The 16th World Socialism Forum opened in Beijing on Tuesday, bringing together nearly 300 participants — including more than 80 overseas guests from 40 countries — to discuss Marxist party building, governance, and the future of socialism.
Hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the two-day forum attracted leaders of communist parties, Marxist scholars, social activists, and foreign diplomats.
Gao Xiang, president of CASS and secretary of its Leading Party Members Group, said the Communist Party of China had developed its approach to party building through 105 years of political practice. He said the CPC's experience in party building and governance could offer insights into the challenges facing political parties worldwide.
Gao also called for greater international exchanges on Marxist party building and the role of political parties in shaping national development.
Echoing the importance of international engagement, Zhou Li, former vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the CPC was committed not only to China's development, but also to global progress. He highlighted mutual respect, equality, and non-interference as key principles guiding relations between political parties.
On the question of party governance, Huang Yibing, vice president of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, outlined four developments in the CPC's approach to party building. These included a greater focus on long-term governance, organizational vitality, more integrated party-building efforts, and sustained internal reform.
Turning to international perspectives, Dmitry Novikov, deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, said China's experience offered important lessons for Russian communists. He praised the CPC's ability to maintain a strategic direction, navigate global uncertainty, and respond to long-term development challenges.
Looking at political trends in Europe, Marga Ferre, president of transform! Europe, a European left-wing political foundation, said interest in socialism and Marxism is growing among young people in Europe and elsewhere.
She noted that positive attitudes toward socialism have, in some cases, overtaken those toward capitalism, including in the United States. China's development, she added, has also sparked curiosity among young Europeans about alternative development models.
Returning to the broader challenges of party building, He Guangcai, secretary of the CPC Peking University Committee, identified three common challenges facing Marxist parties: maintaining close ties with the people amid social change, preserving organizational strength in an increasingly interconnected and digital world, and sustaining political vitality under complex conditions.
Drawing lessons from history, Li Shenming, former vice president of CASS and director of its World Socialism Research Center, reflected on the collapse of communist rule in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He emphasized the importance of putting the people first, combining public oversight with internal reform, and recognizing and correcting mistakes.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Jin Minqing, a member of the Leading Party Members Group of CASS and director of its Institute of Contemporary China Studies.
Beyond the opening discussions, the forum's agenda covers the CPC's 105-year history and its global impact, challenges facing political parties, China's experience in party building, and lessons from Marxist movements worldwide. Participants are also examining how political parties can contribute to international cooperation and a shared future for humanity.
The event is organized by the World Socialism Research Center and the Academy of Marxism under CASS, along with other institutions. Established in 2004, the World Socialism Forum has become a platform for international exchanges on Marxist theory, socialist development, and political governance.
