The fourth Visiting Program for Young Sinologists kicks off

A Sinologist shares her story about China during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists at the National Library of China on July 6, 2016. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

　　The 2016 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists kicked off with an official opening ceremony at the National Library of China on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

　　During the two-week program, 26 Sinologists from 31 countries, including the US, Australia, France, Japan and South Africa, will conduct research and study in several institutes in Beijing and visit China's Anhui province to study local rural culture.

　　Hosted by the China Ministry of Culture (CMC) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the program has successfully hosted the program three times since 2014 and received very positive feedback.

　　Last July, 36 Sinologists from 30 countries were enrolled in the program to study in Beijing. As applicants keep growing, the organizer expanded the program this year from Beijing to Shanghai and Xi'an, accepting more than 100 Sinologists in total.

　　"China is no more a tourist destination for me and I am no longer a tourist," said Anita Koetse, 32, a writer and editor from the Netherlands, who first came to visit China when she was 16. "After years of studying, China has become a home to me."

　　Through this program, Koetse hopes to deepen her understanding of China and to introduce China to young people in her country through her website, What's On Weibo, which follows trending topics in China.

　　
Geoffrey Sant, a partner in a law firm in the US, is one of the 26 Sinologists enrolled in this year’s program in Beijing. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

　　During the program, the Sinologists will have the chance to attend lectures and seminars by some of the most renowned Chinese writers and researchers, and meet Chinese scholars in the same areas to conduct research.

　　"If people of all nations, especially the young generation, can have a deeper and more objective understanding of each other, the world will have fewer problems," said Ding Wei, CMC's vice minister, during the program's opening ceremony. "We want to build a bridge of communication between Chinese and western culture."

　　"As the country's important think tank, CASS pays high attention to the research and development in Sinology and China Studies," said Zhang Jiang, deputy dean of CASS. "We will use our academic strength and resources to provide academic help to young Sinologists in various forms."

　　Zhang also said that he was impressed by the young Sinologists' understanding of China and hoped to explore other countries like the young Sinologists do.

　　Established in 1977, CASS is the premier academic organization and comprehensive research center in China in the fields of philosophy and social sciences.

　　
Ding Wei, CMC's vice minister, speaks during the program's opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Zhang Jiang, CASS' deputy dean, speaks during the program's opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Sinologists and their Chinese hosts pose for a photo after the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]