Uniting Women's Strength to Celebrate the Centenary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China
The Academy of Marxism currently employs nearly 90 female staff members, who have become an important force in all aspects of our Academy's work. Giving full play to their spirit of professional dedication and willingness to make sacrifices, they have made great contributions to the smooth implementation of the Academy's operations. On the eve of the 2021 International Women's Day, in order to enrich the cultural life of our staff, further strengthen the cohesion of the entire Academy, carry forward the "Four Selfs" spirit [1] of women, and showcase the elegant demeanor of our female staff—while simultaneously seizing the opportunity of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party and the launch of the Party history learning and education campaign—the Academy’s Labor Union and Women’s Work Committee, with the approval of the Party Committee of the Academy of Marxism, organized a themed activity on March 3, 2021, titled "Gathering Women's Strength and Celebrating the Party Centenary." A total of 82 staff members participated. The group successively visited patriotic education bases [2] such as the Guo Moruo Memorial Hall, the achievement exhibition for the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Contemporary China (ICCS), and the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling. Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Academy's Party Committee, and Gong Yun, Vice President of the Academy, attended the event and delivered speeches.
Group photo at the Guo Moruo Memorial Hall
Guo Moruo was the first president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and, moreover, an outstanding figure in the 20th-century academic and cultural history of China who combined the roles of writer, historian, paleographer, calligrapher, and social activist. Deeply learned in both ancient and modern subjects and possessing a vast corpus of writings and translations, he was an encyclopedic cultural giant. Zhou Enlai once paired him with Lu Xun, remarking: "If Lu Xun was the pioneer who opened paths where there were none, Guo Moruo is the guide who leads everyone forward together." Ye Ting wrote a dedication for his 50th birthday: "May your longevity rival George Bernard Shaw, and your achievements pursue those of Maxim Gorky." Our staff looked with reverence upon the statue of Guo Moruo, visited his former residence and the exhibition of his life, and were deeply moved by his magnificent life of pursuing ideals, serving the country with his person, and breathing the same air and sharing the same fate as his era.
Visiting the exhibition of Guo Moruo’s life
Group photo at the Institute of Contemporary China
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Studying the history of the Party and the history of the country is a required course for us to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and to continue pushing the various undertakings of the Party and the state forward. This course is not only required; it must be mastered." The year 2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Contemporary China. As a national institution specialized in the study of national history, the ICCS has achieved proud results: it has produced a large number of research achievements with high academic standards and significant social influence; accumulated a collection of important archives, documents, and library materials; and, centered on the core work of the Party and the state, fulfilled its role as a "think tank" and "brain trust" for the Party Central Committee and the State Council. It has formed a reasonably structured team of scientific research talents with a certain national influence, training a large number of high-level researchers for the cause of national history. It has created academic exchange brands such as the Annual Academic Conference on the History of the People's Republic of China and International High-level Forums, actively building domestic and international exchange platforms. It has actively practiced the principle of "doing scholarship for the people" [3] and dedicated exquisite works to the people. The 30th-anniversary achievement exhibition is divided into eight sections—including "Accepting Solemn Entrustments," "A Thirty-Year Journey," "Compiling an Authentic National History," "Building a Think Tank with Chinese Characteristics," "Emphasizing Responsibility," "Cultivating Talents for the Era," "Broadening Exchanges and Mutual Learning," and "Strengthening Political Guidance"—showcasing the ICCS's 30 years of forging ahead and 30 years of fruitful results.
Visiting the achievement exhibition for the 30th anniversary of the Institute of Contemporary China
After visiting the 30th-anniversary achievement exhibition themed "Compiling History, Assisting Governance, Educating People, and Protecting the Nation," our staff collectively watched a documentary on the 30th anniversary of the ICCS. From the documentary, everyone saw the warm congratulations and earnest hopes of the older generation of leaders and scholars of the Institute, and learned about the arduous struggles and patriotic sentiments of the current leadership and staff. All were moved by what they saw.
Following the visit, Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Academy's Party Committee, delivered a speech. Secretary Xin pointed out that through visiting the exhibition and watching the promotional film, we deeply felt that the ICCS has solidly advanced national history research for 30 years, leaving us a very precious wealth. We should learn from the spirit of the ICCS, strengthen our study of the history of the Communist Party of China, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of the development of socialism (the "four histories" [4]), and better promote Marxist research through the study of history. He said that General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that studying history is to understand principles, increase confidence, honor morality, and practice diligently (xuéshǐ mínglǐ, xuéshǐ zēngxìn, xuéshǐ chóngdé, xuéshǐ lìxíng). For our Academy, the key to studying history lies in promoting the better development of Marxist research. Finally, he emphasized that the Academy of Marxism has been established for 16 years; on the one hand, we must learn from the ICCS's serious attitude toward compiling history; on the other hand, we must proceed from the reality of the Academy of Marxism, do a good job in all aspects of our work, and push our work to a new level. Comrade Jiang Hui is both the Director of the ICCS and the President of the Academy of Marxism; his requirements for the ICCS are also applicable to the Academy of Marxism, and we must strive to push our Academy’s work to new heights.
Speech by Party Committee Secretary Xin Xiangyang
The final stop of the activity was the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling, where everyone listened to a precious "Party lesson" [5] titled "Outstanding Party Member Soong Ching-ling" in the exhibition hall of her life achievements. The speaker gave a factual account of Soong Ching-ling’s more than 70 years of revolution. In the long, tortuous, and complex historical process, she always took the interests of the people as her starting point and ultimate destination. She kept pace with the times, pursued truth with unswerving determination, and finally realized her long-cherished wish to join the Communist Party of China at the end of her life, fulfilling her solemn promise to "always be with the Party" and bringing a perfect conclusion to her legendary life of struggle through blood and fire. Our staff deeply appreciated the demeanor of Soong Ching-ling as a great patriot, democrat, internationalist, and communist fighter.
After the Party lesson, Gong Yun, Vice President of our Academy, gave a concluding speech. He pointed out that this activity was an excellent experience of "practicing diligently through the study of history." Soong Ching-ling was a great woman. On the occasion of International Women's Day, it is an unforgettable experience for the staff of the Academy of Marxism to remember this communist fighter, to learn from her, and to pay tribute to her. He emphasized that this year marks the beginning of China's "new journey" of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, which was also the great ideal pursued by revolutionary predecessors including Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching-ling throughout their lives. At this juncture, it is very meaningful for us to come to the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling to celebrate International Women's Day and engage in Party history education. History is the best textbook, and it is also the best nutrient and sobering agent. We must study history, and we must also write the glorious history of 21st-century Marxism.
Speech by Vice President Gong Yun
Finally, our staff visited the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling, gaining an in-depth understanding of her nearly 70-year revolutionary career and her indelible contributions to the cause of the Chinese people's liberation, the health and welfare of women and children, the reunification of the motherland, the defense of world peace, and the cause of human progress.
Group photo at the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling
Through this activity, our staff unanimously agreed that it was highly meaningful for the Academy’s Labor Union and Women’s Work Committee to organize this visit and study on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party and the nationwide Party history learning and education campaign. Everyone expressed that as staff of the Academy of Marxism at CASS, we must consciously strengthen our study of the "four histories," ensuring we know history to love the Party and the country. We must consciously practice our original aspiration and founding mission, tell China’s story well, and spread China’s voice well. At the same time, we must learn from Soong Ching-ling and Guo Moruo, firm up our faith in Marxism, take the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics as our lifelong pursuit, and welcome the centenary of the Communist Party of China with a brand-new posture. With this, the Academy of Marxism's International Women's Day visit and study activity came to a successful conclusion.
(Author: Wang Zifeng)