Home>>Opinion
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Development: Theme That Runs through 'Three Represents' Thought

This is an important commentary carried on the People's Daily of August 21: China needs development, China is developing and China strives to realize coordinated, all-round and sustainable development.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


(1)China needs development, China is developing and China strives to realize coordinated, all-round and sustainable development.

In the eyes of common people, development means a flourishing life, means "enjoying a happy life every day" and "life is improving year by year".

"I dare not think", "I do not expect" and "have never dreamed"--that is what the Chinese people talk about changes happened around them;

"It's terrific", "it's marvellous", "it's a new oriental myth"--that's foreign friends' appraisal of our development.

(2)Since the introduction of the reform and opening policy, particularly since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, China has been advancing triumphantly. On plots of hot land full of vitality, miracles of development have been created; on tracts of hopeful fields, the Chinese are reaping abundant fruits of development; on construction sites of key projects, people are writing the glory of development. These include the towering the Three Gorges Dam, the curveting dragon-like Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the winding west-to-east gas piping lines and the momentous south-to-north water diversion project. In today's China, the value of GDP has exceeded 10 trillion yuan, per-capita GDP approaches US$1,000, people's living standards have generally reached the level of a comfortable life, science, education, culture, democracy, legal system, spiritual civilization construction and various other social undertakings have experienced vigorous development. This represents a new milestone in the development history of the Chinese nation.

(3)Development is the necessity of history. Marxism holds that the history of human society is the history of the continuous development of productive forces. The means of labor is not only a graduated scale measuring the development of human labor force, but also is an indicator of the relations of society in which lies the labor. Boring wood to get fire had lighted the course of progress from ape to human, the iron plough has opened up the road ahead to farming civilization, the roaring of the steam engine has sounded the bugle of the mega-industry age and the computer keyboard has given the resonant notes of the information age. The development of productive forces eventually decides changes in the outlook of society, the updating of social structure and the progress of social civilization.

(4)Development is the theme of the times. In today's world, development is a question concerning the whole situation and strategy. Despite the sporadic smokes of local war, peace and development remain the main melody of the times. Safeguarding peace, promoting development and pursuing progress are the common aspirations of the people of the world. In the process of modernization, some countries are advancing in the van and some other countries are lagging behind, this is an objective phenomenon appeared in the process of development; those countries lagging behind are doing all they can to catch up and speed up development, in this way, it is possible for them to catch up from behind by leapfrog development. The tide of the world surges ahead with great momentum. In the face of the trend of world multi-polarization and economic globalization, failing to speed up development will aggravate backwardness; if one fails to accelerate development, one will possibly be cleaned out.

(5)Development represents people's will. Each-step development of history has to be boosted by relying on people's strengths; people's affluence, civilization and wellbeing will finally be realized by relying on social development. Any retrogression or stagnation can only bring suffering and misfortune to the people. People use as yardstick to measure the advance and backwardness of various groups and political parties by judging whether it can propel historical progress and social development, and to examine the correctness and erroneousness of various theories, lines, principles and policies. Representing the fundamental interests of the broadest section of people is, on the final analysis, expressed by development.

(6)Development is the foundation of socialism. Scientific socialism is neither the result of the inner excitement of any individual figure, nor the product of the subjective will of the working-class political party, it is the necessity of the development of productive forces. Poverty is not socialism, slow development is not socialism either, socialist modernization must be built on the basis of developed productive forces. Whether in terms of its theory or of practice, socialism is born as a result of the development of productive forces which, in turn, enrich and transfer socialism to a higher stage.

China is and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism, the main social contradiction is one between people's growing material and cultural needs and backward social production. Development is the general key to solving this contradiction. Sticking to the central task of economic construction and solving problems in the course of advance by the method of development are a basic experience gained since the launch of the reform and opening-up program. Whatever change may take place in international and domestic situations, and no matter what difficulties we may encounter, as long as we correctly uphold and implement the thinking of development, we will be able to calmly meet challenges, overcome difficulties and continue our advance. With big development, difficulty will become less; with small development, difficulty will be greater; with no development, difficulty will be the greatest. Of all principles, this or that, development is the absolute principle; of all changes, this or that, only with development, can there be changes.

