中国式现代化问与答（一）——对中国式现代化的总体认知

对中国式现代化的总体认知

1. 实现现代化是近代以来人类社会发展的主旋律。什么是现代化？什么是中国式现代化？二者之间有何联系？

现代化，是一个世界性的客观现象。从人类社会发展历史看，现代化进程发端于18世纪的英国等西欧国家，随后扩展到北美地区，20世纪特别是第二次世界大战后成为一种世界性潮流。现代化从西方国家发轫以来，经过几个世纪的发展，给人类社会带来了突飞猛进的进步，特别是物质领域创造的财富比过去所有时间的总和还要多，整个世界的面貌都发生了前所未有的巨大改变。

现代化一般是指一个国家或地区在政治、经济、社会、文化、生态等各领域构建整体现代社会的历史发展过程，通常包括工业化、城市化、科技进步、文化发展等多个方面的内容，实现现代化是近代以来人类社会孜孜以求的发展目标，是世界各国发展的必由之路，也是提升国家经济科技实力、实现富强繁荣的重要手段。

中国式现代化既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色，是现代化一般性与特殊性的辩证统一。从现代化发展历程来讲，中国式现代化具备现代化的共同特征，从属于世界现代化发展历程，是世界现代化发展的重要组成部分。与此同时，中国式现代化又是现代化发展的特色模式开辟，是中国共产党在实践中基于国情发展的现代化探索，具有自己的特色。

从本质上看，中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，是独具特色、有别于资本主义的现代化，始终坚持社会主义目标和方向。中国式现代化是人口规模巨大的现代化，是全体人民共同富裕的现代化，是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，是走和平发展道路的现代化。

中国是最大的发展中国家，所以中国式现代化也是发展中国家的现代化，开辟了后发国家走向现代化的崭新道路。不同于西方按照工业化、城镇化、农业现代化、信息化的先后顺序线性发展，中国则是推动工业化、城镇化、农业现代化与信息化的并联式发展。中国式现代化的成功实践表明，西方现代化道路并非人类通向现代化的唯一道路，中国式现代化道路拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的途径，给世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了全新选择。

2. 如何理解中国式现代化具有各国现代化的共同特征？

世界各国现代化发展的历程表明，现代化作为人类社会发展的一种世界性潮流和全球性运动，既有世界各国现代化发展的特殊性和各国特色，又有世界各国现代化发展的共同特征。世界各国现代化发展的共同特征离不开世界各国现代化发展的特殊性和各国特色，它寓于世界各国现代化发展的特殊性和各国特色之中，由世界各国现代化发展的普遍规律所决定。一般认为，这些共同特征包括：生产领域的工业化、经济领域的市场化、政治领域的民主化、文化领域的理性化、社会领域的法治化、生活领域的城市化、生态领域的绿色化等。一般来说，一个国家或地区要实现现代化，也都会具备有这些共同特征。

中国式现代化作为现代化的一种模式，自然具有各国现代化的共同特征。正如习近平主席所讲:“中国式现代化既切合中国实际，体现了社会主义建设规律，也体现了人类社会发展普遍规律。”与世界其他经历现代化的国家一样，中国式现代化也经历了或正在经历工业化、城市化、信息化。例如，2023年中国制造业增加值占全球比重约30%，连续14年居全球首位；中国的人口城市化率由1990年的26.4%提升至2020年的63.9%；2023年中国的互联网普及率达77.5%，网民规模约为10.92亿。这些数字的背后反映出我国生产生活方式、社会关系、思维观念、社会结构等一系列转变，既体现了人类社会发展普遍规律，也呈现了各国现代化具有的共同特征。中国式现代化作为后发国家的现代化，要想把“失去的二百年”找回来，后来居上，一方面必须发挥后发优势，立足中国实际，走自己的路，全面推进具有自身特色的现代化；另一方面，必须以海纳百川的宽阔胸襟吸收借鉴人类一切优秀文明成果，始终遵从人类社会发展规律，在世界现代化发展大势和时代潮流中把握和推动中国式现代化发展。

3. 有国外民众认为中国还需几个世纪才能实现中国式现代化。实现中国式现代化的总体安排和路径是什么？

中国式现代化承载着几代中国人的梦想。中国共产党自成立之日起就把实现中华民族伟大复兴作为自己的历史使命。围绕着这一根本使命，中国共产党探索中国式现代化道路、推进中国式现代化事业，提出了建成社会主义现代化强国的总目标。在推进中国式现代化的过程中，中国共产党立足我国发展实际，在不同时期提出了不同的目标任务。

新中国成立之初，中国共产党就提出了现代化的发展目标。1954年9月，中国首次提出工业、农业、交通运输业和国防四个现代化的任务，1964年正式提出农业、工业、国防、科学技术“四个现代化”的宏伟目标。改革开放后，中国式现代化的战略安排和实施步骤更加细化。1987年10月，中国制定了现代化“三步走”战略：第一步到1990年实现国民生产总值比1980年翻一番，第二步到20世纪末国民生产总值再增长一倍，第三步到21世纪中叶人民生活比较富裕，基本实现现代化。在此基础上，1997年9月，我们提出了新“三步走”战略。第一步，实现2010年国民生产总值比2000年翻一番，使人民的小康生活更加宽裕，形成比较完善的社会主义市场经济体制；第二步，到建党一百周年时，全面建成小康社会，使国民经济取得更大的发展，各项制度更加完善；第三步，到新中国成立一百周年时，基本实现现代化，建成富强民主文明的社会主义国家。随着中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中国式现代化的时间表、路线图更加全面立体。2017年10月，在原有目标基础上，中国提出了全面建成社会主义现代化强国的目标，并作出了分两步走的战略安排：从2020年到2035年基本实现社会主义现代化；从2035年到本世纪中叶把中国建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。

