China Center News

Spring 2004

China Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary

To kick off a year of celebration for its 25th anniversary, the China Center hosted a Chinese New Year’s celebration on January 21, 2004. The event featured a keynote speech by former U.S. Senator Rod Grams on U.S.-China relations, a lion dance, and other traditional Chinese entertainment.

Since 1979, the China Center has made great and significant contributions to building bridges between the University, Minnesota, the U.S., and China. This anniversary event helped the China Center acknowledge the many builders of these bridges, share in its current accomplishments, and look to its future role in forging new exchange and partnerships between the U.S. and China. In looking back over the last 25 years, the China Center also acknowledged the service of each of the former directors of the China Center. Professor Emerita Mei-Ling Hsu, the first director, served from 1979 to 1983. She was a true pioneer in the development of academic exchange with China and was a member of the University’s first official delegation to China in 1979. Dr. M. Patricia Needle served from 1983 to 1993, and directed the China Center during a period of immense social and economic change in China. Professor David Y.H. Pui directed the China Center from 1993 to 1998 and under his leadership the China Center reached out to faculty, departments, and adminstrators to create new academic exchanges and partnerships in China.

A highlight of the evening was the introduction of the newly formed China Center Friends by the group’s first president Jill Griffiths (see page 3), a recognition of Bob and Kim Griffin’s gift to establish the Bob and Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Bridges Seminar (see back page), and an acknowledgement of Lurie Besikof Lapidus and Co. as the first China Center Corporate Partner.

Master of ceremonies and chair of the 25th Anniversary Planning Committee, Professor Mahmood Zaidi, remarked that it was outstanding to speak to a sold out audience of more than 400 people and that the good work of the China Center in building U.S.-China bridges has a strong future.

ChinaDay 2004 is broadcast on Chinese Television

On Friday, April 23, the China Center hosted high school students on campus as part of its annual China Day event. The goal of the event is for University students and faculty to encourage local high school students to continue their Chinese language studies. The day included presentations and skits as well as visits to local Chinese restaurants.

A special feature of this year’s China Day was a live videoconference with high school students at the Beijing Royal School in China. The Minnesotan students interacted and discussed various topics through this live video feed as part of the nationally known program, “Meet China” on China’s CCTV-4. A portion of this year’s China Day activities was then broadcast throughout China and to more than 100 countries on May 8. More information about the “Meet China” program can be found at www.skyarc.com.

Designed to feature the economy, culture, and industry of selected locations in China, “Meet China” introduces local government, education, commercial, and civic leaders of a specific city in China to their counterparts in a selected U.S. city.

China Day also included a picture power-point presentaion by Ryan Johnson, U of M alumnus who studied as an IRSEP scholar at Nankai University in Tianjin, China in 2002-03. Ryan shared from his personal adventures and answered many questions from the audience.

The China Center would like to warmly thank the co-sponsors of China Day: the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, the Institute of Global Studies, and the U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association of MN. Thanks also to the more than fifty U of M student volunteers who were a great help. The following restaurants also participated: Camdi, China Express, Hong Kong Noodle, Lucky Dragon, Orchid Cafe, Shuang Cheng, and Village Wok. We look forward to many more China Days in the future!

Mingda Leadership Program Update

The China Center’s Mingda Institute for Leadership Training has hosted three long-term training groups since November 2003. Two groups have finished their training and returned China—a four-month training group of 17 Sichuan government officials in public administration and business management and a two-month group of 13 CEOs from Zhejiang province in advanced business leadership.

A group of 18 Sichuan province commissioners visited the University of Minnesota for one day of training in April. This delegation, led by Mr. Han Kaiming, vice president of the Sichuan Education Association, sought to learn more about the role of county commissioners in the U.S.

Finally, a six-month long training group of 18 Zhejiang foreign trade specialists and attorneys are studying issues related to the World Trade Organization. As part of their program, they are also participating in job shadowing assignments with the following prestigious institutions: 3M, Inc. Dorsey & Whitney, LLP; Kelly & Fawcett, PA; TBT Global Resources, LLC; Lurie Besikof Lapidus and Co., LLP; Minnesota Department of Agriculture; the Minnesota English Center; and the University of Minnesota Law School.

The China Center values the constructive relationship with these institutions and appreciates their strong support for the leadership training programs.

China Center, LBL host second China Business Colloquium

The China Center and its corporate partner, Lurie Besikof Lapidus and Co. (LBL), hosted the second China Business Colloquium (CBC) on April 29. Kent Kedl, of Technomic Asia, helped businesses identify their “China readiness” and explored some of the finer points of finding the right business partner and structure for a partnership in China. Gina DeConcini of LBL discussed the tax and income implications of the different types of partnerships doing business in China. Dr. Charles Lee, author of Cowboys and Dragons, spoke about his own lifetime of experiences working between American and Chinese cultures. He offered many tips on improving the relationships between Chinese and Americans and explained how these efforts could improve business.

Introducing China Center Friends President Jill Griffiths

My first trip to China was with corporate clients during an around-the-world business trip in 1995. Two years later I returned as a tourist, accompanied by my father. We stayed in Beijing and enjoyed spectacular sites of the capitol city. In 2000, I traveled to China with an even greater plan. After a two-year process, the China Center for Adoption Affairs matched my family with a beautiful baby girl from Hubei Province. During that journey I visited Beijing, Xi’an, Wuhan, LuShan, Guangzhou, and several small towns in the countryside.

