The 2024 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Association for Historical Materialism Successfully Held in Beijing
From December 27 to 28, 2024, the "2024 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism" was held at Peking University. The conference was hosted by the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism, the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Peking University; it was organized by the School of Marxism at Peking University and the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, with the editorial department of Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu) serving as co-organizer. The theme of this annual conference was "Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Chinese-path Modernization."
Attendees of the opening ceremony included Hou Huiqin, President of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism and Director of the CASS Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideology; Xin Xiangyang, Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Jin Minqing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Chinese Academy of History [1]; Jiang Yingchun, Professor of the Department of Philosophy at Nanjing University; Wu Fulai, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Renmin University of China; Yuan Yinchuan, Professor of the School of Marxism at Wuhan University; Feng Yanli, Dean of the School of Marxism at Chongqing University; Yang Haifeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University; Sun Xiguo, Executive Deputy Dean of the Peking University Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; Yang Shengping, President of the Capital Normal University Press; Yan Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University; and Li Jianguo, Director of the Theoretical Research Department of the CASS Institute of Chinese-path Modernization. Nearly one hundred experts and scholars from units such as the Central Party School of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), CASS, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University of China attended the meeting. The opening ceremony was presided over by Yang Haifeng.
Members of the leadership team of the Eighth Council of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism seated on the rostrum.
Xin Xiangyang, Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivering a speech.
In his opening speech, Xin Xiangyang stated that the development of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism has benefited from the academic leadership of President Hou Huiqin, the intellectual contributions and full support of various experts, and even more so from the requirements of the development of the times. In its essence, the current era remains an era of transition from capitalist society to socialist society; it is still the era specified by Marxism, and the basic principles of historical materialism require further deepened research. Faced with the questions of the era, it is necessary on the one hand to summarize answers from practice, and on the other hand to deepen research into foundational theory in a philosophical sense. Only then can the task of researching and interpreting the systematization and academicization [2] of the Party's innovative theories be successfully completed. The development of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism has been continuously realized through broad academic exchanges that answer the questions of the era.
Hou Huiqin, President of the Eighth Council of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism, delivering a speech.
In his opening speech, Hou Huiqin stated that for the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism to achieve its current results, it has first consistently upheld the correct political direction of the association, always centering on the core tasks of the Party and the state and serving the overall work of the Party and the state. Second, it has consistently persisted in "discussing politics through academics," adhering to the systematic and academic research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Third, it has consistently persisted in the unity of the "Two Serves" [3] direction and the "Double Hundred" policy [4], while adhering to upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, as well as openness and inclusiveness. Today, our important task is to vigorously advance the systematic and academic research and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
After the opening ceremony, Hou Huiqin delivered a keynote report titled "The Essence of the Worldview and Methodology of Chinese-path Modernization." He remarked that "systemic perspective" (xitong guannian) is a prominent characteristic of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and can serve as an entry point for summarizing Xi Jinping’s important philosophical thoughts. The systemic perspective is one of the essences and cores of materialist dialectics; it is a complete grasp of the essence of materialist dialectics and constitutes the foundational thinking of materialist dialectics. It possesses prominent value in the New Era, characterized by peace and development, aligns with the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, provides a systemic method for understanding new quality productive forces, and responds to the question of the era: "Whither are we bound?" The systemic perspective is the pivot through which we profoundly grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The keynote report session was presided over by Li Jianguo, Secretary-General of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism.
Sixteen experts and scholars delivered thematic reports: Xin Xiangyang, Jin Minqing, Yan Xiaofeng, Jiang Yingchun, Yuan Yinchuan, Feng Yanli, Sun Xiguo, Yang Shengping, as well as Dong Zhenhua, Director of the Philosophy Teaching and Research Department of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance); Hou Yanshe, Professor of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China; Tian Pengying, Dean of the Institute of Chinese-path Modernization at Northeastern University; Wang Yonggui, Professor of the School of Marxism at Nanjing Normal University; Liu Tongfang, Dean of the School of Marxism at Zhejiang University; Wang Yan, Professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Yang Renzhong, Professor of the School of Marxism at Tianjin Normal University; and Zhang Shihai, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University. Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Zheng Chengjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism and Vice President of Beijing Second Foreign Language University, animal presided over the first and second sessions of the thematic reports respectively.
This year marks a leadership transition year for the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism. The transition meeting was held after the academic seminar. In accordance with the Articles of Association of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism, directors of the Ninth Council were elected by the Congress of Member Representatives via secret ballot. Subsequently, the standing directors and association leaders were elected by the Council via secret ballot. Xin Xiangyang was elected as the new President of the Chinese Association of Historical Materialism. Yan Xiaofeng, Jin Minqing, Yang Haifeng, Feng Yanli, Chen Zhigang, Liu Tongfang, Tian Pengying, Yang Renzhong, Li Deping, Wang Yan, Zhang Zhidan, and Li Jianguo were elected as new Vice Presidents. Liu Xukuan was elected as the new Secretary-General.
Group photo of participating experts and scholars.