A ceremony was held on Aug 26 to mark the release of the English version of International Studies on Confucianism and the opening of an academic forum. The event was co-hosted by the International Confucian Association (ICA) and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and undertaken by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP).

The first issue of International Studies on Confucianism (English version) is launched on Aug 26 at BFSU. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The meeting was presided over by Zhao Gang, member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university. 

Four participants unveil the first issue of International Studies on Confucianism (English edition) on Aug 26 at BFSU. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Chen Rui, director of the Teaching and Publication Division of the Department of Social Sciences at the Ministry of Education (MOE), Chen Lai, deputy director-general of the ICA, Jia Deyong, secretary-general of the ICA, and Yang Dan, deputy Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of BFSU, led the unveiling  ceremony.

Jia Deyong, secretary-general of the ICA, reads the congratulatory letter of Liu Yandong, president of the ICA. 

In her congratulatory letter, Liu Yandong, president of the ICA, expressed thanks to experts and editors who have taken part in the publication of the English version of International Studies on Confucianism. She noted that the ICA has focused on the creative application and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture. It conducted a series of activities to promote cultural inheritance and innovation, as well as the exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations over the past few years.

Liu said that as an official publication of the ICA in its 27-year history, International Studies on Confucianism has been a landmark work done by the sixth ICA Congress. The inauguration of the English edition of the journal will bolster academic exchanges for experts and scholars at home and abroad and write a new chapter in the presentation of Chinese culture with concerted efforts.

Liu said she believes that the publication will provide the international community with wisdom and reference in building a better future, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Yang Dan, deputy Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, president of the university, and editor-in-chief of the English version of International Studies on Confucianism, addresses the unveiling ceremony. 

Yang, also editor-in-chief of the English version of International Studies on Confucianism, said the academic journal is committed to extracting essence from Confucianism conducive to the development of the contemporary world, enhancing the influence of China's international discourse, and promoting the co-existence of Chinese culture and other civilizations. 

Entrusted by Xu Qingsen, head of the Department of Social Sciences at the MOE, Chen Rui read a speech at the ceremony. 

Xu noted that the launch of the English edition will further demonstrate traditional Chinese wisdom and relate the essence of Confucianism to contemporary world. The publication will serve as an important platform to spread Chinese ideology and culture, and enhance the overseas influence of Confucianism, according to Xu.

Wang Xuedian, vice-president of the ICA, said the founding of the English edition will further underscore ICA’s mission in the communication of fine traditional Chinese culture and reduce the west's ideological rivalries and academic prejudice against China. It will also deepen the interactions between China and the world. 

Li Yan, vice-president of the ICA, said he hopes the association will strengthen cooperation with BFSU and experts in the academic and publication sectors on the management of the journal and promote the international communication of Chinese culture and inter- civilization exchanges.

Tom Clark, vice-president of the global publishing business at De Gruyter, extended congratulations on the first issuance of the English edition of International Studies on Confucianism in a video speech. There must be a bright future for the newly unveiled journal, which is available for global readers with open access, according to him. 

Clark said he hopes the two sides will step up bilateral cooperation, promote cross-cultural communication, learning and understanding, and advance inter-disciplinary exchanges and discussions in a global context.

Wang Fang, Party secretary of the CPC committee and chair of the board of the FLTRP Group and president of the FLTRP, said that the publication of the journal provides the press with another opportunity to record human civilization and bridge different cultures. The FLTRP will forge close cooperation with BFSU and the ICA in building the English edition of International Studies on Confucianism into a world-class journal.

A photo of the newly unveiled International Studies on Confucianism (English edition) [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The Chinese edition of International Studies on Confucianism was jointly inaugurated by the ICA and Tsinghua University in May 2021. 

During the academic discussion, Roger T. Ames, vice-president of the ICA, Zhang Siying, deputy editor-in-chief of the FLTRP, Peng Ping, a professor from BFSU, and Zhong Weimin, a professor from Tsinghua University, held exchanges on topics such as Confucianism and the contemporary world, topic selection, completion and publication of the English version of International Studies on Confucianism, and the importance and translation of Confucianism for international communication.

The event was attended by thousands of cultural and educational scholars via video link.