Beijing University (Beida), also known as Peking University (PKU), announced on January 23, 2018, the opening of a new department to study "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era". A statement issued by the university said it will operate under the aegis of the Beida Marxism Institute and be led by ideologue Yu Hongjun and will "integrate the disciplinary resources of various faculties and departments [to] focus on major theoretical and practical issues facing contemporary China." It will "explain the rich connotations, essence and scientific system of Xi Jinping's socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era." The statement said it is also charged with "promoting the Sinicization, popularization and modernization of Marxism." At the inauguration PRC Assistant Education Minister Zheng Weizhi said "Beida was the birthplace of the earliest spread of Marxism in our country." He said Xi's political thought is now the "ideological banner" of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "[Beida will now] show new ways to better serve the overall development of party and the country." But Beida law professor He Weifang said not everyone is happy about the new ideological direction that China has taken since the 19th party congress last October. He was quoted by Radio Free Asia (RFA) as saying "As someone who has been an academic for 40 years, I really can't understand why a single leader has been able to set up so many research institutes. This sort of research institute has nothing to do with scholarly critique or dignity."
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