The 9th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Theoretical Seminar on Studying the Guiding Principles of the 20th CPC National Congress Convened in Beijing and Kunming

Beijing offline venue Kunming offline venue

Opening a new chapter through practical action and diligent practice ^[1], forging ahead with courage and determination ^[2] to compose a magnificent poem. At a time when the entire Party and the people of the whole country are deeply studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the 9th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Theoretical Seminar on Studying the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC—jointly hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of CASS, and the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences—was held on November 5, 2022. The conference utilized a combined online and offline format across Beijing and Kunming. It aimed to deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress, advance research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and promote the "rooting and blossoming" of the spirit of the 20th National Congress through solid and effective work. The forum was co-organized by the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the IMS-CASS, the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, the Yunnan Province Demonstration Base for Studying, Publicizing, and Implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the editorial board of Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu). Over 70 experts and scholars from higher education and research institutions—including CASS, the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Tianjin University, and various provincial and municipal Party schools and social science academies—attended the meeting. They engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions centered on the forum's theme: "A New Leap in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism."

The opening ceremony was presided over by Researcher Huang Xiaojun, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences. During the opening ceremony, Professor Yang Zhengquan, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a speech. Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, delivered a speech and presented a keynote report.

Researcher Huang Xiaojun, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, presiding over the opening ceremony; Professor Yang Zhengquan, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, delivering a speech.

On behalf of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, President Yang Zhengquan expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the forum. He pointed out that the 9th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is of great significance for comprehensively studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress, focusing on the major strategic tasks of the 20th National Congress, the major decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee, and the major theoretical and practical issues of Chinese-path modernization. It demonstrates the powerful vitality of Marxism and will further play an active role as a philosophical and social science "think tank," "brain trust," and "advisory hand."

Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, delivering a speech and presenting a keynote report.

Secretary Xin Xiangyang delivered a keynote report titled "Grasping the New Form of Human Civilization through Multiple Dimensions." He emphasized that the New Form of Human Civilization must be understood from the perspective of socialism with Chinese characteristics, accurately grasping that it is a form of socialist civilization with Chinese characteristics characterized by the coordinated development of the "five civilizations" ^[3]. It must be understood from the perspective of Chinese-path modernization, accurately grasping three major characteristics: peace, human rights, and distinct advantages. It must also be understood from the perspective of exchange and mutual learning among world civilizations, accurately grasping the colorfulness, diversity, and plurality of civilizations. The laws of civilizational development should be grasped through inclusiveness and mutual learning; one must not use a single yardstick as the sole standard for measuring civilization.

During the morning keynote speech session, ten experts spoke. The session was presided over successively by Researcher Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at IMS-CASS, and Researcher Huang Xiaojun, Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences.

Professor Yan Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Yan Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University, provided an in-depth elaboration on the issues of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism within the historical coordinates ^[4] of the New Era.

Professor Hao Lixin, Yangtze River Scholar and Dean of the Mingde College at Renmin University of China, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Hao Lixin, Yangtze River Scholar and Dean of the Mingde College at Renmin University of China, fully discussed how to grasp the worldview, methodology, and essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice President of the IMS-CASS, profoundly interpreted the significance and objective of the "Three Musts" ^[5] in the New Era.

Researcher Huang Xiaojun, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, giving a keynote speech.

Researcher Huang Xiaojun, Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, emphasized that "modernization" (adapting to the times) is the theoretical quality of Marxism as it advances with the times.

Professor Chen Peiyong, Young Yangtze River Scholar and Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Chen Peiyong, Young Yangtze River Scholar and Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University, provided an in-depth interpretation of the relationship between the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the worldview and methodology of Marxism.

Professor Ou Liming of the Yunnan Provincial Party School (Yunnan Administration Institute), giving a keynote speech.

Professor Ou Liming of the Yunnan Provincial Party School (Yunnan Administration Institute) focused on the continuous composition of new chapters in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.

Researcher Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at IMS-CASS, giving a keynote speech.

Researcher Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at IMS-CASS, explored in depth the historical, practical, and theoretical logic of Chinese-path modernization.

Professor Luo Qian, Dean of the School of Marxism at Yunnan University, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Luo Qian, Dean of the School of Marxism at Yunnan University, provided an in-depth elaboration on the world-historical significance of Chinese-path modernization.

Professor Wang Chuanfa, Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest Forestry University, giving a keynote speech.

Professor Wang Chuanfa, Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest Forestry University, explored in depth the innovative development of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist ecological theory by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

Researcher Dai Lixing, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at IMS-CASS, giving a keynote speech.

Researcher Dai Lixing, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at IMS-CASS, systematically elaborated on the innovation and development of the Thought on the Party's Overall Leadership in the New Era.

The afternoon agenda of the forum consisted of four sub-forums conducted via Tencent Meeting groups. Participating experts and scholars engaged in full discussions and enthusiastic exchanges centered on four themes: "Opening a New Realm for the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism," "Advancing the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation through Chinese-path Modernization," "Comprehensively Building a Modern Socialist Country," and "Deeply Advancing the New Great Project of Party Building in the New Era." They proposed several inspiring insights and viewpoints, achieving fruitful results.

(Text submitted by Xia Yipu)