The "2023 National Forum on Basic Principles of Marxism" Academic Seminar Held at Shandong University

From August 19 to 20, the "2023 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism" was held at Shandong University. This year's forum was jointly organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for the Study of the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (China University of Political Science and Law), the School of Marxism at Shandong University, and the editorial departments of Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), World Socialism Studies (Shijie Shehuizhuyi Yanjiu), and International Critical Thought (English edition). The theme of the forum was "The Marxist Worldview and Methodology." Attendees included Cheng Enfu, Member of the CASS Academic Division and the CASS Presidium, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Chief Professor; Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; Gao Huanyue, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of the Organization Department, and Dean of the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law; and Zhang Yongbing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong University. Approximately 150 experts and scholars from nearly 80 research institutes, higher education institutions, and journals across the country—including CASS, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Beijing Normal University—participated through a combination of online and offline formats.

The opening ceremony on the morning of the 19th was presided over by Professor Zhang Shihai, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University. Lin Jianhua, Gao Huanyue, and Zhang Yongbing delivered opening remarks.

In his speech, Lin Jianhua argued that the Report to the 20th CPC National Congress, based on a summary of historical experience, proposed and clarified scientific methods for advancing theoretical innovation, such as the "Two Combinations" ^[1] and the "Six Must-Upholds," ^[2] providing a fundamental basis for continuing the Party’s theoretical innovation. Regarding the forum's theme, Professor Lin shared three study insights: first, that dialectical materialism and historical materialism constitute the Marxist worldview and methodology; second, the necessity of profoundly grasping the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; and third, that the "Six Must-Upholds" constitute the basic content of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Gao Huanyue stated in her address that by taking the Marxist worldview and methodology as its theme, this forum has profoundly grasped the core of the basic principles of Marxism. Practice knows no bounds, and theoretical innovation knows no bounds. We must adhere to and apply the stances and viewpoints contained therein while directly confronting Chinese realities and Chinese problems. By continuously persisting in the "Two Combinations" and promoting theoretical innovation, we can continue to write new chapters in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.

Representing Shandong University, Zhang Yongbing extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the scholars in attendance. He noted that convening the "2023 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism" to jointly interpret the Marxist worldview and methodology, establish academic viewpoints, and discuss academic development carries special and significant weight. It injects academic wisdom into the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the promotion of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.

Cheng Enfu delivered the keynote report. Professor Cheng proposed the need for a dialectical understanding of the "Six-in-One" system regarding the essential connotations of socialism with Chinese characteristics ^[3]. He emphasized that the essential connotations of socialism and their specific manifestations will continue to be refined and enriched through continuous practice. Marxism, which advances with the times—and particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—will provide a more extensive and profound scientific interpretation of these developments.

The second half of the morning session on the 19th was chaired by Zhang Jianyun, a researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. Professor Hao Lixin from the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China, in a speech titled "The Unique Worldview and Methodology Contained in the Theory of Chinese-path Modernization," pointed out that the process of Chinese-path modernization is a unified process of practical and theoretical innovation, containing rich and unique philosophical concepts. Yu Bin, a researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered a presentation titled "The Classification of Social Formations and the New Form of Human Civilization," ^[4] noting that through an understanding of Marx’s own theory of the five social formations, the issue of leaping across social formations is a matter of practice rather than theory. Professor Zhou Xiangjun from the School of Marxism at Shandong University spoke on "Two Questions Regarding the Grasp of the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," addressing both why and how this grasp should be achieved. Professor Tai Lihua from the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law focused on "The Contemporary Value of Das Kapital," revealing its contemporary inspirations through five dimensions: human society as a dynamic process of development and change, the eternal demand to vigorously increase wealth, the limitations of capital logic in dominating wealth production, the inevitability of global economic crises, and the adherence to a people-centered logic of wealth. Professor Wang Chuanli from the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University, in a speech titled "The Periodic Law of Rise and Fall in the Perspective of Historical Materialism," noted that Marxism is adept at revealing the phenomena of order and chaos, or rise and decline, from the level of social systems, and that the light of historical materialism should shine into the study of such cycles ^[5]. Professor Sun Lainbin from the School of Marxism at Peking University, speaking on "The Revolutionary Dialectics of Modern Civilizational Development in Economically and Culturally Backward Countries: The Resplendent Thought in 'Letter to the Editorial Board of Otechestvennye Zapiski' and 'Our Revolution'," argued that the idea of revolutionary dialectics is of great significance for deeply understanding the universality and specificity of the paths of modern civilizational development and the rich connotations of Chinese-path modernization. Professor Xu Bin from the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University, in a speech titled "The Implications of Historical Materialism for the Development of Human Civilization," noted that human civilization belongs to the category of social consciousness; it corresponds to social existence, serves as an important dimension for measuring social development, and must be understood through historical materialism.

