Methodology Innovation of Supreme Leader’s Economic Thought
In his speech at the first collective study in the 20th the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader put forward: "The scientific world outlook and methodology are for us to study and solve problems ‘ Master key ’ 。” The supreme leader’s economic thought contains profound strategic thinking and scientific thinking methods, which shows unique ideological charm and great practical power in the great practice of socialist economic construction. The better you know, the better you will do. A profound understanding of the innovation in the methodology of the supreme leader’s economic thought will help us to deeply understand and grasp the scientific core and theoretical wisdom of this important thought and use it to guide and solve practical problems more consciously.
Take "six musts" as the fundamental principle to follow.
The Party’s Report to the 20th CPC National Congress systematically expounded the world outlook, methodology, standpoints and methods of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, and emphasized the theoretical innovation based on the need to persist in the people first, self-confidence, self-reliance, integrity and innovation, problem orientation, systematic concept and keeping the world in mind to continue to promote practice. The Supreme Leader’s economic thought is an important part of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era. In methodology, it is bound to follow the "six musts" and form a methodology system of the Supreme Leader’s economic thought in the application of the "six musts".
"People must be supreme" highlights its core essence. The supreme leader’s economic thought has distinct people’s nature, and creatively puts forward the development thought of adhering to the people-centered principle. In November 2015, the 18th the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held the 28th collective study, which focused on the basic principles and methodology of Marxist political economy. When presiding over the study, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that "studying Marxist political economy is to better guide the practice of China’s economic development, not only to adhere to its basic principles and methodology, but also to combine with the reality of China’s economic development and constantly form new theoretical achievements", and to explain "adhering to the people-centered development thought" as the first one. The Central Economic Work Conference held for the first time after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China summarized the main connotation of the supreme leader’s economic thought, and took "adhering to the people-centered development thought" as an important content. Adhering to the people first is the fundamental value orientation and methodological essence of the supreme leader’s economic thought.
"We must adhere to self-confidence and self-reliance" to highlight its distinctive characteristics. The supreme leader’s economic thought has always been based on the reality of Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s economic construction in the new era, insisting on self-reliance and making a series of major theoretical innovations. "Correctly understanding and grasping the characteristics and behavior rules of capital" is one of the most typical examples. In the history of socialist economic thought, Marx and Engels never imagined that a market economy could be established under socialist conditions, nor could they raise the question of how socialist countries treat capital. Lenin and Stalin led the socialist construction in the Soviet Union, and basically did not encounter the problem of large-scale capital development under socialist conditions, whether in the period of new economic policy or in the period of highly centralized planned economic system development. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that "the socialist market economy is a great creation of our party". We should persist in starting from the basic national conditions of China, make our explorations, find our methods and summarize our theories on capital function, capital structure, capital characteristics and capital behavior laws in the socialist market economy, and fundamentally explore how to play the positive role of capital under the conditions of socialist market economy and effectively control its negative role. Such exploration and innovation must adhere to self-confidence.
"We must persist in being upright and innovating" to show its scientific quality. The supreme leader’s economic thought always treats science with a scientific attitude, pursues truth with the spirit of truth, insists on guiding developing practice with developing theories, and promotes the development and innovation of economic theory in the new era. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee regards public ownership as the main body, multiple ownership economies develop together, distribution according to work as the main body, multiple modes of distribution coexist, and the socialist market economic system as the socialist basic economic system, which has achieved a major breakthrough in the theory of socialist basic economic system. Adhere to the use of the method of keeping integrity and innovation, so that it not only reflects the superiority of the socialist system, but also adapts to the development level of social productive forces in the primary stage of socialism in China. In addition, a series of categories and theoretical viewpoints in the supreme leader’s economic thought, such as the new economic normal, supply-side structural reform, modern economic system, new development pattern, and high-quality development, all profoundly reflect the application of the innovative methodology.
