The grand finale of the 2025 Sichuan Provincial Social Sciences Popularization Competition, themed “Shining the Light of Ba-Shu Culture to Enrich Chinese Civilization,” took place in Chengdu on September 1. The event was jointly hosted by the Sichuan Social Science Association (SSSA) and CDUT.
Qu Xiaohua, Party Secretary of SSSA, and Xu Qiang, President of CDUT, attended the final and presented certificates to the winners.
Yu Li, Deputy Party Secretary of SSSA, delivered the closing remarks. A panel of seven judges, comprising senior experts such as Sun Hongbin, Vice President and member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Sichuan Conservatory of Music; Liao Zujun, Vice President and member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences; and Zhao Xin, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, oversaw the Competition.
The contest attracted nearly 600 attendees, including representatives from social science associations of 21 cities and prefectures across Sichuan, alongside participants from universities, research institutions, cultural venues, and members of the public. Online, the event garnered more than 200,000 views.
With its focus on “Shining the Light of Ba-Shu Culture to Enrich Chinese Civilization,” the contest highlighted efforts to study and put into practice General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on Sichuan’s development, while implementing the call of the Seventh Plenary Session of 12th Provincial Party Committee to promote deeper integration of culture and tourism. It also aimed to advance the practice of Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, carry forward China’s fine traditional culture, deepen the study and promotion of Bashu heritage, and strengthen the talent pool for social science outreach.
The final featured three segments: self-selected presentations, impromptu speeches on assigned topics, and live Q&A. These tested contestants’ mastery of social science knowledge, eloquence, adaptability, and overall competence. Ultimately, five contestant, including Zhou Hongyun from Guang’an Experimental School in Sichuan Province, took home first prize; ten contestants, including Hu Chenxi from Southwest Minzu University, won second prize; and fifteen contestants, including Fang Lexian from Neijiang Normal University, earned third prize.
Now in its third edition, the Sichuan Provincial Social Sciences Popularization Competition has established itself as one of the province’s most influential platforms in the field. It has become both a vivid stage for interpreting and communicating the Party’s innovative theories and a showcase of achievements in public education on social sciences, while also serving as a vital platform for nurturing and uniting talent in this field.
