Xinhua News Agency:

In 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted at a forum on philosophy and social sciences the necessity of constructing a system for philosophy and social sciences with Chinese features, and advancing the development of the discipline system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics. What have we done in constructing the three major systems, and what progress has been made in this regard? Thank you. 

Sun Yeli:

Thank you for your questions. The construction of the three systems is an important focus in promoting the development of philosophy and social sciences. I will answer your questions. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee have attached great importance to the development of philosophy and social sciences. The CPC Central Committee established a leading group for philosophy and social sciences development and issued the Guideline to Advance Constructing a System for Philosophy and Social Sciences with Chinese Features and the Plan for the Development of Philosophy and Social Sciences during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. We have duly implemented decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and made major progress in building the three systems, with the cause of philosophy and social sciences enjoying positive, healthy, and prosperous development. 

In terms of building the discipline system, the construction of the first-level discipline of Marxist theories has been continuously strengthened, and the guiding role of Marxism in the field of philosophy and social sciences has been enhanced. Catalogs of disciplines and majors have been continuously optimized, forming a discipline system covering eight major disciplines and 28 first-level disciplines. After years of efforts, advantages of basic and key academic disciplines have become more distinct, breakthroughs have been made in innovative platforms such as liberal arts laboratories, fresh innovations have been made in the interdisciplinary field, and support for those rare and unpopular subjects has been strengthened. 

In terms of building the academic system, the interpretation, academic expression, and systematic construction of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era have continued to advance. Major platform programs, including innovative projects for philosophy and social sciences, cultural programs to keep Chinese culture thriving, and projects supported by the National Social Science Fund of China, have been further carried out. The innovative academic capability has been enhanced. The national social science fund increased from 1.2 billion yuan in 2012 to 2.8 billion yuan this year, contributing to a large number of valuable and influential research achievements. The new think tank system with Chinese characteristics has improved, with 29 national high-end think tanks and 16 candidates established, which play an important role of the think bank for decision-making of the Party and governments. 

In terms of building the discourse system, we have continued to promote the theorization of political discourse, popularization of academic discourse, and internationalization of Chinese discourse, and extracted many conceptions with Chinese characteristics and world influence. International academic exchange and cooperation have been strengthened. Chinese academic research expanded its overseas presence, with a batch of international discourse innovative research bases and overseas Chinese academic research centers established. A batch of leading talents good at telling China's stories were trained, and the international influence of Chinese theories and academic research has increased significantly.

That's all I have to say about your questions. Thank you. 

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you to the speakers and friends from the media. That's all for today's press conference. Goodbye! 

Translated and edited by Yan Bin, Huang Shan, Liu Sitong, Wang Yanfang, Xu Kailin, Zhou Jing, Yan Xiaoqing, Zhang Rui, Zhang Tingting, Wang Wei, Yang Xi, Li Huiru, Liu Qiang, Ma Yujia, Duan Yaying, Guo Yiming, Wang Qian, Liu Jianing, Qin Qi, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.