Practice Serves as the Sole Criterion to Test Truth
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Essay: Hu Yaobang and the Test of Truth
Thirty years have passed since the publication of an article in Guanming Daily entitled“Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth.” The essay, which held that the integration of theory with practice was a fundamental part of Marxism, touched off a fierce national debate. It was part of a great movement to free the minds of Chinese people from the strictures of the Cultural Revolution and to lay a solid ideological foundation for the reforms that would follow. The article appeared under the name of Hu Fuming, a scholar at Nanjing University, though in fact it had many fathers. Among them was Hu Yaobang, a senior party official who had himself been persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Hu realized that China had suffered enormous setbacks during that tumultuous period. “How can a nation comprised of people shackled and oppressed mentally as well as organizationally compete with developed countries of the world?” he asked. Hu went on to become Deng Xiaoping’s right hand in the campaign to reform China and open it to the world. Hu was eventually ousted from the leadership over his passionate commitment to that process. His death in 1989 sparked an outpouring of grief that led to the student protests at Tiananmen, and his name was rarely mentioned again publicly until 2005 – the 90th anniversary of his birth. By then it was clear that one of Hu’s most enduring legacies was his campaign for innovative thinking. That practice is the criterion for testing truth should not have been a controversial issue for the Communist Party of China, which upholds the historical materialism of Marx and Engels. Practice as the touchstone of truth is a basic view of Marxism. It was a weapon used by Lenin to fight spiritualism and agnosticism, and it was the cornerstone of Mao Zedong’s famous 1937 essay “On Practice.” Nevertheless, this golden principle of Marxism was trampled during the Cultural Revolution with the culmination of Mao’s personality cult. Even after the Gang of Four was smashed, which symbolized the end to the Cultural Revolution, the theory behind that movement still dominated the minds of many. In February 1977, five months after Mao’s death, supporters of the Gang of Four promulgated the “Two Whatevers” principle, based on the notion that “we will resolutely uphold whatever policy and decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave.” An individual has his or her own personality and, likewise, theory and thoughts. Style is the man. Whether someone can seek truth from facts usually depends on his or her level of thinking. However, during unusual periods of history, whether a person can connect truth and practice lies in his or her courage to stand up. That was especially true during the Cultural Revolution. Hu blazed a trail for a great movement to emancipate the mind. Hu was in a feisty mood on January 1 and 2, 1977, when he told cadres of the Communist Youth League: “Current problems focus on the fact that we have to do whatever Mao has said, and continue to criticize Deng Xiaoping, and prolong the practice of the Cultural Revolution... I would rather go home to care for the family than do something against my own will here.” Hu’s dissention represented a powerful trend within the CPC, and it outraged Gang of Four supporters. They promulgated the “Two Whatevers” just a few weeks after Hu’s Youth League speech. It was during this period of conflict that Hu was transferred to a job as vice president of the CPC Party School. Hu did not hesitate to fight the ideological remnant of the Cultural Revolution from his new post. On March 28, he told school staff that erroneous thoughts, theories and guidelines would all be addressed. His fight involved great political risk, since the old ideology still prevailed within the CPC, whose power the “Two Whatevers” had reinforced. But Hu was fearless. At a conference held in May, he surprised the audience by saying: “There is a political whirlpool in Beijing. Do you dare jump into it? I am ready to fling myself into it. I intend to launch three periodicals… I will take care of the three periodicals myself.” What did Hu intend to express or do through these three periodicals? A question he posed provided the answer: “How can a nation composed of people shackled and oppressed mentally as well as organizationally compete with developed countries of the world?” The Eleventh CPC National Congress was convened in August, and Hu was elected a member of the CPC Central Committee. Soon after the meeting, Hu organized a panel to write an article in which he tried to rehabilitate those persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. The article, published in People’s Daily on October 7, 1977, received an enthusiastic response across China. Within a month the newspaper received more than 10,000 letters and phone calls concerning the article. “The merit or characteristic of this article is that it dares to touch a sensitive issue concerning millions of people,” wrote one reader. “By touching such a great issue, the article endows us with more courage to push forward with genuine Marxism.” At the party school, Hu was assigned another important task by the Central Committee: drafting a CPC history textbook. At a conference, he proposed two standards for editing the book. Hu advocated for the complete and accurate adoption of Mao Zedong thought, and for making practice the criterion for testing truth. Senior party leader Ye Jianying gave a speech at the school’s opening ceremony on October 9. He declared, “Theory has to stem from practice. Theory has to be able to guide practice and stand the test of practice. Theory shall not be equated with idle speech or even lying.” It was the first time that one