Voices from the World
Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of Toshiba International Foundation.
In the "Analects", Confucius remarked: "…at 30 I stood firm." For three decades now, Toshiba International Foundation has stood firm and resolute in its work to promote understanding of Japan around the world, to support Japanese research and research activities, to support research and symposia by international think tanks, and also to foster the next generation of human resources, the scholars who will promote understanding of Japan. The Foundation's many achievements have contributed to the world's harmonious and prosperous development.
The Beijing Center for Japanese Studies, established in 1985 under a cultural exchange agreement between the Chinese and Japanese governments, conducts human resource development and research aimed at understanding Japan. Over the last 34 years, the center has turned out 1,000 graduate-level students, and through their studies, they have focused on construction of modern China, cultural exchanges between China and Japan, and the development of Sino-Japanese relations. Despite some of the challenging periods in the past, the relationship between China and Japan has steadily developed over time, but further efforts to promote mutual understanding and build trust between the two nations' people remain important issues for both countries. In such circumstances, it seems very timely that TIFO has initiated a scholarship program for the Beijing Center's master-class students visiting Japan this year. I firmly believe this will not only support research by young scholars who will take Japanese studies at the Center into the next generation, but also lead to further improvement of Sino-Japanese relations and increased mutual understanding among the people of both countries.
Finally, I sincerely wish Toshiba International Foundation many more successful years to come, and hope that the foundation will continue to contribute to the harmonious and prosperous development of the global society.
東芝国際交流財団設立三十周年、おめでとうございます。
『論語』に「三十にして立つ」という孔子の言葉があります。東芝国際交流財団は、三十年来、世界各地の対日理解の促進、日本研究・調査活動の支援、国際的なシンクタンクの調査研究支援やシンポジウム助成、対日理解促進に係る次世代人材育成に意欲的に取り組まれ、多くの実績を蓄積され、世界平和のために多大な貢献をされました。
北京日本学研究センターは、1985年に中国政府と日本政府との文化交流協定により設立された日本理解のための人材育成や日本研究を行う機関です。34年来、大学院レベルの人材を約1000人以上輩出し、中国の近代化建設、中日教育文化交流や中日関係の発展に微力を尽くしてまいりました。
中国と日本との関係は様々な時代の変遷を経ながらも着実に発展してきましたが、両国民のさらなる相互理解の促進や信頼醸成が依然として両国にとって重要な課題であることは言うまでもありません。
このような状況の中で、貴財団が本年から弊センターで訪日奨学金制度を設けられることは非常に時宜にかなっていると思われます。奨学金制度の設立は弊センターの次世代の日本学研究を担う若手研究者への研究支援のみならず、それを通して中日関係の更なる改善や国民同士の相互理解の増強にもつながるものと固く信じております。
最後に、貴財団のますますのご発展と世界平和のために更なる貢献を心よりご祈念申し上げます。