The great course and great achievements of the 30 years since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee have profoundly made clear to us all that the decision to carry out reform and opening up has been vital to the destiny of contemporary China, that reform and opening up are the only way to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejuvenate the Chinese nation, that only socialism can save China and that only reform and opening up can develop China, socialism and Marxism. Essentially reform and opening up are in accord with the aspirations of the Party membership and the people and keep up with the trend of the times. The orientation and path of reform and opening up are entirely correct, and their merits and achievements can never be negated. To stop or reverse reform and opening up would lead us down a blind alley.
Given the new international and domestic situations, and at a new historical starting point, we must resolutely follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics initiated at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, and unswervingly adhere to the Party's fundamental theory, direction, strategy and experience. We should make bold changes and innovations, stay away from rigidity or stagnation, fear no risks, never be confused by any interference, and continue advancing reform and opening up and socialist modernization.
We shall uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and continue to adapt Marxism to Chinese conditions. To uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the basic point is to adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics. After 30 years of practical exploration and theoretical innovation, we understand socialism with Chinese characteristics in a more profound way.
Taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics means we will, under the leadership of the CPC and in light of China's basic conditions, take economic development as the central task, adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles and persevere in reform and opening up, release and develop the productive forces, consolidate and improve the socialist system, develop the socialist market economy, socialist democracy, an advanced socialist culture and a harmonious socialist society, and make China a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country.
In contemporary China, to stay true to socialism means to keep to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; to stick to the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics means to adhere to Marxism. Practices since the publication of the Communist Manifesto nearly 160 years ago have proved that Marxism is an open system of theories that advances in step with the times. The system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics both demonstrates the strong vitality of Marxism in contemporary China and explores wide space for our theoretical innovation.
Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is a long-term task that we must address consistently. The same goes for developing the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We shall develop the system in accordance with the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, keep up with the times, stick to the practical matters of reform and opening up and our national modernization drive, focus on the things we are engaged in, focus on the application of the theory of Marxism, focus on theoretical thinking of practical matters, focus on new exploration and development, study major theories and answer practical questions, thus constantly upgrading the successful experiences created by the Party leading the people into theories, persistently endowing socialism with Chinese characteristics with vivid features of practice, nationality and the times. Hence, we may continuously promote the popularization of Marxism in contemporary China, and ensure that Marxism in contemporary China shines even more brightly.