The 7th International Forum on the Communist Movement Successfully Held in Zunyi, Guizhou
On June 1, 2019, the 7th International Communist Movement Forum convened in Zunyi, Guizhou Province—the "Red Capital" and the "City of the Turning Point" [1]. Jiang Hui, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, attended the meeting, delivered remarks, and presented the keynote report. Fan Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the opening ceremony.
Aze Shizhong, Inspector of the Propaganda Department of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee; Chen Daijun, Deputy Secretary of the Zunyi Municipal Party Committee; Wu Dahua, President of the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences; and Wang Dazhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zunyi Normal University, attended the meeting and delivered speeches.
The forum was co-hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences, and Zunyi Normal University. It was organized by the Department of International Communist Movement Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the Institute of Party Building (Institute of Marxism) of the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences, and the Center for the Research of the Revolutionary Spirit of the CPC and Cultural Resources at Zunyi Normal University. The Social Sciences Academic Press, the editorial department of Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), and the editorial department of Guizhou Social Sciences (Guizhou Shehui Kexue) served as co-organizers.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, this forum centered on the theme of "70 Years of New China and Research on the International Communist Movement." It featured a comprehensive review of the historical process since the founding of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago, as well as in-depth discussions on New China’s major contributions to the development of scientific socialism, the great significance of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era for world socialism, and the new characteristics, patterns, and trends of world socialism in the 21st century.
In his keynote report, Jiang Hui pointed out that the 70 years of New China have successfully answered the historical question of "what is socialism and how to build and develop it." China has become the leading banner and the mainstay for the development of world socialism in the 21st century; 21st-century China, through its unique institutional advantages, fully demonstrates the superiority of the socialist system. Jiang Hui noted that 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, the 100th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement," and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the "Comintern." These are all major anniversaries in the history of the international communist movement. Holding the "International Communist Forum" at such an important juncture and upon the red soil of Zunyi holds special significance for the international communist movement to "pack its bags and set out again" [2] to usher in a new phase of development. Jiang Hui contended that the 21st century is the century of the revitalization of world socialism. The new developments of world socialism in the 21st century use eloquent facts to shatter the arrogant and absurd claims of "capitalist reunification of the world" that followed the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. These developments have crushed the long-promoted plot of "peaceful evolution" [3] toward "victory without war" held by capitalist strategists, ended the myth of the so-called "end of history," and continue to powerfully substantiate on a global scale the historical law that socialism must inevitably replace capitalism, thereby restoring and boosting the power of Marxist truth.
In his address, Yan Shizhong pointed out that Marxism has provided a powerful impetus for China's revolution, construction, and reform, enabling China to create unprecedented development in human history and guiding China onto the broad road of comprehensively building a modern socialist power. As loyal believers in Marxism, Chinese Communists are making persistent efforts to uphold and develop Marxism, and the International Communist Movement Forum serves as a platform for these persistent efforts.
Chen Daijun noted in his speech that we are all firm believers in Marxism and supporters of the banner of communism. We must always persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, firmly establish the "Four Consciousnesses" [4], strengthen the "Four Confidences" [5], and adhere to the "Two Upholds," striving to continuously promote the Party’s theoretical innovation and maintain the Party’s youthful vitality.
Wu Dahua pointed out that hosting the International Communist Movement Forum is a vivid manifestation of Marxist researchers "remaining true to our original aspiration and packing our bags to set out again." This forum is another important result of cooperation between CASS and the People's Government of Guizhou Province, as well as between CASS and the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences. It is also the crystallization of long-term cooperation between the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences and Zunyi Normal University, and one of the series of activities by the Guizhou Academy of Social Sciences to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.
Wang Dazhong remarked that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has further developed scientific socialism and deepened the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party's governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. It holds an extremely important historical position in the history of Marxist development. Today, our discussion of the 70th anniversary of New China and the trends of the international communist movement is intended to develop Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism, to consolidate the intellectual wisdom and courageous strength for the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and to strive to push forward the great cause initiated by revolutionary predecessors.
