Thematic education activities on Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
On the afternoon of May 17, 2023, all Party members, activists, and researchers of the Department of the International Communist Movement held a thematic education activity [1] on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Conference Room 1338 of the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS). The session focused on a collective study of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping (Volume I). The study activity was led by the Research Office of Contemporary World Socialism; all participants engaged actively in-depth discussions, achieving excellent learning outcomes.
First, the Branch Secretary, Research Fellow Pan Jin’e, mobilized the branch for the thematic education activity on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, integrating the significance and requirements of the campaign. She pointed out that the Department will conduct centralized study sessions centered on this thematic education, which constitutes an important measure for the Department to implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress. This is of great significance for unifying the Department’s thinking and deepening the integration of Party building [2] with scientific research. She emphasized that all members must comprehensively study and understand Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, mastering its basic viewpoints and scientific system systematically. They must grasp the worldview and methodology of this Thought, uphold and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods [3] that permeate it, and master the leadership, ideological, and working methods contained therein. This will continually enhance their ability to perform duties in both research and Party building, pooling strength to promote development, grasping implementation with unremitting perseverance [4], and making contributions based on their respective positions to produce research results that can withstand the test of history and the people.
Assistant Research Fellow Long Mengyao from the Research Office of Contemporary World Socialism delivered a keynote speech on her insights from studying the major chapters of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping (Volume I). Long Mengyao summarized the important viewpoints from 71 articles—including speeches, addresses, instructions, comments, and orders—written by General Secretary Xi Jinping between November 2012 and October 2017. She provided focused commentary on chapters concerning the "better life," the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and propaganda and ideology.
Research Fellow Liu Haixia, Director of the Research Office of Contemporary Capitalism, shared her insights using major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics as an entry point. Citing research from various scholars, she emphasized the important status of major powers in the global political landscape as key factors determining the world order. In the face of a volatile international situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly noted that the world is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century [5]. The General Secretary has formulated a framework for major-power relations characterized by overall stability and balanced development, emphasizing that the construction of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics must adhere to principles such as the correct conception of justice and interests [6]. She argued that the Chinese government and scholars need to provide the outside world with new theories to explain and respond to new changes in the international situation, articulate China's development path, remain vigilant against Western "discourse traps," and safeguard national interests.
Associate Research Fellow Pan Xihua, Director of the Research Office of the History of the International Communist Movement, shared her reflections on the relationship between the cultivation of "family tradition" [7] and the "Two Combinations" [8], drawing on relevant articles from the Selected Works. She emphasized the importance of combining Marxism with China's excellent traditional culture, pointing out that the construction of family tradition serves as the social vehicle for practicing the "Two Combinations." Pan Xihua stressed the importance of the family and family tradition, arguing that a good family tradition plays a vital role in the construction of the Party's work style [9] and social mores.
Branch Secretary Pan Jin’e conveyed the spirit of the speech delivered by Zhen Zhanmin, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), during the mobilization for thematic education at the Institute of Marxism Studies. Vice President Zhen Zhanmin emphasized the importance of advancing holistic, systematic, and theoretical research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He stated that the Institute of Marxism Studies needs to play a leading role in these areas, strengthening the interpretation and international dissemination of the Thought to make greater contributions to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Each research office exchanged study reflections based on key chapters of the Selected Works. Research Fellow Tan Xiaojun, focusing on paper writing and theoretical research paradigms, pointed out the importance of establishing confidence in Marxist theory and defending Marxist theoretical positions. Associate Research Fellow Li Kaixuan focused on the issue of China’s excellent traditional culture, suggesting the positive role of personal cultivation in theoretical study and academic research. Associate Research Fellow Wang Jing, Assistant Research Fellow Niu Zhengke, and Assistant Research Fellow Wang You shared their insights on the General Secretary’s important speeches in relation to their respective research fields. Assistant Research Fellow Yu Hui spoke on the significance of ecological civilization [10] for urban construction and theoretical development, drawing on personal experience.
Finally, Research Fellow Yuan Xiuli, Deputy Secretary of the Department’s Party Branch, delivered a concluding speech. Drawing on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speech at the working conference for the thematic education on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, she emphasized the general requirements, objectives, tasks, and methodological measures of the campaign. She encouraged everyone to continuously enhance their political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Party's innovative theories, truly mastering the "housekeeping skills" [11] of Marxism and consciously using the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to guide all aspects of their work.
Through this thematic education activity, all personnel reached a high degree of consensus on the significance and measures of the campaign, further elevating their political standing and theoretical consciousness in studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought. Participants expressed that they would firmly grasp the general requirements of the activity: study the Thought, strengthen Party spirit, emphasize practice, and establish new achievements. They aim to achieve substantive results in "forging the soul through study, increasing wisdom through study, rectifying conduct through study, and promoting action through study."
Text: Long Mengyao / Photography: Yu Hui