"Must adhere to the problem orientation" highlights its thinking characteristics. A series of methods, such as problem orientation, problem awareness, and problem reversal, have been deeply applied in the economic thought of the supreme leader, forming distinctive thinking characteristics, that is, they have a strong sense of problems, take major issues as the guidance, seize key issues for further research and thinking, and strive to solve a series of outstanding contradictions and problems facing China’s development. Based on the development of socialist market economy, the supreme leader’s economic thought has made important theoretical innovations. On the relationship between the role of market and the role of government, this paper puts forward "‘ Invisible hand ’ And ‘ Visible hand ’ We must make good use of it and strive to form a pattern in which the market role and the government role are organically unified, complementary, coordinated and promoted. " Insist on the direction of socialist market economy reform, and put forward that "we are developing market economy under the premise of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s leadership and socialist system, and we must never forget it ‘ Socialism ’ We should adhere to dialectics and two-point theory, continue to work hard on the combination of the basic socialist system and the market economy, and give full play to both advantages. Adhering to the problem-oriented method is the academic hub to understand the supreme leader’s economic thought.
"We must adhere to the concept of system" to show its thinking method. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader put forward that "system concept is a basic thought and working method". This idea and working method have been well used in the exploration of new development concepts. The systematic characteristics of the new development concept of "managing the overall situation, managing the root, managing the direction and managing the long term" show a comprehensive and systematic view in the aspects of development purpose, method essence, practice guide and ideological influence. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader clearly pointed out that "we should adhere to the systematic viewpoint and design the system according to the integrity and relevance of the new development concept". The new development concept integrates development direction, development goal, development mode, development motivation and development path, which is a profound summary of China’s development experience since the reform and opening up and a systematic answer to the question of "what kind of development to achieve and how to develop".
"We must persist in thinking of the world" to show its broad realm. When talking about promoting the building of a community of human destiny and building a better world, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader emphasized more than once that "standing on the right side of history and standing on the side of human progress". The supreme leader’s economic thought deeply analyzes the reality of China’s economy and the world’s economic development, and makes great theoretical contributions to solving the common problems faced by mankind. The unique cultural tradition, unique historical destiny and unique basic national conditions doomed us to take the development path suitable for our own characteristics. In the exploration of Chinese-style modernization, the Supreme Leader General Secretary put forward five basic connotations and distinctive features of Chinese-style modernization. At the same time, in clarifying the artistic conception that Chinese modernization promotes the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization and ecological civilization, it puts forward that "a new form of human civilization has been created". Chinese-style modernization not only endows socialist modernization with clearer development goals and more distinctive China characteristics, but also endows the development path and direction of human civilization with new era implications by adhering to the lofty realm of thinking of the world.
Promoting innovation in the combination of theory and practice
In February, 2023, at the opening ceremony of the seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader delivered an important speech, stressing that "the unique world outlook, values, historical outlook, civilization outlook, democratic outlook, ecological outlook and its great practice contained in Chinese-style modernization are major innovations in the theory and practice of world modernization". "Promoting Chinese-style modernization is a systematic project, which requires overall consideration, systematic planning and overall promotion, and correctly handles top-level design and practical exploration. These not only explain the methodology of Chinese modernization theory system, but also reflect the exploration and compliance of the supreme leader’s economic thought in the combination of theory and practice.
The supreme leader’s economic thoughts have a profound insight into the trend of human development and progress, and systematically grasp the fundamental trend and essential characteristics of the changes in the economic relations between China and the world in the new era. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader put forward: "At present, changes in the world, times and history are unfolding in an unprecedented way. China is advancing the construction of a powerful country and the great cause of national rejuvenation in an all-round way with Chinese modernization. What we are pursuing is not China’s independent modernization, but we look forward to working with other countries, including developing countries, to achieve modernization together. " From the height of the progress and development of world civilization, the supreme leader’s economic thoughts actively responded to the general concerns of people of all countries, borrowed and absorbed all outstanding achievements of human civilization, and made important theoretical contributions to solving the development problems of China and exploring the world. The series of explanations of the development path, development mode and development concept in the supreme leader’s economic thought not only bases on China’s national conditions but also shows the world vision, which makes us deeply realize that human beings are interdependent communities of destiny. If the world is good, China will be good; If China is good, the world will be better.
