Xin Xiangyang, Party Secretary and Director of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Leads a Delegation to Russia for Academic Exchange
From September 18 to 22, 2023, a delegation led by Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Academy of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), visited Russia for academic exchanges.
On the morning of September 19, the delegation met and held exchanges with Yuri Tavrovsky, Vice Chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association. As a renowned Russian Sinologist, Yuri Tavrovsky pays close attention to China's development and changes, having authored several books and numerous articles on Chinese themes. During the meeting, both parties expressed their commitment to continuing the advancement of their excellent cooperative relationship in the academic field and conducting further in-depth research centered on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Following the meeting, the two sides exchanged academic works and journals such as Marxism Studies.
On the afternoon of September 19, the delegation visited the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They met and exchanged views with Mikhail Golovnin, Director of the Institute, Elena Lenchuk, the former Director, and several experts and scholars in the field of economics. They engaged in profound discussions on issues including Chinese-path modernization, the current state and prospects of the Russian economy, and the future of China-Russia economic cooperation.
On the morning of September 20, the delegation arrived at Kazan Federal University, where the seventeen-year-old Lenin once studied. The delegation listened attentively to the accounts provided by the Director of the Lenin Museum at Kazan Federal University, gaining a deep understanding of Lenin's academic experiences and personal growth during his time there.
On the afternoon of September 20, the delegation reached Ulyanovsk Oblast, where they visited the Lenin Memorial and met with Aleksey Russkikh, the Governor of Ulyanovsk Oblast. Governor Russkikh is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), and the Oblast has been continuously strengthening economic cooperation with China across multiple sectors. Currently, at least three Chinese automotive enterprises are engaged in cooperative ventures within Ulyanovsk Oblast. The Oblast also hopes to develop "red tourism" [1] routes for Chinese tourists to further stimulate regional economic development.
On the morning of September 21, the delegation visited the Lenin State Farm located in the southern suburbs of Moscow, which has a 105-year history. Although the farm underwent privatization in accordance with Russian Federation law following the collapse of the Soviet Union, its director, Pavel Grudinin—a member of the CPRF with socialist aspirations—continues to manage the enterprise in the manner of a Soviet-era state farm. The Lenin State Farm features supporting infrastructure for employees, including schools, kindergartens, theme parks, and fitness centers, embodying a "people-centered" [2] spirit throughout. Gennady Zyuganov has lauded it as a "people's enterprise."
On the afternoon of September 21, the delegation visited the Russian State Duma to meet and exchange views with Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPRF, Vice Chairman Novikov, and Central Secretary Anikhovsky. Xin Xiangyang pointed out that one of the primary purposes of the Academy of Marxism Studies delegation’s visit to Russia was to strengthen exchanges with the CPRF and deepen cooperation in areas such as socialist theoretical research. He noted that Lenin's conviction in the inevitable victory of socialism serves as a tremendous driving force inspiring Chinese Communists to press forward. The Academy of Marxism Studies at CASS has already begun relevant preparations and plans to launch a series of academic activities surrounding the 100th anniversary of Lenin's passing. Zyuganov warmly welcomed the delegation, stating that continuously expanding ties between the peoples and the Communist parties of Russia and China is a priority for the CPRF's activities. He particularly emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s theoretical innovations have made significant contributions to the cause of global modernization. The CPRF is seriously studying Chinese experience, noting that the assessments and conclusions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China are especially worthy of attention. He added that the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, proposed and elaborated by General Secretary Xi Jinping, possesses extremely important global significance. During the delegation's visit, the CPRF was holding commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Orel-Bryansk Operation; Chairman Zyuganov presented the delegation members with commemorative medals to express the wish to remember history and cherish peace.
January 21, 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of Lenin's death. On the eve of this important commemorative date, it is of great significance for the delegation of the Academy of Marxism Studies to follow in the footsteps of the great man’s birth, studies, and work, to experience his character, and to conduct academic seminars and exchanges with the CPRF and the Russian academic community.
(Contributed by Chen Airu)