On October 31, 2020, the online forum was held by Beijing Foreign Studies University and University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences jointly. Based on the construction of the discourse system of literary theory with Chinese characteristics, the forum focused on the discourse resources of Chinese traditional literary theory and the construction of Chinese literary theory, the influence of Western cultural discourse resources on Chinese literary theory and the construction of contemporary Chinese literary theory discourse system. It discussed how to reflect on the history, current situation and problems of the development of Chinese literary theory in the interpretation and dialogue of Chinese and foreign literary theory discourse resources, and how to explore the possibility of the construction of the discourse system of Chinese literary theory in the new era.
The opening ceremony of the forum was presided over by Zhang Xiaohui, executive director of the Chinese Academy. Professor Yuan Jun, Chairman of the academic committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Professor Zhang Zhengwen, President of University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Yuan reviewed the important achievements made by Beijing Foreign Studies University in the translation, introduction and research of western literary theories. He pointed out that the disciplines of "foreign language" and "Chinese" in the Universities of foreign studies complement each other and are indispensable. He hoped that the literature and art studies in the School of Chinese Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University would continue to maintain its advantages in the construction of new liberal arts，and at the same time integrate element of the essence from both China and foreign countries, continue the ancient and modern times and promote the new development of Chinese literary theory. Zhang highly affirmed the importance and necessity of the forum. He hoped that the forum could stand at a new starting point and discuss the construction of contemporary Chinese literary theory from the perspective of comparison between Chinese and foreign literary theories, so as to contribute wisdom to the new development of literary theory.
Zhang Jiang, the former assistant dean of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Nan Fan, President of Fujian Academy of Social Sciences, both gave keynote speeches. Chen Xiaoming from the Chinese Department of Peking University, Zhang Zhengwen of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and other professors and scholars also delivered keynote speeches.
This forum is a high-end and advanced academic event which has attracted more than 200 online people to attend the conference online. The scholars and professors generated intellectual sparks, theoretical thinking and insights at the conference. There is no deny that these ideas will bring abundant academic nourishment and long-term spiritual encouragement to the teachers and students of BFSU. What’s more, they also make an insignificant influence on the development of literature of Beijing Foreign Studies University and construction of literature and art studies in China.
