2014 National Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Held in Chengdu

On June 7–8, the "2014 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education" was successfully held at Sichuan University. The symposium was jointly organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Sichuan University. It was co-hosted by the Ideological and Political Education Research Office of the Department of Marxist Theory under the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Marxism at Sichuan University. Co-organizers included Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education Institutions (Zhongguo gaoxiao shehui kexue), Research in Ideological and Political Education (Sixiang zhengzhi jiaoyu yanjiu), Party Building and Ideological Education in Schools (Xuexiao dangjian yu sixiang jiaoyu), and the Journal of Sichuan University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition).

The opening ceremony was attended by leaders and experts including Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Yang He, Director of the Social Science Development Research Center of the Ministry of Education and Editor-in-Chief of Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education Institutions; Tang Yongjin, Vice Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Social Sciences; Li Guanghua, member of the Education Work Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee; Yang Quanming, Party Secretary of Sichuan University; Xu Lan, Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of Sichuan University; Ye Baisen, Vice President of Yangzhou University; Xiang Huaquan, member of the Standing Committee and Director of the Publicity Department of the Zigong Municipal Party Committee; Chen Binggong, doctoral supervisor at the School of Administration of Jilin University; and Yu Bin, Deputy Director of the Department of Marxist Theory at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. Journalists from Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, and Chinese Social Sciences Today, along with over 100 representatives from universities and research institutes across the country, were also in attendance. The opening ceremony was presided over by Jiang Yongmu, Dean of the School of Marxism at Sichuan University. The theme of the symposium was "Ideological and Political Education and the Cultivation and Practice of Socialist Core Values ^[1]."

More than 150 experts and scholars in the field of ideological and political education ^[2] from 96 universities and research institutes nationwide—including CASS, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Beijing Normal University, Jilin University, Nankai University, Wuhan University, Sichuan University, Central China Normal University, China University of Political Science and Law, Northeast Normal University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Southwest Jiaotong University, and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics—centered their discussions on the conference theme. They engaged in in-depth research and exchange on topics such as "Research on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Ideological and Political Education," "Issues in Ideology and Ideological and Political Work," "Socialist Core Values and Ideological and Political Education," "Teaching Reform of Ideological and Political Theory Courses," and "New Media and Methodological Counter-strategies for Ideological and Political Education."

Deng Chundong delivered a keynote report, providing a comprehensive exposition on the necessity, practical significance, primary tasks, methods, and pathways for deeply advancing education on socialist core values. He emphasized that the cultivation and practice of socialist core values must adhere to the guiding position of Marxism. Against the background of the complex environment of the socialist market economy, unprecedentedly intensifying globalization, and the rapid development of new media, there is an even greater need to use Marxist theory to guide the work of the entire Party, enhance the whole people’s identification with socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promote the great cause of national rejuvenation. He pointed out that to promote the healthy development of the socialist market economy and the comprehensive progress of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must forge scientific core values recognized by the whole of society.

Both Chinese and foreign history have proven that ideological security is a vital factor relating to a country’s prosperity and the rise or fall of a nation. Under socialist conditions, the guiding position of Marxist theory within our country’s ideology is explicitly established in the Party Constitution, and the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China also stipulates the guiding role of Marxism in our national life. The key to exerting the guiding role of Marxist theory in the cultivation and practice of socialist core values lies in implementation. We should exert greater effort in implementing the guiding position and role of Marxism across the entire Party and society as mandated by the Constitution.

During the symposium, Professor Chen Binggong, a doctoral supervisor at the School of Marxism at Jilin University; Professor Yan Gang of the School of Marxism at Sichuan University; and Associate Researcher Zhu Xikun, Deputy Director of the Party Building and Ideological and Political Research Office of the Social Science Development Research Center of the Ministry of Education, delivered plenary speeches. Researcher Yu Bin, Deputy Director of the Department of Marxist Theory at the Institute of Marxism Studies, gave a special report. All members of the Ideological and Political Education Research Office of the Department of Theory attended the symposium and spoke during the group discussions.

Web Editor: Lanheshui