Chen Zhigang, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Leads a Delegation to Laos for Academic Exchange
From November 6 to 10, 2024, Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led a delegation to Laos for an academic exchange visit. The delegation included Researcher Wang Zhongbao, Director of the Editorial Department of International Critical Thought; Researcher He Qin, Director of the Department of Contemporary World Socialism at the Research Division of International Communist Movement; Associate Researcher Xia Yipu from the Basic Theory Research Office of the Research Division of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; Associate Researcher Chen Yongsheng from the Marxist Philosophy Research Office of the Research Division of Marxist Principles; and Associate Researcher Yang Binbin from the Research Office of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the Research Division of Sinicization of Marxism.
On the morning of November 7, the delegation first visited the National University of Laos (NUOL), meeting with Vice President Thongsouk Keomany and holding a symposium with experts and scholars from the NUOL China Research Center, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Law, Research Management Office, and the School of Postgraduate Studies. Sitthixay Xayavong, Director of the China Research Center at NUOL, introduced the center’s operations and offered initiatives and outlooks for academic exchange between China and Laos. NUOL is Laos’s first comprehensive undergraduate university, formed in 1995 from the merger of nine independent colleges; located in the capital, Vientiane, it comprises 13 faculties. The China Research Center at NUOL was established in 2015 and actively conducts research on Chinese politics, economy, socio-culture, and science and technology. In recent years, it has attached great importance to researching the Belt and Road Initiative, a community with a shared future for humanity, and the China-Laos Railway, while engaging in various forms of exchange and cooperation with China to disseminate research findings. Vice President Chen Zhigang introduced the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS and offered several suggestions for establishing institutionalized cooperation focused on subjects such as the China-Laos community with a shared future, reaching a high level of consensus with the Laotian side. The two parties also held in-depth discussions on ideological and political curriculum design, joint cultivation of graduate students, and cooperation in journal publishing.
On the afternoon of November 7, the delegation traveled to the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES) to meet with Kikeo Chanthaboury, a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Party Committee Secretary and President of LASES. Subsequently, the delegation held a symposium with the heads and scholar representatives of seven research institutes under LASES. Vice President Chen Zhigang introduced the organizational structure and functional positioning of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS. Delegation members and LASES experts engaged in high-spirited and in-depth exchanges on issues such as Chinese-path modernization, the socialist market economy system, and the overseas dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Researcher Wang Zhongbao introduced the publication status of two English-language journals, International Critical Thought and World Review of Political Economy, and proposed initiatives for cooperation.
On November 8, the delegation participated in the 11th International Forum on Socialism hosted by LASES. Over 100 experts, scholars, government officials, and diplomats from China, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted productive discussions around the theme "Marxism in the 21st Century." Kikeo Chanthaboury, President of LASES; Ta Minh Tuan, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS); and Chen Zhigang, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
In his remarks, LASES President Kikeo Chanthaboury noted that despite the current turbulent and complex global situation, the five socialist states—Laos, China, Vietnam, the DPRK, and Cuba—and their Marxist governing parties remain firm in exploring socialist paths with their own national characteristics. He stated that the socialist system is an ideal social system with inherent superiority, and that the theme of this seminar is of great theoretical and practical significance for determining the LPRP's principles and policies and Laos's socio-economic development strategy. The Lao Party and government have always regarded Marxism-Leninism as the guide for action in leading the national liberation movement, promoting socio-economic development, and gradually achieving socialist goals.
VASS Vice President Ta Minh Tuan noted in his speech that the seminar carries outstanding strategic significance when facing international challenges and opportunities in the New Era. He emphasized the need to deeply understand the ideological value of Marxism and, based on the specific national conditions of each country, innovatively apply Marxism to the practical actions of socialist modernization. In developing socialism in the New Era, Laos, China, and Vietnam should strengthen learning and innovation, deepen exchange and mutual learning, and combine Marxist theory with practice to promote the innovative development of the localization and modernization of Marxism.
Vice President Chen Zhigang noted in his speech that since its founding in 2013, the International Forum on Socialism has been successfully held ten times across China, Vietnam, and Laos. The forum keeps pace with the construction and reform of socialist countries, facilitating continuous theoretical discussion on the latest spirits of various national Party Congresses, the thoughts of national leaders, and theoretical innovations. It has produced results reflecting the frontiers of theoretical development in socialist countries and has greatly enhanced solidarity and consensus among the Marxist theoretical and social science communities. Currently, as the changes unseen in a century accelerate [1], humanity stands once again at a crossroads of history. Continuing to promote the localization and modernization of Marxism and illuminating the path forward with the light of truth is the common responsibility of Marxist governing parties in socialist countries. In his keynote speech, "The Distinctive Features and Great Significance of Chinese-path Modernization," Chen pointed out that the theory of Chinese-path modernization is an essential component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, representing a major development of Marxist modernization theory and a significant innovation in global modernization theory. The five distinctive features of Chinese-path modernization profoundly reflect the essential differences between Chinese-path and Western modernization. They embody the CPC’s fundamental pursuit of resolving contradictions between humanity and nature, between individuals, between the individual and society, and between nations to achieve harmonious and sustainable development, providing important reference for developing countries exploring their own paths to modernization.
