China studies attract young scholars worldwide

The opening ceremony of the 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists at the National Library of China, Beijing, Sept 11. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists kicks off at the National Library of China in Beijing on Monday.

The project, which enables international academics to immerse themselves into Chinese cultural dialogue, gives participants a better chance to capture the ethos of Chinese civilization.

The program, which began Sunday and runs to Sept 30, offers 27 intellectuals from 26 countries lectures, the opportunity to finish research at language and culture institutions, and a field tour of traditional Chinese culture in East China's Jiangxi province.

The participants all possess strong personal ties to China. Most have studied, worked or lived in major Chinese cities.

"I read Pearl S. Buck's Imperial Women in high school and became fascinated with Chinese culture ever since," said Ana Jovanovic, a docent at the University of Belgrade in Serbia.

"I came to Beijing in 2003 and fell in love with China," Maria Elvira Rios Penafiel, researcher of the Ministry of Education of Chile, said. "For me, sinology is something I will devote my whole life to study."

Zhu Qi, vice director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of China's Culture Ministry. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"On the occasion of the 19th session of the National People's Congress, China will embrace fresh opportunities for development," Zhu Qi, vice director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of China's Culture Ministry, said.

"Beijing, as a junction of modern and traditional Chinese cultures, is demonstrating the profound transition happening in our nation," Zhu said.

This year's visiting program has expanded into four cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Zhengzhou, with a total of almost 120 participants.

"In the future, we are planning to initiate a funding program for overseas sinology studies," Zhu added.