France

Author: Yang Zugong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: After the 1991 Gulf War in the Middle East, the world economy and political landscape underwent significant changes. Many countries adjusted their domestic and foreign policies, focusing on strength, particularly the development of comprehensive national strength, in hopes of achieving a peaceful and prosperous path. As Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out in the report to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "In the contemporary world, culture, economy, and politics are intertwined, and their role and status in the competition of comprehensive national strength are becoming increasingly prominent." To develop comprehensive national strength and elevate the total economic output and living standards of the people, it is essential to adhere to the combination of "bringing in" and "going global." To comprehensively improve the level of opening up to the outside world and adapt to the new realities of economic globalization and joining the World Trade Organization, it compels us to study and understand the comprehensive national conditions of major countries in the world, a new discipline. Under the current world situation, to meet the needs of various circles, we are delighted to see that Comrade Sun Zhengda of the Southwest Associated University Social Sciences Research Institute in Beijing, with the strong support of some alumni of Southwest Associated University and Peking University and many domestic and foreign experts and scholars engaged in foreign-related fields, has personally supervised the compilation of a series of "Comprehensive National Conditions and Customs of Major Countries in the World." This is indeed a good and timely cultural public welfare initiative.