Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovation Practice Research Base of Renmin University of China (RUC) was Officially Established

On the afternoon of October 14th, the theme forum “Innovative Practice of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Exposition on Reform and Opening up in Shenzhen”was successfully held in Harbor Lecture Hall of Party and Mass Service Center of Shenzhen Qianhai International Talent Hub. This forum is one of theme forums of the first Shenzhen Forum -- “Opening Strategy in the New Era and Chinese Path to Modernization” and the founding conference of Institute of Advanced Social Sciences of RUC (Shenzhen). It was held by Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of RUC, School of Marxism Studies, Shenzhen Research Institute, and Party Working Committee of Qianhai Cooperation Zone.

More than 100 people attended the conference, including Wang Yi,Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee, Vice President of RUC; Huang Xiaopeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Qianhai Cooperation Zone and Executive Deputy Director of Qianhai Authority; Liang Ke, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Qianhai Cooperation Zone; Chen Hai, Minister of Organization and Personnel Department of Qianhai Authority; Gong Zheng, Party Committee Member of Shenzhen Reform and Opening up Executive Leadership Academy and the academy’s head of education; Ma Ming, Deputy Minister of Organization Department of Nanshan District Party Committee; Ye Changqing, Deputy Minister of Organization Department of Bao’an District Party Committee; Lin Jinping, Dean of School of Marxism, Sun Yat-sen University; Xie Lixia, Dean of School of Marxism, South China University of Technology; Guan Feng, Dean of School of Marxism, South China Normal University; Cheng Jingwu, Dean of School of Marxism, Jinan University; Fu Heming, Dean of Marxism College, Shenzhen University; Zhao Zhongyuan, Dean of School of Marxism, Guangzhou University; Zhu Hong, First Secretary of Joint Party Committee of Shenzhen Vocational Training Institution and former Deputy Inspector of Shenzhen Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; Sun Xiefu, Secretary of Joint Party Committee of Shenzhen Vocational Training Institution; Gao Xitian, Organizer of Joint Party Committee of Shenzhen Vocational Training Institution; Wu Yuejuan, Chief Supervisor of Shenzhen Alumni Association of RUC and former Party Secretary of Shenzhen Airport Co., LTD; Wang Rong, Vice President of Shenzhen Alumni Association of RUC and Principal of High School Affiliated to RUC, Shenzhen; Qin Xuan, Dean of Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, RUC; Lv Jie, Executive Vice President of Shenzhen Research Institute; Xi Ge, Dean of School of Marxism Studies; Tao Wenzhao, Vice President of Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Vice President of School of Marxism Studies; Hou Xinli, Vice President of Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Vice President of School of CPC History and Party Building; Bi Mingyang, Vice President of Shenzhen Research Institute; Liu Jinwei, Associate Professor, School of Marxism Studies; cadre representatives of Qianhai Cooperation District Party Working Committee, Nanshan District, Bao’an District, Party School of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPC, Shenzhen Party School, Shenzhen Reform and Opening Up Executive Leadership Academy; alumni representatives of RUC; teacher and student representatives of Marxism College, Shenzhen University, and Ideological and Political Education and Research Center, South University of Science and Technology.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Qin Xuan. Wang Yi and Huang Xiaopeng delivered speeches successively.

