Huaqiao University Hosts Second International Symposium on Austronesian Peoples and Maritime Civilisation

Summary

Huaqiao University hosted the Second International Symposium on Austronesian Peoples and Maritime Civilisation at its Xiamen campus on 29 September. More than 40 scholars and experts attended from universities, research institutions and media, including the University of Waikato and UUNZ Business School in New Zealand, the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar, the Island Research Centre under the Ministry of Natural Resources, the International Austronesian Research Institute of the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Zhangping Qihe Cave Site Protection Centre, the Pacific Journal, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minzu University of China, Jinan University, Fuzhou University, Fujian University of Technology and Huaqiao University. Shi Shaochun, deputy director-general of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan News Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Hong Zaizhan, deputy party secretary of the Island Research Centre under the Ministry of Natural Resources; Xia Quan, deputy party secretary of Jinan University; Chen Jinming, lifetime honorary president of UUNZ Business School; Wu Jianping, president of Huaqiao University; and Lin Hongyu, vice-president of Huaqiao University, attended the opening ceremony.

In his address, Wu Jianping said the Austronesian peoples are an important subject in the study of human maritime migration and civilisational exchange. Research should trace historical origins while also examining migration, dissemination and cultural development, requiring both interdisciplinary integration and joint participation by the international academic community. He said the symposium would enhance international academic consensus on Austronesian studies and raise the international influence of related research in China.

Huaqiao University will continue to bring together domestic and international academic resources to deepen research on Austronesian peoples and Chinese maritime civilisation. Chen Jinming said Maori culture is the cultural root of New Zealand and a valuable asset of Austronesian civilisation, with intrinsic connections to traditional Chinese culture worth exploring. The symposium is both a two-way dialogue between Chinese and Maori cultures and a new practice in China-New Zealand people-to-people exchange.

During the symposium, participating scholars and experts conducted in-depth discussions from multidisciplinary perspectives including archaeology, linguistics, communication studies, political science, history, tourism studies and mutual learning among civilisations. They focused on core topics such as the origins of Austronesian peoples, transoceanic migration routes, cultural dissemination paths, mutual learning among maritime civilisations, opposition to 'cultural Taiwan independence' and research on site protection. On the same day, the Maori Culture Research Centre, jointly established by Huaqiao University and UUNZ Business School, was unveiled.

The two sides will use this platform to strengthen joint research, scholar exchanges, youth exchanges and sharing of results, and further expand exchanges and cooperation with universities and research institutions in the South Pacific region.

Commentary

Austronesian studies are emerging as a new link in China-New Zealand people-to-people exchange. The joint establishment of the Maori Culture Research Centre by Huaqiao University and UUNZ Business School signals a shift in academic cooperation from historical tracing to cultural dialogue. For NZ SMEs, Maori cultural elements are gaining commercial value in tourism, design and education, and this cooperation may open up new opportunities such as cultural IP licensing and joint study programmes.

At the same time, China's increased academic investment in the South Pacific may drive demand for supporting infrastructure and digital services, though cultural sensitivity and localised cooperation need attention. As an important home of Austronesian culture, New Zealand has a natural advantage in cultural product development, and its businesses can use such platforms to enter the Chinese market.

Keywords: Austronesian peoples, maritime civilisation, Huaqiao University, international academic symposium, Maori Culture Research Centre, UUNZ Business School, China-New Zealand people-to-people exchange, Wu Jianping, Chen Jinming, Xiamen

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月29日，华侨大学在厦门校区举办“第二届南岛语族与海洋文明”国际学术研讨会，来自新西兰怀卡托大学、斐济南太平洋大学、马达加斯加塔那那利佛大学、新西兰UUNZ商学院、自然资源部海岛研究中心、平潭综合实验区国际南岛语族研究院、中国社会科学院中国边疆研究所、漳平奇和洞遗址保护中心、《太平洋学报》、上海交通大学、中央民族大学、暨南大学、福州大学、福建理工大学、华侨大学等国内外高校、科研机构及媒体的40余位专家学者参会。中宣部港澳台新闻局副局长史少春、自然资源部海岛研究中心党委副书记洪再展、暨南大学党委副书记夏泉、新西兰UUNZ商学院终身名誉校长陈金明、华侨大学校长吴剑平、副校长林宏宇出席开幕式。吴剑平在致辞中指出，南岛语族是人类海洋迁徙史和文明交流史的重要研究对象，研究既要追溯历史源流，也要关注迁徙传播与文化发展，既需要多学科交叉融合，也需要国际学术界共同参与；他表示本次研讨会将增进南岛语族研究的国际学术共识，提升中国相关研究的国际影响力，华侨大学将持续汇聚国内外学术资源，深化南岛语族和中华海洋文明研究。

陈金明指出，毛利文化是新西兰的文化根脉，也是南岛语族文明的宝贵财富，其与中华传统文化有着值得探寻的内在联结，此次研讨会既是中华文化与毛利文化的双向对话，也是中新人文交流的一次全新实践。会议期间，与会专家学者从考古学、语言学、传播学、政治学、历史学、旅游学、文明交流互鉴等多学科维度，聚焦南岛语族起源脉络、跨洋迁徙轨迹、文化传播路径、海洋文明交流互鉴、反“文化台独”、遗址保护研究等核心议题展开深度研讨。当天，由华侨大学与新西兰UUNZ商学院共建的毛利文化研究中心同期揭牌，双方将以此为平台，加强联合研究、学者互访、青年交流和成果共享，并进一步拓展与南太平洋地区高校和科研机构的交流合作。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

南岛语族研究正成为中新人文交流的新纽带。华侨大学与新西兰UUNZ商学院共建毛利文化研究中心，标志着学术合作从历史溯源走向文化对话。对NZ中小企业而言，毛利文化元素在旅游、设计、教育等领域的商业价值日益凸显，此次合作或为相关企业提供文化IP授权、联合研学等新机会。

同时，中国在南太平洋地区的学术投入增加，可能带动基建、数字服务等配套需求，但需注意文化敏感性与本地化合作。新西兰作为南岛语族文化的重要承载地，其企业在文化产品开发上具有天然优势，可借助此类平台进入中国市场。

关键词: 南岛语族, 海洋文明, 华侨大学, 国际学术研讨会, 毛利文化研究中心, 新西兰UUNZ商学院, 中新人文交流, 吴剑平, 陈金明, 厦门

Source: Global Times