Academic Seminar on "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Contemporary International Communist Movement" and the Review Meeting for the "Yellow Book of the International Communist Movement (2020-2021)" Convened in Xiamen
On December 6, the academic symposium on "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Contemporary International Communist Movement," concurrently serving as the review meeting for the "Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2020-2021)," was held in Xiamen. The event was jointly hosted by the Department of International Communist Movement Studies of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University, and the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University. More than 40 experts and scholars attended the symposium from research institutions and universities, including CASS, the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Party School of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Renmin University of China, Shandong University, Central China Normal University, Huaqiao University, Fujian Normal University, Xiamen University, Yunnan University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Jimei University, Fujian Jiangxia University, and Shaanxi Normal University. Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, Research Fellow Pan Jin’e, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies, and members of the research group for the Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2020-2021) participated in the meeting.
(Participants gathered for a commemorative group photo)
The symposium was divided into morning and afternoon themes. The morning session focused on "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Contemporary International Communist Movement," while the afternoon session conducted a review of the drafting of the Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2020-2021).
The opening ceremony of the morning symposium was chaired by Gao Bingliang, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University. Zeng Lu, Vice President of Huaqiao University, Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, and Professor Wang Jianguo, Vice Dean of the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University, delivered successive speeches.
In his opening address, Vice President Zeng Lu of Huaqiao University introduced the historical connection between Huaqiao University and the discipline of the International Communist Movement. The university’s Master's degree program in Scientific Socialism and the International Communist Movement was established in 1990, becoming the earliest Master's program in the liberal arts at the university. The doctoral program was established in 2006, and was once the only doctoral program for this sub-discipline in Fujian Province. In recent years, the university has relied primarily on the School of Marxism to engage in research on the International Communist Movement and related disciplines through talent recruitment, the development of research and training programs for Marxist theory, and the establishment of research institutions. Huaqiao University attaches great importance to the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory and Ideological and Political Theory courses. It provides the School with special policy preferences, including faculty resources and funding, and requires the School to firmly grasp the fundamental system of the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field. The School must keep in mind that "the School of Marxism is surnamed Marx" and "speak of Marx within the School of Marx" [1], striving to combine the polishing of the brightest "underlying color" [2] of our nation's universities with the enhancement of Huaqiao University's reputation, thereby making due contributions to the university’s ideological and political work, Party building, and overseas United Front work [3].
(Vice President Zeng Lu of Huaqiao University)
In his opening remarks, Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, first emphasized that the academic symposium on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Contemporary International Communist Movement is a major event for China's historiography of the international communist movement and the discipline of Marxist theory this year, possessing great value and significance. He then spoke primarily on the following points: first, we bear the heavy responsibility of narrating to those overseas the new ideas, new strategies, and new practices of the Communist Party of China's governance in the New Era. Second, we must summarize, cherish, and write about socialism with Chinese characteristics. Third, the "anti-epidemic spirit" forged in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic—characterized by putting life above all else, nationwide unity, braving death, respecting science, and a shared future—demonstrates the CPC's power of appeal, leadership, centripetal force, cohesion, and combat effectiveness; it further highlights the significant advantages of the socialist system, particularly the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Fourth, the history of the international communist movement is a great historical process in which the global proletariat and laboring people seek human liberation under the guidance of Marxism and the leadership of Communist Parties. Fifth, in conducting research, we must "look ahead and look behind" [4]. "Looking behind" means examining history and summarizing experience; "looking ahead" means looking to the future, grasping laws, grasping trends, and grasping the overall situation. Sixth, to walk the Chinese path well, we must clarify its origins and development, summarize experience, and grasp the laws. Finally, Director Lin Jianhua pointed out that the history of the international communist movement contains two aspects: the history itself, and the understanding and writing of that history. Therefore, we bear the heavy responsibility of passing down history: first, by recording history, and second, by evaluating it.
(Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS)
In his opening address, Professor Wang Jianguo of Central China Normal University introduced the developmental history of the Scientific Socialism and International Communist Movement specialty at the School of Politics and International Relations of Central China Normal University, and proposed several ideas for related work.
(Professor Wang Jianguo, Vice Dean of the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University)
The first stage of the symposium was chaired by Professor Lin Huaiyi, Dean of the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University. Experts including Research Fellow Chai Shangjin of the Contemporary World Research Center of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, Professor Hu Zhenliang of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, Professor Cui Guitian, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University, Professor Guo Chunsheng, Director of the Institute of World Socialism at the School of International Relations of Renmin University of China, Research Fellow Xuan Chuanshu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Research Fellow Pan Jin’e, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies at the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, Professor Zheng Chuanfang of Fujian Normal University, Professor Wang Jianguo, Vice Dean of the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University, and Professor Lin Huaiyi, Dean of the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University, spoke successively on issues such as the new situation, new changes, and new characteristics of the development of the international communist movement; the relationship between socialism with Chinese characteristics and contemporary world socialism; the theory and practice of the contemporary international communist movement; and the development of the discipline of the international communist movement.
(Gao Bingliang, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University)
(Professor Lin Huaiyi, Dean of the School of Marxism at Huaqiao University)
The second stage of the meeting was the review session for the Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2020-2021).
Research Fellow Pan Jin’e of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS and Research Fellow Xuan Chuanshu of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences successively chaired the meeting. Research Fellow Pan Jin’e first introduced the drafting background, general thinking, topic selection, and preliminary preparations for the Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2020-2021). Subsequently, the participating authors reported one by one on the writing logic, content framework, main viewpoints, and existing problems of the thematic reports for which they were responsible. This was followed by individual critiques and suggestions for improvement from the attending experts. Associate Senior Editor Zhu Debin, responsible for coordinating the Yellow Book at the Social Sciences Academic Press, explained the writing style and requirements for the volume. The model adopted for the Yellow Book—one-on-one guidance by the expert group for each thematic report—provided new methods and ideas for the drafting process. This approach both trained the team and ensured the quality of the articles, receiving high recognition from the leadership of the Social Sciences Academic Press, peer experts, and the Yellow Book authors.
(Research Fellow Pan Jin’e, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies at the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)
(Research Fellow Xuan Chuanshu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)
Finally, Deputy Director Lin Jianhua provided a brief summary. He emphasized that all authors must conscientiously absorb the experts' critiques, carry out revisions and improvements on that basis, and strengthen communication with their guiding experts. At this point, the symposium reached a successful conclusion.
(Symposium venue)
(Provided by: Wang Zifeng)