Ren Jiasi: World Socialism in Response to the Great Changes Unseen in a Century
From September 9 to 10, 2024, the 14th World Socialism Forum, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and co-organized by the CASS World Socialism Research Center, the Institute of Marxism Studies, and the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, was held in Beijing. The conference was attended by more than 60 foreign Communist Party leaders and left-wing scholars from over 30 countries across six continents, as well as prominent domestic experts and scholars. Zhen Zhanmin, Vice President and Member of the Party Leadership Group of CASS, delivered the keynote speech. Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Phouvong Ounkhamsaen, President of the Lao National Institute of Political and Administration; and José Luis Centella, President of the Communist Party of Spain and Vice President of the Party of the European Left, respectively delivered keynote addresses. Li Shenming, former Vice President of CASS and Director of the World Socialism Research Center, submitted a written statement. The opening ceremony was chaired by Xin Xiangyang, Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and the plenary sessions were chaired by Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, among others. During the two-day meeting, guests engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme of "Current Changes in the World, the Times, and History."
I. The Great Changes Unseen in a Century and China’s Responsibility
Participating guests generally agreed that the current international situation has undergone profound changes, with regional conflicts and other factors of instability deeply affecting the course of human development. Zhen Zhanmin pointed out that the current changes in the world, the times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. First, the rapid growth in the collective economic strength of developing countries has triggered the rise of the "Global South." Second, trends such as "reverse globalization," unilateralism, protectionism, and narrow nationalism are visibly rising worldwide. Third, the contest between the two systems and ideologies of capitalism and socialism has undergone a major shift in favor of socialism. José Luis Centella further proposed that the strengthening of the socialist camp and the weakening of the power of US-led Western capitalism are two sides of the same coin; the current trend of North-South divergence is leading the world into a new "Cold War" situation. Associate Professor Shirai Satoshi of Kyoto Seika University, Japan, argued that the narrowing gap in national power between developed and developing countries has gradually provided Global South countries with the conditions to resist. Escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Africa, and South America reflect the arrival of a global "North-South War" era. Olka Anatolyevna Yefimova, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and First Secretary of the Novgorod Regional Committee, stated that to maintain its hegemony, US-led Western imperialism is vigorously promoting neo-colonialism and aggression, which exacerbates global conflicts and places the international situation in greater danger.
Participating experts unanimously agreed that the increasing prominence of non-traditional security issues and the rapid development of the technological revolution have brought new challenges to the peaceful development of humanity. Jourdy Victoria James Heredia, Vice Director of the Center for World Economy Studies in Cuba, noted that we are in an era of transformation where the continuous emergence of food crises, climate change, energy crises, infectious diseases, and war has profoundly affected the process of human development. Wang Jin, Executive Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary World and Socialism at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, stated that the global economic recession and the imbalance in the distribution of interests have triggered the rise of anti-globalization sentiments. The US practice of politicizing and weaponizing economic issues puts the world economy at risk of fragmentation. She also noted that the rise of a new round of technological and industrial revolutions is reconstructing the global innovation map, with technological innovation becoming the main battlefield of international maneuvering. Li Shuai, a lecturer at the School of Marxism at Anhui University, argued that the popularization of the internet in the digital age has escalated world warfare into a confrontation in the cognitive domain of the global public. Cognitive warfare has become a new type of war, seriously affecting the ideological security of all countries. To respond to this new form of warfare, it is necessary to integrate cognitive security into the framework of ideological security, plan it from the strategic position of overall national security, complete the top-level design for cognition and security, and improve the ability to resist cognitive security risks.