The afternoon sub-forums on the 19th were chaired respectively by Professor Gong Peihe (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology), Professor Wu Wenxin (Shandong University, Weihai), and Associate Professor Yuan Fumin (China Agricultural University). Sub-forum 1 conducted discussions on the basic principles of Marxism and the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Sub-forum 2 focused on four issues: the connotation and application of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the understanding and grasping of said Thought; the connotations, paths, and experiences of Chinese-path modernization; and research by foreign Marxist scholars on socialist thought. Sub-forum 3 focused on themes including natural ecological civilization, ideology and core socialist values, Chinese-path modernization, the laws of human development, and the political and academic nature of the "Six Must-Upholds."

The first half of the morning session on the 20th was chaired by Researcher Han Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Dongyue Tribune (Dongyue Luncong) editorial department. Reports were delivered by: Researcher He Xinyuan (CASS) on "A Brief Discussion on the Laws of Development of Chinese-path Modernization"; Professor Jia Shupin (Shanghai Normal University) on "Lenin’s Understanding of the Harms of Erroneous Non-Marxist Trends of Thought"; Professor Han Sheng (Shandong University) on "The Intersubjective Logic of Globalization in the 21st Century Led by Common Values for All Humanity"; Professor Liu Mingming (Nankai University) on "Marx and Engels’ Ideas on the Solidarity and Unity of the Proletarian Party and Their Contemporary Value"; Professor Li Xiaoguang (University of Science and Technology Beijing) on "Studying Classical Works to Advance Marxist Theoretical Education"; and Associate Professor Zhang Yang (China University of Political Science and Law) on "A Study of the Political Relations of Data Power in Contemporary Capitalism."

The second half of the morning session on the 20th was chaired by Lin Qingchun of China University of Political Science and Law. Reports were delivered by: Researcher Sun Yingshuai (CASS) on "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Promotes a New Vitality in Scientific Socialism"; Associate Professor Gao Jiankun (Fudan University) on "A Marxist Political Economy Analysis of Prosperity Through Diligence and Innovation and Common Prosperity"; Associate Professor Xia Weiguo (Shandong University) on "An Inquiry into the Philosophical Foundations of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics"; Professor Wang Shuixing (Jiangxi Normal University) on "Communistic Reflections on Intelligent Civilization"; Associate Professor Wu Chuanpeng (Qinghai University) on "The Fine Traditional Chinese Cultural Genes of Xi Jinping’s Ecological Civilization Thought"; Associate Professor Fan Yuxian (Xi'an Jiaotong University) on "Theoretical Connotations and Realistic Implications of the People’s 'Better Life' in the New Era"; and Lecturer Zhang Xinran (China University of Political Science and Law) on "The Critique of Spatial Alienation in Urban Marxism and Its Limitations—From the Perspective of Historical Materialism."

Researcher Yang Jing, Deputy Director of the Department of Basic Principles at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered the forum summary. She summarized the forum's scale, caliber, and intellectual contributions through three descriptors: "Abundant" (feng), "New" (xin), and "Deep" (shen). "Abundant" referred to the volume of submissions, the level of participants, and the variety of viewpoints. "New" referred to the new titles, approaches, and perspectives, culminating in significant progress in theoretical innovation. "Deep" referred to the in-depth study of Marxist principles from the perspective of combining traditional and developmental forms, as well as research based on classical Marxist texts integrated with contemporary issues. The forum was a complete success, providing a high-end intellectual feast with profound insights. Associate Professor Tong Xiancheng of Yunnan Normal University spoke on behalf of the next host institution; the 2024 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism will be held in Kunming, Yunnan.