在上述战略安排的指导下，到20世纪70年代末，中国建立起了独立自主的、比较完整的工业体系和国民经济体系；到20世纪90年代中期，中国提前实现了前两步走的目标要求；到2020年，中国消除了绝对贫困，完成了全面建成小康社会的历史任务，实现了第一个百年奋斗目标。在中国式现代化的总体安排下，中国仅用几十年时间就走完了发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，创造了经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹，现在中国正处在向第二个百年奋斗目标进军的新征程中，中国必然能够顺利实现奋斗目标，创造新的奇迹。

4. 如何理解实现中国式现代化与社会主义初级阶段之间的关系？ 

实现国家现代化，是近代以来中华民族孜孜以求的梦想。中国式现代化是中国共产党领导中国各族人民在长期探索和实践中历经千辛万苦、付出巨大代价取得的重大成果。百余年的奋斗历程有力地证明，中国式现代化走得通、行得稳，是强国建设、民族复兴的唯一正确道路。党的二十大提出了以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的中心任务。

社会主义初级阶段是我们党重要的理论和实践创新。社会主义初级阶段不是泛指任何国家进入社会主义都会经历的起始阶段，而是特指我国在生产力落后、商品经济不发达的条件下建设社会主义必然要经历的特定阶段——即从1956年社会主义改造基本完成到21世纪中叶社会主义现代化基本实现的整个历史阶段。

一切从实际出发，理论联系实际，实事求是，是我们党在长期的革命和建设实践中确立的思想路线，是我们党认识、分析和处理问题所遵循的最根本的指导原则和思想基础。我国处在社会主义初级阶段，是中国共产党对于当前中国基本国情的科学判断，中国式现代化深深植根于这个基本国情。今天，我们比历史上任何时期都更接近、更有信心和能力实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标。但是，我们必须清醒认识到，我国仍处于并将长期处于社会主义初级阶段，我国仍然是世界最大的发展中国家，社会主要矛盾是人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾。大力推进中国式现代化，必须要立足于这个最大实际，全面深入把握中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求和重大原则。从现实条件看，社会主义初级阶段是实现中国式现代化的基本前提。从目标任务看，社会主义初级阶段的任务是全面实现现代化，那么中国式现代化的实现也是我国从社会主义初级阶段迈向更高阶段的本质要求。

5. 实现中国式现代化对中国未来发展有何影响？

党的二十大报告明确指出：“全面建成社会主义现代化强国，总的战略安排是分两步走：从二〇二〇年到二〇三五年基本实现社会主义现代化；从二〇三五年到本世纪中叶把我国建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。”

全面建成社会主义现代化强国后，我国的物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明将全面提升，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局将取得标志性成果。在经济建设方面，全面形成高质量发展模式和高水平的现代化经济体系，国家创新能力、社会生产力水平和核心竞争力名列世界前茅，成为全球主要科学中心、创新高地和重大科技成果输出地。在政治建设方面，全面实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，中国特色社会主义制度更加巩固、优越性充分发挥，全面建成法治国家、法治政府、法治社会，充分实现全过程人民民主，社会主义民主政治更加成熟完善。在文化建设方面，在全社会形成与社会主义现代化强国相适应的理想信念、价值理念、道德观念和精神风貌，全民族文化创新创造活力充分释放，公民文明素质和社会文明程度显著提高，中国精神、中国价值、中国力量在全球进一步彰显。在社会建设方面，全体人民共同富裕基本实现，全社会实现高质量充分就业，收入分配的公平程度排在世界前列，城乡居民将普遍拥有较高的收入、富裕的生活、健全的基本公共服务，社会充满活力而又规范有序。在生态文明建设方面，美丽中国全面建成，天蓝、地绿、水净、山青的优美生态环境成为普遍形态，实现人与自然和谐共生的现代化，成为全球生态环境保护领先的国家。

全面建成社会主义现代化强国后，中国的经济社会将实现全面进步、国家“硬实力”和“软实力”将得到全面提升，人民的物质生活更加富足、精神生活更加丰富。到那时，具有5000多年文明历史的中华民族将焕发出前所未有的生机活力，将以更加昂扬的姿态屹立于世界民族之林。

6. 在中国式现代化新征程上，我国面临的问题有哪些？

党的十八大以来，我们采取一系列战略性举措，推进一系列变革性实践，取得一系列标志性成果，经受住了来自国家安全、政治经济、意识形态、自然挑战等各方面的风险考验，党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，为中国式现代化提供了更为完善的制度保证、更为坚实的物质基础、更为主动的精神力量，推动我国迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。

