A two-pronged approach

A two-pronged approach was advocated by Deng Xiaoping as part of a basic strategy for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It summarizes in straightforward language the essential philosophical teachings of dialectical materialism, and provides guidance for reform initiatives.

The two prongs in Deng’s approach are economic development and promotion of ethical values. Implemented since the start of the reform process, this approach calls for a concerted effort to pursue economic reform, open up to the outside world, and step up economic development on the one hand, and a continued commitment to the Four Cardinal Principles (socialism, the people’s democratic dictatorship, leadership by the CPC, and Mao Zedong Thought and Marxism-Leninism) and to the rule of law on the other. It ensures progress in our push for reform and greater openness, and for socialist modernization. No matter how the world we find ourselves in may evolve, this approach will remain relevant. Today it still guides the Party’s activities on a theoretical level. Xi Jinping thus emphasized that further reform is a balancing act. We must free our mind while seeking truth from facts, and pursue overall progress while implementing targeted measures. Top-level planning should go in tandem with localized pilot programs that allow us to “feel for stones when crossing a river.” Bold moves should be taken with steady steps. The right balance should be struck between reform, development and stability.   

“兩手抓、兩手都要硬”

“兩手抓、兩手都要硬”是鄧小平建設中國特色社會主義的基本戰略思想，是對唯物辯證法十分通俗和高度概括的表述，也是全面深化改革必須牢牢把握的科學方法論。

改革開放以來，鄧小平提出了一手抓物質文明建設、一手抓精神文明建設，一手抓堅持四項基本原則、一手抓改革開放，一手抓建設、一手抓法制等“兩手抓、兩手都要硬”的思想，保證了改革開放和社會主義現代化建設順利推進。無論客觀形勢如何發展變化，“兩手抓、兩手都要硬”的基本思想方法都不會過時。現階段，這種科學方法論仍是中國共產黨遵循的思想方法。比如，習近平強調，全面深化改革要處理好解放思想和實事求是的關系、整體推進和重點突破的關系、頂層設計和摸著石頭過河的關系、膽子要大和步子要穩的關系、改革發展穩定的關系。