I.
20 Oct 77
E 2
PRC
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
By relying on our own strength, in just 20 years or so we built a poor and backward old China, semicolonial and semifeudal in nature, into a socialist new China witn the
In the next 23 years, in fulfilling Chairman Mao's behests, beginnings of prosperity. we shall build China into a modern and powerful socialist country--also by relying on
the our own efforts. Many facts prove that what the Western bourgeoisic can do,
We must forever adhere
re to Eastern proletariat can do too, and with better results. the policy of maintaining independence, keeping the initiative in our own hands and
This is beyond doubt. achieving regeneration through self-reliance.
"AS FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH FOREIGNERS, THERE IS NO Chairman Mao also pointed out:
"OUR POLICY IS TO QUESTION; WHEREVER THERE IS BUSINESS TO BE DONE, WE SHALL DO IT." LEARN FROM THE STRONG POINTS OF ALL NATIONS AND ALL COUNTRIES, LEARN ALL THAT IS GENUINELY GOOD IN THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL FIELDS AND IN
The "gang of four" set maintaining independence, keeping the LITERATURE AND ART."
Here the
initiative in our own hands and achieving regeneration through self-reliance in metaphysical opposition to learning from foreign countries and developing foreign trade.
11 "RELY This was downright willful distortion of the policy of independence and self-reliance. "RELY MAINLY ON OUR OWN EFFORTS WHILE MAKING EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE SUBSIDIARY. MAINLY ON THE HOME MARKET WHILE MAKING THE EXTERNAL MARKET SUBSIDIARY." primary and subsidiary things are defined, and not whether or not something is absolutely
INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE' does not essential. As Chairman Hua has pointed out:
We must develop trade with mean that we shall close our doors to the outside world. friendly countries, learn the advanced experiences and advanced techniques of other
This is a forceful countries, and import the needed advanced technology and equipment." rebuttal of the "gang of four."
The importing, on the premise of self-reliance, of some necessary advanced technology and equipment in order to make foreign things serve China will help shorten the process of our groping in the dark and enhance China's ability to achieve regeneration through its own efforts and to catch up with and surpass the world's advanced levels in the
Taking the scientific attitude of one dividing into two, shortest possible tine. Premier Chou put forward the revolutionary principle of "first, use; second, criticize; third, transform; and fourth, innovate" in regard to importing technology and equipment. Only when we are good at learning To learn is to improve, and to import is to innovate.
If we refuse to learn the and continue to forge ahead can we overtake from behind. advanced experiences and advanced techniques of other countries and instead start every- thing from scratch, that is bound to affect the pace of development of some of our industrial technologies, which in turn will truly give meaning to the doctrine of trailing behind at a snail's pace.
To import, we must export Foreign trade means international exchanges of commodities.
When we conduct exchanges of This is commonsense. a corresponding amount of goods. commodities with the outside world on the basis of the principle of equality and mutual
Then how benefit, the question of territory or of sovereignty does not arise at all.
When we export some oil, coal and other can we be accused of selling out our country? materials in accordance with the principle of equality and mutual benefit and of ex- changing what one has for what one does not have, we not only obtain in return materials our country needs for construction but also enhance friendship with the people of various countries and promote the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism. This is not only not "national betrayal" but, on the contrary, the combination of patriotism and internationalism. The "gang of four's" malicious accusations only served to further expose the baseness of their means and of course aroused the extremely great indignation of the people of the whole country.
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