THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MARCO POLO STUDIES

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Today, the name and fame of Marco Polo - recognised and honoured in both Europe and Asia and, indeed, all over the world -- represents perhaps the most potent and powerful agency for cultural exchange between East and West in our possession. Such exchange has the potential, we believe, to take root and flourish in many different fields and at many different cultural levels to the benefit of young and old, learned and popular, alike. And we are convinced that this kind of development will prove a major factor in increasing understanding, friendship, and closer ties of all kinds between East and West: the two halves of our one global world.

A lead has to be given if any enterprise is to commence; and we suggest that in this venture of initiating and promoting cultural exchange between East and West in the name of our most famous human common denominator, Marco Polo, such a lead should be given at the international level by leading academics and other specialists in the field of Marco Polo studies, whose reputation will best ensure the success of such a venture, as well as its adoption and expansion into other fields by the wider international community.

We recognise the primacy, at the academic level, of both past and ongoing work within the field of Marco Polo studies undertaken by distinguished colleagues in Asia, whose contribution was acknowledged at the recent Conference held at Nankai University in Tianjin, China.

We share the desire, on the part of many Asian researchers in this field, to join with their European counterparts to launch a cultural communication program based upon the historical ‘Silk Road’ link between East and West, symbolised by the memory of its greatest traveller: Marco Polo.

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Any comments on the above will be most welcome, if communicated to:

james.gilman@virgin.net