On March 23, Comrade Liu Yandong visited the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences for research, and Deng Chundong, Dean and Party Secretary of the Academy of Marxism, attended the symposium and reported on relevant work.

On the afternoon of March 23, 2017, Liu Yandong, a member of the CCP Central Committee Political Bureau and Vice Premier of the State Council, emphasized during a research symposium at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) that it is essential to deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches. She stressed adhering to the guidance of Marxism, establishing a research orientation centered on the people, and focusing closely on resolving the major theoretical and practical issues facing China's development and the Party’s governance, so as to achieve new successes in accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

Liu Yandong visited the CASS Think Tank Exhibition and the History Museum of the Graduate School, and presided over a symposium to listen to opinions and suggestions. She pointed out that since its founding 40 years ago, CASS has persisted in the correct direction, continuously broken new ground, and made important contributions to consolidating the position of Marxism, improving the disciplinary system of philosophy and social sciences, serving the decision-making of the Party and government alongside economic and social development, and enhancing China’s international discourse power ^[1] and influence.

Liu Yandong emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences ^[2] is a programmatic document of profound significance, opening a new historical chapter in the development of philosophy and social sciences. The vast number of philosophy and social science workers must study and comprehend it deeply, effectively transforming it into firm ideological convictions, clear theoretical self-awareness, scientific methods of thinking, and outstanding work performance. This should be implemented through the practice of building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, producing more research results that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, and opening up new realms for the development of 21st-century Marxism.

Liu Yandong pointed out that contemporary China is undergoing extensive and profound social transformations and practical innovations, providing powerful momentum and vast space for academic prosperity and innovation. It is necessary to persist in the correct orientation, integrate the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout the entire research process, and fortify the strong bastion of Marxism. Following the requirements of being "grounded in China while learning from abroad; excavating history while grasping the contemporary; caring for humanity while facing the future," philosophy and social science workers must utilize the platform of the Innovation Project ^[3] to construct a disciplinary, academic, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese gravitas ^[4]. This effort should aim to cultivate great masters of theory and produce masterpiece works. It is essential to maintain high-end positioning, innovate mechanisms, and closely integrate with the practice of China's reform and development. By summarizing new experiences, refining new viewpoints, and constructing new theories, they should build new types of think tanks with Chinese characteristics to serve as important "thought banks" and "brain trusts" for the Party Central Committee and the State Council. It is necessary to earnestly implement the Party’s policy on intellectuals, improve measures for talent selection, cultivation, evaluation, and incentives, and transform academic and faculty advantages into teaching advantages. This will promote the continuous growth of outstanding talent, enabling philosophy and social science workers to fully utilize their wisdom and make their due contributions by establishing virtue and offering their words ^[5] for the motherland and the people.

Deng Chundong, President and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies, reported on the work of the Institute at the symposium. Deng Chundong explained that since the 18th Party Congress, the Institute has consistently adhered to a single main thread: prioritizing the research, interpretation, promotion, and implementation of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches and his new concepts, thoughts, and strategies for state governance. The Institute focuses on the dual positioning assigned by the CASS Party Leadership Group: serving as the bridgehead for the strong bastion of Marxism and the vanguard of the Party’s ideological stronghold. The Institute strives to conduct research and promotion of Marxism, serve as a think tank for Party and state decision-making, and fulfill other functions assigned by the Party Leadership Group.