On October 8, the 5th "China Path European Forum" (Portugal Venue) was held in Lisbon
On October 8, the 2018 Europe Forum on the Chinese Road (Portugal Session) convened in Lisbon. This forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), with the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) serving as co-organizer. The theme of this year's forum was "The Chinese Solution [1] in the New Era and European Development." Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Pedro Guerreiro, Member of the PCP Central Secretariat and Head of the International Department, delivered opening addresses and concluding remarks. Jerónimo de Sousa, General Secretary of the PCP, and Ângelo Alves, Member of the Political Commission of the PCP Central Committee, attended the meeting alongside scholars and experts from 23 universities and research institutes across China, including the Social Science Development and Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, China University of Political Science and Law, Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, East China University of Political Science and Law, Northeast Normal University, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Dalian University of Technology, Jiangsu Normal University, and Guangxi University.
The discussions focused on the definition and significant tasks of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics entering a New Era; the advantages and insights provided by the "Chinese Solution" in addressing global challenges; the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and China’s policy trajectories; and the opportunities and challenges of Chinese economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative [2]. More than one hundred experts and scholars from China and Portugal attended the forum.
Comrade Deng Chundong expressed congratulations on the contributions and achievements of the Portuguese Communist Party regarding the socialist cause and the progress of Portugal and Europe. He expressed gratitude for the understanding and support granted to the cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the Chinese people. He hoped that through the equitable exchanges afforded by this forum, consensus and positive results could be reached in three areas: first, conducting friendly exchanges regarding the self-construction and development status of the Communist Party of China and the Portuguese Communist Party, particularly the favorable practices and experiences formed by both parties in responding to complex situations; second, conducting in-depth exchanges on the domestic economic and political conditions of the two countries to help both sides gain a profound understanding of each other's actual domestic circumstances and the genuine sentiments of their people; and third, conducting deep exchanges on the current complex and volatile international economic and political situation, exploring major events with global impact and forecasting their influence on the future development of China and Europe.
Counselor Han Xiaoyan of the Chinese Embassy in Portugal spoke on behalf of Ambassador Cai Run. She pointed out that China-Portugal relations are currently at their best historical period, characterized by frequent high-level exchanges, increasing inter-party dialogue, and strengthening political mutual trust. Pragmatic cooperation has unfolded across all fields. She fully affirmed the active contribution made by the "Europe Forum on the Chinese Road" over the past five years in strengthening Sino-European academic exchange, promoting a "true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic" [3] image of China to European nations, and advancing friendship and cooperation. She expressed confidence that inter-party and academic exchanges would continue to expand people-to-people ties, enhance "heart-to-heart connectivity" [4] between the two peoples, and push Chino-Portuguese relations and pragmatic cooperation to a new level.
Comrade Pedro Guerreiro argued that the achievements China has secured since the Reform and Opening-up [5] are astonishing, and that its role and weight in the world are increasingly significant. He stated that the grand new goal of building a "great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful" in the New Era is admirable. He noted that due to the structural instability of capitalism, new international crises have emerged, with imperialism—led by the United States—launching offensives across various domains, constantly threatening the sovereignty and independence of certain states, causing global instability, and threatening global peace. Meanwhile, China maintains a strategy of multilateralism in international relations and acts strictly in accord with the United Nations and international legal norms. The success of the Chinese road has exerted a positive influence on the working people of the entire world. Therefore, the Portuguese Communist Party resolutely supports the struggle of the Communist Party of China and regards it as an example, uniting communist parties and peoples of all nations to oppose capitalism and make due contributions to removing the serious aggressive threats capitalism poses to the people of the world.
Comrade Jerónimo de Sousa provided a detailed introduction to the current international and domestic situation facing Portugal, reviewing the series of major revolutionary historical activities undertaken by the PCP to overthrow the dictatorship and strive for the freedom and happiness of the people. He pointed out that the PCP's struggle and activities remain of great value today, exerting a profound influence on Portugal's current economic and social development. He maintained that the PCP possesses a vital historical experience: whenever the role of the working people is neglected, socialism suffers setbacks and failures; whenever there is a firm commitment to communist faith and roots are planted among the working people, socialism continuously achieves success and victory. He further expressed the hope that the two parties, especially within theoretical circles, would strengthen contact and cooperation to work together for the construction of the socialist cause.