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2008 News

February

• Students from the High School Affiliated with Renmin University hosted by China Center (pic)

  The China Center hosted ten students from the High School Affiliated with Renmin University for lunch February 15. These students—all active members of the Little Writers Association—came to Minnesota on an exchange program with Breck School. Dr. Yongwei Zhang spoke to the students about the University of Minnesota and then gave them each a U of M t-shirt. Later that day, Joan Brzezinski and Jennifer Wu Dunn took the students to Coffman Union for lunch so they could experience first-hand the typical experience of a college student’s lunch hour. The China Center thanks Mr. David Cheng, owner of the China Tribune, for making this connection! (Photo courtesy of Dr. Hua Sun.)

January

• University of Minnesota Law School Dean Fred Morrison visits People's University and Capital Normal University in Beijing (pic1)(pic2)(pic3)
  

  China Center director Yongwei Zhang and the U of M Law School Dean Fred Morrison visited the People’s University and the Capital Normal University in Beijing during their recent trip to China on January 14-16.  They received a warm welcome from the officials of both institutions. Yuedong Zhou from the China Center and Stacey Mitchell from the Law School China program accompanied them during the entire visit and participated in all the meetings and other activities.

  Capital Normal is the cooperative partner with the U in their joint project of the Confucius Institute.  The Beijing Higher Education faculty Training Center, located on the campus of the Capital Normal, is also a partner of ours with the China Center’s leadership training program. The meetings with the officials from the Center, the International Exchanges Office and the Law School were cordial and productive.

  The People’s University is a top ranked institution and its law school is highly regarded in China.  Prof. Morrison was pleased with his meeting with the law school officials there and they have agreed to continue to have conversations about the collaborative efforts and joint programs between the two law schools in the future.  The Vice President of the People’s University, Prof. Chen Yulu, met with group from the University of Minnesota.

2007 News

November

• University of Minnesota IT Dean Dr. Steven Crouch visited the Dalian University of Technology (pic)
  On Nov. 16 and 17, China Center director Dr. Yongwei Zhang and the IT Dean Dr. Steven Crouch visited Dalian University of Technology (DUT), a well-known Chinese engineering school located in Dalian, China. The purpose of this visit was to exchange ideas with DUT colleagues on research collaboration and to discuss with school officials there of possibilities of building academic degree programs. During their visit, Dr. Crouch and Dr. Zhang met with Prof. Ning, vice-president of DUT, and the deans of several engineering colleges. Dr. Crouch and Dr. Zhang also toured the university campus and visited a key national laboratory facility located at DUT. This lab has extensive involvement of international researchers, including a U of M professor, Dr. Cui Tianhong from IT. Dean Crouch’s successful visit resulted in the proposal of a research exchange grant for two DUT faculty members starting next year (i.e. 2008-09). The plan is for DUT professors to propose collaborative projects to U of M professors who, if interested will establish a connection and work to set up the collaborative research project. Seed money has been offered to support the travel expense of two Chinese professors to visit the University each year. It is hoped that DUT will be able to provide a similar level of support so that our faculty will have more opportunities to work together.

October

• Dr. Yongwei Zhang and Dean Meredith McQuaid Travel to China and Sign an Agreement with Dalian University of Technology (pic)
  Dr. Yongwei Zhang, director of the China Center, and Associate Vice President and Dean for International Programs, Meredith McQuaid, traveled to China on October 19 to explore new exchanges and initiatives for the University. They visited Beijing, Dalian, and Changchun cities. In Dalian, they met with Vice President Dr. Ning Guiling at the Dalian University of Technology (DUT) to discuss possible collaboration and exchange. DUT is a top-ranked technology and engineering university in China. Dean McQuaid and Dr. Zhang then traveled to Changchun to visit Northeast Normal University, one of the top three normal universities in China. They met with President Shi Ningzhong and many administrators from several offices and departments. In both Dalian and Changchun, Dean McQuaid signed agreements to officiate the University’s interest in further exploring academic and research collaborations. Dean McQuaid noted “These are strong Chinese universities that have departments and programs that mirror many of the strengths of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Zhang has a clear vision for the University’s strategy in China and these new relationships will complement our existing partnerships and offer new and exciting opportunities for our faculty and students.”
  
