He said it is how young Sinologists would be able to feel the nourishing endeavor of Chinese modernization, and give a boost to Sinology with greater vitality.
A key agenda at the forum was the establishment of the Global Center for Young Sinologists, a platform for academic seminars, resource sharing and collaborative exchanges among young Sinologists worldwide.
The center has launched a "World Sinology and China Studies" research project encouraging young scholars to explore research topics such as poverty reduction practices, cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and the development of digital Sinology.
Andrea Breard, a senior Sinologist and professor at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg in Germany, said Sinology, as an all-encompassing discipline, requires continuous deepening through academic exchange. While young Sinologists spread the knowledge of China across the world, it is also important for them to gather frequently for dialogue. She hoped that the new center would provide innovative platforms to advance the field.
Alaa Mamdouh Akef, an Egyptian assistant professor of Arabic at the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University, said immersing themselves in the rich life scenes of diverse communities in China, such as grassroots governance and youth culture, would help young Sinologists like him gain firsthand material for research.
Keeping pace with evolving online buzzwords and trends, he added, also helps scholars understand the attitudes and concerns of younger generations.
"We are not only scholars who study China, but we are also participants in telling China's stories and shaping the modes of dialogue," he said. "I look forward to working with young scholars from around the world, sharing academic developments, conducting robust joint research, and engaging in closer collaboration in translation."
Yang said Sinology would help one gain alternative perspectives on one's own cultural traditions, a process that applies equally to Chinese scholars. "It is a study that will never be outdated, and that will keep Sinologists forever young."
