Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Leads a Delegation to Spain and Portugal for Academic Exchange
From June 17 to June 24, 2024, Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led a delegation to Spain and Portugal for academic exchanges. The delegation members included Senior Research Fellows Sun Yinshuai, Zhang Jian, and Zeng Xiankui, and Assistant Research Fellow Lou Yu, all from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
From June 17 to 20, the group conducted academic exchanges in Spain, holding symposiums with institutions and scholars related to contemporary China studies, left-wing think tanks, and the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). They conducted research on the current state of overseas contemporary China studies, how to tell China’s story well [1], the development of left-wing political parties, and the developmental trends of contemporary world socialism.
The group visited the East Asian Studies Centers at the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Complutense University of Madrid to learn about teaching and library collections related to contemporary China studies. Associate Professor Lin Yue of the Autonomous University of Madrid lectures on courses such as China’s economy and society and China’s outward investment. Associate Professor Luo Huiling of the Complutense University of Madrid lectures on modern and contemporary Chinese culture and an introduction to Sino-Western political and cultural exchange. Both teachers have long been engaged in the foreign translation of Chinese academic works and actively disseminate Chinese culture in Spain. The group held symposiums with Lin Yue and Luo Huiling respectively, discussing overseas Sinology research, the perceptions of contemporary China among Spanish academics and the public, and the dissemination and reception of contemporary Chinese publications in Spain. They also exchanged views on how to strengthen the telling of China’s story to the world, the construction of an external discourse system [2], and enhancing the international influence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The group held a symposium with Marcelo Muñoz, President of the renowned Spanish China-studies think tank "Cátedra China" (知华讲堂), and Marta Montoro, Director of Institutional Relations, on how to tell China’s story well in Europe. Founded by Marcelo Muñoz in 2012, this think tank is composed of scholars, entrepreneurs, and former politicians engaged in Chinese political-economic research and cooperation with China; it serves as an important platform for various sectors of Spanish society to understand China. The "Cátedra China" Foundation highly identifies with China’s political and socio-economic development model, playing an active role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and deepening civilizational exchange and mutual learning. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Muñoz with the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road Initiative and the English edition of The New Era Through the Eyes of Foreigners, among other books.)
The group held a symposium with Marga Ferré, co-chair of the think tank "transform! europe," focusing on the current development and challenges facing the European left and world socialism. "transform! europe" is a network of 39 left-wing organizations from 23 countries, aiming to promote peaceful relations between peoples and transformation in today's world. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Marga Ferré with the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, the English edition of The New Era Through the Eyes of Foreigners, and copies of the journal World Socialism Studies.)
The group held a symposium with Marta Martín Morán, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Spain and a scholar at the PCE’s Center for "Belt and Road" Research and Work. They discussed the development of the PCE, its recent achievements in contemporary China studies, and how to strengthen Spanish understanding and research of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Marta Martín Morán is primarily responsible for the PCE’s international relations. In November 2023, she was invited alongside PCE President José Luis Centella to attend the World Socialism Forum. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Marta Martín Morán with the Spanish editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and A Short History of the Communist Party of China, and copies of the journal World Socialism Studies.)
The group held a symposium with renowned China expert Pablo Rovetta on how to tell China’s story well. Rovetta has made outstanding contributions to disseminating Chinese culture in Spanish-speaking countries, introducing contemporary China, and promoting civilizational exchange and mutual learning. In 2016, Rovetta was awarded the Order of Civil Merit of the Kingdom of Spain. This medal is a government award signed and conferred by King Felipe VI to recognize Rovetta’s exceptional contributions to promoting Spanish culture and cultural exchange between China and Spanish-speaking countries. In 2020, the first volume of Rovetta’s "China Trilogy" was published, using a sincere and documentary style to record the daily details of his studies, work, and life in China, depicting the historic changes and great achievements that have occurred in China over several decades. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Pablo Rovetta with books including the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.)
From June 21 to 22, the group conducted academic exchanges in Portugal, holding symposiums with contemporary China scholars and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) on telling China’s story well, enhancing China’s overseas image, and the current status and development trends of the PCP.
Accompanied by Professor Antônio dos Santos Queirós of the University of Lisbon, the group visited the University of Lisbon Library, the Confucius Institute, and the Faculty of Letters, focusing on library documents related to Chinese studies.
The group held a symposium with Professor Antônio dos Santos Queirós. Queirós highlighted his primary achievements in contemporary China studies and recounted his experiences struggling against anti-China and China-smearing public opinion through writing academic papers, participating in international conferences, and giving interviews. He offered suggestions on how to better promote Chinese propositions, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese solutions [3], and how to facilitate Sino-foreign academic exchange. For decades, Queirós has actively promoted the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the economic, political, social, and ecological fields. He established the Portugal-China Association for Cooperation and Development, gathering people who know and are friendly toward China, making active contributions to telling China’s story well and establishing a positive overseas image of China. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented Queirós with the Portuguese edition of Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road Initiative and the English edition of The New Era Through the Eyes of Foreigners.)
The group visited the headquarters of the Portuguese Communist Party. Accompanied by comrades from the PCP International Affairs Department, they toured the PCP party history exhibition and the left-wing bookstore affiliated with the PCP, learning about the PCP’s developmental history and the publication and dissemination of Marxist classics in Portugal.
The group held a symposium with Albano Nunes, member of the PCP Central Cadre Commission, member of the PCP Central Control Commission, and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Militante!; Francisco Melo, member of the PCP Central Control Commission and Director of Edições "Avante!" and Página a Página; and Luís Carapinha, member of the Executive Committee of the PCP International Affairs Department. They exchanged views on the current situation and development trends of the PCP, the challenges facing European left-wing parties, the CPC’s experience in governing the country, and the Sinicization of Marxism. (Vice President Yu Haiqing presented the PCP scholars with Portuguese editions of Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road Initiative and Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.)
Vice President Yu Haiqing led the group in friendly symposiums with think tanks, left-wing scholars, and Communists in Spain and Portugal who know and are friendly toward China. They actively promoted Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and reached several consensuses on conducting academic exchange and cooperation, successfully completing the mission. (Text and photos provided by Lou Yu)