Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and Vice President of the Academy of Marxism, Leads Delegation to UK, Ireland, and Portugal for Academic Exchanges
To deepen the study of the history of Marxist development, strengthen cooperation with foreign communist parties and research institutions, and propagate the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era, a delegation led by Professor Chen Zhigang—Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection and Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)—visited the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Portugal for academic exchanges from July 15 to July 24, 2025. The delegation included Associate Researchers Liu Yan, Zhuo Mingliang, and Fang Tao, as well as editor Han Dongyun, all from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies.
On the afternoon of July 15, local time, the delegation held a symposium at the Marx Memorial Library in London with scholars from the UK website "Friends of Socialist China," the Communist Party of Britain, and other friends of China. The discussion focused on the development of the basic tenets of Marxism through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the global significance of Chinese-path modernization, and theoretical innovations in Marxism.
(The delegation holds a symposium and group photo with members of "Friends of Socialist China" and others)
Following the symposium, the delegation conducted a research visit to the Marx Memorial Library. Established in the 1930s, the library propagates Marxism by collecting books and organizing lectures. The first floor houses a meeting room, while the second floor stores editions of the works of Marx and Engels published in various countries, treatises on Marxist research, and journals of the labor movement. It also features the "Lenin Room," where Lenin edited Iskra [1], and underground archives containing a vast collection of historical newspapers and periodicals.
(The delegation researches the Marx Memorial Library)
On July 16, the delegation visited the University of Cambridge to conduct an academic exchange with David Lane, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Sociology and Emeritus Fellow of Emmanuel College. David Lane analyzed policy shifts in the Trump administration and expounded on the reasons for the decline of world socialism and the dilemmas regarding the transformation of socialist parties.
(The delegation conducts an exchange and discussion with Professor David Lane of the University of Cambridge)
On July 17, the delegation traveled to Manchester to visit the Manchester branch of the Communist Party of Britain and the North West TUC (Trades Union Congress) offices, and conducted research at Chetham’s Library. Founded in 1653, Chetham’s Library was a site where Marx and Engels once collected and read literature. At the Working Class Movement Library in Manchester, the delegation held a symposium with Jack Youd, Deputy Mayor of Salford in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; Jenny Clegg, former Vice Chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU); and regional organizers of the Communist Party of Britain, North West trade unions, and publishing companies. The exchange focused on Chinese-path modernization and the organizational development of the Communist Party of Britain and trade unions. Deputy Mayor Jack Youd extended a warm welcome to Chen Zhigang’s delegation, introducing the basic situation of Salford and the progress of its cooperation with the city of Yangzhou. Chen Zhigang introduced the major theoretical innovations in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism since the beginning of the New Era.
(The delegation holds a symposium with Salford Deputy Mayor Jack Youd, former SACU Vice Chair Jenny Clegg, and others)
On the afternoon of July 18, the delegation held an exchange and discussion with staff from the Chinese Embassy in Ireland regarding the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Chen Zhigang introduced the perceptions and evaluations of Chinese-path modernization within European academic circles. Zhuo Mingliang, Fang Tao, and Liu Yan respectively presented on the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era from the perspectives of communication effectiveness and methods, historical experience, and ecological civilization [2]. Minister-Counselor Yang Tong analyzed the issues and countermeasures facing the overseas propaganda of the Party’s innovative theories, and relevant staff introduced the Embassy’s major initiatives in communicating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
(The delegation holds a discussion and exchange with staff of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland)
On July 19, the delegation went to Trinity College Dublin to hold a symposium with Professor Helena Sheehan and others, exchanging views on Chinese-path modernization and the crisis of Western civilization. Helena Sheehan and others stated that China leads the world in areas such as new energy and ecological environmental protection, and is flourishing in cultural development, noting that Chinese-path modernization represents an entirely new model.
(The delegation holds a symposium and group photo with Professor Helena Sheehan and others)
On the afternoon of July 19, the delegation held a discussion at Connolly Books in Dublin with Eugene McCartan, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland. Chen Zhigang introduced the historical process and basic experience of the Communist Party of China (CPC) leading the people in advancing Chinese-path modernization, emphasizing its distinct advantages. Eugene McCartan introduced the policy positions of the Communist Party of Ireland and their specific practices in party recruitment and propaganda work, praising the experience of China’s construction of modernization.
(The delegation holds a symposium and group photo with Eugene McCartan, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, and others)
On the morning of July 22, the delegation visited the national headquarters of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) in Lisbon, meeting with Paulo Raimundo, General Secretary of the PCP, and holding a symposium with heads of the PCP Central Secretariat and the International Department. Paulo Raimundo extended a warm welcome to Chen Zhigang’s delegation. The two sides exchanged views on the histories of their respective parties, organizational development, and primary practices in advancing ecological civilization and coordinated development.
(The delegation meets and takes a group photo with Paulo Raimundo, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party)
During the symposium, Chen Zhigang introduced the major achievements and defining characteristics of Chinese-path modernization. The relevant heads of the PCP departments introduced the history of Portugal and the PCP's specific practices in maintaining ties with the masses [3] and developing party membership. They expounded on their policy positions regarding domestic and international issues and fully affirmed the great achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC.
(The delegation holds a symposium with relevant department heads of the Portuguese Communist Party)
On the afternoon of July 22, Chen Zhigang held an exchange with Zhao Bentang, the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, and delivered a tutorial report to embassy staff titled "Why the 'Second Combination' is an Ideological Liberation." Ambassador Zhao Bentang fully affirmed the report’s theoretical, ideological, informative, systematic, and guiding nature. He emphasized the need to perform external propaganda work effectively on the basis of deeply studying and thoroughly understanding the Party’s innovative theories, so as to more powerfully grasp international discourse power [4].
(Chen Zhigang holds an exchange with Ambassador Zhao Bentang and delivers a report for embassy staff)
This journey was highly productive for the delegation. Members personally sensed the birth, dissemination, and current state of Marxism in Europe, gained a further understanding of the overseas communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and deepened their understanding of the history of Marxist development. Through the comparison of Chinese and Western realities, they further strengthened their "Four Confidences" [5] and reaffirmed their original aspiration and founding mission to practice the research, propaganda, and interpretation of the Party’s innovative theories.
(Text and photos contributed by Chen Zhigang, Fang Tao, Zhuo Mingliang, Liu Yan, and Han Dongyun)