China Center News

Spring 2001

Hsiao Endowment Strengthens the University Ties in China

Picture: Jennie and Fred Hsiao (second from left and center)with (from left)University Foundation President Gerald Fisher, vice president for research Christine Maziar, China Center Director Hong Yong

Jennie H. and Fred F. Hsiao have established the Jennie and Fred Hsiao Scholarship Fund of $50,000 at the China Center. The gift creates an endowment to provide scholarships to University of Minnesota students, allowing them to incorporate an educational experience in China as part of their academic studies.The scholarship will be available starting in the 2001-02 academic year."

This generous gift is an important contribu-tion to the education of students about China," said China Center director Hong Yang. "In the months and years ahead, the economic and cultural ties between Minnesota and China will continue to develop rapidly. Business and government organizations will need more employees with a solid understanding of the dynamics of China and the region. The Hsiao scholarship endowment will provide more students with the means to do so."

Jennie Hsiao was born in Hunan and moved to Taiwan in 1946. She received a bachelor's degree in foreign languages from National Taiwan University. Born and raised in a farmer's family near Xi'an, Fred Hsiao received a B.S. degree at National Wuhan University and a M.S. degree at MIT in civil engineering in 1947. He came to the University of Minnesota to continue his Ph.D. study in hydraulic engineering, and then started in the construction business in 1951. The Hsiaos own Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc., the largest minority construction contractor in Minnesota. They have been part of the Twin Cities community for more than fifty years, and are highly respected for their generous spirit and devotion to building a greater appreciation of Chinese culture in Minnesota.

The U of M Welcomes New East Asian Librarian

The University's East Asian Library once again has a full time librarian. Su Chen arrived Feb. 1, with high hopes for the library's future.

Su Chen was born in Beijing, received her B.A. in philosophy from Guizhou University, her M.A. in Chinese philosophy from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and her master of library science and information studies from McGill University in Montreal, where she also served as East Asian librarian for two years.

"The University of Minnesota's East Asian Library is four times bigger than McGill's," Su Chen stated with excitement. With a wide variety of works in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, the library is an important research resource. For more information, visit the East Asian Library in the sub-basement of Wilson Library or call 612-624-5863. Su Chen may be contacted at suchen@umn.edu.

Chamber Music Society of Minnesota Presents World Premiere of Hun Qiao with Yo-Yo Ma

On May 30, the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota will present the world premiere performance of H®?n Qi®¢o (Bridge of Souls) at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul. The history-making concert of remembrance and reconciliation, featuring world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, is a collaboration between the Society and the Asian American community of Minnesota to commemorate the little-known Asian tragedies of World War II.

The impetus for this project came from events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in 1995. "Those events awakened in many Asian Americans deeply buried but unresolved anguish about the Asian Pacific Conflict," says project chair Weiming Lu. "They remain a source of pain yearning to be ameliorated."

Four Asian Americans-Weiming Lu, Yo-Yo Ma, Young-Nam Kim, and Pearl Lam Bergad-decided to commission an entire chamber music concert in memory of these tragedies. Titled H®?n Qi®¢o, the concert looks back to call home the souls of the dead (H®?n) while looking forward to build a bridge (Qi®¢o) of reconciliation for all peoples involved in the conflict. In addition to Yo-Yo Ma, it features pipa artist Wu Man in new works by four internationally acclaimed composers: Hi Kyung Kim, Chen Yi, Michio Mamiya, and Andrew Imbrie.

Tickets are available through the Ordway Box Office, at 651-224-4222. If you want additional information, please visit www.chambermusicsocietymn.org.

College of Agriculture's Field Study Seminar to China in May Intersession

Picture: Three Gorges on the Yangtze River

The College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences is offering an International Field Study Seminar to China in May. Drs. Rodney Smith and Donald Liu will lead the group of 14 students during the two-week seminar. Students will explore natural resources, the food and fiber systems, and the historical and cultural adaptation of these systems in three different locations: Baoding, Chongqing, and Hangzhou.

At each location, the group will be hosted by partner universities — Agricultural University of Hebei; Southwest Agriculture University and Chongqing Agricultural Bureau; and Zhejiang University.

The group will also travel the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges area to learn about rural development, natural resources, and policy implication of large-scale development programs.

Shaanxi Training Program to Begin in June

The first group of 22 junior executives from Shaanxi Province will arrive in early June to begin a five-month training program in management and policy administration.