在充分肯定党和国家事业取得举世瞩目成就的同时，必须清醒认识到，我们的工作还存在一些不足，面临不少困难和问题。发展不平衡不充分的问题仍然突出，推进高质量发展还有许多瓶颈，科技创新能力有待继续加强；确保粮食、能源、产业链供应链等可靠安全以及防范化解金融风险还须解决许多重大问题；重点领域改革还有不少硬骨头要啃；意识形态领域存在不少挑战；城乡区域发展和收入分配差距仍然较大；人民群众在就业、教育、医疗、托育、养老、住房等方面还面临不少难题；生态环境保护任务依然艰巨；一些党员、干部缺乏担当精神，斗争本领不强，实干精神不足，形式主义、官僚主义现象仍较突出；铲除腐败滋生土壤任务依然艰巨，等等。对这些问题，我们已经采取一系列措施加以解决，今后必须加大工作力度。

当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变的特征更加明显。我国发展面临新的战略机遇、新的战略任务、新的战略阶段、新的战略要求和新的战略环境，需要应对的风险挑战、需要解决的矛盾问题比以往更加错综复杂。我们必须增强忧患意识，坚持底线思维，坚定斗争意志，增强斗争本领，以正确的战略策略应变局、育新机、开新局，依靠顽强斗争打开事业发展新天地。

7. 中国目前仍然存在明显的贫富差距、东西差距、城乡差距、精物差距（指精神文明与物质文明），中国式现代化演进中如何解决这些问题？

共同富裕是社会主义的本质要求，是中国式现代化的重要特征。我们说的共同富裕是全体人民的共同富裕，是物质生活和精神生活全面提高的共同富裕，不是少数人的富裕，也不是整齐划一的平均主义。党的十八大以来，我们把逐步实现全体人民共同富裕摆在更加重要的位置上，推动城乡区域协调发展，为促进共同富裕创造了良好条件。同时，必须清醒认识到，我国发展不平衡不充分问题仍然突出，城乡区域发展和收入分配差距较大，共同富裕任重道远，需要扎实推进，久久为功。

破解上述发展不平衡的难题，首先要深入研究不同阶段的目标，分阶段发展，把共同富裕融入到全面建设社会主义现代化国家的一体规划中：到“十四五”末期，全体人民共同富裕迈出坚实步伐，居民收入和实际消费水平差距逐步缩小。到2035年，全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展，基本公共服务实现均等化。到本世纪中叶，全体人民共同富裕基本实现，居民收入和实际消费水平差距缩小到合理区间。要抓紧制定促进共同富裕行动纲要，提出科学可行、符合国情的指标体系和考核评估办法，循序渐进，尽力而为，量力而行。

其次，扎实推进共同富裕的总体思路是：坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，在高质量发展中促进共同富裕，正确处理效率和公平的关系，构建初次分配、再分配、三次分配协调配套的基础性制度安排，加大税收、社保、转移支付等调节力度并提高精准性，扩大中等收入群体比重，增加低收入群体收入，合理调节高收入，取缔非法收入，形成中间大、两头小的橄榄型分配结构，促进社会公平正义，促进人的全面发展，使全体人民朝着共同富裕目标扎实迈进。

第三，要着力提高发展的平衡性、协调性、包容性。要加快完善社会主义市场经济体制，推动发展更平衡、更协调、更包容。要增强区域发展的平衡性，深入实施区域重大战略和区域协调发展战略，健全转移支付制度，缩小区域人均财政支出差异，加大对欠发达地区的支持力度。要强化行业发展的协调性，加快垄断行业改革，推动金融、房地产同实体经济协调发展。要支持中小企业发展，构建大中小企业相互依存、相互促进的企业发展生态。要加强物质文明与精神文明协调发展，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局，牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权，弘扬社会主义核心价值观，推动文化事业和文化产业协调发展。

8. 有人认为中国式现代化仅涉及经济实力和人民的生活水平，法治的落实、信息的透明、社会的多元与开放、人民的个人权利获得保障等元素未被纳入，因此不是全面意义上的现代化。对此如何理解？

中国式现代化是全面发展、全面进步的现代化，是涵盖所有人群、所有领域的真正意义上的现代化。中国式现代化的本质是人的现代化，坚持“四个全面”战略布局和“五位一体”总体布局，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，推动实现人的全面发展和社会的全面进步。

首先，在现代化的本质上，中国式现代化强调现代化的本质是人的现代化，是人与社会整体现代化的辩证统一。中国式现代化坚持“以人民为中心”的发展思想，实现人的现代化、推动人的全面发展，是中国式现代化的本质特征、根本原则和基本逻辑。中国式现代化始终坚持人民主体地位，致力于维护人民安全、不断保障和改善人民生活，把实现好、维护好、发展好最广大人民根本利益作为一切工作的出发点和落脚点，把人民拥护不拥护、赞成不赞成、高兴不高兴、答应不答应作为衡量一切工作得失的根本标准。

其次，在现代化的战略布局上，中国式现代化强调坚持“四个全面”的战略布局，是全面建设社会主义现代化国家与全面深化改革、全面依法治国、全面从严治党的辩证统一。“四个全面”战略布局是由一大战略目标、三大战略举措构成的系统布局，是艰巨复杂的系统工程，是紧密联系、相互贯通、环环相扣的顶层设计。

