July 19, 2018
The Third Beijing Foreign Studies University – Kobe University Joint Symposium took place on July 7, hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (China).
This symposium is part of the activities of the Kobe University and Beijing Foreign Studies University International Collaborative Research Base. Kobe University signed an inter-university academic exchange agreement with Beijing Foreign Studies University on November 3, 2008, and our close partnership includes a Double Degree Program concluded by the Graduate School of Humanities and Graduate School of Economics. With the cooperation of Beijing Foreign Studies University, in December 2017 the Kobe University China Office was relocated to the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies within Beijing Foreign Studies University, further deepening the connection between our institutions.
Our third joint symposium was held on the theme of the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperation between Japanese and Chinese universities. After words of welcome from Professor Lianyou Guo (Head of the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University) and Professor Hiroshi Okumura (Dean of the Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University), the keynote speeches were given by Professor Kiyomitsu Yui (Executive Assistant to the President) and Professor Shouyang Wang (Dean of the School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences). In the following panel discussion speakers and participants discussed various interpretations of the Belt and Road concept and new possibilities for cooperation between Japanese and Chinese universities. Professor Lin Huang (Vice-Director of the Center for Asian Academic Collaboration, Kobe University) acted as moderator.
A presentation session featuring young researchers took place in parallel with the panel discussion. Six graduate students from Kobe University and Beijing Foreign Studies University presented their latest research findings, moderated by Professor Yoshikazu Suzuki (Vice-Dean of the Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University) and Professor Weihong Zhou (Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University).
The symposium was preceded by a discussion between representatives from both institutions about future exchange. This covered a broad range of topics, including renewal of the Double Degree Program between the Kobe University Graduate School of Humanities and the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, as well as the potential for a joint research program between our University and Beijing Foreign Studies University.
We hope this symposium will lead to further mutual exchange in education and research between Kobe University, Beijing Foreign Studies University and other Chinese universities. The next joint symposium will be hosted by Kobe University, and we will continue to discover and foster outstanding researchers through these events.
(International Affairs Planning Division)