Marxism Research Network
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2018 Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism Held in Beijing

Academic Society

Reported by China Social Science Net (Reporter Jia Wei)—In order to further deepen the study, research, and implementation of the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and to promote the research and innovation of historical materialism in our country, the 2018 Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism was grandly held from November 2nd to 5th. This annual conference was co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), and organized by the editorial department of Ideological and Education Research and the USTB School of Marxism. The theme of the conference was "Historical Laws and Contemporary China's Reform and Opening-up." Nearly 200 experts and scholars from over 100 units, including national universities, Party schools, military academies, scientific research institutes, publishing institutions, and news media, participated in the seminar.

On the morning of November 3rd, Professor Quan Liangzhu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of USTB, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the annual conference. On behalf of all faculty and students of USTB, he expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the conference and introduced the basic situation of the university and the achievements made in the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory. Subsequently, Professor Wu Fulai, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Renmin University of China, delivered a speech. Professor Hou Huiqin, President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Director of the Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideological Construction of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered the keynote report of the conference: "China's Reform and Opening-up and the Emancipation of the Mind [1] Entering the New Era." Professor Hou Huiqin emphasized that standing at the new historical starting point of the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must recognize that the reform and opening-up, which has traversed a glorious 40-year journey, is the most distinct characteristic of contemporary China. This is because reform and opening-up is the key to the successful pioneering of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is the banner of China's emancipation of the mind in the new period and a classic work of the Party's emancipation of the mind, representing the most significant test the Party has faced under new historical conditions.

Since entering the New Era, our country's reform and opening-up has exhibited many new historical characteristics distinct from the past: from adapting to the needs of opening up to leading the great cause of reform and opening-up and socialism with Chinese characteristics through the "Great Project" [2] of the Party's own building; from striving to keep up with the trends of the times to actively conforming to historical trends and leading the trends of the times; and from a policy orientation that focused on removing systemic and institutional flaws to a systems orientation that emphasizes exerting the advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the basis of fully recognizing these new historical characteristics, we need to hold the banner of the emancipation of the mind even higher. This requires integrating the emancipation of the mind into an organic whole with the strengthening of the "Four Consciousnesses" [3], the "people-centered" [4] approach, the firming of communist ideals and convictions, and the self-revolution of the Communist Party of China, thereby effectively promoting the better development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Peng Qinghong, Standing Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the USTB School of Marxism.

After a group photo of the attending experts and scholars, the conference entered the specialized presentation session. This session was presided over by Researcher Zhu Jidong, Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the CASS Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideological Construction. Several Vice Presidents of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism—including Professor Zhao Jianying (President of China Social Sciences Press), Professor Ai Silin (Dean of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University), Professor Sun Xiguo (Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University), Professor Guo Jiezhong (Party Committee Secretary of Nanchang Hangkong University), Professor Jiang Yingchun (Party Committee Secretary of the School of Information Management at Nanjing University), and Professor Yuan Yinchuan (School of Marxism at Wuhan University)—along with Professor Li Xiaoguang (USTB School of Marxism), Researcher Yu Bin (Director of the Department of Marxist Principles at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies), and Professor Wang Yan (Dean of the School of Marxism at Shanghai Jiao Tong University), delivered excellent presentations. Their topics included: "Sinicized Marxist Philosophy Leading the Great Historical Process of Reform and Opening-up," "Xi Jinping's View of Revolution," "Historical Materialism, Dialectical Materialism, and Practical Materialism are One Single 'Ism'," "Philosophical Reflections on the New Era," "A Methodological Examination of the Liberal View of Reform and Opening-up," "The Basic Experience of the Communist Party of China's Innovation and Development of Marxism over Forty Years of Reform and Opening-up," "Historical Laws and Theoretical Development: Focusing on the Holistic Approach to Developing Contemporary Chinese Marxism," "On the Testing and Realization of Truth through Practice," and "Reflections on Constructing Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics." In the afternoon, participants divided into four sub-forums for discussion and selected representatives to report on their exchanges.

On the morning of November 4th, the thematic presentation session was presided over by Professor Jiang Yingchun. Speakers included Researcher Jin Minqing (Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies), Professor Yang Shengping (Vice President of the Society and President of Capital Normal University Press), Researcher Feng Yanli (Vice President of the Society and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Philosophy), Researcher Zhu Jidong, Professor Ren Xiaowei (Dean of the School of Marxism at Shaanxi Normal University), and Professor Xu Doudou (Dean of the School of Philosophy and Social Development at Huaqiao University). They spoke on topics such as: "The View of the Times in the Materialist Conception of History and its Contemporary Significance," "The Significance of Marx's Theory of World History and the Development of China's Reform and Opening-up," "The Dialectics of Justice within the Horizon of the Materialist Conception of History," "Always Maintaining the Correct Direction and Path of Reform and Opening-up," "Philosophical Reflections on the Relationship between the 'Two Revolutions' [5]," and "The Multi-dimensional Assumption of Responsibility for Our Country in the New Era." In the afternoon, representatives from each sub-forum reported on their respective topics: "Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," "Research on the Marxist Materialist Conception of History," "Research on the Sinicization of Marxism," and "Research on Related Issues of Marxism."

Researcher Zhang Jian, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered the concluding remarks. Professor Peng Qinghong and Professor Hou Huiqin delivered closing speeches, and President Hou Huiqin announced the adjournment of the conference.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth and the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. The theme of this annual conference, "Historical Laws and Contemporary China's Reform and Opening-up," aligns with these two major commemorative themes. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era clarifies the fourteen basic points [6] of the strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, requiring the persistence of comprehensively deepening reform. It further points out that only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening-up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism. The participating representatives spoke highly of the conference content. It was unanimously agreed that by following the laws of historical development, China chose reform and opening-up, and the vivid practice of reform and opening-up in China has further enhanced the Chinese Communists' recognition and understanding of the laws of historical development.