The supreme leader’s economic thought insists on the people’s interests as the fundamental starting point and foothold of the party’s economic work, emphasizes the people-centered development thought, conforms to the people’s yearning for a better life, puts the people in the highest position in their hearts, persists in safeguarding and improving people’s livelihood in development, unswervingly follows the road of common prosperity, and constantly enhances the people’s sense of gain, happiness and security, which demonstrates the fundamental purpose of our party to serve the people wholeheartedly and contains the fundamental value orientation of people first.
The supreme leader’s economic thoughts adhere to the people’s dominant position, sum up historical experience, strengthen historical self-confidence, maintain historical patience, firmly grasp the trend and tide of historical progress, emphasize the need to firmly establish a grand historical view, grasp the development vein and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term vision, recognize the great logical trend of China’s social development and human social development, and grasp the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese modernization.
The supreme leader’s economic thought stands at the height of the development of world civilization, scientifically analyzes the realistic problems in contemporary China and the world economy, absorbs the essence of Chinese excellent traditional culture, and constantly absorbs all outstanding ideological and cultural achievements in human history, making contributions to the development of world civilization with the new form of human civilization.
The supreme leader’s economic thought emphasizes that development is for the people, development depends on the people, and the fruits of development are shared by the people, which fully stimulates the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of all people. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that "the people are the decisive force in building a socialist modern power in an all-round way" and "we should actively develop people’s democracy in the whole process, adhere to the organic unity of the party’s leadership, the people being the masters of the country and governing the country according to law, improve the system of people being the masters of the country, realize the people’s will and protect the people’s rights and interests". By improving the distribution system, improving the social security system, strengthening basic public services, grasping the bottom line of people’s livelihood, solving the problems of people’s urgent difficulties and worries, so that the achievements of modernization can benefit all the people more fairly and continuously, and more obvious substantive progress can be made in promoting the common prosperity of all the people.
The supreme leader’s economic thought emphasizes adhering to green development and paying attention to solving the problem of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that "nature is the mother of life, man and nature are the community of life, and human beings must respect, conform to and protect nature". We should firmly establish and earnestly practice Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’s concept, so that the people can share the beauty of nature, life and life among the green mountains and rivers.
The supreme leader’s economic thought provides scientific theoretical guidance and practical guidance for doing a good job in economic work in the new era. Promoting Chinese modernization is a systematic project, which requires overall consideration, systematic planning and overall promotion, and correctly handles a series of major relations in the process of combining theory with practice.
The first is the relationship between top-level design and practical exploration. To handle this relationship well, we should not only focus on making the formulated planning and policy system reflect the times, grasp the regularity and be creative, but also make bold exploration in practice and promote the new development of the cause through reform and innovation. We must never wait for the boat.
The second is the relationship between strategy and tactics. To handle this relationship well, we should not only focus on enhancing the foresight, overall situation and stability of the strategy, but also provide scientific methods for the implementation of the strategy through the strategy, organically combine the principle of the strategy with the flexibility of the strategy, and grasp the strategic initiative in adapting to local conditions, moving with the situation and taking advantage of the trend to ensure the scientific and effective strategy.
The third is the relationship between integrity and innovation. To handle this relationship well, we should not only unswervingly adhere to the China characteristics, essential requirements and major principles of Chinese modernization, but also put innovation in a prominent position in the overall development of the country, conform to the requirements of the development of the times, focus on solving major theoretical and practical problems, vigorously promote reform and innovation, fully stimulate creativity, and constantly shape new development momentum and new advantages.
