2006
On January 23, the Institute of Marxism Studies (Academy of Marxism) held a New Year’s greeting meeting. Institute leadership including Cheng Enfu, Wu Enyuan, and Hou Huiqin delivered New Year’s messages. Vice President Zhuang Qiansheng presided over the meeting, and Researcher Guo Zhipeng spoke on behalf of retired veteran comrades. The entire staff of the Institute attended. Following the meeting, various cultural and sports activities were organized.
On February 10, the Executive Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) deliberated and decided to appoint Zhao Zhikui as Director of the First Department for Research on Chinese Marxism (Deputy Bureau Level) and Hu Leming as Director of the Department for Research on the Principles of Marxism (Deputy Bureau Level) within the Institute.
On February 13, Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu was interviewed by multiple media outlets, including the American Knight Ridder, France's Le Monde, Canada's The Globe and Mail, Switzerland's Le Temps, France's L'Express, and Germany's Der Spiegel. He answered journalists' questions regarding Marxist theory and contemporary practical issues.
On February 20, the CASS Executive Meeting approved the composition of the Institute of Marxism Studies Senior Professional and Technical Qualification Review Committee for the Research Series. It consists of nine members: Leng Rong, Cheng Enfu, Wu Enyuan, Hou Huiqin, Xia Chuntao, Zhao Zhikui, Hu Leming, Xia Weidong, and Dong Zhengping.
On March 7, President Leng Rong met with Ogata Yasuo, Vice Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and Director of its International Bureau. Leng introduced the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the Institute, a topic of interest to the JCP, and expressed agreement with the JCP’s wish for increased exchange. He noted that exchange and cooperation in Marxist research could be strengthened through various channels. Party Secretary and Vice President Wu Enyuan and Vice President Zhuang Qiansheng accompanied him at the meeting.
On March 13, President Leng Rong presided over the Institute’s Presidential Office Meeting to discuss the formulation of the Institute’s "11th Five-Year Plan" [1] and the application process for key disciplines and major research projects. Leng Rong emphasized the need for clear thinking, stating that every research department must have its own "fist products" (core flagship outputs). These departmental "fist products" should coalesce into the Institute’s major achievements, creating a research structure where the Institute’s flagship outputs drive those of the five departments, which in turn drive the research of various research offices.
On March 20, Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu presided over a Presidential Office Meeting, which decided that the Institute would begin accepting visiting scholars effective immediately. This was to be announced on the Institute’s website and in its journal.
On March 30, the CASS Executive Meeting approved the first Academic Committee of the Institute, composed of nine members: Leng Rong, Cheng Enfu, Hou Huiqin, Wu Enyuan, Li Chongfu, Hu Leming, Zhao Zhikui, He Bingmeng, and Xia Chuntao.
On April 20, Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu presided over a Presidential Office Meeting to discuss the editorial work for Marxism Digest (马克思主义文摘). It was decided that Cheng Enfu would serve as Editor-in-Chief and Luo Qian as Associate Editor-in-Chief.
On May 16, Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu presided over a Presidential Office Meeting. The meeting discussed and approved the requirements and principles for the Institute’s scholars when applying for 2006 CASS Major and Key Projects. First, no numerical quotas would be set; second, strict standards would be maintained to ensure quality over quantity, guaranteeing the approval of a cohort of high-level projects. The meeting also discussed and approved decisions regarding young researchers pursuing doctoral degrees while in service.
On May 19, CASS held a symposium commemorating the one-year anniversary of the May 19 meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu delivered a speech titled "Strengthening the Research and Construction of Marxist Theory."
From May 19 to 24, President Leng Rong led Luo Wendong and Xin Xiangyang, Deputy Directors of the Second Department for Research on Chinese Marxism, on a research trip to Nanning, Bose, and Yulin in Guangxi. They successively inspected three enterprises, three villages, one community, and two high-tech development zones to understand the practical situation and experiences of Guangxi cadres and the masses in studying and implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development [2] to promote economic and social development.
On May 25, the fourth seminar on "Fully Implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development," part of the Central Project to Study and Develop Marxist Theory, was held in Beijing. It was organized by the CASS Center for the Study of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the "Three Represents" [3] (which is affiliated with the Institute of Marxism Studies; hereinafter "The Center"). Attendees included Luo Shugang, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Leng Rong and Li Shenming, Vice Presidents of CASS; Yang Chungui, former Vice President of the Central Party School; and Hou Shudong, former Vice President of the National Defense University. Over 100 people participated, including officials from the Publicity Department, chief experts and key members of the Central Project to Study and Develop Marxist Theory, representatives from seven national research bases, and directors and scholars from provincial and municipal research centers and academies of social sciences. Comrade Luo Shugang presided over the meeting. Luo Wendong, Xin Xiangyang, Mao Liyan, Chen Zhigang, Zhang Xiaoping, and Tian Zhe from the Institute attended.
On June 6, the CASS Bureau of Inspection approved the formation of the Institute’s Administrative Inspection Group, consisting of Hou Huiqin, He Chengzhong, and Li Ruiqin, with Hou Huiqin as the leader.
