China Week promotes understanding
By: Becky Schilling
Issue date: 11/1/04 Section: News
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Opening ceremonies for China Week 2004 began Monday at Rudder Fountain with performances by the Texas A&M Singing Cadets, lion dancers and Shaolin Kung Fu to promote awareness of Chinese culture.
"The major purpose (of China Week) is to expose students to global and international related issues," said James Anderson, vice president and associate provost of institutional assessment and diversity.
Anderson said that with China fast becoming an economic and world power, it will play an important role in events to come, and China Week exposes students to China's current status.
"A major theme of Vision 2020 is more emphasis on global international diversification," Anderson said. "Students' studies in majority won't necessarily expose them on a country like China, but China Week gives students that exposure."
Linda Edwards, director of international outreach, said that when one culture becomes aware of another culture's differences and similarities, it forms a connection between the two.
"They want to show us who they are and their culture," Edwards said. "After all, we're all Aggies."
Edwards said China Week will help to raise awareness of Chinese culture among students at Texas A&M and that it is like extending a hand of friendship.
Vice President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association Jian Zhang said he wants students to be involved in the activities, not just walking around looking."
During China Week, students can participate in paper-folding, wedding ceremonies, knot-tying and a traveling to China simulation event at the EXIT Teen Center. China Week will also include exhibits on Chinese culture, lectures, a showing of the movie "Hero" and Chinese performing arts, including ethnic dances, music and acrobatics.
Zhang said these activities give students "an opportunity to let the local community learn about China without leaving the Brazos Valley."
Zhang said A&M plays an important role in China-U.S. relations. The first China-U.S. Relations Conference was hosted by A&M in 2003, and A&M will participate in the second conference in Beijing in 2005.
"We hope that China Week 2004 will fill the void time between the two conferences and will remind students, staff and the local community that Chinese culture will be very important to them, and sooner or later, they will have some relation with China," he said.
China Week is Nov. 1-5, at the MSC and Rudder Tower and is organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association.
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