The 5th Forum of European Researchers in China, co-organized by the EU Delegation to China, EURAXESS China, and the Europe-China Partnership Facility (ECPF), recently convened 13 European scholars based in China for a series of academic exchanges in Beijing. The forum served as an important platform for strengthening research connections and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars working across cultural and institutional contexts.
As part of the forum program, participants visited The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC). Led by Executive Director Simon Koo, the visit included a guided tour of the TBC library, featuring a rich multilingual collection of academic resources. Scholars were also introduced to various research support services and international funding opportunities available through the center. The visit provided an in-depth understanding of TBC’s role in supporting international scholars and promoting cross-cultural academic exchange.
The visiting researchers represented leading institutions such as NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan University, and Zhejiang University, among others. They actively engaged in discussions on TBC’s academic initiatives and shared insights into ongoing research in China. Former diplomats with long-standing experience in China also joined the event, contributing diverse global perspectives to the dialogue.
Topics discussed during the visit included joint research projects, funding mechanisms, faculty exchange and research fellowships, and the development of international academic partnerships. These conversations highlighted the increasing relevance of sustained collaboration between European researchers and Chinese institutions, especially in addressing shared global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.
During the open discussion session, Dr. Tomasz Ewertowski from Shanghai International Studies University introduced his editorial series, Anthem Studies in Encounters Between Peripheral Regions. The series explores connections between peripheral regions across global systems, with a particular focus on East-Central and Southeast Europe in relation to East and Southeast Asia during the colonial era. Dr. Ewertowski invited scholars to contribute original, theoretically grounded, and critically engaged research, with opportunities for publication. Further details were made available via the series’ official website.
The visit to TBC underscored the center’s ongoing commitment to international engagement and academic exchange. As a hub for dialogue between Chinese and international scholars, TBC continues to play a vital role in fostering mutual understanding, directing cross-border research, and supporting the global academic community.
For more photos, please check the album.
For the first time for one of these blogs, I’m taking on a new challenge: exploring without the involvement of The Beijing Center! This past weekend, I took the chance to take a pre-finals breath of fresh air and vacation for the first time in China, to the city of Tianjin.
I’ve written about my cultural exchange experiences in Beijing and at Minzu University before, but recently, I added something new to my roster: introducing my own culture to others.
If there’s any historical landmark related to China someone remembers learning about as a young child, odds are it’s the Great Wall of China. I have distinct memories of sitting in my third-grade social studies class, learning about this ancient marvel of engineering that was large it could be seen from space.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.