On June 6, the CASS Bureau of Personnel and Education approved the establishment of the Institute’s Administrative Office, Research Division, and Personnel Division (the latter working jointly with the Party Committee Office). The office of the former Institute of Marxism-Leninism was abolished.
On June 9, the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission for CASS Organs approved the formation of the Institute’s Discipline Inspection Group, consisting of Hou Huiqin, He Chengzhong, and Li Ruiqin, with Hou Huiqin as the leader.
On the morning of June 20, Vice President Hou Huiqin presided over the Institute’s Degree Committee. The committee: (1) recommended granting doctoral and master’s degrees to 11 individuals; (2) discussed the setting of professional foundation courses for the Faculty of Philosophy, deciding to rename the original "Foundational Courses in Philosophy and Religious Studies" to "Frontiers of Marxism and Philosophy of Religion"; (3) discussed strengthening the Institute’s work in textbook compilation, deciding that Hou Huiqin and Luo Wendong would lead the planning of graduate teaching materials for the discipline of Marxist theory.
On the morning of July 19, Executive Vice President Cheng Enfu presided over a Presidential Office Meeting, attended by Vice Presidents Wu Enyuan and Zhuang Qiansheng, with Xia Chuntao in attendance. The meeting decided to officially establish the Institute’s Youth Study Group, overseen by Vice President Zhuang Qiansheng, with Lyu Weizhou as head and Qin Yicheng, Liu Dezhong, and Peng Wutang as deputy heads. Simultaneously, researchers were encouraged and supported to self-organize various reading and study groups and discussion salons.
On the morning of August 3, the Inaugural Conference for the CASS Divisions [4] was held at the Social Sciences Hall. Following recommendations by the selection committee and approval by the CASS Executive Meeting, Institute scholars Leng Rong, Jin Huiming, Li Chongfu, and Cheng Enfu became members of the inaugural cohort of CASS Division Members (Academicos). Among the Institute’s consultants and specially-engaged researchers, 13 became inaugural Division Members and 9 were awarded the title of Honorary Division Member. After the inaugural conference, during the first preparatory meeting of the Division Members, the Division Presidium was elected. Leng Rong was elected Chairperson of the Presidium, and Cheng Enfu was elected as a member. In the subsequent first plenary session of Division Members, the directors and deputy directors of each division were elected. Cheng Enfu was appointed Director of the Division of Marxist Studies. The Division Members included five people: Leng Rong, Jiang Liu, Jin Huiming, Li Chongfu, and Cheng Enfu.
From September 8 to 14, Xia Chuntao, Deputy Director of the Center, accompanied Comrade Leng Rong on a research trip to Gaoping City, Shanxi Province. They focused on understanding local implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development and the construction of a Socialist Harmonious Society [5], and signed a cooperation agreement on behalf of the Center. During this period, Luo Wendong, Xin Xiangyang, and Lyu Weizhou also conducted research in Gaoping regarding "Summary of Development Experiences in Gaoping under the Scientific Outlook on Development" and "Local Implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development."
On November 2, the CASS Division of Marxist Studies and the Institute hosted the "Symposium on Constructing a Socialist Harmonious Society — Thinkers Forum (1)." Over 100 participants attended, including CASS Division Members Leng Rong, Cheng Enfu, and Li Chongfu; Institute specially-engaged researchers Zhao Yao, Lin Ganquan, Cai Meibiao, Yang Shengming, Chen Xianda, Shao Weizheng, Hu Jun, Zhao Fengqi, and Chen Zhan’an; as well as experts from CASS, Peking University, Renmin University of China, the Central Party School, the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, and various provinces and cities.
On November 20–21, the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the CASS World Socialism Research Center, and the CASS Institute of Political Science jointly hosted the "Marxism: History and Reality — The First Sino-Russian Thinkers Forum." Li Shenming, Vice President of CASS; Institute leaders Cheng Enfu, Wu Enyuan, Hou Huiqin, and Zhuang Qiansheng; Wang Yicheng, Director of the Institute of Political Science; and Russian Academy of Sciences members V.V. Alekseev and V.S. Stepin, along with over 100 scholars from the Chinese and Russian academic and theoretical circles, gathered to conduct extensive discussions on the theme.
On November 30, a meeting of the CPC Leading Group at CASS decided to appoint Comrade Cheng Enfu as President of the Institute of Marxism Studies; Comrade Leng Rong would no longer concurrently hold the position of President.
On December 19, Leng Rong announced the decision of the CASS Leading Group at a general assembly of the Institute.
On December 26, the Institute held the "New Year Academic Symposium and Celebration of the First Anniversary of the Establishment of the Institute of Marxism Studies." Li Shenming, Vice President of CASS, attended and delivered a speech. Former CASS leaders Teng Teng and Wu Jiemin also attended. Institute President Cheng Enfu presided over the meeting, attended by Wu Enyuan (Party Secretary and Vice President), Hou Huiqin (Vice President), and over 100 Division Members and Institute scholars.