Join us for an evening comprising four short lectures and a panel discussion by notable speakers followed by a drinks reception. In this event presented in partnership with the Worldwide Support for Development, we hope to show how Chinese and Japanese views of the future have had and will further have tremendous impact on the world.
The evening will be chaired by Sir Tim Lankester, former Director of SOAS and Vice-Chair of Worldwide Support for Development (WSD).
The impressive panel of four speakers each have specific knowledge of the region and the influences at play – read on, or download the programme.
PROGRAMME SUMMARY
Welcome
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the University of Edinburgh
Engaging with China: A View from the Neighbourhood
Sir John Key GNZM, AC, Former Prime Minster of New Zealand and WSD Patron
China’s future engagement in Asia and beyond:the Belt and Road Initiative
Dr Natascha Gentz, Assistant Principal, China, the University of Edinburgh
Japan’s Changing Visions of the Future
Professor Aaron Moore, Handa Chair of Japanese-Chinese Relations
Three Tigers; One Mountain: China, Japan and the US in the Pacific Century
Richard McGregor, author and journalist
Panel discussion
Chaired by Sir Tim Lankester, Vice-Chairman, Worldwide Support for Development
Closing remarks
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, the University of Edinburgh
Reception
Speakers
Sir John Key, former PM of New Zealand and WSD Patron
Engaging with China: A View from the Neighbourhood
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and current Head of the Handa Foundation, Sir John will speak on the past, present and future impact of Chinese growth on political and economic relations in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008-2016, Sir John led the country through the aftermath of the global financial crisis and a series of devastating earthquakes in New Zealand. Sir John worked in investment banking for 20 years primarily for Bankers Trust in New Zealand and Merrill Lynch in Singapore, London and Sydney where his posts included heading Merrill Lynch’s global foreign exchange business along with responsibility for European derivative trading and e-Commerce.
The transformation of China in the last few decades is having a significant impact not only on its people but on the world. This is felt in particular in the region in which China is located. The Chinese Government’s commitment to rise peacefully is one which its neighbours watch with great interest. For example, New Zealand has built up a strong relationship with China and has proactively engaged with it as it transforms itself from a command economy into one which attracts more foreign direct investment than nearly everyone else. Other countries look on this development with anxiety, however, wondering what a future featuring a strong China will look like. In this lecture I shall draw upon the experience of engaging with China when I served in the government of New Zealand to share insights and lessons learnt.
Prof. Natascha Gentz, Assistant Principal, China, University of Edinburgh
China’s future engagement in Asia and beyond:the Belt and Road Initiative
Assistant Principal China and Director of the University’s Confucius Institute for Scotland, Prof Gentz will expand on the above theme by discussing China’s new massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for our future engagement with China. Natascha joined the University in 2006 as Chair of Chinese and as the founding Director of the Confucius Institute for Scotland. In 2008 she was appointed Dean International China becoming Assistant Principal China in 2015. She received her MA and PhD from Heidelberg with residences at Fudan University, Shanghai; People’s University, Beijing; and Tokyo University. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Honorary Fellow of the 48 Club, she is an executive board member of a number of China focused organisations.
Prof. Aaron William Moore, Handa Chair of Japanese Chinese Relations
Japan’s Changing Visions of the Future
Aaron Moore will introduce the history of changing Japanese visions of the future, from its emergence as a rapidly modernizing nation in the nineteenth century to WWII, and its post-war embrace of peaceful technological innovations such as robotics and bullet trains. American-born Aaron Moore was appointed to the post of Handa Chair in September 2017. Before coming to the University of Edinburgh, he held the post of Senior Lecturer in Japanese and East Asian History in the University of Manchester. Prior to taking up his post at Manchester, Prof Moore worked at Princeton, the University of Virginia, and Oxford University.
Richard McGregor, journalist, author and writer
Three Tigers; One Mountain: China, Japan and the US in the Pacific Century
Richard McGregor is a journalist and an author with extensive experience in reporting from east Asia and Washington as former Washington and Beijing Bureau Chief for The Financial Times. A 2015 fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., his latest book, published by Penguin Random House is entitled Asia’s Reckoning: China, Japan and the Fate of U.S. Power in the Pacific Region.
“shrewd and knowing” – Wall Street Journal
“a compelling and impressive read” -The Economist
“skillfully crafted and well-argued” – Financial Times
” excellent modern history book” – South China Morning Post
CHAIR FOR THE EVENING
Sir Tim Lankester held senior position in the British Treasury, was Britain’s representative on boards of the IMF, World Bank and the European Investment Bank and served as Permament Secretary in Britain’s international aid and education ministries. Earlier he served as Private Secretary (Economic Affairs) to Prime Ministers Callaghan and Thatcher.