of the CPC’s highest leaders had spoken publicly about the issue of a standard for truth. Later, Hu was appointed director of the CPC Central Committee’s Organization Department. On January 18, 1978, a committee researching three remaining conflicts in party guidelines drafted its findings. The draft stated that “the correctness of a guideline is not an issue of theory but an issue of practice. The results of practice may test the correctness of a guideline.” The draft showed that Hu’s thought had evolved from a dualism in standards – from Mao’s thought and practice – to a monism that elevates practice as the sole criterion for testing truth. On May 6, Hu organized a conference to discuss the draft of the article that would become “Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth” and, on May 11, it was published in Guangming Daily. The article was not only concerned with demolishing the “Two Whatevers”; it also dealt with Mao’s thought during his later life, theories of the Cultural Revolution and other pressing topics. The evaluation is tough as well as fair, and it tries to present history as it was. To unveil the myths surrounding history requires great courage, which Hu certainly had. Hu Deping, vice director of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, is Hu Yaobang’s eldest son.
Great debate on 'Criterion for Testing Truth' (May 1978)
After the "Gang of Four" was smashed, Hua Guofeng, then Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, and some others proposed: "We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave." The proposal was challenged by many people. On May 11, 1978, Guangming Daily carried an article titled "Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth," stirring nationwide discussions on the criteria for testing truth. The in-depth debate gradually shook off the ideological shackles of the "two whatever's," playing a significant role in efforts to set things right after the "cultural revolution."
Party to rejuvenate nation
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is confident that it will continue to advance the nation in the new century, said President Jiang Zemin, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. He made the remarks at a grand gathering held in the Great Hall of the People yesterday to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. Top Chinese leaders including Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing, and Li Lanqing were present at the meeting. Li Peng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, announced the opening of the meeting. Addressing the 6,000 people in the hall, Jiang reviewed the achievements and experiences of the CPC in its 80-year struggle, expounded on Three-Represent's theory and urged the whole Party to struggle for the fulfilment of its historic task and goals in the new century. The Three-Represent's theory states that the Communist Party represents the advanced productive forces, advanced culture and the interests of a wide sector of the population. "The 80 years of the Party are 80 years of the constant pursuit of truth, and 80 years of pioneering, creation and integrating Marxism-Leninism with China's practices. They are 80 years of ceaseless and unremitting struggle for the liberation of the nation, the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people; and they are 80 years of withstanding endless tests and growing steadily in strength in the course of accomplishing our historic mission," Jiang said. In his speech, Jiang noted that the great historic tasks for the Party in the new century are "to continue the modernization drive, accomplish the great cause of the reunification of our motherland, safeguard world peace and promote common development." The Party must unswervingly fulfil the requirements of the Three-Represent's theory, which is the foundation of all efforts to build the Party, the cornerstone for exercising political power and a source of strength for the Party, Jiang said. In order to represent China's advanced productive forces, it is necessary to bring the Party's theory, principles, policies and all work in line with the laws governing the development of productive forces, Jiang said. "To make our Party forever represent the orientation of the development of China's advanced culture is to make the Party's theory, line, programme, principles, policies and all its work reflect the requirements of the national, scientific and popular socialist culture that develops towards modernization, the world and the future, enable them to upgrade the ideological and ethical qualities and scientific and cultural qualities of the whole nation and to provide the motivating power and support culturally and intellectually. "To always represent the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, our Party must, in all kinds of areas including Party theory, line, programmes, principles and policies, persevere in taking the fundamental interests of the people as the starting point and purpose, bring into full play people's enthusiasm, initiative and creativity, and enable the people to constantly obtain tangible economic, political and cultural benefits through continuous social development and progress," Jiang said. Jiang said that the CPC must uphold the Party's ideological line of emancipating minds and seeking truth from facts, carry forward and promote the spirit of practicality and courage in innovation, and go about all the work of the Party and the State creatively and keep enriching and developing Marxism in practice. Following is the full text of a speech made by Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), at a grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the CPC at the Great Hall of the People yesterday. Comrades and friends, We gather ceremoniously here today to celebrate, together with the people of all ethnic groups