he role of China’s literature in world literature was the primary topic of the 12th Shanghai Social Science Academic Forum held October 26 on SISU’s Hongkou campus, to celebrate the university’s 65th anniversary.

Three scholars from world-class institutions – Zhang Longxi, Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquity, Zhang Yingjin, University of California in San Diego and Lawrence Wang-chi Wong, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), attended the four-hour Forum, the theme of which was, “Comparative Literature and Cultural Exchanges between China and Foreign Countries.”

Zhang Longxi’s paper, “Chinese Literature and World Literature,” traced the emergence and development of the world literature research and its importance to deconstructing Euro-centrism while researching literature in a global context. He also stressed that Chinese literature is playing an important role in the growth of the contemporary world literature.

Zhang Yingjin’s paper, “Yan Lianke and Chinese Literature in the View of World Literature,” analyzed the criticism and subversiveness of Yan’s novels through David Damrosch’s “triple definition of world literature.” Considering mixed reactions to contemporary Chinese literature from Western sinologists, Zhang Yingjin analyzed international cultural politics behind the Nobel Prize for literature. He argued that a new system of world literature, with new value judgments, is being constructed.

Lawrence Wang-chi Wong’s paper, “From Comparative Literature to Translation Studies: The Exploration of Cultural Exchanges between China and Foreign Countries,” explained how translation studies is striving to be an independent academic discipline and addressed its impact on comparative literature and intercultural communication.

SISU Vice-President Yang Li’s welcoming speech associated comparative literature with current Chinese cultural construction, saying that promoting Chinese identity globally is inseparable from the ability of intercultural communication. He added that SISU is responsible for cultivating patriotic talents with strong global vision and high -level skills in cross-cultural communication. He also thanked attending scholars and Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations for supporting the Forum.

Zhang Longxi’s opening remarks pointed out that deepening cultural communication between China and foreign countries highlights an increasing need for Chinese scholars and students to learn discipline construction and social history of the world. He said he believes that the Forum will become an important avenue for specialists to extensively discuss issues involving international communications.

Zha Mingjian, Dean of SISU’s School of English Studies, told the Forum attendees that comparative literature and intercultural exchanges will positively influence each other through analyzing their relationships, both in theory and practice.