政府新闻
从马可·波罗到现代中国研究：全球对话在上海开启 2025-10-14
The World Conference on China Studies, which is themed "Historical and Contemporary China: A Global Perspective," opened in Shanghai on Tuesday.Global experts on China convened on Tuesday in Shanghai for the opening of the World Conference on China Studies, which is themed "Historical and Contemporary China: A Global Perspective."
Nearly 500 scholars, policymakers, and cultural figures from over 60 countries are attending the event to explore both the continuity of Chinese civilization and its present-day transformation.
Curiosity about China has long crossed borders.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo introduced Europe to China. Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit scholar, wrote about Chinese culture and thought in the 16th century, bridging civilizations. By the 18th century, Chinese art and ideas had a big impact on shaping European thought. That centuries-old fascination has evolved into a modern academic field known as China studies.
During the opening ceremony, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng released the Shanghai Initiative for Global Mutual Learning and Advancement of China Studies.
"China studies is about both historical and contemporary China," Gong said. "It is also about understanding the world and promoting mutual learning among civilizations."
He urged the global scholars to "work together to build a community of knowledge that connects and inspires."
Participants from around the world attend the main forum of the World Conference on China Studies
According to British author Martin Jacques, technology and artificial intelligence will transform the way we study and understand China.
"We are witnessing the birth of a global village of knowledge," he said. "Artificial intelligence will transform the work of specialists and the nature of universities."
Jacques emphasized that understanding China requires new approaches and open dialogue.
"China is not Western, never has been, and never will be," he said. "The starting point must be understanding China as it is, on its own terms." He added that inclusiveness will be key to the field's future.
"The dialogue must remain open and cooperative," he said. "Only through genuine exchange can we deepen knowledge and trust."
Experts and delegates exchange views at the World Conference on China Studies.For many attending scholars, China's transformation is not just research – it is experience.
Thomas Gold, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, first came to China in 1979 as one of the earliest American exchange students.
"I thought I knew Shanghai," he said. "But when I drove in from the airport the other night, I felt like a country visitor lost in a grand mansion."
He compared today's Pudong with the farmland he saw four decades ago. "Now, it's one of the most advanced urban districts anywhere," he said.
"China once looked outward for models. Today, many countries come here to learn from China's experience."
Experts exchange views at the World Conference on China Studies.Esteban Zottele, vice director of the Latin American Studies Center at Changzhou University in neighboring Jiangsu Province, also shared his journey.
Growing up in Argentina, he first encountered Chinese culture when a circus troupe performed in his hometown. He later arrived in China in 1999 with a dictionary and a sense of curiosity.
"I learned Chinese step by step," he told Shanghai Daily. "If I had to use one word to describe China, it would be amazing."
His path later inspired his father, Aníbal Zottele, to open a China research center in Mexico. The two now help strengthen academic exchange between Latin America and China.
The conference, co-hosted by the State Council Information Office and the Shanghai government, includes a main forum, five sub-forums, and an exhibition titled "From Civilized Cities to Urban Civilization."
It also presents the global development initiative and a recommended reading list in China Studies.
"We have never been enemies in history. Of course, we have never been brothers. But we must and we can be at least good cousins," said the former Italian Prime Minister Prodi.
Source: Shanghai Daily
