Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Convened in Guilin
On November 14, 2020, the "Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," jointly sponsored by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Guangxi Normal University, was held in Guilin. Nearly one hundred experts and scholars engaged in the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era from various universities and research institutions—including CASS, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, Nanjing University, Shaanxi Normal University, Anhui University, and Guangxi Normal University—as well as heads of several journals and newspapers, attended the meeting. The opening ceremony was presided over by Researcher Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. The keynote speech phase was presided over by Professor Tang Zhihua, Executive Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department and Dean of the School of Marxism at Guangxi Normal University; Professor Wei Dongxue, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism; and Researcher Dai Lixing, Deputy Director of the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. The group reporting and closing ceremony phases were presided over by Researcher Ren Jie of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
In his opening remarks, Professor Lin Chunyi, Vice President of Guangxi Normal University, expressed a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the participating experts and scholars on behalf of the university, and introduced the development overview and construction achievements of the Marxist theory discipline at Guangxi Normal University. Professor Lin Chunyi stated that the in-depth study and research of the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is an important task for the vast number of theoretical workers, philosophy and social science researchers, and teachers of ideological and political courses. It holds great significance for casting the soul and nurturing people [1] with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, for strengthening the "Four Consciousnesses," [2] firming the "Four Confidences," [3] and achieving the "Two Upholds," and for enhancing the recognition and understanding of why the Communist Party of China "can," why Marxism "works," and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is "good." [4]
Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, pointed out in his speech and keynote report that studying and researching the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is of great significance for promoting the popularization of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In this process, we must pay close attention to the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world's profound changes unseen in a century [5] proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. These "two overall situations" represent the General Secretary's strategic thinking on resolving the future and destiny of the Chinese nation from the height of global development and the great cause of human progress. Researcher Xin Xiangyang also emphasized that while grasping the two overall situations, one must comprehend the "two profound understandings" mentioned by the General Secretary: first, to profoundly understand the new characteristics and requirements brought about by the evolution of the principal contradiction in our society; [6] and second, to profoundly understand the new contradictions and challenges brought about by the complex international environment. Furthermore, he specifically pointed out that in addition to the "two overall situations," one must also grasp three other "totalities": namely, the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan," the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, and the new development pattern. [7]
During the keynote speech phase, Professor Hao Lixin of Renmin University of China summarized the major theoretical contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era through four aspects: focusing on one theme, centering on the two overall situations, promoting the "three-izations" [8] of Marxism, and deepening the understanding of the three laws. [9] Professor Li Youxin of Xiangtan University discussed Xi Jinping's inheritance and innovation of Mao Zedong's "Serve the People" thought from the perspectives of clarifying the Party’s original aspiration, strengthening the Party’s fundamental political stance, establishing standards for the ideals and beliefs of Party members and cadres, and implementing the people-centered development philosophy and various policies. Professor Xiang Jiuyu of Wuhan University expounded on the relationship between equity, justice, and the better life from three aspects: the relationship between the values of the better life and equity and justice, the relationship between institutional arrangements for the better life and equity and justice, and the relationship between contemporary Chinese practice and equity and justice. Researcher Chen Zhigang of CASS argued that General Secretary Xi Jinping has actively promoted the profound integration of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture; for the first time, he profoundly expounded on the unique value and spiritual essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, decoded the secret of the continuous nature of Chinese civilization, and placed fine traditional Chinese culture in an unprecedentedly important position, viewing it as the "root and soul" of national development, thereby promoting a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism. Professor Wu Xueqin of Anhui University discussed the social basic contradictions [10] of the New Era from the perspective of historical materialism and expounded on these contradictions in conjunction with the international situation of profound changes unseen in a century. Professor Chen Shifa of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics argued that the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is a vivid Marxist textbook that writes a new chapter, highlights new requirements, and clarifies new strategies. Researcher Huang Jian, Counselor of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, summarized the distinctive characteristics of the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China from six aspects: its people-centered, practical, epochal, scientific, global, and innovative nature. Professor Wang Chunxi of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics discussed why it is necessary to study the unique advantages of the Party’s democratic centralism, what those advantages are, and how to exert them; on this basis, he explored the original contributions of Xi Jinping’s important expositions on democratic centralism. Professor Meng Xianping of Guangxi Normal University discussed the basic characteristics of Xi Jinping’s important expositions on socialist cultural construction from the dimensions of culture, structural systems, and research methodology. Professor Yan Shuqun of Shaanxi Normal University explained that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a major theoretical innovation in the process of the Sinicization of Marxism from the three aspects of historical inheritance, practical development, and theoretical basis. Professor Wang Shiyi of the Party School of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC discussed the theoretical qualities of the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in terms of its pursuit of faith, global capability, problem awareness, systematic architecture, and political focus. Professor Xu Zhiyuan of Wuhan University of Technology pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is both a scientific theoretical system and a system of logical categories; upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the central category of this Thought. Professor Liu Qionghao of Guangxi Normal University explored the Marxist anthropological-philosophical foundation for building a community with a shared future for humanity, focusing on what Marxist anthropological philosophy is, why Marxist philosophy should be understood as anthropological philosophy, and why anthropological philosophy can provide a philosophical foundation for building a community with a shared future for humanity.
After heated group discussions, scholars from each group respectively conducted group reports and summaries on the epochal value and original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the theoretical innovations of the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. These demonstrated the pursuit of experts and scholars in clarifying truths and principles through scientific research exchange, as well as their commitment to advancing the study of Xi Jinping Thought through the merging of viewpoints.
Finally, Professor Tian Xuming, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Guangxi Normal University, provided a closing summary. He introduced the preparations for the conference and highly appraised it as a high-end meeting characterized by profound thought, rigorous theory, and problem awareness. He stated that the forum highlighted the sense of responsibility, mission, and academic pursuit of Marxist theory researchers and educators, and expressed sincere gratitude to the experts and scholars who attended and supported the meeting.
Contributor: Cai Xiaoju (Associate Professor, School of Marxism, Guangxi Normal University)