The International Symposium on China’s Development in the Context of a Changing World was recently held in Beijing.

The International Symposium on China’s Development in the Context of a Changing World was recently held in Beijing.

Hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and organized by the Academic Division of International Studies at CASS, the meeting gathered a total of 120 scholars and experts, and representatives from 20 countries. Attendees discussed such topics as the development of and new trends in the economic, social and cultural spheres of China, the country’s contribution to the world, and the building of a community of common destiny for mankind.

In his address, CASS President Wang Weiguang noted that the world is currently facing a profound transition in terms of the sources of growth, economic globalization and global economic governance.

Since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, the Chinese economy has maintained moderately high growth, with its GDP ranking second consistently. Moreover, it has contributed more than 30 percent to global growth, the biggest contribution among countries around the world. In addition, more than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and the poverty rate has dropped from 10.2 percent to lower than 4 percent.

In the new era, China will be more closely connected with the world, Wang said, adding that the nation will make new, greater contributions to world peace and development, and human prosperity and progress.

Isa Habibbayli, vice-president of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, said that Azerbaijan has been interested in Chinese culture, sciences and society since antiquity. Azerbaijani scholars and thinkers have immense respect for ancient Chinese Confucians and have been learning from them constantly.

China and Azerbaijan have always been close because Azerbaijan is on the ancient Silk Road, Habibbayli said. The China-proposed “Belt and Road” initiative echoes the spirit of the ancient Silk Road and will drive the world economy forward.

Azerbaijan pays particular attention to the initiative, which has promoted not only bilateral economic and trade development, but also people-to-people exchanges, Habibbayli said.

Costa Rican Ambassador to China Patricia Rodriguez said that Xi’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which is consistent with multilateralism, will help the world enhance interconnectivity and enjoy benefits brought by innovation and modernization.

Xi’s ideas, such as advancing inclusive and mutually beneficial global growth, have led China’s soft power to increase while explaining why the nation wanted to build the new Silk Road and share with the world its development experience, Rodriguez said.

“We are living in a changing world, so we need to know what the change is and what new characteristics of realities are,” said Fernando Reyes Matta, head of the Center for Latin American Studies on China at Andres Bello University in Chile.

Stressing that the report to the 19th CPC National Congress reiterates the building of a community of common destiny for mankind, Matta pointed out the need for mutual understanding between civilizations in the changing world.

At the symposium, CASS initiated and established an association for world China studies to present a channel for the world to observe and recognize China and for China to carry out in-depth dialogue and exchange with the world.

Viktor Larin, a professor at the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that Russia has a long history of studying China, which can be traced back to 1700 when Peter the Great ordered Russian missionaries to learn about Chinese language, tradition and culture. In the mid-19th century, the first center for China studies was established in St. Petersburg.

In recent years, China’s role in world affairs has grown remarkably, and global Sinologists need to fully understand the characteristics of Chinese civilization and dialogue with the country, Larin said.

“Sixty years ago when I started to engage in Sinology, global public opinion was led by the West,” said Marina ?arnogurská, a professor from Slovak Academy of Sciences. The Chinese and European civilizations are developing hand in hand, and China develops in a distinctive model, which is a mirror to reflect on the Western world view and lifestyle.

?arnogurská said that the establishment of the association for world China studies will play a huge role in encouraging the deeper understanding of Chinese history, culture, philosophy and world outlook as well as communication between different civilizations.