Honorable Director Wang Chen, Mayor Han Zheng and Principal Zheng Bijian,

Honorable attendants, ladies and gentlemen,

First, please allow me, on behalf of the Information Office of the State Council of China, one of the sponsors of this session of the Forum, express the warmest congratulations to the holding of this session of the Forum, the most cordial welcome to the experts and scholars from countries and regions, and the heartfelt thanks to Shanghai for the plenty of preparatory work it has done for this session of the Forum.

Since 2004, the World Forum on China Studies has been held for three sessions. For the first two sessions the Information Office played a role of counselor; from this session, it has become one of sponsors, for we have been convinced of the effects and prospect of this Forum, and thus attached much importance to the important role that the Forum has played in connecting both Chinese and foreign scholars, enhancing academic communication and increasing the world’s understanding of China.

In today’s world, economic globalization and information spread technology have been accelerated, all countries have been connected more closely, and the communication between different cultures, systems and countries at different development levels have become more frequent. All countries need strengthen their communication, increase their mutual understanding, and decrease their friction. Such communication and understanding should be performed from multiple angles; not only should developing countries learn about developed countries, but developed countries also should know developing ones.

As an important member of the international community, China has fully realized that its own development is closely related to the world’s development and changes. The international community has been paying much attention to China, and experts and scholars from all countries have attached increasing importance to China Studies. It has reflected the objective requirement for all countries to enhance their understanding of China, and meanwhile is conducive to impelling China to better play its constructive role in international community. In our opinion, scholars of different disciplines and cultural backgrounds can observe and research China from multiple angles when they perform China Studies; that will certainly help the world to learn about and know a true, lively and developing China, better eliminate various forms of unilateralism and misunderstanding over China, and will help China to know itself further. At the same time, it will help China to better improve its scientific development, and encourage the world and China to foster more benign and interactive relations.

As an important way for the world to acquaint itself with and understand China, China Studies, no matter what cultural angles or scientific methods it would adopt, must be based on the observation of and the reflection upon a true China. Therefore, we cordially wish and encourage experts and scholars at China Studies from all over the world to march into China more frequently and more deeply, learn about China face to face with Chinese people and Chinese society. We are willing to offer as much help and convenience as possible for such research.

This Forum provides an important opportunity and platform for people to discuss together the new views and new theories about China Studies. I believe that thanks to you experts’ insightful discussion and communication, the brain storm will certainly lead to some new achievement of China Studies.

The Information Office views it as its own task to help the world to know China, and has been endeavoring for the Forum. Either as a guide or a sponsor, either establishing the Center for Research of China Studies or setting up Contribution Awards and Achievement Awards for the research of China Studies, the Information Office has aimed to push forward the research of China Studies. I am convinced that with our common efforts, The World Forum on China Studies will certainly become an important platform for academic exchanges in researching China, an information center for the research of China Studies in each country, a think tank of China Studies, and a spiritual home where experts and scholars from all countries share their achievements of research of China Studies.

I sincerely wish a success to this session of the Forum.

Thank you .

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