Amendments to the Draft Commentary by the CPC Central Committee on Nie Rongzhen’s Views Concerning Public Reporting of the “Four Modernizations” Movement [1] [2] (April 28, 1960)

In publicizing the Four Modernizations, we must be realistic and fact-based. We should not casually announce numerical targets, but rather know when to hold back: accomplish ten parts, yet speak only of five, or even just one or two; as for highly confidential matters, not a single part should be disclosed. We must strictly guard against the emergence of an impractical, exaggerated style of reporting.

Printed according to Mao Zedong’s revised version.

Notes  [1] On April 19, 1960, Vice Premier of the State Council and Director of the Science and Technology Commission, Nie Rongzhen, submitted a report to Deng Xiaoping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, as well as to the Central Committee, stating that with the vigorous development of the technological revolution centered on the Four Modernizations—mechanization, semi-mechanization, automation, and semi-automation—publicity and reporting had been increasing. We must oppose two erroneous viewpoints. First, we should reject the former mystifying attitude that dared not mention mechanization or automation; we need to liberate our thinking and dispel superstition. This is the primary aspect. On the other hand, we must be vigilant and prevent the simplification of the Four Modernizations task, which would lower the modern standards required for mechanization and automation. At present, newspapers and periodicals frequently announce very high levels of mechanization that certain cities are expected to attain—typically, that full mechanization and semi-mechanization can be basically achieved within the year. Such practice warrants careful consideration, for the following reasons: (1) Making such premature announcements simplifies the Four Modernizations task, does not accord with actual conditions, and is detrimental to the further development of the movement. (2) The standards for the Four Modernizations vary considerably from place to place; where the standards are lax, estimates tend to be inflated. Moreover, there is no uniform method for calculating percentages, and once these figures are made public, it becomes difficult to revise them later. (3) Since our criteria, scales, and calculation methods do not fully align with those used abroad, in order to avoid being put on the defensive, it is advisable to release as few comprehensive, overly high figures as possible, or to withhold them altogether. Henceforth, all publicity and reporting concerning specific degrees of mechanization should leave room for flexibility. Unrealized plans or excessively optimistic estimates should generally not be published, nor should statements be made in the press claiming that a particular city has already essentially achieved mechanization and semi-mechanization. Practicing “doing more and saying less” is also conducive to the further advancement of the movement.

[2] This is a passage from Mao Zedong’s revision of a draft commentary prepared by Deng Xiaoping, through which the CPC Central Committee was forwarding Nie Rongzhen’s views. The text typeset in Song typeface represents additions and revisions made by Mao. On April 28, 1960, the CPC Central Committee issued this commentary.