Lau China Institute, King's College London

We're delighted to announce Michael Pettis as our keynote speaker for this year's . Michael is an expert in the Chinese economy and Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Stay tuned for more details or sign up to our mailing list https://www.kcl.ac.uk/china-week.

China Week runs from 14-18 October at King's College London.

Our 2024 essay writing is officially open! We're inviting young writers interested in to submit their essays on the theme of China's economic, social and developmental challenges.

The winner will be announced during this year's China Week and be invited to present at Young China Watchers' annual conference.

Read the full terms and conditions at:
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/essay-competition-2024

We were delighted to welcome Professor Margaret Hillenbrand from for a discussion on precarity in . Professor Hillenbrand presented research from her book “On the Edge: Precariousness in China”.

🎥 We are glad to share an upcoming film screening of 他乡 Nostalgia, held by the URDST research group of Global Institutes, KCL.

This screening will feature a documentary film about the rise and fall of a mining town on the border between Guangdong and Hunan, China, during the industrial transformation of the 1980s.🏭

✨Join us in sharing memories of nostalgia from China in the 1980s and participate in the conversation. All are welcome.

🔗Please use the ink in bio to register for the event.

EVENT - We'll be joined by Margaret Hillenbrand, Professor of Modern Chinese Literature and Culture, University of Oxford for a presentation of her book about inequality and exclusion in . The event will be chaired by our Chair of Chinese International Relations, Professor Astrid Nordin.

Attendance is free. Registration required. Sign up via: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/on-the-edge-1

Our flagship events series, , returns this October from the 14-18 at King's College London.

With China facing significant headwinds in its domestic economy, this year's China Week explores what the future model for growth and development might look like, what challenges the country is facing today, what these mean for the rest of the world, and how these may be overcome.

Visit our website for info and stay tuned for updates: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/china-week

The captivating moments from Ed Cavanough’s insightful book talk on ‘Divided Isles’ 🏝️last week. A huge thank you to Professor Astrid Nordin for leading the engaging discussion and to everyone who joined us.

Keep an eye on our upcoming events through the link in our bio! 📚✨

Journalist and policy analyst, Ed Cavanough, will be presenting his book 'Divided Isles: Solomon Islands and the China Switch' at King's College London on Weds 17 April, 5.30pm, Strand campus.

Join the discussion with Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations, Astrid Nordin.

Dr Mike Gow, Edge Hill university, joined us for a fascinating discussion into the politics of consumption in .

Thanks to Mike and all those who attended. Check the link in bio for our upcoming events.

Dr Mike Gow, Lecturer in Business and Management, Edge Hill University joins us on 20 March for a discussion on the relationship between consumerism, citizenship and consensus to the state vision for in the 21st Century.

6pm, Weds 20 March, Strand campus. Join us in-person!

Tickets via:

Talk - Consensus, Consumerism and Citizenship: Revisiting Xi Jinping’s Integral State Dr Mike Gow from Edge Hill University examines the relationship between consumerism, citizenship, and consensus to the state vision for China in the 21st century.

Highlights from yesterday’s book talk with author, Anne Stevenson-Yang on the . Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Wonderful to celebrate Chinese New Year with students, staff and friends of the Lau China Institute in London 🧧🎉Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year 🐉

HAPPY YEAR OF THE DRAGON!🐲✨

For everyone celebrating Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year), we‘d like to wish you a Happy New Year and festive season. 🧧Let us know how you’re welcoming in the new year in the comments.

🐉祝愿大家新年龙腾四海！
Wish each of you could exhibit your talents in various fields, conquering every ’sea‘ of expertise like powerful dragons!🏮

🌍 Professor Zhengyu Wu from Renmin University of China joined us to discuss the revival of the ‘middle tier of states’ in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.

This talk examines the ‘Middle Tier of States’ proposed by Mackinder in 1919, its failure in the interwar years, its recent revival, and geopolitical implications, especially in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.

Want to know more? Watch the talk via the link in our bio!

How does the British media present , and what are the implications for how the public and policy makers understand China?

In this new report, Dr Tim Summers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, looks at the characteristics of coverage of China in British media outlets ,

More at the link in bio.

Dr Olivia Cheung, research fellow at joined us yesterday for an insightful discussion into factional model making in .

🎤 Check out our upcoming events at the link in bio.

Our Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations, Professor Astrid Nordin, was on BBC Newsnight last week to discuss the narrative towards , and China's long-term geopolitical strategy.

Watch via BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001v66c/newsnight-the-red-sea-missile-war

🌐 Unlock the secrets of Chinese politics with “Factional-Ideological Conflicts in Chinese Politics: To the Left or to the Right?” 📚

Time: Thursday, 18 Jan 2023, 13:00-14:00
Location: Strand Campus

🕵️‍♀️✨Dr. Olivia Cheung reveals how factional model-making fuels collective leadership, sparks policy debates, and dishes out exclusive political insights.

🔗 Register via link in bio!

