Georgetown and China Pledge Cooperative Exchange
Georgetown University today signed a cooperative agreement with the Center for Religious Studies of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) of the People’s Republic of China, the official interface for religious exchanges between various religious organizations in China and their counterparts in other countries, to foster dialog about religious perspectives of mutual concern. This is the first agreement of its kind between SARA and an institute of higher education in the United States.
“This is an historic agreement and I am confident that it will help foster innovative scholarship and research at both of our institutions and that it will ultimately enrich global scholarship,” said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia.
“The future exchanges between Georgetown and the Center for Religious Studies of SARA are not only important for research and scholarship, they will help us to build true bridges of understanding in our interconnected world,” he said. “And by building bridges, we will be able to advance the interests of both of our societies, to promote the common good, and to enhance global peace and security.”
SARA Minister Ye Xiaowen agrees that developing a relationship with Georgetown is important. Ye noted that China’s president Hu Jintao has recently made statements about the significance of religion. “This is a very important message to the world,” Ye said.
In his speech at Georgetown, Ye observed that engaging in dialog “will help us gain hope and find effective ways of building a peaceful world.”
Under the agreement, Georgetown and the Center for Religious Studies will coordinate exchanges between scholars and key officials, and host an annual meeting to foster interreligious dialog and intercultural understanding. Georgetown will host the first annual meeting later this year bringing faculty and experts together from both the university and the Center for Religious Studies to share ideas from their respective points of view. Both Georgetown and the Center will host additional visits for selected scholars and officials to conduct topical research on religion.
"The agreement promises to deepen intellectual exchange and promote dialog about religion's changing role in our respective societies -- and around the world," commented Thomas Banchoff, director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown.
The State Administration for Religious Affairs is a department under China's State Council in charge of religious affairs and issues. Within SARA, the Center for Religious Studies looks at religious development both within and outside China, and provides training to religious affairs administrative staff across the country.
As part of the university's continuing commitment to global engagement, last semester Georgetown opened a liaison office at the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. The office will enhance scholarly exchange between Georgetown and Fudan, as well as other leading Chinese universities and research centers. Additionally, Georgetown signed a cooperative agreement with Fudan University last May to support world class research, innovation in higher education, and greater mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States.
Georgetown's involvement in China also includes agreements with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to sponsor post-doctoral fellowships at Georgetown, and with the China Central Party School (CCPS) for annual seminars and exchange of researchers. Georgetown also collaborates with Renmin University of China in graduate legal education, and with East China Normal University in the areas of early childhood education and children with disabilities via the Center for Child and Human Development at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Source: Office of Communications
February 19, 2008
