The Forum on Integrating the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC into University Ideological and Political Courses Successfully Held
On November 20, 2022, the Forum on Integrating the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC into University Ideological and Political Theory Courses was successfully held at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Fuzhou University. This academic forum was co-hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, Fuzhou University, and the Fuzhou University Base of the Fujian Provincial Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It was organized by the Department of Sinicized Marxism Research of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the School of Marxism of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the School of Marxism of Fuzhou University. Co-organizers included the editorial department of Marxist Studies, Beijing Municipal Committee's Frontline magazine, the "1+N" School of Marxism Construction Pilot Program (Fuzhou University Group), and the Fujian Provincial Department of Finance special project group "Research on Integrating Fujian’s Excellent Local Culture into University Ideological and Political Education." Focusing on the integration of the 20th National Congress spirit into university ideological and political courses, the forum was held in Beijing and Fuzhou via a combination of online and offline sessions. Experts, scholars, and ideological and political theory teachers from across the country specialized in Marxist theory and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era gathered to discuss relevant hot topics and focal points.
At the opening ceremony, Researcher Xin Xiangyang—Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Dean of the School of Marxism of the University of CASS—and Professor Chen Guolong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Fuzhou University, delivered speeches on behalf of the host organizations. Secretary Xin Xiangyang pointed out that ideological and political courses are key for fulfilling the fundamental task of "fostering virtue through education" [1]. He noted that the study and implementation of the 20th National Congress spirit must be closely integrated with the teaching of these courses. We must center our efforts on the major theoretical and practical issues raised by the 20th National Congress, continuously expanding the breadth, depth, and intensity of our research to promote the comprehensive integration of the Party’s theoretical innovations into ideological and political teaching. Secretary Xin emphasized that we must "read original works, study the original texts, and grasp the principles to understand the original meaning." Use the Party’s scientific theories to arm the youth, use the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission to inspire the youth, and strive to be a confidant to young friends, an enthusiast for youth work, and a guide for the young masses. In his speech, Secretary Chen Guolong emphasized that ideological and political teachers should focus on comprehensive understanding, putting effort into deepening and refining their insights; focus on "soul-casting and talent-building" [2], putting effort into thematic and precise approaches; focus on "internalizing into the mind and heart," putting effort into vivid and graphic presentation; and focus on practical implementation, putting effort into upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground. Researcher Gong Yun, Vice President of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the opening ceremony.
During the keynote report session, Secretary Xin Xiangyang delivered a report titled "The Leadership of the Communist Party of China and Chinese-path Modernization." He emphasized that Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the CPC; it possesses the common characteristics of modernization in all countries but, more importantly, possesses Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions. The advancement of Chinese-path modernization fundamentally depends on the strong leadership of the Party. The CPC has clearly mapped out the grand blueprint for Chinese-path modernization using both "freehand brushwork" and "fine-line painting" [3] styles, characterized by its people-centered nature, conformity to objective laws, and creativity, showcasing a bright future for both China and the world. Comrade Huang Shenyong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Fuzhou University, presided over the keynote report session.
In the first session of keynote speeches, Professor Han Qingxiang (Central Party School), Professor Luo Yuting (School of Marxism, Wuhan University), Professor Liu Jianjun (School of Marxism, Renmin University of China), Researcher Liu Zhiming (Director of the Department of Sinicized Marxism Research, CASS Institute of Marxism Studies), Professor Chen Jinlong (Dean of the School of Marxism, South China Normal University), and Professor Wang Chuanli (School of Marxism, Tsinghua University) delivered speeches. Their respective topics were: "Deeply Understanding and Grasping the Significance of 'Opening a New Frontier in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism'"; "The International Perspective of the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism"; "The Theoretical Basis for the 'Sinicization and Modernization' of Marxism"; "Several Reflections on the 'Two Establishments'"; "The Intrinsic Link between Chinese-path Modernization and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation"; and "Deeply Understanding the Integration of Marxism with China’s Excellent Traditional Culture." Professor Zhan Zhihua, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Fuzhou University, presided over this session.
