China Center News

Winter 2001

"The Fifty Years Inside The People's Republic" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is currently showing "Fifty Years Inside The People's Republic," a collection of photographs taken by Asian and Western photographers that spans fifty years of Chinese history. The exhibit features over fifty works of twenty photographers. The images are significant and breathtaking, capturing forever on film rare glimpses into the lives of political and historical figures as well as everyday people conducting their lives and their work against a backdrop of phenomenal scenery. Viewers are allowed to witness social and technological developments and to gain an understanding of historical events. The photography is both artistic and extremely vivid so the viewer can almost imagine being present in each scene and experiencing the reality of the time.

The exhibit is organized by the Aperture Foundation in association with the Asia Society. It opened December 10 and will run through March 4, 2001. For ticket information contact:

Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2400 Third Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-3131
www.artsmia.org

Professional Training Program to Begin in May

In an effort to strengthen the many academic, economic, and cultural exchange partnerships between the State of Minnesota and China, the China Center is developing a series of custom training programs for mid-level career track individuals in the municipal and provincial government offices in mainland China.

The first group from Shaanxi Province, Minnesota's sister state, will arrive in May. The Shaanxi training program will introduce the participants to western concepts in management, public administration, and human resources. At the end of the program participants will visit with local companies and business leaders to observe management concepts in practice.

"It is an excellent opportunity to expand the education-industry partnership to advance the economic and academic ties to China," says Dr. Hong Yang, director of the China Center.

For more information about the training programs or the visitors from Shaanxi, contact the China Center at 612-624-1002.

A Brief Perspective On China

By C. Eugene Allen, Executive Director, Office of International Programs

Professor Allen spent 19 days in China in November accompanied by China Center director Hong Yang; H.H. Cheng, head of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate; and Michael Schmitt, associate dean in the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. Their visit was made at the invitation of the Chongqing Agricultural Bureau to give lectures on extension, environmental issues, and interdisciplinary programs and to discuss a number of current or possible agreements. They also visited and attended meetings in Beijing, Xi'an, Yangling, Yichang, Tianjin, and Baoding, at a total of six universities, eight ministries or bureaus, two high technology centers, CCTV, and both the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Allen and Dr. Yang also spent two days touring the Three Gorges area by boat, including the dam and the relocated city of Zigui. During Professor Allen's career, beginning in the College of Agriculture where he served on the faculty and as dean, he has lived in Australia, spent time in Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the Caribbean, and South America, and worked extensively in Morocco. This was his first trip to China.

China is the most rapidly developing country that I have ever visited. Change is apparent in education, highways, airports, buildings, coal-to-gas conversion, sewage treatment, distance education, research programs, and technology parks. We had many days with bad smog, evidence that much still remains to be done in the area of environmental issues on the Yangtze River and in adjacent farming communities.

Of China's total population of about 1.2 billion, about 70 percent are "peasants." With average per capita peasant income at $181US, compared to $569US for China's urban dwellers, the high priority being given to "western development" by the central government is understandable. Western development, a topic of frequent discussion, relates to further development in the 12 western provinces and autonomous regions of China. This area has a population nearly equal to that of the United States and Mexico combined and is home to the majority of China's ethnic minorities. The expected outcome over the next few decades is to provide new economic activity and employment opportunities, increase agricultural productivity, and increase average peasant income, while continuing self-sufficiency in food production. This will require major investments from inside and outside of China.

Various branches of China's government are making significant investments in science, training programs, and technology parks. The World Trade Agreement and concern about the ability of various Chinese sectors to be globally competitive with quality products were frequent topics. Public administration workshops of the kind that the China Center has recently contracted with Shaanxi Province are of interest to a number of other government units, and more agreements are being developed with universities in the United States and Europe. This fall China announced large ($12-15 million) cooperative science programs with Australia and Denmark on sheep embryo transplant and pig genome projects, respectively. Our meetings in Chongqing involved program ideas to assist in linking research findings, market opportunities, and extension programs to peasant needs.

