Today, the political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee held its fifth collective study on the Communist Manifesto and its significance of the times. This year marks the 200 anniversary of Marx's birth and the 170 anniversary of the Communist Manifesto. The Party Central Committee has made arrangements to commemorate the 200 anniversary of Marx's birth, and a commemorative meeting will be held in early May. At this time point, it is of great significance for the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to collectively study the "Communist Manifesto.

Studying the basic theory of Marxism is a compulsory course for communists. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee has studied the basic principles and methodology of historical materialism, dialectical materialism and Marxist political economy. The purpose of this collective study of the Communist Manifesto by the political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee is to review the classics, feel the truth power of Marxism, strengthen Marxist belief, and trace the theoretical source of Marxist political parties to maintain their advanced nature and purity. we will improve the ability and level of the whole party to use the basic principles of Marxism to solve practical problems in contemporary China.

All the comrades present here have read the Communist Manifesto, and today we review this classic and are still deeply educated and inspired. In combination with this study, I will talk about 3 points of understanding.

1. Deep Understanding of the Significant Theoretical Contribution of the Communist Manifesto

The publication of the Communist Manifesto is a great event in the history of human thought. The "Communist Manifesto" is the first great work that comprehensively expounds the principles of scientific socialism. It "publicly explains its own views, its own purposes, and its own intentions to the world", and stands a monument to the spirit of Marxism. The major theoretical contributions of the "Communist Manifesto" mainly include the following aspects.

On May 2, 2018, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Peking University. This is Xi Jinping's cordial conversation with Chinese and foreign students who are having discussions and exchanges on "interpreting the new era" at the School of Marxism at Peking University.

First, it profoundly expounds the scientific world outlook of Marxism. The Manifesto of the Communist Party describes a new world outlook, that is, historical materialism, in thorough and clear language, and provides people with scientific ideological weapons to understand nature and human society. In the history of human thought, the world view of idealism, which uses God, human nature and ideas to explain everything, once ruled people's understanding of social phenomena for a long time. Before the birth of Marxism, utopian socialism attacked capitalism fiercely and sketched the picture of the future society, but it could not find the correct road and social forces to realize its social ideals. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels scientifically expounded the internal contradictions of capitalism and the historical mission of the proletariat, revealed the historical inevitability of socialism replacing capitalism, and incisively discussed the nature, characteristics, basic program, strategic principles of Marxist political parties, and drew a clear line between scientific socialism and other various socialist schools. Some important ideas put forward in the Manifesto of the Communist Party, such as historical materialism, class struggle, the historical mission of the proletariat, the new communist society, the all-round development of human beings, and the world market, are of revolutionary, groundbreaking and breakthrough significance in the history of human thought. The Communist Manifesto profoundly reveals that the history since slave society has been a history of class struggle; reveals the general law of human social development in which the productive forces determine the relations of production, the economic base determines the superstructure, and the contradictory movement between the productive forces and the relations of production, the economic base and the superstructure promotes the successive replacement of social forms; reveals the inherent contradiction between the socialization of capitalist production and the private possession of the means of production; it reveals the historical law of the inevitable demise of capitalism and the inevitable victory of communism. As Engels said: "this principle seems very simple, but a closer examination will immediately reveal that the initial conclusion of this principle gives a blow to all idealism, even the most hidden idealism." He also said that "this fact is the most revolutionary conclusion not only for theory but also for practice". After the "Communist Manifesto" was published, Marx and Engels continued to develop their thoughts, and finally formed a systematic and complete ideological and theoretical system. The Manifesto of the Communist Party is a classic work with scientific insight into the law of the development of human society. It is a classic work full of struggle spirit, critical spirit and revolutionary spirit. It is a classic work that upholds the people's position, works for the interests of the people and seeks liberation for all mankind. The scientific and revolutionary nature of Marxist theory stems from the scientific world outlook and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, which provides us with a powerful ideological weapon for understanding and transforming the world, and points out the correct direction for world socialism.

second, it profoundly expounded the advanced character of a marxist political party. The "Communist Manifesto" made an in-depth exposition of the advanced nature of Marxist parties, pointing out that the Communist Party is not a special party opposed to other workers' parties, and they do not have any interests different from the interests of the entire proletariat. In practice, the Communist Party is the most resolute and always driving part of the workers' political parties in all countries; in theory, the place where the Communist Party excels the rest of the proletarian masses lies in their understanding of the conditions, process and general results of the proletarian movement, and in the current movement At the same time, it represents the future of the movement. A Marxist party must be composed of the most thorough and determined advanced elements, and Communists should be the most tireless, fearless and reliable advanced fighters. These ideas provide a fundamental guideline for Marxist parties to maintain their advanced nature and purity.

