The 2016 Symposium on China Studies opened at Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center in Beijing on Oct 24, 2016. [Photo by Jiang Wanjuan/Chinaculture.org]

The 2016 Symposium on China Studies kicked off in Beijing on Monday. Thirty-one senior Sinologists from 26 countries and 17 Chinese scholars joined in this year's program and will discuss topics on the "Belt and Road" initiative, history and art.

Hosted by China's Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the five-day symposium aims at providing a professional platform for Sinologists and scholars to exchange ideas on China studies and enhance communication between Chinese and foreign academics.

Jing Junhai, vice minister of China's Publicity Department, pointed out that this year's theme - "Belt and Road" initiative - followed closely the development of China and international cooperation.

"The strategy will not only add fresh impetus to the world's development, but also be a historical chance for research in China studies," he said."I hope that the Sinologists will get to know each other better through our platform, and offer valuable advice for China's reform and development."

Ruairí Quinn, Chairman of the Institute of International and European Affairs, said that a harmonious world can only be based on mutual understanding, and mutual understanding requires deeper understanding of each other's history and culture. Quinn expressed his gratitude to the organizers for providing such a high-level communication platform.

The annual symposium was first held in 2013 and this is its fourth year.