Awaiting an ideological breakthrough - innovating Marxism in localised form

The history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the history of movements of the workers and peasants of the Chinese society. In the 80 years between the Opium War of 1839 and the birth of the CPC in 1921, the people of China waged ceaseless struggle all of which failed, despite their heroism and lofty aspirations. The picture has been altogether different over the last 95 years since the birth of the CPC. The Chinese people have taken their destiny into their own hands and consequently they have stood up in the East as a world leader. Never again will the Chinese nation be bullied and oppressed so long as the Communist Party of China will exist and uphold the banner of socialism with its ideological and philosophical underpinnings of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong thought and Comrade Deng Xiaoping theory.

The CPC is one of the oldest political parties in the world with deep-rooted connection with the people that is politically firm, theoretically mature and intellectually capable. One of its strong points is that it can accurately grasp the pulse of the time and social development. From Comrade Mao Zedong's thought and Comrade Den Xiaoping's "Three represents" theory, put forward by Comrade Jiang Zemin and further developed by Comrade Hu Jintao, all embody the wisdom of the CPC.

As a time-tested party, the CPC has acquired rich experiences, learnt many lessons and is capable of leading the people in braving difficulties to win victory after victory in the revolution and economic emancipation. It enjoys respect amongst the people of Bangladesh. The role played by the CPC and its success over the 95 years is deeply recognised and appreciated by the world community in general and the mainstream society of Bangladesh in particular.

CPC leadership had demonstrated again the creativity of Marxism-Leninism in the context of Chinese society. They completed the New Democratic Revolution by applying correctly the revolutionary thought of Mao Zedung and philosophy of Marxism-Leninism in the Chinese context. Later the CPC, under the visionary leadership of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, formulated the socialism with Chinese characteristics. The pragmatic leadership of Comrade Deng Xiaoping transformed China into a modern China. These are all testimonies to CPC's success. The CPC leadership has all through innovated Marxism in localised form - and is still innovating with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core of its leadership.

Over the decades, China has made significant achievements, but it continues to face a series of challenges that can only be addressed through further reforms. The upcoming National Congress of the CPC, from October 18 to 24, 2017, will be convened under such circumstances. We are confident that the CPC has a thorough understanding of experiences it has gained over past decades and the challenges it is currently facing. Thus, one legitimately hopes that China will make new achievements under the leadership of the CPC after its National Congress.

China has gone through one of the most prosperous and fruitful five-year period in its history under the current the leadership of the CPC. Landmark achievements have been made in the development of China's economy, education system, social well-being, health care and science and technology.

After the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core created the way for more efficient, equal, sustainable development of higher quality, making major new achievements in all areas. In this process, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new stage of development. By practising appropriate policies, China has maintained a medium high economic growth rate within an appropriate range, with its overall national strength having been improved significantly. That has opened up new dimensions in external exchanges. Moreover, steady progress has been made in structural adjustments, with economic development marching towards medium high end. Social undertakings have been comprehensively improved, and development has become more balanced. The Chinese people are living and working in peace and harmony, with a stronger sense of gains.

Since the 18th National Congress, the leadership of the CPC has innovated a new concept regarding exercising strict self-governance in every respect. The key to success in China hinges upon the party, which is underpinned by strict party discipline. The CPC central committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, has fully strengthened party discipline, integrating efforts to improve the party ideologically with institution-building, making great efforts to tackle the outstanding problems  causing public concern and posing threats to the party's governing foundation, focusing on improving party conduct, strictly punishing corruption, and purifying the intra-party political environment. The fight against corruption has helped to build up an irresistible momentum.

It may be mentioned that the CPC's central committee under the leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping has laid out a series of new philosophies, ideas and strategies on diplomacy. These provide theoretical and ideological guidance to China's diplomacy under new circumstances and contributes to Chinese wisdom, providing solutions to reforming the international system. Comrade Jinping  emphasises that China should make as many friends as possible and build a global network of partnerships while upholding the principle of non-alignment, so as to form a global partner network.

Comrade Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new philosophies and ideas including the New Concepts on security, development and Global Governance, further enriching the core value of China's diplomacy. He has also proposed the great initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st century Maritime Silk Road. The "Belt and Road" initiative upholds the Silk Road Spirit of peace and co-operation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefits. This initiative of Comrade Xi Jinping is aimed at formulating a new world order replacing the existing world order which has become obsolete and volatile.

The hope is thus high about the upcoming Congress. It is expected to conduct in-depth analysis on innovation of Marxism regarding new philosophies, ideas and strategies on governance under the current international and domestic situations, in order to comprehensively grasp the new requirements of the development of the CPC and the country's understanding as well as new expectations from the people, especially from the younger generation.

The 19th Congress is purported to formulating a programme of actions and guidelines with the demands of times, and mobilising the entire party and people of all ethnic groups of China to reinforce the confidence in the path, theories, system of culture of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.

We hope that the upcoming Chinese Leadership will be able to lead the party as well as the country along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to further promote peaceful development, people's wellbeing and build a moderately prosperous and harmonious society in all respect not only in China, but also in the globalised world as a whole.

Marxism is a social science. So it is always creative. Practice of Marxism that has its own dynamics for continuous development and process of adjustment readjustment of the social contradictions, will be continued. This is important for all to realise so that the contradictions which always develop among the social forces can be correctly handled. Moreover, new ideas may also be developed. In the innovative way of Marxism Comrade Xi Jinping has correctly pointed out the concept of new ideas regarding ideology, party building and strategy of governance in the context of present Chinese society and contemporary world order. So, those ideas which will be identified by the great Chinese leader may be formulated in the 19th congress in an innovative way to integrate the present Chinese society to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. According to our assessment, the 19th congress of the CPC may be a historical starting-point, like its 7th congress, for innovating Marxism in localised form. By this way, the CPC will be enriched on a theoretical basis and pave the way for a great leap forward to strengthen the communist movement in China as well as in the world.

The writer is General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninism).
dilip_barua@yahoo