On April 20, the book launch ceremony for Why Shanghai?----the Stories of Chinese Modernization (hereinafter referred to as Why Shanghai?) and the symposium on the series of books Chinese Modernization were held at Shanghai Party Institute of CPC (SPI). ZHANG Zhanbin, Director of Chinese Modernization Research Center of Central Party School of CPC (National Academy of Governance), DAI Xiaoming, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Central Party School of CPC Press, YU Hailin, Deputy Director of the International Exchange Center of the International Liaison Department of Central Committee of CPC, and DAI Bing, SPI’s Vice President, jointly unveiled the new book. More than 80 people including representatives from Central Party School of CPC (National Academy of Governance), International Liaison Department of Central Committee of CPC, provincial Party schools, municipal and district Party schools of Shanghai and the editors of Why Shanghai? attended the meeting.

In his speech, DAI Bing expressed heartfelt gratitude to the participating units for their long-term care and support for SPI. He pointed out that SPI has attached great importance to open education and brand strategy for many years. It has developed a special course group on introducing Chinese modernization through the stories of Shanghai to foreign visitors, which is featured by shared teaching, research and consultation resources among Party schools. It has the characteristics of diversified classes, systematic courses and distinctive methods. The successful publication of Why Shanghai? is the result of SPI’s achievements in open education over the years. It answers the questions of the world and the times - Why Shanghai? Why can Shanghai make it?

ZHANG Zhanbin, Editor-In-Chief of the series of books The Stories of Chinese Modernization and Director of Chinese Modernization Research Center of Central Party School of CPC (National Academy of Governance), pointed out that the series of books compiled by the Party school system focuses on Chinese modernization, echoes with the trend and calls of the times, and shows the historical responsibility of the Party school system. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Party, the starting point of the original aspirations, and the breeding ground for the great spirit of Party building. Since the founding of the CPC, Chinese people have turned from passive acceptance to active exploration in spirit and created a brilliant history under the leadership of the CPC. ZHANG Zhanbin hoped that the Party schools of all provinces and cities would work together to reach a new height in open education by organizing interdisciplinary and comprehensive theoretical research to provide theoretical support for telling Chinese stories well.

DAI Xiaoming, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman and Editor-in-chief of Central Party School of CPC Press, said that the stories of Chinese Modernization series of books is a project supported by the 2024 National Publication Foundation. As the first book of the series, Why Shanghai? has values in three aspects. First, it presents valuable Chinese experience in its modernization, highlighting both cities’ individual characteristics and common features in scientific connotation of Chinese modernization. Second, it provides a narrative model for demonstrating Chinese modernization through the stories of a city. Third, it contains the future vision of a new form of human civilization. Understanding Chinese modernization through stories of Shanghai has a typical significance that indicates the social development trend and direction for humans.

YU Hailin, Deputy Director of the International Exchange Center of International Liaison Department of Central Committee of CPC, LIU Genfa, Director of the International Exchange and Training Development Department of China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, JING Ying, First-level Inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and CHEN Yiqun, Deputy Director of the International Communication Office of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Information Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, delivered keynote speeches at the ceremony. They generally believe that to show a real, three-dimensional and comprehensive China, we should properly handle the relationship between telling the stories of the CPC, telling the stories of China and telling the stories of Shanghai. The standardization, systematization and professionalization of teaching materials in foreign-related training and exchanges are very important. The Chinese-English bilingual version of Why Shanghai? has various cases. The 15 stories discuss a big topic through small things and a class of issues through a single one, describing people, things and emotions, and including the scientific thinking with SPI features. Having integrated the political, scientific, professional and dissemination elements, it has set an excellent model for telling Chinese stories well.

The book launch ceremony was hosted by LUO Feng, SPI’s Vice President. He introduced the publication of the book Why Shanghai? First, the book is the result of years of accumulation. In accordance with the open education requirements for the Party schools, SPI has organized brand projects such as “Shanghai Learning and Practice Program for Young Talents from Macao” and “Arab Diplomats in China Attend Classes in SPI”. The compilation of the book has solved many problems, such as limited time for foreign (overseas) exchanges and visits to Shanghai, limited visit destinations, and a limited number of courses that one can attend. Second, we have three considerations in the preparation of the book, namely common problems of foreign (overseas) readers, arousing emotional resonance through small and micro cases, and theoretical sublimation of story conclusions. Third, the book involves the joint efforts of multiple parties in the organization. LUO Feng expressed his gratitude to the publishing house, 15 contributors, the translation team, and relevant units and departments.

The symposium was hosted by HU min, President of the National Academy of Governance Press. The delegates pointed out that Chinese modernization has five profound connotations. Telling Chinese stories on the land of China is even more meaningful. To tell Chinese stories well and show the world a rich, colorful, vivid and comprehensive image of China, we need to take a combination of methods and play a concerto together. It’s necessary to actively integrate into the large-scale, diversified, three-dimensional international communication, and constantly explore the mechanism and form of telling Chinese stories and establishing an international communication discourse system.

The Chinese-English bilingual version of Why Shanghai? was published by the National Academy of Governance Press in November 2023. It is divided into five chapters with 110,000 Chinese characters and 72,000 English words. Full of pictures and texts, it focuses on 15 stories of Shanghai’s high-quality development, high-quality life, high-efficiency governance and high-level opening up in Chinese modernization. The compilation and publication of the book coincides with the first year of fully implementing the spirit of the 20^th CPC National Congress. Since its publication, it has received great attention from all parties. It appeared at the 2023 World Conference on China Studies Shanghai Forum Book Fair and won the “Excellence Award” of 2023 Shanghai “Silver Dove Awards” in the publishing category. This book has contributed to SPI’s goals of continuously improving international communication capabilities, telling the stories of Shanghai, expanding international influence, and enhancing international exchanges and cooperation under the new situation.