From August 30 to September 7, 2024, Xin Xiangyang, President and Deputy Party Secretary of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led a delegation to visit the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Portugal to carry out academic exchanges. Members of the delegation included researcher Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Basic Theories of Marxism, Associate Researcher Liu Zixu, Deputy Editorial Director of International Critical Thought, and Associate Researcher Wang Xuedong of the Department of Foreign Marxism Studies, Academy of Marxism, CASS.

　　On August 31, the delegation had a seminar with a number of well-known Marxist scholars and people who know China and are friends of China at the London School of Economics (LSE). The foreign scholars who participated in the discussion included Radhika Desai, Professor at the Department of Political Studies, and Director, Geopolitical Economy Research Group, University of Manitoba, Canada, who is also a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, and convenor of the International Manifesto Group; Keith Bennett, Vice-Chairman of the UK’s 48 Group Club and Co-editor of the Friends of Socialist China (FOSC) in the UK; Alan Freeman, member of Geopolitical Economy Research Group, University of Manitoba, Canada, and others. The Chinese and foreign scholars had an in-depth discussion on the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the important reform initiatives put forward by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the current international situation and the development trend of imperialism.

 Professor Xin Xiangyang introduced the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to the attending Marxist scholars and intellectuals familiar and friendly with China.

　　On September 3, the delegation had a discussion with Jimmy Corcoran, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI), Gearóid Ó Machail, a member of the National Political Committee of the CPI, and other CPI key leaders at Connolly Books, an affiliate of the Communist Party of Ireland. Professor Xin Xiangyang introduced the main contents of the decision adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, while the comrades of the Communist Party of Ireland introduced the centennial history and current development of the Communist Party of Ireland. The two sides also had in-depth exchanges on the current international situation and the status of the international workers’ movement.

The delegation exchanged ideas with the main leaders of the Communist Party of Ireland and took a group photo.

　　On the morning of September 5, the delegation had a discussion with Albano Nunes, member of the Central Cadres Committee and the Central Control Commission, director of the newspaper “O Militante; Francisco Melo, member of the Central Control Commission of the Communist Party of Portugal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Avante!”; and Luis Carapinha, member of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Portugal. The two sides exchanged views on the development and achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics, China's international status and role as a major country, and the 100-year history of the Portuguese Communist Party and its role in the current European political arena.　

 The delegation exchanged ideas with the leaders the Portuguese Communist Party and took a group photo.

　　In the afternoon of September 5, invited by the Chinese Embassy in Portugal, Xin Xiangyang presented a report on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee to all embassy staff. Ambassador Zhao Bentang spoke highly of the systematic content and theoretical depth of the report, and hoped that both sides would continue to strengthen communication and exchange, and make positive contributions to promoting the overseas dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.　

Professor Xin Xiangyang met with Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Zhao Bentang, and gave a presentation to all embassy staff.

　　During their visit, the delegation not only held in-depth discussions with Marxist scholars and people who know China and are friendly to China in foreign universities and research institutes, but also had in-depth exchanges with leaders of the Communist Party of Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal. All parties involved expressed that they will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation in the future, actively promote the mutual translation and dissemination of the theoretical achievements of Chinese and foreign Marxism, and jointly promote the development and progress of the world socialist movement and the cause of communism.

　　(By Wang Xuedong; translated by Liu Zixu）