From May 17 to 19, 2024, the academic symposium on "Chinese-Style Modernization and the Innovative Development of Marxist Philosophy" was held at Shenzhen University. The event was jointly hosted by the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University, the Regional Collaborative Innovation Center for Ideological and Political Courses in Guangdong Universities, the Institute for Ecological Civilization and Green Development at Shenzhen University, the research team of the National Social Science Fund Major Project "Research on Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization," and the Institute for Contemporary Chinese Thought and Culture.

The opening ceremony of the symposium was hosted by Professor Zhang Shoukui, Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University. Professor Tian Qibo, Dean of the Institute for Ecological Civilization and Green Development and a professor at the School of Marxism, delivered a speech. He emphasized that "Chinese-style modernization" is an original achievement of the Communist Party of China. As a practical activity and an ongoing process, Chinese-style modernization presents both new opportunities and challenges for the innovative development of Marxist philosophy. How to further advance the development and research of Marxist philosophy within the context of Chinese-style modernization is a significant theoretical and practical issue. In response to this, the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University organized the academic symposium on "Chinese-Style Modernization and the Innovative Development of Marxist Philosophy," inviting renowned experts and scholars in the field of Marxism to gather for in-depth discussions on these topics. The School of Marxism at Shenzhen University, one of the first key Marxist schools in Guangdong Province, has developed its own research specialties in areas such as the practice of Chinese-style modernization in Shenzhen, the history of Shenzhen’s reform and opening up, and the regional dissemination of Marxism. This symposium serves as both a crucial step in consolidating and strengthening the school's research focus and a valuable opportunity to invite the academic community to provide insights and suggestions for the development of its disciplines.

In the first keynote presentation, Professor Ma Tianjun from the Department of Philosophy at Sun Yat-sen University elaborated on "Marx’s Views on German Modernization" based on Marx’s texts. He pointed out that Marx emphasized commonality. Although Marx chose Britain as the model for discussing Germany's modernization, his ultimate focus was on the development of human history. Germany needed to learn from Britain and actively build its modernization framework. At the same time, the intensity of practical actions should be based on prioritizing what needs to be done in reality, without attempting to replace responsibility for one’s fate with reliance on historical laws.

Professor Hu Liu from the School of Marxism at Southwest University discussed Marx's comparative research on Eastern and Western societies after the 1850s and his theoretical contributions. He argued that Marx, centered on the core theme of "critique of capital," used this as a comprehensive perspective and methodological foundation to deepen and expand historical materialism in a concrete way.

Professor Song Chaolong from the School of Marxism at Peking University explained the topic of "The Path of Chinese-Style Modernization and New Horizons for Marxism." He argued that the path of Chinese-style modernization is a market economy led by public ownership, representing a new type of socialist modernization. This path is the crystallization of the international communist movement’s arduous exploration and has the ability to avoid the pitfalls of Western financial capitalism and to cross the "Charybdis Gorge" of financial capital empires.

Professor Huang Zhijun from the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China examined Marx's exploration and reflection on modernization in Grundrisse. He argued that Marx, from the theoretical perspective of historical materialism and the realities of capitalist society at the time, conducted a rational analysis of the internal mechanisms of capitalist society. Marx revealed the dual nature of modern society and the world—its progressiveness and vulgarity. He identified the creation of exchange value as the core essence of social modernization and explained the general laws of modernization from the aspects of production, exchange, consumption, and the development of human capabilities.

Professor Tu Liangchuan from the School of Marxism at South China Normal University discussed the philosophical narrative of Chinese-style modernization as "creating a new form of human civilization." He argued that Chinese-style modernization is a path forged by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China during the journey of national rejuvenation. It embodies practical wisdom in addressing the challenges of modernity and building a socialist modernized nation. The essential requirement of Chinese-style modernization in creating a new form of human civilization implies that its innovative civilization not only advances China's modernization but also fundamentally transforms the contemporary view of human civilization in modernization.

Researcher Yang Hongyuan from the Institute of Philosophy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences explained the methodological issues of Chinese-style modernization. He argued that promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization is the central task of the Communist Party of China in the new era and on the new journey. Adhering to a systematic approach is one of the worldviews and methodologies of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Properly adhering to and applying the positions, viewpoints, and methods embedded within this thought provides essential guidance for advancing Chinese-style modernization. In the new era and on the new journey, facing a deeply complex and changing international and domestic environment with both strategic opportunities and risks, promoting Chinese-style modernization as a systematic project requires following a systematic approach. This will enable better foresight, comprehensive planning, strategic layout, and coordinated advancement, while correctly managing a series of major relationships.

Professor Fu Heming, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University, explored the "Shenzhen Practice of Chinese-Style Modernization." He argued that, as part of the "Chinese-style" modernization, Shenzhen has enriched this concept with its unique and dynamic practices. It is evident that the most distinctive feature of the "Shenzhen Practice of Chinese-Style Modernization" is Shenzhen’s ability, over more than forty years of reform and opening-up, to scientifically and dialectically manage the relationship between the proactive role of the government—what it should and should not do—and the relationship between the government and the market. This is the most fundamental key to deciphering the "Shenzhen Miracle" and its underlying logic.

Associate Professor Guo Xiaoshuo from the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University explored "Marxist Humanism and the Development of Chinese-Style Modernization." He argued that since the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1921, the Party has used Marxist theory to lead the Chinese people in achieving true modern liberation and development, as well as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This has been a central theme throughout the Party’s century-long history. Over the past hundred years, the humanistic spirit of Marxism has had a profound influence on Chinese society.

In addition to the 8 keynote presentations, this conference also featured a special session for graduate students. During the two-day event, experts and scholars delivered insightful and engaging academic reports at the conference.

Over 50 experts and scholars from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Jilin University, East China Normal University, Central China Normal University, South China Normal University, Southwest University, Northwest University, the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), Wuhan University of Technology, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, and other universities and research institutes across the country gathered to discuss several themes. These included "The Intellectual Resources and Theoretical Expressions of Chinese-Style Modernization," "The Concrete Development and Practical Issues of Chinese-Style Modernization," "Chinese-Style Modernization and the New Form of Human Civilization," "The Expansion and Innovation of Marxist Philosophy in the Context of Chinese-Style Modernization," and "Chinese-Style Modernization and the Sinicization of Marxist Philosophy."

At the closing ceremony, Professor Fu Heming, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University, provided a summary of the symposium. He noted that over the day and a half of intensive discussions, the participating experts offered highly theoretical and intellectually profound insights on topics related to Chinese-style modernization and the innovative development of Marxist philosophy. These discussions not only deepened the understanding of Chinese-style modernization and Marxist philosophy but also provided constructive suggestions for the development of the Marxism discipline at Shenzhen University.