The 17th National Forum for Deans of Marxist Schools Held by the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
On June 21, 2025, the 17th National Forum for Deans of Marxist Studies was held in Nanchang. This year's forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Nanchang Hangkong University, under the theme "The Systematization and Academic Theoreticalization of the Party's Innovative Theories." Xin Xiangyang, Dean and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; Gong Jianfei, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee; and Li Deping, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nanchang Hangkong University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The opening ceremony was presided over by Guo Zhenghua, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Nanchang Hangkong University.
Xin Xiangyang pointed out that the National Forum for Deans of Marxist Studies has spanned seventeen years, not only witnessing the vigorous development of Marxist research in our country but also showcasing the latest research achievements in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. It has become a fortified position for studying, disseminating, and researching Marxism. He noted that this forum’s focus on the key theme of the systematization and academic theoreticalization of the Party's innovative theories is of great significance and far-reaching influence. The systematization and academic theoreticalization of theory reflect the height, depth, and breadth of theoretical innovation and serve as an important hallmark of a theory's increasing maturity. He expressed hope that all experts and colleagues would use this forum as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges, pool wisdom, and deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He urged them to continuously strengthen their understanding of the underlying laws of the Party’s innovative theories and make due contributions to further deepening the systematic construction and academic theoretical explanation of these theories.
In his address, Li Deping stated that Nanchang Hangkong University persists in using the Party’s innovative theories to "cast the soul and nurture the person" [1], vigorously inheriting "red genes" [2] and carrying forward the spirit of "serving the country through aviation." The university insists on advancing the construction of "Major Ideological and Political Courses" (da sizhengke) [3] in tandem with arming students with the Party’s innovative theories. It has taken the lead in participating in the Jiangxi problem-oriented and thematic regional team teaching reform—part of the national comprehensive reform pilot zones for "Major Ideological and Political Courses"—effectively promoting Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to enter the "minds, hearts, and actions" of students. The holding of this forum will further deepen the understanding of the laws governing the Party’s theoretical innovation and expand the systematic construction and academic theoretical explanation of the Party’s innovative theories. It carries important exemplary significance for Schools of Marxism in universities to research and explain the Party's innovative theories. He pledged that the university would cherish this opportunity, ensure excellent conference organization and logistical support, actively promote cooperation with sister institutions, and strive to make greater contributions to the systematization and academic theoreticalization of the Party's innovative theories.
Gong Jianfei pointed out that holding this forum is both an inevitable requirement for deepening the Party's theoretical innovation and an urgent need to guide the practice of development in the New Era. Jiangxi looks forward to taking this forum as an opportunity to consolidate the strength of the national theoretical community to deeply discuss the unity of the internal logic and the originality of the theoretical development of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He called for joint efforts to construct a theoretical framework with clear signature concepts, thorough academic explanations, and rigorous logical layers. Furthermore, he encouraged exploring ways to organically integrate the research results of the systematization and academic theoreticalization of the Party's innovative theories into the reform of ideological and political courses, textbook construction, classroom teaching, and social practice. By doing so, the depth of systematization and the breadth of academic theoreticalization can be transformed into an educational force that enlightens the mind and soaks the soul, pushing the cultivation of talent in Schools of Marxism to new heights and fostering more "pioneers of the era" [4] capable of shouldering the great responsibility of national rejuvenation.
Following the opening ceremony, Xin Xiangyang delivered a keynote report titled "The Systematization and Academic Theoreticalization of Marxism and the Historical Destiny of the Chinese Nation." He argued that the systematization and academic theoreticalization of Marxism have exerted three profound influences on the historical destiny of the Chinese nation: First, the profoundly academic theoreticalized Marxist view of China provided a sharp ideological weapon for the Chinese nation to achieve national liberation. Second, the profoundly systematized Marxist view of civilization provided a powerful foundation for the Chinese nation to establish a modern form of civilization. Third, the systematized and academic theoreticalized Marxist view of the era provided a powerful ideological weapon for advancing Chinese-path modernization. He emphasized that since the systematization and academic theoreticalization of Marxism are closely linked to the future and destiny of the Chinese nation, we must not only research foundational topics but also focus on practical issues, creating a situation where the two reinforce each other.
During the plenary session, several directors and deans delivered thematic speeches: Luo Yuting (Wuhan University), Yang Haifeng (Peking University), Liu Tongfang (Zhejiang University), Xiang Jiuyu (Wuhan University), Zhu Huanghe (Jiangxi Normal University), Liu Luhong (Zhengzhou University), Wu Hongzheng (Jilin University), Tai Lihua (China University of Political Science and Law), Guo Jiezhong (Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics), Cai Wencheng (Lanzhou University), Shen Chengfei (Sun Yat-sen University), Wang Weiguo (University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), and Guan Feng (South China Normal University). Their topics included the high-quality development of the discipline of Marxist theory, the historical basis and internal logic of the contemporary development of Marxism, the original and fundamental contributions of Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture, footnotes to the "Two Combinations" [5], cultural construction in the process of Chinese-path modernization, and the construction of an independent knowledge system for the theory of Chinese-path modernization, among others. The thematic session was chaired by Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Foreign Marxist Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Jiang Yongmu, Dean of the School of Marxism at Sichuan University.
The forum also featured five parallel sessions: "Xi Jinping’s Thinking on Culture," "The Theory and Practice of Chinese-path Modernization," "The Construction of a Discourse System for Philosophy and Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics," "Theory and Practice of Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform," and "The Discipline of Marxist Theory and the Construction of Ideological and Political Courses."
The closing ceremony was presided over by Jiang Guangliang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Nanchang Hangkong University. Representatives from the five parallel sessions gave group reports, and Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Deputy Dean of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, provided a summary of the convention. Chen Zhigang stated that this forum not only yielded fruitful academic results but also deepened academic friendships. He expressed hope that this would serve as a new starting point for working together to focus on major theoretical and practical issues in comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. He emphasized the commitment to researching and explaining the systematization and academic theoreticalization of the Party's innovative theories and profoundly understanding the significance of the "Two Combinations," contributing wisdom and strength to cultivating pioneers of the era and opening new realms for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Scholars from research institutes and universities, including CASS, Peking University, Tongji University, and others, as well as representatives from major academic journals such as Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), Marxism & Reality (Makesizhuyi yu Xianshi), and Teaching and Research (Jiaoxue yu Yanjiu), attended the forum.
The National Forum for Deans of Marxist Studies is a high-end forum established by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. It has become a major platform for regular exchanges among domestic workers in Marxist theory, an important window for showcasing the latest achievements in the Sinicization of Marxism, and a fortified position for the dissemination and popularization of Marxism.
(Contributor: Yang Jing)