OPENING SPEECH BY WANG GANG, CHAIRMAN OF EASTICA

Dear colleagues,

First of all, please allow me, in name of Chairman of EASTICA, to extend welcome to the archivists and historians present here. I am very happy to see so many participants at this meeting, which in one way or another symbolizes the prosperity of archival work in East Asia. Here I would like to express thanks to the Cultural Institute of Macao, and to Maria Helena Lima Evora, Director of Macao Historical Archives and her staff, for their hospitality and very delicate arrangement of this meeting.

As the 10^th Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, EASTICA was inaugurated in Beijing in July, 1993, which makes the network of Regional Branches-representative organs of ICA, become complete. This is of great significance to the development of archival profession the world over.

As one of the birthplaces of world civilization, East Asia boasts a great quantity of historical materials which are the memory of our mankind and true witness of our history. The importance of archives is being increasingly recognized by the public and society. EASTICA has become a forum of cooperation and exchange on various archival issues in East Asia. Up to now, we have carried out the following activities.

The XIII^th International Congress on Archives is the first ICA Congress ever to be held in a developing country in Asia. The Organizing Committee of the Congress feels obliged to the support and help from the archivists and historians in East Asia. I am happy to tell you that the preparation of the congress is going on very well. Up to now, we have received more than 1,200 preliminary foreign registrations forms, and 600 Chinese registration forms. I hope there will be more people from East Asia to attend this last grand gathering of archivists of this century.

Desirous to help East Asian archivists know more about the application of computer in archives, the “Workshop on Automation of Archives Management” was held in Beijing in October 1994. 27 participants from Japan, Mongolia, Macao, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and China attended the workshop.

Four Chinese computer experts gave lectures and each participant was issued a certificate.

In June 1994, the Executive Board Meeting of EASTICA was held in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, which provided a good opportunity for exchange among the leaders of archival institutions in East Asia.

At the invitation of Maria Helena Lima Evora, Director of Macao Historical Archives, we gather together here to attend the Second General Conference of EASTICA and the Seminar on Modernization of Archives Management. This meeting meeting will definitely bring new perspective to the development of archival profession of East Asia.

I wish every success of the Second General Conference.

Thank you.