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Tag: China

  • Educational pioneers in creating a “strategic resource for Global Britain”

    “Governments can have policies,” says British Ambassador to China, Dame Caroline Wilson, “but it is ultimately people who deliver and implement those policies.” Speaking at a recent online forum for young adults who have spent time in China on the Generation UK programme, the Ambassador continued that it is vital, therefore, to have a range of people with different skills who are “informed about China and are therefore more equipped to enable the people-to-people dialogue, interaction and trust that are key to developing a positive bi-lateral relationship. Such people,” Dame Caroline continued, “are a strategic resource for Global Britain.”

    Engage with China (EwC) is an educational charity building China literacy in primary and secondary schools. Enriching the curriculum through fresh knowledge about China, pupils make connections across a wide range of curriculum subjects and engage with the country that is likely to have a larger impact on their future than any other.

    Pupils are encouraged to look at different values and systems, to interrogate and challenge perceptions and think about their identity in a changing world.  Whether one likes China or not, our belief is that we need to engage with what China is like, how come it is like it is and what that means for the world. Through our ‘China Challenge Days’ we open young eyes to what is happening there; we feel that China has to be an important part of a wider education about what the world is like and how it has changed since globalisation, how we are inter-connected in so many ways through trade, history, logistics, tech, AI, social media, not least through the very planet we inhabit.

    H-J Colston-Inge, Director, Engage with China

    The bi-lateral relationship may be wounded at the moment “but demonising China does not lead to solutions,” Dame Caroline added. “The world is full of opportunities, no more so than in China.” This sort of news headline is seldom on the front pages of the media and yet it is those positive stories that could well inspire creativity in the young generation today that in turn could boost the economy and develop trade and entrepreneurship in the future.

    Zhou Qunfei, Founder, Lens Technology, whose factories produce over one billion glass screens for electronic hand-held devices every year

    One visionary headteacher from the outstanding Trinity St Peter’s school in Liverpool, Deborah Pringle, was excited about what EwC could offer her pupils and enabled them to take part in an early pilot project. She applauded “the way [EwC] showcases some of China’s entrepreneurs and those human stories of rags to riches.” She continued, “Our school community lives in an area of financial as well as aspirational poverty. When you talked about Zhou Qunfei, subsistence farmer-turned-billionaire, supplying glass to multinational smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung … those are the kinds of messages young people need to hear…That they can leverage their experiences; that their life narrative can change and that opportunity is all around us.”

    Theresa Booth, Director of Engage with China, says, “We have created a pioneering pathway in schools to develop a generational resource for Global Britain, teaching pupils about China – and we are proud of that achievement. There are certain cultural reference points that youngsters need to know – and if they do not know much about China then this significantly impacts on their cultural literacy and understanding of the world today.” She continued, “We are excited to be back in the classroom from September working with young people again face to face. Importantly, it is good that more and more schools are expressing an interest to work with us…” 

  • Sir Vince Cable supports China- related education

    Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable, Patron, EwC

    Engage with China confirms the appointment of The Rt. Hon. Sir Vince Cable, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Minister of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, as a patron of the independent educational charity.

    “Now that China has become an economic and technological superpower some are reacting with fear or hostility. It is better to engage. Large numbers of students, visitors and businesses already do – in both directions. That was the approach I adopted as a government minister in my dealings with China and I want it to continue,” said Sir Vince 

    Echoing his comments, Director H-J Colston said, “We are delighted that Sir Vince has accepted our invitation to be one of our patrons. His views chime with our belief that it is crucial to generate curiosity about and dialogue with China rather than to retreat or ignore. China is rich with ideas and subject matter that will benefit young minds and develop character skills relevant to our times.”

    Sir Vince’s book, ‘China Engage – avoiding the new Cold War,’ (published 2019) is “precise, forensic and clear as he brings to the debate about China realism and facts.” It invites readers to consider whether the deterioration of China-western relations is a crucial issue for the future or simply a passing phase, caused by Coronavirus and leadership personalities. 

    Sir Vince was a key speaker at a successful webinar run by Engage with China and its partner organisation, Chopsticks Club. Themes included looking at the importance of increased access to China knowledge in education based on geo-political and economic developments.

    Sir Vince joins Sir Anthony Seldon, educator and former Vice-Chancellor of Buckingham University and Head of Wellington College, as patron.

  • Every area of human endeavour will be impacted by China

    Every area of human endeavour will be impacted by China

    China’s size in terms of its geography, economy & population, means that its impact will be felt in significant ways around the world. Like its politics or not, therefore, people of all nations will come into contact with its tech, social media apps, investments, trade, e-commerce, values, influence and reach.

