The 6th National Forum of Deans of Marxism was Grandly Held at Sichuan University on November 2, 2013

On the morning of November 2, 2013, the opening ceremony of the 6th National Forum of Deans of Marxism ^[1] was grandly held in the academic lecture hall on the first floor of the Law Building at the Jiangan Campus of Sichuan University. More than 120 leaders, experts, and scholars gathered at the century-old, prestigious Sichuan University to attend the opening ceremony. Attendees included Deng Chundong, Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Yang Quanming, Party Committee Secretary of Sichuan University; Cheng Enfu, Director of the Member Group of Marxist Studies at CASS; Tang Yongjin, Vice Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Social Sciences; Xu Lan, Deputy Party Committee Secretary and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of Sichuan University; as well as representatives from Marxist teaching and research institutions and journals such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Tianjin University, Jilin University, Southeast University, Shandong University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University, Minzu University of China, and Social Science Research. Deng Chundong, Xu Lan, and Tang Yongjin delivered speeches respectively. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Jiang Yongmu, Dean of the School of Marxism at Sichuan University. The theme of this forum was: Marxism and Contemporary China.

Deng Chundong, Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, representing the organizing body, expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the forum and heartfelt thanks to the School of Marxism at Sichuan University for providing thorough and thoughtful service for this event. He pointed out that this forum was convened against the backdrop of implementing the spirit of the 18th National Congress ^[2] of the Party and promoting the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the National Conference on Ideological and Cultural Work on August 19 of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. Studying the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "August 19" speech ^[3] is of great significance to the future and destiny of the Party and the country, and to the realization of the great Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. In this regard, comrades in the field of Marxist theory bear a solemn historical mission. We must be conscious of this responsibility and mission, work diligently, and particularly strengthen efforts in the following areas:

First, we must change the situation of being "strong in one hand and weak in the other" ^[4], and vigorously promote the entire Party to place the consolidation of the guiding position of Marxist ideology in an important position. Second, we must carry forward the Party's fine tradition of organizing and propagating among the masses, and increase the intensity of education for the broad masses in Marxism and its results of Sinicization. Third, we must further advance the Sinicization of Marxism in depth and promote theoretical innovation in socialism with Chinese characteristics. Fourth, we must strive to build a workforce for ideological, theoretical, and cultural work guided by Marxism.

Following the opening ceremony, the conference held an academic report session. Speeches were delivered by Cheng Enfu, Director of the Member Group of Marxist Studies at CASS; Xiao Guiqing, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University; Jiang Yongmu, Dean of the School of Marxism at Sichuan University; Wang Shaoxing, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University; Chen Jinlong, Dean of the School of Marxism at South China Normal University; and Wang Wenyu, Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest University.

This forum lasted for two days, consisting of the opening ceremony and academic reports, breakout thematic seminars, reports on group discussions, and the closing ceremony.