An academic seminar about Zhang Jian and Chinese practice in modernization in early phase takes place in Nantong on July 29. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

An academic seminar was held in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on July 29 to discuss the visit of Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a renowned industrial magnate, educator, and scholar in the city, to Japan.

More than 50 experts and scholars from China, Japan, and South Korea attended the seminar to explore Zhang's visit and the early phase of Chinese practice in modernization.

The collected papers Zhang Jian and Modern China, which were created by the Zhang Jian Institute of Nantong University, made its debut on the same day and NTU presented the book as a gift to Nantong Library, Nantong Archive, Pusan National University, and five other institutions.

The collected papers revolve about the relations between Zhang Jian and politics, economics, education, culture, and society in modern China.

With an international vision and by learning about western industrial civilization in fully rational ways, Zhang made tremendous contributions to China's early modernization.

One hundred and twenty years ago, Zhang embarked on a 70-day tour of Japan, during which he visited more than 30 businesses and 30 educational institutions, laying a solid foundation for his blueprint for a modern Nantong.