On September 7th, hosted by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Coordinated by Network of International Culturalink Entities and organized by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences and Zhejiang Gongshang University, the opening ceremony of the 2018 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists(Hangzhou) was successfully held at the International Convention Center, Zhejiang Gongshang University. Zhu Qi, Deputy Director of Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Cai Xiaochun, Deputy Secretary-general of Zhejiang Government, Chu Ziyu, head of the Zhejiang Cultural Department, Luo Lili, Deputy Director of Press Office, Zhejiang Government, He Xianming, President of Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences, Chen Shoucan, President of Zhejiang Gongshang University, Dai Wenzhan, Vice President of Zhejiang Gongshang University and 28 young Sinologists from 21 countries attended the ceremony. The whole ceremony was hosted by President Chen Shoucan.

Zhu Qi firstly delivered his warm welcome to the Sinologists and introduced the development and prospects of this visiting program. Then he highlighted four expectations to the young Sinologists: to learn about modern Chinese development deeply and comprehensively, to understand Chinese national spirit through practical experiences, to get along well and make friends with each other and perform as messengers to spread different cultures and to make contributions to helping people from all over the world to communicate.

Cai Xiaochun pointed that Zhejiang is a leading province of Chinese revolution, a pioneer to conduct Reform and Opening-up Policy, enlightenment place for President Xi Jinping’s new thoughts about Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and a key window for the world to see China. The mission to promote cultural interactions and friendship between China and the rest of the world is now loaded on the shoulders of these young Sinologists. He also encouraged the Sinologists to experience the development and changes over 40 years’ reform and opening up when visiting Zhejiang and feel people’s persistent pursuit towards better life in new ages.

On behalf of the organizers, President Chen made his commitment that Zhejiang Gongshang University would do its duty to offer practical help to Sinologists’ research and creative writing by using educational resources of the university and arranging rich and various academic activities. 

At the ceremony, Chu Ziyu, Luo Lili, He Xianming and Dai Wenzhan presented books to young Sinologists. 

Sinologists from the US, Poland, Argentina, Egypt and Malawi shared their China stories. They said they would seize the opportunity to extend thorough research and to improve the academic ability.

It is said that this visiting program was launched by Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2014 for the purpose of building an international platform for the young Sinologists to outstretch sinology researches and providing direct and practical help. 413 Sinologists from 93 countries have participated in this program until now. It is a great opportunity for the young overseas talents to communicate with the outstanding academic, cultural and educational institutions in China. It would also promotes the academic and research institutions to establish longstanding and steady relations among China and the other countries so that sinology research would be lifted to a higher level. As for the Hangzhou program, according to the schedule, from September 5th to 25th, various cultural activities will be carried out and prominent experts will be invited to give classes and act as supervisors to offer further guidance. Supervisors will keep in touch with these Sinologists on their research and paper writing after the program. Through all these activities, these young Sinologists are supposed to get deep insights into the unique Zhejiang Culture as well as its core function in the economical development nationwide.