third, it profoundly expounds the political stand of a marxist political party. The Communist Manifesto makes no secret of the class nature of the Marxist party, stands on the side of the proletariat and the broad masses of the people, enthusiastically eulogizes the great role of the people in promoting the progress of history, regards the proletariat as the representative of advanced productive forces, the gravedigger of the capitalist system and the creator of the new social system, and emphasizes that all movements in the past are movements of the minority or for the benefit of the minority, the movement of the proletariat is an independent movement of the overwhelming majority and for the benefit of the overwhelming majority. This clear political position fully affirms the people's historical dominant position and fully embodies the fundamental nature and purpose of Marxist political parties.

fourth, it profoundly expounds the lofty ideals of a marxist political party. The "Communist Manifesto" established that the highest goal of a Marxist party is to realize communism, and the realization of the free and comprehensive development of people is the essential feature of communism. This lofty ideal stands on the moral commanding heights of mankind, and has become the firm belief of generations of Communists who are loyal and unyielding, and the spiritual pillar of not being afraid of any risks and overcoming all difficulties. It has become a Marxist party uniting the people to smash the old world., The spiritual banner of creating a new world.

Fifth, it profoundly expounds the revolutionary program of Marxism. The "Communist Manifesto" pointed out that the first step of the workers' revolution is to raise the proletariat to the ruling class, fight for democracy, and use its own political rule to increase the total productivity as quickly as possible. The "Communist Manifesto" also put forward specific measures on how to develop productive forces. Although some of its specific content is no longer applicable today, the spirit contained in it still has positive significance. These ideas are of great and far-reaching guiding significance for Marxist political parties to lead the people in revolutionary struggle and armed seizure of political power, to strengthen the construction of political power, especially the construction of the ruling party, and to the development of socialist democracy, the development of social productive forces, and the promotion of all-round social progress.

This is the interior of the White Swan Cafe taken in the center of Brussels, Belgium, on February 7, 2018, where Marx and Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto.

Sixth, it profoundly expounds the internationalist spirit of Marxist political parties. The Communist Manifesto makes a profound analysis of capitalist production across national boundaries and constantly opening up the world market, scientifically foresees the universal trend of material production and spiritual and cultural production, and then points out that communism is not a narrow regional movement. in order to achieve complete liberation, the proletariat must liberate all mankind and call on the proletarians all over the world to unite. This provides a scientific theoretical basis for Marxist political parties to have a global mind, benefit mankind, and jointly create a better world.

The "Communist Manifesto" is a rich theoretical treasure house, and its theoretical contributions are multifaceted. It is worthy of our repeated study and in-depth study, and continue to draw ideological nourishment from it.

2. a profound understanding of the profound impact of the Communist Manifesto on world socialism

Once the "Communist Manifesto" came out, it promoted the development of world socialism in practice and profoundly changed the process of human history. Engels said that the "Communist Manifesto" is "the most widely spread and most international work in all socialist literature, and it is the common program recognized by millions of workers from Siberia to California". Shortly after the publication of the Communist Manifesto, a massive revolutionary movement broke out in Europe. In 1864, after the establishment of the International Workers' Association (historically known as the "First International"), under the leadership of Marx, it supported the struggle of the working classes of various countries and the struggle of oppressed nations for national liberation. The Paris Commune Revolution, which broke out in 1871, was the first great attempt to overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie and establish a regime dominated by the people. Through struggle, the working class of various countries has achieved major victories that were impossible in the past, such as political suffrage, eight-hour working system, and labor legislation.

In November 1917, Lenin led the October Revolution to success, opened a gap in the weakest chain of capitalism, established the world's first socialist country, and realized the great leap of socialism from theory to practice. The success of the October Revolution proved the truth of the "Communist Manifesto" and gave hope to the proletarian revolutions and national liberation movements in various countries. After the end of the Second World War, a number of countries successively embarked on the road of socialism. Socialism has developed from one country to many countries, and the power of world socialism has greatly increased.
The older generation of revolutionaries in our party were all influenced by the "Communist Manifesto" and embarked on the revolutionary road. Our party's first party program was formulated in accordance with the spirit of the Communist Manifesto. The road of new democratic revolution, socialist revolution, socialist construction and socialism with Chinese characteristics opened up by our party are all great creations that combine the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality. The Communist Party of China is the faithful inheritors of the spirit of the Communist Manifesto.

