On January 9, Forum for Asian Civilizations and the inauguration ceremony for Zhejiang University Institute of Asian Civilizations were held on Zijingang Campus. Scholars both at home and abroad attended the forum online and offline, sharing their insights on the construction of key theories and the tackling of pressing challenges concerning Asian civilizations.
With the goal of building "a new outlook on Asian civilizations", the Institute will be committed to developing a disciplinary system with six dimensions: cognition and variations of languages, transformation and preservation of cultural relics and historical sites, circulation and regeneration of literature and ancient records, understanding and dialogues of literary arts, inheritance and innovation of cultural concepts, and fusion and symbiosis of civilizations and thoughts.
"Exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are the passport for human beings to promote mutual trust and head towards the future. Top universities play a vital role in promoting dialogues among civilizations. We expect to gather more wisdom through a series of forums and build the Institute into a first-class cultural platform and a powerful magnet for talent, thus making positive contributions to the brilliant future of human civilization," said Dr. REN Shaobo, Chairman of Zhejiang University Council, in his welcome address.
"Asia boasts a brilliant history and prides itself on splendid civilizations. I hope that the Institute will yield remarkable achievements, provide ZJU proposals and contribute ZJU wisdom to further development of Asian civilizations," said GUO Huawei, Secretary of the Party Members Group of Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Circles, in his congratulatory remarks.
"Facing the future, we need not only science, technology and economy as a driving force, but also culture as a guarantor," said XU Jun, chief expert of the Institute and senior professor in humanities, in an interview. "Multidisciplinary synergy of humanities and social sciences will contribute positively to exchanges and mutual learning among diversified civilizations in Asia."
Le Clézio, a Noble Prize laureate in literature, and Prof. QIAN Chengdan, Dean of the Peking University Institute of Area Studies, delivered video messages.
GE Zhaoguang, senior professor of Fudan University Department of History, WANG Zijin, Dean of Mingde Academy at Renmin University, HAN Dongyu, Vice President of Northeast Normal University, and CHENG Gong, Vice Dean of Zhejiang University Institute of Asian Civilizations, delivered keynote speeches respectively.
