In September 2000, over 150 heads of State and government met at the United Nations Millennium Summit to discuss issues concerning peace and human development.

In the Millennium Declaration, it was pointed out that all heads of State and government were determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in accordance with the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter.

But what has been happening in today's world seems to have gone against the common desires of these leaders, for instance the intensified conflicts between Israel and Palestine, the turbulent situation in Iraq and US soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

"Peace and development are still the themes of the present era," said Yin Jizuo, the president of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. "Diverse civilizations around the world should co-exist and develop mutually."

Perspectives on China

Aiming at mutual co-existence based on the major themes of the 21st century, such as peace and development, the Shanghai Municipal Government will hold the first World Forum on China Studies from August 19 to 22.

According to Yin, the mission of the forum is to provide opportunities to international scholars and academics to exchange ideas and participate in a dialogue on the hot issues taking place in the world. "But it is a cultural platform, not a political forum or an economic forum. We would prefer to discuss these topics in a more humanistic way," Yin said.

It was in 2002 that the idea of holding such a high-level forum in Shanghai came into being.

His frequent contacts with many scholars made Hao Tiechuan, the vice-chief of the Shanghai CPC Department of Propaganda, realize that a group of foreign scholars were interested in researching Chinese culture out of a love for China.

In the beginning, they hoped to hold an international Sinology festival, inviting scholars engaged in the study of Sinology. "But we found that these scholars were studying not only the culture of the Han nationality but also the cultures of other minorities in China," Hao said. Therefore, they decided to evolve the idea into a world forum based around the main theme of China Studies.

Looking back on the long history of humanity, Hao said that only China's culture was basically continuous, when compared with other ancient civilizations. "This is really a miracle of world culture. This culture belongs to the Chinese people, as well as to the whole world," he said.

Organized by the Shanghai Municipal Government biennially, the first forum would be hosted by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences with the theme of Multiple Perspectives on China, broken down into seven different topics. But in the future, a new theme would be set every time the forum took place.

The emblem of the World Forum on China Studies was the Tongren Hexagram. "After careful consideration, we finally decided to use this hexagram," Yin said, because it implied that all factional prejudices would be dispelled and difficulties and hardships would be overcome if the door was opened, which was also beneficial to the cause of justice.

Western contacts

Developing upon the traditional subject of "Sinology", "China studies" had been coined as a term that marks the recognition that studies of China were not simply confined to ancient China, especially foreign research into ancient China's history, its political systems, philosophy, language, literature and art.

"Research has been expanded into new fields that reflect China's new economic strength," Yin said.

After China's Liberation in 1949, and especially after its implementation of the opening-up policy, China studies has evolved to incorporate new topics such as modern Chinese society, its economy, politics and military history.

Previously, overseas studies of China were mainly concentrated in North America, Europe, East Asia and Oceania. Countries in these regions set up many institutions to support researchers engaged in China studies. Some institutions and researchers even played important roles when their governments were involved in China-related policy deliberations, one example of this being the influential Association of Foreign Policy in the US.

For hundreds of years, foreigners have been attracted by the unique beauty of Chinese culture and devoted themselves to this magical field. Their studies of China have resulted in China being introduced to people in other countries.

The recognition of China by Western societies has a very long history. Marco Polo was one of the earliest foreigners to introduce China to a Western audience following his travels in the country. Later, the arrival of foreign missionaries had a deep impact on the spreading of Chinese culture, especially during the period from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Western missionaries published almost one hundred books and thousands of letters recording what they saw and found in China. Some books formed the basis upon which European sinology developed.

In December, 1814, a course in Sinology was formally established in France, symbolizing the acceptance of sinology as an independent discipline within the Western academy. By the 20th century, France had made great advances in its Sinological research, taking a lead in the field within Western societies. One Sinologist deserving special mention was Paul Pelliot. It was said that Sinology would have been like an orphan who had lost his parents without Pelliot.

Other authoritative Sinologists who greatly promoted the spread and development of sinology in Western countries were James Legge and Joseph Needham from Britain, Bernard Karlgren from Sweden, Charles Freer from the US and Robert Hans Gulik from the Netherlands.

As Confucius said: "How can I not be happy when there are friends come from afar?" The World Forum on China Studies will create conditions for the international community to comprehend China from all sides. "It is a good way to express our wish to communicate with the whole world and to be integrated into the whole world," Yin said.

(Shanghai Star May 20, 2004)