2023 National Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Held at Southwest University
In order to deeply study and comprehend Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to cast the soul and nurture the person [1], and promote the high-quality development of ideological and political education, the 13th National Academic Seminar on Ideological and Political Education was convened at Southwest University on October 21, 2023. The conference was jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Chongqing Center for the Study of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and Southwest University. It was co-hosted by the Department of Sinicization of Marxism of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Marxism at Southwest University, with assistance from the editorial departments of Marxism Studies (Mǎkèsīzhǔyì Yánjiū), Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education (Sīxiǎng Lǐlùn Jiàoyù Dǎokān), and the Chongqing Daily "Thought Weekly." More than 180 experts and scholars from nearly 100 universities and research institutes nationwide—including Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Nankai University, Sun Yat-sen University, the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences—gathered to engage in academic exchange and theoretical exploration surrounding the theme of "High-Quality Development of Ideological and Political Education from the Perspective of Chinese-path Modernization."
The opening ceremony was attended by Li Xufeng, Party Secretary and Professor of Southwest University; Cao Qingyao, Executive Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee; Lin Jianhua, Vice President and Researcher of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Huang Rongsheng, Convener of the Marxism Theory Discipline Review Group of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee, former Party Secretary of Southwest University, and Professor at the School of Marxism; Liu Sifang, Party Secretary and President of the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences and Deputy Director of the Chongqing Center for the Study of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; and Qiao Jian, Second-Level Inspector (èrjí xúnshìyuán) of the Municipal Education Commission. Huang Jie, Deputy Party Secretary of Southwest University, presided over the opening ceremony.
Li Xufeng expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the meeting and extended a sincere welcome to the attending leaders, experts, and scholars. He pointed out that 2023 is the first year of the new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects, and it also marks the upcoming 40th anniversary of the development of the discipline of ideological and political education. He stated that the holding of this conference is timely and of far-reaching significance. He expressed hope that the participating experts and scholars would profoundly elucidate the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He urged them to deeply summarize the great achievements made and precious experience accumulated in the development of the discipline of ideological and political education over the past 40 years—especially the ten years of the New Era—and to conduct in-depth research on the high-quality development of ideological and political education from the perspective of Chinese-path modernization, so as to make greater contributions to the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and promoting the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
Lin Jianhua pointed out that it is necessary to further elevate political standing and unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to congeal the soul and solidify the heart [2], which is the fundamental compliance for the high-quality development of ideological and political education. He emphasized the need to further strengthen the mindset of "tracing the origins" (xúnjì sùyuán), insisting on using the profound heritage of fine traditional Chinese culture to moisten hearts and cultivate people [3]—this being the foundation and confidence for advancing high-quality development in the field. He noted that the goal orientation must be further strengthened, focusing on the core task of cultivating socialist builders and successors, as well as the "new people of the era" (shídài xīnrén) who can shoulder the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation—this is the distinct purpose of promoting high-quality development. Finally, he called for a further enhancement of problem-consciousness and a problem-oriented approach, focusing on improving the methods and means of ideological and political education to enhance pertinence, effectiveness, coverage, and influence, which serves as a powerful lever and important path for promoting the field.
In his speech, Comrade Cao Qingyao noted that to properly research and elucidate the theme of "High-Quality Development of Ideological and Political Education from the Perspective of Chinese-path Modernization," three aspects are crucial: First, we must profoundly grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and adhere to the fundamental compliance of ideological and political education under Chinese-path modernization. Second, we must profoundly grasp General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on ideological and political education. Third, we must profoundly grasp the requirements of the era for Chinese-path modernization—offering insights into promoting the reform and innovation of "Ideological and Political Courses" (sīzhèngkè) [4], building a strong contingent of teachers for these courses, and promoting the high-level integration of ideological and political education with information technology, thereby enhancing the sense of the era and the appeal of such education.
The forum consisted of keynote speeches, themed presentations, and sub-forums. During the keynote stage, ten experts delivered reports, followed by eight experts in the themed presentation stage, and 58 experts and scholars shared academic insights in the sub-forums.