across the country, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and along with all people in the world who love peace and pursue progress, look to the bright future of the development of China and the world. The CPC had only some 50 members at its birth 80 years ago and what it faced was a calamity-ridden old China. But today, 80 years later, our Party has become a big party that has been in power for more than 50 years and has more than 64 million members and what the Chinese people see is a prosperous socialist motherland. The tremendous change is a historic miracle in the development of the Chinese nation. Reviewing the course of struggle of the Party and the people in the last century, we feel infinitely exultant and proud. Looking into the great journey of the Party and the people ahead in the new century, we are filled with confidence and strength that we are bound to win. I. Achievements and basic experience of the Communist Party of China in the 80-year struggle Invariably, the people pioneer their road of advance in the movement of social contradictions; so do they seek, reveal and develop incessantly the truth that guides their advance from practice and by comparison in their historical activities. Eighty years ago, amidst the torrential anti-imperialist and anti-feudal struggle of the people of all ethnic groups of China and in the tempestuous movement of the proletarian revolution in the world, the CPC was founded. This is the inevitable result of the development of social contradictions and deepening struggle of the people in modern times of China. After 1840, the invasion by Western imperialist powers reduced China to the status of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society and subjected the Chinese people to twofold repression by imperialism and feudalism. The national crisis and social crisis were unprecedentedly grave. From the Opium Wars, through the Movement of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the 1898 Reform Movement and the Yihetuan Movement (Boxer Uprising), the Chinese people carried out dauntless struggles and numerous people with lofty ideals were looking strenuously for the road of salvation for the country and the nation. But all the attempts ended in failure one after another, although they helped promote progress in China under given historical conditions. The 1911 Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, which overthrew the autocratic monarchy that had ruled China for several thousand years, was of great significance in promoting China's social progress. Yet, it did not succeed in altering the semi-colonial and semi-feudal social nature of China and the miserable destiny of the Chinese people, either. Facts show that neither the self-improvement movements and reformism, the old peasant wars and the democratic revolution led by the revolutionaries of the bourgeoisie that did not touch the foundation of feudalism nor other solutions that ape Western capitalism can accomplish the national mission of saving the nation from subjugation and ensuring its survival and the historical tasks against imperialism and feudalism. China was then looking forward to a new social force that could find advanced theories leading to a path of salvaging the country and the nation. It was exactly at that time, in 1917 and 1919, that two major events took place in Russia and China, that is, the October Revolution of Russia and the May 4th Movement of China. The salvoes of the October Revolution brought the advanced theory of Marxism-Leninism to China. Starting from the May 4th Movement, the Chinese working class began to cut a striking figure as an advanced social force in the country. At the same time, a number of advanced intellectuals held high the banner of democracy and science and opened up a path for disseminating the new ideas and new theories in China. In 1921, the CPC emerged just as the times called for it in the process of applying Marxism-Leninism in the Chinese workers' movement. From then on, the great historical mission of leading the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal revolutionary struggle, winning national independence and people's liberation and invigorating the Chinese nation has fallen upon the shoulders of the CPC. The Chinese revolution thus entered a brand new period of development. From the Opium War (1840-42) to the founding of the CPC, and from the founding of the Party to the present, China has experienced two completely different periods of 80 years. In the first 80-year period, the feudal rulers surrendered the country's sovereign rights under humiliating terms, the whole society was thrown into utter chaos caused by wars, the country became impoverished and weak and the people lived in hunger and cold. In the second 80-year period, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, became united and unprecedentedly organized, overcame numerous difficulties and won one victory after another in their revolutionary struggle. Since the founding of New China, the economy and society have developed rapidly; the country has become increasingly prosperous; the people's social status, living standards and cultural and educational level have risen markedly. The comparison of the two periods of 80 years has made the Chinese people and all the patriotic forces of the Chinese nation fully aware that it is precisely the leadership of the CPC that has enabled the country to materialize the great historical transformation from the most miserable circumstances to a situation that promises a bright future. Without the Communist Party, there would have been no New China. With the Communist Party, China has put on an entirely new look. This is the fundamental and most important conclusion drawn by the Chinese people from their long years of struggle. The memorable days and glorious achievements of the 80 years of our