Participating guests fully affirmed the positive role China plays in reshaping the global order under the current global circumstances. Alfredo García Jiménez, Vice President of the Cuban Academy of Social and Human Sciences, believed that the peaceful foreign policy proposed and promoted by China has contributed to world stability and harmony. Meanwhile, the development of China and the Asia-Pacific region, the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and China’s active participation in international organizations are reshaping the existing global order. Fernando Zas, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uruguay, proposed that China's deep involvement in global cooperation and its strengthening of multilateralism have made it a leader in changing the global balance of power. The Belt and Road Initiative is the concrete implementation of China’s commitment to a new world order. Adham Sayed, member of the Central Committee of the Lebanese Communist Party and researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at Zhejiang Gongshang University, suggested that the current changes of the times are developing in a direction favorable to socialism. The socialist modernized country built by China stands at the forefront of the era's development and will inevitably be able to respond to current crises and challenges while leading the construction of a new world order. Bryce Turo, Accra Regional Convener of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, argued that China’s rapid economic growth and increasing political influence are challenging the Western-dominated global order. China’s people-centered economic policies and its developmental philosophy of maintaining global fairness and justice are providing the world with a new development model.
Participating experts spoke highly of China’s responsibility as a major power committed to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. Chen Zhou pointed out that the CPC’s mission to seek progress for humanity and the "Great Harmony" [1] for the world closely links China with the globe. China’s pursuit of a peaceful foreign policy and its comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up are providing a firm and lasting impetus for the future of human civilization. Anivar Carlos Sotre, Professor at the University of Veracruz in Mexico and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies, stated that through the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, China is unreservedly sharing its valuable experience of continuously seeking the welfare of the people and sustained economic growth with the world, hoping to drive global prosperity through China's own development. Li Shenming noted that China's practice over many years—adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, actively maintaining the central position of the United Nations in the international system, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity—fully demonstrates that China has always been a staunch defender of world peace, security, prosperity, and progress. He emphasized that in the current situation, one must remain highly vigilant against both "wars with smoke" and a "Third World War without smoke." José Luis Centella believed that under the current tense global political situation, China's reaffirmation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to the international community while advancing the comprehensive deepening of reforms has, in a sense, contained the threat of spiraling wars to the planet’s future, embodying China’s international responsibility and major-country role.
II. "The East is Rising while the West is Declining" and the Evolution of the Global Political Landscape
Participating experts conducted an in-depth exploration of the overarching trend of "the East rising while the West declines" (Dong sheng Xi jiang) in the global political landscape and proposed that China’s development is the key to this shift. Professor Jean Pablo Vargas of the Central American Institute of Public Administration in Costa Rica argued that the decline of the West stems from its fragile identity and narrow conception of civilization, while the overall rise of Eastern countries stems from their cultural confidence and adaptability. He suggested that China’s cultural confidence allows the nation to respect the past without repeating old mistakes, meeting challenges with an unwavering sense of historical responsibility. Hasan Tariq Chowdhury, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, pointed out that China's advocacy for "equal and orderly global multipolarity" aligns with the aspirations of most countries and people. Asia's unique political landscape and economic advantages make its rise crucial in a multipolar world. However, the tough stance taken by the US and its allies toward China and their bellicose attitude toward Asia present significant challenges to Asia’s rise. The future peaceful development of Asia and its response to the suppression by capitalist countries still require the modernization concepts and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China as essential guidance.
Participating guests unanimously agreed that the "Global South," as a peaceful force for world progress, has greatly promoted the transformation of the global governance system. Associate Professor Léon-Marie Nkolo Ndjodo of the Dubois Center for Global South and China Studies at the University of Maroua, Cameroon, argued that the rise of the Global South is based on its rapid economic development and increasing national strength. This inevitably requires the establishment of a better world order commensurate with its strength. However, the current era remains one of imperialist dominance and proletarian revolution. Therefore, the very concept of the "Global South" possesses inherent political attributes of anti-hegemonism, anti-colonialism, and anti-imperialism. Based on the significant advantage of the BRICS countries' total GDP compared to that of the G7 countries, Shirai Satoshi elucidated that Global South countries should currently focus on opposing the G7 led by the United States to eventually occupy a dominant position. Li Shuqing argued that the trend of the "South rising and the North declining" has accelerated the multipolar integration of the world order, but it also means that the contradictions of an unjust and irrational global governance system have become more prominent; the Global South still faces certain dilemmas within the old international order. To this end, He Qin, a researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, proposed building an autonomous knowledge system for the Global South, exploring its autonomous development paths, and strengthening collaboration mechanisms to establish a fair and rational international order. He emphasized that as a natural member of the Global South and a responsible major power, China is willing to join hands with the Global South in unity and progress, ensuring that the three major global initiatives and the Belt and Road Initiative are implemented effectively to create a better future.
