The CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee announced in a document the launching of the “Project on the Theoretical Research and Construction of Marxism”in January 2004. It is regarded as “a basic project to consolidate Marxism as the guideline in ideology and a critical project in theoretical innovation.”

On June 2, Chinese ideological experts gathered and had a meeting on the project, to reach a conclusion on the work accomplished in the past eight years and make arrangements for future work.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He asked for deeper theoretical research on Marxism in order to push forward the development of the Party's own ideological theory, and make good theoretical preparations for the coming 18th National Congress of the CPC.

The meeting revealed that the project had made great progress in such areas as “the translation of the classics of Marxism and the studies of their underlying ideas”, “the studies of Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics”,“the studies of important issues in theory and reality”,“the construction of the relevant fields as disciplines and the writing of the relevant textbooks” and “training the relevant staff.”

The project focuses on the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Research teams have been organized to summarize the successful experiences of the reform and opening up from the perspective of various different disciplines, to help us to understand and grasp socialism with Chinese characteristics as a banner, guideline, theoretical system and institution. Some booklets, such as “A Pamphlet for Learning the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”, “A Pamphlet for Learning the Scientific Outlook on Development”and “A Pamphlet for Learning the Socialist Core Value System” have been written as guidance materials for the cadres and the masses to study the newest progress in sinicized Marxism. Some seminars, such as those on “how to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development” and “how to build a harmonious socialist society,” have been organized. A great deal of theoretical studies have been written.

In December 2009, the project published two new collections of Marxist classics, the ten volunme “Collection of Marx’s and Engels’Works” and the five volumn “Collection of Lenin’s Works.” these works of Marx and Engels have been translated from German (instead of Russian) into Chinese, so the translations are more accurate and the new collections are easier to read. These collections are seen as the authoritative editions for the studies of Marxism in China.

To strengthen the studies of the basic ideas in the classics of Marxism, the project has organized more than 200 experts to study 18 topics. A series of important ideas have been traced to their origins in the classics and studied in their contexts. Various contemporary theories and viewpoints at home and abroad have also been analyzed. A number of valuable studies have been written and used in the construction of the disciplines and the preparations for these textbooks.

The Advisory Committee of the project believes that the re-translation of the classics and the studies of basic Marxist ideas would be beneficial for us to make four things clear: which ideas constitute the basic Marxist principles we should stick to long term; which ideas constitute theoretical judgments which we should enrich and develop in view of the new reality; which ones constitute a dogmatic understanding of Marxism and should be rejected; and which are the wrong ideas that have been added to Marxism and should be clarified.

Then the cadres and the masses will be able to understand and grasp the Marxist basic principles accurately, stick to them and use them better in analyzing the problems and finding solutions to them from the standpoint of Marxism.

In the past eight years, the project takes important issues in theory and reality as the key targets of its studies. The important topics, such as how to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, how to deepen the reform of the economic system, how to respond to the global financial crisis, how to speed up the change of the mode of economic growth, and how to make progress in building democratic politics, advanced culture, a harmonious society, a better party and an ecologically sustainable society within the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics, have been studied in various perspectives and from the point of view of different disciplines. A number of works with theoretical depth and real value have been written for reference in the decision-making of the Party and the government. At the same time, more and more effort has been made through cooperation among experts to strengthen the studies of important and basic theoretical issues, such as the basic economic system in the primary stage of socialism, the system of the National People’s Congress and the party system with Chinese characteristics. Great achievements have been made in these regards.

Translated by Liang Guangyan