The Communist Manifesto is the most influential work in modern times. Over the past 170 years, the Communist Manifesto has been translated into more than 200 languages and published in thousands of editions, making it one of the most widely circulated books in the world. In the past 20 years, various Western institutions have selected "Millennium Thinker" and "Most Influential Scholar", and Marx has ranked first or even the top. Since the occurrence of the international financial crisis in 2008, the "Marx fever" has risen again in the world, and the research on "Communist Manifesto" and "Das Kapital" has once again become popular. Facts have proved that the truth power of the "Communist Manifesto" is eternal and has and will continue to have a profound impact on the process of world history.

3. Upholding the Scientific Principle and Scientific Spirit of the Communist Manifesto

Marx and Engels said when they were alive that some parts of the "Communist Manifesto" can be modified "or" written in a different way ", but" the general principles expounded by it are completely correct up to now ". Although the Communist Manifesto was born 170 years ago, its basic principles are not outdated and will not be outdated. As I said, "if you feel uneasy in your heart, you should delve into the classics and read the Manifesto of the Communist Party several times." what you are talking about is the truth of learning the new from the past. Today, we review the "Communist Manifesto", which is to apply the scientific principles and scientific spirit contained in the "Communist Manifesto" to the practice of commanding great struggles, great projects, great undertakings, and great dreams, and continue to write a new era of persistence and development. A new chapter in socialism with Chinese characteristics.

First, we will unswervingly strive for the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The "Communist Manifesto" revealed the inevitable trend of human society towards communism, which laid the theoretical foundation for the Communists to strengthen their ideals and beliefs and stick to their spiritual home. The establishment of ideals and beliefs is a rational choice, not a momentary impulse. Simple feelings are far from enough. It must also be supported by deep theoretical beliefs, otherwise it will be shaken as soon as there is trouble. As long as we master the basic principles of Marxism, we can deeply realize that the realization of communism is a long historical process gradually achieved by a phased goal, which requires several generations of continuous struggle, hard struggle and unremitting struggle; we can deeply realize that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only way to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, It is also the successful road for the Chinese Communists to lead the people to pursue lofty ideals and open up a bright future. At the beginning of this year, I said at a special seminar for leading cadres at the new two committees and provincial and ministerial levels: "if socialism does not achieve today's success in China, if the leadership of the Communist Party of China and China's socialist system also collapsed in the domino changes of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Soviet Communist Party and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, or failed for other reasons, then socialist practice may linger in the dark for a long time, and as Marx said, as a ghost wandering in the world." Due to the continuous success of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the situation of socialism in the world after the end of the Cold War has been greatly reversed, the passive situation of socialism in competition with capitalism has been greatly reversed, and the superiority of socialism has been greatly improved. Highlight. We should unify the lofty ideal of communism with the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and with what we are doing. We should strengthen our confidence in the road, theory, system and culture. We should not be afraid of any risks or be confused by any interference. We should always adhere to the ideals and beliefs of the Communists and live up to the glorious title of Communists.

Second, faithfully practice the people-centered development thought. To learn to use the "Communist Manifesto", we must not forget our original aspirations, keep our mission in mind, always put the people in the highest position in our hearts, better enhance the well-being of the people, and promote the overall development of people and the overall progress of society. To plan development, we must focus on meeting the people's growing needs for a better life, implement the new development concept, focus on solving the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development, improve the quality of development, and continuously improve the people's quality of life and taste of life. To deepen reform, we should properly handle major issues related to reform from the standpoint of the people, resolutely remove all institutional and institutional obstacles that hinder the development of productive forces, and resolutely remove all ideas and concepts that hinder the progress of social civilization. to bring more sense of achievement, happiness and security to the people. To ensure and improve people's livelihood, we should focus on making the fruits of development more and more equitable to benefit all the people, do our best and do what we can, promote social fairness and justice, and constantly make new progress in educating children, learning and teaching, working income, medical care, providing for the elderly, housing and supporting the weak, and constantly moving towards the common prosperity of all the people.

On May 9, 2018, a foreign audience was attracted by a wall of books displaying more than 500 "Communist Manifesto" published by different countries in Beijing's "The Power of Truth-Themed Exhibition Commemorating the 200 Anniversary of Marx's Birth.