    We caught up with our charity’s Political Ambassador, Dr Kerry Brown, a leading academic on China, and Professor of Chinese studies at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London. Dr Brown says,

    In the 1970s the Chinese realised that their knowledge levels of the outside world were poor. Consequently, they invested vast amounts of time and effort in going to look at that world and learn from it. In 2021, Europeans – and Americans in particular – need to adopt a similar mindset, and see China not as an object of criticism and a place which is a repository of difference,  but somewhere where we can truly learn from.

    Despite its economic progress in recent years, that it is home to more billionaires than anywhere else in the world and is the initiator of the Belt & Road initiative – heralded as an economic driver for the world for a generation – China is little understood in the west. Brits who can speak decent Mandarin Chinese could be counted only in a few thousand.

    This year the Coronavirus was called by President Donald Trump, “the China virus.” That single nomenclature added to the commonly held negative feelings about the world’s second largest economy.

    In Dr Brown’s short video, however, he suggests that we would do well to take a closer look at what China is, what it means, what we can learn from it, “not least because it represents one fifth of humanity and therefore a large part of humanity and its society.” In 2020, this year in which Britain leaves the European Union and seeks to find fresh ways to achieve its global goals, it would do well to consider what China has to offer other than cheap goods and labour. Indeed, for our nation’s young people, China and its opportunities should be taken into consideration when looking at future careers.

    Dr Brown is a regular speaker, author of countless books, papers and articles on China. We are proud to have him as one of our stellar ambassadors who can share real insights into what China is now and support us in our work to build China literacy in schools.

    Let us know what you think.

  • ‘Reverse Viking’ row: Norfolk to Denmark in pursuit of re-writing of the history of exploration

    This Saturday, 08 August, Christian Havrehed, Danish adventurer, inspirational speaker & EwC Adventure Ambassador, will push off in an ocean-going rowing boat destined for Copenhagen in Denmark. This 300-nautical mile journey will include rowing both in the North Sea and up the Eider Kanal across Germany just as the Vikings did centuries ago. Setting out from Lowestoft Marina in Suffolk on a ‘reverse Viking row’ should take 4-8 days, subject to prevailing winds, weather and busy traffic in the shipping lanes. 

    This will not be Christian’s first sea-going row – nor his last! In 2001, he rowed with Chinese athlete, Sun Haibin, across the Atlantic in 56 days, in the newly inaugurated Ward-Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge.  The purpose of the journey this Saturday is for Christian to take delivery of his new ocean rowing boat, in anticipation of a much larger row next year from Ningbo in Eastern China to Japan in May 2021.

    “I believe that history can be brought alive through the medium of adventure,” says Christian. “Since 2001, I have been researching whether the Chinese & Vikings visited America before Columbus. The row commencing on 08 August, together with further historical research and other nautical adventures, will look for physical clues to back up historical claims.” 

    The launch date, 08/08, is most auspicious in Chinese culture and is often associated with good luck. As it happens, the captain of this row will be Chris Martin, founder of New Ocean Wave Ltd, and the first person to row across both the Atlantic & the Pacific Oceans. Two marines will also be pulling the oars with them, on a gruelling 2-hour on and two hours off cycle so the crew should be in several pairs of safe hands!

    EwC directors, Theresa Booth & H-J Colston, will be at Lowestoft Marina on Saturday morning to cheer on the crew as they meet each other for the first time and familiarise themselves with the boat. The British are obsessed with the weather but, when you are about to set out into the North Sea, busy with ocean-going vessels, it is important to minimise risks, where possible. Subject to the weather and tides, the crew hopes to launch on the afternoon high tide.

    Christian’s company is called Yantu, (沿途) which in Chinese means “along the way.” His slogan is, “合作可以更多”or, “together we can do more.” Engage with China is proud to have been nominated as a Campaign support partner for these journeys and will accompany him virtually “along the way” as our logo will be visible on the side of the boat.

    Christian hopes to raise funds during these adventures to support cross-cultural understanding and Engage with China hopes that, by supporting Christian’s academic research and these adventures, we can do more together to build China literacy in UK schools by enabling young people to make connections across other curriculum subjects, such as history and geography and build curiosity about China.

    [To stay updated on this rowing journey and other EwC news, follow us on Twitter or sign up for our latest News]

  • “China Remembers” – to understand China now, you need to uncover its history

    One of our Engage with China Ambassadors, Zhang Lijia, journalist and social commentator, is re-publishing “China Remembers,” a book she co-authored with former China Correspondent for both USA Today & subsequently The Times, Calum MacLeod in 1999. A book like this will not be out of date, even twenty years on. What it captures is the stories of the lives of ordinary people, who lived through unprecedented change and tumultuous times that were the hallmark of China from the 1950s to the end of the last century. Told through a kaleidoscope of eye-witness accounts, including street vendors, rubbish collectors, business people, a Red Guard and a farmer, the true story of what happened in China and how it affected the lives of ordinary people and their hopes for the future, is laid bare.

