The 7th Scientific Socialism Forum of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Convened
Scene of the conference. Photo by Wang Xiyu, CSSN.cn reporter.
China Social Sciences Network (CSSN) News (Reporter Wang Xiyu) On December 7, 2019, the Seventh National Scientific Socialism Forum was held in Dalian. The event was hosted by the Leading Group for Marxist Disciplinary Development and Theoretical Research of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and co-organized by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, Liaoning Normal University, and the Dalian Federation of Social Science Circles. Under the theme "70 Years of Research on Scientific Socialism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics," the forum attracted nearly a hundred experts and scholars from CASS, the Central Party School of the CPC, the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, Shandong University, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and Liaoning Normal University. Editors from journals such as Qiushi, Scientific Socialism, Marxist Studies, and Contemporary World and Socialism also attended.
Liu Xiangjun, Vice President of Liaoning Normal University, and Jia Chaoning, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Marxist Development Research at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the opening. Li Yuke, Dean of the School of Marxism at Liaoning Normal University, provided the closing summary for the conference.
In his speech, Liu Xiangjun warmly welcomed the attending experts on behalf of Liaoning Normal University. He stated that the gathering of experts and scholars at the university aimed to comprehensively review and summarize the theoretical, practical, and historical logic [1] of the development of scientific socialism in China. He noted the forum would conduct in-depth research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee [2], responding to major theoretical and practical questions. He pledged the university’s dedicated service to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting.
Jia Chaoning stated that on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Institute held this forum to summarize and review the theory and great practice of scientific socialism, and to fully open a new chapter in the research and dissemination of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Scientific Socialism Forum, now in its seventh successful session, has created a "brand effect" and made significant academic contributions. It serves as an important component of the construction of CASS as a strong fortress for Marxism, providing a platform for Marxist theoretical workers to voice their academic views and exchange ideas. In the New Era, to persist in and develop scientific socialism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, we must continue to uphold the basic principles of scientific socialism. We must strengthen research on the major theoretical and practical issues of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, on contemporary world capitalism, and on the current status and development trends of the contemporary world socialist movement, thereby making due contributions to the persistence and development of contemporary Marxism and 21st-century Marxism.
Over the 70 years since the founding of the PRC, the CPC has led the Chinese people and the Chinese nation in achieving a great leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong [3], ensuring that scientific socialism—with its history of over 170 years—retains strong vitality and vigor in 21st-century China. In contemporary China, persisting in and developing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is precisely what it means to persist in and develop Marxism and scientific socialism. Professor Kang Xiaoqiang of the Department of Scientific Socialism at the Central Party School proposed that scientific socialism is the "root," "foundation," and "source" of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, while Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is the "outflow" and "branch" [4]. Xi Jinping's discourses on scientific socialism have, for the first time, clearly positioned the new historical coordinates of China's socialist development; sketched the systemic structure and path for socialist state governance; emphasized the leadership of the Party as the primary essential characteristic of socialism; highlighted the primary position of political construction in the Party's self-construction; and for the first time proposed the concept and theory of building a "community with a shared future for humanity."
Since the 18th CPC National Congress [5], the CPC has comprehensively deepened reform, continuously developed and improved the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and steadily enhanced its capacity to use this system to govern the country effectively. It has formed a successful system of institutions distinct from Western countries, demonstrating unique advantages. Wu Haibao, Vice President of the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, remarked that confidence in the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics stems from the historical genes of the Chinese nation and traditional Chinese culture. Our institutional confidence possesses a solid foundation and distinct advantages. To persist in the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the emphasis must be on construction; we must not remain at the level of "belief" (xin) but must descend to the level of "action" (xing). Chang Guangmin, former Director of the Political Department of the Qiushi journal, stated that Chinese Communists must remain unshakable in leur adherence to Party leadership and the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, carry forward the spirit of struggle, improve their fighting capacity, and promote the development of various undertakings of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
As Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has entered a New Era, the CPC continues to propel scientific socialism into a new stage, which carries great theoretical, practical, epochal, and global significance. Professor Meng Xin of the Department of Scientific Socialism at the Central Party School argued that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest achievement in the Sinicization of Marxism. It not only allows the path of Chinese modernization to manifest new advantages but also injects new vigor and vitality into scientific socialism in the New Era, making greater contributions to world socialism and the development of humanity. Professor Zhang Shihai, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University, proposed that we must accurately grasp the methods and principles of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This requires combining a Chinese standpoint with a global vision, integrating realistic needs with historical reflection, and uniting theoretical persistence with theoretical development. Researcher Liu Zhiming argued that upholding the principles of scientific socialism while developing it in practice is a precious experience summarized by the Party and the state through countless storms. We have reason to believe that the "calling card" of scientific socialism will surely resonate more loudly in the world, and world socialism will eventually usher in a beautiful future.
The forum conducted in-depth discussions on topics including the historic achievements and precious experiences of the PRC's construction and development; the theoretical contributions and practical explorations of China's socialist modernization; research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; research on scientific socialism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era; research on the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity and confidence in the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; and research on the future and destiny of world socialism. The atmosphere of the meeting was enthusiastic and the results were fruitful, demonstrating the broad theoretical horizons and profound academic insights of the experts and scholars.
[Image captions provided in original text follow the same pattern of identifying speakers and photographers].
This article is reprinted from China Social Sciences Network.