The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) announced 18 significant annual achievements selected from hundreds of books, papers and programs by scholars of CASS in 2016 from Dec. 27-28.

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The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) announced 18 significant annual Innovation Program achievements selected from hundreds of books, papers and programs by CASS scholars in 2016 from Dec. 27-28.

Among them was the four-volume Modern Chinese Dictionary which represents the culmination of 18 years of painstaking work of collecting the examples of the use of over 51,000 words from early Tang Dynasty to late Qing Dynasty.

As members of a vital fortress of Marxism, CASS scholars fulfilled their mission of confronting erroneous trends of thought using Marxist methodology in 2016. Presided over by CASS President Wang Weiguang, the CASS Anthology of Criticism on Erroneous Trends of Thought refutes such views as universal values, constitutional democracy and neoliberalism.

Noticing the world’s increasing interest in China’s success, the 10-volume Why the Chinese Way Succeeds comprehensively analyzes all the causes, filling in the blanks for explaining China’s rebust growth to the world.

Ancient Chinese Science and Technology and its Inspiration for Today introduces the development and major traits of science and technology in Chinese history, revealing the interrelationship between technological culture and traditional Chinese culture, including Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

In 2016, CASS also released a new six-volume Research Series on the History of the People’s Republic of China, covering the history of Chinese politics, economy, culture, society and diplomacy from 1949 to 2012.

The New History of Modern China, which is comprised of one volume for the late Qing Dynasty and one for the Republic of China, is written by scholars across the Taiwan Strait who follow the principles of seeking truth from facts and seeking common ground while putting aside disagreement.

In 2016, archaeologists from CASS, after five years of joint work with their Uzbek counterparts in the ancient city of Mingtiepei in Uzbekistan, made great breakthroughs. Their work contributed significantly to research on the Kingdom of Dayuan, which was recorded by ancient Chinese historians in Han Dynasty (202BC-AD220), and on the history of city development in ancient Middle Asia.

As one of the think tanks for CPC Central Committee and State Council, CASS also played a significant role in policymaking. Studies on Income Distribution in China explores such issues as income distribution in China, income disparity as well as how income distribution is affected by economic growth, labor market, tax and social security systems.

The first batch of five books out of the 18-volume Research Books on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was published to mark the first year of the agenda’s implementation. These books analyze China’s achievement and future development, covering issues including transforming the economy, reducing inequality, promoting gender equality as well as protecting the environment.

In regard to China’s unprecedented urbanization, CASS explored the developmental stages, ideas as well as models and rules for urbanization in the book Modes for Urbanization in China. The book analyzes the momentum for super-city development, the relationship between urbanization and industrial competitiveness. 

It has been three years since the “Belt and Road” initiative was proposed. The first thirteen volumes of research reports on the “Belt and Road” initiative were compiled to provide analyses of the basic ideas and mechanism design of the initiative as well as the possibility for connecting it with the development strategies in the countries along the proposed routes.

 

Deng Zhimei is a reporter at the Chinese Social Sciences Today.