Intl scholars exchange event held in Guilin

An international scholars exchange event kicked off in Guilin in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on June 22.

Co-hosted by Guangxi Normal University Press and the university's School of History, Culture, and Tourism, the event is modeled on a traditional yaji — a gathering where scholars discuss philosophy and art amid nature.

Branko Milanovic, a professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, delivers a keynote speech at the event. [Photo provided to en.gxzf.gov.cn]

Set against the backdrop of Guilin's world-renowned natural and cultural heritage, the event serves as a platform for international academic dialogue.

The event saw over 30 leading economic historians from around the world discuss "The Great Divergence" and global history.

Scholars are from prestigious institutions, such as the University of Oxford, City University of New York, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Florida, University of Michigan, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The event features a variety of activities, including presentations, keynote speeches, discussions along the Lijiang River, and field visits, fostering a unique platform for academic exchanges between Chinese and international scholars.

International scholars visit Jingjiang Princes' City, Guilin. [Photo provided to en.gxzf.gov.cn]

As the first Lijiang-themed international exchange event, it represents a novel attempt to establish Guilin as an international cultural exchange hub.

Participants said the event fostered meaningful dialogue between Chinese and international scholars while offering new perspectives on global history and the historical factors behind development differences between regions.