Reprint from International Online: The 4th "China, Russia, and Central and Eastern European Countries Development Strategy Forum" Held
CRI Online report (by Tang Li, correspondent for China Radio International): The 4th "China, Russia, and Central and Eastern European Countries Development Strategy Forum," hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Vistula University Confucius Classroom in Poland, was held on the 4th in Warsaw. Over thirty scholars and university professors from social research institutions across China—including Beijing, Shandong, Henan, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Jiangxi—joined Polish scholars to conduct seminars on the theme: "Main Trends in the Future Development of China and Poland amidst Changes and Reorganization of the International Landscape."
This marks the first time the "China, Russia, and Central and Eastern European Countries Development Strategy Forum" has been held in Poland; the previous three sessions took place from 2014 to 2016 in Russia, Belarus, and Bulgaria respectively. The forum originates from the period following the 18th National Congress [1], when General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed "strengthening academic external propaganda [2] and academic diplomacy," calling upon China's academic and ideological-theoretical circles to "go global." This initiative aims to serve the country's diplomatic strategy and facilitate exchanges with foreign academic peers through scholarly means. On one hand, it allows for listening to suggestions from other countries regarding China’s development; on the other, it proactively introduces foreign peers to China's economic and social progress in recent years, especially the underlying reasons for China's economic development, including institutional, relational (the "path"), and ideological-theoretical factors.
During the seminar, participants expressed views on issues such as new changes in the international landscape and China’s opening up to the outside world, the Chinese value and global significance of the New Development Philosophy [3], and the prospects for cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries under the "Belt and Road" Initiative.
Deng Chundong, Party Committee Secretary and President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, stated in an interview with reporters that he hoped to achieve three objectives through this forum: First, to strengthen exchange and cooperation between China and Poland in the humanities and social sciences. Because we now possess full confidence in the Chinese path and culture, yet this confidence in Chinese culture does not exclude us from drawing lessons and learning from the beneficial cultures of other nations and countries. Poland, in particular, has produced figures like Copernicus, Chopin, and Madame Curie in its cultural and humanistic history—figures who have an enormous influence among the Chinese people. The Chinese academic community is deeply interested in the culture of the nation and country that produced such great figures and hopes to further expand exchanges and cooperation.
Second, he hoped that by hosting the forum, the Chinese academic community could use this opportunity to make greater contributions to the "Belt and Road" and "16+1 Cooperation" [4] projects. The "Belt and Road" is a major strategy advocated by President Xi Jinping for China’s "going global," leading the world economy toward recovery and promoting friendship, cooperation, development, and win-win results among the people of countries along the "Belt and Road." President Xi has proposed "Five Areas of Connectivity" [5], including policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. As members of the academic community, we can do significant work in policy coordination and people-to-people bonds. Organizing this forum is actually intended to allow scholars from both sides to propose concepts, policy suggestions, and even specific projects for the "Belt and Road" and the deepening of "16+1 Cooperation," which I believe will play a positive role in our policy coordination and people-to-people bonds.
Third, he hoped that through this forum, more cooperative dialogues between China and Poland would be initiated. At the same time, he hoped to promote greater mutual understanding and recognition between the academic communities and even the entire societies of the two countries. Poland could be described as the first domino to fall in the transition [6] of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the 1980s. What exactly have the dramatic changes of the past thirty years brought to Polish society and its people? How do Polish society and its people actually perceive this result? The Chinese academic community is very curious about this, reflecting on the causes and results of these dramatic changes, as well as the current prospects and direction of the country's development. Correspondingly, China initiated an unprecedented reform and opening up, which also led to tremendous changes in Chinese society. The Chinese path has achieved great success, attracting interest from the whole world, including the Polish academic community. Chinese scholars also hope to tell the truth to Polish society and the Polish people about the specific circumstances, reform measures, and policies of China’s persistence in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the deepening of reforms in various fields over these years—especially the results of these reforms—to deepen mutual understanding.
President Deng Chundong also noted that the day's meeting achieved good results, marking the first step in exchange and cooperation between the academic and humanities/social science circles of China and Poland. Deng said: "I believe that exchanges between the humanities and social sciences circles of the two countries will greatly enhance mutual understanding. The speeches by many scholars from both sides, especially those from several Polish professors, introduced China's scholars to Poland's economy, society, and national conditions, as well as many policies, including the development situation after the evolution of Poland’s social system in the 1980s. This allows us to understand the Chinese path more profoundly and is of great benefit to our research and understanding of the Chinese path."
Professor Paweł Bromski, Rector of the Mazovian State University and founder of the Innovation Foundation, believes that holding such a forum is a wonderful opportunity to share respective perspectives. Bromski said: "The 'Belt and Road' is a new phenomenon. I believe there has already been much talk on the political and economic levels, but from a philosophical perspective, it has been discussed relatively little by both the Chinese and Polish sides. I think the philosophical significance of the 'Belt and Road' is well worth discussing. This involves the relationship between major powers and small-to-medium-sized countries. In the world, major powers have always held the dominant position, but within the framework of the 'Belt and Road,' a new philosophical concept has been formed for the first time, emphasizing that both large and small countries are equal partners in cooperation. This is a brand-new philosophical concept of very important significance. If this point is not emphasized, the 'Belt and Road' will be difficult to realize."
Sylwester Szafarz, Chairman of the Polish "16+1" Association, told reporters: "Holding this forum is very meaningful because there is currently still too little information known regarding the 'Belt and Road.' We are very pleased that the Polish Prime Minister participated in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing not long ago, but we believe information in this area remains scarce. Therefore, the forum organized this time helps us gain a more in-depth understanding of the 'Belt and Road' initiative."