    The authors of the book, quote Chairman Mao as saying that he “likened China to a blank word on which fine words could be written.” I am looking at my original, signed copy now. Mao’s China has certainly changed dramatically in the decades since his death. Sir Edward Heath, former Prime Minister and one who engaged positively with China, added his testimonial to the book, saying, “…the stories compiled here resonate with courage, determination and confidence in a brighter future.” That future has certainly become brighter for hundreds of millions of people who have been lifted out of poverty during recent decades of China’s economic rise. Chinese entrepreneurs, innovators & ground-breaking billionaires like Jack Ma of Alibaba, whilst the exception, are testament to the opportunities and change that have occurred in China and show that socialism there has “Chinese” but also capitalist characteristics.

    One way of achieving change was through education and Mao had an aim to build nationwide literacy. Leafing through the book, I look at the story of Zhang Tong, a teacher, who was part of the study school movement to help educate the country from 1949. Back then, only 10% of the population was literate. Credit to the Communist Party for starting to tackle the problem, simplifying the writing system and giving more opportunities to girls. However, at the time of the original publication of Lijia’s book, only 6% of China’s young and middle aged were still illiterate by 1999. I remember travelling in rural Yunnan Province in 1991 and meeting elderly women who could not read or write. According to 2018 statistics, literacy in China stands at 96.8% of those aged 15+ and has grown at over 10% since the 1960s. That’s incredible change in my book.

    I encourage you to enjoy reading these human stories including from a former administrator at the Potala Palace, a friend of Comrade Lei Feng and a collector of Mao badges. Through them you will get a rich insight into the complex threads of life and experiences whose legacy inform the tapestry of China’s modern reality. Understanding China’s past will help us to understand its present context. Engage with China is an educational charity committed to removing illiteracy about China in UK schools. We have much to gain and much to learn from knowing China better.

    Available now from Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/China-Remembers-extraordinary-personal-journeys-ebook/dp/B08CNJGF57/ref=sr_1_2

  • Ocean rower becomes EwC “Adventure Ambassador”

    Engage with China is delighted to announce the appointment of its newest Ambassador, Christian Havrehed, adventurer, ocean-rower, inspirational speaker and founder of Yantu.com. A graduate in Chinese Studies from the University of Durham and always interested in the sea, Christian was deemed “crazy enough” to enter the newly inaugurated Ward-Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge in 2001. His rowing partner was Chinese athlete, Sun Haibin, in what was considered a collaborative joint venture of mental and physical endurance. The journey from Tenerife to Barbados took the pair 56 days to accomplish. Both athletes became the first Dane and Chinese, respectively, to row an ocean, and Sun was even nominated Sportsman of the Year in China. 

    Former consultant at KPMG based in Hong Kong and then Shanghai, Christian has been interested in Chinese history for decades. His adventures aim to validate his research thesis that the Chinese, like the Vikings, reached America before Christopher Columbus. “I believe that history can be brought alive through the medium of adventure,” says Christian. It would seem that his own personal history also drives his interest in China and the oceans. Both his grandfather and great, great, great, great grandfather, were sea-farers who ended up working in China and Macau, the latter even learning mandarin which was illegal at the time.

    Christian’s research since 2001, revolves around the 219BC voyage by sorcerer Xu Fu, who, according to Chinese history, was sent by the First Emperor, Qin Shihuang, – (of Terracotta Warriors fame) – to bring back the elixir of immortality kept by the Gods in the Eastern Seas. Xu Fu made two voyages but never returned from the second.  No one knows where Xu Fu and his entourage settled, but there are temples dedicated to him, including along the east and west coasts of Japan. Christian, along with academics like the late Joseph Needham, believes that Xu Fu may have used the Kuroshio current to make it across the Pacific Ocean to America and settled there to escape certain death from the Emperor for deceiving him and failing to produce the elixir. 

    From his education during 6th form at Atlantic College in Cardiff, part of the United World College network, Christian believes that life must include an element of “giving back.” His adventures aim to raise money for UWC & other educational causes.

    Engage with China, an educational charity dedicated to building China literacy in UK schools, is delighted to be a Campaign Partner for Christian’s Yantu 沿途 project. Yantu in Chinese means “along the way.” We will be supporting his adventures on land and water and agree with his slogan that, “合作可以更多!” In these COVID times it is more important than ever to find ways for international cooperation and understanding – even if these are conducted upon the high seas!

    The next rowing adventure is coming soon… watch this space! Meantime, do read more about him http://www.engagewithchina.org/trustees/