1996-2001 Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Universty of London
2001-2009 President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
2007-2015 Chairman of governing body of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
In 2012 his book on British aid to Malaysia ‘The Politics and Economics of Britain’s Foreign Aid: the Peruga Dam Affair’ was published by Routledge. He is currently South East Asia adviser to the consulting firm, Oxford Analytica, and Vice Chair of Worldwide Support for Development, the charity founded by Dr Haruhisa Handa
More info On WSD & Founder DR Haruhisa HandA
WSD aims to help create a world where people – no matter where they live – can be safe and happy and enjoy economically, socially and culturally high standards of living. WSD works to facilitate international cooperation and support in social welfare and education, as well as academia.
Dr Haruhisa Handa is recognised for his commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged people around the world. His philanthropic and humanitarian work has included the founding of a free emergency hospital in Cambodia. He is Honorary Chairman of the Japanese Blind Golf Association, Honorary Patron of the World Blind Golf Association and Vice-president of the UK’s Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Dr Handa has an economics degree from Doshisha University in Kyoto and a Masters degree in creative arts from Edith Cowan University, a PhD in Literature from Tsinghua University and a PhD in literature from Zhejiang University.
In 2010, Dr Handa’s established the Handa Chair of Japanese Chinese Relations at the University of Edinburgh. In 2016 Dr Handa received the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Edinburgh in recognition of his support for education, health, the arts and sport
This event will take place on Friday 20th October from 6pm-8pm in the John McIntyre Conference Centre, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Park Road, EH16 5AY. The evening will conclude with a drinks reception.
This talk will consider what e.g. do Zhang Yingyu’s Book of Swindles (Ming China, 1617), Richard King’s The New Cheats of London Exposed (Georgian England, 1792), and P.T. Barnum’s The Humbugs of the World (Reconstruction-era United States, 1867) have in common?
Christopher Rea is Associate Professor of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia. He is author of The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China (California, 2015), which won the 2017 Joseph Levenson Book Prize (post-1900 China).
st recent book, translated with Bruce Rusk, is The Book of Swindles: Selections from a Late Ming Collection (Columbia, 2017); the original work, said to be China’s first collection of stories about fraud, celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2017.
It will run over two days in the University of Edinburgh’s iconic McEwan Hall, which has just reopened following on from a £35m refurbishment.
Henry Tillman initially spent a decade in New York with major investment banks,mostly advising on US organisations on M&A and capital raising. Since 1992, he has been based in London, including a senior management role at Barclays Group, with a focus on Europe and Southeast Asia and at ABN AMRO, where he was a Wholesale Banking Board Member, managing a global business with a focus on Emerging Markets, in particular Asia.
Duncan is an expert on the internet and entrepreneurship in China where he has lived and worked for almost 25 years. He is also the author of ‘Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built‘ which was selected last year by the Economist as a ‘Book of the Year’ as well as being shortlisted by the Financial Times/McKinsey ‘Business Book of the Year’.
The Venerable Bird’s Eye View
Taiwan Season: Ever Never
Taiwan Season: Heart of Darkness fuses instrument, voice, body, drama, ritual and environment with traditional and folk elements, symbolic objects and contemporary theatre to explore the inner self and attempts to understand women who are slowly forgotten. Long hair symbolises a woman’s pathway through life. Time shrinks in her shadow. Aspiration, expectation, fear, secrets & ambition lay hidden deep inside.
In Taiwan Season: The Backyard Story let your imagination run as the jackets, shirts, dresses and trousers make friends and form relationships, reflecting those between parents, children and others. Taiwan’s first black-light object theatre company, Puppet Beings Theatre, seek to summon back the innocence of childhood and inject fresh vitality into children’s theatre by using everyday items and combining the contemporary with traditional puppet arts.
Inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Peony Pavilion this vibrant production blends emotionally driven movement, a spine-tingling soundscape and striking visual storytelling to bring a new twist to these classic texts, performed by a Chinese cast. The Dreamer is an international collaboration between Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and Gecko, part of British Council’s 2016 Shakespeare Lives programme. 
Taiwan Season: 038 
Blue Bird
Little Shakespeare is big fun when two of Shakespeare’s most famous scenes are performed by fe nine to 16-year-old children from tChongqing Foreign Language School and Chongqing Renmin Primary School, each well known for their high standard of education and passion for theatre. A t family-friendly production, when superb young actors take on two iconic scenes in 40 minutes each.