最后，在现代化的总体布局上，中国式现代化强调坚持“五位一体”的总体布局，是经济建设、政治建设、社会建设、文化建设和生态文明建设的辩证统一。中国式现代化与“五大建设”之间是系统与要素、整体与局部的关系，“五大建设”之间相互联系、相互促进、互为条件、不可分割，共同构成中国式现代化的“五个轮子”，其中经济建设是根本，政治建设是前提，文化建设是灵魂，社会建设是基础，生态文明建设是保障。中国式现代化“五位一体”的总体布局是对以经济现代化、物质现代化为标志的西方现代化的超越。

9. 中国的城镇化、工业化进程衍生出粮食安全、共同富裕、城乡工农关系失衡等一系列问题，这对中国经济社会发展以及实现现代化有何影响？

发展不平衡问题是国际社会普遍存在的问题，许多国家都有，不仅一国内部，在国与国之间、地区与地区之间也都存在。上世纪60年代以前，国际上讲发展，主要是讲经济增长，认为经济增长就是发展。在这种发展理念指导下，一些发展中国家都以工业化、城镇化作为发展目标，片面追求GDP的增长,而忽略社会的变革等,结果造成贫富两极分化、农业衰败、粮食不足、资源短缺、城乡差距恶化等诸多经济社会问题。上世纪70年代开始，国际上一些学者对“增长”及“发展”等概念进行反思，并逐步提出全面发展的理念，即发展是包括经济增长和结构优化在内的以人为本的经济、社会、生态全面现代化的观点。

工业化、城镇化是现代化的重要动力，也是中国式现代化的重要引擎，但在一定程度上也衍生出粮食安全、共同富裕、城乡工农关系失衡等一系列不平衡问题。随着社会主要矛盾转化，我国现代化进程中的发展不平衡、不充分的问题更加凸显，并且相互掣肘，产生出很多新的社会矛盾和问题，是现阶段各种社会矛盾、社会问题交织的主要根源，制约了现代化整体发展水平的提升。

中国式现代化是全面发展的现代化，协调是中国迈向现代化的潜力优势，也是增强发展整体性的重要手段。在新发展阶段，我们将着力解决发展不平衡不充分的问题，坚持以推动高质量发展为主题，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，坚持系统观念，把推动高质量发展的要求贯彻到经济社会发展的全过程全领域，处理好局部和全局、当前和长远、重点和非重点的关系，着力推进城乡融合和区域协调发展，形成经济富裕、政治民主、文化繁荣、社会公平、生态良好的发展格局，把我国建设成为富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化国家。

10. 如何理解中国共产党领导人民成功走出中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态？

习近平主席在庆祝中国共产党成立100周年大会上指出：“我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，推动物质文明、政治文明、精神文明、社会文明、生态文明协调发展，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态。”

人类文明形态因多样而丰富，因丰富而多彩。世界上没有放之四海皆准的发展道路和发展模式。从古至今，人类文明形态都是丰富多样、和而不同的。文明代表着一个国家发展进步的程度。在不同历史时期、不同社会类型中，文明会呈现出不同的样式、形态和发展水平，表现出不同的内在原则和价值取向。西方现代化模式的确创造了许多有益的文明成果，但也具有其内在的矛盾弊端和历史局限。因此，照搬照抄西方现代化模式的国家往往都面临着种种问题，严重者甚至出现经济停滞、政治动荡、文化冲突、国家分裂。中国式现代化不是苏联模式，更不是西方资本主义模式，而是一场文明延续、迭代与创新的巨变，它不仅生动地刻画了中华五千年文明赓续的特殊规律，更在多个维度上探寻着人类文明特别是发展中国家、后起国家文明复兴的普遍规律，以及不同文明在同一时空环境下交融互鉴的普遍格局。

人类文明新形态既是中国式现代化道路的产物，深刻印证了中国特色社会主义的生机与活力，同时也是中国式现代化道路向纵深发展的起点，为新时代中国特色社会主义伟大事业持续推进指明了发展道路，规定了价值指向，积累了前进动力。人类文明新形态也证明了现代化不等于西方化，现代化道路的选择也具有深刻的自主性和多样性。给世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了全新的可能。这既是中国智慧的体现、中国力量的彰显，更是中国担当的表达。

General Understanding of Chinese Modernization

1. Question: Achieving modernization has been the main theme of the development of human society since modern times. What is modernization? What is Chinese modernization? What is the relationship between the two?

Answer: Modernization is a global objective phenomenon. From the perspective of the development history of human society, the modernization process began in countries like Britain and other Western European nations in the 18th century, then expanded to North America, and became a global trend in the 20th century, particularly after World War II. Since its inception in Western countries, modernization has brought rapid progress to human society over the past few centuries, especially in the material realm, creating more wealth than the combined total in the previous times, and has drastically reshaped the whole world in an unprecedented manner.

Modernization generally refers to the historical development process in which a country or region constructs an overall modern society across various fields, such as politics, economy, society, culture, and ecology. It typically involves aspects such as industrialization, urbanization, scientific and technological progress, and cultural development. Achieving modernization has been the relentless pursuit of human society since modern times. It is an inevitable path for the development of all countries around the world, as well as an important means to enhance national economic and technological strength and achieve prosperity.

