The 12th National Forum for Deans of Marxist Schools Convened at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Holding High the Great Banner of Marxism, Constantly Advancing Theoretical and Practical Innovation
On July 20, the 12th National Forum for Deans of Marxist Studies was held in the academic auditorium of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The forum was jointly organized by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the CASS Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Approximately 260 experts and scholars from over 100 universities and research institutions nationwide—including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, and Wuhan University—attended the meeting. Representatives from news media outlets such as the People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Economic Daily, Chinese Social Sciences Today, People.cn, Qiushi.com, and Gmw.cn were also present.
The theme of this year’s forum was "70 Years of Marxist Research." Xie Fuzhan, President and Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of CASS and Director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address. Wang Jingqing, Vice President and Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of CASS and Deputy Director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, delivered a keynote report. Jiang Hui—Member of the CASS Leading Party Members’ Group, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, and Executive Director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—presided over the opening ceremony. Gu Hailiang, member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People's Congress and Deputy Director of the Social Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, and Li Shenming, former Vice President and Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of CASS and Director of the World Socialism Research Center, also delivered keynote reports.
Xie Fuzhan pointed out that from the moment of its birth, Marxism was like a magnificent sunrise, illuminating the path for humanity to explore historical laws and seek self-emancipation. Since its inception, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has always held high the great banner of Marxism, constantly advancing theoretical and practical innovation. To hold high the great banner of Marxism, we must adhere to combining the basic principles of Marxism with contemporary Chinese reality and the characteristics of the times, and constantly open up new frontiers for the Sinicization of Marxism. The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century [1], experiencing great development, great transformation, and great adjustment. To seize the initiative in a rapidly changing era and to win victories in the "new great struggle," we must—on the basis of adhering to the basic principles of Marxism—think about and grasp a series of major strategic issues facing the future development of the country with a broader horizon and a longer-term perspective, continuously expanding new horizons and formulating new syntheses in theory.
Xie Fuzhan stated that the most important aspect of holding high the great banner of Marxism is to persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. It represents the latest leap in combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s concrete practice and the characteristics of the times. It is the most vivid and vital Marxism in the New Era, the ideological banner of the CPC and the Chinese people, the spiritual banner for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the guiding ideology that must be upheld over the long term by the whole Party and the people of the entire country. In contemporary China, only this thought—and no other—can solve the issues regarding the future and destiny of our Party and country.
Xie Fuzhan emphasized the need to use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance to continuously open up new frontiers for the development of 21st-century Marxism. Upholding and developing contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism is both a major task facing the whole Party and a major "subject of the times" posed to the philosophy and social sciences community by General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee. Philosophy and social science workers, especially specialized institutions engaged in Marxist research, must improve their political standing and strengthen their theoretical armament. They must deeply study and elucidate Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, maintaining a primary focus on major theoretical and practical issues of the New Era. They must adhere to the correct political direction, academic orientation, and value orientation, consciously shouldering their historical responsibilities to make due contributions to enriching and developing 21st-century Marxism.
Wang Jingqing stated that through 70 years of profound changes, the Chinese nation has welcomed a great leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong. This is an unprecedented miracle in the history of the Chinese nation and a brilliant chapter in world history. This epic of struggle, which witnesses the glory and greatness of Chinese Communists and the veracity of Marxism, is currently inspiring us to march with heads held high on the journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Today, as we stand at the height of the New Era to deeply summarize and study the 70 years of Marxism's development in New China, we need to constantly deepen our research into the "true scriptures" [2] of Marxism to reveal the experiences and laws behind historical development. We need to develop Marxism while advancing with the times according to the requirements of the era and practical developments. We need to contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the resolution of human problems from the moral and intellectual high ground of Marxist truth.
Wang Jingqing pointed out that to make new contributions to the development of 21st-century Marxism, philosophy and social science workers must treat science with a scientific attitude, pursue truth with the spirit of truth, and constantly endow 21st-century Marxism with new connotations of the times. We must continuously expand the international influence of contemporary Chinese Marxism, lead the theoretical innovation of 21st-century Marxism, and act proactively in the great cause of seeking development for humanity and "Great Unity" [3] for the world, making greater contributions to human progress and peaceful development.
In presiding over the opening ceremony, Jiang Hui pointed out that the brilliant course and great victories of the 70 years of New China are the great victories of Marxism in China. They are also the best proof of Marxism fully demonstrating its immense vitality through continuous innovation and development. Deeply studying the historical, theoretical, and practical logic of this great historical creation and its brilliant achievements; deeply studying the historical process and basic laws of the Sinicization of Marxism; deeply studying the new characteristics and issues in the innovative development of 21st-century Marxism; and deeply studying the epochal, theoretical, practical, and global significance of contemporary Chinese Marxism—all to contribute wisdom and strength to promoting the Sinicization, modernization, and popularization of Marxism—is precisely the goal we hope to achieve by hosting this National Forum for Deans of Marxist Studies.
