To deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, fully grasp President Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and advance the construction of a theoretical research system on Chinese-style ethnic theories in the new era, the Second Northeast High-Level Forum on Research into Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation was grandly held in Changchun, Jilin Province, from May 24 to 25, 2024.
Leadership and Guests
The forum was co-hosted by the School of Marxism at Jilin University and the Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University. Distinguished leaders and guests in attendance included:
•Liu Lili, Director of the Research Management Division of the Theory Research Department at the National Ethnic Affairs Commission
•Tian Lei, Director of the Jilin Provincial Ethnic Affairs Commission, and An Dongmei, Researcher
•Wang Fei, Director of the Changchun Municipal Ethnic Affairs Commission, and Pan Shuang, Director
•Han Xiping, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Jilin University and Ministry of Education“Changjiang Scholar”
•Miao Yixuan, Executive Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of Jilin University
•Zhang Qian, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of Jilin University
•Qu Hongmei, Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences Research, Jilin University
•Zhong Xin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism, Jilin University
•Wu Hongzheng, Dean of the School of Marxism, Jilin University
Participating Institutions
The forum, led by Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs research bases in the three northeastern provinces, as well as other related research bases from partner universities. Participating institutions included:
•Harbin Institute of Technology’s Computational Social Science Coordination and Innovation Center
•Northeast Normal University’s Northeast Ethnic and Folk Museum
•Yanbian University’s Research Base for the Chinese National Community
•Liaoning Normal University’s Research Base for the Chinese National Community
•Dalian Minzu University’s Education Research Base for Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation
•Bohai University’s Research Center for the Chinese National Community
•Tibet University of Traditional Tibetan Medicine’s Marxist Theory Teaching Department
•Xinjiang Medical University’s Research and Practice Base for Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation
Additional participants included representatives from the Jilin Provincial Center for Ethnic and Religious Research, Jilin Academy of Social Sciences, Jilin Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Northeast Normal University’s Center for Ideological and Political Education Research, Sichuan Institute of Cultural and Educational Research, Learning and Exploration journal, China Social Sciences News Jilin Station, and others. In total, representatives from 29 universities, research institutions, and media outlets, as well as over 80 experts and scholars, participated in the forum.
Forum Activities
The forum centered on the theme of“Theoretical and Practical Research on Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation.”Activities included field research, keynote speeches, thematic presentations, and panel discussions. The goal was to promote synergy between theoretical and practical research, driving the progress of studies in this field to new heights.
The event marked a significant step in advancing research into forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, providing a high-level platform for academic exchange and collaborative innovation.
On the afternoon of May 24, 2024, participants of the forum visited Yitong Manchu Primary School and Yitong County Museum (a nationally recognized Level-Three Museum) for observation and research.
Yitong Manchu Primary School is a“National Model School for Ethnic Unity and Progress Activities.”The school integrates education on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation into all aspects of its management and teaching. It has developed the“Five-Heart”Educational Model, which includes:
•“Original Heart for Building the Foundation”
•“Right Heart for Forging the Soul”
•“Wise Heart for Dreaming Big”
•“Craftsman’s Heart for Action”
•“Sincere Heart for Achievement”
The school has also established over 40“Pomegranate Seed”clubs, covering areas such as traditional culture, music and dance, sports, arts, and technology, with each class cultivating a unique specialty.
The visitors praised the school’s innovative practices and high standards, expressing admiration for its success in promoting unity and progress through education.
“The thousand-year cultural heritage endures, and brilliant civilizations thrive unceasingly. Only when artifacts come to life can culture gain strength.
After visiting Yitong Manchu Primary School, participants proceeded to the Yitong County Museum, a specialized institution dedicated to showcasing Manchu history, culture, and traditions.
The museum features eight exhibition halls, covering topics such as Manchu origins, politics, economy, culture, customs, beliefs, and the historical evolution of Yitong. It houses over 600 types of Manchu artifacts, including more than 3,000 exhibits, along with photographs, models, and other artistic representations. These displays vividly portray the rich tapestry of Manchu history and traditions, offering a glimpse into the vibrant folk culture created by the ingenuity and hard work of the Manchu ancestors.
Following the historical footsteps of the Manchu people, participants gained a deeper appreciation for the profound and enduring legacy of Manchu culture, leaving them inspired by the stories and artistry encapsulated in the museum’s exhibits.
On the morning of May 25, the opening ceremony of the Second Northeast High-Level Forum on Research into Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation was hosted by Professor Luo Kequan, Director of Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University. Opening addresses were delivered by Han Xiping, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Jilin University, and Liu Lili, Director of the Research Management Division of the Theory Research Department at the National Ethnic Affairs Commission.
Han Xiping’s Remarks
In his address, Han Xiping highlighted the significance of the event, stating,“Today, we gather experts and scholars from the three northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia, as well as representatives from the National Ethnic Affairs Commission’s research bases and partner universities, to host this forum. This is a concrete action to implement President Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work.”
Han outlined four key areas of focus for future work in the region:
1.Enhancing Political Responsibility: Maintain a clear focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the central theme.
2.Fulfilling Mission and Responsibility: Develop the research bases into model platforms for fostering a strong sense of community.
3.Advancing Theoretical Systematization: Promote structured and scientific theoretical innovation to achieve new breakthroughs in academic research on forging a strong sense of community in the Northeast.
4.Encouraging Disciplinary Integration: Build a strong research base brand by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and highlighting the unique strengths of the bases.
These initiatives aim to solidify the academic and practical contributions of the research bases in the Northeast region to the national effort of strengthening the Chinese national community.
