Foreigners awarded for Chinese studies

Laureates from Canada, South Korea and Singapore were presented with the 2023 Awards for Distinguished Contributions to China Studies at the recent World Conference on China Studies in Shanghai.

Timothy Brook, professor emeritus of history at the University of British Columbia in Canada is a leading figure in Western Sinology and Chinese history research. He said there are two types of China studies — conducted within China or conducted overseas — and that while he holds different views from his Chinese colleagues on many issues, "every country and civilization needs both 'insiders' and 'outsiders' to observe and understand their society. It is the integration of these two perspectives that can provide a comprehensive understanding of China."

An expert on the history of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Brook studied at Fudan University as an exchange student in 1975. He said Shanghai is totally different from what it was in the 1970s, and that today's bustling Bund reminds him of New York City. Brook also noted that both Westerners and Chinese people should view their own history from a different perspective, adding: "In the face of the trend of dividing the world into different camps, it is crucial to eliminate biases toward other countries because we all live in the same world."

Baik Young-seo, professor emeritus at Yonsei University in South Korea, has been engaged in China studies since 1970. "When I was still a college student, reflecting on Korean society piqued my interest in the Chinese revolutions," Baik said. "China and South Korea have established diplomatic relations for more than 30 years, and the situation has changed significantly compared to the past. We can all feel that the world is at a major turning point, but in the future, we will still face many complex crises with uncertainty." He called for more fundamental thinking on the limitations of the capitalist world system and exploring the possibilities of a civilization transformation.

Kishore Mahbubani is a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, and former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations. He was an official in his country's ministry of foreign affairs from 1971 to 2004, and has since dedicated himself to academic research and promoting deeper understanding of China in the global community.

"Most societies in the world, especially in Asia, have had close relationships with China for centuries… even thousands of years," Mahbubani said. "Therefore, there exists a profound respect for the wisdom of Chinese civilization. By sharing its own wisdom, China is helping us collectively create a better world."

Adjudicated by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the annual Awards for Distinguished Contributions to China Studies were established in 2010 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of China studies, the promotion of Chinese civilization, and facilitating communication and exchange of Chinese studies worldwide. To date, there have been 22 winners.