Symposium on the Publication of "The Warmth of the New Era" Held in Beijing
On August 9, a publication seminar for the book The Warmth of the New Era [1], organized by the Department of Marxist Theory of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Oriental Publishing House, was held in Beijing. The meeting centered on this key thematic publication [2] by Oriental Publishing House to explore the discourse on the "people-centered perspective" within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, while discussing the value and significance of the book's release.
The publication of The Warmth of the New Era has inspired scholars to conduct new reflections and research on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s people-centered perspective from fresh angles. Experts and scholars from institutions and universities including CASS, the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), Peking University, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, and Yunnan Normal University attended the meeting. They conducted in-depth discussions on the book’s publication process, its value, and personal reflections after reading. Additionally, Huang Shuyuan, Vice Chairman of the China Publishers Association and former President of the People’s Publishing House, and Ren Chao, Vice Chairman of the China Bookshelving and Distribution Association and former Executive Vice President of the People’s Publishing House, provided objective evaluations of the work’s academic and market value from the perspectives of editing and distribution.
Transforming "Warmth" into Heat in the Hearts of 1.4 Billion Chinese People
Regarding the creative process, according to the author's representative Qian Minghui, a professor at the School of Philosophy, Politics, and Law at Yunnan Normal University, the author Li Wei is an ethnic minority cadre who emerged from a background of ordinary hardship and rose step-by-step from the grassroots [3] level. Li Wei often remarks, "Every bit of progress I have made is the result of cultivation by the Party and the people. Without the Party’s sunlight and dew [4], I would still be herding cattle and sheep in a small mountain village." It is precisely because of this personal experience and the genuine feeling of the omnipresent care in the New Era that he remains filled with gratitude and appreciation toward the Party and the people. Simultaneously, it is this keen perception—the feeling that the New Era is a period possessed of great "warmth"—that ignited the author's creative passion to amplify the resonant, warm voice of the New Era and generate positive social energy [5].
Xin Xiangyang, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, pointed out that the timing of this book’s publication is excellent. It aligns closely with the "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission" [6] thematic education campaign and resonates with the New Era’s focus on the requirements of the masses. In particular, it grasps the historical transformation that has occurred in the principal contradiction [7] of Chinese society in the New Era. A crucial change in New Era socialism is that the needs of the masses have evolved from past material and cultural requirements toward the "need for a better life." Much of the book's language is vivid and fresh, staying close to the New Era and the needs of readers.
Experts and Scholars Affirmed the Work from a Writing Perspective
Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Marxist Theory at the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS), stated that the book is exceptionally well-written. It not only reflects the warmth of the New Era but also emphasizes that the Party and the people are as one; the people are a vital force and the solid foundation for building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
"The logic of the chapters is very clear, the language is highly distinctive, and theoretical logic runs through it from beginning to end. It is problem-oriented [8], and its ultimate conclusion always lands on explaining General Secretary Xi Jinping’s discourse on the people-centered perspective," said Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Development Studies at the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS).
Yuan Jinhui, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), summarized three aspects centered on the word "warmth." He stated that warmth is manifested in three areas: first, the "warm" masses of the New Era; second, the "warm" leader of the New Era; and third, the fact that the author himself is a "warm" writer. Furthermore, as we are a multi-ethnic major power, whether they are people or scholars of various ethnicities, all can find their place under the theme of "centering on the people," which is worthy of our study and appreciation.
"As scholars, we should embody the 'warmth' of the New Era and study the people-centered perspective of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as presented in this book. Whether scholars are reflecting, speaking, or writing, they should center on the interests of the people and truly place the people in the center of their hearts. Only then can high-quality theory be produced. Therefore, the publication of this book is of great significance," said Nie Zhihong, Associate Professor at the School of Marxism, Peking University.
Wang Shengsheng, Professor at the School of Marxism at Nankai University, noted that the author uses a narrative method that ordinary people can understand and enjoy. He has outlined several threads of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Outline [9]—that is, centering on the people, where the people are our starting point and our ultimate destination.
Zhang Chen, a researcher at the National Center for Research on Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics at Renmin University of China, and Zhang Kai, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Economics Department at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), shared their insights on reading The Warmth of the New Era and studying General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "people-centered" thought.
From the perspective of subject selection, Huang Shuyuan, Vice Chairman of the China Publishers Association and former President and Party Secretary of the People's Publishing House, believes the New Era is a warm era, and the Chinese people frequently feel this warmth. The author has written on such a significant theme in a way that is both high-minded and uniquely fresh, full of positive energy yet vivid and approachable. The writing style is simple and unadorned, fully demonstrating the love for the people and the heart for the people of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.
Ren Chao, Vice Chairman of the China Bookshelving and Distribution Association and former Executive Vice President of the People’s Publishing House, provided a comparative analysis with similar works. While there are many thematic publications this year, many feel mediocre due to three issues: moving only from theory to theory, remaining on a single level, and sticking to a single angle. However, the entry point, title, perspective, and even the timing of The Warmth of the New Era offer valuable lessons. "Viewed from the side, a range; from the end, a peak; far, near, high, low, no two views are the same" [10]—changing the perspective makes the appearance entirely different.
At the conclusion of the seminar, Sun Han, Editor-in-Chief of Oriental Publishing House, stated that the experts, professors, and guests had shared their views and engaged in an intellectual exchange. This has allowed for a deeper understanding of the book's connotations and a more comprehensive recognition of what it means to "place the people in the highest position in one's heart," giving us a more concrete and multi-dimensional understanding of the people-centered perspective.