China will host the 16th World Congress of the International
Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) in
Kunming next year.
The conference is planned for July 15 to 23, 2008 in Kunming,
capital of southwest China's Yunnan province. This is the first time for
China to host congress.
The world congress is held every five years and the theme for
next year's congress is "Humanity, Development and Cultural
Diversity", according to the newly-founded China Anthropology and
Ethnology Research Institute (CAERI).
More than 5,000 experts in anthropology and ethnology will take
part, discussing ethnic and religious issues, AIDS and
environmental protection.
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Zhou Mingfu, former vice director of the State Ethnic Affairs
Commission and CAERI vice director, said China lags behind
developed countries in anthropological and ethnological studies and
does not have enough contact with foreign counterparts.
The brand-new China Anthropology and Ethnology Research
Institute (CAERI), a national non-profit organization founded in
Beijing on Friday, will study human survival and development,
promote understanding among people of different ethnic and cultural
groups, and boost China's presence in anthropology and ethnology,
said Zhou.
"China need to research a number of issues triggered by social
changes," said Zhou.
He said academic research results can help protect the legitimate
rights of ethnic minorities, needy people and marginal groups.
"The world congress next year is also a good opportunity for
China to introduce its ethnic policies and achievements," he
said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2007)