The first session of the forum, titled "Theory of Socialist Modernization and Harmonious Sustainable Development," was moderated by Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa, Director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Policy at LASES, and Phiyongxiang [2], Acting Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at VASS. Thamalay Chanthamoungkhon, Acting Director of the Institute of History and Archaeology at LASES, presented a report titled "The Application of Marxist Theory in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic." Tran Tuan Phong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Philosophy at VASS, presented "Reflections on Socialism and Sustainable Development in Vietnam." Wang Zhongbao of CASS presented "On Marxism and Sustainable Development." Daovong Simavong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Political Science at LASES, presented "Applying Marxist Theory to Develop the Political System of the LPDR in a Modern and Sustainable Direction." Professor Liu Haolin, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Guangxi Normal University, presented "The Concept of Common Prosperity in the Context of Chinese-path Modernization." Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Religious Studies at VASS, presented "Harmonious and Sustainable Socialism: A View from the Vietnamese Model." CASS Associate Researcher Yang Binbin presented "Deeply Grasping the Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture through the 'Second Combination' [3]."
The second session, "Practice of Socialist Modernization and Harmonious Sustainable Development," was moderated by Bounsi Phouthavong, Acting Director of the Institute of Sociology at LASES, and Professor Xu Qinfa, Dean of the School of Marxism at Guangxi University. Vilaivone Phommalath, Deputy Director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Policy at LASES, presented "The Application of Marxist Theory in Formulating Principles and Policies for Laos's Harmonious and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development." Vu Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Religious Studies at VASS, presented "Vietnamese Religious Resources Participating in Building a Harmonious and Sustainable Society." Professor Tang Ming dari the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University presented "Characteristics and Advantages of Grassroots Democracy with Chinese Characteristics." Vanxay Sayavong, Deputy Director of the Institute for Macroeconomic Research at LASES, presented "Economic Development and Social Equity in Laos." Professor Xue Xinguo from the School of Marxism at Xihua University presented "Historical Experience and World Significance of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics." Nguyen Duc Chuyen, Deputy Director of an institute under VASS, presented "Mobilizing Resources to Implement Social Policies to Ensure Comprehensive Development in the Context of Vietnam's Transformation and International Integration." CASS Associate Researcher Xia Yipu presented "Whole-process People’s Democracy: Institutional Innovation of Chinese-path Modernization."
The third session, "Socialist Cooperation for achieving Harmonious and Sustainable Development," was moderated by Keovixay Khaikampithoune of LASES and Tran Tuan Phong of VASS. Dr. Kemani Inthavong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Sociology at LASES, presented "The Socialist Direction of Sustainable Social Development." Phiyongxiang of VASS presented "Adhering to the Socialist Direction of Development on the Basis of Strengthening International Cooperation." Professor Xu Qinfa of Guangxi University presented "The Logical Rationale of Promoting the Construction of China-Laos and China-Vietnam Communities with a Shared Future through Inter-party Exchanges." Saysomphone Havanala, Deputy Director of the Cultural Research Institute at LASES, presented "Cooperative Development of a Harmonious and Sustainable Culture." CASS Researcher He Qin presented "National Characteristics and Common Features of Socialist Modernization." Chansamone Vongphaisy, Deputy Director of the Institute of Enterprise Development at LASES, presented "Socialism-based Economic Cooperation to Promote Sustainable Development: The Perspective of the LPDR." CASS Associate Researcher Chen Yongsheng presented "Vigorously Developing New Quality Productive Forces to Promote the Harmonious and Sustainable Development of Economy, Society, and Humanity."
On the afternoon of November 8, a roundtable meeting of the heads of the Chinese, Laotian, and Vietnamese delegations was held to consult on the theme, time, and location of the next forum. The three parties unanimously agreed that the 12th International Forum on Socialism will be held in Vietnam in late October or early November 2025, under the theme "The Driving Forces of Socialist Development in the New Era." Finally, the heads of the three delegations delivered concluding remarks.
On November 9, accompanied by a team from LASES, the delegation took the China-Laos Railway to Luang Prabang for investigation and research. The delegation focused on the operation of the China-Laos Railway and conducted research on key areas of the China-Laos community with a shared future, such as connectivity, economic and trade exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges. The delegation also engaged in in-depth exchanges with the Laotian side on issues of mutual concern, such as grassroots governance, poverty alleviation, and the protection of historical and cultural heritage.
China and Laos share the same mountains and rivers; they are socialist neighbors with linked futures and a shared destiny. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between China and Laos, and the China-Laos community with a shared future was the first such agreement China signed with a socialist country. For a long time, both sides have sought development through mutual trust and cooperation while meeting challenges with sincere assistance, putting into practice the spirit of a community with a shared future. This visit will further deepen the friendly cooperation between CASS and Laotian academic institutions such as LASES and NUOL. Both sides reached numerous consensuses on academic research, journal construction, and talent cultivation, committing to promoting China-Laos cultural exchange and contributing wisdom and strength to the construction of a China-Laos community with a shared future in the New Era.
(Contributed by Yang Binbin)