The participants will spend ten weeks at the University in class and then upon completing the course work, the participants will apply the newly learned concepts through a job shadowing positions at local companies and government agencies.

Hong Yang, director of the China Center, observed that many of the executives are expected to ascend to key positions in government and business. The training program strengthens Minnesota's relationship with China and builds a solid connection for the future.

If you would like to learn more about the training group's schedule or would like to involve your organization or business, please contact Joan Brzezinski at the China Center.

MOT's International Residency in Beijing

The U of M's Management of Technology (MOT) program will focus its International Residency trip on the Asia region this spring. Leaving for Beijing on April 15, the 36 students and four staff will attend lectures, corporate visits, and cultural tours to such places as Legend Group Co., China Committee for Promotion of International Trade, Beijing Economy and Technology Development Zone, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall. After Beijing, MOT will continue to Singapore. By focusing on Asia, participants will develop a greater understanding of the history and future of the region, and gain an appreciation of its global importance.

Visitors to the China Center, January to March

Picture: From left to right: Consul Wang Shenggang, President Yodof, Dr. Jiangbo, and Consul Cheng Jiacai

Dr. Jiang Bo, the educational councilor and director of the Office of Education at the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, visited the University in late January. Dr. Jiang, along with Consul Wang Shenggang and Consul Qian Jiacai, met with President Yudof as well as students from the U of M's Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars.

On March 13, President Yuan Shu of Lingnan (University) College at Zhongshan University in Guangdong, and Tony Koo, director of the Carlson School of Management's Executive MBA progam at Lingnan (University) College, visited the China Center.

Governor Ventura Announces Trade Trip to China

Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura will go to China for a 12-day business development mission in November. At a press conference at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on March 2, Ventura discussed his fourth major trade mission, which will be his longest and most ambitious thus far.

"China represents the Number 1 marketing opportunity of the twenty-first century," Ventura proclaimed. "It's time to go to China."

According to Minnesota Trade Office director of export promotion Tony Lorusso, China has climbed from eleventh place as an importer of Minnesota products to the third-largest importer in 1999, just behind Canada and Japan. Due to China's increasing status as a trade partner, three delegations of business officials will represent medical products, information technology, and agriculture and processed foods.

In addition to the trade agenda, Ventura also hopes to have some fun. Having recently resumed jogging, Ventura said he'd like to run a mile or two on the Great Wall of China. The China Center has been invited to assist the Minnesota Trade Office with the trip.

"China in Turbulent Times" by Dr. Carol Lee Hamrin

Picture:Dr. Carol Lee Hamrin

"China in Turbulent Times"

Dr. Carol L. Hamrin 3pm
lecture and reception 3M Auditorium,
Carlson School of Management

Dr. Carol Lee Hamrin is the Former Senior China Affairs Specialist with the US State Department and author of China and the Challenges of the Future. Dr. Hamrin forecasts the political and social climate of a changing China during the first decade of the third millennium. China's robust economy offers a direct challenge to the ossified politics of the past 60 years, even as broader cultural forces, some of them shaped by returning students and scholars, promise a dynamic and often-changing decade that will dramatically affect China's relationship to the world.

Sponsors: China Center; the Maclaurin Institute; Humphrey Institute's Freeman Center for International Economic Policy; International Program Carlson School of Management; and the Minnesota International Center.

Chinese Humphrey Fellow is Spring Intern

Picture: Mr. Wenjie Fu

Wenjie Fu is an intern at the China Center for Spring 2001. While in China, Fu worked as Deputy Director at the Standing Committee for the National People's Congress of China. He received his master's degree from Beijing University's School of Law.

During his stay at the Humphrey Institute, Fu Wenjie analyzes foreign legal systems, especially those of the West, and explores the ways they may be utilized in Chinese contexts. He is currently investigating the U.S. legal system and how it works within civil society. Mr. Fu is also planning to study the judicial and legislative branches of the government, focusing on the rights and obligations that government officials have and how they perform their duties.

As a Humphrey Fellow, he regards his affiliations with and internship at the China Center as an important component of his academic program.

China Scholarship Award Winners

Picture: Andrea, China Center Director Hong Yang, and Julie

Congratulations to Andrea Albright and Julie Ha Truong, the two Chinese Scholarship Council award winners for 2001 – 2002.

Andrea is majoring in global studies and Chinese, and Julie in global studies and minoring in political science and Chinese. Both Andrea and Julie plan to study at Peking University