On November 30, the Academic Seminar on Comparative Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies under the Perspective of Chinese Modernization and the 4th Annual Conference of the Comparative Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies Committee of the Jiangxi Literature and Art Society were successfully held at our university. The event was hosted by the Jiangxi Literature and Art Society’s Comparative Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies Committee and co-organized by the SFL of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and the Institute of Narrative Studies of Jiangxi Normal University, with support from Jiangxi Social Sciences and Narrative Studies Editorial Office. Over 140 experts, scholars, faculty and students from universities and research institutions across the country, including Renmin University of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shenzhen University, Jiangxi Academy of Social Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, and East China Jiaotong University, attended the conference.

Vice President Yuan Honglin delivered the opening address on behalf of the university. He said that the conference’s timing, coinciding with the province-wide implementation of the guiding principles of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the National Education Conference, was fortuitous. Yuan noted that Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics has actively seized opportunities in digitalization, greening, and internationalization over the past two years. The university has accelerated reforms in quality, dynamics, and efficiency, vigorously pursued its “First-Class Discipline Development Plan,” and promoted interdisciplinary, coordinated growth across economics and management, humanities and social sciences as well as the science and engineering. These efforts aim to transition the university into a high-level researching-orient university, a first-class digital finance university, and a benchmark institution for serving Jiangxi province. Yuan expressed confidence that this seminar would foster new insights and innovative ideas, contributing valuable perspectives to the field of comparative literature and cross-cultural studies.

Yu Hui, Editor-in-Chief of Jiangxi Social Sciences, and Professor Tang Weisheng, Chair of the Comparative Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies Committee, also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. The event was host by Zhang Xifeng, Dean of the SFL.

          The seminar included a plenary forum and three roundtable sessions. At the plenary forum, keynote speeches were presented by distinguished scholars including Professor Geng Youzhuang and Professor Fan Fangjun from Renmin University of China, Professor Peter Heywood from Shenzhen University, Professor Ma Hailiang from Beijing Foreign Studies University, Researcher Ni Aizhen from Jiangxi Academy of Social Sciences, Dr. Tu Niangen from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, and Professor Tang Weisheng from Jiangxi Normal University. The roundtable discussions were divided into three themes: narrative studies, cross-cultural studies, and comparative literature criticism theories.

This seminar, anchored in the perspective of Chinese modernization, explored the practical frontiers of literary research. It highlighted the pivotal role of comparative literature and cross-cultural studies in advancing Chinese culture on the global stage, offering new perspectives for literary research in the new era. By deepening cultural exchange, amplifying China’s voice, and promoting disciplinary integration, the seminar highlights the unique value of comparative literature in responding to national strategies and fostering social development. It also showcased the academic community’s commitment and mission in supporting Chinese modernization.

By Gao Peng and Du Jingping