The fourth is the relationship between efficiency and fairness. To handle this relationship well, we should not only create higher efficiency than capitalism, but also safeguard social fairness more effectively, better realize the balance, promotion and unity of efficiency and fairness, and fundamentally combine the stimulation of the whole society’s creative vitality with the realization of various interests.
The fifth is the relationship between vitality and order. To handle this relationship well, we should not only deepen the reform of all aspects of the system and mechanism, fully release the creative potential of the whole society, but also coordinate development and security, implement the overall concept of national security, improve the national security system, enhance the ability to safeguard national security, firmly safeguard the security of state power, system, ideology and key areas, and improve the level of public security governance.
Sixth, the relationship between self-reliance and opening up. To handle this relationship well, we should not only insist on independence, self-reliance, the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength, but also firmly grasp the fate of China’s development and progress in our own hands. At the same time, we should constantly expand the high-level opening up, deeply participate in the global industrial division and cooperation, make good use of both domestic and international resources, and expand the development space of Chinese modernization.
The unique world outlook, values, historical outlook, civilization outlook, democratic outlook, ecological outlook and the correct handling of a series of major relations fully show the bright background of dialectical materialism and historical materialism in the methodology of the supreme leader’s economic thought.
The methodological essence of answering the topic of the times
In November 2015, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out in his speech at the 28th collective study in the 18th the Political Bureau of the Central Committee that "we should base ourselves on China’s national conditions and our development practice, deeply study the new situation and problems facing the world economy and China’s economy, reveal new features and new laws, refine and summarize the regular achievements of China’s economic development practice, turn practical experience into a systematic economic theory, constantly open up a new realm of Marxist political economy in contemporary China, and contribute China wisdom to the innovative development of Marxist political economy". In August 2020, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out in his speech at the symposium of experts in the economic and social fields that "learning and understanding the basic principles and methodology of Marxist political economy will help us master scientific economic analysis methods, understand the process of economic movement, grasp the law of economic development, improve our ability to control the socialist market economy, and accurately answer theoretical and practical questions about China’s economic development." The rich practice of reform, opening up and socialist modernization in the new era is a "rich mine" for theoretical and policy research, and theoretical workers in the economic and social fields in China have great potential. The hopes put forward by the Supreme Leader General Secretary can also be said to be a new interpretation of the formation and development of China’s "systematic economic theory", which emphasizes the following four important issues from the methodological level.
First, starting from the national conditions, starting from the practice in China and going to the practice in China, we should write the thesis on the land of the motherland, so as to make theoretical and policy innovations conform to the reality of China and have the characteristics of China, and constantly develop Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s political economy and sociology. The supreme leader’s economic thought is based on China’s national conditions and economic reform and development practice in the new era, which is the sublimation of experience accumulation and rational understanding in this development practice. Whether it is to strengthen the party’s overall leadership over economic work, adhere to the people-centered development thinking, enter a new stage of development, adhere to new development concepts, build a new development pattern, and promote high-quality development, whether it is to uphold and improve the socialist basic economic system, adhere to the "two unwavering", build a high-level socialist market economic system, win the tough battle against poverty, and comprehensively promote rural revitalization. All of them are put forward from the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism, and all of them come from practice and have been tested by practice, and their theoretical innovations are in line with China’s reality, full of China characteristics and full of China’s wisdom.
