The 'Two Integrations': How the CPC's century of experience shaped China's development path

Editor's note: Liu Yougong, a special commentator for CGTN, is a PhD in Scientific Socialism and the International Communist Movement, Political Science, Central China Normal University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The concept of the "Two Integrations" – integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with its fine traditional culture – has become a defining feature of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) understanding of its own historical development. More than a new political slogan, it represents a broader reflection on why the Party has been able to adapt to dramatically changing circumstances over the past century.The CPC's history is not only a record of revolution, state-building and reform, but also a history of continuous theoretical adaptation. One of the Party's enduring strengths has been its refusal to treat Marxism as a rigid doctrine. Instead, it has sought to reinterpret its principles in light of China's evolving national conditions, drawing on the country's own intellectual and cultural traditions.

The origins of this approach can be traced to the Party's early revolutionary years. Founded in 1921, the CPC faced the challenge of applying Marxist theory to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal China – a society that differed fundamentally from the industrial Europe where Marxism first emerged. Early attempts to replicate foreign revolutionary models produced costly setbacks, reinforcing the lesson that imported theories could succeed only if adapted to China's realities.

It was against this backdrop that Mao Zedong and other early Party leaders developed a revolutionary strategy rooted in China's own social conditions, including the path of surrounding the cities from the countryside and seizing state power through armed struggle. In 1938, Mao formally introduced the concept of the "Sinicization of Marxism," marking an important milestone in the Party's effort to reconcile universal theory with national circumstances.

Many of the CPC's major theoretical contributions during the revolutionary period – including the theory of New Democracy, the strategy of people's war and the Party-building framework – were presented as products of this process of adaptation rather than simple applications of classical Marxism.

The integration extended beyond politics into the cultural sphere. Concepts such as "seeking truth from facts," the mass line, and independence and self-reliance embodied Marxist philosophical principles while being expressed through ideas and language deeply familiar to Chinese society. Rather than rejecting China's traditional intellectual heritage, the Party sought to reinterpret elements such as people-centered governance, pragmatism, and self-improvement through a Marxist lens, allowing Marxist thought to take root in China's own historical and cultural context.

The process continued after the founding of the People's Republicof China. As the Party shifted from revolution to socialist construction, it again confronted the question of how to adapt Marxist theory to new realities. Mao proposed what he described as a "second integration" – applying the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism to China's socialist development while learning from, rather than mechanically copying, the Soviet experience. Works such as On the Ten Major Relationships and On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People reflected efforts to develop an independent understanding of socialist development suited to China's own circumstances.

The establishment of the socialist system, together with the creation of an independent and relatively comprehensive industrial and economic base, laid the foundation for China's subsequent development. Following the launch of reform and opening up, the Party once again emphasized the importance of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. Deng Xiaoping's call to "build socialism with Chinese characteristics" recognized that China's development strategy had to begin with its own stage of economic and social development.

Likewise, the establishment of the socialist market economy demonstrated that maintaining a socialist system did not require adherence to a single economic model. Instead, policies would be judged by whether they promoted productive forces, strengthened national development and improved living standards. Subsequent theoretical innovations, including the Theory of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, reflected the Party's continued effort to update its thinking in response to changing circumstances. Together, these developments reinforced a consistent theme: Upholding Marxism does not mean repeating established conclusions, just as following China's own path does not mean isolating itself from global trends. Rather, both require continual adaptation as conditions evolve.

The concept of the "Two Integrations" has reached a new stage in the current era. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party, with Xi Jinping at its core, has sought to answer a series of defining questions for contemporary China: What kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should the country uphold, and how should it be advanced? The result has been the development of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which the Party presents as the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to China's realities.

A significant theoretical contribution of this period, according to the Party's own framework, has been to distill decades of practical experience into the concept of the "Two Integrations" and to further define the importance of the second integration.

The first integration focuses on ensuring that Marxist theory remains grounded in China's national conditions and responsive to the country's practical challenges. The second emphasizes rooting that theory in China's long civilizational tradition, thereby strengthening the nation's cultural identity and intellectual confidence. Although the two are closely intertwined – China's contemporary realities are inseparable from its historical and cultural legacy – they are not identical. Highlighting the role of traditional Chinese culture underscores the civilizational foundations on which the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been built.

From linking the principle of putting the people first with the traditional idea that the people are the foundation of the state, to connecting whole-process people's democracy with China's long-standing traditions of consultation and consensus-building, the Party argues that contemporary governance concepts draw strength from both Marxist theory and Chinese political culture. Similarly, the pursuit of common prosperity is presented as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional ideal of great harmony, while the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is portrayed as a contemporary development of classical Chinese ideas, such as the pursuit of the common good and harmony among nations. In this view, Xi Jinping Thought preserves the essential principles of Marxism while remaining firmly rooted in China's rich cultural heritage.

This process is not simply about incorporating traditional culture into modern political discourse. Rather, it seeks to creatively reinterpret and revitalize China's intellectual traditions under the guidance of Marxism, while allowing the insights of Chinese civilization to enrich the contemporary expression of Marxist theory itself.

Viewed from this perspective, the "Two Integrations" provide not only a theoretical framework but also a methodology for advancing Chinese modernization. Modernization, the Party argues, cannot be achieved by copying existing development models. It requires a clear understanding of China's national conditions, stage of development and the aspirations of its people, while also maintaining confidence in the country's own cultural traditions, and preserving its cultural identity.

Looking ahead, the Party argues that continued adherence to the "Two Integrations" will be essential to further advancing the adaptation of Marxism to China's realities and to the needs of the times. In its view, this approach provides both the intellectual foundation and the cultural confidence needed to advance Chinese modernization, strengthen China as a modern socialist country, and support the broader goal of national rejuvenation.

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