堅(jiān)持改革開放，解放和發(fā)展社會生產(chǎn)力，鞏固和完善社會主義制度，建設(shè)社會主義市場經(jīng)濟(jì)、社會主義民主政治、社會主義先進(jìn)文化、社會主義和諧社會，建設(shè)富強(qiáng)民主文明和諧的社會主義現(xiàn)代化國家。中國特色社會主義道路之所以完全正確、之所以能夠引領(lǐng)中國發(fā)展進(jìn)步，關(guān)鍵在于我們既堅(jiān)持了科學(xué)社會主義的基本原則，又根據(jù)我國實(shí)際和時代特征賦予其鮮明的中國特色。在當(dāng)代中國，堅(jiān)持中國特色社會主義道路，就是真正堅(jiān)持社會主義。
中國特色社會主義理論體系，就是包括鄧小平理論、“三個代表”重要思想以及科學(xué)發(fā)展觀等重大戰(zhàn)略思想在內(nèi)的科學(xué)理論體系。這個理論體系，堅(jiān)持和發(fā)展了馬克思列寧主義、毛澤東思想，凝結(jié)了幾代中國共產(chǎn)黨人帶領(lǐng)人民不懈探索實(shí)踐的智慧和心血，是馬克思主義中國化最新成果，是黨最可寶貴的政治和精神財(cái)富，是全國各族人民團(tuán)結(jié)奮斗的共同思想基礎(chǔ)。中國特色社會主義理論體系是不斷發(fā)展的開放的理論體系。《共產(chǎn)黨宣言》發(fā)表以來近一百六十年的實(shí)踐證明，馬克思主義只有與本國國情相結(jié)合、與時代發(fā)展同進(jìn)步、與人民群眾共命運(yùn)，才能煥發(fā)出強(qiáng)大的生命力、創(chuàng)造力、感召力。在當(dāng)代中國，堅(jiān)持中國特色社會主義理論體系，就是真正堅(jiān)持馬克思主義。
實(shí)踐永無止境，創(chuàng)新永無止境。全黨同志要倍加珍惜、長期堅(jiān)持和不斷發(fā)展黨歷經(jīng)艱辛開創(chuàng)的中國特色社會主義道路和中國特色社會主義理論體系，堅(jiān)持解放思想、實(shí)事求是、與時俱進(jìn)，勇于變革、勇于創(chuàng)新，永不僵化、永不停滯，不為任何風(fēng)險(xiǎn)所懼，不被任何干擾所惑，使中國特色社會主義道路越走越寬廣，讓當(dāng)代中國馬克思主義放射出更加燦爛的真理光芒。
