The 2023 Annual Conference of the New Collective Economy Research Branch of the China Society of Political Economy and the First Rural Revitalization Forum Successfully Held
On December 24, 2023, the 2023 Annual Conference of the New Collective Economy Research Branch of the Chinese Political Economy Society and the First Rural Revitalization Forum were successfully held in Hangzhou. This forum was hosted by the New Collective Economy Research Branch of the Chinese Political Economy Society and the Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE). It was organized by the School of Marxism at ZUFE, the School of Economics at ZUFE, and the ZUFE-University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Zhejiang Institute. The forum was co-organized by Marxism Studies (Mǎkèsīzhǔyì Yánjiū), World Socialism Studies (Shìjiè Shèhuìzhǔyì Yánjiū), World Review of Political Economy (Shìjiè Zhèngzhì Jīngjìxué Pínglùn), Observation and Reflection (Guānchá yǔ Sīkǎo), and the Marxism Studies website. The theme of the conference was "Promoting Common Prosperity for Farmers and Rural Areas, and Comprehensively Advancing Rural Revitalization." Experts and scholars attended from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Development Research Center of the State Council, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, China Agricultural University, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang University, the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, as well as editorial representatives from various academic journals.
During the opening ceremony, Professor Li Jinchang, Party Committee Secretary of ZUFE; Researcher Chen Zhigang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS; and Researcher Hou Weimin, President of the Chinese Political Economy Society, delivered speeches on behalf of their respective institutions. Li Jinchang noted that researching the inherent connection between the new collective economy and rural revitalization helps enrich the theoretical system of China's rural economy, promotes the integrated development of rural industries, and injects new vitality into rural revitalization. Chen Zhigang pointed out that the path of rural revitalization with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental route for implementing the rural revitalization strategy and accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. He emphasized that we must adhere to the principle of "people first," base our efforts on the national reality of "a large country with small-scale farmers" [1], follow the laws of rural development, innovate institutional mechanisms, and promote urban-rural integrated development. Hou Weimin noted that the collective economy is an important vehicle for organizing farmers under the leadership of the CPC. He described it as a driving force for forming a development consensus and a key to ensuring that in Chinese-path modernization, "no one is left behind" in the pursuit of common prosperity. He stressed that we must vigorously develop the new rural collective economy on the new journey of the New Era. The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor He Wuhua, Dean of the School of Marxism and Director of the Academic Affairs Office at ZUFE.
During the keynote report session, several prominent scholars presented their findings. Wang Lisheng, Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Philosophy at CASS, argued that advancing rural revitalization is the prerequisite and condition for common prosperity, and developing the new rural collective economy is an important path for rural revitalization. Yang Chunhua, Deputy Director of the Economic Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, stated that transforming small-scale farmers is a unique challenge that must be solved for Chinese-path modernization. He argued that developing the cooperative economy must respect farmers' interests, uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, and maintain "historical patience" to prevent "rash advances" [2]. Du Zhixiong, Party Committee Secretary of the Rural Development Institute at CASS, analyzed the necessity and possibility of the collective economy, noting its constitutional basis. Professor Sun Bangzhu of Peking University explained that the level of Chinese-path modernization depends on the level of agricultural and rural modernization. Professor Ding Baojun of Zhejiang University argued that developing the rural collective economy requires breaking away from both "Marxist dogmatism" and "foreign dogmatism" [3]. Professor Xu Xianglin of the Party School noted the institutional advantages of the "unified" component within the "two-tier management system combining unification and division" [4], such as ensuring land remains with the tillers and facilitating village planning. Zhong Weibing of the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences shared a case study of how cultural empowerment transformed a poor village into a "star village." Professor Zhu Youzhi argued that developing the new collective economy depends on the Party and requires reducing development costs.
In the thematic reporting session, several scholars further explored these issues. Wang Hongjia argued that the collective cooperative remains the most fundamental organizational form, noting that without cooperatives, the victory of the revolution and the establishment of the socialist system would not have been possible. Professor Xu Bin argued that the essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Zhao Zhigui emphasized using "investigation and research" [5] to address problems like "hollowed-out villages" and abandoned farmland. Zheng Yougui proposed strengthening the legal status of collective economic organizations and Party branch-led cooperatives. He Xinyuan presented a philosophical perspective on agricultural modernization based on the "Six Musts" [6], including maintaining a "world-embracing sentiment." Finally, Jiang Yu argued that the essence of the Chinese-path to rural revitalization is breaking the urban-rural antagonism caused by Western capital-centered modernization. He stated that by expanding the collective economy, China provides a new path for humanity to achieve modernization without the social crises typical of Western industrialization. The thematic session was chaired by Professor Luo Jun and Associate Professor Tong Guanghui.