Han Xiping
Vice Secretary of the Party Committee, Jilin University
Liu Lili Stresses the Importance of the Forum in Advancing Ethnic Work
In her opening remarks, Liu Lili, Director of the Research Management Division of the Theory Research Department at the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, emphasized the significant impact of the forum. Focusing on the theme“Theoretical and Practical Research on Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation,”she described the forum as a vital implementation of President Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work and a powerful driver for the high-quality development of ethnic affairs.
Liu highlighted that the Chinese nation is a tangible ethnic entity, not an“imagined community”as posited by Western theories. Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is not only a historical continuation of unity within the Chinese national family but also a vivid reflection of the present reality.
She stressed that forging this sense of community cannot be reduced to mere slogans but must be approached through a clear, evidence-based framework:
1.Base on Marxist Ethnic Theory: Clarify the fundamental principles and origins of the concept.
2.Rely on the Civilizational Foundations of the Chinese National Community: Speak with cultural confidence and pride.
3.Draw from the Practical Experience of the Communist Party of China: Integrate lessons from the Party’s century-long ethnic work with a pragmatic, fact-based perspective.
4.Move Beyond Western-Centric Theories: Construct arguments with logical, well-supported reasoning rooted in China’s context.
Liu concluded by underscoring that such efforts are critical to strengthening both the theoretical and practical foundations of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, further advancing ethnic affairs in the new era.
Liu Lili
Director of the Research Management Division, Theory Research Department, National Ethnic Affairs Commission
Professor Wang Cheng, Deputy Director of the Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University, presided over the keynote session. A total of 9 main persons in charge of seven bases in the three provinces of Northeast China and counterpart support institutions (Tibet University of Tibetan Medicine and Xinjiang Medical University) made keynote speeches respectively, sharing in detail the practical experience, characteristic advantages, academic achievements, and future plans of the base construction.
Wang Cheng
Deputy Director, Northeast Ethnic Research Center, Jilin University
Zhang Dayong
Director, Institute of Computational Communication and Visualization Design, Computational Social Science Coordination and Innovation Center, Harbin Institute of Technology
Tang Xiaoxuan
Director, Northeast Ethnic and Folk Museum, Northeast Normal University
Li Meihua
Director, Research Base for the Chinese National Community, Yanbian University
Wu Dongming
Secretary-General, Research Base for the Chinese National Community, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Liaoning Normal University
Zheng Shilin
Deputy Director, Education Research Base for the Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, Dalian Minzu University
Liu Dan
Deputy Director, Research Center for the Chinese National Community, Bohai University
Director, Marxist Theory Teaching Department, Tibet University of Traditional Tibetan Medicine
Aynur Haijela
Secretary,“Research and Practice Base for Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation,”Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Education System
Luo Kequan
Director,Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University; Deputy Dean, School of Marxism, Jilin University
The keynote session was chaired by Lu Qiang, a researcher at the Sichuan Institute of Cultural and Educational Studies, Sichuan Normal University. Representatives delivered speeches on various aspects related to the conference theme, fostering a rich and interdisciplinary exchange:
•Siqin Gaowa, Member of the Party Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department at Inner Mongolia University, shared her insights in a speech titled“Marxist Ethnic Theory and the‘Two Integrations’: Practical Exploration in Inner Mongolia’s Religious Work.”
•Zhao Gang, Dean of the School of Marxism at Yanbian University, delivered a presentation titled“The Logical Roots of the Formation and Development of the Chinese Communist Party’s View on the Chinese Nation Over the Past Century.”
•Liu Weidong, Director of the Social Science Office at Beihua University, discussed“Nationalism Education: Constructing a Sense of Community and Deconstructing the Concept of a Shared Destiny.”
•Tu Yajun, President of the Heilongjiang Ewenki Research Association, gave a speech titled“New Paths for Ewenki Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance Under the Framework of Strengthening the Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation.”
•Ma Weidong, Deputy Dean of the College of Literature at Jilin University, presented“Tracing the Origins of Ancient China’s‘All-Under-Heaven’State: Historical Roots of the Unified Multiethnic Nation Model.”
•Shao Yanmin, a National“Ten Thousand Talents Program”Teaching Master andDirectorof the Academic Committee of the Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University, delivered a comprehensive speech on“The Deep Logic of Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation.”
These speeches provided in-depth explorations of theoretical, historical, and practical issues, contributing valuable perspectives to the study and practice of fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.
Lu Qiang
Siqin Gaowa
Zhao Gang
Liu Weidong
Tu Yajun
Ma Weidong
Shao Yanmin
The afternoon session featured three parallel sub-forums, each hosted by a designated convener: Gong Cunlei, Associate Researcher at Learning and Exploration journal; Song Qing, Professor at Jilin University’s College of Literature; and Luo Kequan, Director of Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University.The sub-forums included scholar presentations, expert reviews, and interactive discussions, addressing both theoretical and practical issues.
The closing ceremony was chaired by Zhong Xin, Party Secretary of the School of Marxism at Jilin University. Professor Luo Kequan delivered the concluding remarks, summarizing the forum’s achievements. Luo highlighted that the forum strengthened academic and professional exchanges among participants from the three northeastern provinces, partner universities, and other research institutions nationwide.
By combining field research with theoretical discussions, the forum provided an expansive platform for collaboration, fostering mutual learning and innovation in research on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Described as a“brilliant academic feast,”the event showcased the integration of theory and practice, contributing to the advancement of ethnic studies in the new era.
Zhong Xin
Party Secretary, School of Marxism, Jilin University
