Dialogue with Xulio Ríos

Hérnan Lucena Molero

From Spain, Dr. Xulio Ríos presents a timely analysis in his capacity as director of the Observatorio de la Política China [Observatory of Chinese Politics] a prestigious European academic center that opens doors to understanding the Asian superpower, its significance on the national stage, and its impact on the international community. Thanks to his dedicated and extensive work spanning decades of study—characterized by a willingness to support, train, and guide new generations of China specialists—we now have analytical frameworks for studying the historical, political, social, cultural, economic, and contemporary development of the People's Republic of China, providing the West with an important framework for reflection on China's role in the immediate future. Dr. Ríos's academic thought stands as one of the central pillars and benchmarks of Ibero-American Sinology. His ongoing dynamic work in research and outreach across national and international academic events, his preparation of annual reports on the Asian nation, and his perspectives on internal debate and the implications of the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party form a vital cornerstone for the community of scholars on China. Today, examining China through a constructive and necessary critical lens provides an essential dimension for ensuring non-dogmatic understanding within our academic environments. This approach is equally valuable to the Chinese themselves, whose new generations of academics and diplomats have given serious attention to these perspectives, fostering self-critical feedback on the evolution of their own model on the world stage. This interview was conducted online and received on November 18, 2021.

Source: Hernán Lucena Molero: “Diálogo con Xulio Ríos”, in Humania del Sur, Year 17, 32 (Mérida – Venezuela, January – June 2022), pp. 213-225.

Available on: http://erevistas.saber.ula.ve/index.php/humaniadelsur/issue/view/1666/showToc