Luo Ying
Associate Professor, South China Business College, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China
Visiting at: University of Lapland
Period: 1 month
Research Theme: The Impact of Modern Industrial Civilization on the Traditional Lifestyle of Arctic Aborigines
With the funding of CNARC FELLOWSHIP and the approval of CNARC and South China Business College of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, I visited the Arctic Center of Lapland University in Finland from June 10 to July 13,2023. In this short study and life, I took as many opportunities as possible to learn, explore scientific research ideas, and felt different research atmosphere and academic spirit. Now from the following aspects of the study and life experience during the visit report is as follows.
I arrived at the University of Lapland in Finland at 11 PM on June 10, 2023 and stay in the university hotel booked in advance. Coming to the Arctic Center on June 12, Professor Timo Koivurova showed me around the Arctic Center, provided a separate office for me, and informed me of the opening hours of the Arctic Center. Professor Timo Koivurova then showed me around the library of the Arctic Center and introduced the relevant library experts to me.
On June 13, with the help of library experts, I obtained the Lapland University library card. We have a preliminary understanding of the collections of Lapland University and the collections of the Arctic Center. Electronic books and materials for the polar humanities studies of comparative interest were downloaded.
The visit mainly focuses on two topics: one is the study of arctic indigenous people, and the other is the study on the utilization of Arctic biological resources. Lapland University has a deep foundation in Arctic Aboriginal research, not only the Finnish Sami research, but also international indigenous research through external Russian, American, and Canadian indigenous researchers, with a large system and attention to detail. Second, the arctic biological resources utilization research, the arctic center specializes in reindeer, arctic fish and herbal team and test personnel, across the arctic center is Finland the famous forest company Pilke experience center, Pilke center in the arctic exploration and biological resources utilization launched a lot of products, such as arctic berry jam, wine, arctic cedar made perfume essential oil and cosmetics.
At the University of Lapland, I also communicated with Professor Matti Nojonen on the study of Chinese classics, and felt the understanding of people in the Finnish Arctic region to China and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the geopolitics of the Arctic region. On weekends, I traveled to the surrounding cities of Rovaniemi by train, and conducted an in-depth investigation on the cultural and educational institutions in Kemi, Oulu, Turku, Helsinki and other cities.
During the visit, I deeply felt the great potential of the cooperation between China and Northern Europe. The people of Northern Europe are very welcome to Chinese tourists, and tourism department should also strengthen the publicity of civilized travel abroad, so that every Chinese tourist can show the elegant demeanor of contemporary China. The southern Chinese cities, such as Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, are also attractive to the cold Nordic countries, and they will strengthen the promotion of tourism products from southern cities in northern Europe.
Cheap and fine Chinese goods still have a large market in northern Europe. Finland has high technical requirements for commodities, and the kitchen knife series of Yangjiang, Guangdong province is still crowded into the Finnish market. The cost performance of Chinese textiles is more competitive in northern Europe. Forest industrial products in Finland and Norwegian fishery products also have a market in our country. At present, there is no channel to collect relevant data in China.
The Nordic civilization has distinctive characteristics, which is integrated with the Nordic philosophy of life: simple, steady, bright, warm, harmonious, full of design and creativity. The Nordic spiritual world is self-disciplined, modest and steadfast. To carry forward the Chinese civilization, the poetry, opera, art and other civilization factors in the Chinese traditional culture has the role of moistening the people's hearts. The form is lively, and it is easy to be accepted by the Nordic people. China and Northern Europe have many aspects of mutual appreciation, which can be beautiful together, there are some differences, each can also be beautiful. The Nordic countries are very important to China's interests in the Arctic and Europe. They can play a positive role in building a community with a shared future for mankind and promoting global civilization initiatives, which deserves in-depth study and careful work.
