Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

The 2018 Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism Held in Beijing

Academic Society

According to the Chinese Social Sciences Net (reported by Jia Wei): To further study, research, and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress [1] 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 Meeting of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism was grandly convened from November 2nd to 5th. This annual meeting 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 School of Marxism at USTB. The theme of the meeting was "Historical Laws and Reform and Opening-up in Contemporary China." Nearly 200 experts and scholars from over 100 institutions—including national universities, Party schools, military academies, scientific research institutes, publishing houses, and news media—participated in the symposium.

On the morning of November 3rd, Professor Quan Liangzhu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee at USTB, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. On behalf of the 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 CPC Committee at 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 at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), delivered the keynote report entitled "China's Reform and Opening-up and the Emancipation of the Mind [2] 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 Reform and Opening-up, having traversed a glorious 40-year journey, is the most distinctive feature of contemporary China. This is because Reform and Opening-up is the key to the successful exploration of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is the banner of the emancipation of the mind in the new period and a classic work of the Party’s emancipation of the mind; and it is the most significant test the Party has undergone under new historical conditions.

Upon entering the New Era, China's Reform and Opening-up has exhibited many new historical characteristics distinct from the past: shifting from adapting to the needs of opening-up to leading the Great Project of Party building [3] to guide the great cause of Reform and Opening-up and socialism with Chinese characteristics led by the Party; shifting 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 shifting from a policy orientation focused on eliminating institutional and mechanistic defects to an institutional orientation focused on exerting the advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Based on a full recognition of these new historical characteristics, we must 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" [4], the "people-centered" [5] philosophy, the firming of communist ideals and beliefs, and the self-revolution of the Communist Party of China, thereby vigorously promoting the improved development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Peng Qinghong, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the School of Marxism at USTB.

Following a group photo of the participating experts and scholars, the meeting entered the expert thematic presentation phase, presided over by Researcher Zhu Jidong, Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideological Construction at CASS. Key presentations were delivered by: Professor Zhao Jianying, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and President of China Social Sciences Press; Professor Ai Silin, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University; Professor Sun Xiguo, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University; Professor Guo Jiezhong, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Secretary of the CPC Committee at Nanchang Hangkong University; Professor Jiang Yingchun, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Secretary of the CPC Committee of the School of Information Management at Nanjing University; Professor Yuan Yinchuan, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Professor at the School of Marxism at Wuhan University; Professor Li Xiaoguang, Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Professor at the School of Marxism at USTB; Researcher Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Marxist Principles at the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; and Professor Wang Yan, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the School of Marxism at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Their speeches covered themes including: "Sinicized Marxist Philosophy Guiding 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," "Basic Experiences of the CPC’s Innovative Development of Marxism over Forty Years of Reform and Opening-up," "Historical Laws and Theoretical Development: An Integrated Approach to Developing Contemporary Chinese Marxism," "On the Verification and Realization of Truth through Practice," and "Reflections on Constructing Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics." In the afternoon, representatives divided into four sub-forums for discussion and selected speakers for the plenary exchange and reporting session.

On the morning of November 4th, the expert thematic presentation phase was presided over by Professor Jiang Yingchun. Presentations were given by Researcher Jin Minqin, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; Professor Yang Shengping, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and President of the Capital Normal University Press; Researcher Feng Yanli, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy at CASS; Researcher Zhu Jidong; Professor Ren Xiaowei, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the School of Marxism at Shaanxi Normal University; and Professor Xu Doudou, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism and Dean of the School of Philosophy and Social Development at Huaqiao University. Their topics included: "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 Adhering to the Correct Forward Direction and Path of Reform and Opening-up," "Philosophical Reflections on the Relationship between the 'Two Revolutions' [6]," and "The Multi-dimensional Assumption of Responsibility in China in the New Era." In the afternoon, representatives from each sub-forum reported on discussions regarding "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 Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, 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 Karl Marx’s birth and the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening-up. The theme of this annual meeting, "Historical Laws and Reform and Opening-up in Contemporary China," aligns with these two major commemorative themes. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era clarifies the fourteen basic strategies 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, unanimously agreeing 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.