(Si Shi, 22nd) Sun De'an, President of the Brunei Chinese Writers Association and President of the World Chinese Writers Association, recently made a special trip to Xiamen to visit renowned Xiamen University scholars Professor Su Yongyan and Professor Wang Danhong. The purpose was to conduct in-depth exchanges and understanding regarding the reasons for postponing the 13th Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Symposium and the subsequent preparations.
During the meeting, President Sun De'an thoroughly learned about the overall progress of the symposium's preparations, and, in light of the current international and regional situations, expressed high importance and continued support for the significant role of academic conferences in promoting cultural exchange between Southeast Asia and China, deepening Chinese literature research, and fostering transnational academic cooperation.
He pointed out that research on Southeast Asian Chinese literature is not only a literary topic, but also an important platform for cultural exchange and dialogue between civilizations, bearing long-term academic and contemporary value.
Professor Su Yongyan explained to President Sun De'an the specific considerations behind the symposium's postponement, including academic coordination, international scholars’ schedule arrangements, and ensuring the overall academic quality of the symposium. He affirmed that the preparatory committee would continue to improve relevant plans, striving to present a high-level academic gathering with greater depth, breadth, and international perspective at an appropriate time.
An invitation letter from the Xiamen Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Research Association and the Preparatory Committee of the 13th Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Symposium stated that, as China's "Belt and Road" initiative deepens, exchanges between Southeast Asia and China in the fields of politics, economics, and culture are becoming increasingly close. To further advance the study of Southeast Asian Chinese literature, the "Maritime Silk Road and Regional Cultural Perspectives—The 13th Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Symposium," jointly organized by the Xiamen Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Research Association, Xiamen University Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Research Center, Department of Chinese Language and Literature of Xiamen University, Xiamen University College of International Chinese Education (Overseas Education College), and the Philippine Chinese Writers Association, is scheduled to be held from October 24 to 27, 2025, in Xiamen. The venue is the Xiamen Lujian Mingjia Hotel.
The main topics of the conference include the Belt and Road Initiative and Southeast Asian Chinese literature, Chinese literature and the spread of Chinese culture, Chinese education, research on Chinese literature in the Philippines and Thailand, the creation and development of Chinese literature in various Southeast Asian countries, as well as regional/national perspectives and comparative literature studies, among other important areas.
The preparatory committee expressed its admiration for President Sun De'an’s longstanding commitment to Chinese literature, his active promotion of international Chinese literary exchanges, and his outstanding achievements in related fields. They specially invited President Sun De'an to take time to attend and join scholars and experts from various countries in this academic event, injecting more intellectual energy and contemporary perspectives into the research on Southeast Asian Chinese literature.
This visit and exchange not only further deepened the understanding and mutual trust between the Brunei and Xiamen academic circles in the field of Chinese literary research, but also laid a solid foundation for the smooth convening of the 13th Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Symposium, fully demonstrating the enduring vitality and broad prospects of cross-regional and cross-cultural academic cooperation in Chinese literature.
During the meeting, President Sun De'an thoroughly learned about the overall progress of the symposium's preparations, and, in light of the current international and regional situations, expressed high importance and continued support for the significant role of academic conferences in promoting cultural exchange between Southeast Asia and China, deepening Chinese literature research, and fostering transnational academic cooperation.
He pointed out that research on Southeast Asian Chinese literature is not only a literary topic, but also an important platform for cultural exchange and dialogue between civilizations, bearing long-term academic and contemporary value.
Professor Su Yongyan explained to President Sun De'an the specific considerations behind the symposium's postponement, including academic coordination, international scholars’ schedule arrangements, and ensuring the overall academic quality of the symposium. He affirmed that the preparatory committee would continue to improve relevant plans, striving to present a high-level academic gathering with greater depth, breadth, and international perspective at an appropriate time.
The main topics of the conference include the Belt and Road Initiative and Southeast Asian Chinese literature, Chinese literature and the spread of Chinese culture, Chinese education, research on Chinese literature in the Philippines and Thailand, the creation and development of Chinese literature in various Southeast Asian countries, as well as regional/national perspectives and comparative literature studies, among other important areas.
The preparatory committee expressed its admiration for President Sun De'an’s longstanding commitment to Chinese literature, his active promotion of international Chinese literary exchanges, and his outstanding achievements in related fields. They specially invited President Sun De'an to take time to attend and join scholars and experts from various countries in this academic event, injecting more intellectual energy and contemporary perspectives into the research on Southeast Asian Chinese literature.
This visit and exchange not only further deepened the understanding and mutual trust between the Brunei and Xiamen academic circles in the field of Chinese literary research, but also laid a solid foundation for the smooth convening of the 13th Southeast Asian Chinese Literature Symposium, fully demonstrating the enduring vitality and broad prospects of cross-regional and cross-cultural academic cooperation in Chinese literature.