The Inspiration of Socialism Today – Communist Party of Finland participates in the 15th World Socialism Forum in China

The World Socialism Forum, held for the 15th time in China, will convene on November 3–4 to discuss international politics, new dimensions of socialism, and changes at the crossroads of world history. Jiri Mäntysalo, Vice Chairperson of Communist Party of Finland (SKP), will travel to Beijing to attend the forum and participate in academic seminars in other Chinese provinces.

The World Socialism Forum, first held in 2004, is an initiative by Chinese comrades focused on the forefront of socialist thought, Marxist theory, and social transformation. The event is organized by the Academy of Social Sciences’ Research Center for Socialism.

This year’s themes are tied to major global political issues and the choices nations must make for their shared future. There will also be much discussion about China’s modernization – a topic often approached with bias in Finnish discourse.

Jiri Mäntysalo sees the trip to China as a tremendous opportunity to learn and to better understand the Chinese way of organizing and building society.

– China’s development is extremely interesting. The well-known achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party include the eradication of extreme poverty, a strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions, and the restoration of natural habitats and species populations. Last year, the construction of renewable energy capacity in China grew by a quarter compared to the previous year, Mäntysalo notes.

Marx Continues to Inspire New Generations

The ambitious program of the forum includes major themes such as a new stage in human development, the rise of countries in the Global South, the renewal of the world system, the rejection of unilateral power politics, and the promotion of international justice and equality. The importance of anti-fascist work and the safeguarding of international law are also emphasized.

China aims to become a modern socialist welfare state by 2050.

China aims to become a modern socialist welfare state by 2050. Efforts are currently underway to improve public services and raise living standards. However, China’s actions also provoke debate and criticism regarding human rights and democracy.

– It is well known that China faces challenges and has much to resolve, and naturally our parties do not agree on everything. I look forward to discussions about the new features and directions of socialism amid profound global changes, Mäntysalo says.

Each participating party will give a roughly 15-minute speech at the forum. Mäntysalo describes the main themes of the SKP’s address:

– In our speech, I will highlight young people’s engagement in activism and interest in Marxist movements, the importance of environmental and peace movements, and the development of just AI and technological progress as key tools in liberating the resources of the working class.

Diverse Experiences Ahead

After the World Socialism Forum, the itinerary includes an academic visit in Beijing on November 5. The rest of the trip will continue with academic meetings and discussions in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, and Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province. Key destinations will include universities.

– The provincial visits will certainly provide a unique, hands-on perspective on regional policy and the equitable development of cities and rural areas. I will return to Finland on November 12, Mäntysalo says.

The discussions and evaluations from the forum will be shared and reflected upon in Finland.

– After my trip, I’ll be happy to talk about China and share my analyses and observations from the forum and seminars both within SKP districts and elsewhere where I’m invited, Mäntysalo promises.