On June 10th, 2017 ‘China and Argentina’ Seminar” was held in the College of Foreign Languages of Jilin University to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Sino-Argentina Diplomatic Relations. This seminar was organized by the Ibero- American Center and more than 20 Chinese and foreign experts, from distinguished universities, like Jilin University, Zhongshan University, Sichuan University, Shanghai University, and experts from scientific research institutions, Latin American Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attended the meeting, discussing the issues of the political and economic relations and cultural exchanges between China and Argentina. Mr. Liu Changsong, Party Secretary of the College of Foreign Languages, and Dr. Guo Cunhai, executive director of Latin American Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Center of Argentina, gave speeches in the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Mr. Liu introduced the history and present status of Jilin University, reviewed the development process of the College of Foreign Languages and the Spanish Department and introduced the progress of Spanish Department in Latin America regional and national studies. At the same time, he pointed out that the College of Foreign Languages of Jilin University would continue to support the Spanish major and cooperate with domestic famous Latin America research institutes to promote China's research on Argentina.
Dr GuoCunhai gave thanks to the College for its full support to this seminar. Meanwhile, he introduced briefly the development of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina over 45 years and analyzed the present situation of Argentina study in China.
The seminar covered three topics, “Political and Economic Relations between China and Argentina ”, “ Research on Argentine Literature and History”and “Cultural Exchanges between China and Argentina”. Scholars expressed different opinions from various angles.
Associate professor Zhang Rui, Chair of the Spanish Department, concluded the seminar. She said that the seminar was a complete success. Scholars attending the seminar made brilliant points on the development of the relations between China and Argentina, and they also had an in-depth understanding of the Argentina studies, broadening greatly the academic vision. She also suggested that experts and scholars in the field of Latin American studies should establish a mechanism for regular exchanges and dialogues to break the disciplinary barriers, and to better promote the researches on Latin America issues.
The launch ceremony for the special edition of the journal “ China and Argentina” (commemorating the 45th anniversary for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina) was held immediately after. This special edition was edited by the Spanish Department of the College of Foreign Languages of Jilin University. It collected the articles written by China’s Ambassador to Argentina, Ambassador of Argentina to China and fifteen scholars from China and Argentina, commemorating the 45th anniversary for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina.
Along with the seminar, the Spanish Department also held a series of lectures to honor the anniversary. Lectures like “ The Detective Readers in Maze: from Borges to Piglia", " The Construction of National Image of China in Latin America: from the View of Media", "The Spread of Mao Zedong Thought in Latin America during the Cold War: from the Global History Perspective of South to South", had been attracting more than 300 professors and students in Changchun City to attend.