The University of Minnesota has many excellent linkages and programs in a variety of places in China. At this critical time of change in such a rapidly developing country, and with such a strong presence of students and scholars already in Minnesota, this seems appropriate. An excellent reputation opens numerous opportunities for University of Minnesota units. Our challenge will be in deciding what to do and with whom to partner to accomplish established goals and maximize our accomplishments rather than spreading ourselves too thin. There is also a great need for many more Minnesota students to study Chinese culture and language, and to begin to gain first-hand experience in a country that will play a major role in world affairs and the global economy of this century.

We are fortunate to have staff and faculty members like Dr. Yang and Professor Cheng who can open doors and quickly establish linkages because of their knowledge of China's culture and language, and their many contacts who are willing to assist them in meeting their objectives. The importance of such relationships in China should not be underestimated, and make the China Center's value to our colleges and departments a unique and unparalleled resource.

Delegations
September – December 2000

Picture: NingXia Delegation at the Hennepin County Commissioner Office.

Wang Hongguang, Deputy Director General, Department of Rural and Social Development in the Ministry of Science and Technology, visited the University in early September. He met with members of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environ-mental Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate.

A delegation of Chinese professors from six different universities hosted by 3M came to the university in October. While on campus they toured facilities including the Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, the Particle Technology Laboratory and the High Temperature Plasma Center.

At the end of October a delegation of 14 journalists and scholars from Shaanxi traveled to Minnesota after attending a Brigham Young University symposium on Helen Snow (wife of Edgar Snow), who was a bridge builder between the U.S. and China for over 60 years. The group met with Joe Allen, chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Literature.

Also at the end of October, a delegation organized by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center came to the University to learn about programs in agriculture.

In early November a group from Harbin visited the China Center during its 10-day trip to the United States to explore student exchange programs.

A 16-member delegation from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region visited the University in November. The group, comprised largely of governmental leaders, met with Randy Johnson, Hennepin County Commissioner, as well as representatives of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Trade Office. They also paid a visit to some of Minnesota's important agricultural businesses including Land O' Lakes. At the University they met with several heads of departments and visited the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca.

Chinese New Year 2001, the Year of Snake

The Year of the Snake January 24, 2001, begins the Year of the "Snake Sleeping in Winter." The success of the year ahead will depend on the work that is done this winter. In this particular snake year, there is an association with deep winter, with potential hardship and difficulties to overcome.

The snake is born under the sign of wisdom and is a highly intelligent deep thinker. He enjoys a challenge because it will give him an opportunity to ponder and produce a solution. He derives much pride and pleasure from the thought that he relies on his own judgment. The snake is a hard worker and is thorough in all his endeavors. He can at times appear to be a loner. The snake is a later starter in life, and during his life will shed one of his famous snake skins and take up a new interest or start a whole new and different career.

Staff Changes

Sarah Joy Backstrom became the new office Specialist at the China Center beginning January 24. She replaces Carri Marlow, who has returned to school full time to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.

Sarah is a University alumna with a degree in East Asian studies. She studied Chinese at Nankai University in Tianjin in 1998-99. Sarah has just concluded a position as China Adoptions Specialist at the Children's Home Society of Minnesota. She is excited about joining the staff here at the China Center and hopes to use her past experiences in promoting further cultural understanding between China and the United States.

Travel Grants
Spring 2001 Awards

Avner Ben-Ner, Human Resources and Industrial Relations

Michele Bordrin, Economics

Sauman Chu, Design, Housing, and Apparel

Chatherine Liu, Cultural Studies

Jianyi Zhang, Medicine

Tongxin Zhu, Geography

Dealines For 2001 – 2002 Grants

To travel May, June, July, Aug, 2001 Apply by April 3, 2001

To travel Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec., 2001 Apply by August 1, 2001

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

To obtain guidances for faculty travel grants please call the China Center at 612-624-1002, or download an application from our website www.chinacenter.umn.edu

Upcoming Events

February 2 – 9

"Suzhou River", U Film Society, 7:15pm, Bell Museum Auditorium 612-627-4430

May (dates to be announced)

Dalai Lama Visit to Minnesota
Tibetan American Assn. of Minn.
www.dalailamaminnesota.org

May 30

Hun Qiao, featuring Yo-Yo Ma
Ordway, St. Paul
651-224-4222 for ticket information

Cinema with Passion
25 Hongkong films with Asian Media Access