Theoretical Seminar Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and Studying the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee Held at Soochow University
In order to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee [1], and to review and summarize the developmental course, major achievements, and experiential enlightenments of the various undertakings of the Party and the state since the founding of New China, a theoretical symposium was held on November 2 at the Tiancizhuang Campus of Soochow University. The symposium, titled "Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee," was jointly hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Soochow University. It was co-organized by several institutions, including the National Training Base for Ideological and Political Theory Course Teachers in Colleges and Universities (Soochow University) of the Ministry of Education, the Soochow University Base of the Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Jiangsu Provincial Alliance of Marxist Theory Disciplines, the Soochow University Federation of Philosophy and Social Sciences, the National Studio for Renowned Teachers of Ideological and Political Courses (Soochow University), the Alliance of Schools of Marxism in Suzhou-based Higher Education Institutions, the Department of Sinicization of Marxism Research of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS), the School of Marxism of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation of CASS, and the School of Marxism of Soochow University.
Luo Wendong, Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS); Luo Yuting, former Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Wuhan University and Convener of the State Council's Marxism Theory Discipline Review Group; Zhou Jiuhua, Second-Level Inspector of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education; Ye Meilan, Chairperson of the Jiangsu Provincial Graduate Education Steering Committee for Philosophy, Law, and History and President of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications; Huang Ximing, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal Press and Publication Bureau (Copyright Bureau); and Deng Min, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Soochow University, attended the meeting. Experts, scholars, and doctoral and master's student representatives from the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS), Renmin University of China, Peking University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, Beijing Normal University, and other universities and research institutes participated in the conference. The opening ceremony was presided over by Sun Jianhua, Dean of the School of Marxism at Soochow University.
Deng Min expressed his gratitude to the leaders and experts for their long-standing concern and support for the university's development, and introduced the achievements of the university and the School of Marxism in terms of institutional history, talent cultivation, and disciplinary construction. He pointed out that this symposium aims to promote the deep and substantive study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee by reviewing and summarizing the magnificent developmental course of the Party and the state since the founding of New China. He expressed hope that by building a high-level platform for academic exchange, the symposium would promote the collision of ideas and the fusion of wisdom among experts from different fields, further stimulating innovative vitality and contributing wisdom and strength to further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization.
Luo Wendong noted in his speech that this symposium is of great significance for promoting the Marxist academic community’s in-depth and systematic research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the implementation of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He emphasized that Marxist theoretical workers must continuously enhance their sense of mission, responsibility, and commitment to achieve high-quality results in researching and solving major issues concerning the overall, fundamental, and key interests of the Party and the state. He urged for strengthened research into the historical experience and internal regularities of comprehensively deepening reform, the major principles and practical paths of reform, and the academic and systematic framework of reform. This is intended to contribute to the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism [2] and serve the broader interests of economic and social development.
Ye Meilan stated in her speech that the symposium focuses on the discussion of "further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization" proposed in the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. She noted that the theme is prominent and the topics are rich, occurring at just the right time and in step with the current overall momentum [3]. Under the guidance of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session, she suggested that the new journey should focus on four areas: "deepening theoretical study, strengthening curriculum construction, promoting practical innovation, and cultivating high-quality talents." This aims to better study, research, and implement the spirit of the session, jointly enhance the educational effects of ideological and political courses, and continuously consolidate disciplinary achievements to contribute more to the cultivation of builders and successors of socialism in the New Era.
Zhou Jiuhua spoke highly of the significance of the symposium. He pointed out that it is an urgent need for studying the spirit of the Third Plenary Session and an important measure for pooling wisdom to explore effective paths for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization. He offered three points on how the Jiangsu provincial education system should study and publicize the spirit: first, to increase political standing and align thoughts and actions with the decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee; second, to persist in systems thinking and coordinate the integrated reform of the organizational mechanisms for education, technology, and talent; and third, to focus on upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in the research and interpretation of the session's spirit. He expressed hope that Soochow University would use this symposium as an opportunity to continue its exemplary leading role, accelerate development, and achieve new and greater results.
