Upside down, generous and generous —— What changes have taken place in New China in the past 70 years？
曾记否，70年前，旧中国战乱频仍、山河破碎，历经苦难、满目疮痍，国家和民族处于积贫积弱、一穷二白的悲惨境地；而如今，中国早已旧貌换新颜，经济实力和综合国力名列世界前茅，中华民族伟大复兴的壮丽征程迎来万丈曙光。
曾记否，70年前，旧中国百姓衣不蔽体、食不果腹，命运多舛、颠沛流离，人民处于饥寒交迫、水深火热的凄苦境况；而如今，中国人民早已成为国家、社会和自己命运的主人，享受着殷实幸福的小康生活，作为中国人是多么的自豪和荣光。
曾记否，70年前，旧中国国势衰微、租界林立，饱受欺凌、毫无尊严，中华民族在国际上地位卑下、遭人轻视；而如今，中国早已抛掉“东亚病夫”的帽子，傲然屹立于世界东方，昂首阔步走近世界舞台中央。
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时光荏苒，岁月如歌。新中国70年，在人类历史长河中只是短暂一瞬，在中华民族发展史上也是弹指之间，却如此深刻地改变了中华民族和中国人民的命运。我们的祖国从来没有像今天这样欣欣向荣、蒸蒸日上，我们的民族从来没有像今天这样扬眉吐气、自信满怀，我们的人民从来没有像今天这样幸福安康、意气风发。忆往昔峥嵘岁月稠，中华大地沧桑巨变、换了人间。
一、新中国这样走来
1840年至1949年，中华民族在黑暗的深渊中探索了100多年，中国人民在英勇的抗争中奋斗了100多年。鸦片战争后，在西方列强的轮番侵略和践踏下，“四万万人齐下泪，天涯何处是神州”。无数仁人志士为挽民族于危亡、救人民于水火，前赴后继、上下求索。多少主义和主张都出场了，又都破灭了；多少道路和方式都尝试了，又都失败了；多少组织和政党都登台了，又都谢幕了……虽一路慷慨一路歌，但终究未能改变中华民族的悲惨命运。
1921年中国共产党成立时，只有五十几名党员，也许没有多少人能够看到它所蕴藏的巨大力量。然而，正是这个用马克思主义武装起来的政党，给旧中国带来了希望和光明，深刻改变了中国革命的面貌，改变了中华民族的前途命运。在中国共产党的领导下，中国人民进行了一场场气壮山河的斗争，推翻帝国主义、封建主义、官僚资本主义“三座大山”的压迫，赢得民族独立和人民解放，彻底扭转了中华民族近代以来不断衰落的命运，迎来了中华民族持续走向繁荣富强的光明前景。
"Singing a rooster is white in the world." On October 1st, 1949, People’s Republic of China (PRC) was proclaimed, and the people of China stood up. The birth of the new China is like a majestic sunrise, sweeping away the darkness of the old China, illuminating the new journey of national rejuvenation, and the people of China began a great feat of transforming mountains and rivers and building the motherland. We creatively completed the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts and capitalist industry and commerce, established the basic socialist system, completed the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation, and laid the foundation for all development and progress in contemporary China. In a short period of time, we have established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system and carried out large-scale socialist construction. In the socialist revolution and construction, the original theoretical achievements and great achievements made by the Party leading the people have provided valuable experience, theoretical preparation and material foundation for creating Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new historical period.
"The east wind is full of spring." In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully held, and the people of China embarked on the road to prosperity. The opening of reform and opening up is like a mighty spring breeze, which blows all over the land of China, and everything in the great motherland recovers, showing a vibrant scene. We have shifted the work center of the Party and the state to economic construction, blazed a trail for Socialism with Chinese characteristics, established the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, and pushed forward reform, opening up and socialist modernization step by step. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, faced with the severe test of the changing international situation, especially the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the drastic changes in Eastern Europe and the low tide of the world socialist movement, we not only held steady, but also held high the banner of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, made major breakthroughs in establishing the goal of socialist market economic system reform and promoting the new great project of party building, successfully defended Socialism with Chinese characteristics and pushed Socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century with the times. We firmly grasp the important strategic opportunity period, concentrate on construction and development, focus on safeguarding and improving people’s livelihood, promote social fairness and justice, strengthen the construction of the party’s ruling ability and advanced nature, and push reform, opening up and socialist modernization to a new stage. Through continuous efforts, China has developed rapidly and continuously at a speed rarely seen in the world, and has made great strides to catch up with the times.
