Students can be the mainstay and backbone of social development, and contribute youth power to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation – that was the rallying call from President Guo Fu when he delivered the ‘First Course of the Spring Semester’ in early March.

Fifteen graduate students from the School of Marxism listened attentively to the professor’s speech on the theme of ‘Learning the 2023th National Congress and Striving for a New Journey - Contributing Youth Power in Fulfilling New Missions and New Tasks’.

“By reading classic works, cultivating critical thinking ability, developing innovative skills, improving application ability, and understanding well, explaining and applying the innovative theoretical achievements of the Sinicization era of Marxism, students should strive to become politically strong and theoretically solid Party members,” he said.

Students listen carefully to Principal Guo Fu

The President led the students through three crucial subjects:

· An in-depth study of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

· A correct understanding of the adjustment of epidemic prevention and control policies and

· Adapting to normal campus study and life.

An interesting Q&A session followed with the students actively participating during the relaxed and informative lesson.

Guo Fu emphasised the great significance, core essence and practical requirements of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He systematically reviewed the major theoretical innovations of the Sinicization of Marxism, and outlined the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China in the new era. “This is our shared new journey,” he said. “We have to understand the characteristic essence of Chinese-style modernization, and I want all students to deeply think about the educational development strategy against the background of Chinese-style modernization.”

Guo Fu and the students recalled the extraordinary anti-epidemic process in the past three years and the difficulty faced by teachers and students to protect the campus. “If you compare the infection base and death data of China and the West you will clearly understand that China's anti-epidemic policy was a scientific decision made by the Party Central Committee in line with the interests and needs of the masses of the people,” he said. “These decisions were based on the characteristics of different periods and the actual national conditions of China.”

He reminded students that while they would continue to be responsible for their own health and safety, “using your dialectical thinking ability, you will deeply understand the great achievements made by China in fighting the epidemic, and we will consolidate these hard-won major achievements,” he added.

Guo Fu also hoped that students would adapt to the study and life under the normal management of campus as soon as possible, make good use of the time during the university, continuously expand the breadth and depth of basic and professional subject knowledge, and combine the national needs and the requirements of the high-quality development of the capital to continuously broaden their academic vision, life vision and international vision. “Students should cherish and value the great educational opportunities they have at University,” he said.

Questions and answers during the lesson

Finally, Guo Fu encouraged everyone with General Secretary Xi Jinping's words at the 2023 Spring Festival group visit: "Those who do are always successful, those who walk are always there, and history will not fail the doers."

After the class, the students responded enthusiastically, saying that they would actively study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, strengthen their ideals and beliefs, constantly enhance their professional skills, and contribute youth strength to the construction of Chinese-style modernization.