Party leading the people to fight are like a huge picture scroll unfurled before the people of the world, meandering yet full of power and grandeur, vigorous yet bright and colourful. We have fulfilled the task of the new democratic revolution and realized national independence and the liberation of the people. We founded the People's Republic of China after defeating the Japanese militarist aggressors and overthrowing the Kuomintang reactionaries through the Northern Expedition (1926-27), the Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-37), the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-45) and the War of Liberation (1945-49). The Chinese have since stood up, and the development of the Chinese nation has since ushered in a new era. We have established a socialist system and realized the most extensive and most profound social transformation in Chinese history. We have creatively materialized the transformation from new democracy to socialism and established the basic system of socialism in an all-round way, enabling this big country in the East whose population accounts for a quarter of the world total to enter socialist society. This is a big leap in China's social change and historical progress, and also serves as a powerful support and impetus to the cause of socialism in the world. We have created the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and started a correct road to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Marked by the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, our country has entered a new period of development of the cause of socialism. Basing ourselves on the long period of socialist construction, we have practised new policies of reform and opening to the outside world and formulated the basic theory, line and programme of our Party in the primary stage of socialism after summing up both the internal and external historical experience and through hard exploration. Even in a situation where world socialism experienced serious twists and turns and domestic and foreign situations changed drastically, our Party steadfastly stood its ground like a firm rock in midstream, and socialism in China has displayed its vigour and vitality. We have established a State power of people's democratic dictatorship, with the Chinese people being the masters of their own destiny. Though China is an ancient country with a civilization of more than 5,000 years, it is only after our Party came to power that the people being the real masters of their country, their society and their own destiny has become a reality. This represents a fundamental change in the social and political status of the Chinese people. It marks China's realization of a great leap from centuries-old feudalistic autocratic politics to people's democratic politics. We have built an independent and relatively complete national economic system, with our economic power and comprehensive national strength enhanced markedly. It has taken us just a little more than half a century not only to put an end to the backward state of poverty and blankness characteristic of the old China, but also set up a modern industrial system with a complete range of production. The annual gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 56 times since the founding of New China. The strength of our economy, national defence and science and technology has been markedly enhanced. Our country has edged into the advanced ranks in the world in many areas of industry, agriculture, national defence, science and technology. The 1.2 billion-plus Chinese people have not only solved the problem of food and clothing but also secured in general a relatively comfortable life. We have consistently promoted the development of socialist culture and the cultural life of the people all over the country is getting richer and more varied. Upholding the guiding role of Marxism, we have educated the people in patriotism, collectivism and socialism and made vigorous efforts to promote progress in socialist culture and ideology. We have persistently carried forward the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups of the country and actively absorbed what is advanced in other civilizations in order to make our socialist culture increasingly flourish. The ideological and ethical standards and the educational, scientific and cultural qualities of the people have kept improving, exhibiting to the world a new mental outlook of the Chinese people. We have thoroughly put an end to the loose-sand state of the old China and realized a high degree of unification of the country and unparalleled unity of all ethnic groups. We have abrogated the unequal treaties imposed upon China by Western powers and all the privileges of imperialism in the country. The feudalistic segmentation of the country has gone forever from this land of China. The 56 ethnic groups breathe the same air, share the same fate and join their hearts as one, evolving a socialist relationship among all ethnic groups featuring equality, unity and mutual aid. All political parties and people's organizations have united as one, help each other and share weal and woe. All socialist labourers, patriots endorsing socialism and patriots supporting national reunification have formed the broadest possible patriotic united front for the reunification and prosperity of the motherland. The successful return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland has fulfilled the long-cherished wishes of the whole nation. The exchanges between compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have been increasing. The ultimate resolution of the Taiwan question and the accomplishment of the reunification of the motherland are bound to come true. We have forged a people's army under the absolute leadership of the Party and built a strong national defence. We created a revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the rural areas and seizing State power by armed force. With the people's army as the backbone, we relied on the people and armed them. We persisted in educating the officers and men in the Party's theory and programme and defeated the well-equipped ferocious domestic and foreign enemies in the prolonged revolutionary wars. The People's Liberation Army has always upheld the purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly. It has played a major role in consolidating national defence, resisting aggression, safeguarding the socialist system and the peaceful work of the people, and taking part in socialist construction of the country. Our country's national defence has constantly been enhanced; steady progress has been made in the drive to build a revolutionary, modern and regular army. The People's Liberation Army led by our Party is the staunch pillar of the people's democratic dictatorship, a great wall of steel in defence of the motherland and an important force in socialist construction. We have adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, making important contributions to the lofty cause of world peace and development. We have thoroughly ended the history of humiliating diplomacy in modern China and effectively safeguarded State sovereignty, security and national dignity. We have actively advocated and safeguarded the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, resolutely opposed the hegemonies and power politics with the strong domineering over the weak. We have upheld principle and justice, striving to let justice prevail and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the vast developing countries, and pushed the establishment of a just and reasonable new international political and economic order. The international standing and influence of socialist China are growing with each passing day. Facts have fully proved that the CPC is worthy of a great, glorious and correct Marxist political party and that it deserves to be the force at the core that leads the Chinese people in the incessant effort to break new ground. The outstanding achievements in China's revolution, construction and reform are the results of the joint efforts of the people of all ethnic groups of the country, the results of endless and unremitting efforts made by people with lofty ideals, and also the results of the selfless devotion of generation upon generation of Chinese Communists. We cherish dearly the memory of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yun and other late proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation who made great contributions to China's revolution, construction and reforms and to the founding, consolidation and development of the CPC. We cherish dearly the memory of the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives heroically for the sake of founding, defending and building New China. We cherish dearly the memory of all the pioneers who fought for the independence and liberation of the Chinese nation in modern times. Their meritorious deeds for the motherland will ever be remembered in the annuals of history! The people are the true makers of history. On behalf of the Central Committee of the CPC, I would like to extend my salute to the broad masses of the workers, peasants, intellectuals, all democratic parties, people's organizations and patriotic personages in all walks of life; and to the People's Liberation Army, the armed police and officers and men of the public security forces throughout the country; my cordial greetings to compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan as well as all overseas Chinese; and my heartfelt thanks to the people and friends in all the countries who live on good terms with us, care for and support China's revolution, construction and reforms! The 80 years of the CPC are 80 years of constant pursuit for truth and pioneering and creation by integrating Marxism-Leninism with China's practice; they are 80 years of ceaseless and unremitting hard struggle for the liberation of the nation, the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people; and they are 80 years of withstanding endless tests and growing steadily in strength in the course of accomplishing the historical missions. The practice of the 80 years tells us that it is imperative to always persist in integrating the fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism with the specific situation in China, persist in taking scientific theories as the guide and unswervingly follow our own road. This is the most essential experience we have drawn from the summing up of our Party's history. Marxism is a powerful ideological weapon for us to understand and transform the world; it serves as a guide to action in our revolution, construction and reforms. Marxism is not a dogma. Only by being correctly applied and constantly developed in practice, does it exhibit great vitality. The first generation of the collective leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Mao Zedong at the core and the second generation of the collective leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at the core led our Party in persisting in closely combining the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with China's concrete practice, resulting in the formation of Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. The two great theoretical achievements constitute Marxism that have been localized in China, embodying both the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism and the splendid thoughts of the Chinese nation and the practical experiences of the Chinese communists. It is exactly because we have had Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guide that our Party has been able to lead the people in overcoming all hardships and setbacks and winning one victory after