Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism, Leads Delegation to Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy for Academic Exchanges
To strengthen exchanges and cooperation with foreign communist parties and research institutions, and to promote the international dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, a delegation led by Professor Yu Haiqing, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), conducted an academic visit to Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy from August 31 to September 9, 2025. Members of the delegation included IMS researchers Zhang Jiangang, Jia Keqing, Peng Haihong, and Li Kaixuan.
On the afternoon of August 31, local time, the delegation held friendly exchanges in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the Chairperson of the Communist Party (Denmark) [1], Lotte Rørtoft-Madsen, and national committee members including Kaivon Kjems and Emil Boost (heads of the International Department), Marc Sanganee (Editor-in-Chief of the journal Arbejderen), and Rune Jørgensen. The delegation received a detailed introduction to the party’s membership structure, developmental history, current status, and future visions. The two sides also conducted in-depth discussions on theoretical and practical issues, such as the development of the basic principles of Marxism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the global significance of Chinese-path modernization, and the essence of socialism.
On September 1, the delegation exchanged views with Professor Kjeld Erik Brodsgaard and other experts at the Copenhagen Business School. Deputy Director Yu Haiqing provided a brief overview of China's economic and social development since the start of the New Era. Professor Brodsgaard elaborated on his views regarding party politics and modernization from the perspectives of party-government models, immigration issues, and welfare systems. The two sides also held a detailed discussion on the building of the Party’s cadre ranks [2].
On September 2, the delegation met in Geneva, Switzerland, with left-wing scholars including Stefano Araujo (University of Geneva), Ludevic Iberg (University of Lausanne), and Karim Lasseb (PhD, University of Lausanne). They exchanged views on how young Swiss intellectuals have perceived the path and experience of Chinese-path modernization in recent years and explored potential future cooperation.
Following their return from Locarno to Bellinzona on the afternoons of September 3 and 4, the delegation met with Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party (Switzerland) [3], Deputy Secretary Alessandro Lucchini, and several members of the Central Committee, including Samuele Iembo (Head of the International Department), Amos Speranza (Editor of Nuova Politica), Nil Malyguine (Editor of the party's left-wing website), Rudi Alves, and Adam Barbato-Shoufani (General Secretary of the Communist Youth). They discussed the experience of Chinese-path modernization and the Communist Party (Switzerland)’s experience in achieving electoral breakthroughs. Ay stated that China is a major power and that the leadership of the CPC has proven to be essential and effective; the Swiss party highly identifies with the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Ay also introduced the party's improving developmental status and the primary agenda for its party congress in November 2025. By cooperating with other left-wing parties to participate in cantonal and municipal governance, the party’s influence among the Swiss public has continuously grown. Deputy Director Yu Haiqing introduced the latest developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and noted two salient strengths of the Swiss party: a youthful and energetic membership structure and a high degree of ideological and organizational unity, which are key reasons for its sustained growth in recent years.
On September 4, in Locarno, the delegation met with Davide Rossi, a founding member of the Institute of History and Contemporary Philosophical Thought. The two sides discussed the theoretical and practical achievements of Sinicized and modernized Marxism, as well as the latest trends and evolution of European left-wing thought. The delegation elaborated on the important role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in driving China’s development and promoting reforms in global governance. The Swiss side briefly introduced the institute’s contributions to Sino-Swiss cultural and artistic exchanges and shared new viewpoints from European left-wing thought on issues of equality, sustainable development, and social justice.
On September 5, in Milan, Italy, the delegation met with Professor Matteo Bolocan of the Polytechnic University of Milan to discuss how Italian left-wing scholars view the global significance of Chinese-path modernization. Deputy Director Yu Haiqing introduced the latest developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and critiqued and clarified misunderstandings about Chinese-path modernization held by certain European scholars. Professor Bolocan argued that Chinese-path modernization has broken the dependency on Western developmental paths. Through internal institutional optimization and peaceful development, it has provided the Global South with a non-aggressive, non-colonial new development paradigm. He particularly affirmed China's efforts in infrastructure connectivity and South-South cooperation, noting that this development model centered on sovereign equality is significant for reforming the current unjust system of global governance.
