Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: People's Daily | Byline: Qu Qingshan (曲青山), President of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee | August 18, 2026

This morning, we listened to General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, and were deeply educated and greatly inspired. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly commemorated and highly appraised Comrade Jiang Zemin's great achievements, and put forward clear requirements for studying and carrying forward Comrade Jiang Zemin's brilliant thought and lofty character. Here, I would like to share some reflections centering on learning from Comrade Jiang Zemin's innovative spirit of keeping pace with the times.

今天上午，我们聆听了习近平总书记的重要讲话，深受教育，倍受鼓舞。习近平总书记深切缅怀并高度评价了江泽民同志的丰功伟绩，对学习和弘扬江泽民同志的光辉思想和崇高风范提出明确要求。下面，我围绕学习江泽民同志与时俱进的创新精神谈点体会。

Keeping pace with the times is Comrade Jiang Zemin's highly condensed summation of the theoretical character of Marxism, and also his distinctive intellectual quality as a great Marxist. Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out: "Keeping pace with the times means that all of the Party's theory and work must reflect the character of the era, grasp the laws of development, and be rich in creativity." As the core of the Party's third-generation central collective leadership, Comrade Jiang Zemin took up his charge at a moment of crisis. Facing the severe test of an extremely complex situation at home and abroad and serious setbacks for world socialism, he led the whole Party, the whole army, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country in keeping pace with the times; at a major historical juncture that determined the future and destiny of the Party and the country, he courageously defended the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and successfully carried it into the 21st century.

与时俱进是江泽民同志对马克思主义理论品质作出的高度概括，也是他作为伟大的马克思主义者鲜明的思想品格。江泽民同志指出：“与时俱进，就是党的全部理论和工作要体现时代性，把握规律性，富于创造性。”江泽民同志作为我们党的第三代中央领导集体的核心，受命于危难之际。面对国内外形势十分复杂、世界社会主义出现严重曲折的严峻考验，他带领全党全军全国各族人民与时俱进，在决定党和国家前途命运的重大历史关头，勇敢捍卫了中国特色社会主义伟大事业，成功把中国特色社会主义推向21世纪。

Comrade Jiang Zemin kept pace with the times in grasping the broad trends of the era, and propelled the Party's and the country's cause toward new development. Advancing along the logic of history's forward movement and developing within the currents of the times is a precious lesson our Party has drawn in governing and rejuvenating the nation, and correctly grasping the broad trends of the era is its basic premise. Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed that "only by understanding the general trends of the world can one plan well for the domestic situation." He often used expressions such as "profound changes," "major changes," "comprehensive changes," and "continuous changes" to deeply analyze the new changes in the world situation, the national condition, and the state of the Party; he promptly put to the whole Party the major proposition of the "four how-to-understandings," and made major judgments concerning the theme of the era and the period of strategic opportunity. Comrade Jiang Zemin "persisted in proceeding in all things from the developing and changing reality" to drive the cause forward, leading our Party to "stand firmly at the forefront of the currents of the times."

江泽民同志与时俱进把握时代大势，推动党和国家事业实现新发展。在历史前进的逻辑中前进、在时代发展的潮流中发展，是我们党执政兴国的宝贵经验，而正确把握时代大势则是其基本前提。江泽民同志强调，“只有了解天下大势，才能谋好国内大局”，他常用“深刻变化”、“重大变化”、“全面变化”、“不断变化”等表述，深入分析世情、国情、党情的新变化，及时向全党提出了“四个如何认识”的重大命题，作出关于时代主题和战略机遇期等重大判断。江泽民同志“坚持一切从发展变化着的实际出发”推动事业发展，引领我们党“坚定地站在时代潮流的前头”。

Comrade Jiang Zemin kept pace with the times in pooling the wisdom of the whole Party to found the important thought of the "Three Represents," advancing new results in the Party's theoretical innovation. Marxism is a developing theory, and the history of Marxism's development is a history of keeping pace with the times. Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out that keeping pace with the times to advance theoretical innovation "is the way of running the Party and the state that we must adhere to over the long term." He stressed the need to "continuously innovate in accordance with the requirements of practice"—this is "reflecting the character of the era"; he stressed the need to "find, from continuously understanding and grasping historical laws, the correct direction, path and experience to guide our advance"—this is "grasping the laws of development"; and he stressed the need to "drive institutional innovation, scientific and technological innovation, cultural innovation and innovation in all other areas through theoretical innovation"—this is "being rich in creativity." It was precisely with this scientific attitude of keeping pace with the times that the important thought of the "Three Represents" inherited, enriched and developed Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, and became a guiding ideology and a guide to action that the Party must uphold over the long term. This is the most precious spiritual wealth Comrade Jiang Zemin left us.