(7)Reviewing the experiences in the development of history has spurred the history of today's development; complying with the requirement of the development of the times has hastened the age of today's development. In the great course of the reform, opening up and modernization drive, the development of practice has been expanding the practice of development, the theoretical development system is the theory on development.

Development is the theme that runs through the "three represents" important thought. This thought is an organic unity, the foundation of unity is developing. Representing the development requirement of China's advanced productive forces is a question of development; representing the forward direction of China's advanced culture is a question of development; representing the fundamental interests of the broadest section of the Chinese people is all the more a question of development. The "three represents" important thought has systematically summed up the practical experiences of China's socialist modernization drive, particularly those gained since the launch of the reform and opening up program, profoundly revealed the essence of development, scientifically predicted the development trend, and correctly guided the direction of development. Under the guidance of the "three represents" important thought, modern Chinese Communists have further opened up a development road conforming to China's national condition and the characteristics of our times and have formed a new outlook of development.

Firstly, the status of development has become more prominent. Development is the Party's first important task for exercising administration and rejuvenating the nation, the aim of administration is focused on development, and the ruling tasks are devoted to development, the ruling measures are centered around development, the ruling results are examined in line with development. Development is closely associated with the future and fate of the nation and is closely connected with the fundamental interests of the people. Whether or not the problem of development can be properly solved bears on popular support, the rise and decline of our cause and the life or death of the Party.

Second, the center of development has become more distinct. The tasks of development involve a thousand and one things to attend to, but economic growth is the primary development. Only with economic development and wealthy people, can there be the prerequisite and foundation for the development of science, technology, education, culture and other undertakings and can people have closer unity. The competition of overall national strength is competition based on economic strength, as well as competition for the speed of economic development.

Thirdly, the content of development has become richer. The objective of endeavor to build a well-off society in an all-round way has given development a more substantial content-economy is more developed, democracy is more complete, science and education more progressive, culture more prosperous, society more harmonious, people's life more substantial. Development refers not only to economic growth, but rather it implies persisting in the central task of economic construction and realizing all-round development of society on the basis of economic development.

Fourthly, the mainstay of development has become larger. The masses of people are the main force of development. The working class includes intellectuals, the general run of farmers are the fundamental force spurring the development of China's advanced productive forces and all-round social progress, the pioneering staff and technical personnel in privately run scientific and technical enterprises appeared in the course of social changes, the managerial and technical personnel employed by foreign-funded enterprises, the self-employed, the proprietors of privately owned enterprises, the employees of intermediate organizations, professionals and other social strata-all are builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Millions of people are mobilized to organize a mighty force and create a situation in which all the people each work according to their abilities and each get their due and live in harmony together, the accumulated development strengths have grown to an unprecedented grandeur.



Fifthly, the driving force for development has become more powerful. Reform means liberating and developing productive forces. Writing the words "market economy" on the banner of socialism is the great creation of the Chinese Communists. Our preliminarily established socialist market economic system is a system in the initial stage, a system in need of continued exploration and constant perfection. We must further emancipate our minds, pay attention to system construction and innovation and inject fresh motivating force for development with new breakthroughs in reform.

Sixthly, the strategy for development has become more concrete. The third-step strategic goal for realizing China's modernization has had a more complete and distinct "progress chart", forming a new "three-steps" strategy: In the first step, by 2010, China will have completed the "10th Five-year" Plan and other objectives of endeavor for 2010; in the second step, by 2020, or at the time of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, China will have attained the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way; in the third step, by the middle of this century, or at the time of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, China will have by and large accomplished modernization and brought about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on its road to socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Seventhly, the road for development has become broader. We should persist in taking the civilization and development road featuring production and development, affluent life, and good ecological environment, and promote sustainable development featuring harmony between humans and nature.. In economic development, we should stick to unity among speed and structure, quality and efficiency. We should both maintain a fairly rapid speed, and avoid following the beaten track of purely expanding scale, blindly increasing output, while neglecting growth quality and structural balance, and one-sidedly pursuing speed. The practice of felling all trees in favor of farming, draining the pond to get all the fish, and over-grazing of animals has led to the disappearance of grassland must not be continued. Needing both golden and silver mountains and blue waters and green hills have become the will and actual deeds of the people of the whole country.

