Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Int'l scholars stress deepening studies to gain better understanding of China

China

China

China

Int'l scholars stress deepening studies to gain better understanding of China

2025-10-17 21:37 Last Updated At:23:07

Global scholars who attended the recently-concluded World Conference on China Studies in Shanghai have pointed to the importance of deepening studies into China in order to cultivate a better understanding of the country and apply these key findings to help the development of their own countries and regions.

The second edition of the World Conference on China Studies wrapped up on Wednesday after gathering around 500 guests from over 50 countries and regions around the world.

Themed "Historical and Contemporary China: A Global Perspective", the two-day conference was organized by the State Council Information Office and the Shanghai municipal government, with co-sponsorship from other government agencies and academic institutions.  

The concept of China studies spans a wide array of topics including history, society, and culture, and seeks to broaden knowledge about the country.

A number of the attendees present at the research gala in Shanghai have sought to use China as a case study which can help push forward development in their own countries.

Renzo Burotto Pinochet, a historian from Chile, said he finds Chinese history "intriguing and fascinating" and hopes to help share these important stories with more people across Latin America.

"There's no other country with a history like China and I think especially today because China is so important and it's a leader for the Global South. I think that the rest of the Global South countries, in Latin America especially, we have [only] a little understanding of China. So I think that our work is aiming to bridge these gaps in information," he said.

Others are looking to learn more about China's way of doing things, including in the education sector, where they believe such successful models can be implemented to their own countries.

"China has changed tremendously in my lifetime, also in the aspects of education, (there) have been several major educational reforms in the last 20 years. So my impression is that China has a very dynamic educational system and are striving to find the best solutions to implement in their educational system, which makes it highly interesting to study how things are done in China," said Dag-Inge Boe, a PhD Student from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Studying and learning from China's development is of particular interest to countries across the Global South, many of whom already enjoy strong ties with China and hope to deepen cooperation even further.

"China is [one] of our best partners in terms of cooperation, in technology, development of infrastructure, and trade," said David Gamarra, Consul General of Peru in Shanghai.

The conference released the "Shanghai Initiative for Global Mutual Learning and Advancement of China Studies" and presented a recommended bibliography which included 54 recommended books written by authors from both China and overseas to help the international community learn about China's history, present and future.

Sub-forums addressed topics such as Chinese modernization, China studies in the era of digital intelligence, and the role of youth in the future of China studies, among other subjects.

The inaugural World Conference on China Studies was held in Shanghai in 2023.

Int'l scholars stress deepening studies to gain better understanding of China

Int'l scholars stress deepening studies to gain better understanding of China

Though tens of billions of pesos spent on flood control projects in recent years in the Philippines, questions have been raised about the value of that investment as flooding from Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and 127 missing, with more than 2.14 million people affected nationwide.

In Talisay City, Cebu Province, homes have been reduced to rubble, mud has clogged up streets and families are left picking through the wreckage of homes that have been swept away by floodwaters.

"I saw a banana being washed away and I grabbed it for breakfast. It's very hard because our food at home, like rice, also got washed away. We used to live here, but most of our houses have been swept away,”said Mary Jean Apog who has taken shelter in a makeshift tent built from storm debris.

Many residents in flood-affected areas have been left wondering whether money earmarked by the government for flood control projects has been spent wisely.

Between 2022 and 2025, more than 400 flood-protection projects worth over 26 billion pesos (about 441 million U.S. dollars) have been launched in Cebu, the second highest investment of all the nation's provinces.

Vince Dizon, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited Talisay City on Wednesday, where he said people should be held accountable for the poor state of the region's flood defenses.

"Poorly planned, poorly executed, and we don't know if there are anomalies here. That will be up to the ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) to find. But definitely, someone should be held accountable here," he said.

According to the country's disaster management authority, more than 6,700 houses were damaged in the typhoon, and hospitals, schools, and other public facilities suffered extensive damage. Power and communications were disrupted in many towns, closing schools and businesses.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.

Flood control projects under question as Typhoon wreaks havoc in Philippines

Flood control projects under question as Typhoon wreaks havoc in Philippines

Recommended Articles