Study Outline on Deng Xiaoping's Economic Theory

Author: Compiled by the General Office of the Central Financial and Economic Leading Group
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Preface to "Outline for Learning the Theory of Deng Xiaoping on Building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" (March 17, 1993) by Jiang Zemin
Great practice requires great theory. The Communist Party of China, rich in theoretical creativity, achieved two historic leaps in combining Marxism with the realities of China, producing two major theoretical achievements. The first leap found China's own revolutionary path and established Mao Zedong Thought; the second leap found China's own path for socialist construction and established Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The 14th National Congress determined to arm the entire Party with Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing the study of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, with the central focus being the study of Deng Xiaoping's theory. This is a long-term, strategically significant task in the Party's ideological and theoretical construction. Since the 14th National Congress, the Central Committee has repeatedly emphasized the need to deepen the study, promotion, and research of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, closely aligning it with the demands of the situation and tasks. This is essential for advancing China's reform and opening-up and modernization drive, and for achieving new, greater victories in the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Five years after Comrade Deng Xiaoping's important talks in the south, the theoretical level of all Party members in Marxism has improved, and profound and historic changes have taken place across the nation. This once again proves that once theory is grasped by the masses, it becomes a tremendous material force. Our country is in a critical period of establishing a socialist market economy system and advancing socialist modernization. By the end of this century, we must fully achieve the second-phase strategic goal and preliminarily establish a socialist market economy system. On this basis, we will move toward the third-phase strategic goal, forming a more mature and complete system of institutions for building socialism with Chinese characteristics in all aspects. While deepening economic reforms, we must continue to advance political reforms, adhering to the requirement of combining democratization with the rule of law, developing socialist democracy, improving the socialist legal system, governing the country according to law, and maintaining social stability and long-term peace. We must continue to implement the strategy of promoting both material and spiritual civilization together, further opening up new prospects for the construction of socialist spiritual civilization.
The new situation and tasks demand that we redouble our efforts to elevate the study of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level, further arming the minds of Party members, cadres, and especially leaders at all levels with this theory. Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics is rich, profound, and comprehensive, covering fundamental issues in China's current stage of economic, political, cultural, military, foreign, and Party-building development. To elevate the study of this theory to a new level, we must organize Party members, cadres, and especially leaders at all levels to make efforts in both depth and breadth, gaining a more complete and accurate understanding of the theory and mastering and applying its system to guide our work. We must pay attention not only to grasping the basic content, views, and spirit of the theory as a whole and in its scientific system but also to systematically studying and understanding the relevant theories and policies in the key areas discussed in the theory.
Comrade Mao Zedong has always attached great importance to combining the Party's overall line and policies with specific work plans and policies, ensuring they are unified and implemented together. He emphasized, "Only by having a set of specific policies and measures suitable for the situation in all aspects of industry, agriculture, commerce, education, the military, government, and the Party, under the guidance of the overall line, can we persuade cadres and masses and use these as teaching materials to educate them." He also said, "Without a set of teaching materials and systematic policy education, there can be no unified understanding or unified action." Comrade Deng Xiaoping highly valued Comrade Mao Zedong's perspective and, from the beginning of the new era, stressed the need to seriously implement Comrade Mao's spirit of having both an overall line and policies as well as specific work plans and policies. In his important talks in the south in 1992, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out, "Since reform and opening-up, we have established many rules, and they are comprehensive. There are clear policies and guidelines in all aspects of the economy, politics, science and technology, education, culture, military, and foreign affairs, with precise expressions."
Now, to better implement the Party's basic theory, basic line, basic policies, and basic policies in key areas, following the publication of the "Outline for Learning Comrade Deng Xiaoping's Theory of Building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee, relevant central departments have successively compiled theoretical outlines on Deng Xiaoping's economic theory, theory of military and national defense construction, and other fields. This is a meaningful step in deepening the study of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Deepening the study of this theory requires, first and foremost, persistently and seriously studying the original works, focusing on mastering them. At the same time, using the theoretical outlines on various aspects as important supplementary materials will also help deepen the understanding and grasp of the scientific system and spiritual essence of Deng Xiaoping's theory, enhancing the consciousness and determination to implement the Party's basic line, basic policies, and basic principles.
Deepening the study of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, fundamentally, means seriously learning how Comrade Deng Xiaoping applies the stance, perspective, and methods of Marxism to study new situations and solve new problems with a scientific attitude and creative spirit. The focus is on learning Comrade Deng Xiaoping's firm political stance in upholding the socialist path and his sense of mission in realizing the lofty ideal of communism; learning his scientific attitude of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, taking practice as the sole criterion for truth, boldly exploring and innovating; and learning his trust in the masses, respect for their pioneering spirit, and adherence to the work line and methods of "from the masses, to the masses," thereby continuously improving our level of Marxist ideological, political, and theoretical understanding and strengthening the principle, system, foresight, and creativity in our work.
Deepening the study of Deng Xiaoping's theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics also requires closely linking it with the work and ideological realities of our regions, departments, units, and individuals, effectively advancing all aspects of reform and opening-up and modernization. For this, cadres at all levels, especially senior cadres, must take the lead in doing so. Through in-depth, systematic study and courageous practice, we must actively explore and master the development laws of the socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics, the political system, culture, and all other undertakings, carrying forward the legacy of the past and opening up the future, and advancing the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century.