Removing the economic straitjacket to unleash productive potential
In the early years after the launch of the reform and opening up program, the first issue we had to address was how to tap the economy’s productive potential and to understand the role of productivity in China’s economic development. During his tour of southern cities in 1992, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that socialism was about liberating the economy from its straitjacket, raising productivity, eliminating exploitation and economic polarization, and building common prosperity. The issue of productive potential features prominently in Deng’s theory, a perennial concern in his discussions about the economy. It is also a recurring topic throughout China’s reform and opening up process. In 2002, the 16th CPC National Congress highlighted the importance of removing the economic straitjacket to unleash productive potential as a pillar of the Party’s governance strategy for national development. According to the report to the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, tapping society’s productive potential is a fundamental task, essential for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that our most fundamental and most urgent task is to further tap society’s productive potential by removing all hindrances, in order to build a moderately prosperous society, achieve socialist modernization, and bring about national renewal.
Indeed, a focus on productive potential is key to developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It provides an important basis for improving the people’s wellbeing and enhancing human development. Only through such a focus can we achieve our strategic goal of building a moderately prosperous society. The Party Central Committee is therefore committed to continuous efforts in this regard.
解放和发展社会生产力
改革开放之初，中国经济发展首先遇到的就是生产力问题，特别是怎样理解生产力在中国经济增长和发展中的作用问题等。邓小平在1992年“南方谈话”中指出：“社会主义的本质就是解放生产力，发展生产力，消灭剥削，消除两极分化，最终达到共同富裕。”有关生产力问题的表述，贯穿于邓小平理论形成和发展的始终，贯穿于中国改革开放的全过程。2002年，党的十六大把“必须高度重视解放和发展生产力”确立为中国共产党“执政兴国”的要义。2012年，党的十八大报告提出，解放和发展社会生产力是中国特色社会主义的根本任务。习近平多次强调，全面建成小康社会，实现社会主义现代化，实现中华民族伟大复兴，最根本最紧迫的任务还是进一步解放和发展社会生产力。
解放和发展社会生产力，是中国特色社会主义的根本任务，是实现人民物质文化水平不断提高、促进人的全面发展的重要基础，是实现全面建成小康社会战略目标的基本途径。“不断解放和发展社会生产力”，成为党中央承担重大责任、履行庄重承诺的基本立场。