Eighthly, conditions for development have become more stable. We should unswervingly adhere to the basic line of "the central task of economic construction and the two basic points (adherence to the four cardinal principles and implementation of reform and the open policy), correctly handle the relations among reform, development and stability. Development is the end, reform is the motive force and stability is the foundation. Without a stable environment, development would be out of the question; without the deepening of reform, it would be hard to continue development; without the support of development, it would be impossible to realize reform and stability. Reform, development and stability resemble three closely connected strategic chess pieces on the chessboard of China's modernization drive, when each of the three chess pieces is properly placed and they promote each other, then the whole game would be invigorated; if one chess piece is not properly put, the other two pieces would fall into predicament and the whole game would possibly suffer setback.

Ninthly, the aim of development has been more consciously set. The masses of people are the creators of advanced productive forces and advanced culture as well as the enjoyers of the fruits of their creation. Development requires focusing on meeting the immediate needs of people's material and cultural life, and each person to give reign to his or her wisdom and intelligence, and to expand widening space for the realization of free and all-round development, we should constantly promote the enhancement of people's competence, which also means promoting people's all-round development.

(8)Standing on the high plane of the "three represents" important thought and on a new historical starting-point, as we look back on history and look around the world, we get a deeper understanding of development and firmer confidence in development, and we feel even more the arduousness and urgency of accelerating development.

The well-off society we have realized is one of low level, not comprehensive and of very unbalanced development, in this society productive forces, science and technology and education are still fairly backward and there is still a very long way to go before industrialization and modernization can be realized; the urban and rural dual economic structure has not been changed, the widening tendency of regional gaps has not been reverted, impoverished population still comes up to a large number, total population continues to increase, the proportion of aging population is on the rise, employment and social security pressure is enlarging, the contradiction between the ecological environment and natural resources on the one hand and economic and social development on the other becomes increasingly prominent. We still face the pressure posed by developed countries which hold the upper hand in the fields of economy, science and technology, our economic system and management systems in other fields are imperfect, and there are still problems in the construction of democracy, the legal system and in ideological and moral construction, problems that must not be neglected. To consolidate and raise the level of comfortable life, we have presently achieved, we still need to carry out long-term arduous struggle.

(9)The magnificent goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way is a goal that stirs people's harts and urges people to forge ahead, as well as a goal that gives profound expressions to the nature, purpose and ruling law of our Party which is built for public interests and exercises administration for the people. This goal which has sounded the new clarion call to march toward modernization. Working consciously and firmly for the construction of a well-off society in an all-round manner means endeavoring to carry out the "three represents" with actual deeds and means fighting to create a new phase of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The 20 years of our march toward a comprehensive well-off society are 20 years of a connecting link between the past and the future, which we must go through to attain our third-step objective, 20 years that concern the future and destiny of China's modernization drive, as well as a period of important strategic opportunity which we must firmly grasp and in which we have a lot to accomplish. Historically, we have had a bitter lesson learned from missing the opportunity and thus delaying development, we have also had the valuable experience gained by seizing the opportunity to speed up development. In face of the new period of strategic opportunity, our responsibilities are as weighty as Mt. Tai, the road is arduous and tortuous, the future is infinitely bright.

(10)Raising high the banner of the "three represents" important thought is the most important thing for us to seize opportunities, accelerate development and build a well-off society in an all-round way. The "three represents" important thought reflects the common aspiration of the broadest section of the Chinese people, embodies the epochal spirit of today's world and China's development, it is the common ideological foundation for the whole Party and people of the while country to continue their united struggle in the new era and the new stage. In the great process of continuing to push forward the drive for socialist modernization, we should use the "three represents" important thought as the basic guideline, use it to lead our development, to update our concept on development, broaden our scope of mind, solve difficult problems in development and guide the practice of development.

