The Open University of China (OUC) recently held a reading salon to study the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC.
In addition to studying the spirit of the session, the salon mainly focused on the study of “the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping (also known as the “two integrations”), with special emphasis on the latter. The learning activity was innovative and fully exerted the internet advantages of the OUC.
Experts including Professor Liu Jianjun from Renmin University of China and Professor Ren Dayuan from Beijing Foreign Studies University were invited to give special reports. A number of scholars and experts were also invited to attend the event onsite, including Cao Guoyong, executive deputy secretary of the OUC Party Committee; Professor Wang Huaichao from the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC; and Sun Fuwan, executive vice dean of the OUC School of Marxism. University leaders, mid-level cadres, research personnel and faculty from Xi’an OU and Yunnan OU, and teacher representatives from Xinjiang OU, Guangzhou OU, and Liaoning OU attended the event via video link.
Based on the context, history, semantic composition, necessity, possibility, and principle in which the term “two integrations” was put forward, as well as the practical significance of the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, the participants held detailed and novel academic discussions and exchanges. China has realised the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and has embarked on a new journey towards its secondary centenary goal. The world is undergoing unforeseen changes and also weathering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Against the background, the participants unanimously agreed that the OUC should take an even firmer the stance on the importance of Marxism, more accurately grasp the rich meaning and innate logic of the basic tenets of Marxism when integrated with China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture, and fully understand and explore the practices of and approaches to such an integration.
The event attracted teachers and students from the OUC system nationwide, sent a strong signal about the importance of studying the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, and created an atmosphere characterised by wide participation and in-depth, flexible, and interconnected learning within the OUC system. The participants said that the glorious achievements of the CPC over the past century are thanks to China’s upholding of the long-term guidance of Marxism and incessant promotion of the integration of Marxism into China’s realities. As frontline teachers, efforts should be made to continuously promote the basic tenets of Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, bringing elements of the latter into the teaching of basic tenets of Marxism and implementing educational and teaching activities in a creative way, in order to help students foster good values and proper views on life and the world.
The event used both onsite and distance learning methods, providing face-to-face communication for the experts and scholars, as well as an online exchange platform for those who could not attend in person. This gave learners access to more choices for learning and strengthened the real time interaction between the participants online and offline.
By Qi Shu, OUC