Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Engels' Birth and the 13th National Forum for Deans of Marxist Schools Convened at Tianjin Normal University
From October 31 to November 2, the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of Friedrich Engels' Birth and the 13th National Forum of Deans of Marxism was held in Tianjin. This year’s forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Tianjin Normal University, and organized by the School of Marxism of Tianjin Normal University. The theme of the forum was "Engels and Contemporary China." Jiang Hui, Member of the CASS Party Leadership Group, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote report. Chen Zhemin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Publicity Department of the Municipal Party Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
The opening ceremony of the forum was presided over by Zhang Ling, Party Committee Secretary of Tianjin Normal University. Attending the opening ceremony were responsible comrades from relevant units, including Gu Hailiang, Deputy Director of the Social Sciences Committee of the Ministry of Education and Boya Chair Professor at Peking University; Xin Xiangyang, Party Committee Secretary and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Hou Huiqin, former Party Committee Secretary of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Director of the CASS Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideology; Li Xuyan, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee; Jing Hongyang, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Education Work Committee of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal Education Commission; and Shi Fengyan, Party Leadership Group Secretary of the Tianjin Federation of Social Science Circles. Zhong Yinghua, Deputy Party Committee Secretary and President of Tianjin Normal University, delivered an address at the opening ceremony.
In his report, Jiang Hui pointed out that studying Engels' perspective on Marxism requires a profound understanding of Engels' defense and upholding of the scientific system of Marxism, so as to earnestly study Marxist classical works and take a clear-cut stand in adhering to the basic principles, positions, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism. He also noted that studying Engels' perspective on Marxism requires a deep appreciation of Engels' scientific attitude and innovative development toward Marxism, thereby enriching and developing Marxism while advancing with the times. He emphasized that studying Engels' perspective on Marxism requires a profound grasp of Engels' creative practical application of Marxism, so as to consciously apply scientific theory to guide new developments in practice. Jiang Hui stated in his speech that this forum brought together deans of schools of Marxism and expert scholars from universities across the country to revisit Engels' glorious thought and the historical process of its dissemination and application in China, and to exchange and display the latest achievements in Marxist research. This is of great significance for deepening the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and for promoting the Sinicization, modernization, and popularization [1] of Marxism.
Following the opening ceremony, Gu Hailiang delivered a keynote report titled "The Thought, Spirit, and Character of Engels." Hou Huiqin delivered a keynote report titled "Engels: The First Person to Uphold the Fundamentals and Break New Ground in Marxist Philosophy." The keynote report session was presided over by Xin Xiangyang.
Gu Hailiang pointed out that on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Engels' birth, reviewing Engels' intellectual journey, revolutionary spirit, and noble character possesses not only historical significance for the development of Marxism, but even more so practical significance for the development of 21st-century Marxism. He emphasized that Engels made unique contributions to the formation and development of Marxism. This was manifested on one hand in his joint creation with Marx of the basic theories and system of Marxism, and on the other hand, was highlighted by many pioneering theoretical contributions Engels made while adhering to and developing Marx's thought after Marx's death. He particularly emphasized that Engels and his thought endure within the history and contemporary development of Marxism; President Xi Jinping’s speech at the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth also carries particularly important significance for understanding and grasping Engels' thought, spirit, and character.
Hou Huiqin pointed out that the birth of Marxist philosophy was the most magnificent sunrise in the history of human thought, and Engels, as a collaborator, was deservedly the first person to uphold the fundamentals and break new ground in Marxist philosophy. He noted that Engels not only perfected the new materialism founded by Marx but also continuously pushed it into practice as the worldview of the proletarian party. This is mainly reflected in three "integrations." First, the integration of ontology and epistemology, resolving the mystery of Kant's "thing-in-itself," founding the dialectics of nature, and laying the foundation for materialist dialectics, thus making a unique contribution to the new materialism. Second, the integration of the ancient and modern history of philosophical thought, establishing the fundamental question of philosophy [2] and setting an objective standard for correctly conducting the struggle in philosophical thought. Third, the integration of German classical philosophy and Marxist philosophy, preventing German classical philosophy from turning toward pure subjectivism or individualist philosophy, and prominently demonstrating that Marxist philosophy is the true successor to German classical philosophy.
During the expert reporting phase, nearly 40 experts and scholars delivered speeches to the assembly, and more than 50 experts and scholars spoke in sub-forums. This forum was attended by 126 units from 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, including CASS, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Beijing Normal University, Jilin University, Nankai University, Tianjin University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Shandong University, Lanzhou University, Dalian University of Technology, Tianjin Normal University, and Northeast Normal University. Participants included more than 200 experts and scholars from CASS, 32 national key schools of Marxism, as well as journals such as Marxist Studies, Teaching and Research, Studies on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Foreign Social Sciences, Exploration, Chinese Social Sciences Today, and People's Daily Online.
The participating experts unanimously agreed that the convening of this forum coincided with the successful conclusion of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Amidst an atmosphere of national cohesion and spiritual invigoration, this forum holds significant practical importance for promoting the study of the thoughts of Marxist classical writers and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deepening the study of the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and continuously advancing the Sinicization, modernization, and popularization of Marxism. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a New Era, the Chinese nation welcomes the bright prospect of great rejuvenation, and scientific socialism increasingly demonstrates strong vitality. Facing the world's great changes unseen in a century [3], and the complex situation and arduous tasks of today's world, we must persist in arming our minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We must take practical action to plunge into the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, march toward the Second Centenary Goal [4], and continuously push forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
The National Forum of Deans of Marxism is a high-end forum founded by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. Having held thirteen sessions to date, it has become a major platform for regular exchange among domestic Marxist theoretical workers, an important window for displaying the latest research results of the Sinicization of Marxism, and a strong fortress for the propaganda and popularization of Marxism. This forum marks the first time the National Forum of Deans of Marxism has been held in Tianjin.