Wang Yi said that the important exposition of General Secretary Xi Jinping on reform and opening up is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and a fundamental guideline for promoting the vigorous development of reform and opening up in the new era. Today, on the third anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, we hold the first Shenzhen Forum and the theme forum “Innovative Practice of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Exposition on Reform and Opening up in Shenzhen”. It is the latest measure to give full play to characteristics and advantages of RUC, which further implements the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping during his investigation and research of RUC, and is also an important reflection of the construction of the talent center and innovation highland of RUC. On a new journey in the new era, Institute of Advanced Social Sciences of RUC (Shenzhen) and Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovative Practice Research Base shoulder the historical mission of helping to build a pilot demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, providing ideological support, talent support, technical support and intellectual support for the construction and development of “Dual Zones” in the future. RUC will work with all sectors of Shenzhen society, always keep the spirit of “rushing”, the vigour of “creation”, the style of “hard work”, work with one hear, strive with collective wisdom and efforts, strengthen our confidence, move forward bravely, together with Shenzhen, spare no effort to write more “Stories of Spring”, and make contributions to starting a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all aspects and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Huang Xiaopeng said that three years ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Zone and stressed the need to deepen the reform and opening up of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Qianhai, Shenzhen. Promoting the development and opening up of Qianhai is a major national reform and opening up strategy that General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally planned, deployed, and promoted. Qianhai’s development can be summed up in three aspects: first, be bold to explore a road to comprehensively deepen the reform; second, dare to be the first to blaze a path of high-level opening up; third, work hard and find a way to lead high-quality development with party building. The establishment of Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovation Practice Research Base of RUC is an important achievement in building a high-end think tank gathering area in Qianhai. Next, Qianhai will carry out in-depth cooperation with Shenzhen Research Institute of RUC in theoretical innovation, educational practice, academic exchanges, personnel training and other aspects. Qianhai will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further practice the special zone spirit of daring to try, being the first, and working hard, and continue to make more achievements of reform and opening up. At the same time, more academic exchange activities and investment are encouraged to be organized in Qianhai to train more talents, jointly helping Qianhai to build a vivid practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

In order to further study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, and to study and interpret the vivid practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Shenzhen, RUC and Qianhai Authority innovated a new model of political and academic cooperation, and established “Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovation Practice Research Base of Renmin University of China”, with the attempt to carry out in-depth exploration of strengthening the Party’s leadership and Party building in an open environment, to explore Shenzhen path and Qianhai path of promoting Chinese path to modernization, and to provide the most vivid and rich grassroots practice for the Party’s theoretical innovation.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, Wang Yi, Huang Xiaopeng, Liang Ke, Chen Hai, Lv Jie and Xi Ge jointly launched “Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovation Practice Research Base of Renmin University of China”.

Wang Yi, Zhu Hong, Sun Xiefu, Wu Yuejuan, Lv Jie and Wang Rong jointly unveiled the Party branch of Shenzhen Alumni Association of RUC. The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Sun Xiaolan.

The first stage of the speech segment is chaired by Xi Ge. Liang Ke, Tao Wenzhao, Lin Jinping, Xie Lixia, and Fu Heming respectively delivered keynote speeches.

Liang Ke gave a speech entitled “The Vivid Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Qianhai”. She said that as a model of reform and opening up created by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Qianhai has always kept in mind the exhortation and is grateful to forge ahead. Qianhai assumes the political responsibility and mission of comprehensively deepening reform and opening up, has established a system for learning and implementing Qianhai’s first lesson, and and has created a “1+3” quality course for vivid practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Qianhai. Next, the practice base established in cooperation between Qianhai and RUC will further enrich and improve this curriculum system both from theoretical and practical levels. As a practice base, it is more necessary for experts to further summarize and improve the practice from the theoretical level, apply the Party’s innovation theory, further guide the practice of Qianhai, put forward more and better opinions and suggestions for Qianhai, and further promote the development and opening up of Qianhai. In the new era, Qianhai will always adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and unswervingly move forward in the direction guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Qianhai adheres to the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the outline, the construction of Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Zone as the overall traction and general requirements, and Shenzhen Pilot Comprehensive Reform as the key starting point, comprehensively deepening the reform and opening up of Qianhai Cooperation Zone, and striving to build Qianhai into a vivid practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Tao Wenzhao gave a speech entitled “The Strategic Position of the Leading Model”. He said that supporting Shenzhen to build a demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a major national strategy that General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally planned, deployed, and promoted. Shenzhen has three main advantages: first, the historical accumulation of reform; second, a solid foundation for development; third, the spirit of reform. At the same time, Shenzhen also faces four major challenges: first, a complex environment; second, the weakness of the administrative system; third is to deal with the contradictory roles of “exploration” and “demonstration”; fourth is to be placed in a correct competitive position. He pointed out that Shenzhen is not only an important bridge connecting China with the world, but also an important window for international observation of China. To build a pilot demonstration zone, we must jump out of Shenzhen to see Shenzhen, observe the global trend, seek long-term development based on the overall situation, develop the zone into the highest, best, and strongest one in the process of benchmarking the world’s highest, best and strongest zones, and turn into the leader and the top performer in the process of comparing with those in the world. Shenzhen should develop its own characteristics, lead the trend of the future , and create a new urban civilization.