During the keynote reporting session, participating experts delivered reports on topics such as: "The Relationship between the Comintern and the Chinese Revolution from the Perspective of the Sinicization of Marxism," "How to View the Current State and Development Trends of World Socialism," "The Tortuous Development of Relations between the CPC and Latin American Communist Parties over the 70 Years of New China," "The May Fourth Movement and the New Development of 21st-Century Marxism," "The Positivization of 'Positive Energy' and 'Negative Energy' in the History of Socialist Construction and the Positivization of China's Reform and Opening Up," "The Comintern and the Chinese Revolution," "The Contribution of the People's Republic of China's 70 Years to the International Communist Movement," and "Theoretical Resources of World History for Building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity."
In the plenary speech session, experts presented on topics including: "Characteristics and Trends of the CPC’s Party Governance in the New Era," "Significance and Enlightenment of New China's 70-Year Exploration for the Modernization of Developing Countries," "The US-China Trade War in the Context of the International Communist Movement," "The Shift of the Center of Gravity of 20th-Century World Socialism," "The Embarrassment Faced by Theoretical and Policy Adjustments of Communist Parties in Developed Countries Today," "The Historical Origins of the Comintern and Sino-Vietnamese 'Comrades plus Brothers' Relations," "30 Years since the Drastic Changes in Eastern Europe: Reshaping and Wasted Time," and "The Latest Development Trends of the Nepalese Communist Movement."
During the breakout sessions, experts engaged in discussions around three topics: "World Socialism and New Dynamics in the Development of Foreign Communist Parties," "The 100th Anniversary of the May Fourth Movement and the Comintern and Their Impact on China," and "70 Years of New China: Experience and Achievements."
The forum also saw the release of the "Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement (2018–2019)" Yellow Book. This is the first volume in the "International Communist Movement" series of the "Blue Books" (Pishu) published by Social Sciences Academic Press. Edited by Jiang Hui and Pan Jin’e, the Yellow Book comprises five sections: "General Report," "Theoretical Focus," "Reform and Development," "Ideological Trends and Movements," and "Data."
The Yellow Book argues that against the backdrop of an international landscape facing major development, major changes, and major adjustments, the international communist movement in 2018 saw vigorous interactions between history and reality, theory and practice, and China and the world. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth and the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto, various commemorative activities were held globally, reappraising Marx’s genius and reaffirming the important historical value and practical significance of Marxism. China held a grand conference to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up, proving the scientific and practical nature of Marxism through the great practical achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This demonstrated that integrating the theory of scientific socialism as expounded in the Communist Manifesto with a country’s specific realities is a successful path to building socialism. The success of socialism with Chinese characteristics highlights the superiority of the socialist system and has boosted confidence in the international communist movement and the development of world socialism.
The Yellow Book reflects the basic situation and characteristic trends of the discipline's annual development using first-hand materials and a comprehensive perspective. Through its publication, the forum aims to assist the development of the international communist movement as a discipline while opening a window for readers to deeply understand the contemporary world and contemporary China.
In her concluding remarks, Researcher Pan Jin’e, Deputy Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, noted that experts and scholars at the forum, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, reviewed the historical process of the 70 years of New China and its major contributions to the development of world socialism. They also reviewed the history of the international communist movement since the founding of the Comintern over 100 years ago, analyzed the development of the CPC since the May Fourth Movement a century ago, assessed the new characteristics of current world socialist movements and trends, and looked forward to the future trends of world socialism in the 21st century. The deliberations of these experts will provide strong theoretical support for China to better adhere to the "Four Confidences," comprehensively realize a moderately prosperous society and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and advance the cause of world socialism.
More than 100 expert representatives in the field of international communist movement research from across the country attended the forum, including those from CASS, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), Renmin University of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shandong University, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Nanjing Normal University, Guizhou Normal University, and Zunyi Normal University.
(Reported by Sun Yingshuai)