September 18-22, Xin Xiangyang, Party Secretary and President of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Led a Delegation to Russia for Academic Exchanges
From September 18 to 22, 2023, Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led a delegation to Russia for academic exchange.
On the morning of September 19, the delegation met and held discussions with Yuri Tavrovsky, Vice Chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association. As a prominent Russian Sinologist [1], Yuri Tavrovsky maintains a high level of focus on China’s development and transformation, having authored multiple books and numerous articles on Chinese themes. During the meeting, both parties expressed their commitment to further advancing their excellent academic cooperation and conducting deeper, more rigorous research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Following the meeting, the two sides exchanged academic works and copies of the journal Studies on Marxism (《马克思主义研究》).
On the afternoon of September 19, the delegation visited the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). They met with Mikhail Golovnin, Director of the RAS Institute of Economics, Elena Lenchuk, the former Director, and several experts and scholars in the field of economics. The participants engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding Chinese-path modernization, the current status and prospects of the Russian economy, and the future of China-Russia economic cooperation.
On the morning of September 20, the delegation arrived at Kazan Federal University, where the 17-year-old Lenin once studied. The delegation listened attentively to the Director of the Lenin Museum at Kazan Federal University and gained a deep understanding of Lenin's academic and personal development during his time there.
On the afternoon of September 20, the delegation arrived in the Ulyanovsk Oblast, where they visited the Lenin Memorial and met with Aleksey Russkikh, the Governor of Ulyanovsk Oblast. Governor Russkikh is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) [2], and the Oblast has continuously strengthened economic cooperation with China across multiple sectors. Currently, at least three Chinese automotive enterprises are engaged in collaborative projects within Ulyanovsk. The Oblast also hopes to develop "Red Tourism" [3] routes for Chinese travelers to further stimulate local economic growth.
On the morning of September 21, the delegation visited the Lenin State Farm, located in the southern suburbs of Moscow, which has a 105-year history. Although the farm underwent privatization in accordance with Russian Federation law following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it continues to be managed in the manner of a Soviet-era state farm. This is due to its director, Pavel Grudinin, being a member of the CPRF with a commitment to socialist pursuits. The Lenin State Farm features comprehensive infrastructure for its employees, including schools, kindergartens, theme parks, and fitness centers; the farm embodies the spirit of being "people-centered" [4] at every turn and has been praised by Zyuganov as a "People's Enterprise."
On the afternoon of September 21, the delegation visited the State Duma of the Russian Federation and met with Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPRF, Deputy Chairman Dmitry Novikov, and Secretary of the Central Committee Stanislav Anikhovsky. Xin Xiangyang noted that one of the primary purposes of the Institute of Marxism Studies delegation’s visit to Russia was to strengthen exchanges with the CPRF and deepen cooperation in areas such as research on socialist theory. He pointed out that Lenin’s conviction in the inevitable victory of socialism serves as a tremendous driving force inspiring Chinese Communists to constantly forge ahead. The Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS has already begun preparations for a series of academic activities focused on the centenary of Lenin’s death. Zyuganov warmly welcomed the delegation, stating that the continuous expansion of ties between the peoples and the Communist parties of Russia and China is a priority for the CPRF. He specifically emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s theoretical innovations have made significant contributions to the cause of global modernization. The CPRF is seriously studying China's experience; in this regard, the evaluations and conclusions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China are particularly worthy of attention. He noted that the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, proposed and elaborated by General Secretary Xi Jinping, possesses extremely important global significance. During the delegation's visit, the CPRF was holding commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Orel-Bryansk Operation [5]. Chairman Zyuganov presented the delegation members with commemorative medals for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Orel-Bryansk Operation to express a shared wish to remember history and cherish peace.
January 21, 2024, marks the centenary of Lenin’s death. On the eve of this significant commemorative date, it was of great importance for the delegation of the Institute of Marxism Studies to follow the footsteps of Lenin’s birth, studies, and work to experience the character of this great man and to conduct academic seminars and exchanges with the CPRF and the Russian academic community.
(Contributed by Chen Airu)