The 12th International Forum on Socialism held in Hanoi, Vietnam
On November 17, 2025, the 12th International Forum on Socialism, organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), and the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES), was successfully held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The theme of this year's forum was "Socialist State Governance in the Context of the New Era." Opening remarks were delivered by Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of VASS; Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; and Saisomkhone Manodham, Vice President of LASES. Vu Thi Kieu Phuong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy at VASS, provided introductory keynote remarks. Nearly one hundred experts, scholars, government officials, and diplomats from China, Vietnam, Laos, and other countries engaged in exchanges and discussions on topics such as "Universal Issues of Socialist State Governance" and "Modern and Efficient Socialist State Governance under the New Context of the Contemporary Era."
The 12th International Forum on Socialism Convenes at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Address by Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
In his address, Dang Xuan Thanh noted that this forum is held at a time when the global landscape is undergoing profound, multifaceted, unprecedented, complex, and unpredictable changes. These shifts involve numerous fields, including economy, politics, culture, society, and science and technology. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the deepening of globalization and digital transformation, climate change, geopolitical conflicts, successive global trade wars, and complex social upheavals have all placed new demands on the concepts and models of socialist state governance.
The forum theme, "Socialist State Governance in the Context of the New Era," is endowed with particularly important theoretical significance and practical value. It fully reflects the common concerns of Vietnam, China, and Laos in advancing the modernization of their national governance systems and developmental processes along the socialist road. Socialist state governance is not only related to the organization and operation of state organs but also embodies the ability of the ruling party to lead the direction of development and to mobilize and allocate social resources to serve the people and promote social progress. In socialist countries such as Vietnam, China, and Laos, state governance is always closely linked to the goals of socialist construction in each nation.
Address by Saisomkhone Manodham, Vice President of the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences
Saisomkhone Manodham pointed out in his address that this forum aims to systematically summarize the theoretical achievements and practical experiences gained during the process of socialist construction in various countries. It serves to conduct in-depth exchanges on key issues regarding national development paths and to jointly promote the continuous development and innovative progress of the socialist cause. Laos attaches great importance to promoting modern, efficient, and high-quality state and social governance. Around this goal, it has formulated a series of guidelines and policies aimed at effectively reducing the burden on the masses, guaranteeing the people's right to be masters of the country [1], and promoting broader democratic participation of the people. Laos has recently summarized the specific achievements, existing problems, challenges, and related experiences in the process of consolidating state and social governance, and looks forward to using the platform of the International Forum on Socialism to carry out the exchange and sharing of theory and practical experience.
Address by Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS
Luo Wendong noted in his address that this forum’s academic exchanges and sharing of practical experiences regarding socialist state governance are of great significance for summarizing the governance experiences of various countries and drawing useful lessons for their respective construction and development. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly proposed the major proposition of "modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity" at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee made specific deployments for upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee [2] made important arrangements for reforms in various fields of socialism with Chinese characteristics, further deepening the systematic understanding of the laws governing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee formulated the strategic deployment for the "15th Five-Year Plan," occupying a vital position that links the past and the future in the process of basically achieving socialist modernization [3]. At such a time, it is of great significance for socialist countries to discuss state governance together. The Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS is willing to further strengthen dialogue and exchange with the theoretical circles of socialist countries such as Vietnam and Laos. Based on the global and national conditions and keeping a finger on the pulse of the times, we will continuously enrich and develop 21st-century Marxism, allowing Marxism to demonstrate even greater power of truth in the process of jointly promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Introductory Remarks by Vu Thi Kieu Phuong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy, VASS
Vu Thi Kieu Phuong pointed out that the International Forum on Socialism has always upheld Marxism-Leninism and socialist ideals and beliefs. Through continuous joint construction and regular operations, it has become an important platform serving the parties and governments of the three countries. The purpose of this forum is to exchange experiences and research results on the following core topics: the theoretical and practical characteristics of socialist state governance models in the New Era; the leading role of the Communist Party in the political system and state governance; the adaptive capacity of socialist countries in dealing with digital transformation, the knowledge economy, and international integration; solutions for improving public governance efficiency, promoting administrative reform, improving the rule of law, preventing and controlling corruption, and implementing the people's right to be masters of the country; and practical experience in the formulation, implementation, and supervision of economic and social development policies. This seminar will surely stimulate heated discussions, promote deep academic exchanges, and yield fruitful results, thereby making tangible contributions to the cause of socialist state construction and development in various countries at the levels of theoretical research and policy consultation.
