Chinese Modernization and a New Form of Human Civilization

On the morning of May 13, the "10th Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" was held at the Dalian Bangchuidao Guesthouse. This forum was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Dalian Maritime University. It was jointly organized by the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era 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 Dalian Maritime University.

Participants included Research Fellow Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Yuan Ximing, Director of the Theory Department of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee; Xu Minqiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dalian Maritime University; Song Hongwei, Party Group Secretary of the Dalian Federation of Social Science Circles; and Zou Wei, Vice Chairman of the Dalian Federation of Social Science Circles. Additionally, over 120 experts and scholars from more than 50 universities and research institutions nationwide, including CASS, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Wuhan University, attended the forum to conduct in-depth discussions on the conference theme. Representatives from media outlets and publishers, including Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), Party Documents (Dang de wenxian), Teaching and Research on Ideological and Theoretical Education (Sixiang lilun jiaoyu daokan), Studies on Marxism Theory Discipline (Makesizhuyi lilun xueke yanjiu), Study and Practice (Xuexi yu shijian), School Party Building and Ideological Education (Xuexiao dangjian yu sixiang jiaoyu), Huxiang Forum (Huxiang luntan), Contemporary Chinese Marxism Studies (Dangdai Zhongguo Makesizhuyi yanjiu), China Education Daily, China Youth Online, Liaoning Daily, People's Publishing House, and Social Sciences Academic Press, attended to provide guidance.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Wu Yunzhi, Dean of the School of Marxism at Dalian Maritime University. Xu Minqiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dalian Maritime University, and Yuan Ximing, Director of the Theory Department of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, delivered successive speeches. Research Fellow Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered a speech and a keynote report.

Xu Minqiang expressed a sincere welcome to the experts and scholars and introduced the basic situation of Dalian Maritime University and the achievements of its School of Marxism in recent years. Xu pointed out that entering the New Era, our Party has profoundly grasped the changes in the international situation, national conditions, and Party conditions ^[1], established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieved a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and created a new path for Chinese-path modernization. Studying, publicizing, and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a major political task for the current and future period. Xu expressed his hope that the experts and scholars would use this forum to spark ideas, expand their thinking, and share results to continuously enhance political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Party’s innovative theories.

Yuan Ximing congratulated the forum on its opening, noting that as the whole Party undergoes the thematic education campaign for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era ^[2], this forum’s focus on the theme of "Chinese-path Modernization and a New Form of Human Civilization" is of great significance. Yuan emphasized the need to fully leverage the role of philosophy and social sciences in researching and answering major theoretical and practical questions, helping to win the "Liaoshen Campaign" ^[3] of Northeast Revitalization and Liaoning Revitalization in the New Era, and strengthening political, ideological, and behavioral consciousness in advancing the Liaoning practice of Chinese-path modernization.

Research Fellow Xin Xiangyang introduced the development history, academic influence, and future prospects of the "Forum on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era." Xin pointed out that the theory of Chinese-path modernization is a major theoretical innovation of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the latest major achievement of scientific socialism. To comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, many arduous tasks must be completed, many difficulties, obstacles, and even "stormy seas" ^[4] must be overcome, and many new contradictions and challenges must be addressed. This will better demonstrate the unique charm and advantages of Chinese civilization to the world and add luster to human civilization. In his speech titled "The Distinctive Advantages of Chinese-path Modernization," Xin emphasized that Chinese-path modernization is a leap-style modernization that relies on the accumulation of time to drive quantitative growth and ultimately achieve a qualitative leap; it is a modernization that "extinguishes space through time" ^[5], reducing production costs through time-saving and spatial restructuring to promote comprehensive economic and social development; and it is a modernization that prevents social stratification by increasing social mobility, ensuring that the modernization process is both orderly and vibrant.

The forum featured eight experts delivering keynote speeches in two sessions. The first stage of expert discussion was presided over by Research Fellow Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. The second stage was presided over by Zhang Nan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Teaching and Research on Ideological and Theoretical Education.

In the first stage, Professor Luo Yuting, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Wuhan University, explained the "original contributions of Chinese-path modernization to human civilization," noting that it has created new forms of socialist civilization, harmonious development, technology-led civilization, and people-centered civilization. Professor Liu Tongfang, Dean of the School of Marxism at Zhejiang University, spoke on "Advancing Common Prosperity in the Process of Chinese-path Modernization," analyzing how to position the advancement of common prosperity on the new journey, how to understand its "social nature," and how to improve the policy system based on "social common prosperity." Professor Chen Peiyong, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University, argued how the "new form of human civilization" is created through the leadership of the CPC, the regulation and guidance of capital, material modes of production, and mutual learning among civilizations. Research Fellow Li Jianguo, Director of the Editorial Department of Marxism Studies, argued that Chinese-path modernization adheres to the principal status of the people, meets the people’s needs for a better life, promotes well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all, and focuses on the harmonious coexistence of man and nature and the peaceful development of humanity.

In the second stage, Research Fellow Chen Zhigang explained the "newness" of the new form of human civilization in terms of its relationship with fine traditional Chinese culture, traditional socialism, and capitalism. Professor Xie Xiaojuan, Dean of the School of Marxism at Liaoning University, pointed out that common prosperity for all is a significant difference between Chinese-path modernization and Western modernization, requiring the full mobilization of the people's initiative to provide leadership, institutional guarantees, and spiritual strength. Professor Wang Xisheng from Anhui Normal University analyzed the relationship between Chinese-path modernization and the modernization of the Chinese people. Professor Xing Wenli, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Dalian Maritime University, explained the historical process and main characteristics of Chinese-path modernization, emphasizing that it must follow general laws of modernization while conforming to national conditions and highlighting national characteristics.

The forum featured four parallel sub-forums focusing on "The Historical Contribution of Chinese-path Modernization to the New Form of Human Civilization," "Theoretical and Practical Innovations of Chinese-path Modernization," "Philosophical Implications of Chinese-path Modernization," and "Chinese-path Modernization and the Construction of a Strong Maritime Nation." Participating scholars agreed that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, 21st-century Marxism, and the essence of Chinese culture and spirit. They stated the need to systematically master the worldview and methodology of this thought and apply its stance, viewpoints, and methods ^[6] to build the theoretical framework and discourse system of the Chinese path to modernization.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Professor Wu Yunzhi. Research Fellow Dai Lixing, Deputy Director of the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, summarized the forum, noting that it had broadened academic horizons and deepened the understanding of major theoretical and practical issues, building a bridge of communication and friendship for mutual learning in academic circles.