23 Jul 2026
A cohort of undergraduate law students from the Australian National University (ANU) recently Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) as part of a wider study tour and cultural exchange programme in China.
ANU law students visited Etron Technology for an afternoon exploring China’s electronics manufacturing sector and global supply chains.
Designed to boost their China literacy, the tour gave the students the chance to experience China first-hand and examine contemporary China from historical, political, legal, social and business perspectives.
During their time in Suzhou, the group took part in sessions organised by the Department of China Studies and International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), before visiting the Humble Administrator’s Garden and Suzhou Museum for a cultural component as well as a company tour of electronics manufacturer Etron Technology.
Understanding China through history and language
The students arrived at XJTLU on 7th July, beginning their visit with a lecture by Dr Emily Williams, Head of the Department of China Studies. The session explored key themes from China’s imperial history before examining the 20th century as a search for a strong and modern nation, shaped by competing ideologies, leaders and events.
BA China Studies students Kaitao Wang and Yiming Ma then gave a “survival Chinese” session, where the ANU students had the opportunity to practice some basic Chinese words and phrases. In the afternoon, the group visited the Humble Administrator’s Garden and Suzhou Museum.
Dr Williams said:
“One of our key beliefs in China Studies at XJTLU is that a lot of the misconceptions about China in the outside world comes from a lack of experience and knowledge about the country. Time spent in country is one of the best ways to address this, and so we are always happy to welcome students from other countries to China. We hope to welcome more ANU students in the future!"
The students also attended a lecture by Dr Echo Wang on social innovation and public policy in contemporary China.
Comparing the Chinese and Australian legal systems
The following day, the day began with a two-hour guest lecture delivered by Shilei Liu, Teaching Fellow in the Department of Strategic Management and Organisations at IBSS. Comparing the Chinese and Australian systems, Shilei looked at the relationship between the political structure, legal system and labour rights. A recurring theme was the relationship between law as it is written and how it is interpreted and enforced in practice, in China.
Shilei showed that Chinese law has moved closer to international standards in many areas, while China’s approach to governance and enforcement remains distinctive. For students more familiar with the Australian legal tradition, it offered a valuable opportunity to look beyond familiar assumptions and consider how legal systems are shaped by different political, social and historical contexts.
Postdoctoral Fellow Saul Wilson, who accompanied the students commented :
“The students found the lectures at XJTLU to be extremely insightful and helpful as they developed their understanding of China. They were excited to see the inside of a university in China and were especially excited to visit XJTLU, which hosts many ANU students for year-long fellowships.”
In the afternoon, the group visited Etron for a guided tour of its production facilities. The visit offered a practical insight into China’s electronic manufacturing services (EMS) sector and how companies like Etron are adapting to shifts in global supply chains. Etron provides end-to-end electronic manufacturing solutions to international clients, with production bases in China, Mexico, Finland and other countries.
A member of the junior management team leads the group through Etron’s production facilities, where students saw printed circuit boards being manufactured at close quarters.
The factory tour gave students a closer look at the scale, precision and co-ordination involved in modern a modern EMS production line. It also brought wider questions around regulation, labour, trade and globalisation into a practical setting.
A Q&A followed with young professionals from Etron’s management teams. Students asked about chip shortages, global supply chains, marketing, expansion into Western markets, organisation culture and employment opportunities. Etron staff shared candid insights into industry trends, career paths and the skills needed to work within the sector.
The Suzhou visit was only one part of their wider study tour, but it offered several complementary perspectives on China through its history, language, legal institutions, public policy, businesses and global supply chains. Together, the lectures and visits helped students connect their academic studies with the realities of contemporary China while experiencing the country’s culture, universities and economy first-hand.
Students seized the opportunity to ask questions at the Q&A.
By Thomas Durham
23 Jul 2026