Gu Hailiang pointed out that in the early years of the founding of New China, the Marxist theory of the transition period was creatively applied and developed during China’s socialist transformation process, forming a path for the socialist transformation of the means of production and a revolutionary road with distinct Chinese characteristics. The application and development of scientific Marxist principles and the scientific spirit in the practice of China’s socialist revolution, construction, and reform laid an important foundation for the subsequent emergence of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics and serves as the logical starting point for the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Li Shenming pointed out that in reviewing the process of Marxist theoretical research over the 70 years since the founding of New China, one fundamental piece of experience is the necessity of attaching great importance to the Party’s theoretical construction at all times. Theoretical construction for the CPC in the New Era means combining the universal truths of Marxism with China’s concrete realities and the characteristics of the present age to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. Within this process, we must organically and highly unify the upholding and development of Marxism, adhere to the fundamental principle of serving the vast majority of the people, and uphold the important policy of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend" [4] for the prosperity and development of our country's philosophy and social sciences. Furthermore, we must cultivate a group of Marxist scholars with firm positions, solid foundations, and rich experience.
Ji Zhengju, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Economic Daily, pointed out that over the past 40 years, China's research into the classical texts of Marxism has made great progress in areas such as text compilation and translation, edition research, methodological innovation, and textual interpretation. The process of researching classical texts is closely linked to the historical process and great practice of reform and opening up. It has evolved from "introductory" research to "original" research, forming a path for Marxist textual research with unique Chinese characteristics, while the international horizon of this research has increasingly broadened. Looking ahead, it is expected that the editing and publication of MEGA2 [5] will continue to advance textual research. Research will be carried out extensively alongside the establishment of a system for editions of Marxist classics. The digitalization and networking of the compilation and publication of classical works will bring about a trend toward digital research. Textual research will also reflect a strong concern for reality and "problem awareness," and interdisciplinary research will continue to be strengthened.
The morning plenary session was presided over by Fan Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, during which ten scholars delivered excellent speeches.
Xin Xiangyang, Vice Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, provided the summary for the plenary session. He noted that this forum was characterized by its high level, high density, and high quality, involving many major issues—such as the integrity of Marxism, the essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The study of these major issues is both a practical task facing Marxist scholars in the future and an objective requirement for the innovative development of Marxist theory.
Sun Xiguo, Executive Vice Dean of the Peking University Research Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, pointed out that the greatest problem facing the teaching and research of the discipline of "Basic Principles of Marxism" in universities is a lack of research and grasp of the integrity of Marxism. Fundamentally, this is because the object of study for the discipline of Basic Principles of Marxism has not been clearly defined. The disciplinary object and research theme of the basic principles of Marxism should be the realization of the people’s aspiration for a better life and the pursuit of liberation for humanity. Grounding the content of the basic principles of Marxism in this point is the key to research in this field.
Qin Xuan, Dean of the Renmin University of China Research Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, stated that the external communication of contemporary Chinese Marxism, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, should be strengthened. To this end, top-level design and organizational management must be well-executed to coordinate and arrange publicity work; precise interpretation of contemporary Chinese Marxism must be provided; the methods and means of external communication must be improved; theoretical confidence must be enhanced; and diversified forms of communication must be adopted. Attention should also be paid to the cultivation of talent for external communication—training domestic "compound talents" who possess theoretical depth, are well-versed in policy, and are proficient in foreign languages—while simultaneously making better use of international talent.
Jin Minqing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Modern History, argued that the "Chinese Dream" of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become a banner guiding the development of the cause of the Party and the state within the historical coordinates of the New Era. We must grasp the tortuous process of national rejuvenation through a grand historical narrative, observe development since modern times through the lens of the history of the Chinese nation's rejuvenation, and grasp the immense value and special status of major historical events within that history. The founding of New China represents the first major leap in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xiao Guiqing, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University, pointed out that the 70 years of New China... [Text truncated]
The formulation and evolution of modern development strategies over the past 70 years have passed through several developmental stages: from "industrialization" [6] to the "Four Modernizations" [7], then to the "three-step" [8] realization of modernization, and finally to the strategy of building a modern powerful nation guided by the realization of "national rejuvenation." Although each stage is distinct, their strategic objectives possess consistency, all centering on modernization; they exhibit continuity in strategic arrangement, integrity in strategic layout, and follow a single continuous line in their guiding ideology.
