The Second Integration Meets the Needs of the Times

China's traditional culture is an important consideration in integrating Marxism with China's specific reality, as it makes up a major part of this reality. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the unique role of China's culture has become even more pronounced, and the importance of the second integration has thus taken on a special significance based on the needs of the times.

The vitality and enduring nature of Chinese culture have made it an increasingly important aspect of China's reality

In the age of economic globalization and rapid IT application when countries are becoming more economically and socially alike, traditional culture has become the most fundamental and striking characteristic of a nation. It is the most crucial and deep-rooted facet of a nation's reality and what fundamentally sets it apart from other countries and cultures. Therefore, to keep integrating Marxism's basic tenets with China's specific realities, we must inevitably place emphasis on integrating these tenets with China's traditional culture. As such, the second integration is a practical requirement for realizing the first integration, as well as a logical conclusion of this process. It represents a theoretical and intellectual refinement of the first integration and an inevitable outcome of our efforts to stay up-to-date in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

The second integration has opened up new horizons for Marxism's continuous development and injected new vitality into Chinese culture

By successfully managing this integration, Chinese Communists have opened up new horizons for Marxism. Moreover, they have also re-energized Chinese culture and unlocked its inherent vitality—which had previously been shackled under the conditions of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society—thus generating powerful inspiration for realizing national rejuvenation. With the introduction and ongoing development of the second integration, Marxism has become a more integral part of China, and traditional Chinese culture has been modernized. Together, these two elements have naturally merged to form a new cultural entity, which serves as the cultural embodiment of Chinese modernization. In advancing the two integrations, the second integration in particular, we have simultaneously worked to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and to develop a modern Chinese civilization. These two processes have reinforced each other and integrated seamlessly to generate synergy for reaching new heights in both respects. All of this has given rise to a powerful cultural wave that has brought profound changes to both China and beyond. China's success shows that for Marxism to take root and thrive around the world, it must be integrated with the traditional cultures of the nations where it is being applied. Likewise, to keep abreast of the times, cultures must incorporate advanced cultural elements and scientific theories of humanity.

Editor: Li Xiaoqiong