China's philosophy and social sciences should focus on what China is doing now, he said, urging social scientists to study Chinese practices in society, the economy, politics and other fields.
Philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics should include various fields such as history, economics, politics, culture, society, ecology, the military, Party construction, and others, according to Xi.
Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the symposium.
ADHERENCE TO MARXISM
Xi stressed that Marxism will remain the guiding theory in philosophy and social sciences in China.
An important task for philosophy and social sciences in China is to continue pushing for the sinolization, modernization and popularization of Marxism, continue developing a Marxism that fits into the 21st century and contemporary China, said Xi.
Highlighting the guiding role of Marxism, Xi called on research fellows in philosophy and social sciences to integrate socialist theory with Chinese characteristics into their research and teaching activities.
Philosophy and social sciences in China must be people-centered, otherwise they will lose their influence and vitality, Xi said.
Marxism is an open theory that has evolved with the times, practice and scientific progress, said Xi.
"Marxism is never the end of truth. It opens a path toward truth," Xi said, adding that innovating theory through new practices has been the key to maintaining the vitality of Marxism.
CPC'S LEADERSHIP
The leadership of the CPC is the fundamental guarantee of the development of philosophy and social sciences in China, Xi said.
Xi ordered Party organizations at various levels to put philosophy and social sciences-related work on their agendas.
China's leadership has "paid utmost attention" to ideological work, Professor Xie said, citing several key national conferences on literary and artistic work, cyber security and informatization, and news reporting.
While promoting the development of philosophy and social sciences, Party organizations must lead and better manage such studies, Xi added.
He urged leading officials to better understand natural sciences and social sciences to improve their decision-making process.
Xi also called for building a new type of think tank with Chinese characteristics and exploring a consultation system for decision-making.
TALENT, INNOVATION
According to Xi, efforts should be made to "care for, foster and make full use of" the many intellectuals in philosophy and social science fields and make them "advocates of advanced thinking, trailblazers of academic research, guides of social ethos and staunch supporters of Party governance."
Xi urged special efforts to "spot, foster and assemble" a group of theoreticians well versed in Marxist theories and Chinese and Western cultures as well as young and middle-aged academic standouts who are energetic and dare to innovate.
"We should fully trust them politically, actively guide their thought, create favorable conditions for their work and take care of their livelihood," Xi said, calling on officials to take initiative in contacting and befriending scholars and experts and listening to their ideas and suggestions.
Calling for innovation in particular, the president encouraged "daring exploration" as well as "equal, healthy, vigorous and reason-based" academic discussion in the fields.
According to Xi, researchers and students should be precise, honest, responsible and modest while maintaining high ambitions in their academic pursuit, and they should maintain a serious attitude toward the potential social impact of their research.
During the symposium, scholars and research fellows from various disciplines such as philosophy, economics, history, law, Marxism and military science spoke and made proposals on the development of the philosophy and social sciences in the country.
Speakers included Justin Lin Yifu, former World Bank chief economist and now a professor at Peking University, Zhang Weiwei from the China Institute of Fudan University and Jin Yinan, a military strategist at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army.
