Symposium of the National Forum of Deans of Marxism Schools: "A Century of Glory of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization" Held
On December 12, 2021, the National Forum of Deans of Marxism Special Symposium was convened in Beijing and Fuzhou. The theme of the forum was "The Century of Glory of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization." This forum was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Fujian Normal University, and organized by the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University. It was co-organized by the journals Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), World Socialism Studies (Shijie shehuizhuyi yanjiu), and Theory and Criticism (Lilun yu pinglun). The meeting was held through a combination of online and offline formats. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Jiang Hui, Vice President and Member of the Leading Party Members’ Group [1] of CASS, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies; Liu Weize, Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee; Lin Weifen, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Vice Chairperson of the Fujian Provincial Federation of Social Sciences; Professor Pan Yuteng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Fujian Normal University; and Liu Xiaoxin, Vice President of the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences. Jiang Hui, Pan Yuteng, and Liu Weize delivered speeches respectively. The opening ceremony was presided over by Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, and Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Jiang Hui Delivers a Speech
In his speech, Jiang Hui pointed out that the National Forum of Deans of Marxism Special Symposium is an important academic activity organized by CASS in collaboration with the higher education front. Its purpose is to deeply study, comprehend, research, and interpret the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee [2], and to conduct in-depth discussions on the major theoretical and practical issues raised in the Resolution [3] of the Plenary Session. The forum aims to exert active efforts and contribute wisdom to promoting the Party's theoretical innovation and the continued development of contemporary Chinese Marxism and twenty-first-century Marxism. Jiang Hui noted that this forum focuses on two major topics—the "Century of Glory of the CPC" and "Chinese Modernization." These topics possess profound implications and a high standing, and will certainly help us, guided by the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, to summarize experience, draw strength and wisdom, and build ideological consensus from a century of historical glory to promote theoretical innovation. Jiang Hui requested that experts and scholars: first, deeply study the major achievements and historical experience of our Party's century of struggle, drawing historical wisdom, strengthening historical confidence, and becoming full of the power to move forward; second, deeply study the significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in achieving a new historical leap in the Sinicization of Marxism, its important position in the history of the development of Marxism, and its original contributions to the development of 21st-century Marxism; third, deeply study the major significance of the CPC's creation of the Chinese-path modernization and the creation of a new form of human civilization, along with its immense contributions to the history of the development of human society and the progress of human civilization.
Pan Yuteng Delivers a Speech Liu Weize Delivers a Speech
Pan Yuteng pointed out in his speech that this symposium fully reflects the political consciousness of the national Marxist theoretical community to promote the deep and substantive study and implementation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the academic consciousness to assist in the construction of a great modern socialist country, and the practical consciousness to shoulder the mission of "casting the soul and educating people" [4] and "providing governance counseling and educating people." Liu Weize noted in his speech that Fujian is an important place where Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was nurtured and practiced. He expressed hope that experts and scholars would assist Fujian in properly researching, interpreting, and publicizing this contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism.
Xin Xiangyang Presides
Following the opening ceremony, four scholars delivered keynote reports: Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS and Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Sun Bangzhu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Peking University; Professor Xiao Guiqing, Executive Vice Dean of the Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Tsinghua University; and Professor Tao Wenzhao, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China. Subsequently, fourteen heads of National Key Schools of Marxism, including Professors Liu Tongfang, Luo Yongkuan, Wang Shuqin, Liu Fengyi, Yan Lianfu, Li Ran, Liu Lvhong, Zhang Shihai, Hong Xiaonan, Pang Lisheng, Hu Daping, Cai Wencheng, Lin Jinping, and Wu Hongzheng, delivered thematic speeches.
The keynote report session was presided over by Professor Li Jianping, former President of Fujian Normal University and Director of the National Research Center of Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics (Fujian Normal University). Experts conducted in-depth discussions on what constitutes the power source for the CPC's theoretical innovation, the dialectical relationship between the new development pattern [5] and Chinese-path modernization, what kind of correct path to take to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and how to write a perfect answer to the major tasks of the New Era. Li Jianping provided commentary on the experts' reports. The thematic speech sessions were respectively presided over and critiqued by Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS and Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Zheng Chuanfang, Director of the Fujian Provincial Teaching Steering Committee for Ideological and Political Theory Courses; and Professor Zhang Youkui, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Xiamen University. Using the research and interpretation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee as the main thread, the experts expressed their views on important issues such as the new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism, the century-long history of the CPC, Party building, and the path of Chinese-path modernization. The closing ceremony was presided over by Zhang Aimin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University. Research Fellow Gong Yun, Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, and Professor Fu Huifang, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University, delivered closing remarks on behalf of the host organizations.
Group Photo of Participating Scholars in Beijing Group Photo of Participating Scholars in Fuzhou
The participating experts unanimously agreed that, at a time when the whole Party and the people of the entire country are deeply studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the convening of the National Forum of Deans of Marxism Special Symposium on "The Century of Glory of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization" is timely and of profound significance. The exchanges and discussions at this forum were in-depth and enthusiastic, deepening the understanding and grasp of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session, deepening the research and interpretation of the major significance of the CPC's creation of the Chinese-path modernization and the new form of human civilization, and deepening the ties and exchanges among Schools of Marxism nationwide. It plays a positive role in promoting the prosperity and development of contemporary Marxist theoretical research and the construction of a community of Schools of Marxism across the country.
It is reported that this symposium was attended by more than 200 experts and scholars from nearly 100 universities and research institutes nationwide, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, CASS, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, and Nankai University, as well as representatives from important academic journals such as Marxism Studies, World Socialism Studies, Southeast Academic (Dongnan xueshu), Fujian Forum (Fujian luntan), and the Journal of Fujian Normal University (Fujian shifan daxue xuebao).