江泽民同志与时俱进集中全党智慧创立“三个代表”重要思想，推动党的理论创新取得新成果。马克思主义是发展的理论，马克思主义的发展史就是一部与时俱进的历史。江泽民同志指出，与时俱进推进理论创新“是我们要长期坚持的治党治国之道”。他强调要“不断根据实践的要求进行创新”，这就是“体现时代性”；强调要“从对历史规律的不断认识和把握中找到指导我们前进的正确方向、道路与经验”，这就是“把握规律性”；强调要“通过理论创新推动制度创新、科技创新、文化创新以及其他各方面的创新”，这就是“富于创造性”。“三个代表”重要思想正是以这种与时俱进的科学态度，继承、丰富、发展了马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论，成为党必须长期坚持的指导思想和行动指南。这是江泽民同志留给我们最可宝贵的精神财富。

Comrade Jiang Zemin kept pace with the times in putting forward the basic framework for establishing a socialist market economic system, opening up a new prospect for reform and opening. How to accelerate the pace of reform and opening and modernization under new historical conditions was a major question the whole Party needed to answer. After long reflection, Comrade Jiang Zemin soberly recognized that "the original, highly centralized planned economic system no longer suited the requirements of developing the productive forces; without reform, there would be no way out for the development of China's economy," and that it was necessary to "establish a new economic system full of vigor and vitality." For this new economic system, Comrade Jiang Zemin clearly proposed using the formulation "socialist market economic system." This formulation won the approval of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, was accepted by the whole Party, and made important ideological and theoretical preparation for the successful convening of the Party's 14th National Congress. Comrade Jiang Zemin attached great importance to promoting reform and development through opening; he led us, through arduous and complex struggle, to formally join the World Trade Organization, forming a new pattern of opening to the outside world. Establishing the socialist market economic system and joining the World Trade Organization were two events of major historical significance in the course of China's reform and opening, laying a solid foundation for the country's long-term development.

江泽民同志与时俱进提出建立社会主义市场经济体制基本框架，推动改革开放开创新局面。如何在新的历史条件下加快改革开放和现代化建设步伐，是全党需要回答的一个重大问题。江泽民同志经过长期思考，清醒地认识到，“原有的高度集权的计划经济体制已不适应生产力发展的要求，不改革，我国经济的发展就没有出路”，必须“建立充满生机与活力的新经济体制”。对于这种新经济体制，江泽民同志明确提出使用“社会主义市场经济体制”的提法。这个提法，为邓小平同志所赞同，为全党所接受，为党的十四大胜利召开做了重要的思想理论准备。江泽民同志高度重视以开放促改革、促发展，领导我们经过艰巨复杂的斗争正式加入世界贸易组织，形成了对外开放新格局。建立社会主义市场经济体制、加入世界贸易组织，是我国改革开放进程中具有重大历史意义的两件大事，为我国的长远发展打下了坚实基础。

Comrade Jiang Zemin kept pace with the times in putting forward the new great project of Party building, giving the Party's leadership and Party building a new look. Comrade Jiang Zemin repeatedly stressed that "under new historical conditions, the Party must earnestly study the new situations and new problems encountered in its own building," and must "persist in examining itself according to the requirements of the development of the times, and strengthen and improve itself in a spirit of reform." Regarding the new situations, new problems and new requirements facing Party building, Comrade Jiang Zemin emphasized four aspects: first, "changes in the situation at home and abroad"; second, "the latest development of China's productive forces and the profound transformation of its economic system"; third, "the new development demands the masses of the people place on their material and cultural life"; and fourth, "the major changes that have taken place in the ranks of our Party members and cadres." Firmly grasping "the basic question, under new historical conditions, of what kind of Party to build and how to build it," Comrade Jiang Zemin clearly put forward "the two major historic tasks of raising the Party's level of leadership and governance, and enhancing its ability to resist corruption, guard against degeneration and withstand risks." He led us in advancing the new great project of Party building, ensuring that our Party always maintained its advanced nature and purity and remained full of creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness.

江泽民同志与时俱进提出党的建设新的伟大工程，推动党的领导和党的建设展现新气象。江泽民同志反复强调，“在新的历史条件下，党必须认真研究自身建设中遇到的新情况新问题”，必须“坚持用时代发展的要求审视自己，以改革的精神加强和完善自己”。关于党的建设面临的新情况新问题新要求，江泽民同志强调了四个方面，一是“国内外形势的变化”，二是“我国生产力的最新发展和经济体制的深刻变革”，三是“人民群众对物质文化生活提出的新的发展要求”，四是“我们党员干部队伍发生的重大变化”。江泽民同志紧紧抓住“在新的历史条件下建设一个什么样的党和怎样建设党这个基本问题”，明确提出“提高党的领导水平和执政水平、提高拒腐防变和抵御风险能力这两大历史性课题”，领导我们推进党的建设新的伟大工程，确保我们党始终保持先进性和纯洁性，始终充满创造力、凝聚力和战斗力。

At the Party's 16th National Congress, keeping pace with the times—together with emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts—was formally written into the Party Constitution as a basic component of the Party's ideological line, which is of great significance for our Party to remain forever full of vigor and vitality. Leading the people, our Party has continuously advanced theoretical and practical innovation; through long-term effort, since the Party's 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. In the new era, the Party Center with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country, showing confidence and self-reliance and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, propelling the Party's and the country's cause to achieve historic accomplishments and undergo historic changes, and bringing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into an irreversible historical process with an unprecedentedly bright future. On the new journey of the new era, the best commemoration of Comrade Jiang Zemin is to unite ever more closely around the Party Center with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, comprehensively implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply appreciate the decisive significance of the "Two Establishes," resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds," and, of one heart and mind, forge ahead and strive to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization!

在党的十六大上，坚持与时俱进同坚持解放思想、实事求是一道，作为党的思想路线的基本内涵被正式写入党章，这对我们党始终充满生机活力具有重要意义。我们党领导人民不断推进理论创新和实践创新，经过长期努力，党的十八大以来，中国特色社会主义进入新时代。新时代，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全国各族人民，自信自立、守正创新，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，使中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程，展现出前所未有的光明前景。新时代新征程上，对江泽民同志的最好纪念，就是更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，同心同德、砥砺前行，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而努力奋斗！