The 12th CASS Scientific Socialism Forum and Mao Zedong Thought Forum Successfully Held at Shandong University (Weihai)
On July 26, 2025, the 12th Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Forum on Scientific Socialism and Forum on Mao Zedong Thought was held at the Weihai campus of Shandong University. The forum was jointly hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS and Shandong University, and co-organized by the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the School of Marxism at Shandong University, the School of Marxism at Shandong University (Weihai), and the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS). Experts and scholars from such universities and research institutes as CASS, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), Peking University, Wuhan University, Jilin University, Lanzhou University, and Tongji University, alongside editorial representatives from journals including Marxist Studies (Marxyuzhuanyi Yanjiu), Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education Institutions (Zhongguo Gaoxiao Shehui Kexue), Theoretical Investigation (Lilun Tantao), Observation and Reflection (Guancha yu Sikuo), and Studies on Mao Zedong Thought (Mao Zedong Sixiang Yanjiu), engaged in academic exchange and deliberation centered on the theme of "Theory of Chinese-path Modernization and Scientific Socialism."
Professor Zhang Shihai, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University, presided over the opening ceremony. Researcher Qiu Daobin, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Shandong University (Weihai), delivered the welcome address, and Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Dean of the UCASS School of Marxism, delivered a speech and a keynote report.
In his address, Secretary Qiu Daobin introduced Shandong University’s recent progress in constructing the School of Marxism and developing the discipline of Marxist theory. He stated that the forum should serve as an opportunity to continually study, publicize, research, and interpret Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He emphasized the need to explore the rich connotations, internal logic, and contemporary value of Chinese-path modernization theory in depth, to deepen the understanding of the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization and the research on its practical issues, and to provide new ideas and inject new momentum into the advancement and expansion of Chinese-path modernization to achieve new development.
Director Xin Xiangyang delivered a keynote report titled "Four Reflections on the In-depth Study of Chinese-path Modernization." Director Xin pointed out that the discussions centered on the theme of "Theory of Chinese-path Modernization and Scientific Socialism" aim to deeply study, research, and interpret Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to further study and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee [1], to explore the internal relationship between Chinese-path modernization and further comprehensively deepening reform, to further clarify the rich connotations, contemporary value, and major contributions of Chinese-path modernization theory, and to seek practical paths for comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.
In his keynote report, Director Xin Xiangyang emphasized the necessity of taking General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important localized discourses on Chinese-path modernization as the fundamental compliance. He stressed adhering to a macro-historical perspective [2], establishing a global vision, maintaining a problem-oriented approach, and focusing on the core themes and main threads. He further called for a profound clarification of the internal logic, primary experiences, important principles, and realistic paths for comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. He urged for the continuous promotion of innovation in knowledge, theory, practice, and methodology to contribute wisdom and strength to the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.
The first session of theme reports was presided over by Professor Li Nan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the UCASS School of Marxism. The following speakers delivered presentations: Researcher Deng Chundong (CASS) on "Deeply Understanding the Strategic Significance of Advancing Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party Commencing with Work Style"; Researcher Yang Mingwei (Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee) on "Mao Zedong on Several Mental States for Achieving the Goal of a Strong Country"; Professor Xue Guangzhou (Central Party School) on "Perspectives on Chinese-path Modernization through the 'Two Combinations' [3]"; Researcher Liu Zhiming (CASS) on "Promoting the Coordinated Development of Material and Spiritual Civilizations"; and Professor Sun Laibin (Peking University) on "How to Treat the Basic Principles of Scientific Socialism."
The second session of theme reports was presided over by Researcher Ren Jie, Executive Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Editorial Department of Marxist Studies. Presentations were delivered by: Professor Xiang Jiuyu (Wuhan University) on "The Paradox of 'Modernity' and the Response of Chinese-path Modernization"; Professor Wu Hongzheng (Jilin University) on "The World-Historical Context of the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism"; Professor Chen Shifa (Nanchang University) on "The Historical Evolution of China's Human Rights Development Path since the Founding of the People's Republic"; Professor Lan Hanlin (Party School of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee) on "Upholding the Lineage of the Chinese Language and Script to Consolidate the Foundation of Cultural Subjectivity"; and Researcher Yu Bin (CASS) on "Artificial Intelligence from the Perspective of the 'Productive Forces—Lifestyle' Transmission Mechanism."
The third session theme reports were presided over by Associate Professor Dong Muxi, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University. Presentations were delivered by: Researcher He Xinyuan (CASS) on "The Key to Chinese-path Modernization Lies in the 'Second Combination' [4]"; Professor Cai Wencheng (Lanzhou University) on "An Analysis of the Logic of Productive Forces in Chinese-path Modernization"; Professor Guan Feng (South China Normal University) on "The Three-Dimensional Prominence of 'Chinese Characteristics' and the 'Two Combinations' in the New Era"; Professor Kang Xiaoqiang (Central Party School) on "Deepening the Academic and Theoretical Research and Interpretation of the Chinese-path Modernization Theoretical System"; and Associate Researcher Duan Guangpeng (Shandone University) on "Chinese-path Modernization’s Solution to the Trap of Western Modernization’s 'Discursive' Transformation."
The forum featured five sub-forums where participating experts and scholars exchanged views and deliberated on major theoretical and practical issues concerning Chinese-path modernization and scientific socialism.
Professor Hao Shuicui, Executive Vice Dean and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Shandong University (Weihai), presided over the closing ceremony. Associate Professor Han Boyao (Xinjiang University), Associate Professor Wang Guolong (Capital University of Economics and Business), Jiang Linhong (China University of Petroleum, Beijing), Jian Jiaojie (Party School of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee), and student Liu Hongyu (UCASS) presented reports on behalf of their respective sub-forums. Researcher Liu Zhichang, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered the concluding remarks for the conference.
(Contributor: Zhang Yue, Organizer and Party Secretary, School of Marxism, Shandong University (Weihai))