Lin Jinping gave a speech entitled “Reform and Opening up Must Adhere to the Correct Methodology”. Looking back on the historical process of China’s reform and opening up for more than 40 years, it can be found that the success of China’s reform and opening up and a series of achievements are inseparable from the organic combination of Marxism and China’s reality, and the creative application of materialist dialectics in the reform process. System thinking is a concentration of materialist dialectics and is a correct method that must be followed. It is mainly reflected in three aspects: first, the combination of top-level design and “crossing the river by feeling for the stones” (feeling the way proceeding by careful and limited experimentation-- “feeling the way” so to speak) . The necessity of top-level design lies in the fact that this reform in China is not a partial, temporary and isolated reform, but a global, long-term and interconnected one; second, pursue overall progress while implementing targeted measures. Reform and opening up itself is a whole, a systematic project, and a comprehensive reform that requires the joint promotion and coordination of various reforms; third, bold moves should be taken with steady steps dialectically. We must be bold because reform and opening up are not conformist, but pioneering and innovative; it treats not only symptoms, but also root causes; it is not partial reform, but overall progress; it is not tepid, but touches upon fundamental interests.

Xie Lixia gave a speech entitled “Have the Courage to Bear the ‘First ’ Mission and Build a High-Quality Development Demonstration Zone”. She said that Shenzhen is a pioneer and demonstration zone of reform and opening up. From the reform and opening up more than 40 years ago to the further deepening of reform in an all-round way, Shenzhen, especially Qianhai Cooperation Zone, has taken the lead in the country. She believes that Shenzhen’s “courage to bear the ‘first’ mission and build a high-quality development demonstration zone” is mainly reflected in the following three aspects: first, by consolidating the foundation of the manufacturing industry, restructuring the industrial chain, promoting the integration of data and the reality, and other measures, Shenzhen tries to improve the quality and efficiency of the real economy, and create new heights of high-quality development; second, through strengthening education and personnel training, highlighting the dominant position of enterprises, deepening the reform of the science and technology system, and other programmes, Shenzhen strives to accelerate the self-reliance of high-level science and technology, and cultivate new drivers of high-quality development; third, by comprehensively promoting the construction of major cooperation platforms, implementing supply-side structural reform, promoting coordinated regional development, and other projects, Shenzhen will promote circular links at home and abroad, and build a new pattern of high-quality development.

Fu Heming gave a speech entitled “World Outlook and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Shenzhen Practice”. He said that the successful practice of Shenzhen has proved the truth of the world outlook and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and highlights two of them. First, we must always put people first. The establishment of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is not only a practical innovation of seeking truth from facts and daring to be the first, but also a vivid practice of backing the interests of people, grasping people’s aspirations, and implementing the world outlook and methodology that always put people first. Second, we must insist on self-confidence and self-reliance. The development path of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is not a smooth sailing. It is achieved by efforts, but not thoughts. “Shenzhen Miracle” derives from the fact that Shenzhen has chosen the right path, made the right decision and taken the right action at the right time with a confident and independent world view and methodology. What we have gained slightly is the view above and can be proved from the following two aspects: first, Shenzhen dares to try and takes the lead in breaking through the rigid system of planned economy; second, Shenzhen emancipates the mind, keeps pace with the time, and takes the lead in exploring the development path of market economy.

The second stage of the speech was chaired by Lin Jinping. Gong Zheng, Xi Ge, Guan Feng, Cheng Jingwu, Zhao Zhongyuan and Liu Jinwei delivered keynote speeches in turn.