Participating experts generally believed that China is playing an increasingly important role in handling international relations and strengthening global governance. Tatyana Sergeyevna Smirnova, a member of the Central Commission for Inspection of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, believed that Russia-China relations have become a model for state-to-state relations in building a community with a shared future for humanity. Faced with a complex and turbulent international situation, the significance and influence of Russia-China relations far exceed the bilateral scope and are crucial to the global landscape and the future of humanity. Sami Abu Asi, member of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission of the Unified Communist Party of Syria and researcher at Beijing International Studies University, pointed out that the multiple uses of the veto by China and Russia in the Security Council to block NATO interference in Syria were significant moments in international change, demonstrating China’s key role in promoting world peace and maintaining fairness and justice. Léon-Marie Nkolo Ndjodo argued that the new positioning of the China-Africa strategic relationship in the New Era has opened a new realm for constructing a China-Africa community with a shared future. In the future, China and Africa will work together to defend the common interests of developing countries and sound the clarion call for the collective self-reliance of the Southern nations. Larkhamsai Souphavady, Minister of the Management Department of the Lao National Institute of Political and Administration, noted that China and Laos are as close as lips and teeth, sharing a common future. Faced with a complex international situation, the continuous strengthening of unity and cooperation between China and Laos has not only launched a vivid practice of building a China-Laos community with a shared future but has also promoted the development and progress of other countries in the region. José Luis Centella believed that the relations between China and Europe, and China and Latin America, are crucial. Only by strengthening dialogue and cooperation and improving mutual understanding can various "small circles" [2] be broken, thereby building a more prosperous and secure world.
III. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the Development of World Socialism
The participating scholars all expressed high recognition and praise for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, maintaining that the immense vitality it demonstrates proves the superiority of the socialist system. Zhen Zhanmin pointed out that the success of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era has allowed scientific socialism to radiate strong vigor and vitality in 21st-century China, thereby enriching and developing the theory and practice of world socialism. José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez, Director of the International Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, argued that through its unique mechanisms and systems, socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved sustained, stable economic growth and comprehensive social progress. Compared to the European Union, China has achieved more significant accomplishments on its developmental path. Andrea Catone, editor-in-chief of the Italian journal MarxVentuno (21st Century Marx), highly praised the dialectical method of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with Chinese practice. He summarized the contribution of socialism with Chinese characteristics to enhancing people’s wellbeing, building a global power, and shoulder international responsibilities, firmly believing that socialism with Chinese characteristics has always been an intrinsic component of world socialism. Xuan Chuanshu, Party Secretary and Researcher at the Graduate School of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, proposed that socialism with Chinese characteristics created the great achievement of moving over a billion people from basic subsistence [3] to a moderately prosperous society in all respects [4], and from there gradually toward modernization. This demonstrates the legitimacy and superiority of socialism and bolsters confidence in the development of world socialism.
Participating scholars specifically analyzed the "way of success" for socialism with Chinese characteristics and the ideological challenges facing its development, suggesting that the promotion of socialist ideology should be strengthened. They argued that the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics is conducive to promoting the revitalization of world socialism. Zhang Weiwei, Dean of the China Institute at Fudan University, pointed out that three strategic choices—launching Reform and Opening-up in 1978, persisting in socialism in 1989, and implementing a socialist market economy in 1992—guided Chinese socialism toward its current success and shattered the prophecy that socialism could not eliminate poverty. Huang Fei, Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, pointed out that the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics lies in its footing in Chinese reality and its persistence in a people-centered approach, realizing a virtuous cycle between economic development and social progress. Peng Guangqian, Chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), argued that only socialism can save China, and only the CPC can lead the Chinese people in realizing socialism. The majestic power of appeal, cohesion, organization, and mobilization possessed by the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Meanwhile, Vladimir Milton Pomar, a professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, pointed out that the widespread anti-socialist propaganda in the West has led to global prejudice against China and hindered the international development of socialism. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the ideological promotion of socialism with Chinese characteristics to let the world know China and socialism; otherwise, it will inevitably face a "massacre" by Western capitalist ideology. Nadel Rida Geney, a leader of the Baghdad Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party, argued that while China's influence in the world economy is second to none, there is a large gap in its media soft power. In particular, it needs to strengthen its response to the public opinion attacks from Western media and construct a more effective international communication system.
The participating experts generally agreed that some political parties and countries still face certain challenges in their exploration of socialism, highlighting the practical significance of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the development of world socialism. Guo Hailong, a fourth-level consultant at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, argued that although the current rise to power of left-wing parties in Germany, France, and the UK brings a certain degree of hope, these parties generally suffer from blurred positioning and intensifying internal differences and splits. Combined with the suppression by far-right forces in several European countries, the phenomenon of fragmentation is becoming increasingly serious, weakening their overall combat effectiveness and leaving European left-wing parties in a predicament. Francesco Maringio, a member of the Central Committee of the Italian Communist Party and President of the MarxVentuno Association for Political Culture, pointed out that the current splits in the European left have seriously affected the development of the Italian Communist Party. He argued that the reason for the split in the Italian Communist Party lies in the lack of collective ideological discussion; there is a need to build a communist-based party on the foundation of diverse political experiences. Li Haiyu, a professor at the School of Marxism, Henan Polytechnic University, specifically analyzed the adaptive changes made by the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) in terms of its ideological line, organizational form, primary tasks, and struggle tactics to adapt to the new international and domestic environment. While affirming the development achieved by the CPUSA, she emphasized that the party still faces external challenges such as the strong anti-communist tradition in the U.S., the rise of populist forces, and competition from other left-wing organizations. Internal differences over specific policies also mean that the CPUSA's leadership and political influence in American politics remain limited and marginalized. Walter Sorrentino, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), argued that the brutal rule of imperialism in Latin America and the economic policies imposed on the region create many difficulties for revitalizing socialism. The national development plan proposed by the PCdoB finds it difficult to resolve problems such as political and social division, weak ideological construction for socialism, and dependence on international forces. Therefore, the PCdoB needs to integrate the struggle for national self-determination with the actual process of political life while actively drawing on the theoretical and practical experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics to enrich itself.
The participating guests firmly believe that socialism possesses strong vitality and expressed a willingness to strengthen cooperation to jointly promote the development of world socialism and create a better future for humanity. Professor Pham Van Duc, a member of the Central Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam and former Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that the achievements of socialist countries like China and Vietnam, along with humanity’s recognition and pursuit of socialist values, portend broad development prospects for socialism. Phouvong Vongkhamsany [5] argued that the brilliant achievements of the CPC over the past century, the development and progress of socialist countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Cuba, and the socialist paths carved out by Communist Parties in Western countries in the 21st century all prove that socialism has strong vitality. Xuan Chuanshu maintained that the current situation of diversified development in world socialism, combined with the increasing number of groups identifying with and practicing socialist value-goals, signifies to a certain extent that the development of the world socialist movement is gradually entering a high tide. Liu Xukuan, a researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, pointed out that positive changes are currently occurring in world socialism; the forces of world socialism need to gather and form a synergy to better combat the world ruled by capital. Within this, socialism with Chinese characteristics is becoming the banner for the development of scientific socialism in the 21st century and the mainstay for the revitalization of world socialism, and will surely make greater contributions to the development of scientific socialism. Antonio Segura, Vice President of the Spanish "Learn from China" Foundation (Zhihua Jiangtang), pointed out that uniting left-wing forces requires efforts across many areas, including establishing a common strategic plan, conducting dialogue and debate, using scientific theory as a guide, carrying out organized struggle, winning broad support, and strengthening international cooperation. Through these measures, the cohesion and combat effectiveness of left-wing forces can be gradually enhanced to contribute to the realization of a better world.
IV. Development Predicaments and Trends of Western Capitalism
The participating guests unanimously agreed that contemporary capitalism is experiencing a severe crisis, and the continuous deepening of the capitalist crisis has caused humanity to encounter various problems. Eleni Evagorou, a member of the Central Committee of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) in Cyprus and a member of the Prometheus Institute, pointed out that the modern capitalist world is characterized by an increasingly fierce conflict between capital and labor, leading to intensified social inequality, slowed economic growth, and environmental degradation. Neoliberalism has undermined democratic principles and fueled populism. The double exploitation of women persists, as they often face discrimination, unequal opportunities, and gender-based violence. Gao Jiankun, Associate Professor at the School of Marxism, Fudan University, argued that Sweden faces problems such as inequality in wealth and income distribution and welfare dilemmas, primarily caused by the increased degree of economic privatization, the influence of capitalist private ownership, and insufficient constraints at the level of government policy and law. Georgina Alfonso González, Director of the Institute of Philosophy of Cuba, pointed out that Western global colonization has imposed the "cultural logic of capitalism" on the entire world, destroying socio-cultural barriers and dissolving collectively constructed identities, leaving humanity to suffer the most acute crisis of values. Hiroshi Onishi, Professor Emeritus at Keio University in Japan and Vice President of the World Association for Political Economy, specifically analyzed Japan’s heavy reliance on issuing government bonds, which has created a vicious cycle of borrowing to repay debt. Combined with the effects of inflation, this could lead to a decline in real wages for workers and asset price bubbles. Zhang Min, a researcher at the CASS Institute of European Studies, argued that the EU’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles—an attempt to shift the burden of the capitalist crisis—reflects the intensification of current ideological struggles and contradictions. She also pointed out that the crisis facing capitalism includes high unemployment caused by a lack of productivity and innovation, which further strengthens social instability factors. Lott Utreft-Madsen, Chairperson of the Communist Party of Denmark, specifically analyzed the widespread problem of infringed rights within the current Danish national welfare system, elaborated on the struggle situation faced by the ordinary working class, and emphasized implementing socialist transformation to solve the current problems of capitalist crisis and imperialist decline.
The participating experts conducted an in-depth analysis of the strategic adjustments and reform paths of capitalism in the face of its own crises, reaching the consensus that capitalism cannot overcome its inherent contradictions and that socialism is the direction of future development. Tiina Sandberg, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Finland, pointed out that while capitalism promoted social progress and economic development, it also brought many problems and challenges. In the face of the current challenges to the sustainable development of human society, capitalism appears powerless. As an alternative, socialism is gradually demonstrating its unique advantages and potential. Alberto Lombardo, General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party and professor at the University of Palermo, argued that the Western practice of establishing protectionist barriers, along with slander and sanctions, cannot fundamentally solve the problems emerging in capitalism; instead, it plunges the Western economic system into crisis and chaos. The so-called "decoupling from the Chinese economy" is an impractical fantasy, as the development of the Chinese economy is influencing the entire world. Adham Sayed [6] pointed out that the approach of the U.S.-led capitalist system—relying on war and destruction to deal with the systemic crisis of capitalism—is bound to be in vain. The only way to escape the crisis is to move away from capitalism; the transition to socialism has become the primary task of the current era, and China plays an important role in this. Gyula Thürmer, President of the Hungarian Workers' Party, pointed out that the problems of technological backwardness, economic recession, social inequality, and "spiritual castration" faced by European capitalism cannot be fundamentally resolved within a capitalist framework. Only socialism is the alternative to the capitalist system, and the successful experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics can provide an ideological weapon and practical guidance for responding to the current crisis of European capitalism.
