China Center News

Fall 2001

United Nations Development Program Project

Dr. H. H. Cheng, professor and head of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, has been appointed Chief Technical Advisor of a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project entitled "Water Saving Agriculture in Northwest China." He recently traveled to the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest of Xian, to review the project's progress in instituting water saving practices by changing from flood and rill irrigation to sprinkler and drip irrigation, in solving soil salinity problems, and in introducing higher-value and higher-revenue crops.

Cheng said that the landscape of Ningxia reminded him of the landscape of eastern Washington, where he was a long time faculty member at Washington State University before coming to Minnesota. The semi-arid climate, highly eroded loess plateau, remoteness from the coastal populated region, and lack of natural resources and industrial development had made this region one of the poorest in the country. Trying to raise the educational level of the people and develop a sustainable agricultural development system for the region will be a great challenge for this UNDP project."

The China Center has been working with officials at the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to bring more UNDP projects to the University of Minnesota," said Dr. Hong Yang.

Training Begins at the U

Twenty trainees from the Administrative Department of Zhejiang Province arrived at the University of Minnesota September 10 to attend a short-course training on e-government. While in Minnesota they also visited with government agencies to see the possible applications of this technology.

Earlier this year a group from Shaanxi Province, sister-state to Minnesota, decided to forego its executive training at the University because the U.S. Embassy denied 10 out of 22 participants visas. According to a recent article published in the Chronicle of Higher Education Chinese students and scholars are being denied visas to the U.S. at a rate that is much higher than the previous year. J-1 visa denials have increased as much as 200percent. The visa denials are a pervasive problem for U.S. universities affecting many academic programs. Most Chinese graduate students are admitted to universities as teaching or research assistants to help defray the cost of their tuition.

As at the University of Minnesota, their positions will go unfilled in fall semester and many departments will close course sections or reduce the services available for other students. Some faculty will need to postpone their research or increase the load on the current graduate students.

The cancellation of the Shaanxi Province executive training program is an unfortunate setback for the sister-state relationship and has impacted many sectors of our communities. In recognition of the importance of this exchange to Minnesota, many individuals and offices have offered their support for the program and worked tirelessly to reverse the decision to deny the visas. The China Center would like to acknowledge the office of Governor Jesse Ventura, Senator Mark Dayton, Congressman Jim Ramstad, Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson, and the Minnesota Trade Office for their efforts on behalf of the University of Minnesota China Center and this training program. These efforts and continued cooperation will help to build new economic, academic, and social ties between Minnesota and China.

Chou Remembered

ChouIt is with great sadness that we note the death of Dr. Shelley Chou on July 21, 2001. Dr. Chou served on the China Center Advisory Committee from 1995 on, where he was an articulate and valued member. Dr. Chou was born in Chekiang (Zhejiang) Province in 1924, went to St. John's University in Shanghai, and came to the United States in 1948. He graduated from the University of Utah Medical School in 1949. He took his neurosurgical residency at the University of Minnesota where he also earned a Ph.D. He later became a full professor at the University.

He was nationally known for his neurosurgical research, was a member of all the major national neurosurgical societies and was renowned as a skillful and compas- sionate neurosurgeon as well as an excellent teacher. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1989. From 1993 to 1995, he was called out of retirement to serve as the interim dean of the Medical School.

Throughout his career, Dr. Chou maintained close family and professional ties with China. Dr. Chou died in July 2001 of cancer . His wise and calm counsel will be very much missed.

— Dr. Yang Wang, Medicine

Student Reflections of Summer China Experiences

"Spending three weeks in China was an amazing experience. We traveled extensively throughout the country including the cities of Baoding, Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. We saw the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam, the Hangzhou Silk Market and West Lake, the futuristic architecture of Shanghai, and many more incredible sites. Aside from tourist attractions, we were also exposed to many aspects of Chinese agriculture, universities, and people. We visited several universities and farms where we were able to see practices similar to and different from our own. I most enjoyed seeing the differences such as the terraced rice paddies and the exotic crops. At the Universities, we received very warm welcomes from the students and staff. They were anxious to meet us, show us their campus, and help us with whatever we needed. I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience a country so different from my own in a manner atypical from that of most tourists. Overall, it was a very positive experience during which I learned not only about China but also myself."

— by Sara Hendrickson, Senior in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department

"As I look through the photographs of my trip to China I am always drawn back to one thing, the beautiful countryside. I was totally amazed by the spectacular sights along the Yangtze River, especially the Three Gorges. A three-day cruise gave me ample time to appreciate all of Mother Nature's visual gifts. Also, a brief stay in Hangzhou left me wishing for more time as I toured the hillside farms. I marveled at the intricate patterns made by the intercropping of rice and vegetable plants. Finally, the stark contrast of the city of Shanghai did not alter my opinion of this country. In fact, it only heightened my appreciation. Futuristic Pudong was so very different from the Old World European style of the Bund. I am so glad I took the opportunity to travel to China. It was an experience I will never forget."

