From September 18 to 22 of 2023, Xin Xiangyang, Party Secretary and President of the Academy of Marxism, led a delegation to visit Russia for academic exchanges.

On the morning of September 19, the delegation met and exchanged views with Yury Tavrovsky, Vice-Chairman of Russia-China Friendship Association. Yury Tavrovsky is a well-known Russian sinologist, who pays great attention to China’s development and changes, has written several books on themes related to China, and published many articles on China. During the meeting, both sides expressed that they would continue to promote the good cooperative relationship in the academic field and further carry out in-depth research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. After the meeting, the two sides exchanged as gifts academic works and journals such as Studies on Marxism.

  On the afternoon of September 19, the delegation visited the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, met and exchanged views with Mikhail Golovnin, Director of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yelena B. Lenchuk, former Director of the Institute, and some experts and scholars in the field of economics, and had in-depth discussions on issues including Chinese-style modernization, the current situations and prospects of the Russian economy, the prospects for Sino-Russian economic cooperation, and so on.

  On the morning of September 20, the delegation arrived at the Kazan Federal University, where the 17-year-old Lenin once studied. The delegation listened attentively to the curator of the Lenin Museum of the Kazan Federal University, and gained a deeper understanding of Lenin’s experience of studying and growing up at the Kazan Federal University.

  On the afternoon of September 20, the delegation arrived at Ulyanovsk Oblast, visited Memorial Museum V. I. Lenin and met with Alexei Russkikh, Governor of Ulyanovsk Oblast. Alexei Russkikh is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), and Ulyanovsk Oblast and China are constantly strengthening economic cooperation in a number of areas. Currently, at least three automobile manufacturers from China are working on cooperation issues in Ulyanovsk Oblast. Ulyanovsk Oblast is also interested in developing “red tourism routes” for Chinese tourists in order to promote the further development of its economy.

  On the morning of September 21, the delegation visited the 105-year-old Lenin State Farm in the southern suburbs of Moscow. Although the farm was privatized under the laws of the Russian Federation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Manager Pavel Grudinin, a member of the CPRF with socialist aspirations, continues to run the enterprise in the same way as a Soviet-era state farm. The Lenin State Farm, with its infrastructures serving its working staff such as schools, kindergartens, theme parks, fitness centers and others, embodies in every respect the “people-centered” spirit, and has been acclaimed by Zyuganov as a “people’s enterprise.”

  On the afternoon of September 21, the delegation visited the State Duma, and met and exchanged views with Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPRF, Dmitry Novikov, Deputy-Chairman of the Central Committee, and Stanislav Anihovsky, Secretary of the Central Committee. Xin Xiangyang pointed out that one of the main purposes of this visit of the Academy of Marxism delegation to Russia was to strengthen exchanges with the CPRF and deepen cooperation in the study of socialist theories and other areas. He pointed out that Lenin’s belief in the inevitable triumph of socialism is a great motivation that inspires Chinese communists to keep moving forward. The Academy of Marxism of the CASS has already begun to make relevant preparations and plans to carry out a series of academic activities around the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s death. Zyuganov warmly welcomed the delegation of the Academy of Marxism, and proposed the continuous expansion of ties between the peoples of Russia and China and between the two communist parties as a prioritized direction for the activities of the CPRF. In particular, he emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s theoretical innovations have made an important contribution to the cause of modernization in the world. The CPRF is studying carefully China’s experience. Particularly noteworthy in this regard are the assessments and conclusions drawn by General Secretary Xi Jinping in his book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. The idea of a community with a shared future for mankind, as proposed and substantiated by General Secretary Xi Jinping, is of great world significance. During the delegation’s visit to Russia, the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Oryol-Bryansk was being commemorated by the CPRF, and Chairman Zyuganov presented the members of the delegation with a souvenir medal on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Oryol-Bryansk as an expression of wishes for remembering history and cherishing peace.

  January 21, 2024 is the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s death. Before this important day of commemoration, it is of great significance for the delegation of the Academy of Marxism to follow the footsteps of Lenin’s birth, study and work, to feel the great man’s demeanor, and to carry out academic seminars and exchanges with the CPRF and the Russian academia.

 (Provided by Chen Airu)