(11)In a sense, the nature of development lies in innovation, the process of development is the process of innovation, the speed of development is determined by the effort for innovation. Accelerating development requires the emancipation of the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times and engaging in exploration and innovation.

Innovation includes innovation of theory, system, science and technology, culture as well as innovation in various other fields.

Clearly showing the direction of development with theoretical innovation. Theoretical innovation on the bases of practice is the precursor of social development and change, the achievement of theoretical innovation should be used to guide the practice of development and theoretical innovation to boost innovation in various fields. The conception on development must be constantly updated. Development calls for attention not only to economic index, but also to indexes of humanity, resources and environment; it also requires increasing input to boost economic growth, but also more input to promote social development and more input to protect resources and the environment. In development, there must not be the phenomena and practices, such as "one leg long, the other short", "filling the pocket, emptying the head", "living off what was bequeathed by our ancestors, while cutting off the road or doing nothing to the benefits of the descendants".

Clearing away obstacles to development with institutional innovation. With indomitable courage and tenacious perseverance, we should remove all institutional obstacles that shackle economic and social; development, and resolve deep-seated contradictions and problems arising in the course of restructuring.

Speeding the pace of development with scientific and technological innovation. Science and technology are the primary productive forces. Great efforts should be made to develop high and new technological industries, constantly use advanced science and technology to transform and uplift traditional industries and bring about a leapfrog development of productive forces.

Accumulating reserve strengths for future development with cultural innovation. Cultural strengths have been deeply melted in the nation's vitality, creativity and cohesion. Cultural innovation, particularly education innovation, should be used to bring up hundreds of millions of high-quality laborers, tens of millions of specialists and a large batch of top-notch innovators to present a favorable situation in which "hawks and falcons flap their wings and little tigers growl", so that our development will have a deeper cultural base and a more solid talent foundation.

Innovation requires the courage to think and do, but this in no way means thinking confusedly and acting recklessly. On the development road of building a well-off society in an all-round way, particular attention should be paid to preventing harmful trends of "advocacy of trying to get quick success" and "comparing phenomenon", one must not be anxious for success and set out some unrealistic development targets; one must not go in for blind development and low-level redundant construction; one must not eat next year's food, spend free-handed and indulge in extravagance and waste. The phenomenon of the "achievements of one generation become the burden of many generations to come" must not be repeated.

(12)Reform is a strong impetus to development. Deepening reform and creating a good institutional environment is an urgent question concerning accelerating development.

Development is an absolute principle as well as a hard lever. All ideological concepts that hinder development must be resolutely broken down, all practices and rules that shackle development must be firmly changed, and all structural defects that affect development must be resolutely abolished. This determines that today's reform is an arduous and comprehensive reform, which includes both the economic base and the superstructure, both the economic system and political and cultural systems, and both the structural layer and the layer of ideological conception.

With regard to economic restructuring, it is necessary, in compliance with the requirement of perfecting the socialist market economic system, to uphold and perfect the basic economic system, further explore various effective practical forms of public ownership, particularly state ownership; to strengthen the unified, open, competitive and orderly modern market system; to strengthen and improve macro-regulation and control, and better the functions of government economic regulation, market supervision, social management and public service; to deepen reform of the distribution system, and to establish and perfect the social security system conforming to the level of economic development.

(13)We are faced with the unprecedented, great development of world economy, and science and technology, and with the unprecedented, great global competition. We should go global in a more active opening posture and promote development with a higher level of opening to the outside world.

If our previous opening to the outside world was like swimming in the "shallow water area" of the international market, then our present opening to the outside world is in the "deep water area". Under the new situation of the accelerated process of economic globalization and China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), we should participate in international economic and technical cooperation and competition in a greater scope, a wider area and at a higher level, we should exert ourselves to swim, aim high and constantly enhance our ability to strike winds and waves violently. We should have the confidence and impressive bearing "like seamen standing on the head of waves, without dampening the red banner held in our hands".

