By E. Fadeeva
Joining with Russian scientists representing the well-known research centres of Moscow,
St.-Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, and Chita, many scholars from mainland China
took an active part in the forum, which was also attended by foreign participants from
Taiwan, Hongkong, Korea, Japan, and Europe. More than a hundred papers were
received by the organizing Committee and published by IFE-RAS. About thirty reports
were delivered in four subject sections: The Economy of China and Other Countries in
East Asia: problems of economic cooperation between Russia and China in the Asia-
Pacific region; The Foreign Policy of China and International Relations in the Far East;
Eurasian and Chinese Civilization at the Present Time: Chinese philosophy and culture;
and Political and Social Processes in Contemporary China: history and
historiography.
Reports and active discussions revealed the deep interest shown by scholars in solving the
most urgent and important problems concerning China, Russia, and the whole Asia-
Pacific region, as well as the complex, inter-regional and interdisciplinary approaches
characteristic of the bulk of the researche.
Taking part in the plenary sessions were Prof. M.L. Titarenko (chairman of the Academic
Council and director of the IFE-RAS), S.L. Tikhvinsky (president of the Russian-Chinese
Friendship Society), V.N. Kudryavtseva (corresponding member of RAS), V.Y.
Portyakov (deputy director of IFE-RAS), Li Fenlin (Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the people's Republic of China in Russia), Prof. Sang Sifeng (director
of Eastern Humanitarian Research Centre of Beijing University), Prof. Huang Chilien
(Hongkong University) who were joined by a throng of other colleagues.
Entered on the agenda and hence subjected to scrutiny were such subjects as the
cooperation between China and Russia in different fields, contacts between civilizations,
the social and political situation in China and the Asia-Pacific region, some historical
problems and the development perspective of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century,
and different aspects of cultural life in China.
The heads of the four sections praised the active participation of the discussants, which
ensured that themes touched upon at the conference were expanded, the new approaches
taken to problems and materials were lively, making use of new documentary resources
and revealing a deep interest in general problems.
Closing the conference, Prof. Titarenko commented that the results of the forum formed a
new step on the path to deepening our knowledge of China. He thanked the participants
and expressed the hope that the exchange of opinions will stimulate the research work of
the Institute. He also mentioned that the conference made its own contribution to
understanding the fact that, although China and Russia pursue independent policies, their
objective interests are close knit and problems should be solved constructively.
Prof. Titarenko announced that the next, Seventh International Theoretical Conference,
will be held in September-October 1996, marking the celebration of the 30th anniversary
of IFE-RAS. He invited all scholars to take an active part in the next conference and
suggested the theme: "China, Agenda to the 21st Century: the problems of and potential
for stable development". The second theme will be on the history of Russian Sinology.
Institute of Far Eastern Studies
Krasykova street 27
Moscow 117218
Russia
Tel: +7-95-1240835
Fax: +7-95-3107056
Email: titarenk@ifes.msk.su
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