— by Patty Christjaener, Graduate Student in the Food Sciences & Nutrition Department

Visit of Wang Hong-Guang

Dr. Wang Hong-Guang, deputy director-general, Department of Rural and Social Development at the Ministry of Science and Technology, China, spent a near two-month sabbatical in July and August at the China Center. Wang, also a professor at China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing, received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics in 1990 at CAU. Dr. Wang is responsible for the management of research programs concerning agriculture, medicine, and bio-technology at the Ministry. He has served as a policymaker at the Ministry and drafted many important documents such as "National Program of Agriculture Science and Technology (2000-2015)," the "Tenth Five-Year Plan of Agricultural Science and Technology (2001 – 2005)."

Dr. Wang is the initiator and a key organizer of the "International Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology" (ICAST), November 7 – 9, Beijing. The University of Minnesota was selected to be one of five academic sponsoring organizations at ICAST. Dr. Charles Muscoplat, vice president for agricultural policy and dean of the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, will lead a delegation from the University to ICAST, where Dr. Muscoplat will deliver a keynote speech.

Dr. Wang has indicated an interest in initially funding one or two extension projects in China in partnership with the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hong Yang at the China Center and Dr. Wang will explore this idea further with interested parties in China.

Recent Visitors April – August 2001

Dr. Zhang Kan, director-general, Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, visited the University April 17 – 18. During his stay, Zhang met with various professors in the psychology, child development, and educational psychology departments.

Professor Chen Hong, vice president of Nankai University, led a delegation to visit the University on April 24 – 25. An informal reception in honor of this delegation was held, attended by about 30 Nankai alumni currently studying at the University.

Reunion

Professor Lu Tiecheng, president of Sichuan University, led a delegation to the University April 24 – 27, with the purpose of learning more about the administration practices of the Medical School in the areas of teaching, research and specifically human resource issues. The delegation included Dr. Zhang Zhaoda, MD, vice president of Sichuan University and five other key faculty.

Sichuan

Mr. Han Ren, deputy director of the Harbin Foreign Affairs Office, and his colleague Mr. Song Xiangdong visited the China Center on May 15. The City of Minneapolis and Harbin are Sister Cities.

On Tuesday, May 29, the China Center, in cooperation with the American Pacific Musicians Association, hosted an afternoon reception in honor of Professor Chen Yi and celebrated pipa artist Ms. Wu Man. Both of these honored guests performed in the May 30 Hun Qiao concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

A delegation led by Ms. Meng Xiuqin, deputy director-general from the Beijing Municipal Personnel Bureau, visited the University on May 30, for the purpose of researching future executive training programs in coordination with the China Center's new Minda Institute for Leadership Training.

On June 11, the China Center hosted a lunch for a delegation of photographers visiting in honor of the Beijing Photo Exhibit (held by the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association, June 11-July 11). This delegation included Mr. Cui Enqing, vice chairman of Beijing Art & Literature Association; Mr. Guo Zhiquan, president of Beijing Photographer's Association, and four others.

On June 18, Ms. Shen Xuesong visited the China Center. Ms. Shen is the deputy director for the Department of American and African Programs for the China Education Association for International Exchange. She met with China Center staff to learn more about the Mingda Institute for Leadership Training and discuss future possibilities of cooperation.

From July 30 to August 2, Professor Liu Yingming, vice president and dean of the Graduate School at Sichuan University, and his colleague Mr. Pan Hongping visited.

Director General He Guowei, chief representative of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel to the U.S.A., and his colleague Mr. Wang Dingming visited the University on August 30-31. They came to review facilities, meet the faculty and discuss the objectives of the Chinese government in developing training programs for qualified Chinese professionals in the U.S.

New Graduate Administrative Fellow

MaggieLufang Meng (Maggie) is from Zhejiang Province, China. She received her B.A. degree in English and Diplomacy from Beijing Foreign Studies University. During this time, she worked as an intern reporter in the Xinhua News Agency for six months. After graduation, she worked as an executive assistant in a high-tech company in Beijing for one year before she came to the University of Minnesota in August 2000. Maggie is now pursuing her M.A. degree at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is currently working on various translation projects as well as redesigning the China Center Web site. Maggie enjoys being a new addition to the China Center staff.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, October 4

Jacqueline Ann Willis, JP, Hong Kong Commissioner to the U.S. will visit the University of Minnesota, for more information call the China Center at 612-624-1002 (Event Cancelled!!!)

Thursday, October 11

Yang Jie Chi, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the U.S. will visit the University of Minnesota, for more information call the China Center at 612-624-1002 (Event Cancelled!!!)

Friday, October 19

"WTO Membership and Religious Freedom in China"
Dr. Kim-Kwong Chan
4 p.m. lecture and reception
Carlson School of Management Room 1-126

Travel Grants

Fall 2001 Awards

Zhiguang Guo, Surgery

Mei-ling Hsu, Geography

Peggy Johnson, Library

Rebecca P. Shockley, Music

Jun Zhu, Biosystem & Agricultural Engineering

Deadline for 2001-2002 Travel Grants

To travel Jan., Feb., Mar., Apri. 2002 — Apply by Dec. 3, 2001

To obtain guidelines for faculty travel grants please call the China Center at 612-624-1002, or download an application from our web site http://www.chinacenter.umn.edu