During the keynote speech stage, reports were delivered by: Liu Shulin, Director of the Teaching Committee and Professor of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University; Luo Yuting, Convener of the Marxism Theory Discipline Review Group of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee and Director of the Institute of Ideological and Political Education at Wuhan University; Liu Jianjun, Professor of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China and Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor; Yang Yuxin, Party Secretary and Professor of Changchun University of Science and Technology; Liu Sifang, Party Secretary and President of the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences; Deng Zhuoming, former Party Secretary and Professor of Chongqing Normal University; Huang Jin, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Jiangsu Police Institute; Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Sinicization of Marxism at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Feng Yanli, Deputy Director and Researcher of the CASS Institute of Philosophy; and Huang Rongsheng of Southwest University. These reports were presided over by Professor Huang Rongsheng and Zhao Guodong, Vice President and Professor of Nanjing University of Finance and Economics.
In the themed presentation stage, speakers included Liu Xuanqi of Baise Executive Institute; Bai Xianliang, Vice President of Hainan Normal University; Dong Hui of Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Qiu Xiaoyun, Vice President of Gannan Normal University; Zhang Shaorong, Party Secretary of Chongqing City Management College; Zhao Zhongyuan, Dean of the School of Marxism at Guangzhou University; Wang Xisheng of Anhui Normal University; and Li Baogeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Ningbo University. These sessions were presided over by Zhang Nan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education, and Jin Yujun, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest University.
In the sub-forum stage, six parallel sessions were held where experts and scholars engaged in heated discussions around the themes: "The Party's Innovative Theories and the Cultural Mission of the New Era," "Chinese-path Modernization and the Promotion of Well-rounded Human Development," "High-Quality Development of the Discipline of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era," "Innovation and Digitalization of Ideological and Political Education," "Research on Ideological and Political Theory Courses from the Perspective of Chinese-path Modernization," and "Research on the Reform and Innovation of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Universities." These sub-forums were presided over by Yan Zheng, Editor of Teaching and Research (Jiàoxué yǔ Yánjiù); Li Suxia of Hebei Normal University; Li Nan, Party Secretary of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Li Ying of Hebei University of Economics and Business; He Xinchun, Dean of the School of Marxism at Gannan Normal University; and Yu Yifan, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Nankai University.
Liu Ailing, Director of the Ideological and Political Education Research Office at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, presided over the sub-forum summaries. Deans and professors from Liaoning Normal University, Fujian Jiangxia University, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Gannan Normal University, and Yangzhou University delivered summary speeches for their respective forums, sharing the results of the exchanges.
Liao Xiaoheng, Head of the Publicity Department and Cyberwork Department of the Southwest University Party Committee and Party Secretary of the School of Marxism, presided over the closing ceremony. At the ceremony, He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the CASS Department of Sinicization of Marxism, provided an academic summary. He comprehensively summarized the overall conference through four keywords: "Abundant," "New," "Deep," and "Correct" [5]. He outlined three inspirations: first, for the high-quality development of ideological and political education in the New Era, one must persist in a problem-oriented approach; second, one must insist on the integration of theory and practice; third, teachers of ideological and political courses must possess theoretical clarity and theoretical depth. Wang Feng, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest University, provided a concluding review of the conference, summarizing the discussions across foundational, theoretical, and practical dimensions. Finally, a flag-handover ceremony was held. Liao Xiaoheng, representing the host institution, handed the seminar flag to Yu Yifan of Nankai University, the next host, who cordially invited colleagues to gather at Nankai in Tianjin next year.
This seminar featured a gathering of experts and rich content. The reports in both main and sub-forums were brilliant, with deep exchanges and frequent highlights, demonstrating the seminar’s high caliber, wide participation, significant influence, and strong theoretical nature. The success of the seminar is of great significance for promoting and elucidating the Party’s major theoretical innovations, advancing the practical development of ideological and political education, and furthering the construction of the discipline.