Public talks to explore China, its people and its impact

Does China really have ‘5,000 years’ of history? Are the Chinese religious? And what impact is the country’s middle class having on the world?

These questions and more will be answered as part of a series of weekly public talks taking place at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University from Wednesday 16 September.

The China Talks series, coordinated by XJTLU’s Department of China Studies, will focus on aspects of past and present China, and the people who live here.

The talks will be of general interest to anyone who wishes to know more about the key issues affecting China today and who wants to better understand a country that is having such a profound impact on the world.

All talks will be in English, starting at 6pm, and most will be given by members of staff in the Department of China Studies. Audience questions will be encouraged.

David Goodman, Head of the Department of China Studies, will give the opening talk that will focus on some of the persistent stereotypes outsiders have of China and Chinese people, and ask what they mean in modern China.

He is well-known within the field of China studies for his work on social and political change in China, and has been recognised as a distinguished overseas academic by China’s Ministry of Education.

He said: “China is changing in front our eyes, which makes it both an exciting and challenging place to live. Living here allows us to experience from the inside a country that is having a huge impact on the world and witness first-hand the incredible transformation that is taking place.

“We hope that through exploring some of key issues affecting the country this series of talks will help those living here understand the effect these changes are having, and answer some of the burning questions they may have.”

The Department of China Studies at XJTLU teaches and researches China’s history, society, politics and culture, while students gain an in-depth understanding of the world’s most populous nation and largest market.

The Department runs three major programmes – an undergraduate degree in China studies, a visiting students programme that allows students from other universities to gain a one-year diploma in China studies, and an intensive summer school that visits Xi’an and Chengdu, in addition to Suzhou. Students also have the chance to study Chinese language during their time at XJTLU.