In the two international conferences held in Lyon 2004 and in Imatra 2005 the term “global” or “globalization” becomes one of the main topics of the related discussions. It mainly refers to a semiotic dialogue between the Euro-American and non-Euro-American traditions. Among the latter the Asian plays a main role. Following the development of international semiotics for the past two decades has emerged a new field “Asian Semiotics” indicating its relatively special identity and function. It is well known that the cross-regional field “East-Asian Semiotics” has been formed already for the past decade because of the special geographic and historical links existing among East-Asian countries. The semiotic communication among several southern-Asian countries has also become more and more developed because of their long connections with English-American cultural traditions. It is seemingly a time now to promote a semiotic dialogue between the two main parts of Asian Semiotics: the Eastern-Asian and the Southern-Asian ones. In this sense we Asian semioticians and comparative theoreticians are considering to hold an “Asian Semiotics Conference” somewhere in Asia in near future.

Asian semiotics is faced with a common double-task: to creatively modernize their methodology in studying traditional societies, cultures and scholarship and to independently react to modern western theories with respect to social and human sciences. For the past two decades Asian studies of western theories has been obviously advanced and formed their special scholarly angles. It is desirable that Asian scholars in semiotics and comparative theoretical studies get together to exchange their opinions and ideas with each other in order to deepen their mutual understanding about the common scholarly concerns.

After my several talks with different Asian scholars for the past two years and especially according to my recent talks in the conference “Global Semiotics” of Finland with our Indian colleague Seema Khanwalkar I find such a conference could become more feasible today. Prof. Seema Khanwalkar now tries to recommend that their successful Center for Semiotic Studies(MICA), Ahmedabad, Gujarat be the location for such a conference in late 2006. (refer to:www.mica-india.net) At this very beginning stage we want to know of opinions and suggestions from our Asian colleagues first and then to consider the next problems regarding the organizing structure of the conference and financial possibilities. In my present understanding, MICA will be the main organizer and the conference will be affiliated with IASS. All other possible affiliations and cooperation are possible as well.

You are welcome to turn this tentative proposal to all interested colleagues.

You-zheng Li

Vice-president, IASS