FOREWORD

In this supplement to the second IIAS Newsletter you will find the speeches
which were held by various authorities in the field of Asian Studies on
October 13, 1993, on the occasion of the official opening of the IIAS in the
Stadsgehoorzaal in Leiden. Some 250 guests, including many representatives
from Asian countries and  Asianists from all fields of specialization, were
present. To give an impression of this festive occasion, pictures taken during
it feature in this supplement.
Their contributions were put at our disposal unhesitatingly by the speakers,
for which we thank them wholeheartedly. Some minor editing has been carried
out on the speeches, which are not printed in the order in which they were
held during the day. Furthermore, the contribution of the State Secretary of
the Ministery of Science and Education, M.J. Cohen, was read by Dr P.A.J.
Tindemans, Director of Research and Science Policy of that same ministry.
Taking The Netherlands as a starting point, a tour of the world of Asian
Studies was undertaken. One should look upon the contributions gathered in
this supplement as personal observations which can make a contribution the
joint effort to come to grips with the complexity of Asian Studies in a global
context. Maybe the contributors will be asked to expand on or further update
their observations and other authorities will be asked to write about Asian
Studies in their respective countries or regions. IIAS hopes that this
supplement will stimulate thinking on the future of Asian Studies and provoke
a fruitful debate which will lead to closer international co-operation in the