Development as the top priority
Throughout the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping always felt a sense of urgency about China’s economic development. He believed that the target of doubling the economic output could be achieved only by seizing opportunities with determination and driving the Chinese economy up to a new level every few years. In June 1987 he urged an acceleration of the reform process, and in June 1989 he called for every possible effort to speed up development. In his speeches during his tour of southern cities in early 1992, he advocated a strategic focus on development as the top priority.
Deng’s emphasis on development was in response to world events at the time. The end of the 20th century witnessed fundamental changes in the global landscape, evidenced by the widespread pursuit of peace, social progress, happiness, stability and development. Bearing this global picture in mind, Deng called on the Party to focus on the most important issues, or rather issues of global strategic significance, those being peace and economic development.
In fact, the issue of development was Deng’s greatest concern. He said, “Development is the absolute principle. We must be clear about this question. If we fail to analyze it properly and to understand it correctly, we shall become overcautious, not daring to emancipate our minds and act freely. Consequently, we shall lose opportunities. Like a boat sailing against the current, we must forge ahead or be swept downstream.”
Four decades of reform and opening up have proved the vital importance of development and the validity of Deng’s thinking. Xi Jinping has also pointed out on many occasions that we should never waver in our resolve to pursue development, as it is the key to solving all the problems that China faces.
发展才是硬道理
从20世纪80年代开始，邓小平对中国的经济建设始终怀着一种焦急的紧迫感。他认为，只有横下心来，抓住机遇，加快发展，隔几年上一个台阶，才能确保翻番任务的实现。1987年6月，他强调“改革步子要加快”；1989年6月，他十分坚决地说：“凡是能够积极争取的发展速度还是要积极争取。”发展速度年年初，邓小平在“南方谈话”中，更是明确提出了“发展才是硬道理”这一战略思想。
邓小平提出这一思想，也与当时的国际环境密切相关。20世纪末期，世界形势发生了根本性变化，绝大多数人都向往着世界的安定和平、社会的文明进步以及幸福美满的生活，思稳定、谋发展是世界思潮的主流。面对国际形势这一显著特点，邓小平最先以敏锐的洞察力向全党提出：“现在世界上真正的大问题，带全球性的战略问题，一个是和平问题，一个是经济问题或者说发展问题。”其中的发展问题又是邓小平在这一时期最为关注的焦点。他强调，“发展才是硬道理。这个问题要搞清楚。如果分析不当，造成误解，人们就会变得谨小慎微，不敢解放思想，不敢放开手脚，结果是丧失时机，犹如逆水行舟，不进则退。”改革开放40年的事实证明，发展才是硬道理，这是一条颠扑不破的真理。习近平也反复指出，发展是解决中国所有问题的关键，这一战略思想要坚定不移地坚持。