another. As the great crystallization of the practical experiences and collective wisdom of the Party and people, Deng Xiaoping Theory is the best continuation and creative development of Mao Zedong Thought under the new historical conditions. It has made major contributions to creating a completely new situation in China's cause of socialism. Holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, all the comrades in the Party are continuing to study new situations and resolve new problems, working to promote creatively and in an all-round manner the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The key to upholding Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought in the new historical period lies in persistent use of Deng Xiaoping Theory to observe the present-day world and contemporary China, incessantly sum up practical experience and generalize it in the new theoretical light and open up new ways forward. The practice of the 80 years tells us that it is essential to always rely firmly on the masses of the people, sincerely work for the interests of the people and draw inexhaustible strength from the masses of the people on the road of advance. Maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties with the masses of the people is the fundamental guarantee for our Party to overcome difficulties and risks and achieve continuous success in our cause. In no time and under no circumstances, can the stand of sharing the common fate with the masses of the people be changed, the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly be forgotten, and the viewpoint of historical materialism that the people are the real heroes be discarded. We must always take what reflects the will and interests of the people as both our starting point and end point in all work we do; we must always take reliance on the wisdom and strength of the people as the basic line of work in promoting our cause. The practice of the 80 years also teaches us that we must always consciously strengthen and improve Party building, continuously enhance the creativity, rallying power and combat capability of the Party, and always maintain the vigour and vitality of the Party. If we are to do China's affairs well, the key lies in our Party. We must make incessant efforts to strengthen Party building in close conjunction with the development of the situation and the Party's central tasks. We must be good at summing up experience, uphold the truth, correct mistakes and be modest and prudent. We must have the courage to face up the problems existing in the ranks of Party members and cadres and resolve them by relying on all Party members and the masses of the people. This is where the vigour and vitality of the Party lies. We must continue to forge ahead with the new great project of Party building centring round the basic issue of what kind of Party to build and how under the new historical conditions so as to further revolve the two major historic subjects of enhancing the abilities of administration and art of leadership and resisting corruption, guarding against degeneration and warding off risks. Reviewing the course of struggle and the basic experience over the past 80 years and looking into the arduous tasks and bright future in the new century, our Party should continue to stand in the forefront of the times and lead the people in marching from victory to victory. In a word, we must always represent the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China (hereafter referred to as "Three Represent's"). II. Correctly understand and fulfill the requirements of the 'Three Represent's' in an all-round way In the new century, the great historical tasks for our Party are to continue the modernization drive, accomplish the great cause of the reunification of our motherland, safeguard world peace and promote common development. Facing the profound changes in the domestic and international situations, our Party should follow closely the progressive trends of the world and unite and lead people of all ethnic groups throughout the country in seizing the opportunities and taking up challenges to accomplish the three major historical tasks successfully. To this end, we must unswervingly fulfill the requirements of the "Three Represent's." The "Three Represent's" are the foundation underlying all our efforts to build the Party, the cornerstone for exercising political power and a source of strength of our Party. They are also the fundamental requirements for us to push Party building in an all-round way in the new century, constantly bring forth new ideas in theories, institutions and science and technology, and win fresh victories in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. In order to remain a representative of the requirements of the development of China's advanced productive forces, it is necessary to bring the Party's theory, line, programme, principles, policies and all work into line with the law governing the development of productive forces, make them reflect what is required in promoting the release and development of social productive forces, especially in the development of advanced productive forces so that the living standards of the people improve steadily through the development of productive forces. Productive forces are the most dynamic and the most revolutionary factor. It is also the ultimate decisive force of social development. The contradictions between productive forces and the relations of production and between economic base and superstructure constitute the basic social contradiction. The movement of this basic contradiction determines the direction of the changes in the nature of society and the direction of social, economic, political and cultural development. The fundamental difference between socialism and capitalism lies in the difference between their relations of production and