The Ninth International Forum on Socialism Successfully Held
On September 12, 2022, the 9th International Forum on Socialism, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Lao Academy of Economic and Social Sciences, and organized by the International Cooperation Bureau of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, was held concurrently in Hanoi and Beijing via video conference. The theme of the forum was "Socialist Development Models in the New Era: Theory and Practice." Over ten experts and scholars from China, Vietnam, and Laos conducted in-depth discussions focused on three topics: "Theoretical Issues of Socialist Development Models," "Practical Issues of Socialist Development Models," and "International Perspectives on Socialist Development Models."
At the opening ceremony, Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences—the host of this forum—noted in his speech that the socialist development model is the core content of socialist construction. It embodies the basic principles of scientific socialism while taking into account the specific national conditions of various countries. The socialist development models of China, Vietnam, and Laos have achieved brilliant successes in their respective economic, political, cultural, and social fields, contributing increasing material and spiritual value to the common development of humanity today. While continuing to supplement and develop Marxist-Leninist theories on socialism, socialist countries must also continuously explore and create new methods and measures that fit their specific historical conditions to drive the success of socialism, ensuring the universality of the socialist path on a global scale.
Zhen Zhanmin, Vice President of CASS, pointed out in his speech that since the beginning of the 21st century, socialist countries, under the leadership of Marxist ruling parties, have formed socialist development models with distinct characteristics through the autonomous exploration of the laws of socialist development. In recent years, with the deepening of the new round of reform measures and the implementation of various new policies, socialist countries have generally entered a period of stable development in the construction of their institutional systems, opening a new historical stage of concentrating forces to build socialism suited to their national conditions. Under the global landscape of "strong capital and weak socialism" [1], the development of socialist countries will still face a highly complex international environment, risks, challenges, and political pressures. Strengthening the exchange and mutual learning of development models and experiences among socialist countries helps them enhance strategic confidence and optimize strategic foresight, thereby more firmly advancing the process of socialist modernization aimed at national prosperity and people's happiness.
Khamlaied Keobounphanh, Vice President of the Lao Academy of Economic and Social Sciences, noted in his speech that in the face of globalization challenges and a complex international situation, Laos, which is in the transitional stage of socialism, must follow the socialist path and promote sustainable and green economic and social development. Laos should strengthen the exchange and summation of theoretical research and practical experience with other socialist countries to find a suitable model for achieving the goals and aspirations of socialist construction for the Lao People's Democratic Republic in the New Era.
Professor Pham Van Duc, former Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out in his presentation titled "New Understandings of Vietnam's Socialist Development Model in the Documents of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam" that scientific socialism remains valuable, but this theory must be creatively applied to Vietnamese practice to find a new model suitable for Vietnam's realities. From the perspective of the target system, the overall goal of the Vietnamese socialist model is a "rich people, strong country, democratic, equitable, and civilized" society. To achieve this, Vietnam’s specific measures include developing a knowledge economy and promoting national industrialization and modernization; developing a socialist-oriented market economy; building an advanced culture rich in national identity; building the people and improving their living standards to achieve social progress and equity; firmly guaranteeing national defense, security, and social order; pursuing an independent and autonomous foreign policy characterized by multilateralization and diversification of external relations, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, and proactive international integration; and building socialist democratic politics while harnessing the power of great national unity. Although the issue of Vietnam's socialist model is frequently supplemented and refined, it still requires further exploration and clarification in theory and practice. Constructing and refining the perspective on Vietnam's socialist model is not only about defining targets clearly, correctly, and completely, but also the basis for determining methods and measures to firmly implement these goals.
Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Party Committee Secretary of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, noted in his keynote presentation "The Scientific Connotation and Practical Significance of the Basic Principles of Scientific Socialism" that the basic principles of scientific socialism are the profound roots of the prosperity of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the inexhaustible source of its long history. The basic principles of scientific socialism are not dogmas but a guide and method for action. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has elaborated on these principles many times. They can be summarized into nine aspects: organizing social production on the basis of public ownership of the means of production; conducting organized and purposeful regulation of social production; implementing the principle of "distribution according to work" [2] in the first stage of socialism and "distribution according to need" in the higher stage; transforming and utilizing nature in accordance with natural laws; achieving the free and well-rounded development of every individual; ensuring the proletarian party maintains its advanced nature, purity, and morality; reaching a very high level of civilization in the future society; achieving common prosperity for the entire society; and maintaining a powerful proletarian state power. Persisting in the basic principles of scientific socialism requires making the Communist Party of China increasingly stronger. We must continue to deepen our understanding of these basic principles on the basis of adhering to them, while constantly enriching and developing them.
