Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Leads a Delegation to Spain and Portugal for Academic Exchanges
From June 17 to June 24, 2024, Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led a delegation to Spain and Portugal for academic exchanges. The delegation included researchers Sun Yinshuai, Zhang Jian, and Zeng Xiankui, and assistant researcher Lou Yu, all from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
From June 17 to 20, the group conducted academic exchanges in Spain, holding symposiums with institutions and scholars related to contemporary Chinese studies, left-wing think tanks, and the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). The discussions focused on investigating the current developmental status of overseas contemporary Chinese studies, how to "tell the China story well" [1], the development of left-wing political parties, and the developmental trends of contemporary world socialism.
The group visited the East Asian Studies Centers at the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Complutense University of Madrid to learn about the teaching and library collections related to contemporary Chinese studies. Associate Professor Lin Yue of the Autonomous University of Madrid lectures on courses related to China's economy and society and China’s overseas investment. Associate Professor Luo Huiling of the Complutense University of Madrid lectures on modern and contemporary Chinese culture and introduces political and cultural exchanges between China and the West. Both scholars have long been engaged in the external translation of Chinese academic works and actively disseminate Chinese culture in Spain. The group held symposiums with Lin Yue and Luo Huiling to discuss overseas Sinology [2], the perceptions of contemporary China among Spanish academics and the public, and the dissemination and reception of contemporary Chinese publications in Spain. They also exchanged views on strengthening the "telling of the China story well" to external audiences, the construction of an external discourse system [3], and enhancing the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The group held a symposium with Marcelo Muñoz, President of the renowned Spanish Chinese-studies think tank "Cátedra China" (知华讲堂), and Marta Montoro, Director of Institutional Relations, regarding how to tell the China story well in Europe. Marcelo Muñoz founded "Cátedra China" in 2012; this think tank is composed of scholars, entrepreneurs, and former politicians engaged in the study of Chinese politics and economy and cooperation with China, serving as an important platform for various sectors in Spain to understand China. The "Cátedra China" foundation highly identifies with the Chinese model of political, economic, and social development, playing an active role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and deepening civilizational exchange and mutual learning.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Muñoz with books including the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping on "The Belt and Road" and the English edition of The New Era Through Overseas Eyes.)
The group held a symposium with Marga Ferré, Co-President of the think tank "transform! europe," focusing on the current developmental status and challenges facing the European left and world socialism. "transform! europe" is a network of left-wing think tanks bringing together 39 organizations from 23 countries, aiming to promote peaceful relations between peoples and transformation in the contemporary world.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Marga Ferré with the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, the English edition of The New Era Through Overseas Eyes, and the journal Studies on World Socialism.)
The group met with Marta Martín Morán, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Spain and a scholar at the PCE’s "Belt and Road" Research and Work Center. They discussed the development of the Spanish Communist Party, the PCE's recent achievements related to contemporary Chinese studies, and how to strengthen Spain's understanding and research of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Marta Martín Morán is primarily responsible for the PCE's international relations. In November 2023, she was invited alongside the PCE President, José Luis Centella, to participate in the World Socialism Forum.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Marta Martín Morán with the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, the Spanish edition of A Brief History of the Communist Party of China, and the journal Studies on World Socialism.)
The group held a symposium with the prominent China expert Pablo Rovetta on how to tell the China story well. Rovetta has made outstanding contributions to disseminating Chinese culture in Spanish-speaking countries, introducing contemporary China, and promoting civilizational exchange and mutual learning between China and foreign countries. In 2016, Rovetta was awarded the Civil Merit Order of the Kingdom of Spain. This medal is a government award signed and conferred by King Felipe VI to recognize Rovetta's outstanding contributions to promoting Spanish culture and cultural exchanges between China and Spanish-speaking countries. In 2020, the first volume of Rovetta's "Chinese Memory Trilogy" was published, recording his daily life studying, working, and living in China through a sincere, documentary style, depicting the historic changes and great achievements that have occurred in China over recent decades.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Pablo Rovetta with books including the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.)
From June 21 to 22, the group conducted academic exchanges in Portugal, holding symposiums with contemporary Chinese studies scholars and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) on telling the China story well, enhancing China's overseas image, and the current status and developmental trends of the PCP.
Accompanied by Professor Antônio dos Santos Queirós of the University of Lisbon, the group visited the University of Lisbon Library, the Confucius Institute, and the School of Arts and Humanities, focusing on library documents related to Chinese studies.
The group held a symposium with Professor Antônio dos Santos Queirós. Queirós highlighted his primary achievements related to contemporary Chinese studies and recounted his experiences struggling against anti-China and "China-smearing" public opinion through writing academic papers, participating in international conferences, and accepting interviews. He also offered suggestions on how to better promote Chinese propositions, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese solutions [4], and how to promote academic exchange between China and foreign countries. For decades, Queirós has actively promoted the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the economic, political, social, and ecological fields. He founded the Portugal-China Association for Cooperation and Development, gathering people who know and are friendly toward China, making active contributions to telling the China story well and establishing a good image of China overseas.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Queirós with the Portuguese edition of Xi Jinping on "The Belt and Road" and the English edition of The New Era Through Overseas Eyes.)
The group visited the headquarters of the Portuguese Communist Party. Accompanied by comrades from the PCP's International Affairs Department, they toured an exhibition on the history of the PCP and a bookstore for left-wing publications under the PCP, learning about the PCP’s developmental history and the publication and dissemination of Marxist classics in Portugal.
The group held a symposium with Albano Nunes, member of the PCP Central Cadre Commission, member of the PCP Central Control Commission, and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Militante!; Francisco Melo, member of the PCP Central Control Commission and Director of Edições "Avante!" and "Página a Página" publishers; and Luís Carapinha, member of the Executive Committee of the PCP International Affairs Department. They exchanged views on the current status and developmental trends of the PCP, the challenges facing European left-wing parties, the CPC's experience in governance, and the Sinicization of Marxism.
(Vice President Yu Haiqing presented the PCP scholars with Portuguese editions of Xi Jinping on "The Belt and Road" and Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.)
Vice President Yu Haiqing led the delegation in friendly discussions with think tanks, left-wing scholars, and Communist Party members in Spain and Portugal who know and are friendly toward China. They actively promoted Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and reached several consensuses on conducting academic exchange and cooperation, successfully completing the mission.
(Text and photos by Lou Yu)