Opening Ceremony and Academic Seminar for the National Social Science Fund Project "Research on the New Developments of the Basic Principles of Scientific Socialism Since the 18th CPC National Congress" Held at the Academy of Marxism

On the morning of December 4, 2025, the opening ceremony and academic seminar for the National Social Science Fund of China project, "Research on the New Developments of the Basic Principles of Scientific Socialism Since the 18th Party Congress ^[1]," was held at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Participants included Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Researcher at the Institute of Marxism Studies; Wang Huaichao, former Deputy Director of Education and Director of the Department of Scientific Socialism at the Central Party School of the CPC, and Distinguished Professor at the Open University of China; Yang Jinhai, former Secretary-General of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau ^[2] and Researcher at the Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Tsinghua University; Professor Bai Xueqiu from the School of Marxism at Peking University; Professor Wei Zhiqi, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at China University of Geosciences (Beijing); Researcher Yang Jing, Director of the Department of Principles at the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS; Researcher Sun Yingshuai, Deputy Director of the Department of Principles; and Associate Researcher Qin Yicheng from the Department of Sinicization.

Researcher Luo Wendong first expressed his gratitude to the experts for their presence and guidance, subsequently providing a brief introduction to the historical evolution of the Institute of Marxism Studies and the progress of its research into scientific socialism. He noted that research on scientific socialism has a long-standing tradition at the Institute, having produced a cohort of outstanding talents and a series of important theoretical works. He offered three suggestions for the project: first, the research must focus its efforts on "new developments"; second, it must persist in the spirit of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in grasping the concept of the basic principles of scientific socialism, highlighting its characteristics of both stability and innovation; and third, it must provide a profound academic analysis of the mutual relationships between the "basic principles" (jīběn yuánzé) of scientific socialism, the "basic tenets" (jīběn yuánlǐ) of scientific socialism, and the "basic tenets" of Marxism.

Professor Wang Huaichao pointed out that this project possesses both academic and political significance. He suggested starting with core concepts to clarify the distinctions and connections between the "basic principles" of scientific socialism and its "basic tenets." He defined the basic tenets of scientific socialism as the most fundamental truths of the discipline, while the basic principles of scientific socialism are the norms or standards stipulated by those tenets. Furthermore, he emphasized adhering to the methodology of the unity of logic and history to further refine and summarize the theoretical connotations of these principles in a comprehensive and accurate manner. Finally, he stressed that the project should focus on the new developments of the basic principles of scientific socialism since the 18th Party Congress, which encompasses both the new understandings of the Party Central Committee and the new explorations within academic circles.

Professor Yang Jinhai argued that to successfully execute this project, one must strive to achieve the "Four Distinctions" ^[3] emphasized by the Central Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project. He also called for "Three Categorizations": cataloging the understandings of Marx, Engels, and Lenin regarding the basic principles of scientific socialism; cataloging the new understandings of the Chinese Communists regarding these principles; and cataloging the research findings of domestic and foreign scholars. On this basis, the project should deeply implement the "Two Combinations" ^[4] and elucidate the dialectical relationship between the particularity, endogeneity, and autonomy of the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and its generality, exogeneity, and inclusiveness.

Professor Bai Xueqiu suggested that completing this project requires a distinct "problem consciousness" (wèntí yìshí). Socialist construction must resolve the two major issues of efficiency and equity; the basic principles of scientific socialism have been continuously enriched and developed in the process of addressing these issues. Professor Wei Zhiqi noted that the concept of the "basic principles of scientific socialism" is itself a theoretical innovation of the Communist Party of China; research should focus on tracing the historical thread of this concept’s emergence and development. Simultaneously, the new developments of these principles should be understood within the context of the digital era. Associate Researcher Qin Yicheng argued that the project requires a solid foundation in Marxist theory and original works, necessitating a deep excavation of the textual basis for the basic principles of scientific socialism.

Researcher Yang Jing, representing the Department of Principles, welcomed the participating experts and noted that this research would bolster the disciplinary construction of scientific socialism. The project leader, Associate Researcher Zhang Duan, stated that the research team would fully absorb the valuable opinions provided by the experts to advance the project and strive to produce high-quality research results.