Course organiser:Frank Tay
China’s relatively recent transformation from a Third World country into a potentially First World economic super-power has attracted much attention. This series of talks looks at China from a number of perspectives.
29 Aug:
Eric Livingstone on 'China in the 21st century and where it is going': Eric has been the Managing Director of Guthrey Breeding Services and a past National President of the NZ-China Friendship Society. He has visited China 16 times. His talk will focus on China’s achievements, growth and progress and the potential for NZ in China’s future.
5 Sep:
Diana Madgin on 'Chinese Gardens and the Landscapes that inspired them': Diana has been a garden writer for The Press for 13 years and is a garden tour guide and operator and advocate of Christchurch heritage. She has visited China five times.
Her talk, illustrated with slides, will cover the traditional style of garden and how it has been influenced by Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.
12 Sep:
Phil Rolston on 'Food and Food Security in China': Dr Rolston is a Senior grassland scientist working on seed production with AgResearch at Lincoln. He has made 58 visits to China and worked on agricultural projects in 22 provinces.
His talk will deal with the role of food in the social life of China and issues of future food security.
19 Sep:
Alex Tan on 'Enter the Dragon - Nationalism, Identity and Economics in China-Taiwan Relations': Dr Tan is a Professor of Political Science at Canterbury University and Associate Director of the NZ Contemporary China Research Centre and a specialist in East Asian politics.
His talk will discuss the role of these three factors and their interplay in understanding the China-Taiwan relationship.
26 Sep:
Adam Lam on 'Contemporary Chinese Culture': Dr Lam is an Associate Professor in the Chinese section of the School of Languages and Culture and the Director of the Confucius Institute at Canterbury University.
His talk will elaborate on contemporary Chinese culture with respect to films, TV, the internet and literature.