The participating experts highly commended China's strategy for confidently responding to the systemic crisis and challenges of contemporary capitalism, noting that amidst the capitalist crisis, China is leading a new wave of economic globalization and contributing "Chinese contributions" to global development. He Xinyuan, a research fellow and Deputy Director of the Department of Marxian Sinicization at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), argued that the new form of human civilization created by China has overcome the inherent defects brought about by the development model of capitalist civilization. It has cast off the oppression of human beings and the exploitation of nature, representing a new civilizational form that realizes the harmonious coexistence of man and man, man and society, and man and nature, thereby demonstrating the Chinese solution for building a community with a shared future for humanity. Alexander Pavlov, Head of the Department of Social Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pointed out that the development of digital capitalism has enabled the elements of capital colonization to break through spatial constraints and penetrate new fields, creating a collective dependence on digital technology and subsequently forming a Western-led digital hegemony. Liu Meiping, a professor at the School of Marxism of Shanghai Maritime University, proposed that China has promoted the development of digital productive forces precisely by relying on the deep coupling of digital industrialization and industrial digitization. In this process, China has achieved a transcendence of time, space, and value; she believes China's digital economy possesses broad development prospects and will inevitably defeat Western digital hegemony. Professor Li Shizhen, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, argued that the nature of capital's constant pursuit of profit has caused the destruction of the ecological environment on a global scale. He noted that addressing the current global ecological crisis and jointly maintaining the ecological and living environments of humanity has become a difficult problem facing the globe. He emphatically compared the ecological concepts of sustainable development and zero-sum game [7] thinking between China and the West, highly evaluating the achievements of China's ecological civilization construction and the Chinese experience it provides for the practice of global sustainable development.
V. Comprehensively Deepening Reform and the World Significance of Advancing Chinese-path Modernization
The participating experts paid close attention to the dynamics of China's reform and development, unanimously agreeing that studying and disseminating the outcomes of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee [8] is of great theoretical and practical significance. Chen Zhou stated that the scientific planning and systematic deployment made by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee released a strong signal to domestic and international audiences that our Party is unswervingly deepening reform and opening up. This fully reflects the historical initiative [9] of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in perfecting and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Aníbal Carlos Sotero highly praised the great practice of President Xi Jinping in "hoisting the flag and directing the course" [10] and leading China. He specifically analyzed the reform and development measures of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, arguing that the CPC has made many efforts to promote social equality, world multipolarity, and the sharing of humanity's future, which effectively points the way forward for China's development and world progress. José Reinaldo Carvalho, a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and President of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace (Cebrapaz), posited that the important discourse on Chinese-path modernization from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has opened a brand-new stage in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It reflects China's international responsibility in comprehensively deepening reform and promoting global peace and development, bringing new hope to the Chinese people and all of humanity. Rodrigo Mora, Director of the Latin American Center at the Zhejiang University International Business School and Director of International Relations at the Brazil-China Social and Cultural Research Center (IBRACO), viewed this Plenum as a major milestone on the path of China's political and economic development and a benchmark for adapting to the needs of today's world. He argued that the CPC's experience can provide realistic enlightenment for those countries in Latin America that are dependent on Europe and the United States, as well as for their respective communist parties. Alexander Romanov, Deputy Director of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, believed that China's reforms are reaching a new, higher level. The development strategy of Chinese-path modernization proposed by the CPC is a modernization plan that breaks through the Western requirements based on liberalization and privatization. Learning from China's experience in modernization transition helps other countries find their own development paths on the basis of increasing their innovative potential.