"The boundless scene is new for a while." In November 2012, the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened the curtain of a new era in Socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the people of China played a magnificent movement of strengthening. Our party has taken the great struggle, great project, great cause and great dream as a whole, promoted the overall layout of "five in one", coordinated and promoted the strategic layout of "four comprehensiveness", adhered to the general tone of striving for progress while maintaining stability, put forward a series of new ideas, new ideas and new strategies for all aspects of the work of the party and the country, promulgated a series of major principles and policies, launched a series of major measures, promoted a series of major tasks, and solved many problems that have been solved for a long time. It has achieved many major events that we wanted to do in the past but failed to do, promoted all-round and groundbreaking achievements in various undertakings of the party and the state, and made deep and fundamental changes, and courageously advanced towards building a socialist modern power.
70年高岸深谷，70年沧海桑田，勤劳勇敢的中国人民在中华大地上描绘了一幅波澜壮阔的锦绣画卷。历史，往往需要岁月的洗礼和时间的冲刷才能看得更清楚。中华民族几千年历史，像文景之治、贞观之治、开元盛世、康乾盛世这样的“盛世”并不多，更多时期是世事多艰、民生困苦。回首往事，我们更加清晰地认识到，新中国成立以来的70年，是中华民族历史上的最好时期，极大地推动了中国的发展进步，使中国焕发出新的蓬勃生机，在中华民族的伟大史册上写下了浓墨重彩的一笔。
二、举世瞩目的发展成就
1954年9月的北京，秋风送爽、景色宜人。来自全国各地的1200多名参会代表齐聚中南海，激情满怀地参加第一届全国人民代表大会第一次会议。毛泽东同志在会上对新中国未来作了美好的憧憬：“我们有充分的信心，克服一切艰难困苦，将我国建设成为一个伟大的社会主义共和国。”如今，我们可以告慰先辈：这盛世如您所愿。
辉煌凝结着奋斗的艰辛，成就映射着时代的变迁。新中国成立以来，在中国共产党的领导下，昔日国弱民穷的中国发生了焕然一新的历史巨变，勇敢智慧的中国人民在960多万平方公里的广袤大地上创造了震古烁今的人间奇迹，以“敢教日月换新天”的英雄气概谱写了中华民族的不朽篇章。
这是新中国经济实力和综合国力大幅跃升的70年。经过70年的奋斗，我国经济总量从新中国成立之初的600多亿元到2018年突破90万亿元大关，稳居世界第二大经济体，成为世界第一大工业国、第一大货物贸易国、第一大外汇储备国，在推动世界经济增长中具有举足轻重的地位。“两弹一星”、杂交水稻、载人航天、深海探测、C919大飞机、天眼望远镜等重大科技成果振奋人心，青藏铁路、三峡工程、南水北调、西气东输、港珠澳大桥等国家工程捷报频传，机场、港口、高速公路等基础设施日益完善，高铁、移动支付、共享经济、网购等引领潮流……一个繁荣昌盛、日新月异的泱泱大国不断向世界呈现出中国精彩。
This is a 70-year period in which people’s living standards in New China have greatly improved. From poverty to food and clothing to overall well-off, the life of China people has achieved a historic leap. From the founding of New China to 2018, China’s per capita GDP increased from 119 yuan to 64,644 yuan, the Engel coefficient of urban and rural households decreased to 27.7% and 30.1% respectively, and the annual per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents increased from less than 100 yuan and 50 yuan to 39,251 yuan and 14,617 yuan respectively. We bid farewell to the shortage of goods and threw away all kinds of tickets. The consumption structure quickly changed from survival to development and then to enjoyment. The people’s livelihood and welfare such as employment, education, medical care, housing, pension and social security continued to improve, and the average life expectancy increased rapidly. In 2018, it reached 77 years old, and the people’s sense of well-being was significantly enhanced. Especially in the past 40 years of reform and opening up, more than 700 million rural poor people have been lifted out of poverty, and the incidence of poverty has dropped from 97.5% to 1.7%, creating a miracle in the history of human poverty reduction.
This is a 70-year period in which the social civilization of New China has been remarkably improved. China has achieved a leap from thousands of years of feudal autocracy to socialist democratic politics, the system construction of organic unity of the party’s leadership, the people being masters of the country and governing the country according to law has been comprehensively strengthened, the rule of law system in Socialism with Chinese characteristics has been improved day by day, and great achievements have been made in the cause of national unity and progress. The guiding position of Marxism has been further consolidated, socialist core values and Chinese excellent traditional culture have been vigorously promoted, cultural undertakings and industries have flourished, and the country’s cultural soft power and Chinese cultural influence have been significantly enhanced. China people’s scientific and cultural quality has been greatly improved, their mental outlook has undergone profound changes, and their social creativity and vitality are competing with generate. The vivid scene of "All kinds of frost and sky compete for freedom" has become the social symbol of the new era.
This is the 70 years that the international status of the new China has been unprecedentedly improved. With the improvement of China’s comprehensive national strength, China is becoming more and more important and influential in the world. The number of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China has increased from more than 10 in the early days of the founding of New China to 178 now. China adheres to correct foreign policies, conducts extensive bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and develops friendly and cooperative relations with other countries in the world, playing an increasingly important role in international affairs. Whether it is to promote the construction of new international relations or the reform of the global governance system, whether it is to promote the "Belt and Road" international cooperation or to promote the building of a community of human destiny, it has demonstrated the characteristics, style and tolerance of China’s diplomacy as a big country, and contributed China wisdom and China’s plan to safeguarding world peace and development.
In 70 years, more than 20,000 days, New China has carved a series of deep marks on the annual rings of the years, challenging one impossibility after another. The depth, scope and influence of China’s great historical changes are unprecedented and rare in the world. Living in this great country, we are very happy to witness these miracles, and we are extremely proud to experience this era.
Third, why did the historical changes happen?
In the endless history, no country has undergone tremendous changes in such a short time as New China, achieving a historic leap from poverty to prosperity and from weakness to strength. What changed China? What made the country prosperous and powerful? What makes hundreds of millions of people live a better life? These mysteries are waiting for us to solve.
The development of history has its laws, and it always advances in the logic of historical progress. To find out the reasons for the great changes in history, we should seek the answers from the internal logic of the 70-year development and progress of New China.
China Road is the password to success. The road is related to the lifeblood of the party, the future of the country, the destiny of the nation and the happiness of the people. Over the past 70 years, China has always adhered to its own path. Through long-term exploration and practice, it initiated and developed Socialism with Chinese characteristics, which fundamentally changed the future and destiny of the people of China and the Chinese nation. The internal mechanism and operating mechanism of China Road determine that it can mobilize all economic, political and social resources, form a unified will and strength, and strive for a common goal. It is full of vitality and efficiency, showing unparalleled superiority and uniqueness. It is the determination to keep advancing along this road that makes the people of China gain self-confidence and strength, and the new China has created a miracle on earth.
科学理论是行动指南。实践基础上的理论创新是社会发展和变革的先导，是引领一个国家、一个民族不断前进的号角和灯塔。我们党是一个高度重视理论指导并富于理论创造精神的政党。90多年来，我们党坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际和时代特征相结合，先后形成了毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观、最高领袖新时代中国特色社会主义思想。正是在这一系列马克思主义中国化成果的指引下，中国革命、建设和改革才取得一次次胜利，不断把伟大事业推向前进。
改革开放是关键一招。改革开放是中国的第二次革命，通过对生产关系的调整使其更适应生产力发展要求，通过对利益关系的调整不断激发社会活力。回顾改革开放以来的历程，每一次重大改革都给党和国家发展注入新的活力、给事业前进增添强大动力，党和人民的事业在不断深化改革中波浪式向前推进。特别是党的十八大以来，以最高领袖同志为核心的党中央以前所未有的决心和力度推进全面深化改革，先后出台了重点改革文件400多个，推出改革方案1900多项，使党和国家各个领域焕发出强大的生机和活力。可以说，没有改革开放，新中国就不可能有今天这样的大好局面。
The people are the source of strength. The people are the real creators of history, the solid foundation of the Republic and the greatest confidence of our party in power. Every breakthrough and development in understanding and practice, the emergence and development of new things, and the creation and accumulation of experience in every aspect are inseparable from the wisdom and practice of the people, whether in the period of construction and reform or in the new era. For example, the exploration of Fengqiao experience provides a typical sample for grass-roots governance, the "red handprint" of 18 farmers in Xiaogang Village has opened the prelude to rural reform, and the vigorous development of township enterprises in Jiangsu and Zhejiang has broken the traditional rural economic structure, and so on. These innovations, which originated from the people, are all important forces to promote social progress and constitute a great and vivid practice of the great historical changes in New China.
四、彪炳史册的深远影响
历史的进程有多么波澜壮阔，它产生的影响就有多么广泛深远。新中国砥砺前行，深刻改变了中国的面貌、中华民族的面貌、中国人民的面貌、中国共产党的面貌，也深刻影响了全球发展的格局和世界历史的走向。
70年时光，恍若昨日，历历在目。我们回味这段尚带温度的历史时深深感到，中国人民用双手创造的国家和民族发展的奇迹，无论是在中华民族发展史、世界社会主义运动史上，还是在世界文明史上，都是一部感天动地的奋斗史诗。
从中华民族发展史看，中华民族是世界上伟大的民族，曾经创造了5000多年灿烂文明。但近代以来，中华民族却滑到了历史的低谷，陷入了长达100多年的黑暗境地。新中国诞生以及之后70年发展，从根本上扭转了中华民族不断衰落的历史颓势，迎来了持续走向繁荣富强的伟大飞跃，中华民族伟大复兴的目标从来没有像今天这样清晰可见。可以说，这70年是彻底改变中国和亿万人民命运的70年，在中华民族发展史上矗立起一座光彩熠熠的里程碑。
Judging from the history of the world socialist movement, socialism has evolved from fantasy to science, from theory to practice, and from one country to many countries, which has played a lively historical drama of ups and downs. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe in the 1980s and 1990s, the world socialist movement fell into a low tide, and some people became pessimistic about the future of socialism, worrying about how long the red flag could last. Today, socialist China has successfully continued to write a magnificent chapter of the world socialist movement with great development achievements, and proved the strong vitality of scientific socialism with irrefutable facts.
From the perspective of the history of world civilization, realizing modernization is the goal that all countries in the world, especially developing countries, have been striving for since modern times. New China has broken its dependence on other paths, stuck to its own path and walked on its own. It took decades to complete the industrialization process that developed countries have gone through for hundreds of years and embarked on a unique modernization road. The great success of China has expanded the way for developing countries to modernize, provided new choices for countries and nations in the world who want to speed up their development and maintain their independence, and contributed new solutions to human problems.
The long river of history is rolling with the brilliant waves of yesterday; The strings of the times play the melody of forging ahead today. After 70 years of spring and autumn, the new China is in full bloom and full of vigor and vitality. It needs generations of Chinese sons and daughters to continue to struggle and forge ahead, creating a new and greater miracle for the Chinese nation on the new journey and creating a new and greater miracle that will impress the world.