The fourth forum on Southeast Asian Chinese literature opened today in Xiamen, a port city of east China's Fujian Province.

More than 70 specialists from Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, and Japan, New Zealand, as well as Hong Kong and Macao regions attended today's opening meeting. Participants turned in over 70 academic papers for deliberation.

During the three-day forum, participants will discuss issues related to the position and impact of Southeast Asian Chinese literature in the world's Chinese literature, and Singapore's Chinese literature at the turn of the 21st century.

The forum is jointly sponsored by four organizations including the Xiamen City Society of Southeast Asian Chinese Literature and the Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Research Center of Xiamen University. (Xinhua).