On December 11th, 2017, the 16th International Academic Seminar on Sino-Ryukyu Historical relationship, co-hosted by the Center for Studies of Fujian and Taiwan, the Research Institute on Sino-Ryukyu Relationship and the Research Center for Cross-Strait Cultural Development of Fujian Normal University, kicked off in Fuzhou. More than 60 scholars from over ten universities in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and Okinawa attended the seminar and submitted more than 20 academic papers.
On behalf of FNU, Pan Yuteng, deputy secretary of FNU committee of the CPC, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. After extending a warm welcome to the representatives present, he gave a brief introduction of the school history, conditions and the academic atmosphere of Sino-Ryukyu research in FNU and expressed the hope that academic exchanges will further strengthen friendly ties with OKinawa. Besides, Takra Kurayonshi, professor of the University of the Ryukyus, Zhu Delan, researcher of Taiwan Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Xiu Bin, professor of Ocean University of China and Wang Yaohua, professor of FNU gave speeches too.
With the theme of “A Nation of Rites: Sino-Ryukyu Relationship and Asian Civilization”, this seminar touched on political, economic, religious, artistic and folk aspects in the history of Sino-Ryukyu relationship. The representatives present conducted heated discussions on the theme and exchanged valuable research materials and recent research achievements, thus promoting the research on Sino-Ryukyu relationship and the maritime world in East Asia and cultural exchanges. It has been learned that the first International Academic Seminar on Sino-Ryukyu Historical Relationship was held in 1986. Since then the seminar takes place every two years withthe Chinese mainland, Taiwan and OKinawa taking turns to hold it. As a high-level academic platform to research Sino-Ryukyu relationship, the International Academic Seminar on Sino-Ryukyu Historical Relationship has received a lot of attention of researchersfrom China, Japan and other parts of the world who study the history of Ryukyu and Sino-Japanese relationship. News media like China Review from Hongkong and Fujian SETV gave follow-up reports on this seminar.
Translated by Fu Dongxian Reviewed by Xie Xiujuan)