China will host the 16th World Congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) in Kunming next year.

The conference is planned for July 15 to 23, 2008 in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province. This is the first time for China to host congress.

The world congress is held every five years and the theme for next year's congress is "Humanity, Development and Cultural Diversity", according to the newly-founded China Anthropology and Ethnology Research Institute (CAERI).

More than 5,000 experts in anthropology and ethnology will take part, discussing ethnic and religious issues, AIDS and environmental protection.
 
Zhou Mingfu, former vice director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and CAERI vice director, said China lags behind developed countries in anthropological and ethnological studies and does not have enough contact with foreign counterparts.

The brand-new China Anthropology and Ethnology Research Institute (CAERI), a national non-profit organization founded in Beijing on Friday, will study human survival and development, promote understanding among people of different ethnic and cultural groups, and boost China's presence in anthropology and ethnology, said Zhou.

"China need to research a number of issues triggered by social changes," said Zhou.

He said academic research results can help protect the legitimate rights of ethnic minorities, needy people and marginal groups.

"The world congress next year is also a good opportunity for China to introduce its ethnic policies and achievements," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2007)