The Discourse System Construction of Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences·Pudong Forum – the Discourse System Construction of Literature Theory·2019 was held in Shanghai on July 20-21. The Forum was guided by the National Office for the Coordination of the Construction of Discourse System of Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences and the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, sponsored by China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, Shanghai Academy, and the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations, and co-sponsored by the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences School of Humanities, Shanghai University College of Liberal Arts and the Cultural Development Research Center of Shanghai Academy The meeting drew more than 220 attendees, including famous writers, representatives from seven first-class societies of literature theory, as well as experts and scholars from all parts of the country.

Weng Tiehui, Party Group member and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, delivers a speech

Weng Tiehui, Party Group member and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, Li Peilin, Vice Chairman of the NPC Social Construction Committee, CASS member and President of Shanghai Academy, Xu Jiong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and Cao Wenze, Vice President of the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong in charge of daily work, respectively delivered speeches. Quan Heng, Party Group Secretary and Full-Time Vice Chairman of Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations, chaired the opening ceremony.

Li Peilin, Vice Chairman of NPC Social Construction Committee, CASS member and President of Shanghai Academy, gives a speech

Li Peilin said, in the meeting about philosophy and social science work and the letter of congratulation on the 40th anniversary of the founding of CASS, Xi Jinping noted several times that philosophy and social science workers shall work to build the system of disciplines of philosophy and social sciences , the academic system, and the discourse system with Chinese characteristics to further improve the global influence of China’s philosophy and social sciences. In the 70 years since the founding of New China, particularly the past 40 years of China’s reform and opening-up, China has made remarkable achievements in economic, political, social, cultural and ecological fields, and developed a set of concepts, ideas, and views about China’s path, systems, experience, and culture. So, first, guided by Marxism, we should study and publicize Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the construction of the philosophy and social science discourse system. Next, we must enhance our theoretical and cultural self-confidence, and strive to study, interpret and develop disciplinary concepts with Chinese characteristics, style, and identity that reflect China’s path, experience, and practice, and establish a complete and systematic set of discourse system with inherent logic. Moreover, we should take active part in the construction of the international knowledge system, disciplinary system, academic system, discourse system, and teaching material system, so that China’s discourse system will go global and have a wide international impact.

Xu Jiong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, makes a speech

Xu Jiong said, philosophy and social sciences is indispensable role in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Literary and artistic work has long been a major part of the Party’s publicity and ideological work and the national cultural construction. After 70 years of development, China has made great headway in the field of culture and art, which has become part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people, and demonstrates the spirit of the times and the nation. Literary theory is the discourse base for Chinese literature research, as well as the concentrated reflection of Chinese literary concepts and ideas. Literature discourse power serves as the precondition and guarantee for the subjectivity of Chinese literature research, as well as the foundation and guarantee for exchanges with Western literature theory and overseas communication of Chinese culture. Over the past 40years since China’s reform and opening-up, considerable progress has been made in study on contemporary Chinese literature theory, and the discourse system with Chinese characteristics and the characteristics of the time has taken initial shape. However, contemporary Chinese literature theory is deeply influenced by the West, and absence of discourse power is still evident. How to address the realistic issues, respond to concerns of all sides, summarize Chinese experience and accelerate construction of the discourse system for Chinese literature theories is a pressing task for Chinese scholars in the new era.

Cao Wenze, Vice President of China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong in charge of daily work, delivers a speech

Cao Wenze said, construction of the philosophy and social science discourse system is an important strategic task proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core from the perspective of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It is of great significance to promoting the prosperity of China’s philosophy and social sciences, improving China’s discourse power in the international community, and advancing the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In his important speeches delivered at the Symposium for Philosophy and Social Science Work and the Symposium on Literature and Art Work, Xi Jinping made important statements about the construction of the literature theory discourse system and chartered the course for our future work: First, a correct political direction and stance must be upheld in the construction of China’s literature theory discourse system; second, the construction of China’s literature theory discourse system must adhere to scientific ways and approaches; third, the construction of China’s literarature theory discourse system must pay attention to the subjective construction of contemporary Chinese literature theory.  

Zhang Jiang, former Vice President of CASS, Editor-in-Chief of the Social Sciences in China Press, Chief Editor of Literary Review and Chairman of Chinese Literature Criticism Research Society, chairs the talk

Zhang Jiang, former Vice President of CASS, Editor-in-Chief of the Social Sciences in China Press, Chief Editor of Literary Review and Chairman of Chinese Literature Criticism Research Society, chaired the talk with famous writers and critics. Zhao Kebin, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, summarized the meeting. Liu Jingbei, Vice President of the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, hosted the closing ceremony.

Zhao Kebin, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, summarizes the meeting

To summarize the meeting, Zhao Kebin said, literature creation activities and the theoretical reflection and guidance of literature creation activities are a major part of the construction of China’s philosophy and social science discourse system, as well as a key aspect of the national cultural cause. Meanwhile, literature theory plays an important role in the construction of the social science discourse system in the new era. All the workers of literature theory must keep up with the trends of the times, take up the mission of the times, respond to the new issues of the times, make concerted efforts to enhance the academic research level of Chinese literature theory, and improve the construction of Chinese literature theory disciplines, in order to propose a long-standing tradition, develop the Chinese literature theories that match the long and profound cultural traditions of China, interpret Chinese literature discourse and found Chinese literature schools, and to promote construction of the Chinese literature theory discourse system.

Liu Jingbei, Vice President of the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, chairs the closing ceremony