Chinese modernization contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. It is the dialectical unity of the generality and particularity of modernization. From the perspective of the modernization development process, Chinese modernization shares common characteristics of modernization. It is part of the global modernization development process, and an important component of global modernization development. At the same time, it is a distinctive model of modernization, pioneered in practice by the Communist Party of China (the CPC) based on China’s national conditions, and therefore has its own unique characteristics.

Essentially, Chinese modernization is a socialist one led by the Communist Party of China. It is unique and different from capitalist modernization, and always adheres to the goals and direction of socialism. It is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. 

China is the largest developing country, and therefore, Chinese modernization is also the modernization of developing countries, creating a new path for latecomers to achieve modernization. Unlike the linear development sequence of industrialization, urbanization, agricultural modernization, and informatization seen in the West, China promotes the parallel development of these four processes. The successful practice of Chinese modernization demonstrates that the Western path to modernization is not the only route for humanity. The Chinese path to modernization represents an expansion of the avenues available to developing countries to achieve modernization, offering a new choice for nations that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence. 

2. Question: How should we understand that Chinese modernization share common characteristics with the modernization of other countries?

Answer: The history of modernization across various countries around the world shows that modernization, as a global trend and movement in the development of human society, presents not only the particularities and characteristics of modernization in different countries, but also the common features of modernization across different countries. The common characteristics of modernization across various countries worldwide are inseparable from the particularities and characteristics of modernization in different countries. These common characteristics are embedded within the particularities and characteristics of modernization in different countries and are determined by the universal laws of modernization. It is generally believed that these common characteristics include industrialization in the production sector, marketization in the economic sector, democratization in the political sector, rationalization in the cultural sector, rule of law in the social sector, urbanization in the living sector, and greening in the ecological sector. Generally speaking, a country or region will have these common characteristics in its modernization.

As one of the models of modernization, Chinese modernization naturally possesses the common characteristics of modernization across various countries. As President Xi Jinping stated: “Chinese modernization suits China’s realities and respects the laws governing socialist development and human progress.” Like other countries that have undergone modernization, China has experienced or is experiencing industrialization, urbanization and informatization. For example, in 2023, China’s manufacturing added value accounted for about 30% of the global total, ranking first in the world for 14 consecutive years. China’s urbanization rate increased from 26.4% in 1990 to 63.9% in 2020. In 2023, China’s internet penetration rate reached 77.5%, with approximately 1.092 billion internet users. These figures reflect a series of transformations in our production and lifestyle, social relations, ways of thinking and social structure, embodying both the universal laws governing human progress and the elements common to the modernization processes of all countries. As the modernization of a latecomer, Chinese modernization aims to recover the “lost two hundred years” and make China a leader. On the one hand, it must leverage the advantages of being a latecomer, base itself on China’s realities, follow its own path, and comprehensively advance modernization with its own characteristics. On the other hand, it must draw on all the outstanding achievements of human civilization with an open and inclusive mindset, always adhere to the laws governing human progress, and grasp and promote the development of Chinese modernization within the trend of global modernization and the tide of the times.

3. Question: Some foreigners believe that China will need several centuries to achieve Chinese modernization. What is the overall plan and path for achieving Chinese modernization?

Answer: Chinese modernization carries the dreams of several generations of Chinese people. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has taken the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its historical mission. Based on this fundamental mission, the Communist Party of China has explored the path and advanced the cause of Chinese modernization, and proposed the overall goal of building China into a great modern socialist country. In the process of advancing Chinese modernization, the Communist Party of China has based its efforts on the realities of our country and proposed different objectives and tasks at different periods.

In the early years after the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, the Communist Party of China proposed the development goal of modernization. In September 1954, China proposed for the first time the tasks of modernizing industry, agriculture, transportation and national defense. In 1964, it formally proposed the grand goal of modernizing agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, known as the “Four Modernizations”. With the reform and opening-up, the strategic planning and implementation steps of Chinese modernization have become more detailed. In October 1987, China formulated the “Three-Step” strategy for modernization. The first step was to double the 1980 Gross National Product (GNP) by 1990; the second step was to further double the 1990 GNP by the end of the 20th century; and the third step was to ensure the people a relatively affluent life and achieve basic modernization by the mid-21st century. On this basis, in September 1997, China proposed a new “Three-Step” strategy. The first step was to double the 2000 GNP of the year 2000 by 2010, bring the people greater prosperity, and build a relatively complete socialist market economy system. The second step was to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, further develop the economy and have a full range of relevant systems in place by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021. The third step is to accomplish basic modernization and build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced socialist country by the time the People's Republic celebrates its centenary in 2049. As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era, the timetable and road map for Chinese modernization became more comprehensive and multidimensional. In October 2017, based on the original goals, China proposed the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and made a two-step strategic plan: basically realizing socialist modernization from 2020 to 2035; and building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.

