On the afternoon of April 16, LIAO Guoxun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Shanghai and President of Shanghai Party Institute of CPC (SPI), chaired the Seminar on Promoting the Study of the Four Historical Epochs at SPI. At the seminar, he stressed that we should be fully aware of the great significance of studying the four historical epochs and highlight the new responsibilities and functions of the institute in educating and studying on the subject. The attendees inclosed YAN Shuang (Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Committee of the CPC), CHEN Hao (Deputy Director of the Organizational Department of the CPC Municipal Committee and Vice President of SPI), XU Jiangang (Executive Vice President of SPI), DING Bojie (Deputy Director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Municipal Committee), ZHU Ming (Head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team of the Municipal Discipline and Supervision Commission to the Organization Department of the CPC Municipal Committee), and other vice presidents of SPI (LI Bo, ZENG Jun, XIE Genhua, LI Ning and ZHU Gaoliang), MEI Lihong (Dean of Education at SPI), and DONG Lingbai (secondary inspector).

  At the seminar, ZENG Jun, MEI Lihong, Professor GUAN Jinsheng (Director of Scientific Socialism Department at SPI), Associate Professor WU Zhijie (Party Secretary at the Department of Party History and Building), and Professor WANG Gonglong (Deputy Secretary-general of Shanghai Research Center on XI Jinpings Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era) gave reports on the progress of educational work regarding the four historical epochs at the institute and its various departments. Based on the document just released by the CPC Municipal Committee regarding the subject, YAN Shuang gave his own opinions.
Having listened attentively to their speeches, LIAO Guoxun addressed the seminar. Here is what he said. During his visit to Shanghai last November, President XI Jinpin specifically urged us to “guide all Party members and cadres to acquire a more thorough understanding of the history of the CPC, of the People’s Republic of China, and of reform and opening-up, to pass on and brave up to our mission.” At the summary conference of education on “Keeping Our Mission Firmly in Mind” on January 8, he reiterated the necessity to incorporate the implementation of the Party’s innovative theories into the study of its history and that of the People’s Republic of China, of reform and opening-up and of the development of socialism. At the studyingmeeting of the Central Group of the CPC Municipal Committee, Comrade LI Qiang explicitly called for Shanghai to spearhead the study of the four historical epochs and be more profound in this cause. To carry out the important instructions of President XI conscientiously and in line with the CPC Municipal Committee’s arrangement, we should enhance our study of the four historical epochs.

    As LIAO Guoxun noted, as the CPC heads into its 100th anniversary, we should have a thorough review of the Party’s hundred-year-old history, sum up the lessons we can learn from it, and search for insights into the laws behind and accordingly draw from it the courage and momentum to forge ahead. The world is going through the most drastic change of the century, resulting in a complicated and volatile external environments. Given the situation, it is even more necessary for us to enhance our study of the four historical epochs and reinforce our conviction, faith and confidence to be able to better deal with risks and challenges. As it is in the same spirit as the education on “Keeping Our Mission Firmly in Mind,” we should deepen our study of the four historical epochs to further strengthen our belief in the mission and our initiative to take it on, act, and strive for the Party and the peoples causes with stronger determination.

LIAO Guoxun stressed that SPI should find out the merging point between the study of the four historical epochs and its work and highlight its new responsibilities and functions in educating the cadres of Shanghai on the subject. First, SPI needs to act as the major channel and front in the education of cadres. The four historical epochs should be included as a major course and given a higher weight in the program. Lecturers should be good at explaining the Partys theories in historical contexts, clarify the historical facts and delve deeper into theoretical questions so that the ideological doubts that the students might have can be truly cleared and their understanding of them can be enhanced. Second, SPI needs to play a greater role in social publicity. At SPI, many professors are engaged in the study and teaching of the four historical epochs. External events should be organized for them to give lectures on the subject to young cadres, business workers, etc., during which SPI can enhance its influence and leading role in this educational campaign. Third, SPI needs to improve the effectiveness of its publicity efforts. Shanghai boasts abundant red tourism resources and the educational campaign on the four historical epochs is a great opportunity for the city to build a brand of red cultural education with nationwide influence. In terms of pedagogy, bold initiatives are encouraged to make full use of every effective new form or method and better integrate modern IT systems into teaching activities to render the publicity more appealing and the subject more acceptable to the public.
Prior to the seminar, LIAO Guoxun presided over the InstituteAffairs Committee Meeting and listened to XU Jiangang’s report on the operational status of the institute and discussed relate work. Before the meeting, accompanied by YAN Shuang, CHEN Hao and DING Bojie, LIAO Guoxun visited the history museum of SPI and the Red Shanghai Gallery.