The conference organized four sub-forums. Sub-forum I focused on the theme of "Chinese-path Modernization and Common Prosperity." Researcher Zhang Jiangang, deputy director of the editorial department of Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), and Associate Professor Zhang Yang from the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law served as moderator and discussant, respectively. Sub-forum II focused on "Theory and Exploration of the New Collective Economy," with Senior Editor Jiang Xudong, director of the editorial department of Studies on the Discipline of Marxist Theory (Makesizhuyi Lilun Xueke Yanjiu), and Dr. Zhang Yu, assistant to the dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, serving as moderator and discussant. Sub-forum III addressed "Theory and Practice of Rural Revitalization in the New Era," moderated by Researcher Tian Mingxiao, editor-in-chief of Zhejiang Academic Journal (Zhejiang Xuekan), with Professor Yu Boling, former president and editor-in-chief of Zhejiang Social Sciences (Zhejiang Shehui Kexue), serving as discussant. Sub-forum IV was themed "Practical Experiences of the New Collective Economy and Rural Revitalization," moderated by Researcher Huang Yu, editor-in-chief of Observation and Reflection (Guancha yu Sikao), with Dr. Gao Hong, director of the editorial department of the Journal of Hohai University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) (Hehai Daxue Xuebao: Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban), serving as discussant. The participating experts and scholars engaged in in-depth academic discussions on the topics of each sub-forum, reaching a broad consensus on promoting common prosperity for farmers and rural areas and comprehensively advancing rural revitalization. They also offered policy recommendations for improving rural industrial development, rural construction, and rural governance.
Snapshots of the Sub-forums
Prior to the main conference, participating experts and scholars conducted relevant investigations and research and held a Rural Revitalization Forum. On December 23, the experts traveled to Fengqiao, Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, to conduct a field survey on rural revitalization, visiting the Zhuji "Fengqiao Experience" [7] Exhibition Hall and touring Taoyuan Village in Fengqiao Town. The Rural Revitalization Forum was moderated by Professor Wang Zhengxin, director of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of Zhejiang宣 University of Finance and Economics. Xiao Liqing—a member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC [8], a member of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society [9], deputy director of the Central Research Center for Ideological Building and the Research Center for Theories of Participating Parties of the Jiusan Society, and vice chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Jiusan Society—served as the discussant. Li Fodeng, invited researcher at the Sun Yefang Institute of Economic Science [10] and former first-level inspector of the Inspection Group of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee; Tang Guobiao, vice chairman of the People's Congress of Tangxi Town, Linping District, Hangzhou, and Party branch secretary of Tangxi Village; Duan Chunting, Party branch secretary of Nanyu Village, Sanpo Town, Laishui County, Baoding City, Hebei Province; and Fang Yong, an outstanding member of the Linping District CPPCC, professional manager of Xinyu Village, and chairman of Hangzhou Xinyu Agriculture, respectively introduced their experiences in rural revitalization to the assembled experts.
Investigation at the Zhuji "Fengqiao Experience" Exhibition Hall Professor Wang Zhengxin, Director of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, moderates the forum Experts exchange rural revitalization experiences with rural Party branch secretaries Xiao Liqing—Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, and Member of the Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Jiusan Society—provides commentary
With the meticulous preparation and organization of the hosts, this academic forum and research investigation concluded with a complete success. Through extensive academic deliberation and in-depth field research, the participating experts and scholars reached a broad consensus on promoting common prosperity for farmers and rural areas and comprehensively advancing rural revitalization, further consolidating the strength of the scholarly community. In the future, the New Collective Economy Research Branch of the China Society of Political Economy will hold its annual meeting on a regular basis, striving to build it into an important academic community platform for advancing research on rural revitalization in the New Era.
(Contributors: Yue Xiaofeng, Wang Jiaqi, and Peng Haihong, School of Marxism, University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)