Yu Haiqing, Deputy Dean of the Academy of Marxism, Leads a Delegation to Brazil and Uruguay for Academic Exchanges
From November 3 to 11, 2024, a delegation led by Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), visited Brazil and Uruguay for academic exchanges. The delegation included Lou Yu, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies.
During the visit to Brazil, the delegation held symposiums with the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and several of its affiliated institutions, as well as scholars of contemporary Chinese studies, and participated in academic seminars.
In Rio de Janeiro, the delegation visited Evandro De Carvalho, a professor at the Faculty of Law of the Fluminense Federal University. Carvalho has long been committed to contemporary Chinese studies and was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award for his outstanding contributions to promoting cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. In 2023, the Brazilian National Congress awarded Carvalho the "China-Brazil Southern Cross [1]," and the Portuguese edition of China Today, for which he serves as executive editor, won the "China-Brazil Journalism Award" in recognition of the magazine's contribution to telling the "true story of China" and promoting cultural exchange between the two countries. The delegation held in-depth discussions with Carvalho on topics such as promoting bilateral academic dialogue, working together to tell China’s story well, and enhancing the "going global" of Chinese academia. Carvalho introduced the characteristics and trends of contemporary Chinese studies in Brazil in recent years, noting that research and publicity regarding the Communist Party of China's (CPC) governance, China's socialist practice, and Chinese-path modernization should be increased to help the Latin American academic community and the general public understand the reasons behind the "Chinese miracle." He argued that the Brazilian academic community should strengthen exchange and cooperation with the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, which would help improve the dissemination and influence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Brazil.
In São Paulo, the delegation held a symposium with Walter Sorrentino, Vice President of the Communist Party of Brazil, and others. Sorrentino stated that the PCdoB looks forward to carrying out a series of cooperative projects with the Institute of Marxism Studies, such as jointly organizing seminars focusing on the development of 21st-century Marxism, the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; translating books on the history of the CPC and the PCdoB as well as works by important theorists; and strengthening cooperation between journals in the field of Marxist research. Vice President Yu Haiqing responded positively to Vice President Sorrentino's proposals, stating that the Institute would earnestly explore how to cooperate with the thinkers, journals, and publishing houses affiliated with the PCdoB. Through cooperation and exchange between Latin American left-wing parties and academic circles, they aim to strengthen mutual understanding and mutual learning [2], jointly contributing to the development of 21st-century Marxism and world socialism.
On November 8, the delegation attended the "Seminar on the Theory and Practice of Chinese-path Modernization and the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Brazil," hosted by the Mauricio Grabois Foundation. Experts from relevant Chinese and Brazilian think tanks and media representatives held in-depth discussions on topics such as the new opportunities provided by the path of Chinese-path modernization for Latin American countries, the promotion of the "Six Perspectives" [3] theory of Chinese-path modernization in overseas dissemination, and the collaborative construction of a China-Latin America civilization academic network. Vice President Yu Haiqing delivered a keynote speech. She emphasized that the seminar is of great significance for promoting academic dialogue between China and Latin America and for strengthening the theoretical and practical exploration of the modernization path by countries in the Global South. Associate Research Fellow Lou Yu served as the moderator of the seminar and shared insights on how to tell the story of Chinese-path modernization through academic translation, based on her experience translating the Six Perspectives on Chinese-path Modernization series.
The delegation also held talks with Altair Freitas, Director of the João Amazonas National Training School affiliated with the PCdoB, exchanging views on institutional cooperation, strengthening academic exchange, and increasing the Brazilian academic community's understanding of the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism. Additionally, the delegation met with the "Brasil 247" news website to discuss how to introduce and disseminate contemporary China to Latin American countries and how to present a "true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic China."
The delegation met with José Carvalho, President of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace (CEBRAPAZ), to exchange views on China-Brazil relations, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Latin America, and the Global South and the geopolitical landscape. José Carvalho stated that the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi is of great epochal significance, and that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has provided new opportunities for Brazil's development and modernization process, playing a positive role in promoting connectivity and sustainable development in Latin America.
To better understand the history of the PCdoB, the delegation visited Niterói, the birthplace of the party, and went to the Anita Garibaldi Bookstore, a famous left-wing bookstore in Brazil. They learned about the publication and dissemination of classic Marxist works in Brazil, the historical documents of the PCdoB, and the status of books published in Brazil concerning contemporary China, while also purchasing a selection of titles.
In Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, the delegation held a symposium with Juan Castillo, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU). Castillo introduced the current development status and challenges facing the PCU. He stated that the PCU fully recognizes the importance of strengthening the study and research of the history of the CPC, the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and is preparing a team to carry out relevant research. He considered the visit of the Institute of Marxism Studies delegation to be "very important and very timely." The Spanish editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road, A Short History of the Communist Party of China, and A Short History of the People's Republic of China (1949–2019) presented by Vice President Yu Haiqing provided the PCU with a substantial "academic gift," helping them better understand the CPC and grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The delegation also held a symposium with Ana Olivera, President of the House of Representatives of Uruguay, at the Legislative Palace. Olivera, who previously served as the Mayor of Montevideo and Vice Minister of Social Development, has visited China many times. She introduced the exchanges between Uruguay and China in recent years and shared her observations and reflections from her several inspection tours to China. She stated that the effectiveness of the CPC's governance, the speed of China's modernization, and the breadth of its benefits left a deep impression on her. She suggested that the left-wing coalition "Frente Amplio" (Broad Front) is highly likely to win the Uruguayan general election, which would further promote exchange and cooperation between Uruguay and China in various fields.
Vice President Yu Haiqing led the delegation in friendly symposiums with think tanks, left-wing scholars, and communist party members in Brazil and Uruguay. These activities enhanced the understanding of the political participation, party building, and relations with other Latin American communist parties of the PCdoB and PCU, and deepened the perception of the characteristics and trends of contemporary Chinese studies in Brazilian and Uruguayan academic circles. The delegation actively promoted Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and reached several consensuses on conducting bilateral academic exchanges and cooperation, successfully completing the visiting mission.