Plenary Presentation by Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS
In her plenary presentation titled "Digital Technology Empowering the Governance of a Century-Old Large Party," Yu Haiqing pointed out that the governance of a political party itself is not only a political issue but also a matter of capability. It requires thinking from both a political and a technical perspective, necessitating the seizure of opportunities brought by emerging digital technologies while strengthening the political consciousness of self-revolution. In recent years, the Communist Party of China has attached great importance to solving the "unique challenges of a large party" [4] through digital technology. This is done to increase the density of party governance to ensure the spiritual state of remaining true to the original aspiration and founding mission and the spirit of entrepreneurship; to expand the span of party governance to better unify thoughts, will, and actions; to raise the height of party governance to improve governing capacity and leadership levels; to accelerate the speed of party governance to promptly discover and solve internal problems; and to upgrade the intensity of party governance to maintain a clean and upright political ecosystem, thereby ensuring that the CPC always remains the vanguard of the times and the backbone of the nation in comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Plenary Presentation by Keovichith Kaykhamphithoune, Director of the Institute of Political Science, LASES
In the plenary presentation titled "Efficient Organizational Models of State Governance in Laos: Experiences and Enlightenments," Keovichith Kaykhamphithoune pointed out that the organizational model of state governance is the organizational structure and operational paradigm established by state organs to exercise state power and serve the people. In the process of reforming the state governance system over the past 50 years, the Lao government has consistently followed the Party's line and policies. Based on the level of economic and social development and the actual situation of each stage, it has established a complete organizational system covering the central to the grassroots levels. It has flexibly adopted adjustment methods such as establishment, merger, separation, and dissolution according to actual conditions. Although it has undergone many institutional adjustments combining large-scale and local changes, the organizational institutions in various periods have remained basically stable. This has effectively guaranteed the stable operation of various components in the Lao people's democratic political system and achieved the continuous consolidation and improvement of state governance capacity.
Plenary Presentation by Nguyen Anh Hong Minh, Institute of Philosophy, VASS
In the plenary presentation titled "Checks on Power in Vietnam's Socialist State Governance," Nguyen Anh Hong Minh pointed out that against the background of the Party and government vigorously promoting the construction of a socialist Rechtsstaat [5], improving the state governance system in accordance with the spirit of the 2013 Constitution, and implementing the policies of power checks and anti-corruption, it is particularly urgent to deeply study and discuss the connection between power checks and socialist state governance. This research has both theoretical and practical significance, ensuring that state governance is transparent, efficient, and serves the people, consolidating public trust, and providing momentum for rapid and sustainable national development.
Plenary Presentation by Zhang Jianyun, Director of the Marxist Philosophy Research Office, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS
In the plenary presentation titled "Digital-Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Spiritual and Cultural Production Modes," Zhang Jianyun pointed out that in the current era, information technologies such as big data, the Internet, blockchain, and artificial intelligence are deeply integrated. The digital-intelligent technology system has a huge impact on the transformation of spiritual and cultural production modes. In the actual production and transformation of digital culture, there are many difficult problems to solve, and there is an urgent need to strengthen corresponding institutional construction and comprehensive governance.
Plenary Presentation by Vilayvone Phommachanh, Director of the Institute of History and Archaeology, LASES
In the plenary presentation titled "A Summary of Experience Regarding the Organization of Local Government Institutions in the Lao People's Democratic Republic," Vilayvone Phommachanh pointed out that institutional adjustment is a concrete practice of implementing the organizational principle of "lean, connected, efficient, and strong." Its essence is to achieve the goals of resource conservation and efficient utilization, maximum benefit, and sustainable operation through optimizing institutional management. This process will make institutional settings more streamlined and reasonable, enhance organizational resilience and execution, achieve scientific allocation of posts, reduce the scale of the civil service establishment, and establish a mechanism for the selective flow of central cadres to the grassroots, thereby strengthening the practical working ability of the frontline leadership. The organization of local government institutions in the Lao People's Democratic Republic has undergone an important transformation process, making positive contributions to national development, and the implementation of the hierarchical management policy is a key step in granting local governments greater autonomy.
Plenary Presentation by Nguyen Tuan Anh, Institute of Philosophy, VASS
In the plenary presentation titled "New Issues in Contemporary Vietnamese State Governance," Nguyen Tuan Anh pointed out that in the process of social development, governance has become an indispensable and key field of activity within human communities, social organizations, and the state. Vietnam's state governance is unique: a state of the people, by the people, and for the people. In the current stage, Vietnam's state governance is in a period of change, facing issues such as digital transformation, the coordination of state governance and the construction of a law-based state, and state governance in the context of the merger and improvement of government institutions at all levels. It is necessary to lead the country into a new era of modernization, efficiency, and sustainable development by formulating and organizing the implementation of various decisions and development goals.
