CASS Academy of Marxism and Zhejiang University of Technology Jointly Host the 12th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
To deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session [1], deepen the research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and profoundly grasp its internal logic and core tenets, the 12th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was held in Hangzhou from June 6 to 8, 2025. This forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Zhejiang University of Technology (ZJUT). It was co-organized by the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (IMS-CASS), the School of Marxism at ZJUT, and the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The forum was one of the series of activities for the 2025 Annual Academic Conference of the Zhejiang Provincial Social Sciences Sector.
Xin Xiangyang, Dean of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS); Chen Zhigang, Vice Dean of the Institute; Chen Xianchun, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences; Chen Yao, Vice President of ZJUT; and Zheng Yi, Director of the Theory Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department and Director of the Comprehensive Coordination Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Center for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, attended the opening ceremony. Experts, scholars, and student representatives from universities and research institutes across the country, as well as editors-in-chief and editorial representatives from the Theory Department of the People’s Daily, the Theory Channel of People.cn, and journals such as Marxist Studies, Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education, and Zhejiang Social Sciences, gathered to conduct discussions around the theme: "Systematized and Academic Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Culture."
In his online address, Xin Xiangyang pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people. Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture have integrated and converged, providing powerful intellectual support, spiritual impetus, and ideological guarantees for the process of Chinese-path modernization. He expressed hope that this conference would serve as an opportunity to "seek the source and clear the stream" [2] while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, further elucidating the truth, innovativeness, and practical nature of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. He emphasized profoundly grasping the logical progression and evaluative significance of the Communist Party of China's cultural leadership and the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation, while deeply mining its original contributions and principled achievements.
Chen Xianchun noted in his speech that during Comrade Xi Jinping’s tenure in Zhejiang, he conducted systematic reflection and innovative practice regarding cultural construction [3]. At the provincial level, he profoundly answered a series of directional and fundamental questions concerning the development of propaganda, ideological, and cultural undertakings. His series of important expositions on advancing cultural construction across strategic significance, core meaning, laws of development, practical systems, methodological paths, and institutional guarantees provided rich ideological and theoretical resources for the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. He stated that the Zhejiang social science community would use this forum as an opportunity to produce more fruitful results in the field of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
Chen Yao extended a warm welcome to the experts and young scholars. He pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is a vivid summary of the practical experience of cultural construction for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. The theme of this forum is both an internal requirement of theoretical development and a practical call to respond to the "assumption of a new cultural mission," injecting new ideological momentum into the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation. He introduced the development of the university and the School of Marxism in recent years and expressed his hope that experts and scholars would continue to support ZJUT.
Zheng Yi pointed out that the forum’s convening in Zhejiang is of great significance, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Comrade Xi Jinping’s deployment of the "Eight Major Projects" for cultural construction during his time in Zhejiang, the 20th anniversary of the "Red Boat Spirit" [4], the 20th anniversary of the "Two Mountains" theory [5], and the 20th anniversary of the "Houchen Experience" [6]. He stated that it is necessary to base research on reality, focus on the exploration and practical experience of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in Zhejiang, provide vivid cases and materials for its systematization and academic study, and continue deepening the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
In the first keynote session, scholars including Han Qingxiang (former member of the School Board and first-grade professor at the Central Party School), Chen Zhigang (Vice Dean of IMS-CASS), Zou Guang文 (Professor at Tsinghua University), Sun Laibin (Party Secretary of the School of Marxism at Peking University), Du Yuhua (Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University), and Tao Wenzhao (Vice Dean of the Xi Jinping Thought Institute at Renmin University of China) delivered speeches. They focused on "The Logical Starting Point and Objectives of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture," "The Theoretical Foundation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture," "From Subjectivity to Cultural Subjectivity," "The Elevation of Theoretical Thinking and the Construction of China's Autonomous Knowledge System," "Fine Traditional Chinese Culture and the Construction of Modern Life," and "The Systematized Interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture."
In the second keynote session, Jin Minqing (Editor-in-Chief of Social Sciences in China), Chen Shuguang (Director of the Research Department at the Central Party School), Xiang Jiuyu (Dean of the Institute of Mainstream Ideology at Wuhan University), Chen Peiyong (Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University), and Dai Yuqi (Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Zhejiang University) delivered speeches. Their topics included "'The Second Integration' [7] Possesses Distinct Cultural Subjectivity," "The Principled Contribution of the Common Values of All Humanity," "'The Second Integration' and the Innovative Development of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture," "Identification of the Concepts of Chinese Civilization and Chinese Culture," and "The Methodological Significance of 'Governing through Culture' (yi wen zi zhi)."
In the third keynote session, scholars including Zhang Xiuying (Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at ZJUT), Liu Xukuan (Research Fellow at IMS-CASS), Zhao Fuke (Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Central University of Finance and Economics), and Li Jianxiu (Director of the Institute of Marxism at the Hebei Academy of Social Sciences) spoke on themes such as "The Practical Logic of the People-Centered Nature of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture," "Clarifying Cognitive Misunderstandings Regarding the Opposition Between the 'Two Integrations' and the 'Two Ruptures' [8]," "A Three-Dimensional Reflection on the 'Four Powers' [9] of Socialist Culture in the New Era," and "An Analysis of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture Guiding Local Practice."
The forum featured four sub-forums where scholars conducted in-depth discussions on: "Holistic Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Culture," "The 'Two Integrations' and Research on Fine Traditional Chinese Culture," "The Zhejiang Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture," and "China’s Discourse System and Narrative Construction."
At the closing ceremony, four scholars represented the sub-forums in sharing their discussions. Liu Zhichang, a Research Fellow at IMS-CASS, summarized the conference. He stated that the forum featured a high academic level, a wide distribution of representatives, and rich content. The in-depth discussions on the scientific system, core concepts, and innovative viewpoints of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture have further advanced the systematized and academic research and interpretation of this theoretical body.