International Symposium on Social and Human SciencesThe Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Thursday opened an international symposium on the Prospects of Social Sciences and the Humanities in the 21st Century.The two-day symposium is to focus on discussion of the development and prospects of social and human sciences in modern times and trying to resolve practical problems confronted by the society. Among those who are participating in the symposium are Madeline Caviness, president of Union Academique Internationale, Kurt Pawlik, president of International Social Science Council, P. J. D. Drenth, president of the European Association of National Academies of Sciences and Humanities, Craig Calhoun, president of Social Science Research Council of the United States, and other 20 scholars of world fame. In his keynote speech at the symposium's opening ceremony, Li Tieying, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, social and human sciences in the 20th century became the center of public attention and anticipation. "Social and human sciences, in a multitude of ways, increase our capacity for sensing, judging, and understanding major social issues, and render our spiritual life more colorful," said Li, also president of the CASS. Science consists of the achievements made by all nations in the world, Li said. The tendency of internationalization in social and human sciences research does not necessarily rule out its uniqueness, both historical and national, as found in each country. The CASS, China's top think tank, boosts a total of 46 academies of social sciences which are scattered across the country. Meanwhile, China has 815 colleges and universities with specialties in social and human sciences, with a more than 300,000 staffs engaged in research and teaching. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |