The 9th "International Communist Movement Forum" and the Release Conference of the "Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement (2020-2021)" Held in Shanghai

On July 3, 2021, the 9th "International Communism Forum," jointly organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Social Sciences Academic Press, and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, was held in Shanghai. More than 70 experts and scholars from over 20 research units and universities attended, including representatives from CASS, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Renmin University of China, the National Defense University, Fudan University, the China Pudong Editorial Academy (CELAP), the Party School of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC, Shandong University, East China Normal University, Central China Normal University, Yunnan University, Soochow University, and Liaocheng University. Jiang Hui—member of the CASS Party Leadership Group, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, and Editor-in-Chief of the Yellow Book of International Communist Movement—and Wang Yumei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, delivered opening addresses. Director Jiang Hui's address was read on his behalf by Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS.

In his speech, Jiang Hui pointed out that 2021 is a landmark year: it marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China, the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and coincides with the "historical convergence of the Two Centenaries ^[1]." The Party Central Committee has made the major decision to "conduct Party history study and education throughout the whole Party." Just the day before yesterday, on "July 1st," our Party held a grand celebration for its centenary, where General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech that serves as a political declaration and action program for marching toward the Second Centenary Goal. At these critical temporal junctures, it is necessary to grasp several key issues: the interplay between the profound changes unseen in a century ^[2] and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered the international situation complex and volatile. New problems, challenges, and threats emerge constantly, accelerating the trend toward multipolarity and the evolution of the global landscape. This requires us to profoundly grasp the new changes in the world pattern and the relations between the "two systems" (socialism and capitalism) within the context of the pandemic.

The century-long history of the CPC is an organic component of the international communist movement and the world socialist movement. History proves that the CPC is a firm believer in and faithful practitioner of Marxism and scientific socialism; an active promoter and conscious pioneer of the international communist movement and world socialism; and a powerful leader and major contributor to the innovative development of 21st-century Marxism and world socialism. Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era demonstrates broader institutional advantages and will certainly open new horizons for the development of world socialism in the 21st century. In early 2021, while COVID-19 continued to spread unchecked in the West, the socialist countries of North Korea, Laos, Vietnam, and Cuba basically brought the epidemic under control and successively held new Party Congresses. The holding of these meetings will surely promote reform, innovation, construction, and development in existing socialist countries. Furthermore, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of non-ruling communist parties such as the Italian Communist Party, the Spanish Communist Party, and the Portuguese Communist Party; we must focus on studying the experiences and inspirations of these parties over the past century. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Paris Commune—the first state apparatus of the dictatorship of the proletariat in world history. Although the Paris Commune existed for only 72 short days, it provided an exemplary model for seizing revolutionary power and strengthening the construction of political power, democracy, supervisory mechanisms, and party building after seizing power. To this day, the experiences and lessons of the Paris Commune still offer certain inspirations for us in strengthening the construction of our national system and governance system.

Wang Yumei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, noted in her speech that the CPC's century of development is an organic part of the international communist and world socialist movements, and Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era has become the mainstay and standard-bearer of the modern world socialist movement. Shanghai is the birthplace of the CPC, the place where the Party’s dreams set sail, an important window for the world to observe China, and a strategic node linking China to the world. It is timely and of great practical significance to gather here with experts from across the country to discuss the glorious century of the CPC and new developments in the international communist movement. It is hoped that this meeting will further encourage us to earnestly study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the CPC and socialism, especially his recent speech at the centenary celebration, and to profoundly comprehend the new developments that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has brought to the theory of scientific socialism. Additionally, it should promote in-depth research into the CPC’s historical contributions to international communism and world socialism, as well as the global significance of the Chinese-path, theory, system, and culture of socialism. It should further advance our accurate grasp of the latest trends and prominent features of world socialism, furthering world socialist research and pushing the cause of socialist modernization forward.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Researcher Huang Kaifeng, Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Yang Qun, Editor-in-Chief of the Social Sciences Academic Press, released the new book information for the Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement (2020-2021) on behalf of the publisher.

Professor Lin Jianhua and Professor Liu Jingbei, Deputy Dean of the China Pudong Editorial Academy, delivered keynote speeches titled "The History of Socialist Development Plays a Foundational, Integrative, and Guiding Role in 'Four Histories' ^[3] Publicity and Education" and "21st-Century Marxism and Contemporary World Socialism," respectively.

The academic seminar sessions were chaired by Researcher Pan Jin’e, Director of the International Communist Movement Research Department of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Researcher Tang Yunyi, Director of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Party Committee; and Professor Fang Wen of the School of Marxism at Soochow University. Researcher Xuan Chuanshū, Deputy Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, moderated the free discussion and concluding session.

Participating experts and scholars delivered brilliant speeches and engaged in heated exchanges around six conference topics: "The Century-long History of the CPC from the Perspective of the International Communist Movement," "The CPC and New Developments in Socialism with Chinese Characteristics," "New Dynamics of Communist Parties Worldwide under the COVID-19 Pandemic," "New Trends in Reform and Development in Socialist Countries," "New Changes in Contemporary Capitalism," and "Experiences and Lessons of the Paris Commune."

Presenters included Professor Xi Guangqing (former Director of the Social Sciences Division of the Ministry of Education, Renmin University) on "Transformation and Development of Modern Socialism in the New Century"; Researcher Chai Shangjin (Contemporary World Research Center of the CPC International Department) on "Current Developments of Foreign Communist Parties"; Professor Hu Zhenliang (Socialist Department of the Central Party School) on "The 'Modernization' Connotation of 21st-Century World Socialism"; and Researcher Xu Baoyou (Institute of Party History and Literature) on "Experiences and Lessons of Ruling Party Building in Socialist Countries: A Comparison between the Chinese and Soviet Parties."

Other speakers included Professor Cui Guitian (Director of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism, Shandong University), Professor Chen Xueming (Fudan University), Professor Wang Gonglong (Shanghai Municipal Party School), Professor Wang Jianguo (Central China Normal University), Professor Yuan Qun (Yunnan University), Researcher Cao Yongxin (Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences), Professor Li Haiping (National Defense University), Associate Researcher Lai Qingli (Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences), Professor Guo Chunsheng (Shandong University), Researcher Li Ruiqin (CASS), Professor Zhang Youjun (Liaocheng University) on "Reflections on Engels’ Revolutionary Tactics in His Later Years," Professor Yu Weihai (Central China Normal University), Professor Hao Yuqing (East China Normal University), and Associate Researcher He Qin (CASS).

The Yellow Book of International Communist Movement: Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement has seen three volumes published since 2019, with annual publications planned for the future. At the meeting, Researcher Xuan Chuanshū also provided pre-release information for the Yearbook of World Socialist Research (2020).