Gong Zheng made a speech titled “The Focus Point and Path of the History of Reform and Opening up in Cadres’ Education”. He said that Shenzhen Reform and Opening up Executive Leadership Academy is the only cadre academy named after “Reform and Opening-up”. Telling the history of reform and opening up, including General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategy of reform and opening up in the new era , is both a feature and a responsibility. We need to focus on the following aspects: first, the important expositions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on reform and opening up should be taken as the basic guidance for the research and teaching of the history of reform and opening up; second is to clarify the great historical achievements of reform and opening up, and hold fast to “four matters of confidence”, which is an important goal of carrying out reform and opening up history education in cadre education; third is to explain and carry forward the great spirit of reform and opening up, which is an important task to carry out the research and teaching of the history of reform and opening up in the education and training of cadres; fourth is to summarize and refine the historical experience formed in the reform and opening up, and enhance the ability of Party members and cadres to promote reform and opening up in the new era, which is the basic focus of reform and opening up history teaching; fifth is to summarize, explain and publicize characteristics and great achievements of the reform and opening up in the new era, which is a key link in the teaching of the history of reform and opening up. RUC is the highland of humanities and social sciences research in China. It is believed that the establishment of Institute of Advanced Social Sciences of RUC (Shenzhen) will further deepen the level of research in the history of reform and opening up in the academic circles of the Greater Bay Area.

Xi Ge gave a speech entitled “Some Important Relationships in the Innovation Practice of Shenzhen in Chinese Path to Modernization”. He said that the reason why Shenzhen can achieve such great development achievements is inseparable from the correct handling of several important relationships in the process of innovation practice of Chinese path to modernization in Shenzhen. First is the relationship between top-level design and practical exploration. In the process of promoting Chinese path to modernization, Shenzhen pays attention to not only the planning and design of the policy system, but also the bold exploration in practice; second is the relationship between strategy and tactics. The achievements of Shenzhen’s socialist modernization construction are positive results of the correct use of strategy and tactics and the correct handling and grasping of the dialectical relationship between them; third is the relationship between integrity and innovation. Shenzhen’s modernization has always adhered to the correct direction of socialism, grasped features of the era, and set the time through innovative development. It is a city model that correctly handles the relationship between integrity and innovation; fourth is the relationship between efficiency and equity. The innovation practice of Chinese path to modernization in Shenzhen has not only created higher efficiency than that of modern capitalist cities, but also better maintained social equity and has deeply grasped the dialectical relationship between efficiency and equity in urban development; fifth is the relationship between vitality and order. In the innovative practice of promoting Chinese path to modernization, Shenzhen has successfully achieved a dynamic balance of vitality and order, providing Chinese wisdom for dealing with the worldwide problem of the relationship between vitality and order; sixth is the relationship between self-reliance and opening up. Shenzhen’s modernization not only focuses on development on the basis of its own strength, but also pays attention to learning from and applying external achievements, which is a positive example of correctly handling the dialectical relationship between self-reliance and opening up.

Guan Feng gave a speech entitled “In-depth Interpretation of Reform and Opening up from the Perspective of Reform and Opening up”. He said that the “vision of reform and opening up” is not only internal and inherent in the 40 years of reform and opening up, but also universal and consistent, which is mainly reflected in four aspects: first, it is a vision with a sense of direction; second, it is the vision of coexistence of tolerance and conflict; third, it is the vision of the people; fourth, it is a vision with civilized demands. The scientific dimension of “reform and opening up vision” is mainly reflected in five aspects: first, it is the objective vision; second, it is the dialectical vision; third, it is the vision of development; fourth, it is the vision of the world; fifth, it is the vision of reflection. The methodological dimension of “reform and opening up vision” means that it combines the value dimension and scientific dimension above into a more specific and targeted method. These methods can be divided into three levels: the first level is the basic method directly derived from dialectical materialism and historical materialism; the second level is some effective concrete methods formed by combining these basic methods with the practice of China’s reform and opening up; the third level is to transform these methods into the subject’s conscious thinking mode and thinking ability.

Cheng Jingwu gave a speech entitled “Deepening the Reform Comprehensively is the Fundamental Driving Force for Promoting Chinese Path to Modernization”. She said that to promote Chinese path to modernization, we must unswervingly deepen the reform in an all-round way and expand the high-level opening up. The series of important speeches by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection of Guangdong fully demonstrates the clear attitude of deepening the reform and expanding the opening up comprehensively. The responsibility and mindset of a major power that firmly stand on the right side of history and promote the construction of an open world economy is of great significance to leading China to deepen reform and opening up and promote the process of economic globalization. Guangdong is at the forefront of promoting Chinese path to modernization. To write a new chapter of Chinese path to modernization in Guangdong, we must consciously carry forward the spirit of the reform that dares to try and to be the first, and continue to make good use of the key move of reform and opening up. Guangdong should be an important window to show the world the achievements of China’s reform and opening up, and for the international community to observe China’s reform and opening up. Guangdong should also anchor the goal and walk in the forefront, make new contributions to the overall situation of national reform and opening up, and create a new miracle that is remarkable in the world.

