The 11th Forum on Scientific Socialism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Held Successfully

In order to deeply study, publicize, and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee ^[1], and to conduct intensive research and interpretation of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, the 11th Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Forum on Scientific Socialism was held in Xi’an on September 21. The forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, and Xi’an University of Technology.

At the opening ceremony, several officials attended and delivered speeches, including Chen Zhigang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies of CASS; Gao Hongxia, Party Branch Secretary and Executive Vice Chairperson of the Shaanxi Provincial Federation of Social Sciences; Fan Jianwu, Party Committee Secretary of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology; Liang Shuhua, Vice President of Xi’an University of Technology; and Luo Jun, Deputy Director of the Theory Department of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee Propaganda Department. The opening ceremony was presided over by Guo Qiang, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology.

Chen Zhigang pointed out that the forum must deeply study, publicize, and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It should intensively research General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of new ideas, viewpoints, and judgments regarding further comprehensively deepening reform. The forum should focus on the great cause of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. He emphasized strengthening systematic and theoretical research on Chinese-path modernization, further bolstering research on comprehensively deepening reform, and grasping the relationship between further comprehensively deepening reform and Chinese-path modernization. He stated that it is necessary to both strengthen basic theoretical research and solidly carry out investigative research, effectively "writing papers on the motherland's soil" ^[2].

Gao Hongxia noted that the forum’s focus on the theme of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization fully demonstrates the political, theoretical, and active consciousness of Marxist theoretical workers. Modern Chinese civilization is a new ideological weapon on the new journey of Chinese-path modernization; it is the "living water" ^[3] of the autonomous knowledge system of Chinese philosophy and social sciences that does not forget its origins, and it represents the mutual reflection of the regional and historical civilizations of the ancient capital, Chang'an. She expressed hope that the participating experts and scholars would conduct in-depth discussions based on the great practice of Chinese-path modernization and the mission of building a modern Chinese civilization.

Fan Jianwu introduced the historical evolution of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology and its achievements in recent years in discipline construction, talent cultivation, scientific research, social service, faculty development, international exchange and cooperation, and the development of the School of Marxism. He noted that the university is currently deeply studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the National Education Conference, and the speech delivered by Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, during his investigation at the school. The university will actively build a "Grand Ideological and Political" ^[4] work pattern, leverage the advantages of its provincial-level platforms, and continuously strengthen theoretical research and the promotion of experience. He hoped this forum would gather academic wisdom, broaden horizons, increase exchange, and deepen cooperation.

Liang Shuhua introduced the operations and discipline development of Xi’an University of Technology and its School of Marxism. She hoped this forum would further promote exchange and cooperation between Xi’an University of Technology and universities and research institutes nationwide to jointly advance theoretical research and academic exchange in scientific socialism.

Luo Jun stated that social science theoretical workers should maintain their direction while keeping the "top priorities of the nation" ^[5] in mind, and unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to coagulate the soul and build the spirit. They should find the right direction within the coordinate system of the nation’s overall situation and the province’s major plans, basing themselves on Chinese practice and Shaanxi’s reality to answer the "Questions of China, the World, the People, and the Times" ^[6]. They should align their direction by caring for the major concerns of the people, carrying out investigative research at the grassroots level, and extensively publicizing theoretical work so that the Party's innovative theories "fly into the homes of ordinary people" ^[7].

This forum conducted an intensive exploration of the historical, theoretical, and practical logic of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, enhancing academic exchange among Marxist researchers. The forum was divided into keynote reports, thematic reports, and sub-forum discussions. Experts, scholars, and media representatives from CASS, the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Shandong University, Tongji University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Hunan University, as well as Guangming Online and journals such as Marxist Studies, World Socialism Studies, and the Journal of China Yan'an Executive Leadership Academy participated in the exchanges.

During the keynote report phase, several scholars delivered presentations: Xin Xiangyang, Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, on "National Governance and Chinese-path Modernization"; Zhang Zuoguo, Director of the China Cultural Soft Power Research Center and Professor at Hunan University, on "The Eight Great Advantages of Chinese-path Modernization and its Transcendence of Western Modernization"; Deng Chundong, former Party Secretary and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, on "Adhering to the Correct Direction of Consolidating the Subjectivity of Chinese Culture"; Qiu Xiaoyun, Vice President of Gannan Normal University, on "Mao Zedong Before and After the Decision for the Long March"; Xue Guangzhou, Professor at the Central Party School, on "Perspective on the Development and Significance of New Era Chinese-path Modernization through the Exploration of Modernization in the Mao Zedong Era"; and Xiao Guiqing, Executive Vice Dean of the Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Tsinghua University, on "Constructing an Institutional System to Advance Chinese-path Modernization." This session was presided over by Professor Liang Yanbing, Dean of the School of Marxism at Xi’an University of Technology.

In the first stage of thematic reports, researchers including Chen Zhigang, Liu Zhiming (Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy, CASS), Zhang Shihai (Dean of the School of Marxism, Shandong University), Yan Lianfu (Dean of the School of Marxism, Xi’an Jiaotong University), Liu Xuanqi (Vice President of Guangxi Baise Executive Leadership Academy), and Wang Chuanli (Professor at Tsinghua University) delivered reports. Topics included the profound connotation of modern Chinese civilization, the philosophical basis and methodological requirements of emphasizing reform results, Mao Zedong's views on the construction of the CPC's cultural leadership, reflections on "strong ideological and political leadership," high-quality opening up and development in border ethnic regions, and the fact that Chinese-path modernization is a modernization led by the CPC. This stage was presided over by Professor Li Nan, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In the second stage of thematic reports, scholars including He Xinyuan (Deputy Director of the Department of Sinicization of Marxism, CASS), Fu Huifang (Dean of the School of Marxism, Fujian Normal University), Tang Huangfeng (Professor at Renmin University of China), Dai Rui (Dean of the School of Marxism, Hohai University), Gao Dongxin (Party Secretary and President of the Xi’an Academy of Social Sciences), and Qi Guang (Dean of the School of Marxism, China University of Mining and Technology) explored cutting-edge issues. These included Party building leading the empowerment of new quality productive forces, the unique advantages of the new-type whole-nation system in promoting new quality productive forces, the socialist dimension of modern Chinese civilization, the practical logic of constructing modern Chinese civilization, the practice of Chinese-path modernization in Xi’an, and the logic and path of the discourse of Chinese-path modernization. This stage was presided over by Professor Jiang Hong, Chief Editor of the journal The Thinking Front.

At the closing ceremony, representatives from the sub-forums reported on their discussions. The closing ceremony was presided over by Professor Wu Mingyong, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, and Researcher He Xinyuan provided the conference summary.