Under the guidance of the above strategic arrangements, China had established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system by the end of the 1970s. The goals of the first two steps ahead of schedule had been achieved by the mid-1990s. By 2020, absolute poverty had been eliminated, and China completed the historical task of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and achieved the first centenary goal. Under the overall arrangement of Chinese modernization, China finished the industrialization process within just a few decades, a process that developed countries have spent hundreds of years to complete, and created the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. Now, China is on a new journey towards the second centenary goal, and it is bound to achieve its goal successfully and further create new miracles.

4. Question: How should we understand the relationship between the realization of Chinese modernization and the primary stage of socialism? 

Answer: The realization of national modernization has been a dream pursued diligently by the Chinese nation since modern times. Chinese modernization is a tremendous achievement obtained through the arduous exploration and practice led by the Communist Party of China, involving immense effort and sacrifice by the people of all ethnic groups in China. The century-long struggle has powerfully proven that Chinese modernization is a justifiable and deliverable cause, and it is the only correct path to building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation. The 20th CPC National Congress proposed the central task of advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

The primary stage of socialism is an important theoretical and practical innovation of the Communist Party of China. The primary stage of socialism does not generally refer to the initial stage that any country entering socialism will experience, but specifically refers to the particular stage that China must go through in building socialism under the conditions of backward productivity and an underdeveloped commodity economy—from the basic completion of socialist transformation in 1956 to the basic realization of socialist modernization by the mid-21st century.

Proceeding from reality in everything, integrating theory with practice, and seeking truth from facts are the ideological lines established by the CPC in the long-term revolutionary and development practices. They are the most fundamental guiding principles and ideological foundations for the CPC in understanding, analyzing, and addressing problems. China is in the primary stage of socialism, which is the scientific judgment of the Communist Party of China on the current basic conditions of China. Chinese modernization is deeply rooted in these basic national conditions. Today, we are closer, more confident, and more capable than at any time in history of achieving the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. However, we must clearly recognize that our country is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time. Our country is still the world’s largest developing country, and the principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing need for a better life. To vigorously promote Chinese modernization, we must base our efforts on this greatest reality, and comprehensively and deeply grasp the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese modernization. From the perspective of current conditions, the primary stage of socialism is the fundamental premise for achieving Chinese modernization. From the perspective of objectives and tasks, the task of the primary stage of socialism is to comprehensively achieve modernization. Therefore, the realization of Chinese modernization is an essential requirement for our country to move from the primary stage of socialism to a higher stage.

5. Question: What impact will Chinese modernization have on its future development?

Answer: The report of the 20th CPC National Congress clearly states: “To build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, we have adopted a two-step strategic plan: basically realize socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035; and build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.”

Upon building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, our country will see overall progress in the material, political, cultural-ethical, social and ecological areas. The holistic approach to the Five-sphere Integrated Plan will have achieved landmark results. In terms of economic development, a high-quality development model and a high-level modern economic system will be fully established. The country’s innovation capability, social productivity and core competitiveness will rank among the top in the world, making China a major global scientific center, an innovation hub, and a significant source of technological achievements. In terms of political development, the modernization of the system and capacity of governance will be fully realized. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics will be further consolidated, its advantages fully utilized, and a law-based country, government, and society will be in place in an overall manner. The whole-process people’s democracy will be fully realized, and socialist democratic politics will become more mature and complete. In terms of cultural development, ideals, beliefs, values and ethos that are compatible with a great modern socialist country will be formed throughout the society. The creative vitality of the culture of the entire nation will be fully unleashed, and the civilized quality of citizens and the level of social civilization will be significantly improved, and the Chinese spirit, values, and strength will be further highlighted globally. In terms of social development, the common prosperity for all will be basically achieved. High-quality and full employment will be realized throughout society, and China will rank among the top in the world in terms of the fairness of income distribution. Urban and rural residents will generally have high incomes, affluent lives, and sound basic public services. The society will be vibrant yet orderly. In terms of ecological civilization, the goal of Beautiful China will be fully realized, with a beautiful ecological environment becoming the norm, characterized by blue skies, green lands, clear waters, and lush mountains. It will be the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, making China a global leader in ecological and environmental protection.

Upon becoming a great modern socialist country in all respects, China will achieve comprehensive progress in its economic and social sectors, and the country’s “hard power” and “soft power” will be fully enhanced. The material life of the people will become more affluent, and their cultural-ethical life will become richer. By that time, the Chinese nation, with its 5,000-year-old civilization, will be rejuvenated with unprecedented vitality and stand tall among the nations of the world with a more vigorous posture.

6. Question: What are the issues faced by China on the new journey of Chinese modernization?

Answer: Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have adopted a number of strategic measures, developed a range of transformative practices, and made a series of breakthroughs and landmark advances. We have withstood risks, challenges, and trials in the national security, political, economic, ideological, and natural domains, secured historic achievements and seen historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country. We have thereby provided a more complete institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation, and a more proactive mental force for Chinese modernization, propelling China onto a new journey towards a great modern socialist country in all respects.