🚀📖

🐎Horses ⚱️Metal 🫖Porcelain

📚With the objects buried in a dozen of tombs over many millennia, Professor Jessica Rawson took us on a captivating journey in her latest book ‘Life and After Life in Ancient China’.✨

Congratulations to Lau PhD student, Alice Politi, on her recent publication in the Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Based on her thesis, the article examines the paradigm shift that has occurred in - relations. 🇪🇺🇨🇳

Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03068374.2023.2281164

📚 Join us for a captivating Book Talk on ‘The Gilded Cage: Technology, Development, and State Capitalism in China’ with Professor Ya-Wen Lei! 🌏✨

📅 Date: 30 November 2023
🕕 Time: 18:30 - 20:30
🔗 Registration: Scan the QR code or via link in bio

🔍 Explore Professor Lei’s intriguing new book that unveils the intricate dynamics of China’s economic development—a blend of unprecedented progress and the growing despotic rule of surveillance in every aspect of life.

🎤 About the Speaker:
👩‍🏫 Professor Ya-Wen Lei is a scholar in the Department of Sociology at Harvard University. With expertise in law and sociology, she holds an LL.M. and a J.S.D. from Yale Law School, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Join us as she sheds light on the complexities of China’s socio-economic landscape.

Save the date and stay tuned for more details. 📖🔍

🏙️ Join us for an insightful exploration of India’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in upcoming event: ”Urbanising the Villages: Three Models of Structural Transition in Indian SEZs“ 🇮🇳✨

📅 Date: 22 November 2023
🕓 Time: 16:00 - 17:30

🌐 Since India‘s landmark 2005 SEZ Act, the emphasis on large, Chinese-style SEZs inducing a shift from agriculture to manufacturing and services has been pronounced. This event delves into three unique ”city-style“ SEZ cases, unravelling their impact on local livelihoods and social relations. Discover the varied approaches to incorporating villages around new urban boundaries, each with distinct outcomes.

📚 Speaker: Dr Charlotte Goodburn
🔍 Charlotte, a Reader in Chinese Politics and Development, brings a wealth of expertise. With a background in Development Studies and Mandarin proficiency, she has conducted extensive fieldwork in China.

Don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your understanding of SEZ dynamics and their impact on local communities! 🌍🔍

Professor Kerry Brown shares his thoughts on President 's meeting with President Biden, and what it means for -China relations

Watch the interview with CNA

Biden says he still considers China's Xi a "dictator" Fresh off his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden has triggered an angry reaction from Beijing, saying he still considers Mr Xi...

📚 Unlock the secrets of ancient China with Professor Dame Jessica Rawson! Join us for her book talk on ‘Life and Afterlife in Ancient China.’

🌏 Journey through time and discover how China, with its vast continental power, developed independently, separated by the towering Tibetan plateau. From the elite tombs of the Neolithic era to the present day, explore the profound impact on Chinese society, where family and generational hierarchy stand as pillars.

🏛️ Professor Rawson, a distinguished expert in Chinese Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford, brings her extensive knowledge to light in a presentation that delves into the depths of China’s history.

📖 Don’t miss the chance to grab a copy of Professor Dame Jessica Rawson’s new book! Copies will be available for purchase on the day.

🗓️ Save the date:
17:00-18:00, 29 Nov 2023
Register via the link in the bio or by scanning the QR code!

🎓 📚

🎉 Thank you to all our incredible participants at ! We were thrilled to host distinguished panels of experts from academia, government, and industry to explore the realms of and .

Missed it? No worries !
You can catch up with all the insightful discussions by visiting our YouTube playlist here: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTKwkilEJILUx1tt3oMi55leZcqo4vy_B&cbrd=1 📺✨

🌏 Join us for a captivating talk on ”China and Mongolia, 1990 to the Present“ 🐫

📆 Date: November 13, 2023
🕒 Time: 14:00 to 15:00
🗣️ Speaker: Professor Morris Rossabi

Discover the facinating journey of Sino-Mongolian relations from the 1990s to the present day. Explore the transformation of diplomatic and economic ties, China‘s role as Mongolia’s top product importer, and the increasing exchange of students between these two nations. 🇨🇳🇲🇳

🏛️ Hosted by the Lau China Institute in collaboration with the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit, University of Cambridge.

👤 About the Speaker:
Professor Rossabi is a distinguished historian of China and Central and Inner Asia. He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions, including an honorary doctorate from the National University of Mongolia.

🎉Welcome, everyone!🎉

Meet the brilliant minds joining our Lau China Institute as new PhD students. Last night, we kicked off this exciting journey with a heartwarming dinner filled with delicious dumplings! 🥟😋

🎉 We are delighted to announce the winner 🥇 and runners up 🏅 of the Young China Watchers & Lau China Institute writing competition 2023.

This year’s applicants were invited to share an opinion piece exploring the theme of ‘China: Knowledge Superpower?’ 📚

🔗Read the essays via: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/writing-competition-2023-winner

A few pictures from this week’s opening event of exploring the opportunities and risks of engagement with China.

Speakers:
Harry Anderson, Universities UK International
Fiona Quimbre, RAND Europe
Sophia Gaston, Policy Exchange
Mark Logan MP for Bolton and the North East

Subscribe to our newsletter to watch the recording out next month.