National Forum of Deans of Marxism Special Seminar on "The Centennial Glory of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization" Held
On December 12, 2021, the National Forum of Deans of Marxist Studies symposia was held in Beijing and Fuzhou under the theme "The CPC's Century of Brilliance and Chinese Modernization." This forum was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Fujian Normal University. It was organized by the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University, with co-sponsorship from the academic journals Marxist Studies, World Socialism Studies, and Theory and Review. The meeting was conducted through a combination of online and offline formats. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Jiang Hui, Vice President and Member of the Leading Party Members’ Group [1] of CASS, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies; Liu Weize, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee [2]; Lin Weifen, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Vice Chairperson of the Fujian Provincial Federation of Social Sciences; Professor Pan Yuteng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Fujian Normal University; and Liu Xiaoxin, Vice President of the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences. Jiang Hui, Pan Yuteng, and Liu Weize delivered remarks. The opening ceremony was chaired by Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, and Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Address by Jiang Hui
In his address, Jiang Hui pointed out that the National Forum of Deans of Marxist Studies symposium is an important academic event organized by CASS in collaboration with the higher education front. Its purpose is to deeply study, comprehend, research, and interpret the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee [3]. It aims to conduct in-depth discussions on the major theoretical and practical issues proposed in the Resolution [4] passed at the Plenum, actively striving and contributing wisdom to promote the Party’s theoretical innovation and the continued development of contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. Jiang Hui noted that this forum focuses on the two major themes of "the CPC’s century of brilliance" and "Chinese modernization," which carry profound implications and hold a high-reaching perspective. Guided by the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, it will help us summarize experience from a century of historical brilliance, draw strength and wisdom, forge a consensus of thought, and promote theoretical innovation. Jiang Hui called upon experts and scholars to: first, deeply research the major achievements and historical experience of our Party’s century of struggle, drawing historical wisdom and strengthening historical confidence to fill ourselves with the strength to move forward; second, deeply research the significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in achieving a new historical leap in the Sinicization of Marxism, its important position in the history of the development of Marxism, and its original contributions to the development of 21st-century Marxism; third, deeply research the great significance of the CPC’s creation of the Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization, as well as its immense contribution to the history of social development and the progress of human civilization.
Address by Pan Yuteng and Liu Weize
Pan Yuteng noted in his remarks that this symposium fully reflects the "political consciousness" [5] of the national Marxist theoretical community in promoting the deep and substantive study and implementation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee. It also reflects their "academic consciousness" in assisting the construction of a great modern socialist country and their "action consciousness" in shoulder the mission of "casting the soul and nurturing people" [6] through education and political administration. Liu Weize noted in his address that Fujian is an important place where Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was conceived and practiced. He expressed hope that experts and scholars would assist Fujian in researching, interpreting, and publicizing this contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism.
Moderation by Xin Xiangyang
Following the opening ceremony, keynote reports were delivered by four scholars: Xin Xiangyang; Professor Sun Bangzhu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Peking University; Professor Xiao Guiqing, Executive Vice Dean of the Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Tsinghua University; and Professor Tao Wenzhao, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China. Subsequently, themed presentations were given by fourteen heads of national key Schools of Marxism, including Professors Liu Tongfang, Luo Yongkuan, Wang Shuqin, Liu Fengyi, Yan Lianfu, Li Ran, Liu Lühong, Zhang Shihai, Hong Xiaonan, Pang Lisheng, Hu Daping, Cai Wencheng, Lin Jinping, and Wu Hongzheng.
The keynote report session was chaired by Professor Li Jianping, former President of Fujian Normal University and Director of the National Research Center for Socialist Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics (Fujian Normal University). Experts conducted in-depth discussions on several topics, such as the driving forces of the CPC’s theoretical innovation, the dialectical relationship between the new development paradigm [7] and Chinese-path modernization, the correct path for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and how to provide "perfect answers" to the major questions of the New Era. Li Jianping provided comments on the reports. The themed presentation sessions were chaired and commented upon by Professor Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS; Professor Zheng Chuanfang, Director of the Fujian Provincial Teaching Steering Committee for Ideological and Political Theory Courses; and Professor Zhang Youkui, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Xiamen University. Using the research and interpretation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee as the main thread, the experts expressed their views on important issues such as the new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism, the CPC’s centennial history, Party building, and Chinese-path modernization. The closing ceremony was chaired by Zhang Aimin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University. Gong Yun, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, and Professor Fu Huifang, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Fujian Normal University, delivered closing remarks on behalf of the host institutions.
Group Photos of Scholars in Beijing and Fuzhou
The participating experts unanimously agreed that the convening of this symposium on "The CPC's Century of Brilliance and Chinese Modernization" was timely and profoundly significant, coinciding with the in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee by the entire Party and the Chinese people. The exchanges and discussions at this forum were intensive and enthusiastic, deepening the understanding and grasp of the Plenum's spirit. It deepened the research and interpretation of the significance of the CPC’s creation of the Chinese-path modernization and a new form of human civilization and strengthened the ties and exchanges among Schools of Marxism nationwide. This has played a positive role in promoting the prosperity and development of contemporary Marxist theoretical research and the construction of a "community" of national Schools of Marxism.
It is reported that this symposium was attended by more than 200 experts and scholars from nearly 100 universities and research institutes across the country, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, CASS, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, and Nankai University, as well as representatives from major academic journals such as Marxist Studies, World Socialism Studies, Southeast Academic, Fujian Forum, and the Journal of Fujian Normal University.