TheFour Confidences (Chinese:四个自信) is a political concept byChinese Communist Party (CCP)general secretaryXi Jinping. The concept includes "Confidence in Path,[a] Confidence in Theories,[b] Confidence in System,[c] and Confidence in Culture."[d][1] In 2021, the concept was expanded to include the idea of Historical Confidence.
The doctrine was first discussed at the18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party held in November 2012 in a speech by then party General SecretaryHu Jintao, and the doctrine was termed the Three Confidences (三个自信).[2] The origin of the theory is said to beYi Junqing, an official later disgraced for corruption who served as the head of theCompilation and Translation Bureau.[2] Xi Jinping added a 'fourth' confidence, "confidence in our culture," in December 2014.[3][4] Along with theFour Comprehensives and theChinese Dream, it has, since 2013, become a central theme in political slogans of the CCP, often recited at official meetings, conferences, and by state-owned media.[1]
In 2017, the19th CCP National Congress added the Four Confidences to theCCP's constitution, inserting "firm confidence in its path, theory, system, and culture," along with otherdoctrines proposed by Xi Jinping.[5]: 201
According to several portraits of Xi by both domestic and foreign observers, Xi Jinping has a deeply held belief that the CCP and the institutions it has created is the best institution to govern China and the best institution to guide China's development.[6]
In 2021, the idea of "historical confidence" was added.[5]: 201
Four matters of confidence refer to confidence in thepath,theory,system, andculture ofsocialism with Chinese characteristics.[7] According to an official translation:[7][5]: 201
"Confidence in its path" is confidence in the direction of development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and confidence in its future;
"Confidence in its theory" is confidence in the scientific nature... of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics;
"Confidence in its system" is confidence in the advanced and superior nature of the system of Chinese socialism;
"Confidence in its culture" is a full affirmation of the value of China's own culture and a faith in its vitality.
These four form an organic whole; they provide a complete conceptual system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