Sun Bangzhu, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Peking University, similarly believes that since the founding of New China, socialist modernization has always been the strategic goal, theme, and main line of China's economic development. To this end, the path of New China's economic development has primarily been the path of industrialization based on the socialist economic system and the choice of a corresponding economic mechanism. This choice involves three main stages: the pre-reform and opening-up period, which prioritized the development of heavy industry to establish an industrial system and its corresponding planned economic system; the period after reform and opening-up, which developed the tertiary industry while evolving the secondary industry to become a manufacturing power, and established and improved the socialist market economy system; and the New Era, which involves developing a powerful manufacturing nation and a modern economic system, and realizing the modernization of the national economic governance system and governance capacity. The choices made in these three stages all embody the unity of theoretical logic, historical logic, and practical logic; they all follow discernible laws and possess an inherent unity.
Wang Yi, Party Committee Secretary and Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China, believes that since the founding of the state, and especially after reform and opening-up, there have been shortcomings in talent cultivation within the discipline of Marxist theory, such as irrational structures, singular selection channels, weak systemic cultivation, and an emphasis on classroom learning over practice. There is an urgent need to resolve problems such as the lack of a unified teaching quality evaluation system, significant differences in talent cultivation between universities, and the poor connection between the textbook system construction, undergraduate courses, and graduate courses. Therefore, measures should be taken such as adopting general education to consolidate foundational cultivation; implementing all-staff teaching with diversified choices; fostering whole-process education with meticulous guidance; and promoting multi-dimensional advancement with an international perspective.
She Shuanghao, Dean of the School of Marxism at Wuhan University, pointed out that over the 70 years of New China, the discipline of Marxist theory has undergone profound changes: its disciplinary status has moved from "setting sail" to "navigating"; its disciplinary function has moved from serving professional courses to serving ideological and political theory courses; its disciplinary characteristics have moved from differentiation to integration; and its disciplinary level has moved from extensional expansion to intensional development and quality improvement. The development trend of the Marxist theory discipline is toward demonstrative leadership, differentiation and integration, intensional and quality development, the symbiotic development of curriculum and discipline, and the balanced development of disciplinary construction.
In the view of Zhou Liangshu, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University, telling historical stories well is crucial for the propagation of Marxist theory. Achieving this involves several key links, including telling the story of the relationship between China and foreign countries, the relationship between history and logic, the relationship between inheritance and development, the relationship between necessity and contingency, and the relationship between achievements and mistakes.
Liu Fengyi, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Nankai University, believes that understanding the relationship between the government and the market should not stop at the surface phenomenon of whether the government or the market is "small" or "large," but should go deep into the underlying relationships behind them. The essence of the relationship between the government and the market is the relationship between the state and the market; the nature of the state and the basic economic system of the state determine the essential characteristics of the relationship between planning and the market, and between the government and the market. We must explore the relationship between the government and the market on the basis of adhering to the ownership system with public ownership as the mainstay. This is our institutional prerequisite for transcending the relationship between government and market based on capitalist private ownership, and also our theoretical prerequisite for solving the "government and market relationship" as a world-class puzzle.
The afternoon session of the plenary speeches was presided over by Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Principles, and Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Development, both of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. During this stage, more than 20 deans and vice deans of Schools of Marxism from universities such as Jilin University, Dalian University of Technology, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Xiamen University, and Shandong University conducted in-depth discussions on important issues such as the study of classic Marxist works, the history and theory of the Sinicization of Marxism, the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the construction of the Marxist theory discipline.
Among them, Wu Hongzheng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Jilin University, stated that Marx established a philosophical outlook of the "utility of practice" and transformed this "philosophical outlook" into a "historical science" of the laws of social and historical development, and "conceptual dialectics" into "historical dialectics," thereby completing the "practicalization" of philosophy and the "philosophicalization" of practice. The turn in Marx's philosophy was not merely a practical turn in the "content" or "object" of philosophical focus, but was about turning philosophy itself into reality, or turning reality into the ideal provided by philosophy.
Hong Xiaonan, Dean of the School of Marxism at Dalian University of Technology, believes that since the 19th CPC National Congress, Chinese discourse has undergone a logical evolution from "standing up" and "getting rich" toward "becoming strong." [9] Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is an important guide for constructing a discourse system of "becoming strong." The "becoming strong" Chinese discourse system is, in essence, the theoretical expression of the Chinese path, the theoretical sublimation of Chinese experience, the discourse presentation of Chinese theory, and the theoretical representation of the Chinese solution; it belongs to a new modernity of civilization.