The 4th "CASS Mao Zedong Thought Forum" Convened
The fourth "Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Mao Zedong Thought Forum" was held in Beijing on April 15, 2017. The theme of this year's forum was "Mao Zedong and the Theoretical Innovation of the Communist Party of China," aimed at conducting in-depth research into the experience of the Party's theoretical innovation, studying and publicizing the achievements of theoretical innovation since the 18th National Congress [1], and taking practical action to welcome the successful opening of the 19th National Congress.
Li Jie, President of the Qiushi Journal and Chairman of the Forum, delivered a keynote report titled "Mao Zedong Thought and Theoretical Innovation since the 18th National Congress." Li summarized the relationship between Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical innovations since the 18th National Congress—that is, their relationship to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches and the new concepts, thoughts, and strategies for governance—from eight perspectives. First, unswervingly upholding the principles of scientific socialism and the fundamental socialist system, maintaining the dialectical unity between the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of China's social development, persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving the "Two Centenary Goals" [2], and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Second, adhering to a firm and correct political direction, particularly maintaining an unambiguous and unwavering commitment to the leadership of the Party and the socialist path and system. Third, adhering to a correct organizational line, particularly upholding the standard for cadres of possessing both political integrity and professional competence [3] and the system of democratic centralism, ensuring that leadership at all levels of the Party and state remains in the hands of qualified Marxist statesmen. Fourth, maintaining leadership over ideology, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, and strengthening the common ideological foundation upon which the whole Party and the people of the entire country struggle in unity. Fifth, adhering to the principle of building the military politically [4], preserving the "soul of the army" characterized by the Party commanding the gun, and ensuring the people's army remains a combat force forever. Sixth, persisting in an independent foreign policy of peace, resolutely defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, making friends extensively, and never seeking hegemony. Seventh, adhering to the purpose of wholehearted service to the people and the political character of the proletarian vanguard, comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, combining ideological Party building with institutional Party governance, forcefully fighting corruption, tirelessly opposing the Four Winds, standardizing political life within the Party, purifying the political ecosystem, and forever preserving the Party's advanced nature and purity. Eighth, adhering to seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence, and under the new situation, persisting in and utilizing well the "living soul" of Mao Zedong Thought [5] to build our Party effectively and continue pushing forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Li Jie argued that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new concepts, thoughts, and strategies for governance constitute both a persistence, inheritance, and development of Mao Zedong Thought, while also effectively inheriting and developing the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics initiated and founded by Deng Mao Theory, pushing this theoretical system into a new stage which requires our earnest study and implementation.
At the forum, several experts and scholars in the field of Mao Zedong Thought research delivered speeches on related themes. Sha Jiansun, former Deputy Director of the Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee and Professor at Peking University, outlined the "Fundamental Path of the Party's Theoretical Innovation"; Professor Xu Quanxing of the Central Party School discussed "The Ideological Line and the Party's Theoretical Innovation"; Research Fellow Yang Mingwei, Director of the First Editorial Research Department of the Central Literature Research Management Office, spoke on "Mao Zedong’s Theoretical Innovation through Military Aphorisms"; Professor Xue Guangzhou of the Central Party School argued that "On Practice and On Contradiction constitute the world outlook and methodology of Chinese Communists"; Tang Zhouyan, Party Secretary of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that "Mao Zedong is the Paradigm of the Party's Theoretical Innovation"; Jin Minqing, a Research Fellow at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, discussed "Mao Zedong’s View on ‘Problems and Isms’ [6] and its Application in Theoretical Innovation"; Professor Li Youxin of Xiangtan University identified "Several Major Issues in Deepening Mao Zedong Research under New Historical Conditions"; and Professor Xu Junzhong of Sun Yat-sen University elaborated on why Mao Zedong disagreed with the resolution of the report of the "Eighth National Congress" [7]. Over 130 renowned experts, young scholars, teaching and research personnel, and media members from various research institutions and universities nationwide attended the forum.
The "Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Mao Zedong Thought Forum" is a high-end national academic forum established under the leadership of the CASS Leading Group for Marxist Theoretical Discipline Construction and Theoretical Research Project and hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies. It aims to strengthen academic exchange in the field of Mao Zedong Thought research across the country and promote the in-depth development of Mao Zedong Thought studies. Founded in 2014, it has now completed a four-year journey. The themes of the previous three forums were "Mao Zedong Thought and Contemporary China," "Mao Zedong Thought and the Contemporary Value of Constructing 21st-Century Chinese Marxism," and "Mao Zedong Thought and the Communist Party of China." The theme of each forum has been consistent with the pace of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches and the innovative development of the new concepts, thoughts, and strategies for governance, fully demonstrating the contemporary value and guiding role of Mao Zedong Thought. Simultaneously, the forum has played a role in "clearing the source and straightening the stream" [8] regarding the refutation of historical nihilism [9]. Although this young forum has been established for a short time, it has played an important role in advancing and deepening the study of Mao Zedong Thought under the new situation.