Directors of Fudan European Center for China Studies Geir Helgesen and Liu Chunrong, with President of Fudan University Yang Yuliang

China Seminar Series kicked off at the Fudan-European Centre for China Studies

The new Fudan-European Centre for China Studies, located at Nordic Institute of Asian Studies at the University of Copenhagen, held its first workshop on October 17, 2013 at Asia House, with the president of Fudan University, Yang Yuliang, addressing the audience on this new intiative, which is unique in a European context. Story and pictures below.

On October 17, 2013, the Fudan-European Centre for China Studies held a workshop on “critical currents in China” with Nordic Institute of Asia Studies (NIAS) and launched the Centre’s China Seminar Series at Asia House, Copenhagen, with presentations by an academic delegation of Fudan University led by President Yang Yuliang.

Three leading scholars of Fudan University, Prof. Zhang Rulun, Prof. Ying Xiaohua and Prof. Sun Lijian, presented their perspectives on three individually important but interconnected issues in China: the identity and modern relevance of Chinese traditional thoughts and philosophy, the evolution of social security regimes with a special focus on public health reform in the trajectory of rapid urbanization and population aging, and the finance industry opening with new experiment of a Free Trade Zone in Shanghai as a response to the post-crisis global economy.

This workshop was co-moderated by the centre’s directors Prof. Geir Helgesen and Prof. Liu Chunrong, who said that the presentations share one thing in common: a keen understanding of the new dynamics of China’s transformation, about which the centre will spare no effort in advocating for cross-disciplinary and comparative perspectives.

President Yang Yuliang attended the seminar and delivered a keynote address in the luncheon. He congratulated the launch of China Seminar Series as well as the thought-provoking discussions in the workshop. He shared his vision of building overseas research platforms for China Studies, and expected that the centre at the University of Copenhagen will play a significant role in creating cutting-edge knowledge that can achieve a more balanced understanding of Chinese development and can promote mutual understanding between China and the world.

This workshop was applauded by a group of participants from academia, government, business and the public. Prof. Niels Thygesen, a top Danish economist, commented on the session on finance transformation and believed that the centre’s programs will generate wonderful ideas and research opportunities. Counsellor Xu Yong, representing the Chinese Embassy in Denmark, delivered a special speech in the opening session, introducing recent developmental policies in China. Prof. John E. Andersen and Mr. Carsten Dencker Nielsen also spoke to the delegation and audience on behalf of the University of Copenhagen and Asia Business Forum during the luncheon, congratulating the establishment of Fudan-European Center in Copenhagen as well as the success of this workshop.

Pictures

President of Fudan University Yang Yuliang

Professor Zhang Rulun

Professor Niels Thygesen

Professor Ying Xiaohua

Director of NIAS and Fudan-European China Centre, Geir Helgesen

Professor Liu Chunrong, director of Fudan-European China Centre

Lunch with talk by president of Fudan University Yang Yuliang

The Asia House venue

Source: http://chinafocus.ku.dk/collaboration/research/socialsciences/fudan-european-center-for-china-studies/