In this special edition of the Australian Marxist Review the editorial board has sourced a series of articles from international contributors and members of the Communist Party of Australia around the theme of the Communist Party of China and the Peoples Republic of China. This is to commemorate the centenary of the foundation of the Communist Party of China as a world historic event.
The first of these articles is a reproduction of the speech by Xi Jinping commemorating the centenary of the foundation of the Communist Party of China. This speech was delivered at a grand ceremony in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on the 1st of July 2021. It is a significant contribution that recognises the profound achievements of the Communist Party of China while looking forward to the future in the struggle to realise the goal of comprehensively building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the centenary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It among other recent documents and historic resolutions is one the foremost statements of how the Communist Party of China views its past, present, and future. As the Communist Party of China is the leading party of an immense country building socialism and an emerging great power this speech is worthy of diligent study by Communists and those interested in the development of the People’s Republic of China. Xi Jinping is the current President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
Following this, well-known Australian Marxist academic, member of the Communist Party of Australia and member of the AMR editorial board Roland Boer presents an article aiming to deepen the perspective around the nature of China’s development. Some development policy approaches of the CPC have been controversial among Communists in other societies, and the nature of China’s development has been subject to debate internationally. Roland urges that Communists listen to the viewpoints and discussion from CPC cadres on the Socialist path that China is pursuing when we make evaluations of this development. The article persuasively argues “that it is important to listen to what our CPC comrades think about their own system, based upon immense amounts of research on the concrete reality in China, and not let bourgeois criticisms and Western imperialist assumptions set the agenda.”
David Matters on behalf of the Communist Party of Australia provided a contribution as one of 100 world Communist leaders to pay respect and congratulations to the Communist Party of China on the 100th anniversary of that party’s foundation. The AMR reproduces the English version for our readers. David is the Assistant General Secretary of the Communist party of Australia and was the former Brisbane Secretary of The Australian Tramway and Omnibus Union and Assistant Secretary of the Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union. He is currently Editor of the Australian Marxist Review and a member of the World Association of Political Economy.
The next article is by Correspondent Franc Stregone. It is a study on China as a global partner that examines from the perspective of an Australian Marxist the developing characteristics of China’s international relations and participation in the global governance system, as well as challenges it is experiencing from USA-led opposition to China’s development and growing influence across the world. Stregone is currently editor of the Guardian – The Workers’ Weekly. He also currently serves as the Assistant President of the CPA NSW State Committee and Secretary of the CPA Sydney Central Branch. Stregone has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art (Video, Sound, and Image) and Arts (Philosophy) in addition to an honours degree (Philosophy) at the University of New South Wales. He is currently studying a master of Political Economy at the University of Sydney.
The Australian Marxist Review is proud to reproduce the statement delivered by Vinnie Molina, President of the Communist Party of Australia, to the Centenary celebrations of the Communist Party of China. Vinnie is the former president of the Western Australian CFMMEU and a current organiser for the construction and general division of the CFMMEU.
The AMR reproduces a speech given by retired academic and barrister James O’Neill, who specialises in writing about Geopolitics. James is an active member of the Queensland branch of the Australia-China Friendship Association. James delivered this speech at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the ACFS QLD and has kindly agreed to allow the AMR editorial board to publish his speech on “The role of Modern China in a Changing World.” This speech raises some thought provoking issues and questions for readers of the Australian Marxist Review relating to monumental and historic changes currently occurring within the international system.
These articles, and statements from the Communist Party of Australia leadership, have been selected to give an overview of recent developments arising from the rise of China on the occasion of the foundation of the Communist Party of China. It is hoped that readers of the AMR and that Communists, workers and progressives in Australia will find these works to be interesting and useful.
Following the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Australia at the end of February 2022 the newly elected Central Committee appointed a new editorial board to lead the production of the Australian Marxist Review. The editorial board consists of Comrades David Matters, Roland Boer, and Christian Goopy. Comrade David Matters leads the work of the AMR as editor. The editorial board would like to recognise and thank Comrades Anna Pha and Elizabeth Hulm for their significant contribution to the AMR in their role on the previous editorial board of the AMR.
The editorial board calls for submissions to the next edition #73 of the AMR. Articles can be submitted to the AMR in areas of interest for the development of Marxist-Leninist theory and the working-class struggle in Australia. The editorial board suggests that labour and work, class structure in Australia, the environmental movement, the national question, developments in the national and global economy, resisting imperialist war, and fighting for gender and racial equality as possible topics advancing Marxist-Leninist theory. The AMR has a particular interest in articles that aim to advance the development and building of the CPA into the leading force of the working-class struggle in Australia. If you wish to discuss any ideas for articles, to seek advice on writing for the AMR or if you have any suggestions and feedback please provide them to the AMR editorial board and editor by emailing amr@cpa.org.au, david@cpa.org.au and christian@cpa.org.au. The due date for articles to appear in edition #73 of the AMR is Friday the 20th of May for publication in June.