We should strengthen our world awareness and world perspective, and enhance our ability to do our work well under the condition of opening to the outside world. While observing the situation, we should be good at having a general grasp of both the domestic and international situations, while making major policy decision, we should be adept at making an overall consideration of domestic and international factors, while carrying out work, we should be well versed in making full use of both domestic and international favorable conditions, while handling problems, particularly contingencies, we should be good at giving general consideration to domestic and international influence, we should strive for more advantageous international environment for our development.

(14)Giving full play to the initiative and creativity of all people, and mobilizing all positive factors in the widest and fullest way-this is most important to accelerating development.

People are the motive force of making history; people are the main force promoting development. The interests of the majority of people and the initiative and creativity of the entire society and the whole nation are always the most decisive factors for the development of the cause of our Party and State.

We should firmly believe the masses and closely rely on the masses and give fully play to the historical initiative spirit of the masses. We should regard respect for labor, knowledge, talents and creation as an important principle of our Party and State and conscientiously implement it in the whole society. We should create a social environment for respecting and encouraging pioneering work, form a good mechanism under which talents come into the open, and people are let to fully display their talents, and create a new situation wherein talents come out in large numbers and the initiative and creativity of talented people are brought into full play. The vigor of all labor, knowledge, technique, management and capital should be boldly let to release, and all sources that create social wealth be fully poured out.

(15)Development is opportunity, challenge and test. To accelerate development, we need to enhance our ability to study and to cope with emergency, and our competitive power, decision-making ability and innovative ability, strengthen the construction of builders and promote the development of developers.

People are key to the great cause of building a well-off society. Comrades of the whole Party, particularly leading cadres, should earnestly enhance their abilities to make scientific judgment of the situation, control the market economy, cope with complicated situations, administer according to law and assume responsibility for the whole situation. All people should constantly improve their own ideological and moral qualities and scientific and cultural competence and continuously enhance their own labor skills and creative abilities. Nowadays, as new knowledge emerges in an endless stream and the period for renewal of knowledge is being shortened, we should enhance our sense of urgency for study, persist in, strengthen and improve study, learning in order to practice, practice in order to promote study, learning and application promote each other, efforts should be made to form a society of a studying type, so that China will become a country where everybody is learning everywhere in the 21st century.

(16)Since the Opium in 1840, the Chinese people's fundamental interests lie in the power of the state and the affluence of the people, the historical demand of the Chinese nation is realization of great rejuvenation. From the day of birth, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has taken upon itself as the solemn mission to build a powerful state and wealthy people and rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

"backwardness will take beating"-Comrade Mao Zedong stressed the urgency of development in all earnestness; "development is an absolute principle"-Comrade Deng Xiaoping sonorously stressed the importance of development ; "It's essential to tightly grasp development as the primary important task for rejuvenating the country through administration"-Comrade Jiang Zemin incisively expounded the significance of development.

Generation after generation of Chinese Communists have united with and led the Chinese people in writing magnificent epics on revolution, construction and reform, opening brand-new era for China's development, exploring broad road, laying a solid foundation and displaying majestic prospects.

Today, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary, complying with popular feeling, link together the hearts of the Party, is leading the whole Party and people of the whole country to carry on the past and open a way for future, keep abreast of the times and forge ahead courageously toward the magnificent goal for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The developing China is creating happiness for the people; China's development is breeding a more beautiful future. The Chinese people's happy life and bright future will definitely become a splendid reality in their concentration on construction and in their endeavor to seek development with one heart and one mind.

The author Ren Zhongping is an authoritative commentator of the People's Daily.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Adhering to Fundamental Guideline, Creating New Glory: Commentary

Scientific Theory, Great Banner: Commentary



>> Full Coverage

 


US Conducts Land-based Missile Test ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Personages Appeal to Japan to Face up to History ( 2 Messages)

Disgraced Official Highlights Chinks in System ( 3 Messages)

Beijing's Economy Forecast to Grow 9-10 Percent in 2003 ( 2 Messages)

China Puts New Anti-AIDS Drug in Clinical Use ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved