2016 China Road Europe Forum (France Session) Held in Paris on October 11
On October 11, 2016, the "2016 Europe-China Forum on the Chinese Path (France Venue)" was held in Paris. The forum was co-organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the French Communist Party (PCF), the Gabriel Péri Foundation of France, the French Center for the Study of Social Trends, and the French journal La Pensée. It was co-sponsored by the French newspaper L'Humanité, the Theory Department of the Chinese People's Daily, the editorial department of the Chinese journal Marxism Studies, and the Marxism editorial office of the Social Sciences in China Press.
The theme of this year's forum was "The Five Development Concepts [1] and the Chinese Path." A delegation of nearly 40 Chinese experts, led by Deng Chundong, Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, represented over 30 Chinese institutions, including CASS, the provincial Academies of Social Sciences of Shandong and Anhui, as well as Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China.
More than 100 participants attended the meeting, including representatives and expert scholars from the Gabriel Péri Foundation, the Center for Social Movement and Trend Research, Projet magazine, L'Humanité, the Executive Committee of the Party of the European Left, the PCF Committee for Economic and Social Solidarity, the Institute for Marine Ecological Environment, the PCF Central Committee, the PCF Socio-Economic Committee, and the European Parliament.
Director Deng Chundong proposed several hopes for the joint organization of the Europe-China Forum by China and France: First, he hoped the Chinese academic community and the French Communist Party could engage in exchanges regarding issues of development and governance and propose countermeasure solutions for problem-solving. Second, he hoped to utilize the forum to promote mutual understanding between the Chinese and French peoples and enhance bilateral exchange, cooperation, and friendship. Third, he hoped that as comrades sharing common ideals and beliefs, the Communist Party of China and the French Communist Party could maintain a sober understanding of the current era and a clear grasp of the required lines, principles, and policies, as well as the prospects and trends of the socialist movement under new historical conditions.
Alain Obadia, President of the Gabriel Péri Foundation, pointed out that China's geopolitics dictate that China needs to cooperate with developing countries to transform the post-war international order. Progressive French figures are following this development and launching discussions between leaders and researchers. The financial crisis since 2008 has weakened Europe's economic and political power, even plunging it into an existential crisis. Under these circumstances, the relationship between China and Europe is particularly important.
The meeting was conducted in four sessions. Participating experts and scholars engaged in discussions on topics such as the Belt and Road Initiative [2] and new developments in China-EU relations; the Five Development Concepts and the driving forces of global transformation; the Paris Agreement and the establishment of an equitable and rational climate change governance mechanism; and the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy and the building of an innovative country, while interacting with the audience.
Finally, Director Deng Chundong summarized the forum. He noted that although the two countries offer different strategies for the common problems facing China and France, both have put forward sound suggestions for how Europe can escape its crisis. He remarked that when discussing Chinese issues, the French participants demonstrated a belief in Marxism, an adherence to Marxist stands, viewpoints, and methods [3], and a pursuit of the communist cause, giving the Chinese side the feeling of having found "kindred spirits" [4].
Patrick Le Hyaric, Member of the European Parliament and director of L'Humanité, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese comrades. He pointed out that the exchange between China and France fully reflects the profound friendship and the will for mutual understanding existing between the two countries. He hoped that cooperation, exchange, and dialogue between China and France would continue, enabling France to better understand the current situation in China and the world, and to find new ideas for solving problems and resolving crises.