Opening remarks at the 10th Australia-China Transcultural Studies Symposium
(ACTS-10, Sydney, 3 Oct. 2024)
Professor JIA Wenjian
President of Beijing Foreign Studies University
Dear Professor Barney Glover, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia,
Professor Colin Mackerras, Emeritus Professor of Griffith University and Honorary Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University,
Professor Nicholas Jose, Emeritus Professor of the University of Adelaide,
Professor Jing Han, Director of the Institute for Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture at Western Sydney University,
Dr. Angela Lehmann, Chair of the Foundation of Australian Studies in China,
Dear friends,
Distinguished guests,
On behalf of BFSU, I’m sending my greetings to you all at the Joint Reception of the 10th Australia-China Transcultural Studies Symposium and the 9th Foundation for Australian Studies in China Conference. My special thanks go to Professor Jing Han, Ms Shirley Gao and the organizing committee for organising the conferences and the reception. I wish I could be with you in the beautiful city of Sydney.
This year marks the 11th anniversary of CATS/ACTS. The first CATS symposium was held at BFSU in November 2013 at the initiative of BFSU and Adelaide University. It aims to serve as a platform where Australian and Chinese researchers can collaborate to contribute expertise to global transcultural constructs and experiences. The past nine symposiums, held by BFSU with partner universities in Adelaide and Perth, have strengthened close academic exchanges and collaboration between Chinese and Australian scholars, and have produced joint publication of journal articles, monographs and textbooks.
Last year, BFSU, in partnership with Western Sydney University, held the 9th CATS, in Beijing. I am very grateful that Professor Glover made a special trip to Beijing to open the symposium as the President and Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University. He was joined by Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Yi-Chen Lan, Professor Jing Han, Professor Jocelyn Chey, the Founding Director and Adjunct Professor of IAC and Dr Julie Wen, Associate Dean of the School of Social Sciences. It was a sure sign of the close links between our two universities.
CATS/ACTS has become an important platform for the research community in both China and Australia. I am very happy that BFSU is represented by my distinguished colleagues Associate Professor Li Youwen and Dr. Jiang Lu. I also take this opportunity to extend my warmest welcome to all the participants from China and Australia.
This year’s ACTS is held back to back with the 9th Foundation for Australian Studies in China Conference, both in Sydney for the first time. The Foundation for Australian Studies in China (FASIC) has provided strong support for the Australian studies program at BFSU. The BFSU-FASIC Colin Mackerras Chair in Australian Studies Program was launched in Beijing in June this year and the first chair will be inaugurated in September, 2025.
Before I conclude my remarks, I’d like to extend a warm invitation to you all to the CATS-11 to be held in Beijing in 2025.
I wish both ACTS-10 and FASIC-9 a great success!
Thank you.
