The 12th Academic Forum on the Sinicization of Marxism of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Held Successfully

On July 2, 2022, the 12th Scholarly Forum on the Sinicization of Marxism, organized by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was successfully held at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Gannan Normal University. This scholarly forum was co-hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Gannan Normal University. It was jointly organized by the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University, and the Center for Research on the Revolutionary Spirit of the Communist Party of China and Cultural Resources at Gannan Normal University. Co-organizers included the editorial departments of Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), World Socialism Studies (Shijie shehuizhuyi yanjiu), Frontline (Qianxian), Theory and Criticism (Lilun yu pinglun), and the Journal of Red Culture (Hongse wenhua xuekan). The forum focused on the theme "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the New Leap ^[1] in the Sinicization of Marxism," and was conducted through a combination of online and offline sessions.

During the opening ceremony, Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Professor Zhu Xiaoli, President of Gannan Normal University, delivered speeches on behalf of the host institutions. Secretary Xin Xiangyang proposed that we must conduct in-depth research and interpretation of the scientific content, historical status, and great significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; conduct in-depth research and interpretation of the theoretical value and practical significance of the new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism; and conduct in-depth research and interpretation of the series of new concepts, new propositions, and new judgments put forward since the 18th CPC National Congress ^[2]. Simultaneously, Secretary Xin Xiangyang delivered a keynote report titled "The Pathways by which Marxism Activates Chinese Civilization." Researcher Lin Jianhua, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, chaired the opening ceremony.

In the thematic report segment, Professor Sun Xiguo of the School of Marxism at Peking University, Professor Wang Shuyin of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University, Professor Zhang Zhanbin, Dean of the School of Marxism at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), and Professor Zhou Lisheng, Vice President of Jiangxi Normal University, delivered thematic reports respectively on: "The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to Marxism," "The Basic Experience of the Sinicization of Marxism," "The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought," and "Reflections on the Communist Party of China as the Supreme Political Leadership Force." Professor Qiu Xiaoyun, Vice President of Gannan Normal University, chaired the thematic report segment.

During the first session of thematic presentations, Researcher Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, spoke on "The Marxist Theoretical Basis of the 'Two Establishments'"; Professor Chen Shifa, Vice President of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, spoke on "A Multidimensional Interpretation of Grasping Historical Initiative"; Researcher Li Jianguo, Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Editorial Department of Marxism Studies, spoke on "The Adherence to the People's Position by Chinese Communists in the New Era"; Professor Zhang Zhidan, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shanghai Normal University, spoke on "Original Innovations in Ideological Work Thought in the New Era"; Associate Professor Wang Weiguo, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spoke on "An Analysis of Mental Initiative ^[3] under the Greater View of History"; and Professor Yao Hongyue, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Technology and Business University, spoke on "Several Understandings of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the Essence of Chinese Culture and the Spirit of the Times." Professor He Xinchun, Dean of the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University, chaired this session.

In the second session of thematic presentations, Researcher Di Chengguang of the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences spoke on "The New Positioning of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"; Professor Fang Guangshun of Liaoning University spoke on "Ideal and Belief and the Continued Promotion of the Sinicization of Marxism"; Shen Yang, Director of the Research Office of the System of Theories of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, spoke on "Three Frontier Issues in the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics"; Associate Professor Zhang Xiao of the School of Marxism at Soochow University spoke on "The Multidimensional and Major Advancement of the Marxist View of the State by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"; Researcher Peng Haihong of the Research Office of the System of Theories of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies spoke on "Characteristics and Significance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Three Rural Issues" ^[4]; Ma Hongshun, a lecturer at the School of Marxism at Tianjin Normal University, spoke on "New Developments in Marxist Thought on Common Prosperity in the New Era"; Professor Xia Chunyu, Director of the Development Planning Office at Wenzhou University, spoke on "An Analysis of the Basic Dimensions of the Organizational Construction of the Communist Party of China in the New Era"; and Professor Wang Dezhao of the School of Marxism at Tongren University spoke on "The Historical Connotations of the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission of the Communist Party of China." Researcher He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, chaired this session.

In the third session of thematic presentations, Yang Binbin, Assistant Researcher at the Research Office of the System of Theories of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, spoke on "The Rationality of the Concept of 'New Form of Human Civilization'"; Li Jian, a lecturer at the School of Marxism at Xiamen University, spoke on "Multiple Meanings of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Discourse on Whole-Process People's Democracy"; Liu Qi, a doctoral student at the School of Marxism at Nankai University, spoke on "General Views of Foreign Scholars on Chinese-path Modernization and Their Critical Analysis"; Associate Professor Cheng Xiaoqiang of the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University spoke on "The Logical Interaction Between the CPC’s Original Aspiration and Founding Mission and the Principal Contradiction in Society" ^[5]; Yang Chuan, a graduate student at the School of Philosophy and Social Development at Guizhou University, spoke on "Contemporary Enlightenments of the View of Marriage and Family in Engels’ The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State"; and Wang Liyuan, a graduate student at the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University, spoke on "The 'Principles' and 'Logic' of China’s Response to Great Changes Unseen in a Century" ^[6]. Professor Zheng Qing, Party Secretary of the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University, chaired this session.

Professor Qiu Xiaoyun, Vice President of Gannan Normal University, chaired the closing ceremony and provided a summary of the forum.

As a regular forum of the Institute of Marxism Studies, the Scholarly Forum on the Sinicization of Marxism has been successfully held for eleven sessions since its inception, with this year marking the twelfth. This forum received high attention from experts, scholars, and academic colleagues in the fields of Sinicization of Marxism and the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics across the country. According to statistics, over 150 experts, scholars, teachers, and students participated in the forum both online and offline.

The holding of this forum helps us take the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee as a guide, adhere to the greater view of history ^[7], and comprehensively interpret the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's century-long struggle. It helps us base ourselves on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era to systematically study and scientifically explain Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It helps deepen theoretical research, publicity, and interpretation of the glorious century-long journey of the Sinicization of Marxism. Finally, it helps strengthen academic exchange among researchers of the Sinicized Marxism and the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics nationwide, promoting the disciplinary construction of the Sinicization of Marxism.