"Gongyuan Marxist Academic Salon" Held in Beijing
A panoramic view of the conference On the morning of September 16, 2021, the "Gongyuan Marxist Academic Salon," sponsored by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was held in Beijing. The theme of this academic salon was "Common Prosperity." Gong Yun, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, presided over the salon and delivered a speech. Zhang Jiangang and Yang Jing, both Senior Research Fellows at the Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered keynote presentations.
Gong Yun, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS In his speech, Gong Yun pointed out that holding this academic salon is a concrete measure by the Institute of Marxism Studies to implement the spirit of the CASS Summer Work Conference [1]. It aims to achieve an integration of basic theoretical research and applied policy research, promote the growth of young researchers at the Institute, and advance the high-quality development of the Institute. The academic salon is a foundational task for talent cultivation; it should utilize major interdisciplinary issues as a starting point [2] to encourage exchange and discussion among young scholars, elevate their academic standing, and leverage collective strength through cross-departmental organization to facilitate the formation of major theoretical achievements. The academic salon must center its discussions on major theoretical and practical issues of concern to the Party and the state. Regarding certain "hot topics," researchers must accurately interpret the spirit of the central authorities [3] and provide timely reflections of the viewpoints held by scholars at the Institute. All departments should execute their tasks, strengthen coordination, exercise collective wisdom, and assist young scholars in improving their research capabilities and producing theoretical results. Importance must be placed on the formation and promotion of the results of keynote speeches and discussions, facilitating the exchange of results between departments and institutes, and recommending excellent work to major academic newspapers and journals.
Gong Yun stated that the salon’s theme, "common prosperity," is a topic of great interest to everyone, and the significance of researching this issue is immense. Our Party has already placed the realization of common prosperity for all people in an even more prominent position. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee [4] also made major arrangements for advancing common prosperity and proposed the long-range objective for 2035: "more obvious and substantive progress in common prosperity for all people," which has broadened the connotation of "common prosperity." "Common Prosperity" is a major hot topic on which the Institute must voice its perspective; young scholars need to conduct in-depth research on this theme on the basis of strengthening their historical studies. We must clarify the connotations and paths for realizing common prosperity, whether common prosperity constitutes a social formation [5], and why Zhejiang has become a demonstration zone for common prosperity, among other issues.
Zhang Jiangang, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS Focusing on the "profound connotations and realization paths of common prosperity," Zhang Jiangang raised the following three points. First, accurately understanding the profound connotation of common prosperity. General Secretary Xi Jinping provided a profound explanation of the concept and path of common prosperity at the tenth meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, in which several innovative points are worth considering: common prosperity is, first, common prosperity for the majority of people; second, prosperity in both material and spiritual terms; third, common prosperity that allows for certain gaps; fourth, the realization of common prosperity requires stages and steps; fifth, it is a fundamental requirement of socialism, a major feature of Chinese-path modernization, and moreover, the original aspiration and founding mission for which Chinese Communists strive. Common prosperity is a relative concept and a state of continuous development; realizing common prosperity involves a long historical process and is a systematic project.
Second, scientifically setting the staged goals for common prosperity. Corresponding to the two stages of socialist modernization, our country’s advancement of common prosperity must also achieve staged goals. In the first stage from 2020 to 2035, more obvious and substantive progress will be made in common prosperity for all people, people's lives will be better, the total economic volume and per capita income of urban and rural residents will reach new heights, per capita GDP will reach the level of moderately developed countries, the middle-income group will expand significantly, equalization of basic public services will be achieved, and the gaps between urban and rural areas and the gap in living standards will be significantly narrowed. In the second stage from 2035 to the middle of this century, our country will have built a great modern socialist country, common prosperity for all people will be basically realized, our people will enjoy a more happy, healthy, and secure life, per capita GDP will reach the level of developed countries, per capita disposable income will enter the ranks of high-income countries, the gaps between urban and rural areas and in living standards will not be large, and the social security system will achieve full coverage and high levels of protection.
Third, actively exploring the path to realizing common prosperity. Common prosperity is a fundamental requirement of socialism, a key feature of Chinese-path modernization, and a common expectation of the masses. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental guarantee for realizing common prosperity, and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental route. Regarding specific implementation mechanisms, progress should be made across the following five areas: in terms of ownership, uphold the primacy of public ownership while allowing for the common development of multiple forms of ownership; in the distribution system, uphold the primacy of distribution according to work while allowing multiple modes of distribution to coexist; in terms of assistance mechanisms, continuously improve the mechanism where those who "attain prosperity first" lead and assist those who "attain prosperity later"; in terms of incentive mechanisms, encourage prosperity through labor and innovation; and in macro-policy, promote employment, ensure people's livelihoods, and "shore up weak spots" [6].
Yang Jing, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS Yang Jing delivered a detailed report titled "Contending Viewpoints and Theoretical Analysis of 'Common Prosperity.'" First, from research on common prosperity since the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, she selected and summarized nine points of focus representing competing theoretical viewpoints, such as: the wealth gap, the private economy, the market economy, equity and efficiency, and "third-party distribution" [7]. She analyzed the essence of these debates from four aspects: ownership, economic systems, distribution, and political issues.
Second, when facing the issue of common prosperity, one must always maintain a clear political mind. It cannot be treated simply as an issue of poverty and wealth or a pure issue of distribution; rather, it must be recognized and understood from the political height of the Party's governance and the stability of the regime, and from the strategic height concerning the future of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Third, she proposed three suggestions on how to view common prosperity. (1) To deepen the understanding of the connotation of common prosperity, it must be grasped within the movement of the contradictions between the productive forces and the relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure. (2) We must fully estimate its long-term, arduous, and complex nature. Common prosperity is not prosperity for a few, nor is it a "uniform" [8] egalitarianism; common prosperity must be promoted in stages. In advancing common prosperity, we must persist in doing our best within our means, seek progress while maintaining stability, advance step-by-step, avoid impetuosity, and persist over the long term. (3) Advancing common prosperity requires multiple simultaneous measures. First, lead the transformation of momentum through technological innovation to create conditions for more obvious and substantive progress in common prosperity. Second, promote the transformation of efficiency by enhancing vitality to provide a prerequisite for common prosperity. Third, deepen structural transformation through industrial upgrading to build a solid foundation for common prosperity. Fourth, promote the transformation of relations through coordinated development to stimulate the advantages for common prosperity.
Finally, Director Gong Yun, Research Fellow Zhang Jiangang, and Research Fellow Yang Jing engaged in a lively exchange with young scholars on the theme of "Common Prosperity," conducting in-depth discussions on issues such as the connotation of common prosperity, the interpretation of its relationship with public ownership, and the purpose of proposing common prosperity.
(Contributed by Li Bin and Liu Sitong, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)