Plenary Presentation by Tran Anh Tuyet, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, VASS
In the plenary presentation titled "Advancing the Modernization of the Socialist State Governance System and Governance Capacity in the New Period: A Perspective Based on China's Practice," Tran Anh Tuyet pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has continued to comprehensively deepen reform and coordinately advance various key tasks, achieving remarkable results. China's state governance system has demonstrated unique advantages but still faces many deep-seated challenges. Currently, based on national conditions and practical experience, China is continuously exploring conceptual innovations and path breakthroughs in governance modernization: by deepening institutional reform, breaking down institutional barriers that restrict the development of productive forces, systematically improving the effectiveness of the governance system and the level of governance capacity, and promoting state governance toward a more scientific, democratic, law-based, and efficient direction. Based on commonalities and differences, Vietnam and China should strengthen exchange and mutual learning, and widely absorb global governance experiences, including each other’s, to build a socialist governance model that fits their respective historical traditions and development stages.
Plenary Presentation by Pan Jine, Former Director of the International Communist Movement Research Department, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS
In the plenary presentation titled—
In the plenary presentation titled "The Vitality of Socialist Modernization in China, Vietnam, and Laos in the New Era," it was noted that achieving modernization is an inevitable trend in the transition of human society from tradition to modernity, and is the fundamental path for socialist countries to achieve national prosperity and people's happiness. As socialist states, China, Vietnam, and Laos have integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with their respective national realities, rooted themselves in their own history, culture, development stage, and basic national conditions, and have blazed trails of socialist modernization with their own distinct characteristics, thereby revitalizing the contemporary vitality of world socialism.
Ousavanh Thiengthiepvongsa, Director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Policy at the Lao National Academy of Economic and Social Sciences (LASES), delivered a presentation titled "Solutions to Enhance the Effectiveness of State Institutional Reform in Laos during the Process of International Integration." He pointed out that state institutional reform in Laos is an important and challenging process aimed at lifting the country out of its least-developed status and laying a solid foundation for sustainable development in the era of international integration. Although Laos has made progress in various areas—such as streamlining institutional structures, launching the "Three Builds" [6] policy, and promoting "one-stop" services—it still faces many challenges. These are prominently manifested in low efficiency of state institutions, poor coordination mechanisms, limited quality of human resources, insufficiently strict policy execution and legal enforcement, as well as other negative phenomena. To address these issues, he proposed a systematic set of solutions in four major categories, covering dimensions ranging from enhancing political resolve, perfecting policy and legal systems, upgrading administrative management mechanisms, and developing human resources, to transitioning toward digital government, promoting public participation, and resolving economic and financial issues.
Pham Thi Thuy Nga, Director of the Institute of State and Law at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), noted in her presentation titled "Modern and Efficient Socialist State Governance in Vietnam under the Context of the New Era" that modern and efficient socialist state governance is a process of continuous reform. It requires the coordinated advancement of innovation in ideological concepts, the perfection of the institutional system, and the building of execution capacity. Against the backdrop of digital transformation, green transition, and the reconfiguration of the global landscape, Vietnam’s model of state governance is steadily achieving an organic unity of rule of law construction, social equity, and public participation. In this new stage, Vietnam must continue to strengthen the comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in institutional reform and the transformation of governance methods.
Yuan Xiuli, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, noted in her presentation titled "The Contribution of the Birth of the Socialist System to Human Civilization" that the establishment of the socialist system has guaranteed and promoted the development of human civilization, opening a new epoch in human history. The birth of the socialist system has made outstanding contributions to human civilization: the establishment of the first socialist state opened a new path for the development of human civilization; the socialist construction in the Soviet Union promoted the refinement of human social development; the Communist Parties of the Soviet Union and various countries in Asia and Europe defended the achievements of human civilization; the development of socialism from one country to many has driven the progress of human civilization; the socialist camp effectively restrained the barbaric expansion and hegemony of capitalism; and socialism supported and promoted the tide of national liberation.
Participating scholars spoke highly of the fruitful results achieved at this forum. They maintained that strengthening academic exchange and discussion among socialist countries carries significant theoretical value and practical significance for modernizing the systems and capacities for governance [7] in socialist states.
Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; Saysongkham Manodham, Vice President of the Lao National Academy of Economic and Social Sciences; and Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered the concluding remarks for the forum.