To promote and deepen a culture of national reading promoted by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Ju Chuanjin, vice president of the Open University of China (OUC), presided over a conference with teaching staff from different departments on 16 May 2023.
The event was organised as part of broader efforts to study and implement the thematic education campaign of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era while steadily promoting a culture of reading on campus.
Ju said reading enlivens the soul, promotes wisdom and is the key to unlocking a fulfilling life. He told those in attendance that they should treat reading as an important life goal, describing it as “beneficial”. Ju also called for a daily reading practice, saying this would nurture virtue, nourish the spirit, help people gain enlightenment and create an upright environment.
Ju recommended the book, A Concise History of the Communist Party of China. He said it is the best textbook on the history of the CPC and compulsory for Party members and cadres. The book details the history of the Party's original aspiration and its long-term goal of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The book is not only a history of the centennial struggle of the CPC, but also a vivid portrayal of patriotism and an important embodiment of the resolute vitality and cohesion of the Chinese nation. He encouraged everyone to adhere to the positions, viewpoints and methods of dialectical and historical materialism; to emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts; to constantly draw nourishment and motivation from the Party's century-old history of struggle; and, to unite thoughts and actions to implement the OUC's "Six Major Projects" and the "14th Five-Year Plan". He said the OUC would continue to create a better future by developing open and inclusive education.
Twelve faculty members also shared their favourite books, ranging in diversity from red classics and literary works to topics such as organisational development and the innovation of enterprises. They talked about their experience of reading, and had in-depth discussions on how reading cultivates character, work and life more generally.
The teaching staff who participated in the activity said it was very rewarding, and that it had stimulated the enthusiasm of participants. They said they looked forward to holding similar activities in future.
More than 70 teaching staff from 12 departments participated in the event. The activity was presided over by Li Guangde, dean of the Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College).
Written by Shao Dandan, photographed by Zhuge Huanyu, OUC