Stay Committed to Self-Revolution and Advance the Full and Rigorous Governance over the Party
Group photo of participating experts
On April 16, the 9th Forum on the Theory and Practice of Governing Party Building was held in Chongqing, themed "Self-Revolution and Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party." The forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Chongqing University, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It was organized by the CASS New Era Party Building Research Center, the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the School of Marxism at Chongqing University, the School of Marxism at UCAS, and the UCAS Party Building Research Center. The editorial departments of Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu) and World Socialism Studies (Shijie shehuizhuyi yanjiu) assisted in the organization. Over 180 experts and scholars from institutions including CASS, UCAS, the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Chongqing University, and Lanzhou University attended the forum to conduct in-depth discussions. Representatives from journals such as Party Building Studies, Exploration, Theoretical Exploration, Zhongzhou Academic Journal, Observation and Reflection, Guangxi Social Sciences, and Study Forum were also in attendance to provide guidance.
Panoramic view of the conference
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Zhang Banghui, Dean of the School of Marxism at Chongqing University. Professor Li Jian, Vice President of Chongqing University, and Zeng Weilun, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and First-Level Inspector, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, and Professor Wang Tingda, former head of the Discipline Inspection Group of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the School of Marxism at UCAS, successively delivered speeches and keynote addresses.
Opening ceremony presided over by Zhang Banghui
Professor Li Jian, representing Chongqing University, extended warm congratulations on the convening of the forum. Li briefly introduced the history of Chongqing University and the evolution of the Marxist theory discipline. He emphasized that as the entire Party is carrying out the thematic education program for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era [1], the convening of this forum to showcase the latest theoretical and practical research results in New Era Party building is of great significance for advancing the implementation of the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and comprehensively understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Li Jian delivering a speech
Researcher Xin Xiangyang stated that this forum is a specific measure by the Institute of Marxism Studies to implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and conduct thematic education. He noted that the discipline of CPC History and Party Building became a "first-tier discipline" [2] last year, marking a favorable opportunity for its rapid development. Xin expressed his hope that the participating scholars would engage in active exchange to contribute wisdom to New Era Party building. In his speech titled "Chinese-path Modernization Has Created a New Civilization of Political Parties," Xin emphasized that the CPC is a great Marxist party that maintains its advanced nature and purity. Throughout its century-long history, the Party has continuously eliminated various phenomena of corruption and problems through its own strength and self-revolution. It always represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible range of the Chinese people and is a pure party with no special interests of its own. The CPC is a party with a global vision, striving for human progress and the "Great Harmony" [3] of the world. The new path of Chinese-path modernization has not only created a new form of human civilization but also a new civilization of political parties.
Xin Xiangyang delivering a speech and keynote address
Professor Wang Tingda stated that the Forum on the Theory and Practice of Governing Party Building provides a platform for scholars to explore the Party's governing experience and regularities [4] from multiple perspectives. In his speech titled "Several Issues in the Disciplinary Development of CPC History and Party Building," Wang pointed out that the discipline is born of, thrives because of, and is strengthened by the Party. Its development must resolve the relationships between Party history and Party building, between first-tier and second-tier research directions, between Party history/building and Party leadership, and between this discipline and the discipline of Marxist theory. Wang emphasized that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is a journey that never ends, and the Party's self-revolution is a journey that never ends. We must unswervingly push the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into greater depth to ensure the Party maintains its vigorous vitality and strong combat effectiveness.
Wang Tingda delivering a speech and keynote address
Zeng Weilun pointed out that it is timely to conduct extensive research on governing party building theory and practice during the thematic education program. In the New Era and on the new journey, we must persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to "congeal the soul and cast the spirit" [5], persevere in advancing the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and further the New Great Project of Party Building [6] in the New Era. Zeng hoped this forum would help push Chongqing’s comprehensive and strict Party governance toward greater depth and assist Chongqing’s ideological and political theoretical research.
Zeng Weilun delivering a speech
Thirteen experts delivered keynote speeches in two groups. The first stage was presided over and critiqued by Professor Gu Zhaoming, Researcher Lei Houli, and Researcher Huang Yu.
Gu Zhaoming presiding over the first stage of expert discussions Lei Houli presiding over the second stage of expert discussions Huang Yu presiding over the third stage of expert discussions
Professor Yang Fengcheng reviewed the history of the discipline and explained its systematic construction. Professor Qin Xuan emphasized that theoretical innovation in New Era Party building must revolve around solving the "unique challenges of a large party" [7]. Professor Ding Junping expounded on the significance of unswervingly upholding the Party's centralized and unified leadership. Professor Liu Jianhui systematically explained the practice of comprehensive and strict Party governance from a "macro-historical" perspective. Researcher Gong Yun presented profound reflections on pushing the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into greater depth. Researcher Feng Yanli explored how to grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era based on its philosophical foundations. Professor Chen Jinling highlighted the basic ideas of studying Party building from an emotional dimension. Professor He Husheng analyzed the internal logic of the CPC leading Chinese-path modernization from historical, theoretical, and practical dimensions. Xiong Dongmei proposed paths for deeply integrating Party building with professional work in universities. Researcher Chen Zhigang comprehensively explained the major contributions of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic thought on self-revolution. Professor Du Junhua analyzed the derivation mechanism and prevention paths of political risks within the perspective of Chinese-path modernization.
(Speakers' photos omitted for brevity)
The forum established four sub-forums focusing on "Upholding and Strengthening Party Leadership," "Improving the System of Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party," "Leading Social Revolution through the Party's Self-Revolution," and "Innovation in Party Building Practice." Participants agreed that the theory and practice of governing party building are two sides of the same coin, together answering the major question of "what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build it" on the new journey. They stated that this research is the foundation for constructing a Sinicized Marxist party theoretical system. It is necessary to deepen the understanding of the regularities of Party building, actively construct the disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems of CPC History and Party Building, and strive to produce more substantial research results.
(Sub-forum photos omitted)
The closing ceremony was presided over by Professor Lyu Jin. Representatives from each sub-forum spoke, and Researcher Dai Lixing provided the forum summary.
Lyu Jin presiding over the closing ceremony Dai Lixing giving the forum summary