A world forum on China Studies, the first of its kind, has been scheduled for Shanghai August 19-22, convening nearly 200 scholars and experts from across the world to probe the latest developments in China studies.

The field of China studies focuses mainly on ancient Chinese history, systems, philosophy, languages, literature and arts, as well as research made by Western countries, especially the United

States, on social, economic, political and cultural developments in China since 1949, the year the modern China was founded.

Keynote speeches on topics, including globalization vs China's revival, economic development vs human care, social development vs social transformation, tradition and modernization, and Shanghai's experiences with urban development, will be given by renowned scholars.

China's swift development, both economically and politically, has put the country in the limelight of academic circles worldwide.

To date, 50 China studies institutes in North and South America, 33 in Europe and seven in Oceania have registered with the forum's website.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2004)