On September 6, in Rome, the delegation met with Cinzia Della Porta (National Executive Committee) and Pierpaolo Leopardi (International Department Coordinator) of the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB). The USB is an independent union that has developed rapidly in recent years outside of Italy’s three major confederations (CGIL, CISL, and UIL). It possesses strong mobilization power for national strikes and demonstrations and holds significant influence within the World Federation of Trade Unions. By strengthening ties with Italian trade unions, the delegation further deepened its exchange and cooperation with the European left.
On the same day, Deputy Director Yu Haiqing led the delegation to a meeting with Counselor Zou Jianjun of the Chinese Embassy in Italy. They discussed how to strengthen political and cultural exchange and cooperation with Italy. Deputy Director Yu expressed gratitude for the embassy’s strong support of the IMS's international academic activities and introduced the objectives and achievements of this European tour. Counselor Zou welcomed the delegation, noting that under the current "Great Changes Unseen in a Century" [4], the political landscape and culture of the European left have undergone significant shifts. He emphasized that challenges and opportunities coexist and expressed his hope that IMS scholars would continue to play an active role in telling the story of the achievements, experiences, and global significance of the Chinese-path modernization, while promoting cooperation with European left-wing forces and academia.
On September 7, in Rome, the delegation met with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), the Italian Communist Party (PCI), and the Communist Party (PC) to discuss the experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the issue of unity within the Italian communist movement. The delegation introduced the practical achievements of Chinese-path modernization, emphasizing the institutional advantages and the "people-centered status" [5] of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The General Secretaries of the three parties—Maurizio Acerbo, Mauro Alboresi, and Alberto Lombardo—attended the meeting. They spoke highly of the inspiration provided by the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. They stated that left-wing synergy should be strengthened on issues of labor rights, anti-hegemonic struggles, and social fairness to jointly respond to the challenge of expanding right-wing forces in Europe.
During these meetings, Deputy Director Yu Haiqing proposed specific measures for strengthening cooperation with various communist parties and left-wing forces, including the translation of works, publication of articles, and participation in conferences, which received positive responses. On the same day, the delegation also met with scholars from the Association for the Study of Marxism in the 21st Century and the journal Marx Ventunesimo. Both sides highly affirmed the fruits of their cooperation and outlined future directions and content.
On September 8, in Rome, the delegation met with the Fondazione Gramsci (Gramsci Foundation). As one of Italy's most influential cultural and political research institutions, the Foundation holds the world’s most complete collection of Gramsci’s research documents and the history of the Italian Communist Party. Rooted in the Marxist and socialist traditions of Antonio Gramsci, it serves as a central hub for left-wing academic thought globally. Five representatives of the Foundation’s Scientific Committee—Michele Di Donato (Roma Tre University), Giancarlo Schirru (L'Orientale University of Naples), Gianluca Fiocco (University of Rome Tor Vergata), Gabriele Siracusano (University of Trento/Sapienza University of Rome), and Alessio Gagliardi (University of Bologna)—discussed with the delegation how to further strengthen cooperation and expand the global influence of Gramsci studies. They also exchanged views on the current status and developmental challenges of the European left and introduced the achievements and global significance of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
This visit to the communist parties and left-wing organizations of Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy was both a tracing of the origins and dissemination of Marxist theory and a deep dialogue on the development and practice of contemporary socialism. Through these exchanges, we have gained a clearer understanding that the European left’s critique of the structural contradictions of capitalism and its pursuit of social fairness and justice reflect the analytical power and moral appeal of Marxism. Against the backdrop of profound changes in global governance and the recurring crises of the Western modernization model, China—guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—has forged the road of Chinese-path modernization, achieving rapid economic development and long-term social stability. This highlights the international significance of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the future, we should participate more proactively in global dialogue, demonstrating the power of the truth of scientific socialism through critical engagement and mutual learning.