China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Chinese, Chilean scholars brainstorm
Chinese scholars and researchers on Wednesday held a seminar with their Chilean counterparts at the Institute of Chile in Santiago to discuss how they can work more closely and play a more important role in providing policy-makers in both countries with insightful and visionary advice.
Key subject matters included seizing opportunities to help develop the economy, coping with the challenges that come along with growth and pushing bilateral friendly relationships to new heights.
Leading a group of scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), CASS President Wang Weiguang, called for more cross-disciplinary communication and exchanges with his Chilean colleagues.
It has been 46 years since China and Chile established formal diplomatic relations, he said, calling the seminar an important sidebar to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Chile, which started on Nov 22.
The two nations signed 12 agreements on Tuesday to enhance cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, from business, trade and agriculture to culture and education, said Wang, adding that bilateral economic and trade ties have grown extensively.
“We in academic circles should carry out more comprehensive and well-rounded research projects together,” Wang said. “As scholars and observers, we will work harder to improve foreigners’ understanding of China, to let more people in other cultures know about China, understand China and ultimately like China.”
Luis Merino Montero, president of the Institute of Chile and chairman of the seminar, extended a welcome to the Chinese delegation and encouraged more communication between Chinese and Chilean research institutions.
“As the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with the new China, Chile has never ceased its communication and conversation with China,” said Montero.
“The exchanges will only become more vigorous and robust following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Chile this week,” he added.
CASS also announced the founding of its first Latin American branch and unveiled the nameplate of CSSP-Chile, which will be installed on the campus of the Institute of Chile.
With his team, Wang also brought representatives of China Social Sciences Press, a CASS’s affiliate, and samples of their book series Understanding China.
Authored by leading experts and scholars from CASS and other institutions, the “books introduce and summarize China’s path, China’s theories and China’s institutions,” said Zhao Jianying, president and editor-in-chief of China Social Sciences Press.