  
• Jennifer Dunn Travels to China with Dr. Mike Anderson and Ms. Bethany Maupin from the Minnesota English Language Program
  Dr. Dunn returned to China to visit the High School Affiliated with Northeast Normal University and the High School Affiliated with Hunan Normal University with Dr. Mike Anderson, director of the Minnesota English Language Program and his colleague, Ms. Bethany Maupin. Together they tested and interviewed more than 30 students and brought back 22 applications for the Fall semester of 2008. The applications are being reviewed by the admissions office with priority and qualified applicants will receive a letter of admissions when the process is complete.
  
  
• China Center Oversees University of Minnesota Recruiting Efforts
  The China Center now oversees the recruitment efforts for Chinese students at the University of Minnesota and Jennifer is leading this charge. While in China, she paid a visit to four highly ranked high schools in China to explore a selective recruitment of top students. She gave presentations on the University of Minnesota to over 600 interested high school students.
  
  

September

• Dr. Yongwei Zhang speaks at the Weisman Art Museum’s Documenting China Program
  On Thursday, September 27 Dr. Yongwei Zhang gave a presentation at the Weisman Art Museum’s Documenting China Program Noontime Discussion Series.  The topic was Change in China and its Impact on Higher Education.  Dr. Zhang’s presentation highlighted the modern history of China’s education system as well as the current state of higher education in China.  He talked about the successes and challenges experienced by China’s higher education system that can be attributed to the countries rapid growth and expansion.  See the following link for information on upcoming speakers at the Weisman’s Documenting China Noontime Discussion Series: http://weisman.umn.edu/events/eventscal.php
  
  
• China Center Moon Festival Celebration and Welcome China Center Director
  On September 25, about 100 guests attended the Moon Festival celebration hosted by the China Center to meet with the new director, Dr. Yongwei Zhang, and celebrate this important holiday of harvest. People enjoyed moon cakes, fall fruit, and hot tea. Dr. Zhang surprised everybody when he played erhu and flute, two traditional Chinese instruments, like a pro. It was great to meet new and old friends at this fun event.
  
  
• Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) Tribute to Ruth and Bruce Dayton (pic)
  On Sunday, September 23, the local Chinese community organized an event at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) to pay tribute to Ruth and Bruce Dayton for their enormous contribution to the community.  The Dayton’s Family has “dramatically transformed the Asian Galleries” through their generous gift to MIA, as indicated by Greg Hugh in his China Insight article. The China Center presented a gift to the Daytons at this gathering.  It is a water-color painting of a traditional Chinese mansion by Ji Ye, a Chinese artist currently teaching at the Lake Superior College in Duluth.
  
  
• Dr. Zhang Keynote Speaker at the Building Partnerships with China Forum
  Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Director of the China Center, was the keynote speaker at the Building Partnerships with China forum held on September 21. The forum was offered both live onsite at the Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN and online via Web EX participation. This forum focused on strategies and tools for success in building partnerships with institutions in China. The goal was to equip faculty and administrators who are interested in forming partnerships with institutions in China critical knowledge and strategies for successful development. This forum was one of the Four Part Series on Understanding China and was made possible through a grant provided by the Minnesota State Universities and Colleges Center
  for Teaching and Learning. For more information on other forums in this Series, please contact Dr. Kathryn E. Johnson, PhD, Director of the China Initiatives at the St. Cloud State University at 320-308-3268.
  
  
• 2007 Bob and Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Bridges Lecture
  Jeffrey Bader of the Brookings Institution, gave the China Center Griffin lecture on Sept. 20 discussing China and the Middle East. Listen to the lecture online. China Insight article.
  
