A two-day conference titled “The Global Role of China from WWII to the Present” took place at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU). The event was co-organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Georgia and the Center for China and Southeast Asia Studies.
The conference was attended by the Rector of TSU, Academician Jaba Samushia; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to Georgia, H.E. Zhou Jian; the Director of the Center for China and Southeast Asia Studies, Beka Natsvlishvili; as well as students specializing in Sinology.
Georgian and foreign scientists delivered extensive reports and discussed several fundamental issues:
- China’s Sacrifice and the Eastern Front: Participants emphasized that at the cost of over 35 million military and civilian casualties, China successfully maintained the main Eastern Front, relieving pressure on Allied forces elsewhere.
- Decolonization and Sovereignty: Scholars provided an in-depth analysis of the end of the “Century of Humiliation” (1839-1949), the annulment of unequal treaties, and the gradual collapse of the colonial system in Asia.
- Contemporary Geopolitics: Discussions touched upon the transformation of the global order from a unipolar to a multipolar system and China’s contemporary role in regional and global security frameworks.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zhou Jian noted: “The conference marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the world anti-fascist war. It is essential to hold such conferences to remind people of the paramount importance of peace. We reflect on history as a lesson and learn to value peace even more.”
The Center Director, Beka Natsvlishvili, stated: “European and post-Soviet societies are largely unaware of the heavy war China fought in the East during World War II. Through this conference, we aim to share this reality with a wider public.”
Notably, the Chinese language has been taught at TSU since 2003, and since 2007, an Eastern Regional Studies program has been running with branches in Sinology and Japanology. TSU students consistently participate in long-term internships at various Chinese universities, serving as a pillar for ongoing bilateral academic ties.
You can browse the full text of the speeches in PDF format below.