Editor's Note: Chen Shaohui is a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Peking University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over more than a century, the Party, born at a time when the Chinese nation faced profound crisis, has led China from hardship to rejuvenation, creating what many describe as a miracle in the history of human development.

As observers around the world seek to understand how the CPC has maintained its vitality and ensured long-term governance, one key answer lies in its steadfast commitment to the "Two Integrations" – integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and traditional culture.

This approach has enabled Marxist theory and the rich legacy of Chinese civilization to reinforce one another and evolve together. This is not only central to the CPC's continued vitality but also an important lens through which to understand contemporary China.

With a history stretching back more than 5,000 years, Chinese civilization is the world's only major civilization to have endured uninterrupted. China's fine traditional culture espouses many important principles and concepts, from regarding the people as the foundation of the state and the ideal of harmony among nations, to ceaselessly pursuing self-improvement, embracing the world with virtue and the wisdom of reform and innovation. These values have long been woven into the fabric of the Chinese nation and have become a shared cultural identity of the Chinese people.

In modern times, however, as China suffered foreign invasion, internal turmoil and national decline, traditional civilization had faced unprecedented challenges. Generations of patriots searched for a path to save the nation but repeatedly failed. It was only after Marxism was introduced to China that advanced political thought encountered an ancient civilization, illuminating a new path forward for a country in crisis.

Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has never viewed Marxism as something detached from or opposed to Chinese civilization. Instead, it has embraced the historic mission of preserving and developing China's fine traditional culture.

Over the past 105 years, the Party has grounded Marxism in China's realities and responded to the challenges of each era, allowing scientific theory to take root in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization while enabling traditional culture to be revitalized under the guidance of modern political thought.

This represents the most vivid embodiment of the "Two Integrations" and remains one of the defining characteristics that distinguishes the CPC from many other political parties.

As Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has noted, "Marxism, though wide-ranging and profound, can be summed up in a sentence – the pursuit of the emancipation of humankind." As a theory of the people, Marxism's commitment to advancing the liberation of the people naturally resonates with the traditional Chinese belief that the people are the foundation of the state.

Building on this shared philosophical foundation, the CPC has advanced a people-centered development philosophy. Through its poverty alleviation campaign, nearly 100 million rural residents were lifted out of extreme poverty, enabling millions of families to enjoy greater security and prosperity.

This commitment to improving people's well-being reflects both the Marxist principle of putting the people first and the long-standing Chinese aspiration for social stability, public well-being and national prosperity. When scientific theory converges with deeply-rooted cultural values, governance gains its strongest foundation in public support.

Traditional Chinese culture and Marxism also converge in their broader vision of humanity. The former promotes harmony among nations, respect for differences and peaceful coexistence. The latter likewise envisions the free and all-round development of humanity and the shared progress of all peoples in the world.

Drawing upon these shared values, the CPC has proposed the building a community with a shared future for humanity, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and other initiatives. Rather than embracing zero-sum competition or confrontation, these proposals seek to transcend estrangement through exchanges among civilizations and overcome conflict through mutual learning. Their international appeal, according to this perspective, lies both in their roots in the peaceful traditions of Chinese civilization and in their alignment with the common aspirations of humanity for development and cooperation.

In approaching tradition, the CPC has consistently upheld the principle of preserving fundamental values while adapting them to the needs of the times. It seeks to preserve its essence while discarding outdated elements, allowing tradition and innovation to reinforce one another.

Traditional concepts such as family values continue to inform contemporary social ethics. Ideas including the unity between humanity and nature help guide China's pursuit of ecological civilization. The long-standing respect for learning supports educational development, while devotion to the nation continues to inspire collective efforts toward national rejuvenation. In this way, China's fine traditional culture is no longer confined to classical texts or historical narratives, but has become a living force shaping national development, social governance and everyday life.

At the same time, the scientific methodology and dialectical thinking of Marxism have enabled traditional culture to undergo creative transformation and innovative development, allowing it to demonstrate renewed vitality in modern society.

Over the past 105 years, the integration of Marxism and China's fine traditional culture has continued to deepen. By adhering to the principle of the "Two Integrations," the CPC has not only embraced a scientific theory for transforming society but also drawn upon a rich cultural heritage capable of inspiring unity and confidence. This combination has enabled the Party to confront risks, pursue reform and innovation while preserving China's cultural identity and maintaining strategic confidence in its own civilization.

China has forged a path to modernization distinctive from that of the West, creating a development model that combines the depth of an ancient civilization with the dynamism of the modern era.

As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations have become an increasingly important trend. The deep integration between the CPC and China's fine traditional culture has not only contributed to China's own development and benefited its people but also offers new reference points for political parties and civilizations around the world.

Civilizations flourish through exchanges, and ideas are enriched through mutual learning. By integrating Marxism with China's fine traditional culture, the CPC continues to draw strength from both as it leads the Chinese nation toward rejuvenation and seeks to work with countries around the world for a better future.