Abstract: Continuously advancing theoretical innovation is both a sacred duty and a vital instrument for the Chinese communists. In the new era, the formidable tasks of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation have made it more imperative than ever for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to be guided by scientific theory and to drive forward theoretical innovation. Through a synthesis of practical experience, it becomes evident that the CPC has ensured the steady enrichment and advancement of the theoretic system of the Party by: taking the timely identification and response to new questions of the era as the driving force; taking the in-depth advancement of the “Two Combinations” as the fundamental path; taking the mastery and application of the “Six Musts” as the concrete methodology; taking the systematization and theorization of theory as the internal requirement; and taking the construction of a Chinese discourse and narrative system as the overarching goal. These five dimensions–driving force, fundamental path, concrete methodology, internal requirement and overarching goal–constitute the contemporary pathway for the CPC to advance theoretical innovation. Interconnected and organically unified, these five dimensions provide a systematic methodological framework for the CPC to strengthen theoretical grounding through theoretical innovation and to guide innovative practice with innovated theory.

Key words: theoretical innovation, the Communist Party of China (CPC), “Two Combinations”, “Six Musts”, contemporary pathway