The Magical Trip of a Bead
Divine Melody from Chinese Fiddlers
2047 Apologue from talented director Zhang Yimou is a highlight of the first day of the 
Published in 1957, Teahouse is a masterpiece of modern Chinese drama. The narrative revolves around the Yutai teahouse in Beijing and the life experiences of shopkeeper Wang. Teahouse mirrors the social turmoil at three crucial moments in Chinese history from the twilight of the dynastic era to the dawn of the People’s Republic of China.
This children’s musical theatre production tells the story of “Hua Mulan” who disguised herself as a man to take her father’s place among the recruits becoming a hero to the Chinese people and being awarded by the Emperor. The story has been told on the big screen in 1998 and 2004 by Disney. This production is brought to Edinburgh by Henan TV, Gahama Culture and Arts & Zhengzhou Linguaphone English Training.
‘I love this country, but who loves me?’ The play, Sink, is based on the true story of Lao She, a Chinese writer of great esteem, who, at one stage, was given the title of People’s Artist. However, this would all change during the cultural revolution as Lao She was deemed a reactionary and publicly humiliated. The production asks questions of freedom, identity, history and our own place and role in contemporary society.
My Journey through China sees Yi Dong makes her 16th annual return to Edinburgh. Part of 8th Glamour of Jasmine Chinese Arts Festival. She is one of the most celebrated international soloists of Chinese national musical instruments and one of the only five soloists who has given a recital in the Great Hall of the People. Venue 111 @ 12.30 and @ 14.30 on 20, 21, 22 August.
Zheng Programme for Chinese Lovers’ Day Playing an instrument with over 2,500 years of recorded history, after some 100 public recitals in the UK, international classical Zheng performer Yi Dong, makes her 16th annual return to Edinburgh to ‘indulge us with a rich spa of the spirits and mind’ (China Xinhua News Agency), with music of love stories and poems from China. Historic concerto The Butterfly Lovers is featured 
The Royal Society for Asian Affairs is working with the support of the Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, and with backing from the Scottish Government, to offer a free day long Asia focused programme for senior school students on Tuesday 3 October 2017. 
Venue
The first opportunity to hear from him is on the opening day of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 12th August at 12.15. Liu Zhenyun’s work reflects on aspects of China’s newly urbanised culture and his politically aware, satirical and darkly humourous writings have ensured his novels are widely translated. In an hour long conversation with Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Creative Scotland, his latest novel ‘I Did Not Kill My Husband’ will be considered along with the tumultuous times in which we live.
Liu Zhenyun was born in 1958 in Henan province. In 1973 he joined the People’s Liberation Army and spent five years in the Gobi desert. After graduating from Peking University where he first published work in campus journals, he himself suggests that his writing career really only started after he became a journalist. Novels and short stories which have been translated into English (and numerous other languages) include Tapu Township; Chicken Feathers Everywhere; Working Unit; Cell Phone; The Cook, the Crook and the Tycoon and most recently I Did Not Kill My Husband
Dr Bai enjoys working in cross-disciplinary way combining fashion design, textile design, wearable electronics and interactive design. Her work is part of the permanent collection in the China Silk Museum
A stunning exhibition of 31 contemporary sculptures from Europe and China is on its way to Edinburgh. From 3-30 June 2017, Dialogue with Emperor Qin’s Warriors will be on display in Summerhall’s Church
Lord Powell was the No 10 Downing Street adviser on foreign affairs and defence to Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister and continued in the same role for John Major in the early part of his time as Prime Minister . Since then he has pursued a career in international business serving on the boards of several major companies , has played a leading part in many public institutions and sits as a non-party member of the House of Lords . He has had a close association with China since visiting the country with Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and subsequently with other British Prime Ministers and serving for many years as President of the China- Britain Business Council.
Current President of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy and former president of the China Arts Museum, Mr Shi Dawai is one of the most important masters of Chinese painting in Shanghai. In addition to his many cultural posts such as vice Chair of the China Artist Association and chairmanship of Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, he is also a member of the CPPCC (the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) National Committee.
Mme. Wang Liping is a member of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee and a playwright of the Shanghai Film Group. She is also a hugely successful and prolific screenwriter who over the last two decades has developed some of the most popular series on Chinese TV, winning awards both at home and abroad. She also holds a number of high level posts in the industry including VIce President of the Shanghai Television Art Association.