Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism, Led a Delegation to Brazil and Uruguay for Academic Exchanges

From November 3 to 11, 2024, a delegation led by Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), visited Brazil and Uruguay for academic exchanges. The delegation included Lou Yu, an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies.

During the stay in Brazil, the delegation held symposiums with the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and several of its affiliated institutions, as well as scholars of contemporary Chinese studies, and participated in academic seminars.

In Rio de Janeiro, the delegation visited Evandro De Carvalho, a professor at the Faculty of Law of the Fluminense Federal University. Professor Carvalho has long been committed to contemporary Chinese studies and was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award for his outstanding contributions to promoting cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. In 2023, the Brazilian National Congress awarded him the "China-Brazil Southern Cross Medal," and the Portuguese edition of China Today, for which he serves as Executive Editor-in-Chief, won the "China-Brazil Journalism Award" in recognition of the magazine's contribution to telling the true story of China and promoting cultural exchange between the two countries. The delegation held in-depth discussions with Carvalho on topics such as promoting bilateral academic dialogue, working together to tell China’s story well, and enhancing the "going out" of Chinese academia. Carvalho introduced the characteristics and trends of contemporary Chinese studies in Brazil in recent years, noting that research and publicity should be increased in areas such as the CPC's governance of the country, China's socialist practice, and Chinese-path modernization, so that Latin American academic circles and the general public can understand the reasons behind the "Chinese miracle." He believes that Brazilian academia should strengthen exchange and cooperation with the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, which would help better enhance the dissemination and influence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Brazil.

In São Paulo, the delegation held a symposium with Walter Sorrentino, Vice President of the Communist Party of Brazil, and others. Sorrentino stated that the PCdoB looks forward to launching a series of collaborations with the Institute of Marxism Studies, such as jointly organizing seminars focusing on the development of 21st-century Marxism, the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; mutually translating books on the history of the CPC and the PCdoB and works by important theorists; and strengthening cooperation between journals in the field of Marxist research. Vice President Yu Haiqing responded positively to Vice President Sorrentino's proposals, stating that the Institute of Marxism Studies will seriously explore how to cooperate with think tanks, journals, and publishing houses affiliated with the PCdoB. Through cooperation and exchange between Latin American left-wing parties and academic circles, they aim to strengthen mutual understanding and mutual learning ^[1], jointly contributing to the development of 21st-century Marxism and world socialism.

On November 8, the delegation participated in the "Seminar on the Theory and Practice of Chinese-path Modernization and the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Brazil," hosted by the Mauricio Grabois Foundation of Brazil. Experts from relevant Chinese and Brazilian think tanks and media representatives held in-depth discussions on topics such as the new opportunities provided by the path of Chinese-path modernization for Latin American countries, promoting the overseas dissemination of the "Six Perspectives" ^[2] theory of Chinese-path modernization, and cooperatively building an academic network for Sino-Latin American civilizations. Vice President Yu Haiqing delivered a keynote speech. She emphasized that this seminar is of great significance for promoting academic dialogue between China and the Latin American region and for strengthening the theoretical and practical exploration of the path to modernization by Global South countries. Associate Research Fellow Lou Yu served as the moderator of the seminar and shared insights on how to tell the story of Chinese-path modernization through academic translation, based on her experience translating the "Six Perspectives" book series on Chinese-path modernization.

The delegation held a symposium with Altair Freitas, Director of the João Amazonas National Training School affiliated with the PCdoB, exchanging views on developing institutional cooperation, strengthening academic exchange, and increasing the Brazilian academic community's understanding of the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism. The delegation also met with the "Brasil 247" news website to discuss how to introduce and disseminate information about contemporary China to Latin American countries and how to present a "true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic China." ^[3]

The delegation held a symposium with José Reinaldo Carvalho, President of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace (CEBRAPAZ), exchanging views on China-Brazil relations, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Latin America, and the Global South and the geopolitical landscape. José Carvalho believes that the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi is of great epochal significance, and that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Latin America has provided new opportunities for Brazil's development and modernization process, playing a positive role in promoting connectivity and sustainable development in the Latin American region.

To better understand the history of the Communist Party of Brazil, the delegation visited Niterói, the birthplace of the PCdoB, and went to the famous Brazilian left-wing bookstore, Anita Garibaldi Bookstore. There they learned about the publication and dissemination of Marxist classics in Brazil, the historical documents of the PCdoB, and the situation of books published in Brazil concerning contemporary China, and purchased a selection of books.

In Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, the delegation held a symposium with Juan Castillo, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU). Castillo introduced the current development status and challenges facing the PCU. He stated that the PCU is fully aware of the importance of strengthening the study and research of the history of the CPC, the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and is preparing a team to carry out relevant research. He considered the visit of the Institute of Marxism Studies delegation to be "very important and very timely." The Spanish editions of books presented by Vice President Yu Haiqing—including Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road, A Brief History of the Communist Party of China, and A Brief History of the People's Republic of China (1949-2019)—provided the PCU with a substantial "academic gift," helping them better understand the CPC and study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The delegation held a symposium with Ana Olivera, President of the House of Representatives of Uruguay, at the Legislative Palace. Olivera previously served as the Mayor of Montevideo and Deputy Minister of Social Development of Uruguay and has visited China many times. She introduced the recent exchanges between Uruguay and China and shared her observations and reflections from her several inspection tours to China. She stated that the effectiveness of the CPC's governance, the speed of China's modernization and development, and the breadth of its benefits left a deep impression on her. She believes that the left-wing coalition "Broad Front" (Frente Amplio) is very likely to win the Uruguayan general election, which will further promote exchange and cooperation between Uruguay and China in various fields.

Vice President Yu Haiqing led the delegation in friendly symposiums with think tanks, left-wing scholars, and Communists in Brazil and Uruguay, enhancing the understanding of the political participation, party building, and relations with other Latin American Communist parties of the PCdoB and PCU. It also deepened the perception of the characteristics and trends of contemporary Chinese studies in Brazilian and Uruguayan academic circles. The delegation actively promoted Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and reached several consensuses on conducting academic exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, successfully completing the mission of the visit.