World China Studies expands the breadth of traditional China studies and becomes an effective path for China to communicate with the world.

The theme of The World Conference on China Studies - Shanghai Forum is "Chinese Civilization and China's Path -- A Global Perspective". More than 400 global scholars and experts gathered to share their thoughts and understandings on China studies, as well as Chinese civilization and Chinese modernization.

What is China studies?

The concept of "China studies" encompasses both Sinology, which focuses on traditional China, and Chinese studies, which examines modern China through regional studies and social science methods. As such, Chinese studies comprise the study of historical China and the study of contemporary China.

—By Tang Lei, Director of the Center for International China Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Chinese civilization and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics mutually reinforce each other. The study of socialism with Chinese characteristics can deepen the understanding of Chinese civilization, including its continuity, unity, and unique charm. World China Studies aims to guide the global study of China towards a greater focus on contemporary China and Chinese modernization.

—By Zhang Weiwei, Distinguished Professor and Director of China Institute, Fudan University

I think the importance of getting foreigners to understand Chinese history is to make Chinese history not to appear to be something that is far away and strange. So my aspiration is to make China less strange, less difficult to understand and more familiar. Whether this has an impact on how we understand each other today, I think it does because if you can reduce the ignorance Chinese have of the world and the world has of China, then you reduce the animosity that can arise between people outside China and Chinese people.

—By Timothy James Brook, sinologist, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of British Columbia, Canada

In my country, previous generations of scholars were primarily interested in China's traditional culture and historiography. However, my interest lies in contemporary Chinese politics. The success of Chinese modernization has boosted the confidence of developing countries to pursue their own paths. With this in mind, we can also engage in "Filipino modernization" in the Philippines because if China can, so can we.

—By Jan Robert Go, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines

What China studies mean to the world?

Based on an understanding of the global dynamics of China studies and a thorough reexamination of those dynamics, World China Studies promotes the exchange of ideas and mutual learning between domestic and foreign China studies, encouraging the formation of local problem consciousness, analytical discourse, and original theories based on China's experience through dialogues and critiques, to promote the emergence of truly "global ideas".

—By Shen Guilong, researcher and Director of the Institute of China Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS)

Western social sciences have ignored China's social and cultural characteristics, including Confucian family ethics. In this regard, China studies can help promote the transformation of Western social sciences and enrich its content to realize its "decentralization".

—By Rachel Murphy, Professor of Chinese Development and Society, Contemporary China Studies, University of Oxford

In the past, some people in the West wanted to use Western civilization to represent a "universal civilization". But there is no such "universal civilization", nor does anyone have the right to impose the values of their civilization on others.

Chinese civilization, which has stretched for thousands of years, has proved the practical significance of coexistence and mutual learning among civilizations.

—By Zhang Weiwei, Distinguished Professor and Director of China Institute, Fudan University

In the past, studying China meant studying China only; now, studying China equals studying the world, the forefront of the world, and the future of the world. The deepening of the world's understanding of China reflects and represents the deepening of people's understanding of the world, humanity, and civilization.

—By Wang Wen, Executive Director of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

How to better understand each other?

We will serve as a bridge for Chinese and foreign cultures, translating technical academic language into accessible public discourse. We aim to give the Korean community a genuine, three-dimensional, and multifaceted understanding of China. Our efforts will strengthen public trust between our two nations and foster greater mutual understanding and rapport among the Korean and Chinese people.

—By Jung-Nam Lee, Professor and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies in the Asiatic Research Institute, Korea University

My greatest concern as a scholar is that China and the world should understand each other better, because there is only one world, and we all live in the same world. I think I'll keep writing books about China in order to increase outsiders' understanding of China.

—By Timothy James Brook, sinologist, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of British Columbia, Canada

In the past, some people in the West wanted to use Western civilization to represent a "universal civilization". But there is no such "universal civilization", nor does anyone have the right to impose the values of their civilization on others.

Chinese civilization, which has stretched for thousands of years, has proved the practical significance of coexistence and mutual learning among civilizations.

—By Zhang Weiwei, Distinguished Professor and Director of China Institute, Fudan University

What I like most about Chinese civilization is its inclusiveness and flexibility. East Asian countries should respect each other's differences, eliminate contradictions, and enhance their ability to listen to each other.

—By Young-Seo Baik, Professor Emeritus of Yonsei University, Korea

The younger scholars should know much about the traditions of other countries' cultures, so as to find a new position in today's complex world.

—By Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer, Professor Emeritus of East Asian Literature and Culture at the University of Göttingen, Germany, Director of China Centrum Tübingen

Compiled by DeepChina.

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