Third, conform to the general trend of world development and promote the construction of a community of human destiny. At present, the world's multi-polarization, economic globalization, social informatization, and cultural diversity are developing in depth. The degree of interconnection and interdependence of countries is unprecedented, which fully confirms the scientific foresight made by Marx and Engels in the "Communist Manifesto. Every country has the right to development, and at the same time, it should consider its own interests at a broader level, not at the expense of the interests of other countries. Unilateralism and protectionism are not in line with the law of development of human society. We must unswervingly safeguard and develop my country's development interests. At the same time, we must unswervingly expand opening up to the outside world, promote the international community to share the responsibilities of the times, cooperate to meet the challenges brought about by economic globalization, and promote economic globalization towards a more open, inclusive and inclusive. The development of inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction allows different countries, different classes, and different groups of people to share the opportunities brought by economic globalization.

Fourth, strengthen party building in accordance with the new requirements of the new era. The Communist Manifesto laid the theoretical foundation for the Marxist theory of party building. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have not only gained a new understanding of upholding the party's leadership in theory, but also made new explorations in practice, and improved the system and mechanism of the party's leadership over all work. We must implement and embody the adherence to the party's leadership in all fields of reform, development and stability, internal affairs, foreign affairs and national defense, and governance of the party, the country, and the military, so as to ensure that the party always takes the overall situation and coordinates all parties. If the party wants to lead the people to promote the great social revolution and realize the great national rejuvenation, it must carry forward the spirit of self-revolution, and the determination to promote the comprehensive and strict governance of the party cannot be shaken, the requirements cannot be lowered, and the intensity cannot be weakened. It is necessary to conscientiously implement the general requirements and major arrangements for party building in the new era put forward by the 19th CPC National Congress, while promoting party building as a whole, focus on solving new problems within the party, and strive to solve the problems of formalism and bureaucracy strongly reflected by the masses of the people, the problems that some cadres dare not, are unwilling to do and will not do, and the problems of weakening, falsification and marginalization of party building at the grass-roots level, and so on, ensure that our party will always maintain the true qualities of a Marxist party, always be at the forefront of the times, and always be the backbone of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

Fifth, constantly open up a new realm of Sinicization of Marxism. Keeping pace with the times, sharing the fate with the people, and paying attention to and answering the major issues raised by the times and practice are the secrets of Marxism's eternal vitality. The general principles expounded in the "Communist Manifesto" are correct as a whole, but the "Communist Manifesto" cannot be required to provide ready answers to all the specific questions raised by the development of human society 170 years later. We should treat science with a scientific attitude, pursue truth with the spirit of truth, and constantly give Marxism a new connotation of the times. We must have an insight into the situation of the times, grasp the general trend of the times, stand at the forefront of human development, actively explore major issues related to the future and destiny of mankind, and contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the global challenges facing the world today and the common problems facing mankind. It is necessary to closely connect with the creative practice of hundreds of millions of people, respect the people's dominant position and pioneering spirit, make new generalizations, gain new understanding, and form new results. We must adhere to the problem orientation, focus on the major practical issues facing my country's reform and opening up and socialist modernization, overall strategic issues, and hot and difficult issues that the people are concerned about, and provide new ideas, new ideas, and new methods for solving problems. It is necessary to absorb all the outstanding cultural achievements created by mankind, continuously deepen the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party's governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development, develop 21st century Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism, and continue to write a new chapter in the Sinicization of Marxism.

Sixth, strengthen the study and research of Marxist classics. The majority of party members and cadres, especially senior cadres, must learn and make good use of Marxist classics such as the Communist Manifesto, insist on applying what they have learned, use it to promote learning, learn from the original, read carefully, learn deeply, and master Marxist positions, Viewpoints, methods, and constantly improve the theoretical literacy of Marxism. It is necessary to increase the intensity of the compilation of classic works, insist on producing both results and talents, and cultivate a backbone team for the compilation of Marxist classics in the new era. It is necessary to deepen the research and interpretation of classic works, promote the publicity and popularization of classic works, and continuously introduce various forms of theoretical propaganda works that the masses love to hear and see and are close to the lives of the masses, so that the theory can be understood and accepted by hundreds of millions of people, and draw the largest concentric circle of thought.
In another 30 years, that is, by the 200 anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto in 2048, it will be the time when we will build a modern socialist power in an all-round way and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At that time, the Chinese Communists and the Chinese people will further prove the scientificity, truth, and predictability of Marxism with their own feats. Let us welcome this great moment with practical actions!

(This is General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech during the fifth collective study of the 19th Political Bureau of the Central Committee on April 23, 2018.)