Second, in-depth research, examine the facts, make practical moves, fully reflect the actual situation, and make theoretical and policy innovations well-founded and reasonable. The supreme leader’s economic thought has given us a profound enlightenment: to face the future and enhance the ability of independent innovation, the most important thing is to unswervingly follow the road of independent innovation with China characteristics, adhere to the policy of independent innovation, leapfrog key points, support development and lead the future, and accelerate the pace of building an innovative country. In this regard, we must conduct in-depth research, examine the facts and make practical moves, and realize theoretical innovation and practical innovation on the basis of fully reflecting the actual situation. The theory and policy of "implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening the talent support for modernization" put forward by Report to the 20th CPC National Congress of the Party is the result of applying this methodology. In the new era, in the deep thinking of the actual situation that global scientific and technological innovation has entered an unprecedented intensive and active period, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "We have ushered in the historic intersection of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation in the world and the transformation of development mode in China, facing both a once-in-a-lifetime historical opportunity and a severe challenge of widening the gap. We must be soberly aware that some historical intersection periods may have the same frequency resonance, and some historical intersection periods may also pass by. " To seize the opportunity of this "intersection period", in the final analysis, it depends on talents and science and technology, while talents and science and technology depend on education. In theory and policy, we must adhere to the integrated deployment and coordinated promotion of education, science and technology and talents.And from this, the "real move" is obtained. This is what the Party’s Report to the 20th CPC National Congress put forward: "Education, science and technology and talents are the basic and strategic supports for building a socialist modern country in an all-round way. We must adhere to the principle that science and technology are the primary productive force, talents are the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. We must thoroughly implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talents, and the strategy of innovation-driven development, open up new fields and new tracks for development, and constantly shape new kinetic energy and new advantages for development. " Thus, it has broadened the new horizon of the systematization of the supreme leader’s economic thought.
Third, grasp the law, adhere to the Marxist stand, viewpoint and method, look at the essence through phenomena, and explore the long-term trend from short-term fluctuations, so that theoretical and policy innovation can fully reflect the advanced and scientific nature. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader profoundly grasped and scientifically analyzed the new changes in the reform and opening up in the new era, and put forward in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that "the main contradiction in our society has been transformed into the contradiction between the people’s growing needs for a better life and the unbalanced development". On the one hand, the change of major social contradictions is a historical change that concerns the overall situation and the long-term trend of China’s economic development. On the basis of continuing to promote development, we should focus on solving the problem of insufficient development imbalance, vigorously improve the quality and efficiency of development, and better meet the growing needs of the people in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological aspects. On the other hand, the main social contradictions are reflected in the short-term fluctuation of the balance between supply and demand. In a certain period of economic development, the imbalance and insufficiency of supply in the staged development will be directly reflected in the short-term fluctuation of people’s demand in all aspects. From this perspective, correctly grasping and handling the main social contradictions has become the theoretical basis and internal basis for "exploring long-term trends from short-term fluctuations".
Fourthly, we should establish an international perspective, explore the common problems faced by mankind from the interaction between China and the world, and contribute China wisdom and China plan to build a community of human destiny. An important revelation of China’s reform and opening-up for more than 40 years is that opening-up brings progress, while closure is bound to lag behind. The development of China cannot be separated from the world, and the prosperity of the world also needs China. We have made overall plans for both domestic and international situations, adhered to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, and implemented a proactive opening policy, forming a new pattern of all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging opening-up, which has created a good international environment and opened up broad development space for China. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China’s wisdom and China’s plan of "establishing an international vision" have been embodied in promoting the building of a community of human destiny, jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, setting up a free trade pilot zone, planning a free trade port with China characteristics, and promoting high-level opening up. When reviewing the ten-year course of building the Belt and Road, the Supreme Leader General Secretary pointed out: "Building together ‘ Belt and Road ’ Originated in China, achievements and opportunities belong to the world. Let us bear in mind the people’s expectations, shoulder the historical burden bravely, carry forward the past and forge ahead bravely, and deepen ‘ Belt and Road ’ International cooperation, welcome to build together ‘ Belt and Road ’ New development with higher quality and level will promote the modernization of all countries in the world.Build an open, inclusive, interconnected and common development world and jointly promote the building of a community of human destiny! In the new era and new journey, to establish an international vision, we should focus on building the Belt and Road with high quality, build a new platform for international cooperation with all parties, and add new impetus to the common development of the world. We should expand the theoretical horizon of "systematic economic theory" with China characteristics from two interrelated aspects: domestic economy and world economy.
(This article Source: Economic Daily Author: Gu Hailiang, Director of Peking University Supreme Leader Economic Thought Research Center)