superstructures. The establishment and constant improvement of the socialist system has opened up a broad road for the release and development of our country's social productive forces. All relations of production and superstructures, irrespective of their nature, develop with the development of productive forces. If they fail to keep up with the requirement of the development of productive forces and have thus become obstacles to the development of productive forces and social progress, readjustments and changes are sure to take place. To be sensitive to and quickly come to grip with the development trend and requirements of our country's productive forces and take practicable steps to promote the constant development of the advanced productive forces by taking economic development as the central task and by formulating and implementing correct lines, principles and policies these are the fundamental expression and fundamental requirements for our Party to stand in the forefront of the times and maintain its advanced nature. As the vanguard of the working class, our Party emerged in the historical arena as the representative of China's advanced productive forces at its very inception. The purpose of the new democratic revolution led by our Party was to abrogate the privileges of imperialism in China, eliminate exploitation and oppression by the landlord class and the bureaucrat-capitalist class, change the comprador feudal production relations and the rotten political superstructure rooted in such economic base, establish a new political superstructure with the people's democratic dictatorship as the core and release from the roots the fettered productive forces. After the founding of New China, we carried out socialist transformation of agriculture, handicraft industry and the capitalist industry and commerce in order to establish the socialist relations of production, and, on that economic base, bring the socialist superstructure to perfection so as to further release and develop productive forces. It is for the same purpose that we have since the Third Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee carried out reforms and opening up policies to adjust and reform the part of the socialist relations of production that is incompatible with the demand of the development of the productive forces and to adjust and reform the part of socialist superstructure that is incompatible with the economic base. Over the past 20-plus years, we have made bold explorations and practice and pushed forward the reforms in economic and political structures and other areas and greatly released and developed the country's social productive forces, bringing about tremendous changes in the national economic development and social progress. The fundamental task of socialism is to develop productive forces, enhance the comprehensive national strength of our socialist country and improve the people's living standards and in this way reflect the superiority of socialism over capitalism. In all historical stages of the socialist society, it is necessary to make the socialist system improve and develop itself through reforms in line with the demand of the economic and social development. Only by so doing, is it possible to make the socialist system filled with vigour and vitality. All comrades in the Party should firmly implant in mind this basic viewpoint and awareness on socialist reform and development. The development of human society is a historical process of advanced productive forces replacing the backward ones. Socialist modernization must be built on the basis of developed productive forces. Our purpose of realizing modernization is, fundamentally, to obtain developed productive forces through reforms and development. All comrades in the Party, no matter what posts they are in, should check and review their work regularly to see whether it conforms to the requirements of the development of advanced productive forces. If it does, hold on to it without wavering. If it does not, correct it where necessary. Only by doing so, is it possible for Communists to give a full expression to their advanced nature and to the spirit of the times. Man is the most decisive factor in productive forces. The Chinese working class, including intellectuals, is the basic force that pushes the advanced productive forces forward in China. The peasant class and other labouring people, closely united with the working class, constitute a major force that pushes the country's productive forces forward. To raise the ideological and ethical standards and scientific and cultural levels of the workers, peasants, intellectuals and other labouring people and the entire population improve their labour skills and creativity and give full scope to their enthusiasm, initiative and creative power - these should remain the tasks of primary importance that our Party should perform in representing China's advanced productive forces. Science and technology are the primary productive forces and a concentrated expression and a hallmark of advanced productive forces. The rapid progress in sc
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Examples
1 Thirty years ago, 43-year-old Hu Fuming, an associate professor at the Philosophy Department at Nanking University, wrote the historic article Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth.
2 This article Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth challenged the "two whatevers" (which refers to the statements that "we will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave") and ushered China into an era of reform and opening up.
3 When the article Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth was first published on the Guangming Daily, some people called it "ridiculous" while some others praised it as "a bomb that completely destroyed the reactionary ideological system of the Gang of Four".