"Report on China's Cultural Development in the New Era," a Major Achievement of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Research and Interpretation Project on Modern Chinese Civilization, Released in Beijing
On February 2, the launch event for "Report on China’s Cultural Development in the New Era: Toward a Fully Prosperous Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation"—a major outcome of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' (CASS) Research and Interpretation Project on the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation—was held in Beijing. Zhen Zhanmin, Vice President and Member of the Leadership Core Group of CASS, attended the meeting and delivered the keynote release.
Zhen Zhanmin stated that deeply researching and interpreting Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and serving the construction of a modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a major political task for the philosophy and social science community. As a theoretical stronghold for Marxism, a think tank serving the decision-making of the Party and the state, the highest academic institution for research in the philosophy and social sciences in China, and a national comprehensive research center for the philosophy and social sciences, CASS has a responsibility and obligation to take the lead and set an example in promoting the theoretical interpretation, academic expression, and systematic construction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
Zhen Zhanmin noted that the Report on China’s Cultural Development in the New Era contains significant innovations in several areas: First, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture serves as the banner and soul of cultural prosperity and development in the New Era. The most significant theoretical achievement of cultural development in the New Era is the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Second, the "Two Combinations" [1] constitute the only path for promoting the flourishing of Chinese culture and the transformation of Chinese civilization. The greatest theoretical value of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture lies in achieving the great combination of Marxism with China’s fine traditional culture, enriching and developing Marxist cultural theory, and driving a new great leap for Chinese culture. The "Two Combinations" not only ensure the Chinese civilizational depth and cultural foundations of Chinese-path modernization, but also replenish the cultural vitality of Marxism, further deepening and expanding the breadth, depth, and historical space of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Third, a people-centered approach is the core philosophy of cultural development in the New Era. Chinese residents highly evaluate and recognize the historic achievements of our country's cultural development since the 18th Party Congress [2]. The cultural practices of the people have greatly enhanced the masses' sense of cultural fulfillment and creativity, becoming a hallmark of cultural development in the New Era. Fourth, digital culture is the most prominent characteristic and powerful driver of cultural development in the New Era. China is entering a "New Era of Digital Culture"; a "cultural powerhouse" must necessarily be a "digital cultural powerhouse." Fifth, the exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is a new concept for constructing a new global civilizational order. The content, forms, and patterns of our country’s external cultural exchanges are becoming increasingly rich, and a new structure of all-dimensional, multi-level, and wide-ranging exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is taking shape.
Hu Bin, Director of the CASS Bureau of Scientific Research Administration, introduced the organization and compilation process of the Report. He mentioned that to deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions during his inspection of the China Academy of History and at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, the CASS Leadership Core Group immediately deployed and implemented the Research and Interpretation Project on the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation. By mobilizing the resources and wisdom of the entire Academy, CASS organized comprehensive and systematic research to serve the overall cause of building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The Report on China’s Cultural Development in the New Era is the first major research project organized and implemented at the Academy level since the launch of the Research and Interpretation Project. The task force adopted a collective assault [3] and collaborative approach, bringing together more than 80 experts and scholars from both inside and outside the Academy. Breaking through the limitations of disciplinary thinking, they conducted interdisciplinary comprehensive research from holistic, historical, and macro perspectives, resulting in substantial and high-quality research outcomes that fully utilized CASS’s academic advantage in concentrated disciplinary talent.
Luo Wendong, Party Secretary and Researcher of the Institute of World History, delivered a specialized release titled "The Historical Background, Original Contributions, and Significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture." He stated that as the latest outcome of the combination of Marxist cultural theory with contemporary Chinese cultural construction practice, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture holds milestone significance for scientifically guiding the practice of cultural construction in the New Era, building a socialist cultural powerhouse, constructing a modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and creating a new form of human civilization.
Zhang Zhiqiang, Director and Researcher of the Institute of Philosophy, delivered a specialized release titled "The Background of the Times and the Original Significance of the 'Second Combination'." He remarked that the proposal of the "Second Combination" marks the maturity of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s theoretical achievements regarding cultural construction and signifies that the Communist Party of China's understanding of the laws governing the development of Chinese civilization has reached a new height. The second chapter of the Report focuses on the proposal process and original significance of the "Second Combination," discusses the brilliant achievements of the "Two Creations" [4] of China's fine traditional culture under its guidance, and deeply reveals the CPC’s inheritance and transformation of China’s fine traditional culture from the perspective of the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization [5].
Li He, Executive Head and Researcher of the Culture Research Center, delivered a specialized release titled "The Development Process and Important Achievements of Digital Cultural China." He noted that the new ideas, viewpoints, and assertions proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding digital cultural construction since the start of the New Era are important components of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. The strategic goals for our country's digital cultural construction have become increasingly clear, and the policy system has been continuously refined. China’s cultural sector has rapidly transitioned from "In-situ Cultural China" to "Digital Cultural China," achieving brilliant successes and writing a glorious chapter. By 2035, the cultural powerhouse will certainly be a digital cultural powerhouse, and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation will inevitably manifest as a new form of digital civilization.
Ding Guoqi, Party Secretary and Director of the Institute of Indigenous Literature, delivered a specialized release titled "The Conceptual Connotation and Forms of Expression of 'People's Cultural Practice'." He explained that "People's Cultural Practice" is a new concept proposed in the Report, derived from the core philosophy and value orientation of being "people-centered." It is an important manifestation of the "people-oriented" nature of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Since the 18th Party Congress, people's cultural practice has played an important role in enhancing the "Four Recognitions" [6] among the masses: by cultivating the foundation, casting the soul, promoting the cause, and establishing the heart through culture [7], it has enhanced the masses' political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional recognition.
Yang Dian, Deputy Director and Researcher of the Institute of Sociology, delivered a specialized release titled "The Public Highly Evaluates the Achievements of Our Country’s Cultural Development in the New Era." He noted that through the "2023 Survey on Chinese Residents' Satisfaction with Cultural Development," it was found that the public has a high level of overall satisfaction and strong confidence in current cultural development. The public enjoys China's fine traditional culture and "Main Theme" [8] culture, generally preferring literary and artistic works with a Chinese cultural foundation, and believes that Chinese culture and foreign cultures can be inclusive of one another. New media has become the primary carrier of current cultural dissemination. The public believes that public cultural services are relatively rich and that mass cultural activities are increasingly active, meeting individual needs across different dimensions.
Lu Ya, Vice President and Member of the Leadership Core Group of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a specialized release titled "Innovative Practices and Outstanding Achievements of Cultural Construction in Beijing." She stated that Beijing has deeply implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, placing the construction of the national cultural center at the forefront of the capital's development in the New Era. This has achieved the following results: First, always holding high the banner of thought, ensuring that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era takes root and forms vivid practices in Beijing. Second, strictly implementing the requirement that "the old city can no longer be demolished," using the application for World Heritage status for the Central Axis as a focal point to achieve the overall protection and revival of the old city. Third, the "Big Theater in Beijing" initiative leading the creation of high-quality works, striving to reach new heights in New Era literature and art. Fourth, upholding the development concept of "technology empowering culture, and culture empowering the city" to accelerate the construction of a high-end, precision, and sophisticated cultural industry system. Fifth, focusing on building a primary window, whereby the brand charm of the world's first "Dual Olympic City" [9] continues to manifest.
Hu Bin, Director of the CASS Bureau of Scientific Research Administration, presided over the meeting. Members of the Report’s editorial board, members of the task force, representatives from Academy-affiliated units, and representatives from publishing houses attended the meeting.