My fourth trip to China was for yet another purpose! I arrived in November 2002 to teach Oral English to middle school students in a small Hubei city. Macheng had been seeking a foreign teacher and I became their first. My daughter Fei-Fei entered nursery school. She grew into a competent three-year-old and I am proud of her beyond measure. During our stay, she managed to speak two languages, learned to cook rice, skip and fly a kite. We have made friendships that will last a lifetime. When SARS erupted, most foreign experts took the advice of their consulates and left the country. Only after Fei-Fei became ill with pneumonia did I have her escorted home. She was reunited with her baba, State Senator Larry Pogemiller, and I remained in Hubei to fulfill my contract.

I was drawn to Hubei’s countryside for several reasons. First, our daughter was born near Wuxue (we have no information about her birth family). Second, we live in the city of Minneapolis, so living in a rural area (like most of China’s people) appealed to me. Third, where students in China’s larger cities have easier access to western cultures, I determined that young students in the countryside would be better served by my presence.

Although I have returned to that remarkable country for vastly different reasons, each experience has been an enriching one. America is truly a country in its infancy when compared to the history of China. And although one country is developed and another is developing, we should each play the role of teacher.

To that end, I was drawn to the work of the China Center upon my return to the U.S. Never before has the goal of promoting international friendships been more vital. Active for 25 years at the University of Minnesota, the China Center has arranged for student exchanges and business alliances. I am honored to be first president of the newly formed China Center Friends.

The CCF volunteer executive committee is made up of these community leaders: David Cheng, Charles Lee, John Lee, Sing Lo, Mindy Ratner, and Bob and Pam Schultz. Our purpose is to assist the China Center in advancing its mission to build bridges between the U.S. and Greater China. Several times a year we will offer events to our members. Sometimes these will be cultural gatherings, involving Chinese music and art, or will include discussions with guest speakers on topics relevant to U.S.-China relations. Always, we offer compelling reasons to come together. Our success depends on you, and we hope you will join us in becoming an inaugural member of China Center Friends. Welcome!

China Center Friends Host Tea Ceremony

The China Center Friends held its inaugural event on Friday, May 7, with a Chinese Tea Ceremony. This event featured Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of the Hormel Institute, who spoke on “Tea and Cancer Prevention,” as well as a traditional Chinese tea demonstration and tasting by Dr. Pai Kao of the Mayo Clinic.

For information on how to become a member of China Center Friends, please call the China Center at 612-624-1002.

U of M Students to Study Chinese Language Abroad in 2004 – 05

The China Center would like to wish the best to the following eight U of M students planning to study Chinese abroad during the 2004 – 05 school year. For the second year in a row, on behalf of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Mr. Shane Wu, director of the Cultural Division, has awarded scholarships to five U of M students: Anatoly Detwyler, Robert Marotz, Lydia Cheng, Julie Birkholtz and Jonathan Renner. Two have applied to the International Chinese Language Program at National University in Taipei.

Hannah Joslin received the International Reciprocal Student Exchange Program scholarship and will study at Nankai University in Tianjin. Randolph Zhao and Christian Golightly have both been accepted as Chinese University Exchange Program students at Peking University. Alyssa Holm and Mai Xiong were both awarded a Hsaio Scholarship to study in China this summer and fall. Congratualtions and best wishes to all of these U of M students as they pursue greater understanding of the Chinese language!

China Center Staff Say Hello and Goodbye

The China Center welcomes new staff member Chang Wang, a J.D. student at the University of Minnesota Law School. Chang works as a part-time legal and training assistant at the China Center and its Mingda Institute for Leadership Training.

The China Center’s Program Coordinator Sarah Joy Rinkenberger will be leaving after more than 3 years at the China Center. The China Center staff is thankful for Sarah’s hard work with visiting scholars, scholarship programs, event planning for a myriad of China Center events including China Day and New Year’s events. We wish Sarah and her husband Jesse the best as they move to Pakistan in June to develop a small business that will support various community development projects.

Giving Makes Greatness Possible

One of the fastest growing ways to make charitable gifts today is through online giving. It’s both convenient and easy and you’ll experience the sense of satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to advance the China Center mission of Building US-China Bridges. To make an online gift today, do the following:

  • Go to: www.giving.umn.edu
  • Click on: Give Online Today
  • Follow the prompts and complete the information requested. Be sure to indicate the amount of your gift.
  • In the box, type: China Center Director’s Fund #5712.
  • On the pull-down menu choose: China Center.

To discuss other ways of making charitable gifts to support the China Center, contact Development Officer Diane Young at 612-624-8819 or 800-775-2187.

Message from the Director

I am very excited to inform you that Bob and Kim Griffin, owners of Griffin International Companies based in Eden Prairie, pledged a donation of $500,000 to the China Center in February 2004 to create the Bob & Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Bridges Lecture Fund. The Griffin Fund provides a nucleus around which many other initiatives can be positioned to advance the China Center’s mission of “Building U.S.-China Bridges.” The first Griffin Lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17, 2004, on the Twin Cities Campus. Invited speakers include: Chinese Ambassador Yang Jiechi, U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and former Consul General in Shanghai Henry Levine, Haier America President and CEO Michael Jemal, Author of Cowboys and Dragons Charles Lee, and Best Buy Executive Vice President Michael London.

The Building Bridges Lecture, free and open to the public, invites a well-known academic leader, a notable entrepreneur, or a governmental dignitary to speak about issues relevant to U.S.-China relations. Past speakers have included Professor Jiang Zhenghua, vice chairman, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China; Dr. David Aikman, a senior fellow at Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center and a former senior correspondent of Time Magazine; and former U.S. Senator Rod Grams.

On behalf of the University of Minnesota China Center, I deeply thank Mr. and Mrs. Griffin for their pioneering leadership support for the China Center.