Han Qingxiang emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s report to the 20th National Congress put forward the major thesis of "opening a new frontier in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism." Deeply understanding the series of new ideas, viewpoints, and requirements contained therein is an intrinsic requirement for continuously writing new chapters of Marxism. He provided a systematic exposition based on five aspects: the shift from "opening a new frontier of Sinicized Marxism" to "Sinicized and Modernized Marxism"; the shift from "One Works" to "Two Works" [4]; the transition from the thesis of the "Two Combinations" to its detailed elaboration; the transition from the "Ten Clarifications" to the "Ten Clarifications," "Fourteen Persists," and "Thirteen Achievements"; and the shift from emphasizing philosophy to proposing and systematically explaining the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Luo Yuting argued that the "opening of a new frontier in the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism" is a major task for the development of 21st-century Marxism and 21st-century socialism. To promote this development, one must expand the international perspective of Sinicized and Modernized Marxism. This requires combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities in the New Era, with China’s excellent traditional culture, and with the realities of contemporary world development. This involves elevating one’s "three positions": standing amidst the great tide of human society, the grand pattern of world changes, and the long history of China’s development to grasp the major trends of contemporary China and the world. It requires answering the Questions of China, the World, the People, and the Times.
Liu Jianjun argued that General Secretary Xi Jinping noted in his congratulatory letter to the "CPC and World Marxist Political Parties" Forum that Marxism is a constantly developing and open theory; it can only take root through localization and remain full of vitality through modernization. Localization represents the spatial dimension of Marxist development, while modernization represents the temporal dimension. Only by organically unifying the two can we fully grasp the theoretical basis for the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism.
Liu Zhiming argued that a strong leadership core and scientific theoretical guidance are fundamental issues concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state. The "Two Establishments" reflect the common aspiration of the whole Party, the military, and the people of all ethnic groups. They have a profound Marxist theoretical basis: historical materialism is the fundamental theoretical basis, the Marxist theory of party-building is the direct theoretical basis, and the practical viewpoint of Marxist philosophy is an important theoretical foundation.
Chen Jinlong argued that Chinese-path modernization is both a process and a result. As a process, it accompanies the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. As a result, building a great modern socialist country and achieving the Great Rejuvenation are two sequential outcomes. Chinese-path modernization expands the goals, strengthens the forces, and endows modernization with distinct national characteristics and practical wisdom.
Wang Chuanli argued that the proposition of "combining Marxism with China’s excellent traditional culture" (the Second Combination) requires us to learn from Mao Zedong—being proficient in both Marxism and traditional culture. Following Marx and Engels, we must understand the "Second Combination" from the perspective of "ideological material," paying attention to the epochal and class nature of traditional culture and adhering to the principle of "creative transformation and innovative development."
In the second session of keynote speeches, Professor Li Youxin (Xiangtan University), Professor Sun Laibin (Peking University), Researcher He Xinyuan (CASS), Professor Dong Hui (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), and Professor Gao Zhengli (Beijing Jiaotong University) delivered speeches. Topics included "Xi Jinping’s Major Contributions to the Inheritance and Development of China’s Excellent Traditional Culture," "How University Ideological and Political Courses Implement the 'Six Persists'," "In the Final Analysis, It Is the Two 'Works'," and "The Spirit of United Struggle." Li Nan, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of CASS, presided.
Li Youxin argued that Secretary Xi’s contributions lie in: 1) elucidating principles for treating traditional culture; 2) promoting cultural confidence; 3) identifying traditional thoughts with modern value; 4) proposing the "Second Combination"; and 5) achieving the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture.
Sun Laibin argued that the "Six Persists" (putting the people first, self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground, problem-orientation, systems thinking, and maintaining a global vision) vividly embody the "Two Combinations" and are the quintessence of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. These should be the core content of ideological and political textbooks.
