The 2019 annual academic conference of the Chinese Sociological Association is held on the Donglu campus of Yunnan University (YNU) on July 13 with support from the Chinese Sociological Association. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The 2019 annual academic conference of the Chinese Sociological Association was held on the Donglu Campus of Yunnan University (YNU) on July 13 with support from the Chinese Sociological Association.

The conference was themed around changes in Chinese society and brought together nearly 2,000 experts and scholars from universities and institutes such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, and Xiamen University.

Lin Wenxun, Party secretary of YNU, delivered a speech recounting how YNU established connections with the Chinese Sociological Association. 

He also thanked experts for their support for the development of sociology at YNU and made some proposals on how to develop Chinese sociology. 

Li Youmei, president of the Chinese Sociology Association, delivered a speech in which she noted that an important task for Chinese sociologists is to develop a methodology to fully understand social changes in modern China. 

Li Peilin, director of the academic committee of the Chinese Sociological Association, said that China is still facing challenges brought about by its wealth gap, aging population, and more, despite of the tremendous achievements it has made over the past 70 years. He called for more research on Chinese society. 

The keynote speech session was chaired by Chen Guangjin, vice-president of the Chinese Sociological Association, and was addressed by Xie Yu, director of the Center for Social Research at Peking University, Zhang Jing, professor of the Department of Sociology at Peking University, and He Ming, professor at YNU’s Research Center of Minorities in Southwestern China’s Border Areas. 

Following the opening ceremony, 73 sub-forums were arranged for attendees to discuss issues related to social changes and population in China. 

On the evening of July 13, a drama entitled “Kuige Time”, which depicts the golden days of YNU, was held by YNU teachers and students.

The conference brought together nearly 2,000 experts and scholars from Chinese universities and institutes such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, and Xiamen University. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

A book filled with essays on sociology is launched during the opening ceremony for the Chinese Sociological Association, which was held on the Donglu campus of Yunnan University (YNU) on July 13 with support from the Chinese Sociological Association. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

On the evening of July 13, a drama entitled “Kuige Time”, which depicts the golden days of YNU, was held by YNU teachers and students. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]