In response to “the Belt and Road Initiative” put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, which aims to establish academic ties and promote the exchange and integration of humanities and social sciences among the countries along the Belt and Road, from April 14 to 15, 2018, the International Academic Summit Forum on Humanities and Social Sciences: “Silk Road: Past and Present” was held in Chongyu Building, Yanta campus of SNNU. A good number of renowned scholars from Russia, Uzbekistan, Italy and China in the fields of history, language, culture, philosophy were invited to attend the forum.
On the morning of April 14, distinguished scholars from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony, including Prof. Andre Bazarov and Prof. Sergei Nesjorkin from the Institute of Mongolia-Tibetan Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Mukhamedov, deputy director of the Institute of History, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences; Prof. Sergei Dmitriev from the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Romano, representative of University of Gregory, Italy; Prof. Wang Ning, Chang Jiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education and dean of Institute of Humanities and Arts, Shanghai Jiaotong University; Prof. Dong Hongchuan, vice president of Sichuan International Studies University; Prof. Dang Zhengsheng, vice president of Xi'an International Studies University; Prof. Luo Lianggong, dean of School of Foreign Languages, Central China Normal University; Prof. Hu Weihua, dean of School of Foreign languages, Xi'an Polytechnic University. Prof. Dang Huaixing, vice president of Shaanxi Normal University. The opening ceremony was presided over by Prof. Wang qilong, Chang Jiang Scholar and dean of the School of Foreign languages, Shaanxi Normal University.
Prof. Dang Huaixing, vice president of Shaanxi Normal University, Prof. Wang Ning, Chang Jiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education and dean of Institute of Humanities and Arts, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Prof. Mukhamedov, deputy director of the Institute of History, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Prof. Andre Bazarov and Prof. Sergei Nesjorkin of the Institute of Mongolia-Tibetan Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences addressed the forum respectively.
Prof. Dang Huaixing said in his speech that we are now in an era of globalization. It is necessary for academic research to have a global vision, and this academic forum meets such historical requirements. The forum aims to enable the society to take a global perspective and get to know the dialogue and exchange across time and space, and to establish academic connections between universities and scientific research institutions along the Silk Road. He hoped that the forum would promote academic exchanges among countries along the Silk Road and help us achieve the construction of a “double first-class” university.
Prof. Wang Ning pointed out that the status of Chinese culture and literature in the international community has been increasing in recent years. In the context of "the Belt and Road", countries around the world attach more and more importance to Chinese culture and literature, and are paying more and more attention to the study of Chinese literature by Chinese scholars.
Prof. Mukhamedov said that the Silk Road has a long history and has exerted a major influence on fields like politics, economy and culture of both eastern and western countries. It has not only promoted the social and economic development of the countries along the route, but also contributed to local stability. Then, he showed the conference an advertising video about Samarkand. And he stressed that Samarkand, as one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and an important hub city on the Silk Road, is of great archaeological significance.
Prof. Barzarov said he was honored to be invited to the forum and believed that language played a very important role as a tool for communication between countries along the Silk Road under the background of the Silk Road's positive development. With the Belt and Road Initiative, he hoped that the development of linguistic philosophy and cross-cultural communication between East and West can go further.
The forum lasted for one and a half days, and the attendants had a heated discussion about issues of history, language, culture and philosophy. Prof. Wang Qilong's academic monograph Alexander von Stael-Holstein-the Messenger of East-West Cultural Exchange has attracted great concern among scholars attending the meeting, and they hoped that the work can be translated into their native languages so that more scholars could know about Alexander von Stael-Holstein’s academic career and achievements.
Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. The ancient Silk Road had a long history and experienced countless historical vicissitudes from its opening up to prosperity. Today, the academic exchanges among countries and regions along “the Belt and Road” have turned on a new chapter in Shaanxi Normal University. It is believed that a comprehensive grasp of the research achievements of humanities and social sciences, exchanges and cooperation among the countries along the Silk Road will benefit all.
Prof. Yuan Zushe, dean of School of Philosophy and Government, Prof. Zhang Xinke, dean of School of Chinese Language and Literature, Prof. Wang Zhenhong, dean of School of Psychology, Prof. Li Zhen, dean of School of Journalism and Communication, Party Secretary Yan Wenhao of School of Marxism, Ma Xiaoyun, director of the university office, Li Lei, director of the Personnel Office, Yan Wenjie, deputy director of the Discipline Construction Office, Ma Weibin, deputy director of the Social Sciences Office, and Zhang Lingyun, deputy director of the International Programs Office also attended the opening ceremony.
Links of related news reports：
Phoenix: http://isn.ifeng.com/6503024/news.shtml
Xi'an Online:
http://citynews.2500city.com/web/sharenews/videonews/610100/608006?from=singlemessage
Xi'an Evening News http://app.xiancn.com/xaby/infos.app?actionMethod=newsView&fontSize=m&identify_key=deviceId_862266037314667&userId=0&queryId=154084×tamp=1523746402418
(Translated by Cao Xiaoxia & Yang Dongmin)
