International Conference “One Belt, One Road – new perspectives in cooperation of the New Silk Road states”
December 1st, 2017; Toruń, Poland
On December 1st, 2017 the Jagiellonian College hosted an interdisciplinary International Conference “One Belt, One Road – New Perspectives of Cooperation between New Silk Road States” with the participation of scholars from China, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. The conference was attended by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Gdańsk, Ms. Zhao Xiuzhen, who welcomed the participants and congratulated the organizers on the selection of the conference topic.
The conference was inaugurated by the speech of prof. Grzegorz Górski and dr Joanna Górska-Szymczak from the Jagiellonian College, who presented in the historical perspective the issue of trade between the East and the West, including China and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as clarified the terminological issues.
Then, Father Dr. Jan Konior SI from the Ignatianum Academy in Krakow presented the most important elements that make up the phenomenon of Chinese culture. Among others, discrepancies between Confucian philosophy and contemporary Chinese culture after the Cultural Revolution as well as Western culture. Questions were posed about how Chinese culture and philosophy today can enrich the culture of the West.
Prof. Li Xiangkun, from the Hubei University in Wuhan – co-organizer of the Conference, concentrated on the aspect of cultural exchange that took place during the operation of the Silk Road as a platform for ethnic and religious convergence. Professor Li has made an in-depth analysis of the symbolic meaning of the whole project, but also of its individual components, both in historical and contemporary terms. The professor’s presentation left no doubt that the creation of intercultural links between the project partners of the New Silk Road is the basis for its success
Prof. Arkadij Sukhorukov from the State Technical Institute of Ukraine in Kiev discussed the subject of the New Silk Road as a contemporary international communication project, in particular from a Ukrainian perspective. On the one hand, the enormous opportunities and strategic location of Ukraine were indicated, and on the other hand, numerous problems that may hinder or even prevent this country from participating and achieving economic benefits from the project. Professor Sukhorukov also analyzed alternative solutions that Ukraine has to apply to limit the possibility of Russia’s transit of Ukrainian goods.
Ms. Magdalena Pszczółka from the Chinese Law School at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk discussed the very practical aspect of legal culture as a factor determining business relations with Chinese partners. Not only the law written in the books determines the specificity of these relations, but above all the traditions and customs, including those written in the teachings of Confucius.
Ms. Sara Tomaszewska and Ms. Paula Tomaszewska from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań made a student look at the New Silk Road project as a way to change the global economic order, while ensuring that China respects the goals and principles resulting, among others, from the United Nations Charter.
Mr. dr inż. Rafał Rumin and Mr. Kamil Kozioł from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow discussed the possibilities resulting from the construction of a new transport system between Europe and China, based on the transport of goods in capsules moving in air tunnels at speeds of up to 1000 km/h.
Mr. Maciej Maćkowiak from Guandong University of Finance and Economics in China, devoted his speech to legislative challenges related to the One Belt, One Road, including threats to national constitutional orders resulting from the implementation of this international project.
Mr. Bartosz Wiśniewski from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow presented the question of the reception of Roman law in China.
Prof. Oldrich Hajek, Dr. Jan Novosakova and Dr. Michal Lukac raised the issue of the importance of regional diversity, in particular between Russia, China and the four Visegrad countries.
Dr Jiri Novosak, prof. Radek Jurcik, prof. Edit Soos pointed to the importance of entrepreneurial development for the success of the New Silk Road project. A comparative analysis of the countries participating in the initiative was made from this perspective.
Prof. Galina Tarasenko and prof. Bohdan Nesterowicz from the Pedagogical University in Winnica compared the topic of solving ecological problems in the East and West.
The conference ended with a dinner for speakers.
All the conference materials will be published soon in volume 4 of the online publication of the Jagiellonian College:
Confrontation and Cooperation: 1000 Years of Polish-German-Russian Relations available here: https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/conc1202_11202_21202_31202_51202_61202_71202_81202_10DSCF6725DSCF6770DSCF6803DSCF6816DSCF6823DSCF6831DSCF6834DSCF6837
The Chinese initiative to recreate the historic Silk Road as part of the “One Belt, One Road” project – is becoming more and more real. The project has a multi-faceted character and touches almost all dimensions of our lives. In the next few years, it will undoubtedly lead to a significant convergence of the peoples of Asia and Europe. This is also a project that brings new challenges to states and societies. During the planned conference we will try to begin a debate on this subject. Researchers interested in approaching the challenges resulting from this project are invited to send applications for the conference.
Conference Programme
11:00 – opening of the conference: Joanna Górska – Szymczak, Rector of the Jagiellonian College
11:10 – Joanna Górska – Szymczak, Grzegorz Górski (Jagiellonian College, Toruń), Central and East Europe as a partner of ONE BELT, ONE ROAD project – history and perspective
11:40 – Jan Konior SI (Ignatianum Academy, Kraków), The Phenomen of Chinese culture
12:10 – Li Xiangkun, (Hubei University, Wuhan), Seeking intercultural harmony along the New Silk Road. A symbolic interactionist perspective
12:40 – Arkadij Sukhorukov (National Technical Institute of Ukraine, Kiev), Ukrainian perspectives in new international transporation projects
13:10 – Guo Kangsong (Hubei University, Wuhan), Chinese character teaching as the base of Confucius Institute to spread Chinese culture
13:40 – lunch
14:30 – Oldrich Hajek (Jagiellonian College, Czech Republic), Regional Disparities on the New Silk Road: Some Thoughts about Regional Convergence
14:40 – Jiri Novosak (Newton College, Prague) Entrepreneurial Behaviour on the New Silk Road: Space for Improvement?
15:10 – Magdalena Pszczółka (University of Gdańsk), Chinese law – An enterprise dealing with Chinese partner
15:40 – Galyna Tarasenko, Bohdan Nesterowicz (Pedagogical University, Winnica, Ukraine), Philosophical comparativism about search of common ways of ecological problems based on the dialogue of cultural matrices of the East and West
16:10 – Sara Tomaszewska, Paula Tomaszewska (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań), New Silk Road and a Chinese vision of globalization
16:40 – Rafał Rumin, Kamil Kozioł (University of Science and Technology AGH, Kraków), Impact of creating evacuate tube transportation technology for connecting European Union and China
17:10 – Maciej Maćkowiak (Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, China), One Belt, One Road Project – legislative challenges and social defiance
17:40 – discussion and closing remarks
Conference Convenors
prof. Grzegorz Górski – Kolegium Jagiellońskie – Toruńska Szkoła Wyższa
prof. Lingyun Zhao – Uniwersytet Hubei w Wuhan (Chiny)
Call for papers
Prospective speakers are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 500 words addressing any aspect of the conference theme. Abstracts must be submitted by November 2nd, 2017 using this registration form. The completed form should be emailed to the conference convenors at konferencja@akademiajagiellonska.pl
Conference fee
200 zł/50 USD
Doctoral students: 50 zł/15 USD paid till November 2nd, 2017 to:
PLN: BS w Toruniu 12 9511 0000 0000 1928 2000 0020
USD: BS w Toruniu 33 9511 0000 0000 1928 2000 0030 IBAN: GBWCPLPP
Publication
The conference convenors plan to publish conference papers in an edited publication in the electronic format. Selected papaers will be also published in paper. The publication will be conditional upon positive peer-review process.
Full written papers shall be submitted by November 2nd, 2017 at konferencja@akademiajagiellonska.pl
Conference website
www.conference.akademiajagiellonska.pl
Venue
Kolegium Jagiellońskie – Toruńska Szkoła Wyższa
ul. Prosta 4/ul. Jęczmienna 23, 87-100 Toruń