Exchange with Chinese scholars on governance, globalisation at London's Marx Memorial Library

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak

On the evening of July 15, 2025, a roundtable discussion was held at the Marx Memorial Library in London, organised by Friends of Socialist China in the UK. The event brought together UK-based participants and a delegation from the Institute of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a research institution established by the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The discussion aimed to exchange views on China's development and governance models. Professor Chen Zhigang, Vice President of CASS, led the Chinese delegation. He addressed topics including rural development in China, the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and aspects of governance associated with Xi Jinping’s leadership. Professor Chen also discussed China’s stance on globalisation and outlined a vision of international cooperation based on mutual benefit.

The event featured simultaneous interpretation by Han Dongjun, and additional contributions were made by Liu Yan, Fang Tao, and Zhuo Mingliang, who provided perspectives on recent developments in China. UK-based attendees asked a range of questions, which the Chinese delegates responded to during the discussion. The conversation included a focus on ideological perspectives, development challenges, and the evolving role of political institutions.

The roundtable concluded with an informal dinner at Hiba Restaurant in Holborn. Attendees continued their conversations over food and drinks in a relaxed setting. The Chinese delegates came from various backgrounds and age groups. Observers noted a collegial atmosphere among them, with open and equal interaction across roles.

The gathering also prompted reflections on how cultural and political frameworks are understood and taught, particularly in relation to China. Some participants questioned the applicability of widely used academic theories when interpreting Chinese social and political behaviour, suggesting the need for more nuanced and grounded analysis.

As the evening drew to a close, delegates exchanged farewells and expressed interest in continuing such engagements. The event underscored the value of academic and political exchanges in fostering mutual understanding across national and ideological contexts.

Comments

Telangana government urged to stop 'unconstitutional' relocation of Chenchu tribes

By A Representative The Nallamalla forests are witnessing a renewed surge of indigenous resistance as the Chenchu adivasis , a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), have formally launched the Chenchu Solidarity Forum (CSF) on the eve of World Earth Day to combat what they describe as unlawful and forced relocation from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve .

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Cracks in Gujarat model? Surat’s exodus reveals precarity behind prosperity claims

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The return of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, particularly from Gujarat, was inevitable. Gujarat has long been showcased as the epitome of “infrastructure” and the business-friendly Modi model. Yet, when governments become business-friendly, they require the poor to serve them—while keeping them precarious, unable to stabilize, demand fair wages, or assert their rights. The agenda is clear: workers must remain grateful for whatever crumbs the Seth ji offers.

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights.

India 'violating international law obligations' over Israel ties: UN rapporteur

By A Representative Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has alleged that India is “violating its obligations under international law” through its continued association with Israel, including defence ties and alleged arms exports during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Why Tamil Nadu, Periyar, and the Dravidian model aren't just regional phenomena

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The election campaign in Tamil Nadu this season is strikingly different. The alliance led by the DMK is consistently referred to as the “ DMK alliance ,” not the “INDIA alliance.” This distinction is unsurprising given the state’s history: Tamil Nadu remains the only state to decisively reject “national” parties. The AIADMK’s surrender to the BJP after J. Jayalalithaa ’s death represents, in many ways, a betrayal of the politics of Tamil identity—an identity Periyar envisioned as Dravidian, not narrowly Tamil.

Chromatographies of the self: Gender, labour, and resistance in Deepti Kushwah's verse

By Ravi Ranjan* Any sensitive reader of contemporary Hindi poetry will find it impossible to overlook the eight poems by Deepti Kushwah recently published in Samalochan . This suite—comprising works such as ‘Ekākelī ābha’ (A Solitary Radiance), ‘Praśna mem camaktā huā’ (Glowing in the Question), and ‘Ek ankahī tapis’ (An Unspoken Heat)—constructs a multidimensional collage where colour transcends mere visual experience.

Search This Blog