Dr. Khampheng Thipmuntali, Director of the Social Research Institute of the Lao Academy of Economic and Social Sciences, noted in his presentation "Theoretical Issues Needing Reconsideration and Transcendence in the Theory of Socialist Development Models" that to achieve social transformation and the goal of building a beautiful new society, ruling parties must establish a theoretical foundation that meets three basic requirements: satisfying the development needs of the broad masses, conforming to the trends of the times, and answering practical questions. On the basis of a profound understanding of Marxism-Leninism and the absorption of Kaysone Phomvihane Thought [3], the Lao People's Revolutionary Party has formulated specific goals and guidelines for economic, cultural, and social development, as well as national defense, diplomacy, the political system, and Party building suited to the practice of each stage, which have been consolidated and supplemented in successive Party Congresses.
Associate Professor Luong Dinh Hai of the Institute of Anthropology at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences mentioned in his presentation "Theory and Practice of Current Vietnamese Socialism: Models and Characteristics" that socialism must always maintain a spirit of criticism and innovation, selectively absorbing and supplementing the latest achievements of thought and science. This ensures that socialism and its doctrines maintain fresh vitality, constantly add new vigor, and are imbued with the spirit of the times, preventing them from becoming rigid, stagnant, or falling behind practice.
Researcher Gong Yun, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, pointed out in his keynote presentation "Great Importance Must Be Attached to Developing the Rural Collective Economy in the New Era" that developing the rural collective economy in the New Era is related to the common prosperity of Chinese farmers, their adherence to the socialist road, and the realization of rural revitalization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Developing the rural collective economy in the New Era is an important and urgent task for rural revitalization, requiring effective paths and measures: strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership over the development of the rural collective economy, developing it with a spirit of reform and innovation, leveraging the mainstream role of primary-level Party organizations in the countryside, and cultivating a large workforce for its development. We should place importance on the development of the rural collective economy from the height of its relationship to the socialist road and common prosperity, pushing for a "second leap" in socialist agriculture [4] and ensuring rural revitalization is achieved as scheduled.
Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, pointed out in his keynote presentation "The Scientific Judgment and Evolutionary Logic of Contemporary China's Historical Orientation and Development Stage" that the Communist Party of China has made major judgments from different dimensions: that China is still in the primary stage of socialism, that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, and that our country has entered a new development stage. These judgments fully embody a correct grasp of the dialectical unity of continuity and stage-specific nature, and of quantitative and qualitative change in contemporary Chinese social development, driving the development of contemporary Chinese society in accordance with objective laws through a great spirit of historical initiative. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has continued to emphasize that our country is in and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism, while making the major judgment that "socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era." The important basis for this is that the principal contradiction in our society has evolved from the contradiction between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production, to the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development.
Associate Professor Nguyen Ngoc Ha of the Institute of Philosophy at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences noted in the presentation "New Understandings of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Socialism and the Transitional Period toward Socialism in Vietnam" that the current understanding of the CPV regarding socialism and the transitional period has gained new content compared to before 1986 [5].
Khammanh Siphanxay, Executive Director of the Institute of History and Archaeology at the Lao Academy of Economic and Social Sciences, argued in his presentation "Achievements and Challenges in the Process of Practicing the Socialist Development Model in Laos" that socialist construction in Laos and for all of humanity still faces many obstacles. In the context of globalization, multipolarity, and multilateral cooperation, countries need to exchange, cooperate, and learn from each other's experiences to promote the further development of socialist models in various countries, contributing to the maintenance of regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Pan Jin’e, Director of the International Communist Movement Research Department at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, pointed out in her presentation "New Developments in World Socialism and the International Communist Movement in 2021-2022" that the dynamics of the international communist movement and world socialism in 2021 were composed of several major events. First was the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, where the brilliant achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics won praise from countries worldwide. Second was that four foreign socialist countries [6] held new terms of Party Congresses, actively fighting the pandemic and promoting economic and social development. Third was that non-ruling Communist Parties persisted in struggles both within and outside parliaments, making adaptive adjustments to seek space for survival and development. At the same time, Communist Parties and Marxist scholars worldwide reviewed the historical experiences and lessons of the Paris Commune and the collapse of the Soviet Union, revisiting the revolutionary thoughts of early revolutionaries in the international communist movement to learn from history and address current challenges. In 2022, the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war increased the risk of imperialism launching wars, and the international communist movement faces new shocks. However, the magnificent centenary history of the CPC will inspire Communist Parties worldwide to remain firm in their direction and continue toward a brilliant future.
Dr. Dao Thi Minh Thao, assistant researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, summarized in her presentation "Vietnam after 35 Years of Doi Moi under Socialist Orientation" the overall changes in six aspects of Vietnam's national construction over the past 35 years: implementing national industrialization and modernization, developing a socialist-oriented market economy, cultural and human development, implementing democracy and social equity, building a socialist state governed by law, executing a progressive foreign policy line, and building a pure and strong Party. After thirty-five years of Doi Moi, the characteristics of the Vietnamese socialist model have become more distinct. Some inadequacies remain in Vietnamese socialism, such as the gap between the rich and the poor, the relatively slow process of industrialization and modernization, and corruption and waste. In the process of building socialism, Vietnam must continue to study, summarize, and learn from the experiences and lessons of various countries and strengthen exchanges with them.
He Qin, associate researcher at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), delivered a presentation titled "New Progress in the Updating of the Cuban Socialist Model from the Perspective of the Eighth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba." He pointed out that since the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in 2011, the updating of Cuba's socio-economic model has advanced steadily. The new Cuban Constitution adopted in 2019 further consolidated Cuba's socialist system and clarified Cuba's socio-economic development plan looking toward 2030. At the Eighth Congress of the PCC, it was emphasized that the updating of the Cuban socio-economic model must adhere to socialist principles and direction, while reflecting upon and criticizing the overall stagnation of the model's updates. Under the dual trials of the blockade and the pandemic, the Cuban people, under the leadership of the PCC, have continuously deepened the updating of the economic model through measures such as monetary consolidation, reform of state-owned enterprises, and promoting the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. They have strengthened the guarantee of people's livelihoods and epidemic prevention and control, while actively expanding diversified diplomacy and international cooperation.
Phonphaxay Khambanya, Executive Director of the Institute of Political Science at the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES), stated in a presentation titled "On the Relationship Between Socialist Development Models in Various Countries: Current Realities of Development in Laos" that Laos will continue to strive for the consistent care and support of socialist countries, especially the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam which border Laos. He noted that Laos would continue to comprehensively deepen relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Cuba to enhance the role and status of socialism amidst the current intricate and increasingly contradictory world situation.
Nguyen Thi Tham, Director of the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), argued in her presentation "Innovation in the Socialist Economic Management System of North Korea" [7] that the DPRK has utilized new economic management mechanisms to adjust the role of the state in the centrally planned economy. This has improved the autonomy and creativity of enterprises and individuals engaged in economic activities regarding price determination, product selection, and profit management.
Xun Shouxiao, assistant researcher at the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, pointed out in a presentation titled "Evolution and New Developments in the Guiding Ideology of the Workers' Party of Korea" that Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism is the sole guiding ideology of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Kim Jong Un has further developed Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, answering the question of "how to build North Korean-style socialism." The most important point is summarizing its essence as "the people-masses-first principle" [8], a political concept that regards the masses as the masters of revolution and construction, relying on them and serving them selflessly. In the report to the Eighth Congress of the WPK held in 2021, Kim Jong Un clearly pointed out that the DPRK has entered a "new era of development," namely the era of "our-state-first principle." He argued that the victories achieved through tenacious struggle in the five years since the Seventh Congress of the WPK possess a specific characteristic: they have opened a new era of development, the era of "our-state-first principle," which is also a new era of self-existence and prosperity.
Researcher Pan Jine, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement (DICM) at the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS; Professor Pham Van Duc, former Vice President of VASS; and Khamlaxy Chivaphon, Vice President of LASES, respectively chaired the discussions for each session. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of VASS, delivered the closing remarks. Over one hundred experts and scholars from Vietnam, Laos, and China participated in the online conference. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences will host the 10th International Socialist Forum in 2023.