  
• Ambassador and VP Visit University
  Ambassador Wang Yunxiang and current the vice president of Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, spoke at the University of Minnesota on Sept. 14. His presentation "Peaceful Development and China – U.S. Relations" was sponsored by the University of Minnesota China Center. MORE
  
  
• Dr. Zhang Visits China Agriculture University in Beijing (pic)
  Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Director of the China Center visited the China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing during his recent trip to China in September. Dr. Zhang met with Dr. Feng Weizhe, Associate Dean of the International College and had a productive meeting with him on the possible future collaboration between CAU and the U of M. The Dean of the International College Meng Fanxi and the Vice President of CAU, Fu Zetian met with Dr. Zhang as well. On the evening of September 14, Dr. Zhang was invited to attend the Ceremony hosted by the International College at CAU to celebrate the reopening of their joint degree program with the University of Colorado at Denver and the Health Science Center.
  

• Sichuan Ethnic Minority Officials Delegation
  The Sichuan Ethnic Minority Officials delegation finished their training program "Public Affairs Administration and Sustainable Agricultural Development," at University September 7. Most of the 20 delegates are county commissioners from autonomous prefectures in the Sichuan Province. During the four-day training they attended lectures focused on public finance, rural development, religion and racial discrimination, and environmental issues. The delegation met with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the City of Minneapolis, and Hennepin County.

August

• Zhejiang Economic & Trade Polytechnic
  On August 15 to 18 a delegation from Zhejiang Economic & Trade Polytechnic visited the University to participate in the Higher Education Policy & Administration Training Program. Several University professors and professionals in human resources management, admission policy, and international exchanges presented lectures.
  
  
• Professor Bingxin Zhang Receives Award
  The departments of Plant Pathology and Agronomy and Plant Genetics, together with the university's China Center recently awarded Professor Bingxin Zhang of Zhejiang University a certificate of recognition. The award was made in honor of her collaboration in cereal disease research and fostering stronger relationships between China and the United States. Although she is retired, Professor Zhang continues to collaborate with University of Minnesota scientists. 
  
  
• Guests From China, Sponsored by the International Visitor Leadership Program, U.S. Department of State (pic)
  On August 10, the China Center received two special guests from China, who were here with the United States State International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. Department of State sponsored program.  They are Mr. Min Liu, Vice Dean, School of Law, Nanjing Normal and Mr. Jiansheng Zhang, Professor of Law, School of Law, Zhejiang University.  Ms. Noelle Xie, from the United Nations New York office accompanied the Chinese guests.  China Center Director Yongwei Zhang, Assistant Director Joan Brzezinski met with Mr. Liu and Mr. Zhang and talked about possible collaboration with the University of Minnesota and their organizations.  Both guests were extremely impressed with the University of Minnesota.
  
  
• Deputy Director Zhang Lixin, Department of Human Resources, Municipal Government, Harbin (pic)
  On August 14, a delegation led by Deputy Director Zhang Lixin from the Department of Human Resources, Municipal Government of Harbin visited the China Center. During the visit, the China Center staff took the group on a tour of campus as well as a trip through St. Paul and Minneapolis.  The purpose of the delegation’s visit to the University of Minnesota was to explore the opportunities for sending professionals and government administrators from Harbin to the U of M for training.  China Center Director Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Assistant Director Joan Brzezinski, and Training Program Coordinator Yuedong Zhou had very productive meetings with the group.
  
  
• Peng Xianfa, Mayor, Xiangtan, Hunan Province
  On August 1, Mr. Peng Xianfa, Mayor of the city of Xiangtan, Hunan Province, led a delegation on a visit to the University of Minnesota.  The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Associate Vice President and Dean of the Office of International Programs, Meredith McQuaid, China Center Director, Dr. Yongwei Zhang, and China Center Assistant Director, Joan Brzezinski.  Dean McQuaid gave the group an introduction to the University of Minnesota’s relationship with China and explained how the China Center has facilitated in promoting this relationship.  Mayor Peng’s delegation was in town to attend a business seminar on investing in main land China, sponsored by Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP and the Group.
  
