The Asian Journals Network 2025 Conference was successfully held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University from October 17 to 20, 2025. Organized by the School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Journal Center, the Interdisciplinary Narrative Research Center, the Editorial Office of Frontiers of Narrative Studies, and the Asian Journals Network, the conference aimed to strengthen regional academic cooperation and advance the development of a cohesive scholarly community in Asia. The event focused on critical themes including disciplinary innovation, artificial intelligence and academic ethics, digital transformation of academic journals, and the evolution of publishing ecosystems, with the objective of promoting the sustainable growth of Asian humanities within the global academic landscape.

Over 20 chief editors and senior representatives from 17 universities across five Asian countries and regions convened to engage in in-depth discussions on the current state and future trajectory of academic publishing in Asia, as well as the progress and strategic vision of the Asian Journals Network. On the morning of October 18, Professor Shang Biwu, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, delivered the opening address, followed by a keynote speech from Maria Luisa Torres Reyes, Honorary Editor-in-Chief of Kritika Kultura. She reviewed the Network’s achievements since its inception and emphasized its commitment to hosting annual conferences across diverse regions to foster institutional collaboration and advance humanities scholarship and academic publishing in Asia.

The conference featured two plenary sessions and six thematic forums, during which more than twenty scholars conducted multidimensional and interdisciplinary exchanges on issues pertinent to Asian academic journals. On October 19, Maria Luisa Torres Reyes chaired the Editorial Board Meeting, where members reviewed the Asian Journal Network’s accomplishments, discussed funding mechanisms and formal registration procedures, and outlined future collaborative initiatives. Professor Paolo Adriatico Bolanos from the University of Santo Tomas presented updates on the development and operation of the Alliance’s official website. In her concluding remarks, Professor Reyes expressed profound appreciation for the sustained support of all member institutions and reaffirmed the Network’s dedication to the principles of openness, collaboration, and academic integrity in building a robust Asian journal network and enhancing the global visibility of regional scholarship.

At the closing ceremony on the morning of October 19, Vincenz Serrano, Chief Editor of Kritika Kultura, summarized the outcomes of the conference and proposed continued efforts toward multilevel collaboration among member journals to strengthen the Asian academic publishing domain. He extended gratitude to the School of Foreign Languages, the Journal Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the volunteer team for their invaluable contributions. Professor Shang Biwu delivered the closing remarks, expressing sincere appreciation to all participating editors and scholars across Asia. He highlighted that the 2025 Annual Conference served not only as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a pivotal opportunity to advance the construction of a unified and influential Asian academic community, calling upon all members to work collectively toward this shared goal.

During the ceremony, chief editors and institutional representatives jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding of the Asian Journals Network, formally committing to support core initiatives such as the standardization of editorial and publishing practices, the sharing of academic resources, and enhanced regional scholarly exchange. 

The 2025  Conference thus not only consolidated the Network’s developmental achievements but also charted a strategic course for future cross-border collaboration, digital innovation, and academic advancement in Asian scholarly publishing.