The keynote report session was presided over by Li Nan, Professor and Party Branch Secretary of the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Luo Wendong and Luo Yuting delivered keynote reports titled "Theoretical Innovation and Guiding Significance of the 'Decision' of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee" and "Deeply Advancing Chinese-path Modernization and Vigorously Developing Modern Productive Forces," respectively.
Luo Wendong delivered his report online, providing a detailed analysis of the main theme, core essence, and spiritual substance of the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization adopted at the Third Plenary Session. He analyzed the theoretical innovations and guiding significance of the Decision in a manner that made profound concepts accessible.
Luo Yuting pointed out in his report that vigorously developing modern productive forces is the fundamental task of advancing Chinese-path modernization. It is an inherent requirement of adhering to a people-centered approach and the supremacy of the people, the core essence of achieving high-quality development, and the key to constructing a support system for comprehensive innovation. He argued it must be pushed forward unswervingly to lay a solid foundation for Chinese-path modernization and create a new situation of national prosperity and people's well-being.
The first stage of the thematic reports was presided over by Peng Pingping, Chief of the First Editorial Department of the Fourth Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee and Executive Editor of the journal Marxism & Reality, and Wang Jin, Executive Editor of Contemporary World and Socialism and Researcher at the Institute of Party History and Literature. Twelve experts delivered reports on topics ranging from "Major Achievements of Cultural Construction in the New Era" and "Chinese-path Modernization and the Chinese Logic of Historical Materialism" to "The Evolution from Reform to Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform as a Continuation of Social Revolution."
The second stage of thematic reports was presided over by Wu Ling, Standing Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Jiangsu Social Sciences, and Liu Chuanqing, Director of the Commentaries and Theory Department of Xinhua Daily. Twelve experts discussed topics including "Chinese-path Modernization and Institutional Civilization," "Research on Theoretical and Practical Issues of the High-Quality Development of Party Building over 75 Years," and "The Analysis of Realization Conditions for the Party's Self-Revolution."
The third stage was presided over by Wang Haobin, Executive Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nanjing University (Philosophy, Humanities, and Social Sciences), and Bi Suhua, Editor-in-Chief of Academic Ocean (Xuehai). Six experts delivered reports on subjects such as the "Unique 'Six Perspectives' Contained in Chinese-path Modernization," "Methodology of Xi Jinping’s Comprehensively Deepening Reform," and the "Inherent Logic of Maintaining Historical Patience."
The paper exchange session was presided over by Shi Shuanshuan, responsible editor of Jiangsu Social Sciences. Four authors, including Professor Hu Ying of Sun Yat-sen University and doctoral students from Renmin University and Wuhan University, shared their research.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Zhu Rongrong, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Soochow University. The host announced the list of award-winning papers and presented certificates. The symposium received nearly 300 papers from across the country, with 226 selected for inclusion. The review committee selected 5 Grand Prizes, 20 First Prizes, and 25 Second Prizes.
Finally, He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Sinicization of Marxism Research at the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS), and Sun Jianhua, Dean of the School of Marxism at Soochow University, delivered concluding remarks. They stated that the symposium showcased multi-level and multi-dimensional research results of Marxist theoretical experts on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, representing a gathering of theoretical innovation, fresh perspectives, and a fusion of wisdom.
During the meeting, provincial and municipal leaders of Jiangsu and Suzhou, including Zhou Jiuhua and Huang Ximing, held in-depth exchanges with university officials regarding the construction of the School of Marxism and provided valuable guidance.
This symposium served as an in-depth exploration of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It clarified the path for Schools of Marxism in various universities to be guided by the Party's innovative theories in the New Era, grounded in the great practice of the New Era, and to continuously promote reform and innovation in theoretical research. It also built a bridge for experts, scholars, and young students to exchange new ideas and broaden their horizons. Participating units will further strengthen cooperation and exchange to deepen the research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories, providing theoretical support and practical paths for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization.