### Abstract: Forum on Mao Zedong Thought and Its Contemporary Value at Tsinghua University On December 14, 2013, the Tsinghua University Marxist Study and Research Association (TMS Association) organized a forum titled "Mao Zedong Thought and Its Contemporary Value" to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Mao Zedong's birth. The event, held in the West Lecture Hall, was guided by the university's Party Committee Propaganda Department and the Party Committee Student Department. Five prominent scholars and experts delivered speeches, each focusing on a different aspect of Mao Zedong Thought and its relevance to contemporary China. **Key Speakers and Topics:** 1. **Professor Liu Shulin (Tsinghua University's School of Marxism)**: - **Topic**: Correctly Evaluating Mao Zedong and His Importance in Socialist Construction - **Key Points**: Liu emphasized the importance of a scientific and objective evaluation of Mao Zedong, noting that such an evaluation is crucial for understanding the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) leadership in socialist construction. He highlighted the historical教训 of the Soviet Union, where the spread of historical nihilism threatened the security and stability of the state. This lesson underscores the need to respect and understand the contributions of socialist pioneers. 2. **Professor Wang Chuanli (Tsinghua University's School of Marxism)**: - **Topic**: Mao Zedong's Governance Philosophy - **Key Points**: Wang discussed Mao's comprehensive and innovative governance approach, which centered on mobilizing and empowering the masses to participate in self-supervision and self-management. This method transformed the traditional bureaucratic system, fostering a closer relationship between officials and the people. The result was a more efficient, transparent, and people-oriented administration. 3. **Researcher Gong Yun (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Marxism)**: - **Topic**: Mao Zedong and Rural Collective Economy - **Key Points**: Gong highlighted the development of collective cooperative economies in rural China during Mao's era. This policy was instrumental in leveraging human resources to build agricultural infrastructure and organize farmers, leading to rapid rural economic and social progress. Despite the shift to the household responsibility system in the reform era, collective cooperation has shown resilience and potential in some regions. The recent encouragement by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee to develop cooperative economies reflects the ongoing relevance of this approach. 4. **Associate Researcher Tian Wenlin (China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Asia-Africa Institute)**: - **Topic**: The Contemporary Value of Mao Zedong's International Political Strategy - **Key Points**: Tian compared two distinct approaches to international politics: the "Foolish Old Man" model and the "Wise Old Man" model. Mao's strategy, akin to the "Foolish Old Man" model, emphasized reliance on and unity with the people, particularly in the Third World, to achieve independence and combat imperialism. This approach, characterized by perseverance and self-reliance, remains a valuable legacy and should be understood in a comparative international context. 5. **Associate Professor Zhang Jian (Nankai University's School of Marxism Education)**: - **Topic**: The CCP's New Understanding of Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought Since the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee - **Key Points**: Zhang outlined the CCP's evolving perspective on Mao Zedong and his thought over the past 32 years. The party has not only elevated Mao's historical status, referring to him as a "great patriot and national hero" and a "great figure standing at the forefront of the times," but has also deepened its understanding of Mao Zedong Thought. This includes refining the textual expression of Mao's ideas, enriching the scientific system of his thought, and emphasizing the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought. Zhang stressed that further research and promotion of Mao Zedong Thought will strengthen the party's ideological and theoretical foundation for governing. **Additional Activities:** Prior to the main forum, on December 9, 2013, the TMS Association invited Colonel Lu Yong, Deputy Director of the Military Strategy Research Room at the National Defense University, to give a lecture on "Mao Zedong's Military Thought and Its Contemporary Value." Lu covered four main aspects of Mao's military philosophy: - War as a continuation of politics on the battlefield. - The people as the foundation of victory, emphasizing the role of the masses in warfare. - The alignment of subjective guidance with objective realities, advocating for strategic decisions based on current conditions and personal experience. - The importance of courage and initiative in struggle, advocating for the creation of new rules rather than playing by those set by adversaries. To support the forum and lecture, the TMS Association compiled and distributed learning materials, including "Mao Zedong Thought and Its Contemporary Value" and a special edition of "Theoretical Learning Guidelines" dedicated to the anniversary. Various departments, such as the Department of Industrial Engineering, the Department of Thermal Energy, and the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, organized activities for students to watch documentaries like "Approaching Mao Zedong" and study classic texts such as "On Contradiction," "On Practice," "Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan," and "On the Ten Major Relationships." **Conclusion:** The forum and related activities at Tsinghua University aimed to provide young students with a deeper understanding of Mao Zedong Thought and its significance in contemporary China. By exploring various dimensions of Mao's contributions, the event highlighted the enduring relevance of his ideas in the context of China's ongoing socialist development and international relations. The discussions and materials offered valuable insights into the ideological and practical aspects of Mao Zedong Thought, encouraging students to reflect on its implications for the future of China.