He Xinyuan focused on the latest thesis from the 20th National Congress: "Why the CPC works and why socialism with Chinese characteristics works is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works, and specifically, because Sinicized and Modernized Marxism works." He argued the great achievements of the past ten years in the New Era prove this thesis with irrefutable facts.
That Marxism works is fundamentally due to its scientific nature and its status as truth; that Marxism works in China is crucially due to its continuous Sinicization and modernization. The scientific and truthful nature of Marxism has been fully tested in China; its people-centered and practical nature has been fully implemented in China; and its open and contemporary nature has been fully manifested in China. Through Sinicization and modernization, the fate of Marxism has been closely linked with the fate of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation.
Dong Hui argued that Chinese-path modernization is a modernization of a socialist nature that persists in the leadership of the Communist Party of China based on contemporary national conditions. Chinese-path modernization serves as the powerful engine and driving force for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The 20th National Congress achieved a series of major results in political, theoretical, and practical terms, formulating major policies and strategic deployments for the development of the Party and state undertakings on the new journey of the New Era. It serves as the political declaration and program of action for our Party to unite and lead the people in build a modern socialist country in all respects and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The 18th National Congress explicitly proposed: to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects [5] by the centenary of the Communist Party of China, and to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the People’s Republic of China. The 19th National Congress proposed building China into a "great modern socialist country" [6] that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. The addition of the word "beautiful" to the definition of a "great modern socialist country" reflects the requirements for enriched development. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in the report to the 20th National Congress: "From this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization."
Gao Zhengli argued that Party congresses convened by the CPC in different historical periods and contexts often display different mental states and spiritual outlooks to the whole Party, the whole country, and even the whole world, exerting a major influence on the development of the cause of the Party and the people. The 20th National Congress fully displayed a spiritual outlook characterized by the whole Party forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude, moving forward with courage, maintaining self-confidence and self-reliance, and engaging in united struggle [7] and the courage to struggle. Among these, "united struggle" is the mental state that the Congress report consistently and specifically emphasized, from the opening title and theme to the call in the final sentence. "United struggle" is the mental state solemnly declared in the title and theme of the Congress; it is the spiritual impetus for the historic achievements made in the cause of the Party and the people in the New Era; it is an inherent requirement for the Party as the leadership core and "backbone" [8]; and it is the inevitable path for the Party and the people to win new victories for the development of their cause on the new journey of the New Era.
Li Nan, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, presided over the second segment of keynote speeches.
During the first expert speaking session, several scholars delivered presentations: Professor Wang Shuyin of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University on "Implementing the Spirit of the 20th National Congress Comprehensively, Systematically, and Accurately"; Shen Yang, Director of the Research Office for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, on "Working Methods within the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"; Professor Zhan Zhihua, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Fuzhou University, on "The Internal Logic and Realistic Orientation of Why Sinicized and Modernized Marxism Works"; Professor Zheng Jie, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, on "The Value Implication, Basic Principles, and Practical Paths of Integrating Red Culture Resources [9] into University Ideological and Political Courses"; Professor Liu Yousheng, President of the Fujian Provincial Association for Youth Studies and Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Fuzhou University, on "Telling the General Secretary’s Stories in Fujian Well to Deepen the Work of 'Cultivating the Roots and Reaching the Soul' [10] in Ideological and Political Courses"; and Professor Lyu Yanhong, Vice Director of the Philosophy Department of the Party School of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC, on "The Theoretical Stance Implied in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era." Professor Huang Fayou, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Fuzhou University, presided over this session.
