The 12th International Forum on the Communist Movement and the Launch of "China's Whole-Process People's Democracy" (Vietnamese Edition) and Other New Books Held in Kunming

On November 16–17, 2024, the "12th International Communist Movement Forum and the Book Launch for the Vietnamese Edition of China's Whole-Process People's Democracy" was held in Kunming. The theme of the forum was "The Theory and Practice of Democratic Political Systems in Socialist States." This session was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Institute of Marxism Studies, Yunnan University, and the CASS Institute of Chinese-path Modernization, and organized by the Department of International Communist Movement Studies of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Marxism at Yunnan University.

During the opening ceremony, addresses were delivered by Lin Jianhua, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Chinese-path Modernization; Zhou Xuebin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Yunnan University; and Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.

In his remarks, Lin Jianhua introduced the primary contents of the book China's Whole-Process People's Democracy and provided a focused exposition on the background and foundation of the theme determined by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee ^[1]: "further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization."

Zhou Xuebin’s address expounded upon the significant practical necessity of convening the "12th International Communist Movement Forum" at a time when the entire nation is deeply studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Yu Haiqing introduced the developmental history and core substance of the International Communist Movement Forum and the Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement, both established by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. He further discussed the focus of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on the theme of Chinese-path modernization.

During the book launch segment, Professor Nguyen Minh Hoan, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the Academy of Journalism and Communication of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, representing the Vietnam Political Theory Publishing House, announced the translation and publication of the Vietnamese editions of China's Whole-Process People's Democracy and the Report on the Research of the International Communist Movement (2022–2023). He also described the extensive influence these works have garnered in Vietnam.

Andres Catone, Editor-in-Chief of the Italian journal MarxVentuno (21st Century Marx), representing the publisher of the English and Italian editions of the Report on the Research of the International Communist Movement (2021–2022)—Italy’s MarxVentuno Edizioni—presented the new releases and introduced the wide influence the reports have had among communist parties in various European countries over the past several years. The opening ceremony and book launch segments were presided over by Professor Yuan Qun, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Yunnan University.

During the plenary presentation stage, more than 30 experts and scholars from countries including China, Italy, Vietnam, and Laos conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as "The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the New Development of Chinese-path Modernization," "Comparative Mutual Learning in the Construction of Democratic Politics in Socialist States," and "New Dynamics of the International Communist Movement and Foreign Communist Parties."

Chai Shangjin, a research fellow from the Contemporary World Research Center of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a presentation titled "The Enlightenment of Chinese-path Modernization for the Modernization of Other Developing Countries."

Francesco Maringiò, a member of the Central Committee of the Italian Communist Party and President of the Italy 21st Century Marx Political and Cultural Association, introduced the dissemination and influence of the Report on the Research of the International Communist Movement among European communist parties, focusing his remarks on the new dynamics of European communist and left-wing parties.

Professor Yu Sinian from the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University delivered a presentation titled "New Observations on the Research Paradigm of Contemporary World Socialism."

Nguyen Vinh Quang, a research fellow at the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies (Vietnam) and Vice President of the Viet Nam–China Friendship Association, delivered a presentation titled "The Development of Vietnam and China and the International Communist Movement."

Xu Baoyou, a research fellow from the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a presentation titled "The Significance of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee from the Perspective of the Relationship between Reform and Socialist Modernization."

Phouxay Xayasith, Deputy Director of the International Relations Division of the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences, delivered a presentation titled "The Developmental Status of the Lao People's Democratic System."

Research fellow Xuan Chuanshu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Graduate School of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a presentation titled "The Fundamental Driving Force and Fundamental Guarantee for Advancing Chinese-path Modernization."

Research fellow Wang Jin, Executive Editor of the journal Contemporary World and Socialism at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a presentation titled "Main Practices and Inspirations of the United States in Maintaining Ideological Security."

The first half of the plenary presentations was presided over by Pan Jine, a research fellow at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.

Professor Jiang Rui, Deputy Director of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University, delivered a presentation titled "The Party's United Front ^[2] and Chinese-path Modernization."

Francesco Galofaro, an Associate Professor at the University of Milan, Italy, delivered a presentation titled "The Re-greening of European Communist Parties during the Ukraine Crisis."

Professor Guo Chunsheng from the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University delivered a presentation titled "The Status and Role of Deng Xiaoping's 'Chinese-path Modernization'."

Bounthavy Khounvongsa, a lecturer at the Khammouane Provincial Academy of Politics and Public Administration (under the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration), delivered a presentation titled "The Construction of the Party and Political System of the Lao People's Democratic Regime under the New Situation."

Professor Yu Weihai from the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University delivered a presentation titled "New Situations and New Characteristics of the International Communist Movement in 2024."

Professor Lin Deshan from the School of Political Science and Public Administration at the China University of Political Science and Law delivered a presentation titled "Reflections on the New Developments and New Issues of the European Socialist Movement."

Professor Zhao Ting, Vice Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University, delivered a presentation titled "The French Communist Party’s Alternative to Capitalism."

Wang Jing, an Associate Research Fellow at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered a presentation titled "Historical Experience and Future Outlook for Advancing Chinese-path Modernization through Whole-Process People's Democracy."

The second half of the plenary presentations was presided over by Research Fellow Yuan Xiuli, Deputy Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.

On November 17, the forum also conducted breakout group discussions. Nearly one hundred scholars from units including the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China University of Political Science and Law, the Beijing Municipal Party School, the Beijing Institute of Technology, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Yunnan University, Shandong University, Central China Normal University, and Soochow University participated in exchanges both online and offline.

During the closing ceremony, Professor Zhao Ting of Shandong University and Professor Li Haiyu of the School of Marxism at Henan Polytechnic University delivered exchange speeches representing their respective groups. Associate Research Fellow Pan Xihua, Director of the International Communist Movement History Research Office at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the closing ceremony, and Professor Yuan Qun summarized the preparation and convening of the forum.