Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Vice President of the Academy of Marxism, Led a Delegation to the UK, Ireland, and Portugal for Academic Exchanges
To deepen the study of the history of Marxist development, strengthen cooperation with foreign communist parties and research institutions, and propagate the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era, a delegation led by Professor Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), visited the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Portugal for academic exchanges from July 15 to July 24, 2025. Members of the delegation included Associate Researchers Liu Yan, Zhuo Mingliang, and Fang Tao, and editor Han Dongyun, all from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
On the afternoon of July 15, local time, the delegation held a symposium at the Marx Memorial Library in London with scholars and pro-China figures from the UK website "Friends of Socialist China" and the Communist Party of Britain. The discussions centered on the development of the basic tenets of Marxism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the global significance of Chinese-path modernization, and theoretical innovations in Marxism. (The delegation at a symposium and group photo with "Friends of Socialist China" and others)
Following the symposium, the delegation conducted a research visit to the Marx Memorial Library. Established in the 1930s, the library propagates Marxism by collecting books and organizing lectures. The first floor houses a meeting room; the second floor stores editions of the works of Marx and Engels published in various countries, works on Marxist research, and periodicals of the labor movement. It also features the "Lenin Room," where Lenin edited Iskra [1], and underground archives containing a vast collection of newspapers and periodicals. (The delegation conducting research at the Marx Memorial Library)
On July 16, the delegation visited the University of Cambridge to conduct academic exchanges with David Lane, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Sociology and Emeritus Fellow of Emmanuel College. Professor Lane analyzed policy changes under the Trump administration and expounded on the reasons for the decline of world socialism and the dilemmas regarding the transformation of socialist parties. (The delegation engaging in academic exchange with Professor David Lane of Cambridge University)
On July 17, the delegation traveled to Manchester, UK, to visit the Manchester Branch of the Communist Party of Britain and the North West regional office of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and conducted research at Chetham’s Library. Founded in 1653, Chetham’s Library was a site where Marx and Engels gathered and read literature. At the Working Class Movement Library in Manchester, the delegation held a symposium with Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor of Salford in Greater Manchester; Jenny Clegg, former Vice Chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU); and regional organizers of the Communist Party of Britain, Northwest trade unions, and publishing companies. They exchanged views on Chinese-path modernization and the organizational development of the British Communist Party and trade unions. Deputy Mayor Jack Youd warmly welcomed the delegation led by Chen Zhigang and introduced the basic profile of Salford and the progress of its cooperation with the city of Yangzhou. Chen Zhigang introduced the major theoretical innovations in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism since the beginning of the New Era. (The delegation in a symposium with Jack Youd, Deputy Mayor of Salford, and Jenny Clegg, former Vice Chair of SACU)
On the afternoon of July 18, the delegation held an exchange and discussion with staff from the Chinese Embassy in Ireland regarding the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Chen Zhigang introduced the perceptions and evaluations of Chinese-path modernization within European academic circles. Zhuo Mingliang, Fang Tao, and Liu Yan respectively presented the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era from the perspectives of communication effectiveness and methods, historical experience, and ecological civilization [2]. Yang Tong, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy, analyzed the problems and countermeasures facing the overseas promotion of the Party's innovative theories, and relevant staff introduced the Embassy's major initiatives in communicating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. (The delegation in an exchange and symposium with Chinese Embassy staff in Ireland)
On July 19, the delegation went to Trinity College Dublin to hold a symposium with Professor Helena Sheehan and others, discussing Chinese-path modernization and the crisis of Western civilization. Professor Sheehan and others stated that China leads the world in areas such as new energy and ecological environmental protection, and is flourishing in cultural development, noting that Chinese-path modernization represents an entirely new model. (The delegation in a symposium and group photo with Professor Helena Sheehan and others)
On the afternoon of July 19, the delegation held a symposium at Connolly Books in Dublin with Eugene McCartan, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland. Chen Zhigang introduced the historical process and fundamental experiences of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in leading the people to advance Chinese-path modernization, emphasizing its distinct advantages. Eugene McCartan introduced the policy positions of the Communist Party of Ireland and its specific practices in party recruitment and propaganda work, praising the experience of Chinese-path modernization construction. (The delegation in a symposium and group photo with Eugene McCartan, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland)
On the morning of July 22, the delegation visited the national headquarters of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) in Lisbon, meeting with PCP General Secretary Paulo Raimundo and holding a symposium with heads of the PCP Central Secretariat and the International Department. Paulo Raimundo warmly welcomed Chen Zhigang and the delegation. Both sides exchanged views on the history and organizational development of their respective communist parties, as well as their primary practices in advancing ecological civilization and coordinated development. (The delegation meeting and taking a group photo with Paulo Raimundo, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party)
During the symposium, Chen Zhigang introduced the major achievements and distinctive characteristics of Chinese-path modernization. The relevant department heads of the Portuguese Communist Party introduced Portuguese history and the PCP's specific practices in maintaining ties with the masses and developing party membership. They expounded on their policy positions regarding domestic and international issues and fully affirmed the great achievements of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC. (The delegation in a symposium with relevant department heads of the Portuguese Communist Party)
On the afternoon of July 22, Chen Zhigang held a meeting and exchange with Zhao Bentang, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, and delivered a tutorial report [3] to embassy staff titled "Why the 'Second Integration' is a Liberation of the Mind." Ambassador Zhao Bentang fully affirmed the theoretical, ideological, informative, systematic, and guiding nature of the report, emphasizing the need to carry out external propaganda work on the basis of deeply studying and thoroughly understanding the Party's innovative theories, thereby more effectively seizing international discourse power [4]. (Chen Zhigang meeting with Ambassador Zhao Bentang and delivering a report for embassy staff)
The delegation’s trip was highly productive. Members personally sensed the birth, dissemination, and current state of Marxism in Europe, gained a deeper understanding of the overseas communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and deepened their understanding of the history of Marxist development. Through the comparison of Chinese and Western realities, they became more firm in their "Four Confidences" [5] and further strengthened their original aspiration and founding mission to practice the research, promotion, and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories. (Text and photos contributed by Chen Zhigang, Fang Tao, Zhuo Mingliang, Liu Yan, and Han Dongyun)