While fully acknowledging the remarkable achievements of the CPC and the country’s endeavors, we must not lose sight of the shortcomings in our work and the many difficulties and problems confronting us. Imbalances and inadequacies in development remain a prominent problem. There are many bottlenecks hindering high-quality development, and China’s capacity for scientific and technological innovation is not yet strong enough. Many major issues need to be resolved in order to guard against and mitigate financial risks and ensure that food, energy, and industrial and supply chains are secure and reliable. There are still many tough issues to be addressed in the reform of key areas. Quite a few challenges exist in the ideological domain. There are still wide gaps in development and income distribution between urban and rural areas, and between regions as well. Our people face many difficulties in areas such as employment, education, medical services, childcare, elderly care, and housing. Ecological conservation and environmental protection remain a formidable task. Some Party members and officials lack the strong sense of responsibility, the capacity to grapple with tough challenges, and the readiness to get down to work. Pointless formalities and bureaucratism remain rather pronounced. Eradicating breeding grounds for corruption is still an arduous task. We have already put in place a series of measures to deal with these problems, and we must redouble our efforts to see them fully resolved.

At present, momentous changes of a like not seen in a century are accelerating across the world, with the characteristics of changes in our world, our times, and history becoming more evident. China’s development faces new strategic opportunities, new strategic tasks, new strategic stages, new strategic requirements, and a new strategic environment. The risks and challenges we need to address, and the contradictions and problems we need to solve are more complex than ever before. We must therefore be more mindful of potential dangers, be prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios, strengthen our will to fight, and improve our ability to fight. By adopting the correct strategies and tactics, we can respond to changes, create new opportunities, and open up new prospects. Through tenacious struggle, we can carve out new horizons for the development of our cause.

7. Question: China still has significant wealth gaps, regional disparities between the east and west, urban-rural divides, and disparities between the spiritual and material civilizations. How can these issues be addressed in the process of Chinese modernization?

Answer: Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism as well as an important feature of Chinese modernization. The common prosperity we refer to is the common prosperity of all people, encompassing comprehensive improvement in both material and cultural-ethical life. It is not the prosperity of a few, nor is it uniform egalitarianism. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have placed greater emphasis on gradually achieving common prosperity for all, promoting coordinated development between urban and rural areas and regions, thereby creating favorable conditions for common prosperity. At the same time, we must clearly recognize that the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development in our country remain prominent. The disparities in development and income distribution between urban and rural areas and regions are significant. Achieving common prosperity is a long-term task that requires solid and persistent efforts.

To solve the problem of unbalanced development mentioned above, we must first have an in-depth study of the goals at different stages, achieve the development by phases, and integrate common prosperity into the overall plan for building a modern socialist country. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, solid strides will be made towards common prosperity for all, and the gap in household income and actual consumption levels will gradually narrow. By 2035, more notable and substantial progress will be made to achieve in common prosperity for all, and equitable access to basic public services will be ensured. By the middle of this century, common prosperity for all will be basically achieved, and the gap in household income and actual consumption levels will be reduced to a reasonable range. We must promptly formulate an action plan to promote common prosperity, and propose a scientific and feasible indicator system and assessment methods that are in line with national conditions. We must proceed step by step and make the best efforts within the limits of available resources.

Second, the overall approach to solidly promoting common prosperity is as follows. We must adhere to the people-centered philosophy of development, promote common prosperity through high-quality development, and correctly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness. We must build a foundational institutional arrangement that coordinates primary distribution, redistribution, and tertiary distribution, and increase the intensity and precision of adjustments through taxation, social security, and transfer payments. We must expand the proportion of the middle-income group, increase the income of low-income groups, regulate high incomes in a reasonable means, and ban illegal incomes. We must form an olive-shaped distribution structure with large middle and small ends, and promote social fairness and justice. We should also promote the well-rounded human development, and enable all people to steadily move towards the goal of common prosperity.

Third, efforts should be made to improve the balance, coordination, and inclusiveness of development. We should accelerate the improvement of the socialist market economy to promote more balanced, coordinated, and inclusive development. We should enhance the balance of regional development, deeply implement major regional strategies and regional coordinated development strategies, improve the system of transfer payments, reduce the disparity in per capita fiscal expenditure between regions, and increase support for underdeveloped areas. We should strengthen the coordination of industry development, accelerate the reform of monopoly industries, and promote the coordinated development of finance, real estate, and the real economy. We must support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and build an interdependent and mutually promoting ecosystem for enterprises of all sizes. We must strengthen the coordinated development of material and cultural-ethical civilizations, and comprehensively advance the Five-sphere Integrated Plan. We must firmly grasp the leadership in ideological work, promote the core socialist values, and drive the coordinated development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries.

8. Question: Some believe that Chinese modernization only involves economic strength and the living standards of the people, but does not include such elements as the implementation of the rule of law, transparency of information, social diversity and openness, or the protection of individual rights of the people. Thus it is not comprehensive modernization. How should we take this view?

Answer: Chinese modernization is a modernization of comprehensive development and progress, a true modernization that encompasses all people and all fields. The essence of Chinese modernization is the modernization of people. It adheres to the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy and the Five-sphere Integrated Plan, promotes the coordinated progress in the material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological spheres, and advances the comprehensive development of people and the overall progress of society.

Firstly, Chinese modernization emphasizes that the essence of modernization is the modernization of people, a dialectical unity of the modernization of both individuals and society as a whole. It adheres to the people-centered philosophy of development, and aims to realize the modernization of people and promotes the comprehensive development of people, which are the essential characteristics, fundamental principles, and basic logic of Chinese modernization. Chinese modernization always upholds the principal status of the people, and is committed to safeguarding people’s security. It continuously ensures and improves people’s livelihood, and takes the realization, maintenance, and development of the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the basis and goal of all work. For Chinese modernization, the basic criteria for judging all our work is whether we have the people’s support, acceptance, satisfaction and approval.