The participating guests further deepened their understanding of the essence of Chinese-path modernization, discussing its developmental achievements and unique advantages from multiple dimensions. They argued that Chinese-path modernization has injected powerful momentum into the global modernization process and possesses immense value for the era and world significance. Xin Xiangyang argued that the system and practice of Chinese-path modernization led by the CPC is a modernization guided by Marxism; it proves the scientific truth of Marxism and will surely advance the development of global Marxism. Lin Jianhua, Party Secretary of the Academy of Chinese-path Modernization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, concretely analyzed the two developmental histories of capitalist and socialist modernization. He argued that the new socialist vista displayed by Chinese-path modernization plays a positive role in China accelerating its construction into a great modern socialist country, breaking the myth that "modernization equals Westernization," and promoting the progress of human civilization. Zhang Guozuo, a professor at the School of Marxism at Hunan University and Director of the China Cultural Soft Power Research Center, proposed through comparative research of China and the West that Chinese-path modernization has achieved a great transcendence over Western modernization in eight aspects: leadership capacity, guiding ideology, political system, the people's position, the essential requirements of development, sustainable development, the morality of development, and cultural foundation. This highlights the vigor and vitality that scientific socialism has radiated in 21st-century China. Wu Degang, former Vice President of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, argued that Chinese-path modernization combines scientific socialism with Chinese reality, realizing the "two miracles" of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. Its success has promoted the development of scientific socialism and provided a brand-new choice for moving toward modernization through socialism for those countries and nations in the world that wish to both accelerate development and maintain their own independence. Wang Lihua, former Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, argued that Chinese-path modernization is a higher stage of socialism under the leadership of the CPC. It has carved out a modernization path with Chinese characteristics, a world vision, and progressive qualities for the era, creating a new form of human civilization and providing a Chinese solution for the vast number of developing countries moving toward modernization.
The participating experts unanimously agreed that the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee actively responded to the current changes in the world, the times, and history. By presenting a new "Chinese test paper" [11] to the world through a correct reform methodology, it has provided positive energy for world peace, stability, prosperity, and development. Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Switzerland and member of the Grand Council of Ticino, pointed out that China is already at the forefront of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. The development of China's productive forces and its technological innovation are driving the growth of socialism's influence on a global scale. Meanwhile, the decline of imperialism makes it entirely possible that it will adopt the form of war to prevent the industrial and technological progress of other countries. In this context, he believed that China's development of new quality productive forces and the comprehensive deepening of reform play a crucial role in prioritizing the response to capitalist military confrontation. Chen Haiyan, a professor at the School of Marxism of Qilu Normal University, argued that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee's proposal to further comprehensively deepen reform and build a new system for a higher-level open economy has not only profoundly changed China but will surely provide new miracles and inject new momentum for fellow travelers across all countries to jointly build their dreams of modernization. Consequently, it will become a source of growth and vitality for the world economy. Rodrigo Mora pointed out that the reform and development measures proposed by the Plenum are not only conducive to ensuring internal national stability but also suggest a more equitable and inclusive external environment regarding national self-determination and state sovereignty, providing a balance between economic development and common prosperity. What it brings to the world is opportunity, confidence, and win-win outcomes; a China of reform and opening up provides a continuous stream of positive energy for world development. Nkolo Njodo Léon-Marie pointed out that this Plenum not only clarified China's future development direction but also firmly reaffirmed to the world China's steadfast position of adhering to opening up, following the path of peaceful development, and opposing hegemonism. He noted that the peaceful development suggestions China provides to other countries and the measures that should be taken in the face of Global North capitalism have a guiding role for the development, progress, unity, and cooperation of other nations. China is becoming the greatest driving force for historical development.
(Author’s affiliation: School of Marxism, University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Online Editor: Zhang Jian Source: World Socialist Studies, 2025, No. 1