Publication of Annual Report on the Development of Canada (2015

On April 28th, 2015, the Press Conference for the Publication of Annual Report on the Development of Canada (2015) and Academic Seminar of the Current Situation of Canadian Studies in China and Sino-Canadian Relationships was held in the International Conference Hall in North Campus. With attendees from the Consul of Guangzhou Political Economy and Public Affairs of the Canadian Consulate General; Stephen Doust, Vice President of the Canadian Studies Center of China, DU Fachun; President of GDUFS and Chief Editor of the Annual Report on the Development of Canada (2015) ZHONG Weihe; and Vice Presidents FANG Fanquan and YANG Aimin; the conference saw the report of the “Canadian Blue Book” and discussions over Sino-Canadian studies and current relationships. The conference was presided by over by TANG Xiaosong.

The Canada Studies Center has published the Blue Book; Report on the Development of Canada, in the last year in China with a succession of annual reports. DU briefly introduced the history of the Center which was a non-governmental organization founded in 1984. He stated that the publication of the Canadian Blue Book was a grand event to researchers of Sino-Canada relationships. It exerts a vital impact on Sino-Canadian economic and trade co operations as well as bilateral trade and cultural exchanges. Stephen Doust believed that, as China and Canada were perplexed by similar economic challenges, bonding the two countries in both economic and cultural aspects was highlighted more than ever in order to achieve mutual benefits and cooperation.

Stephen Doust

ZHONG’s report mainly focused on the editorial process and the books content. The Blue Book has gone through a series of proofreading and four thorough revamps so as to ensure its systematic , scientific reliability as well as its’ authority. The report manifests Canadian tendencies on economic and social developments and depicts goals for the coming future. Over all, the political link between China and Canada is being promoted steadily yet there still remain blocks due to diplomatic obstacles. The report provides considerable insights to some hot issues and includes constructive instructions with a broad vision and explicit directions, all suppored by sufficient data and scientific research methodology.

ZHONG Weihe

Professor ZHU Wenzhong, Representative of the Research Group of the Annual Report on the Development of Canada (2015) said the publication also owes a debt to the valuable advice from the Canada Studies Center and the support of the public. While he wished a good harvest on Canadian studies, he also gave applause to the contributors for their conscientious attitude, merit in foreign language studies, high efficiency and the spirit of striving for excellence.

TANG Xiaosong

The 1st Board Room was the venue of the Academic Seminar of the Current Situation Studies in China and Sino-Canadian Relationships at which Jorge Virchez, Professor of Geography of the Laurentian University of Canada, was awarded the Certificate of Honor. As founder of the Scholarship of Canadian Studies, he began his report with his previous experience involving education in China. Then he went on to talk about Sino-Canadian friendships and contributors to this special bond … contributors that struck the cord of the audience. such as Dr. Norman Bathune and Da Shan the host. “The increasing frequency of Sino-Canada cultural exchanges coincides with the gradual opening up of Canadian higher education.” He said. As is reported, 2/3 of the Canadians speak Chinese as their mother tongue and Chinese-Canadian scholars are playing an active role in promoting the cultural exchange between the two countries. In Jorge’s report, he also stressed the significance of the academic research of both sides and the process of popularizing Chinese in Canada.

Jorge Virchez

During the open discussion, the Executive Director of the Canadian Studies Centre of China, CHEN Xiaoying, gave her opinion that China should learn from the higher educational system of Canada and the Canadian Studies Centre of China so that GUDFS may be the pioneer in studying Sino-Canada relationships. In the meantime Professor XIAO Gang proposed and discussed the issue of the connection between Sino-Canada relationship studies and the New Silk Road programs.

Doug Henderson, who is Programme Consultant of Canadian Development, joined the discussion from the perspective of the development of rural communities and underlined common environmental problems of both countries. “Under the Dome” by CHAI Jing, indicates the raising awareness of environmental protection among Chinese people”. In line with this, he suggested more cooperation and exchanges over environmental issues.

Doug Henderson

Scholars have generously offered their suggestions. DU pointed out that all the talents with different specialties should be taken in to fertilize the growth of the Blue Book. For example, WAN Xiaohong, Professor of South China Normal University, illustrated the status quo of Sino-Canada trade with visually-vivid chat followed by a deep analysis of future collaboration over energy based on the evaluation of Canadian resources back-up. There was also a debate between SHEN Benqiu and Jorge Virchez over problems in the Canadian educational system. What is more, TANG Xiaosong commented on this seminar, which provides a direct image of the course of Sino-Canadian research, and pushes forward the torrent of exchange of different colleges and universities.

Scholars of other schools