Academic Forum "Retrospective and Summary of 70 Years of Foreign Marxist Research" Held at China University of Mining and Technology
On November 5, 2019, the "Sixth National Forum on Overseas Marxist Studies" was held at the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT). The event was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and CUMT, and jointly organized by the Department of Overseas Marxist Studies of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Marxism at CUMT.
More than 200 experts and scholars attended the forum [1]. Participants hailed from domestic universities and research institutions such as CASS, Renmin University of China, Jilin University, Soochow University, Yunnan University, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and Hubei University of Technology, as well as scientific research institutions from countries including Germany and Russia. Jiang Hui, Member of the CASS Party Group, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies; Song Xuefeng, President of CUMT; and Feng Qipu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Xuzhou Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The conference was presided over by Fan Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. Wang Zengguo, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CUMT, presided over the opening ceremony.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Researcher Jiang Hui introduced the background of the forum, reviewed the historical evolution of overseas Marxist studies over the 70 years since the founding of New China, analyzed current theoretical hotspots and objectives in the field, and offered valuable suggestions for the next stage of research. He pointed out that there are numerous schools of overseas Marxism; therefore, how to perceive the nature and content of overseas Marxism, and how to maintain the approach of "taking ourselves as the core and making foreign things serve China" [2] within research, are of vital importance. He stated that one must adopt a scientific attitude toward studying overseas Marxism. Presently, to comprehensively advance research in this field, one must organically integrate the interconnected and inseparable aspects of contemporary capitalism, world socialism, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only through this integration can one view problems holistically and master the current status and trends of global Marxism and socialism.
Jiang Hui emphasized that the world is currently undergoing great changes unseen in a century [3]. The development trend of "the East rising and the West declining" [4] is becoming increasingly evident, and the world is undergoing a profound transformation favorable to Marxism and socialism. Against this periodic background and global situation, we must strive to promote overseas Marxist studies and world socialism research. We must restore and boost the power of Marxist truth, enhance our ability to apply Marxism to research and resolve practical problems, and continuously promote the enrichment and development of 21st-century Marxism.
President Song Xuefeng delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the university. He briefly introduced the history and basic conditions of CUMT and expressed a warm welcome to the participating experts and scholars. He stated that the university has always attached great importance to the construction and development of philosophy and social sciences, consistently prioritizing the discipline of Marxism as a key field for development. He noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instruction—"We must closely monitor and study the new achievements of overseas Marxist research; we must analyze and discriminate, neither adopting an attitude of wholesale rejection nor engaging in indiscriminate imitation"—provides the fundamental guidance [5] for deeply advancing the study of contemporary overseas Marxist philosophical trends in the New Era. In the future, the university will systematically implement the "Prosperity of Literature" (Xingwen) plan, continue to increase support for the discipline, and create high-quality liberal arts programs with CUMT characteristics. He also emphasized the importance the university places on this forum, hoping to use it as an opportunity to strengthen China's research on overseas Marxism.
Feng Qipu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Xuzhou Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department, delivered a speech on behalf of the Xuzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government. He introduced the basic situation of Xuzhou's economic and social development, emphasized CUMT's solid position as an important cultural resource base for the city, and affirmed the broad perspective of this forum in studying Marxism from a global outlook.
Keynote reports were delivered by several distinguished experts, including: Hans Modrow, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic and Honorary Chairman of the Left Party of Germany; Grachikov, Associate Professor of the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia; Researcher Jin Minqin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee (Presiding Executive) and Deputy Director of the Institute of Modern History at CASS; Zhu Zushou, President of the China-Hungary Friendship Association, former Ambassador to the Netherlands and Hungary, and former Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; Xu Jian, Vice Chairman of the China Foundation for International Studies and former Ambassador to Slovenia, Romania, and Poland; and Chai Shangjin, Researcher at the Contemporary World Research Center of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and Honorary Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University of Science and Technology.
These experts delivered keynote speeches on issues such as: "Research on Xi Jinping’s Theoretical Thoughts on International Relations," "Lessons from the Romanian Communist Party’s Loss of Power," "Chinese Marxism Going Global and Overseas Marxism Being Brought In," "Reflecting on the Hong Kong Handover Amidst Great Changes Unseen in a Century," and "World Socialism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics."
The sectional presentations were presided over by Researcher Li Ruiqin, Deputy Director and head of the Department of Overseas Marxist Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Professor Qi Guang, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at CUMT.
Domestic and foreign experts at the forum centered their discussions on the theme "70 Years of Overseas Marxist Studies." They engaged in extensive and profound exchanges regarding the latest research progress and academic reflections in their respective fields. The forum comprehensively reviewed and summarized the history of overseas Marxist research in China, and tracked the latest developments and dynamics in the field.
(Drafted by Qiao Ruihua)