Peking University holds International Symposium on Area Studies
Apr 16, 2019
Peking University, April 16, 2019: Ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted by the Chinese government, Peking University held an international conference themed on “Area Studies Towards the 21st Century: Global Experiences and China Paradigms” spanning from April 12 to 13. The event, which also commemorated the 1st anniversary of the establishment of PKU’s Institute of Area Studies, was attended by nearly 50 scholars from over 20 countries and regions, together with hundreds of experts from domestic institutions.
Group photo
At the ceremony, government officials and PKU leaders expressed their anticipations to the Conference and the research on Area Studies.
At the opening ceremony
Xu Yongji, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of China’s Ministry of Education pointed out that it is one of the important missions for universities to carry out research on area studies. Xu hoped that Peking University would continue to play an important role in the building of a broader platform.
Wang Bo, vice president of Peking University, envisaged that this symposium would become an arena full of deep insights and academic consensus, boosting the integration of different research strengths through the benefit of a shared academic platform. He also said that area studies is one of the frontier interdisciplinary fields in the construction of Peking University. Since its establishment one year ago, the Institute of Area Studies have carried out a variety of academic events, scored abundant academic achievements, and set about cultivating interdisciplinary talents.
Qian Chengdan, dean of the Institute of Area Studies, said that in the future, the institute would adhere to the development idea of talent training, promote academic research and international cooperation, and serve the national strategy, so as to better perceive the world from the Chinese perspective and theory, and contribute more Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global challenges.
In order to enhance the exchanges and dialogues among scholars from different countries and regions, six parallel sessions were set in this Conference, i.e. New World, New Region, Theoretical paradigm of Area Studies, Regional Experience of Area Studies, Perspective of Area Studies in the Americas, Regional Cooperation and Common Development and Regional Focus: Southeast Asia and the Middle East. A number of experts and scholars from China, France, Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan and other countries also expressed their views on issues regarding Areas Studies from the perspectives of politics, economy, culture, history and environmental science.
Scholars having a panel discussion
Written by: Chen Yuliang
Edited by: Huang Weijian
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
