The 2023 Annual Conference of its New Collective Economy Research Branch of the China Association for 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 Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE). It was organized by the ZUFE School of Marxism, the ZUFE School of Economics, and the ZUFE–University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Zhejiang Institute. Supporting organizations included the journals Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), World Socialism Studies (Shijie Shehuizhuyi Yanjiu), World Review of Political Economy (Shijie Zhengzhi Jingjixue Pinglun), Observation and Reflection (Guancha yu Sikuo), and the Marxist Studies Network. The theme of the conference was "Promoting Common Prosperity for Farmers and Rural Areas and Comprehensively Advancing Rural Revitalization." Experts and scholars 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, ZUFE, Zhejiang University, the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, and various academic journals attended the meeting.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Li Jinchang, Secretary of the Party Committee of ZUFE; Researcher Chen Zhigang, Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; and Researcher Hou Weimin, President of the Chinese Political Economy Society, delivered speeches on behalf of their respective institutions. Li Jinchang extended warm congratulations on the forum's convening, noting that researching the inner connection between the new collective economy and rural revitalization helps enrich and develop China's rural economic theoretical system, promotes the integrated development of rural industries, and injects new vitality into rural revitalization. Chen Zhigang expressed his gratitude to the co-organizers and shared his expectations for the conference's success. He pointed out that the path of rural revitalization with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental route for implementing the rural revitalization strategy and accelerating the realization of agricultural and rural modernization. To persist in and develop this path, one must put the people first, base efforts on the fundamental national condition of "a major country with small-scale farming" [1], follow the laws of rural development, innovate institutional mechanisms, and promote urban-rural integrated development. Hou Weimin introduced the work of the New Collective Economy Research Branch and wished the conference success. He noted that the collective economy is an important vehicle for organizing farmers under the leadership of the CPC; it is a vital driving force for forming a developmental consensus and consolidating developmental synergy. It is key to leading farmers toward common prosperity and ensuring that "no one is left behind" in Chinese-path modernization. In the New Era and on the new journey, the new rural collective economy must be vigorously developed. The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor He Wuhua, Dean of the ZUFE School of Marxism and Director of the Academic Affairs Office.
During the keynote report session, several renowned scholars delivered presentations: Researcher Wang Lisheng (Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Philosophy) spoke on "Reflections on Developing the New Collective Economy and Realizing Common Prosperity." He argued that advancing rural revitalization is the prerequisite for common prosperity, and developing the new rural collective economy is an essential path toward it.
Yang Chunhua (Deputy Director of the Economic Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, speaking on behalf of Director Jin Wencheng) presented "Where is the Way Out for Small-Scale Farmers?" She noted that Chinese Communists have engaged in long-term exploration regarding the small-farmer issue. Transforming small-scale farmers is not only a prominent challenge encountered by classical socialists but also a unique problem that Chinese-path modernization must solve. This transformation must respect farmers' interests, uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, maintain the "bottom line" of reform, and possess historical patience to avoid "rash advancement" [2].
Researcher Du Zhixing (Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Rural Development) presented "The Necessity, Possibility, and Practical Dilemmas of Developing the New Collective Economy." He argued that the necessity is grounded in the Constitution and policy; the possibility lies in adapting to conditions and innovating forms; and the practical dilemmas require eradicating "chronic ailments" to ensure the economy protects vulnerable groups.
Professor Sun Bengzhu (Secretary of the Party Committee of the Peking University School of Marxism) analyzed the relationship between agricultural/rural modernization and Chinese-path modernization across theoretical, historical, and practical dimensions. She noted that the level of Chinese-path modernization depends on the level of agricultural and rural modernization, necessitating the unification of rural development, construction, and governance.
Professor Ding Baojun (Zhejiang University) argued in his report, "How Marxist Political Economy Guides Rural Revitalization," that developing the rural collective economy requires theoretical innovation to break through both "Marxist dogmatism" and "Western dogmatism."
Professor Xu Xianglin (Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC) discussed "Re-recognizing the Institutional Advantages of 'Unified Management' in the Two-Tier Management System." He emphasized that under a market economy, the "unified" (tong) [3] element ensures land remains with the tillers and harmonizes the interests of owners, operators, and laborers, providing a solid economic foundation for effective rural governance.
Researcher Zhong Huibing (President of the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences) used Xiaochuanfangyu Village in Tianjin as a case study to analyze how rural culture can be embedded into tourism to drive revitalization.
