On the morning of September 9, the Sixth Congress of the Hengyang Municipal Federation of Social Sciences was convened. Zhu Jian and Hu Daosong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Chairperson of the Hunan Provincial Federation of Social Sciences, attended the opening ceremony.  

Since the Fifth Congress, the Hengyang Municipal Federation of Social Sciences has steadfastly aligned its work with the city's central tasks and overall development strategy. It has united and guided social science researchers across the city to uphold correct political direction, advance scholarly practice with rigor, and achieve notable progress in theoretical education, academic research, public outreach of social sciences, and organizational capacity building. A series of influential and widely recognized social science service initiatives—such as thematic policy advisory platforms, community-based popularization programs, and regional cultural heritage projects—have been established, earning provincial acclaim.  

Zhu Jian, speaking on behalf of the Hengyang Municipal Party Committee, Municipal People's Congress, Municipal Government, and Municipal Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), extended warm congratulations on the convening of the Congress and conveyed sincere greetings to all delegates and social science professionals in the city. He underscored that Hengyang is accelerating its transformation into a nationally prominent regional central city and a provincial sub-central city—objectives that not only expand opportunities for philosophical and social science research but also place heightened expectations on the discipline to deliver actionable insights and intellectual contributions to high-quality development.  

Zhu Jian outlined three strategic imperatives for the Federation's future work:  

First, upholding political orientation—serving as a proactive communicator of ideological guidance and theoretical innovation. This entails deepening systematic study and interpretation of the Party's latest theoretical achievements; promoting their dissemination among diverse audiences through accessible formats; and reinforcing mainstream discourse via authoritative lectures, policy briefings, and public engagement initiatives.  

Second, aligning with overarching development goals—acting as a pragmatic contributor to urban advancement. Priority should be given to supporting the "Manufacturing-Led City" and "Culture- and Tourism-Driven Development" strategies by identifying critical entry points in municipal governance and economic planning; conducting problem-driven field research to diagnose bottlenecks impeding high-quality growth; and producing high-caliber, policy-relevant research outputs grounded in empirical evidence and analytical rigor.  

Third, adhering to a people-centered approach—functioning as an empathetic facilitator of public welfare. Research agendas must reflect grassroots realities and prioritize issues of urgent public concern—such as livelihood security, social equity, and community well-being. Public outreach efforts should adopt engaging, inclusive formats to enhance accessibility and impact. Efforts to revitalize traditional culture must emphasize creative transformation and innovative application, thereby enriching civic spiritual life.  

Zhu Jian further stressed the importance of strengthening institutional capacity: social science professionals must embody the ethos of "practitioners"; the Municipal Federation must serve as a supportive "mother organization" fostering talent and collaboration; and Party committees and governments at all levels must act as committed "enablers"—each fulfilling its responsibilities to jointly cultivate a vibrant, pluralistic, and academically rigorous ecosystem for social science development.  

Hu Daosong, delivering remarks on behalf of the Party Committee of the Hunan Provincial Federation of Social Sciences, congratulated the Congress and commended the Hengyang Municipal Federation for its pioneering role in advancing innovation, accountability, and excellence across key domains—including theoretical education, policy consultation, science popularization, local cultural research, and talent development. Its comprehensive performance ranks among the top in the province, providing robust theoretical grounding and intellectual support for Hengyang's high-quality development. Looking ahead, he urged the Federation to further strengthen theoretical literacy, deepen evidence-based policy advice, refine institutional mechanisms, broaden collaborative networks, and deliver sustained ideological guidance and intellectual assurance in support of Hengyang's endeavor to write a distinctive chapter in socialist modernization.  

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mayor Liu Zhangyu. Mayors Wu Shuguang, Zhou Yumei, Yang Weiping, Chen Lirang, Xie Mingfang, Xie Hong, and Chen Miao were also in attendance.