  

  
  July

• Mr. Zou Li, PRC Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs (pic)
  Mr. Zou Li, Representative in New York for the People’s Republic of China Bureau of Foreign Expert Affairs (BFEA), visited the China Center and the Mingda Institute for Leadership Training on July 23 to 25.  The purpose of his visit was to explore further cooperation opportunities between BFEA and the University of Minnesota.  Representative General Zou was very pleased with the development of the China Center’s leadership training program and spoke highly of the University’s effort to provide meaningful curriculum and high quality training for Chinese officials from government offices and universities.  The U of M Assistant Vice President and Dean of the Office of International Programs Meredith McQuaid, China Center Director Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Assistant Director Joan Brzezinski, and Training Program Coordinator Yuedong Zhou met with Mr. Zou and had fruitful discussions.
  
  
• Weimin Lu, Best Buy
  On July 17, Best Buy’s Senior Vice President, Chairman, and General Manager, China, Weimin Lu visited the China Center to meet and welcome the new director Dr. Yongwei Zhang. Best Buy has been a long-time donor and corporate partner of the China Center. Lu also used this visit to discuss a proposal for a business administration training program for Best Buy China. This program, if accepted, would be run through the China Center’s Mingda Institute for Leadership Training.   The program would bring mid-level Best Buy managers and administrators as well as professional staff from Best Buy China to the University of Minnesota where they will benefit from the University’s expertise as well as its extended network of affiliations with business and government organizations.
  
  
• President Wendong Zhang, North China University
  The president of North China University,  Wendong Zhang, visited the University of Minnesota on July 16. The University is located in Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province and has more than 30,000 students.  Accompanied by the Nelson Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Tianhong Cui, President Zhang met with Dr. Yongwei Zhang, director of the China Center, and talked about training opportunities for administrators of North China University.  President Zhang also expressed interested in developing joint academic programs between the two universities.
  
  
• Dragon Festival Boat Races (pic)
  On July 14 – 15, the China Center hosted a boat to compete in the 2007 Dragon Festival Boat Races, an annual event held every summer at Lake Phalen Park on the East Side of St. Paul.  The China Center’s 20-person boat team was made up of U of M students, training delegation members from the Chinese University of Mining Technology, China Center staff, and friends of the China Center. The boat races are one of the most exciting parts of the Dragon Festival, an event filled with Asian dances, cultural performances, martial art demonstrations, authentic ethnic foods, and arts and crafts. The two days of beautiful weather and fun activities were enjoyed by everyone involved. The China Center is especially thankful to the many people who worked hard to make the festival an overwhelming success.
  (MN DAILY ARTICLE ON THE DRAGON BOAT RACE)
  
  
• China University of Mining Technology (pic)
  On July 10, the China Center’s Mingda Institute for Leadership Training welcomed the third annual training group from China University of Mining Technology.  The group of 37 professors will stay at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus for four weeks. Their training will include classes focusing on English language, higher education management, and American culture. While in Minnesota the group will have many opportunities to take part in community events as well as meet with American families and U of M students.  After the four-week stay at the University, the group will travel to Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles.
  
  
• Wang Ji, IMD Consulting
  On July 9, Wang Ji, president of Beijing-based IMD Consulting, visited the University of Minnesota China Center.  He made a special trip to Minnesota to meet new China Center Director Dr. Yongwei Zhang and to discuss the continued cooperation between the China Center and his company IMD.  IMD has an agreement with the University of Minnesota to help coordinate training delegations from China to the U.S.  IMD also helps with logistics for U of M groups visiting Beijing.  Wang Ji's visit provided a chance for China Center staff to clarify the working relationship between IMD and the U of M as well as plan future collaboration.
  
  
• Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (pic)
  On July 9, a delegation from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), led by Deputy Commissioner Shuhui Qu, visited the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. The purpose of the visit was to discuss plans for an upcoming training group, which will consist of SFDA regional directors from China’s western provinces. This will be the first time that the China Center’s Mingda Institute for Leadership Training will host this type of group.  China Center Director Dr. Yongwei Zhang, Assistant Director Joan Brzezinski, and Training Coordinator Yuedong Zhou met with the delegation and were extremely pleased with the outcome of the meeting and look forward to welcoming a delegation from SFDA to the University of Minnesota.