Cultural reflection can improve modern governance: Xi  

習近平：牢記歷史經驗教訓 為國家治理提供借鑒

中共中央政治局10月13日下午就我國歷史上的國家治理進行第十八次集體學習。中共中央總書記習近平在主持學習時強調，歷史是人民創(chuàng)造的，文明也是人民創(chuàng)造的。對綿延5000多年的中華文明，我們應該多一份尊重，多一份思考。對古代的成功經驗，我們要本著擇其善者而從之、其不善者而去之的科學態(tài)度，牢記歷史經驗、牢記歷史教訓、牢記歷史警示，為推進國家治理體系和治理能力現代化提供有益借鑒。[查看全文]

President Xi Jinping on Monday urged the Communist Party of China (CPC) to both respect the country's culture and reflect on it in improving state governance.

During the latest in a series of collective studies among the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi said the CPC should follow successful examples in Chinese history to learn from their merits and avoid shortcomings.

History is the best source of knowledge, and many situations from the past can shed light on what is happening currently, he said.

"Today's China is a development of yesterday's and the day before yesterday's China," according to Xi. "In order to run today's China, we should not only grasp history and traditional culture, but also actively collect the discoveries and wisdom of state governance in ancient times."

The president said research of traditional Chinese culture should be valued and its best parts should be passed along and promoted.

Xi argued that ancient ideologies still have deep influence on people nowadays, and they should be scientifically analyzed so as to inherit and promote the good parts and discard the negative elements.

"The absolutistic attitude of accepting or dismissing them completely is out of the question," he told his audience.

According to Xi, Chinese traditional cultures represent the country's most profound soft power, and Chinese people should never forget their pasts or belittle themselves.

"A country's governing system and capacity are closely related to its heritage and traditional cultures, and the answers to China's issues must be found in our own land," Xi said, adding that the socialist path with Chinese characteristics is determined by cultural and historical factors.

Xi urged Party members to study all human civilizations to help inform the modernization of China's government, but noted that such studies should be based on the country's realities.