During the second expert speaking session, presentations were given by: Professor Luo Xiaoping of the School of Marxism at North China Electric Power University on "Innovation and Deepening of Integrating the Spirit of the 20th National Congress into Thematic Teaching of Ideological and Political Courses"; Associate Professor Yang Xiaobin, Assistant to the Dean of the School of Marxism at Ocean University of China, on "Injecting Marine Power into the Spiritual World of University Students"; Associate Professor Zhang Xiao, Director of the Discipline Construction Office at the School of Marxism, Soochow University, on "Principles and Paths for Integrating the Spirit of the 20th National Congress into University Ideological and Political Teaching"; Yang Binbin, Assistant Researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, on "The Great Significance of Adhering to the 'Three Musts' [11] on the New Journey of the New Era"; and Dr. Lu Bingzhen of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on "A Preliminary Discussion on Exploring the Path to Accelerate the Construction of a New Development Paradigm [12]." Professor Liu Yousheng presided over this session.
The afternoon breakout sessions were organized into three sub-forums. Professor Zeng Zhengzi (Dean, School of Marxism, Fujian Jiangxia University), Professor Yuan Xiaoyun (Dean, School of Marxism, Fujian University of Technology), and Dr. Li Kun (School of Marxism, Fujian Medical University) presided over the discussions in Sub-forums I, II, and III, respectively.
In Sub-forum I, presentations were made by Professor Yang Lijuan (Yangzhou University), Professor He Wenhua (Xi'an University), Associate Professor Luo Jia (Guizhou University), Dr. Chen Jianhua (Central University of Finance and Economics), Dr. Zhangli Yixiang (South China Normal University), Dr. Xue Minxia (Shanghai University), and Dr. Xie Jing (Heilongjiang University).
In Sub-forum II, presentations were made by Associate Professor Liu Yibo (Nankai University), Dr. Zhang Guo (Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture), Dr. Long Yan (Xinjiang Normal University), Dr. Ju Zhichao (Liaoning Normal University), Dr. Gong Yingying (Hefei University of Technology), and Researcher Xie Fuhua (Social Systems Research Center, Jiujiang University).
In Sub-forum III, presentations were made by Professor Chai Sufang (Hebei University), Professor Zeng Ying (Huizhou University), Associate Professor Wen Jing (Hebei Agricultural University), Associate Professor Zhang Yongqi (Northwest University), Dr. Li Kun (Fujian Medical University), Dr. Zhou Xiange (Northwestern Polytechnical University), and Dr. Zeng Xianhui (Fujian Normal University).
Professor Zhan Zhihua, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Fuzhou University, presided over the closing ceremony and provided a summary.
In addition, the forum was attended by experts and scholars from various institutions, including Nankai University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ocean University of China, the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Central University of Finance and Economics, South China Normal University, Soochow University, Guizhou University, Shanghai University, Northwest University, North China Electric Power University, Hefei University of Technology, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Yangzhou University, Heilongjiang University, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Hebei University, Hebei Agricultural University, the Party School of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC, Xinjiang Normal University, Liaoning Normal University, Xi'an University, Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fujian Medical University, Fujian Jiangxia University, Fujian University of Technology, Jiujiang University, and Huizhou University. The forum received high attention from experts, scholars, and academic colleagues across the country in the fields of Sinicized Marxism research and the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The forum was characterized by its high specifications, broad scope, diverse perspectives, novel viewpoints, and strong theoretical depth. The holding of this forum helps us deeply study, publicize, and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. Taking the study, publicity, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the main thread, the forum aimed to scientifically grasp the laws of theoretical publicity and education, the laws of the construction of Schools of Marxism, and the laws of teaching university ideological and political courses. It sought to transform the new viewpoints, judgments, ideas, and requirements put forward by the 20th National Congress into the most vivid educational resources for ideological and political courses. This plays a positive role in leading ideological and political teachers to organically integrate the spirit of the 20th National Congress into their teaching, implementing the fundamental task of "fostering virtue through education," promoting the principle of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground in ideological and political courses, accelerating the modernization of education, and providing education that satisfies the people.
(Reported by Yang Binbin, CASS Institute of Marxism Studies)