Those who study China’s foreign affairs or have an interest in
knowing how China views the world will be excited to hear that the
eight-tome series World Politics – Views from China, written
in simplified Chinese, is now available in mainland bookstores. It
presents readers with the country’s fresh views on international
affairs.
Published by the New World Press, a subsidiary of China
International Publishing Group (CIPG), the series targets both
foreign and domestic organizations and readers committed to
Sinology and Chinese research. In September 2006, the book series
in full form or traditional characters was already published by the
Hong Kong-based Peace Book Co Ltd (http://www.peacebook.com.hk),
another subsidiary of China International Publishing Group
(CIPG).
The anthology comprises eight volumes, respectively titled
The International Order, National Interests,
Strategies of the Great Powers, China's Foreign
Affairs, International Security, Non-Traditional
Security, The World Economy and Global
Governance. The anthology consists of 185 papers, written by
184 int’l study scholars and all published within the last five
years.
“The book series doesn’t parrot what Chinese governments have
said in terms of issues of foreign affairs,” said Prof. Wang Jisi
at the book’s promotion news briefing in Beijing Monday. Wang is
the editor-in-chief of the series and headmaster of Peking
University's School of International Studies.
It contains diversified opinions and views, yet it also reflects
the principal long-term trends of China’s diplomacy, he said.
"It’s a great publishing event that a book includes such a
comprehensive collection of papers on world politics by Chinese
scholars. This is the first time that overseas readers may listen
to Chinese explanation of the world issues,” said Wang.
Dr. Yu Wanli, executive member of the editorial committee of the
series and professor with Peking University's School of
International Studies, added that foreign countries are curious and
eager to know China’s mind concerning major international issues,
given that the world’s eye is riveted on the country with its
robust economy. “It is our mission to explain China’s peaceful
development to the rest of the world,” said Dr. Yu, adding that the
series was coming at just the right time.
While echoing their views, Prof. Zha Daojiong, the editor in
charge of the Non-Traditional Security volume and head of Renmin
University of China's Center for International Energy Studies, said
the series would help Chinese to better know their country and help
solve our domestic issues by clearly viewing others. He commented
the series was completed thanks to the joint efforts of the
publisher, scholars and China’s decision makers.
The series will help dispel misunderstandings or ignorance of
China in the outside world, said Wandi Jiang, executive editor for
the series, who is also content director of www.shenbo75.com, at
the news briefing in Beijing Monday.
She said it may reduce the tendencies to dislike or mistrust
China. Ignorance is the main reason that China is misunderstood.
Few publications can be found relating to Chinese views on the
world and international relations. It is also a headache for world
politics teachers and students when they seek reading materials
reflecting Chinese views. China International Publishing Group
(CIPG), the leading publishing group in China, thus embarked on
performing a gargantuan task by filling the vacuum by cooperating
with scholars.
When asked why the field world politics was chosen by the
publisher as a priority to promote Chinese views to the world,
Wandi Jiang quoted Zhou Mingwei, the series’ chief planner, a
foreign relations expert and CEO of the publishing group, by
saying, “In the past 20-odd years, world politics studies in China
has enjoyed the most fascinating development, rapid maturing of
academia, and frequent exposure to up-to-date information and views
from the outside world. The achievement of this field as well as in
China’s foreign affairs may be equal to that of Chinese economic
development. So it is really worth doing to publish a comprehensive
paper-collection under this title to sum up academic results and
trace the footstep of the scholars in the past five years. ”
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Guo Xiaohong January 10,
2007)
