Those who study China’s foreign affairs or have an interest in knowing how China views the world will be excited to hear that the eight-tome series World Politics – Views from China, written in simplified Chinese, is now available in mainland bookstores. It presents readers with the country’s fresh views on international affairs.

 

 

Published by the New World Press, a subsidiary of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the series targets both foreign and domestic organizations and readers committed to Sinology and Chinese research. In September 2006, the book series in full form or traditional characters was already published by the Hong Kong-based Peace Book Co Ltd (http://www.peacebook.com.hk), another subsidiary of China International Publishing Group (CIPG).

 

The anthology comprises eight volumes, respectively titled 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 consists of 185 papers, written by 184 int’l study scholars and all published within the last five years.

 

“The book series doesn’t parrot what Chinese governments have said in terms of issues of foreign affairs,” said Prof. Wang Jisi at the book’s promotion news briefing in Beijing Monday. Wang is the editor-in-chief of the series and headmaster of Peking University's School of International Studies.

 

It contains diversified opinions and views, yet it also reflects the principal long-term trends of China’s diplomacy, he said.

 

"It’s a great publishing event that a book includes such a comprehensive collection of papers on world politics by Chinese scholars. This is the first time that overseas readers may listen to Chinese explanation of the world issues,” said Wang.

 

Dr. Yu Wanli, executive member of the editorial committee of the series and professor with Peking University's School of International Studies, added that foreign countries are curious and eager to know China’s mind concerning major international issues, given that the world’s eye is riveted on the country with its robust economy. “It is our mission to explain China’s peaceful development to the rest of the world,” said Dr. Yu, adding that the series was coming at just the right time.

 

While echoing their views, Prof. Zha Daojiong, the editor in charge of the Non-Traditional Security volume and head of Renmin University of China's Center for International Energy Studies, said the series would help Chinese to better know their country and help solve our domestic issues by clearly viewing others. He commented the series was completed thanks to the joint efforts of the publisher, scholars and China’s decision makers.

 

The series will help dispel misunderstandings or ignorance of China in the outside world, said Wandi Jiang, executive editor for the series, who is also content director of www.china.org.cn, at the news briefing in Beijing Monday.

 

She said it may reduce the tendencies to dislike or mistrust China. Ignorance is the main reason that China is misunderstood. Few publications can be found relating to Chinese views on the world and international relations. It is also a headache for world politics teachers and students when they seek reading materials reflecting Chinese views. China International Publishing Group (CIPG), the leading publishing group in China, thus embarked on performing a gargantuan task by filling the vacuum by cooperating with scholars.

 

When asked why the field world politics was chosen by the publisher as a priority to promote Chinese views to the world, Wandi Jiang quoted Zhou Mingwei, the series’ chief planner, a foreign relations expert and CEO of the publishing group, by saying, “In the past 20-odd years, world politics studies in China has enjoyed the most fascinating development, rapid maturing of academia, and frequent exposure to up-to-date information and views from the outside world. The achievement of this field as well as in China’s foreign affairs may be equal to that of Chinese economic development. So it is really worth doing to publish a comprehensive paper-collection under this title to sum up academic results and trace the footstep of the scholars in the past five years. ”

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Guo Xiaohong January 10, 2007)