From December. 7 to 9, the Forum on the Belt and Road of Knowledge was successfully held in RUC with the theme of “Business Culture Integration along the Belt and Road”, a move aiming at enhancing the communication between different civilizations and fully tapping the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative. The event was held both online and offline simultaneously.
The Forum on the Belt and Road of Knowledge was officially kicked off on December 7, 2022. Prof. LIN Shangli, President of RUC, addressed the opening ceremony. Abdyrakhmanov Tolobek Abylovich, Rector of Kyrgyz National University; Alexandre de Navailles, Director General of KEDGE Business School; Zeynep Gürhan Canlı, Acting President of Koç University and Sergey Shakhray, First Vice Rector of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University also addressed the opening ceremony.
The Forum was moderated by Du Peng, Vice President of RUC.
In his opening speech, Prof. LIN extended warm welcome to all participants on behalf of RUC. Then he noted that, since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, the routes have developed into a popular platform on which different countries pursue win-win cooperation. RUC has made great contributions to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative by leveraging its strength as a distinguished university in Humanities and Social Sciences. The establishment of Eurasian Research Center, the Belt and Road Research Center and the Silk Road School, among others, stand as evidence of China’s endeavor in this regard, added Prof. LIN.
Lin believed that the Silk Road is not only a road of commerce and trade, but also one of cultural communication and mutual learning. In order to further boost the cross-cultural dialogue between China and the rest of the world and make even greater contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, Lin’s suggestions are as follows: 1. Achieving high-level educational interconnectivity through openness and inclusiveness. Educational interconnectivity is conductive to the exchange of ideas and the flow of knowledge among countries along the routes, thus cementing the foundation for the sustainable development of the initiative. 2. Pursuing flourishing development for all relevant parties through communication and mutual-learning. Colleges and universities in countries of the Belt and Road Initiative are responsible for carrying forward the spirit of the ancient silk road and achieving greater cultural diversity. 3. Finding solutions to global issues through concerted efforts. To address the common challenge faced by the mankind, we must stand together to find a solution to these challenges. Higher education institutions in particular should play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges.
Abdyrakhmanov Tolobek Abylovich highly praised the significance of the Silk Road Economic Belt at the beginning of his speech. He noted that it is this platform that made it possible for Kyrgyz National University to reach cooperation agreements with many Chinese universities and expand cooperation in science and education with its partners in China. Kyrgyz National University stands ready to boost its cooperation with RUC and engage in more academic exchanges in the field of Biology, Environment, Humanities, and etc.
Alexandre de Navailles stressed that the Silk Road has served as an interface between the eastern and western part of our old world and has proven to be one of the most powerful engines of human progress and history. In the 21st century when cross-cultural communication has proved to be the irresistible trend of our times, mutual understanding and genuine friendship become all the more important. He further noted that higher education institutions play a vital role in promoting mutual understanding and intercultural exchange. While reviewing the remarkable achievement made by RUC Sino-French Institute, he called for the two sides to make even greater achievement in the cultivation of talent. Going forward, he hoped to see a stronger ties between the two countries.
Zeynep Gürhan Canlı started her speech by stressing the historical depth of the Sino-Turkish relationship, recalling that the Chinese and Turkish empires formed the two ends of the Silk Road for centuries and has greatly empowered each other throughout history. She believed that the two countries enjoyed great potential for cooperation. In this regard, she hoped the Silk Road could further boost the two sides’ cooperation in economy, trade, science and etc. Also, she addressed that participants should strive to build more transparent and inclusive business environment, securing common prosperity for all countries along the routes. To this end, she calls for closer cooperation in the cultivation of talent, providing more top-notch people who can strength mutual understanding and mutual learning among the BRI countries.
Sergey Shakhray pointed out that over three quarters of the world’s countries and regions have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, suggesting that the Silk Road has become a super project concerning the shared development of the whole world. Nations must highlight the principle of inclusiveness so as to build a more effective and reasonable mechanisms for multilateral relations. For this purpose, member states of the Belt and Road Initiative should retain their own cultural identities and respect that of other countries whiling simultaneously making their identities compatible with each other. Sergey Shakhray believed that China will greatly accelerate this process as its Belt and Road Initiative further unfolds.
The forum consists of five panels: Business Culture and Opportunities along the Belt and Road; Communication and Management of Culture and Arts along the Belt and Road; Publishing and Cultural Exchange along the Belt and Road; Art and Culture along the Belt and Road from the Youth Perspective and Mathematics and Culture along the Belt and Road. The forum brought together experts and scholars from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Singapore, India, Russia, France, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and other countries and regions, both online and offline.
With a focus on the integration and mutual-learning of global knowledge, the Forum on the Belt and Road of Knowledge reiterated the historical significance of the Silk Road and stressed that the Road is not only a road of commerce and trade, but also one of cultural communication and mutual learning. The first Forum on the Belt and Road of Knowledge was Held in Dunhuang on April 22-23rd, 2022. Going forward, the Forum will further refine the international cooperation model featuring open consultation, joint efforts and shared benefits, making even greater contributions to cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation.