Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Academy of Marxism, Led a Delegation to Brazil and Uruguay for Academic Exchanges
From November 3 to 11, 2024, a delegation led by Yu Haiqing, Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), visited Brazil and Uruguay for academic exchanges. The delegation included Associate Research Fellow Lou Yu from the Institute of Marxism Studies.
During their stay in Brazil, the delegation held symposia with the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and several of its affiliated institutions, as well as scholars of contemporary China studies, and participated in academic seminars.
In Rio de Janeiro, the delegation visited Evandro De Carvalho, a professor at the Faculty of Law of the Fluminense Federal University. Professor Carvalho has long been committed to contemporary China studies and was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award for his outstanding contributions to promoting cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. In 2023, the Brazilian National Congress awarded him the "China-Brazil Cross Medal," and the Portuguese edition of China Today, for which he serves as Executive Editor-in-Chief, won the "China-Brazil Journalism Award" in recognition of the magazine's contribution to telling the "true story of China" [1] and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations. The delegation engaged in-depth discussions with Professor Carvalho on themes such as promoting bilateral academic dialogue, working together to tell China’s story well, and enhancing the "going out" [2] of Chinese academia. Professor Carvalho introduced the characteristics and trends of contemporary China studies in Brazil in recent years. He pointed out the need to increase research and dissemination in areas such as the Communist Party of China's (CPC) governance of the state, China’s socialist practice, and Chinese-path modernization, so that Latin American academia and the general public can understand the reasons behind the "Chinese miracle." He argued that Brazilian academia should strengthen exchange and cooperation with the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, which would help improve the communication and influence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Brazil.
In São Paulo, the delegation held a symposium with Walter Sorrentino, Vice President of the Communist Party of Brazil, among others. Sorrentino stated that the PCdoB looks forward to launching a series of collaborations with the Institute of Marxism Studies, such as jointly hosting seminars focused on the development of 21st-century Marxism, the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; mutually translating books on the history of the CPC and the PCdoB as well as works by important theorists; and strengthening cooperation between journals in the field of Marxist studies. Vice President Yu Haiqing responded positively to Vice President Sorrentino’s proposals, stating that the Institute of Marxism Studies will seriously explore how to cooperate with think tanks, journals, and publishing houses affiliated with the PCdoB. Through cooperation and exchange between Latin American and Chinese leftist parties and academic circles, they aim to strengthen mutual understanding and mutual learning [3], jointly contributing to the development of 21st-century Marxism and world socialism.
On November 8, the delegation participated in the "Seminar on the Theory and Practice of Chinese-path Modernization and the 50th Anniversary of China-Brazil Diplomatic Relations," hosted by the Mauricio Grabois Foundation of Brazil. Experts from relevant Chinese and Brazilian think tanks and media representatives held in-depth discussions on topics such as the new opportunities provided to Latin American countries by the road of Chinese-path modernization, promoting the overseas dissemination of the "Six Perspectives" [4] theory of Chinese-path modernization, and cooperatively building an academic network for Chinese and Latin American civilizations. Vice President Yu Haiqing delivered a keynote speech. She emphasized that this seminar is of great significance for promoting academic dialogue between China and the Latin American region and for strengthening the theoretical and practical exploration of the path to modernization by countries of the Global South. Associate Research Fellow Lou Yu served as the moderator of the seminar and shared insights on how to tell the story of Chinese-path modernization through academic translation, based on her experience translating the Six Perspectives on Chinese-path Modernization book series.
The delegation also held a symposium with Altair Freitas, Director of the João Amazonas National Training School (the PCdoB's cadre training school), to exchange views on institutional cooperation, strengthening academic exchange, and increasing the Brazilian academic community's understanding of the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism. Additionally, the delegation met with the "Brasil 247" news website to discuss how to introduce and propagate contemporary China to Latin American countries and how to present a "true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China." [5]
The delegation met with José Carvalho, President of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace (CEBRAPAZ), for an exchange on China-Brazil relations, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Latin America, and the Global South and the geopolitical landscape. José Carvalho stated that the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi is of great epochal significance and that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has provided new opportunities for Brazil's development and modernization process, playing a positive role in promoting connectivity and sustainable development in the Latin American region.
To better understand the history of the Communist Party of Brazil, the delegation visited Niterói, the birthplace of the PCdoB, and went to the famous Brazilian leftist bookstore, Anita Garibaldi Bookstore. They learned about the publication and dissemination of classic Marxist works in Brazil, the historical documents of the PCdoB, and the status of books published in Brazil concerning contemporary China, and purchased several volumes.
In Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, the delegation held a symposium with Juan Castillo, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU). Castillo briefed the delegation on the current development and challenges facing the PCU. He stated that the PCU is fully aware of the importance of strengthening the study and research of the history of the CPC, the theoretical innovations and practices of the Sinicization of Marxism, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and is preparing a team to carry out relevant research. He considered the visit of the Institute of Marxism Studies delegation to be "very important and very timely." The Spanish editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road, A Brief History of the Communist Party of China, and A Brief History of the People's Republic of China (1949-2019) presented by Vice President Yu Haiqing provided a "substantial academic gift" to the PCU, helping them better understand the CPC and grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The delegation also held a symposium with Ana Olivera, President of the House of Representatives of Uruguay, at the Legislative Palace. Olivera, who previously served as the Mayor of Montevideo and Vice Minister of Social Development of Uruguay, has visited China many times. She introduced the recent exchanges between Uruguay and China and shared her observations and reflections from her several inspection tours to China. She stated that the effectiveness of the CPC's governance, the rapid pace of China's modernization, and the breadth of its benefits had left a deep impression on her. She expressed her belief that the leftist coalition "Broad Front" (Frente Amplio) is very likely to win the Uruguayan general election, which would further promote exchange and cooperation between Uruguay and China in various fields.
Vice President Yu Haiqing led the delegation in friendly symposia with think tanks, leftist scholars, and Communist Party members in Brazil and Uruguay. This increased understanding of the political participation, Party building, and relationships with other Latin American Communist Parties of the PCdoB and PCU, and deepened the perception of the characteristics and trends of contemporary China studies in Brazilian and Uruguayan academia. The delegation actively promoted Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and reached several consensuses on conducting academic exchanges and cooperation, successfully completing the mission.
(Text and photos provided by Lou Yu)