NEWS & EVENTS

To mark the 25th anniversary of the only Jesuit institution in mainland China, The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC) gathered friends and alumni on the evening of 28 November to cherish the sweet memories of the past and look forward to the bright future.

Earlier in TBC’s blog series, we introduced the missionary-produced atlases of China, shedding light on their geographical contributions. If you’re intrigued, feel free to explore it here. However, the missionaries influence went beyond mapping terrain that they also played a crucial role in documenting significant historical events. Join us as we uncover their accounts, revealing a narrative that goes beyond maps and extends into the rich tapestry of China’s history. 

Before arriving in China, many of my close Chinese friends and neighbors would tell me tips and tricks on navigating the markets as if they were treacherous roads. At that time, I didn’t take it too seriously. I already had some sense of what night markets are like from previous experiences in Asian countries, so I was confident I knew how it worked. I had no idea how vital those tips would be on the Silk Road Excursion this semester. 

Following the insightful discussions at the 2023 CHINA Town Hall event in Beijing on October 12, the Kunming Liya Center, a satellite site of The Beijing Center (TBC) and a partner venue of the 2023 CHINA Town Hall, organized an in-person discussion on October 20. The participants from the U.S., France, and the U.K. represented various fields, including medicine, business, self-media, and public welfare. After watching the interview with the U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, TBC’s Executive Director, Simon Koo, led the discussion on the theme of “What Changes Are Needed to Adapt to Life and Work in Kunming after the Pandemic.” 

On October 12, the 2023 CHINA Town Hall program brought together influential voices for an insightful discussion on U.S.-China relations. Hosted live from Beijing, the event featured Ambassador Nicholas Burns engaging in a webcast conversation with Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Among the partner venues was The Beijing Center (TBC), where TBC Executive Director Simon Koo led an on-site discussion covering a broad spectrum of topics, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, technology competition, and global development. 

October 9, 2023, marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Ferdinand Verbiest. On this significant day, HE Bruno Angelet, the Belgian Ambassador to China, along with Sinology experts and scholars from both China and Europe, alongside representatives from various fields, convened at TBC. Together, they traced the footsteps of Ferdinand Verbiest, reflecting on the remarkable achievements of this Belgian missionary.