An eight-tome series, titled World Politics – Views from China, was published and made available in bookstores recently, enabling readers around the world to gain a general understanding of issues pertaining to China's world views.

The series falls into eight volumes, respectively under the subtitles of The International Order, National Interests, Strategies of the Great Powers, China's Foreign Affairs, International Security, Non-Traditional Security, The World Economy and Global Governance. The anthology is consisted of 184 papers written by 181 international study scholars, with the total Chinese characters being 2.3 million.

Published by the Hong Kong-based Peace Book Co Ltd (http://www.peacebook.com.hk), a subsidiary of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the series targets foreign readers who will benefit from a unified source presenting China's viewpoints on global politics and international relations in a scholarly and comprehensive fashion.

Representing the most advanced of China's academic achievements in this field, the anthology was edited by leading experts from the most influential academia in the Chinese mainland, with Prof. Wang Jisi, headmaster of Peking University's School of International Studies, being its editor-in-chief.

The editors in charge of the eight volumes are Prof. Qin Yaqing with China Foreign Affairs University, Wang Yizhou, senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Prof. Jin Canrong with Renmin University of China's School of International Studies, Prof. Niu Jun with Peking University's School of International Studies, Prof. Yan Xuetong, director of Tsinghua University's Institute of International Studies, Zha Daojiong, head of Renmin University of China's Center for International Energy Studies, Zhang Yuyan, senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Prof. Pang Zhongying with Nankai University.

All relevant papers were produced and published in the last five years, providing a fresh view of China on international affairs.

"The period from late 1990s to early 2000s is noteworthy for China's world politics studies for three characteristics. First of all, a legion of scholars was constituted with those with overseas educational background as its backbone. Next, the field's focus has gradually been shifting toward a more comprehensive overview of world politics instead of China-specific issues. Thirdly, the past five years saw a relatively stable international situation with no foreign policy crisis facing China, especially in terms of bilateral relations. This enables China to have a comfortable environment for living, developing and studying the world calmly and objectively," said Prof. Wang Jisi, well-known foreign relations expert and the series' editor-in-chief.

Prof. Wang explains, "Collection of such a number of papers on world politics by Chinese scholars in a book may be a publishing miracle. What's also worth mentioning is that this is the first time that overseas readers may listen to Chinese explanation of the world issues in comparison to the past when foreign press explained Chinese views arbitrarily, with Chinese themselves keeping silence."

Publication of the book series has attracted wide attention from ordinary readers and domestic and overseas organizations. It formed the highlight of CIPG's exhibition booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair held from October 4 till 8 in Germany.

Information:

17/F., Paramount Building, 12 Ka Yip Street, Chai Wan, HK.
Tel: (852)2804 6687 Fax: (852)2804 6409
E-Mail: info@peacebook.com.hk

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wandi Jiang, October 24, 2006)