China has played an active role in boosting international and regional cooperation in the field of psychology, said Michel Denis, president of the International Union of Psychological Sciences (IUPsys), Sunday.

Denis made this remark at the opening of the 28th International Congress of Psychology (ICP), which attracted about 6,000 psychologists from more than 80 countries and regions.

He said psychology had a long history in China, which has also had a long-term relationship with IUPsys. In 1980, China became one of the 69 national members of IUPsys, and was elected one of the 12 executive members in 1984.

During the past 20 years, China not only fulfilled its obligation in IUPsys, but also played a special role in boosting communication and cooperation in Asia-Pacific region. In 1995, China hosted the Asia-Pacific Regional Psychological Conference, contributing to the spread of applied psychology in the region.

China applied to host the meeting in 1996. It won out over other four competitors. In terms of the organizing work, the congress this time has far exceeded the previous ones, as the participants included one Nobel Prize winner and 80 well-known psychologists.

The ICP is a perfect platform for the exchange of original scientific research results, said Denis.

"It is very appropriate that we chose China to host this meeting, since it will show the research result of psychological science in this country in the social changes," Denis said.

The IUPsys, founded in 1951, comprised a half-million psychologists from 69 countries. As the only international organization that covered all fields of psychological research, the organization was nicknamed the "United Nations" of psychology. 

The ICP, held once every four years, was initiated in 1889 in Paris of France.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2004)