Important Remarks

The patriotism we uphold is fundamentally different from narrow nationalism. We must understand that opening up, learning from other nations their merits, advanced science and technology and management skills will be able to strengthen ourselves and to better develop our country. These are also the important content of patriotism.

——Jiang Zemin

Patriotism and internationalism do not confront each other. Patriotism is the foundation for internationalism, and internationalism is the sublimation of patriotism, as well as an essential condition for the healthy development of patriotism. The history of modern China has shown us that, to keep up with the progress and development of the world, we must open up. For a long time after the industrial revolution in the West, China was in a backward position and was repeatedly bullied and insulted by foreign powers. The main reason was that the then feudal ruling class refused to open up. Over the last three decades or so, we have achieved stunning progress just because we have carried out the policy of reform and opening up and learning from other nationalities and countries. In face of globalization today, if a country or nationality isolates itself from international communities, it will easily fall behind, and even be eliminated. As a common core value for human beings, patriotism embodies not only loyalty and devotion to one's own motherland and nationality, but also respect and help to other countries and nationalities in the world. China's progress is closely related to the achievements of other countries of the civilized world. While promoting patriotism of loving our homeland and rejuvenating our nation with self-reliance, we should have an open mind and open vision in combining patriotism with internationalism. Only in this way can our Chinese nation truly realize the dream of national rejuvenation.