Secondly, Chinese modernization emphasizes adhering to the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy, which is the dialectical unity of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. The Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy is a systematic arrangement composed of one major strategic goal and three major strategic measures. It is a complex and arduous systematic project, a top-level design that is closely connected, mutually integrated, and interlinked.

Finally, in the overall layout of modernization, Chinese modernization emphasizes adhering to the Five-sphere Integrated Plan, which is the dialectical unity of economic, political, social, cultural-ethical and ecological development. The relationship between Chinese modernization and the five-sphere development is the one between system and elements, whole and parts. The five spheres of development are interconnected, mutually promoting, interdependent, and inseparable, jointly constituting the five wheels of Chinese modernization. Among them, economic development is fundamental, political development is the prerequisite, cultural-ethical development is the soul, social development is the foundation, and ecological development is the pillar. The Five-sphere Integrated Plan for Chinese modernization transcends Western modernization, the latter being marked by economic and material modernization.

9. Question: Issues such as food security, common prosperity, and the imbalance between urban and rural areas arise from China’s urbanization and industrialization process. How will they impact socio-economic development in China and the realization of modernization in the country?

Answer: Unbalanced development is a common problem in the international community, found in many countries. It exists not only within countries but also across countries and regions. Before the 1960s, when discussed internationally, the term “development” primarily referred to economic growth, with the belief that economic growth was equal to development. Under this development concept, some developing countries took industrialization and urbanization as development goals, pursuing GDP growth only while neglecting social transformation, resulting in numerous socio-economic issues such as polarization of wealth, agricultural decline, food shortages, resource scarcity, and worsening urban-rural disparities. Since the 1970s, some international scholars have reflected on the concepts of growth and development, and gradually proposed the idea of comprehensive development. This view posits that development is a people-centered, comprehensive modernization of the economy, society, and ecology, including economic growth and structural optimization.

Industrialization and urbanization are important drivers of modernization and key engines of Chinese modernization. However, to a certain extent, they have also led to a series of imbalances concerning food security, common prosperity and so on, as well as the imbalance between urban and rural areas and between agriculture and industry. As the principal contradiction in our society has changed, the issues of unbalanced and inadequate development in our country’s modernization process have become more prominent and mutually restrictive, giving rise to many new social contradictions and problems. They are the main roots of the intertwining social contradictions and issues at the current stage, limiting the overall development level of modernization.

Chinese modernization is a comprehensive modernization. Coordination is China’s potential advantage in advancing modernization and an important means to enhance overall development. In the new development stage, we will focus on addressing the issues of unbalanced and inadequate development, adhere to the theme of promoting high-quality development, and implement the new development philosophy fully, accurately, and comprehensively. We will uphold a systematic approach, integrate the requirements of promoting high-quality development into all aspects and fields of economic and social development, and properly handle the relationships between the local and the overall, the present and the long-term, and the key and the non-key areas. We will strive to promote urban-rural integration and regional coordinated development, form a development pattern characterized by economic prosperity, political democracy, cultural flourishing, social equity, and ecological well-being, thereby building our country into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

10. Question: How should we understand the fact that the Communist Party of China has successfully led the people in blazing a new trail of Chinese modernization and created a new model of human advancement?

Answer: At the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping pointed out: “As we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human advancement”.

The models of human advancement are various because of their diversity, and are colorful because of their richness. There is no universal development path or model in the world. From ancient times to the present, the models of human advancement have always been rich and diverse, harmonious but different. Civilization represents the degree of development and progress of a country. In different historical periods and different types of societies, civilization exhibits different styles, forms, and levels of development, showing different intrinsic principles and value orientations. The Western model of modernization has indeed created many beneficial achievements of civilization, but it also has its inherent contradictions, drawbacks, and historical limitations. Therefore, countries that blindly copy the Western model often face various problems, and, in severe cases, even experience economic stagnation, political turmoil, cultural conflicts, and national division. Chinese modernization is neither the Soviet model nor the Western capitalist model. Instead, it represents a civilization’s continuation, evolution, and innovation. It has vividly depicted the unique laws of the Chinese civilization that have lasted continuously for five thousand years. It also represents explorations on multiple dimensions into the universal laws of human civilization, especially the revival of civilizations in developing countries and late-coming nations, as well as the universal pattern of integration and mutual learning among different civilizations in the same temporal and spatial environment.

The new model of human advancement is not only a product of the Chinese’s path to modernization, deeply demonstrating the vitality and dynamism of socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also a starting point for the further development of Chinese modernization. It points out the development road, specifies the value orientation, and accumulates the driving force for the continuous advancement of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The new model of human advancement also proves that modernization is not equal to Westernization, and the choice of paths to modernization demonstrates great autonomy and diversity. It provides new possibilities for countries and nations around the world that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence. This is not only a manifestation of Chinese wisdom and a demonstration of Chinese strength, but also an expression of Chinese responsibility.