Zhao Zhongyuan gave a speech entitled “Construction and Modernization Transformation of Governance of ‘Pilot Demonstration Zone’ ”. He said that the development model of the special economic zone represented by Shenzhen has achieved a successful transition to a market economy in an open and mobile environment in the past 40 years of practice. At the same time, it also highlights the historical inevitability of deepening the reform comprehensively under the pattern of unbalanced and differentiated regional economic advantages. Three basic levels are included in the mission of continuously changing genes, exploring and constructing a new pattern and experience of reform and opening up as well as high-quality development: first, the institutional rationality in the development and transformation of the special zone; second, the transformation of development of the methodology system of the special zone model ; third is the transformation construction of the governance modernization of the demonstration zone. The practice of the governance of pilot demonstration zones means that China’s institutional innovation, on the basis of focusing on production and development, has formed a dual interweave of the satisfaction of personalized and diversified demand and the protection of public rights and security. According to the scientific authority pattern of the national institutional system and based on the distributed strategic orientation, a composite pattern of “one core and multiple elements” , multi-region and multi-point situation has formed. It achieves a differentiated hierarchical connection between the high discreteness of affairs in social mobility and the non-homogeneity of the performance of popular subjects. The construction of pilot demonstration zones is increasingly becoming a miniature landscape of Chinese path to modernization.

Liu Jinwei gave a speech entitled “Research on the Historical Experience of Motivating Party Members and Cadres to Act in Shenzhen Special Zone”. He said that insisting on creating a loyal, clean and responsible team of high-quality cadres is one of the main contents of General secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on Party construction, and is an integral part of his important discussion on reform and opening up, which is reflected in his important affirmation and ardent exhortation on the construction of the special zone. In the long-term historical practice, the majority of Party members and cadres in Shenzhen Special Zone actively strive for the reform, showing a unique spiritual outlook in terms of responsibility, and forming a wealth of institutional measures and construction experience, which is mainly reflected in five aspects: first, firmly take a political position, focus on the Party’s reform and opening up cause, and enhance the sense of mission of taking responsibility; second is to adhere to ideological guidance, implement the Party’s innovation theory, and build a solid ideological foundation for responsibility; third is to strengthen the institutional traction, deepen the reform of the cadre and personnel system, and open up innovative paths for taking responsibility; fourth, give full play to the guidance of Party building, improve the quality of Party organizational construction, and strengthen the organizational guarantee of responsibility; fifth, pay attention to cultural edification, continue to strengthen the construction of the spirit of responsibility, and a strong social atmosphere of responsibility; sixth, strengthen cultural construction, dare to take responsibility, and condense the positive atmosphere of power.

Qin Xuan made a summary of the forum. First of all, he said that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has experienced a process from germination, formation, to further development. To study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we should not only pay attention to theoretical interpretation and systematic construction, but also pay attention to how the thought guides practice. On the occasion of the third anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, we gather in Qianhai, Shenzhen, to discuss the theme of “Innovative Practice of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Discussion on Reform and Opening up in Shenzhen”, which is timely and of great significance. The wonderful speeches of experts and scholars have benefited everyone a lot. Secondly, on behalf of the forum organizers, he expressed sincere thanks to Qianhai Cooperation Zone Party Working Committee and Qianhai Authority for their care, support, and input in all aspects of the forum. Finally, he expressed his congratulations on the opening of “Chinese Path to Modernization Shenzhen Innovation Practice Research Base of Renmin University of China”. He stressed that the launch of the research base is a prelude, and in the next stage, he hoped that people could strengthen cooperation, earnestly summarize the practical experience of Shenzhen in promoting regional modernization, jointly discuss the major theoretical and practical issues of promoting Chinese path to modernization comprehensively, play their respective roles in personnel training, scientific research, discipline construction, and jointly push forward the cause of reform and opening up in an all-round way.