Attendees to the symposium looked back on Deng Xiaoping's ex­traordinary legacy. They discussed the depth and breadth of Deng Xiaoping Theory, asserting that his theoretical contributions have enriched the vibrant Marxist tradi­tion in line with Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought while broadening Marxist ideology through the eman­cipation of the mind and the concept of "seeking truth from facts."

Implementing the policy of reform and opening up is the most distinc­tive feature of the latest stage in China's socialist cause and a basic feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, participants said at the symposium.

As the chief architect of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping guided the process with a steady hand. Through reform and open­ing up, contemporary China has experienced rapid growth, injecting all industries with vitality and vigor. Building on the foundation of the first three decades of development after the founding of New China, China took only 30 more years to become the second-largest economy in the world. In that short time, the nation saw the kind of economic growth that Western countries re­quired several centuries to achieve.

Now China's international status is constantly growing along with its international influence. China’s achievements have increased the impact of socialism on the world. As Deng Xiaoping reiterated many times, "to be firmly committed to reform and opening up determines China’s destiny".

Shortly after the 18th Party Con­gress was held, General Secretary Xi Jinping laid a basket of flowers in front of the statue of Deng Xiaoping at Shen­zhen Lotus Hill Park, saying: "By doing this, we show our determination to be firmly commit to reform and opening up, facilitating new breakthroughs in reform and modernization, elevating them to a new stage."

Li Tieying, former member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Commit­tee, former vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and director of the China Yan'an Spirit Research Society, gave a keynote speech.

Participants in the symposium also included Ke Zunping, deputy secretary of the Sichuan provincial Party committee; Pang Xianzhi, ex­ecutive deputy director of the China Yan’an Spirit Research Society and former director of the CCCPC Party Literature Research Office; You Lin, executive deputy director of the China Yan’an Spirit Research Society and former chief editor of the Qiushi Journal , and Gao Xiang, secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. More than 150 experts and scholars from higher education institutions and research institutes attended the symposium.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 631, August 8, 2014 

The Chinese link is:  

http://www.cssn.cn/zx/bwyc/201408/t20140808_1283843.shtml                                             

Translated by Jiang Hong