Chinas Socialist Primary Stage Core Principles | Generated by AI
Question: Briefly describe the main content of the basic line for the primary stage of socialism.
Answer:
The basic line for the primary stage of socialism in China (also known as the Party’s basic line in the primary stage of socialism) was formally established at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1987 and has been consistently upheld and reiterated since then.
Its main content can be summarized as follows:
“One central task and two basic points” (一个中心、两个基本点), with the full formulation being:
Lead and unite the people of all ethnic groups in China,
taking economic construction as the central task,
upholding the Four Cardinal Principles,
upholding reform and opening up,
relying on our own efforts and working hard and enterprisingly,
to build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious modern socialist country.
Key elements explained briefly:
- Leadership and unity of the people of all ethnic groups — emphasizes the Party’s leadership and the broadest united front.
- Economic construction as the central task — the core and overriding priority; all other work must serve and promote economic development.
- Upholding the Four Cardinal Principles (坚持四项基本原则) —
- Upholding the socialist road,
- Upholding the people’s democratic dictatorship,
- Upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China,
- Upholding Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. These are the political foundation and fundamental guarantee.
- Upholding reform and opening up — the basic path and powerful driving force for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
- Self-reliance, hard work, and pioneering spirit — reflects the fundamental spirit and fine tradition of the Chinese nation and the Chinese Communist Party.
- The goal — to build a prosperous (富强), strong (民主), civilized (文明), harmonious (和谐), and beautiful socialist modernized country (富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国).
This basic line has been the fundamental guideline for the Party and the country since the reform and opening-up period, and it continues to be reaffirmed in successive Party congresses (including the 20th National Congress in 2022).
References:
- None (this is a standard, official formulation from CPC documents and textbooks)