October 11, 2016 China Road Europe Forum (France Venue) held in Paris
On October 11, 2016, the "2016 China Road Europe Forum (France Venue)" was held in Paris. The forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the French Communist Party (PCF), the Gabriel Péri Foundation of France, the Research Center for Social Movements and Trends (GERME), and the French journal La Pensée. It was co-organized by the French newspaper L'Humanité, the Theory Department of the People's Daily, the editorial department of the Chinese journal Studies on Marxism, and the Marxism Editorial Office of the Social Sciences in China Press.
The theme of this forum was "The Five Development Concepts [1] and the China Road." Director Deng Chundong of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies led a Chinese expert delegation of nearly 40 people, representing over 30 Chinese institutions including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the academies of social sciences of Shandong and Anhui provinces, as well as Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China.
More than one hundred attendees participated, including representatives and scholars from the Gabriel Péri Foundation, GERME, Projet magazine, L'Humanité, the Executive Committee of the Party of the European Left, the PCF Commission for Economic and Social Solidarity, the Institute for Marine Ecological Environment, the Central Committee of the PCF, the PCF Social-Economic Committee, and members of the European Parliament.
Director Deng Chundong proposed several hopes regarding the joint organization of the China Road Europe Forum by China and France: First, he hoped that the Chinese academic community and the French Communist Party could engage in exchanges revolving around issues of development and governance, and propose strategic solutions for problem-solving. Second, he hoped to utilize the forum to promote mutual understanding between the Chinese and French peoples, enhancing bilateral exchange, cooperation, and friendship. Third, he hoped that the Communist Party of China and the French Communist Party, as comrades with shared ideals and beliefs, could maintain a clear understanding of the era in which they live, and possess a lucid grasp of the lines, principles, and policies to be adopted [2], as well as the prospects and trends of the socialist movement under new historical conditions.
Alain Obadia, President of the Gabriel Péri Foundation, pointed out that China's geopolitics dictate that China needs to cooperate with developing countries to transform the post-war international order. Progressive figures in France are paying close attention to this development, and discussions are unfolding between leaders and researchers. The financial crisis since 2008 has weakened Europe's economic and political power, even leading to an existential crisis. Under these circumstances, the relationship between China and Europe is of particular importance.
The conference was conducted in four sessions. Participating experts and scholars held discussions on topics including "The Belt and Road Initiative and New Developments in China-Europe Relations," "The Five Development Concepts and the Drivers of Global Transformation," "The Paris Agreement and the Establishment of a Fair and Equitable Climate Change Governance Mechanism," and "Implementing the Innovation-Driven Development Strategy and Building an Innovative Country," while interacting with the audience.
Finally, Director Deng Chundong summarized the forum. He noted that regarding the common problems faced by China and France, although the responses proposed by the two countries each have their own merits [3], both have offered good suggestions on how Europe can emerge from its crisis. When discussing Chinese issues, France demonstrated a faith in Marxism, an adherence to Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods, and a pursuit of the communist cause; in this, we felt we had found kindred spirits [4].
Patrick Le Hyaric, Member of the European Parliament and Director of L'Humanité, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese comrades. He pointed out that the exchanges between China and France fully reflect the deep friendship and the will for mutual understanding existing between the two countries. He expressed his hope that cooperation, exchange, and dialogue between China and France would continue, allowing France to better understand the current situation in China and the world, and to find new ways of thinking to solve problems and resolve crises.