On October 19-20, the “10th Peak Forum on Chinese Intellectual History” took place in the Tianjin Binhai New Area. This event gathered over 70 esteemed experts and scholars from more than 30 research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University. The attendees engaged in extensive discussions on the theme “Building Contemporary Civilization of the Chinese Nation and the General History of Chinese Thought” through keynote speeches and group discussions. Organized under the guidance of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Chinese History, the forum was hosted by the editorial committee of the “General History of Chinese Thought” and co-organized by the committee’s office and the Research Institute of Chinese Thought in Tianjin.
Wang Weiguang, a standing committee member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, chairman of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, former president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and director of the editorial committee of the “General History of Chinese Thought,” attended the forum and delivered the keynote address. Lian Maojun, a member of the Tianjin Municipal Committee and secretary of the Binhai New District Party Committee, was also present to give a welcoming speech. In his presentation titled “Utilizing the ‘Two Integrations’ to Compile and Research the General History of Chinese Thought to Contribute to Building Chinese Civilization,” Wang emphasized that contemporary Chinese civilization is rooted in the great practices of nation-building and national rejuvenation, supported by the 5,000-year legacy of Chinese civilization. He highlighted the inherent wisdom, spirit, and culture of the Chinese people, noting a spirit of continuous renewal, adaptation, and inclusiveness. Under the guidance of Marxism, the integration of its principles with the excellent genes found in Chinese traditional culture has allowed Marxism to take deep root in China’s cultural soil, generating a revitalization of traditional culture that reflects the Communist Party’s strong theoretical, historical, and cultural confidence.
During the forum, the topic of “Building Contemporary Civilization of the Chinese Nation” sparked passionate discussions among scholars. They deliberated on the characteristics of contemporary Chinese civilization and explored its possibilities, tracing its roots while also looking globally. Different perspectives were provided on the analysis of contemporary Chinese civilization and the in-depth discussions surrounding the theme of “General History of Chinese Thought.” Some experts shared their current research achievements in line with the project’s progress. Scholars such as Jin Minqing, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and researcher at the Institute of Chinese History, Wang Xinxing, former vice president of Nankai University and dean of the School of Marxism, Zhang Xingxing, researcher at the Institute of Contemporary China Studies, and several others discussed the historical origins, contemporary concerns, and current foundations of promoting cultural prosperity and building a culturally powerful nation.
According to Mr. Zhou Su Yuan, an editorial board member of the “General History of Chinese Thought” and former deputy secretary of the Party Committee at the Institute of Modern History, this project, initiated by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2014, is a significant innovation endeavor and a major commissioned project of the National Social Science Fund. Chaired by Wang Weiguang during his tenure as president of the Academy, the project aims to comprehensively showcase the development and richness of 5,000 years of Chinese intellectual evolution. The final work will consist of approximately 20 million words of historical text and 210 million words of supplementary materials, with publication set to start at the end of 2024 and completion by the end of 2025.
