On January 18, the Academy of Marxism Held Its 2020 Annual Work Meeting
On January 18, the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) convened its 2020 Annual Work Conference to convey, study, and implement the spirit of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) 2020 Annual Work Conference and the Meeting on Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party and Strengthening Party Building. The session summarized the Institute’s work in 2019 and deployed tasks for 2020. Fan Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Vice Directors Xin Xiangyang and Jia Chaoning attended, along with heads of various research departments and offices and the entire staff.
Fan Jianxin conveyed the work report delivered by Xie Fuzhan, President of CASS and Secretary of its Leading Party Members’ Group, at the CASS 2020 Annual Work Conference. President Xie’s report comprehensively summarized CASS’s performance in 2019 across ten areas, including: the continuous deepening of the study, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the steady consolidation of the Party's ideological positions; the successful completion of the establishment of the Chinese Academy of History [1] and the China-Africa Institute; the steady progress of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS); the highlights of academic activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China; the significant improvement in the level of service to the overall interests of the Party and the state; the solid steps taken in the construction of the "Three Systems" [2]; the advancement of personnel development to a new level; the wide-ranging and in-depth international academic exchanges; the marked enhancement of management, service, and support capacities; and the comprehensive strengthening of Party building. Looking forward to 2020, President Xie’s report deployed tasks in nine areas, emphasizing the need to demonstrate new achievements in the following respects: the study, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the development of a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leadership; the acceleration of the construction of the "Three Systems" for philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics; the development of high-end national think tanks; the effective management of the Chinese Academy of History, the China-Africa Institute, and UCASS; the creation of a talent hub for philosophy and social sciences; the dissemination of Chinese thought; and the enhancement of management service support and the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.
Xin Xiangyang conveyed the report on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and strengthening Party building delivered by Wang Jingqing, Vice President of CASS and Deputy Secretary of its Leading Party Members’ Group. In 2019, CASS adhered to the principle of taking the Party’s political building as the overarching guide and resolutely practiced the "Two Upholds." It strengthened theoretical arming through continued and in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It enhanced the political responsibility for governing and managing the Party, forging strong and effective primary-level Party organizations. By clarifying ethics and rectifying conduct, it promoted a healthy academic ecosystem in the fields of philosophy and social sciences, achieving new results in CASS’s supervision and disciplinary work. It also maintained ideological and political leadership, achieving new milestones in CASS’s United Front and mass organization work. For 2020, the focus must remain on the functional positioning and requirements set by the Party Central Committee for CASS. This involves promoting the high-quality development of Party building and creating a "model organ" that the Party Central Committee can trust and the people are satisfied with. These efforts will provide a strong guarantee for advancing the Sinicization of Marxism and its adaptation to our times and the masses [3], accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and strengthening the development of high-end think tanks with Chinese characteristics.
Jia Chaoning conveyed the spirit of the speech by Yang Xiaoshan, Leader of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Commission of Supervision (NCS) stationed at CASS. Jia briefed the meeting on six typical cases investigated and handled by relevant departments of central and state organs involving Party members and cadres who defiantly violated the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. He emphasized the need to further strengthen disciplinary construction, enhance awareness of discipline and rules, implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, strictly adhere to regulations on financial reimbursement, and ensure a clean and upright Spring Festival.
At the meeting, Fan Jianxin summarized the work of 2019 on behalf of the IMS leadership and proposed specific requirements for implementing the spirit of the CASS 2020 Annual Work Conference and the Meeting on Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party and Strengthening Party Building. It was emphasized that in 2020, the IMS will take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide. It will implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and its second, third, and fourth plenary sessions. It will take General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "May 17" [4] important speech and his three congratulatory letters to CASS as the fundamental follow-through. The Institute will strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses" [5], firm up the "Four Confidences" [6], and achieve the "Two Upholds." It will earnestly implement the spirit of the CASS 2020 Annual Work Conference and the major policy decisions of the Academy’s Leading Party Members’ Group, fulfilling its role as the "National Team" for Marxist research. Focus will be placed on the following tasks: first, the in-depth study, research, promotion, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, strengthening Party building closely around the central work; second, advancing the "Three Systems" construction, completing the adjustment of research departments, research offices, editorial offices, and disciplinary personnel, further strengthening the construction of disciplinary platforms and brands, and striving to enhance academic, ideological, and influential power; third, focusing on key projects to produce high-quality flagship results, fulfilling tasks assigned by the Central Committee and the CASS Leading Party Members’ Group, and completing significant institute-level research tasks; fourth, continuously creating an upgraded version of the Innovation Project [7] and integrating innovation items; fifth, strengthening think tank construction to provide policy advice and recommendations; sixth, effectively managing the research centers for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and World Socialism, and improving the staffing of the coordination offices of the "Three Offices" [8]; seventh, enhancing the work of journals, networks, and yearbooks, with a rigorous focus on the quality of articles and editing; eighth, strengthening internal development by refining various work systems, using more complete and mature systems to manage personnel and affairs, reinforcing disciplinary enforcement, and building a clean, upright, united, harmonious, and strong political organ; and ninth, ensuring effective logistics support, work related to the Trade Union, Youth League, and Women’s Federation, and services for retired cadres.
The meeting emphasized that the IMS must follow the requirements of a "political organ," taking a clear-cut political stand, enhancing awareness of discipline and responsibility, and strictly observing the Party's disciplines, especially political discipline and political rules. It must earnestly implement the relevant decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the CASS Leading Party Members’ Group, striving to write a new chapter of Marxist research in the New Era. The meeting specifically emphasized the need to double our appreciation for the healthy atmosphere of Marxist research and to jointly safeguard the reputation of the Marxist theoretical community and the IMS.
The meeting also announced the list of winners for the 10th (2019) CASS Outstanding Research Achievement Award and the CASS Outstanding Policy Advice Information Award. It called upon researchers, especially young researchers, to produce more flagship results, continuously improve the quality of scientific research, and strive for higher awards to win more honors for the IMS.
(Contributed by the Party Office of the Institute of Marxism Studies)