The 4th International Communist Movement Forum (2016) was successfully held at Huaqiao University on September 24th.
On September 24, 2016, the academic seminar "The Fourth International Communist Movement Forum: Contemporary World Socialism and Social Development" was held at Huaqiao University. The forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Huaqiao University, and organized by the Department of International Communist Movement of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Political Science and Public Administration of Huaqiao University. More than 140 experts and scholars attended the meeting from over 40 academic institutions nationwide—including the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau [1], CASS, the China University of Political Science and Law, Xiamen University, Central China Normal University, Shandong University, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and Huaqiao University—as well as media outlets such as Qiushi, Marxist Studies, Contemporary World and Socialism, Guangming Daily, Fujian Daily, and the Social Sciences Academic Press.
Distinguished attendees included Researcher Deng Chundong, Party Committee Secretary and Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Professor Jia Yimin, President of Huaqiao University; Researcher Jiang Hui, Party Committee Secretary of the CASS Institute of Bureau of International Cooperation (Information Intelligence); Professor Guan Yifan, Party Committee Secretary of Huaqiao University; Researcher Fan Jianxin, Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; and Researcher Tan Yangfang of the CASS Research Bureau. More than 20 experts and scholars delivered keynote speeches, including Xu Shicheng, Honorary Member of CASS; Professors Nie Yunlin and Associate Professor Yu Weihai of Central China Normal University; Researcher Xu Baoyou of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau; Researcher Tang Haijun of the IDCPC; Professor Lin Deshan of the China University of Political Science and Law; Researcher Xuan Chuanshu of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Cao Tianlu of Shenzhen University; Professor Xue Xinguo of Tianjin Normal University; Professor Yuan Qun of Yunnan University; Professor Leng Shuqing of Jiujiang University; Professor Jia Shupin of Jiangnan University; Associate Professor Jiao Pei of Shandong University; Associate Professor Wu Qian of Xiamen University; Lecturer Guan Wei of Dalian University of Technology; Dr. Li Baoquan of Xiangtan University; and Researchers Li Ruiqin and Pan Jin’e, Associate Researcher Fan Chunyan, and Assistant Researcher He Qin from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, as well as Professor Wu Yuanhua, Associate Professor Ye Qilin, and Assistant Researcher Zhang Jinjun of Huaqiao University. The morning and afternoon sessions were chaired and critiqued by Researcher Tan Xiaojun, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Marxist Studies; Professor Wang Sida of Huaqiao University; and Researcher Lyu Weizhou, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Zeng Lu, Vice President of Huaqiao University. In his address, Director Deng Chundong stated that this forum was a response to the call of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches [2]. It aimed to conduct in-depth research and make new judgments on the current trends and development prospects of the world socialist movement under the conditions of the new period and the new situation. Since the 1990s, the international communist movement has suffered immense setbacks. However, as Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: "Some countries have encountered serious twists and turns, and socialism seems to have been weakened, but the people have been tempered and have drawn lessons from this, which will prompt socialism to develop in a healthier direction" [3]. Currently, Communist Parties in Europe, America, and the regions of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are all engaged in diligent exploration and struggle for the ideals of socialism and communism. It is hoped that this conference will produce new research results on the status of these explorations and disseminate them to society at large. On this basis, the forum will play a positive role for our ideological and theoretical circles and the whole of society in strengthening our communist ideals and convictions, reviving and advancing the world socialist movement, and upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. President Jia Yimin noted in his speech that the teaching and research of Marxism in universities face new opportunities and challenges; the dialogue, exchange, and in-depth exploration among experts and scholars will better promote the development of Marxist-related disciplines and academic research.
The participating experts and scholars held specialized discussions around themes such as "The World Socialist Movement in the Context of Contemporary Socialism," "Development Trends of Foreign Communist Parties in the Context of Contemporary Socialism," "Current Status and Prospects of Major Foreign Socialist Schools of Thought," "World Left-wing Trends and Left-wing Movements in the Context of Contemporary Socialism," "Contemporary Socialism and Social Development," and "New Developments in Socialism with Chinese Characteristics." During the discussions, scholars argued that since entering the new historical period, the contemporary world has exhibited many new conditions, changes, and characteristics. On one hand, under the impact of the international financial crisis, the capitalist world has entered a period of deep adjustment and has so far seen a weak recovery; the basic contradictions that its institutional system cannot eradicate are intensifying wealth disparities and antagonistic contradictions on a global scale. On the other hand, the international communist movement and the world socialist movement have emerged from the low point following the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe [4] and have entered a period of seeking revitalization. In particular, the successful practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics has allowed the 500-year-old socialist proposition to successfully open a highly realistic and feasible path in the world's most populous country, enabling scientific socialism to radiate new and vigorous vitality in the 21st century. The innovative spirit of Chinese Communists in developing Marxism in 21st-century China, along with their practical courage in forming "Chinese solutions," will provide useful references for the revitalization of the international communist and world socialist movements, and for humanity's exploration of better social systems.
In his concluding remarks, Deputy Director Fan Jianxin stated that the Party Central Committee currently attaches great importance to the innovative development of philosophy and the social sciences, as well as the curriculum design and textbook compilation for the disciplines of scientific socialism and the international communist movement. However, these disciplines still face the phenomena of being "silent in the classroom, missing from textbooks, and voiceless in forums." This requires the joint efforts of experts, scholars, university colleagues, and the whole of society to expand the influence of these disciplines and promote the revitalization of the international communist and world socialist movements.
To further strengthen exchange and cooperation, the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Huaqiao University have partnered to establish the "Research Base for Political Development and Public Governance." Director Deng Chundong and President Jia Yimin performed the plaque-unveiling ceremony, which was accepted by Director Lyu Weizhou and Professor Cai Zhenxiang, Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at Huaqiao University. The "Research Base" aims to promote research in the fields of contemporary world socialism and social development, enhance the academic influence of the disciplines of political science and public management, and produce more high-quality academic works.
(Reported by Sun Yingshuai)