Professor Zhu Youzhi (former President of the Hunan Academy of Social Sciences) argued that the development of the new collective economy "depends critically on the Party." He stressed the need to clarify the market status of collective economic entities and reduce their operating costs.
The keynote session was chaired by Researcher Peng Haihong of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
In the thematic report session, several experts shared further insights: Wang Hongjia (Deputy Director of the Reportage Committee of the China Writers Association) argued that the most fundamental organizational form is the collective cooperative. He noted that without cooperatives in the revolutionary base areas, there would have been no victory; likewise, in the New Era, the collective economy is the prerequisite for common prosperity.
Professor Xu Bin (Beijing Normal University) emphasized that the essence of modernization is the modernization of people. He called for using technology as a driving force and having urban modernization "feed back" (f BU) [4] into agricultural modernization.
Researcher Zhao Zhikui (CASS Institute of Marxism Studies) emphasized the "fundamental method of investigation and research" to solve issues like "hollowed-out villages" and abandoned farmland.
Researcher Zheng Yougui (CASS Institute of Contemporary China Studies) argued for the legal status of collective economic organizations and "Party branch-led" (dangzhibu lingban) initiatives to solve talent shortages.
Researcher He Xinyuan (CASS Institute of Marxism Studies) offered a philosophical reflection on agricultural modernization, noting it must embody a "people-centered" value orientation and a "global perspective" (xionghuai tianxia).
Researcher Jiang Yu (Development Research Center of the State Council) concluded that the essence of the Chinese-style rural revitalization path is to break through the Western, capital-centered modernization path that leads to urban-rural antagonism. By strengthening the collective economy, China realizes a new path for human modernization.
The thematic session was chaired by Professor Luo Jun, Dean of the ZUFE School of Economics, and Associate Professor Tong Guanghui, Executive Dean of the ZUFE–CASS University Zhejiang Institute.
This conference established four sub-forums. Sub-forum I focused on the theme of "Chinese-path Modernization and Common Prosperity," with Researcher Zhang Jiangang, Deputy Director of the Editorial Department of Marxist Studies, and Associate Professor Zhang Yang from the School of Marxism at the China University of Political Science and Law serving as moderator and commentator, respectively. Sub-forum II focused on the theme of "Theory and Exploration of the New Collective Economy," with Senior Editor Jiang Xudong, Director of the Editorial Department of Studies on Marxist Theory, 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 commentator. Sub-forum III focused on the theme of "Theory and Practice of Rural Revitalization in the New Era," with Researcher Tian Mingxiao, Editor-in-Chief of Zhejiang Academic Journal, and Professor Yu Boling, former Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Zhejiang Social Sciences magazine, serving as moderator and commentator. Sub-forum IV focused on the "Practical Experience of New Collective Economy and Rural Revitalization," with Researcher Huang Yu, Editor-in-Chief of Observation and Reflection, and Dr. Gao Hong, Director of the Editorial Department of the Journal of Hohai University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), serving as moderator and commentator. The participating experts and scholars conducted in-depth academic discussions around 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 proposed countermeasures and suggestions for improving the levels of rural industrial development, rural construction, and rural governance.
Snapshots of the Sub-forums
Prior to the main conference, the participating experts and scholars carried out relevant investigative research and held a Rural Revitalization Forum. On December 23, the participating experts and scholars traveled to the Fengqiao District of Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, to conduct a rural revitalization field study, visiting the Zhuji Fengqiao Experience [5] 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 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 [6], Central Committee member of the Jiusan Society [7], Deputy Director of the Central Center for Ideological Construction Research and the Center for Theoretical Research on Participating Parties of the Jiusan Society, and Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Jiusan Society—served as the commentator. Li Fodeng, an invited researcher at the Sun Yefang [8] Institute of Economic Science and former first-level inspector of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee Inspection Group; Tang Guobiao, Vice Chairman of the People's Congress of Tangxi Town, Linping District, Hangzhou, and Party Committee 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 participating experts and scholars.
Field Study 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, moderating the forum Experts and Rural Party Branch Secretaries exchanging experiences on Rural Revitalization Comments by Xiao Liqing, Standing Committee member and Deputy Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Provincial CPPCC, and Central Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Jiusan Society.
Under the meticulous preparation and organizational arrangements of the hosts, this academic forum and investigative research achieved complete success. Through extensive academic discussion and deep investigative 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 experts and scholars. 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 rural revitalization research in the New Era.
(Contributors: Yue Xiaofeng, Wang Jiaqi, and Peng Haihong from the School of Marxism, University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)