Socialism with Chinese characteristics is, first and foremost, a road that leads from the primary stage to the completion of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and then from a moderately prosperous society to a world of great unity. The road is tortuous, but the future is bright. The theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics are all based on this path, so to strengthen “the Four-sphere Confidence” requires dialectical thinking. As the beginning of this road, the establishment of the socialist system itself is a prerequisite for China to catch up with The Times in great strides, while reform and opening up is a crucial choice that determines the fate of contemporary China and an important magic weapon for the Party and the people’s cause to catch up with the times in great strides. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee was epoch-making, based on the primary stage of socialism. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee was also epoch-making, based on the fact that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The two “Third Plenary Sessions” constitute two turning points on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and their reform and opening up measures are based on the continued extension of the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. However, in reality, while the epoch-making turning point significance of the former is highly evaluated, that of the latter is not sufficiently highlighted. To truly understand the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, it is necessary to overcome linear thinking and place the two “Third Plenary Sessions” in the overall historical process of reform and opening up, especially to dialectically understand the “epoch-making” nature of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which embodies both progress and turning. Only by accurately grasping the relationship between the two “epoch-making” can we better understand that, since the completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, “building a great modern socialist country in all respects” and “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” have become the goal of the new era and the new journey. The Communist Party of China should not only seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, but also seek progress for mankind and harmony for the world.

Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
LiuYuanchun, Editor-in-Chief
ZhengChunrong, Vice Executive Editor-in-Chief
GuoChanglin YanJinqiang WangWenbin WuWenfang, Vice Editor-in-Chief
A Fresh Understanding of the “Era” Characteristics of Reform and Opening Up: A New Perspective on the Epoch-making Relationship between the Party’s Two “Third Plenary Sessions” Epoch-making
Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Vol. 27, Issue 02, pp. 3 - 17 (2025) DOI:10.16538/j.cnki.jsufe.2025.02.001
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Ma Yongjun, An Lianxin. A Fresh Understanding of the “Era” Characteristics of Reform and Opening Up: A New Perspective on the Epoch-making Relationship between the Party’s Two “Third Plenary Sessions” Epoch-making[J]. Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 2025, 27(2): 3-17.
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