Over 100 students and teachers from across the country met on 1 March 2012 for the 4th Annual Student Conference on China.  The conference was hosted by the Royal Institute Of International Affairs which is based at the prestigious Chatham House in St James Square, central London.

Students from various schools across England took a day out from their GCSE and A level studies to meet some of the world’s leading experts on China and discuss Chinese current affairs.

Dr Kerry Brown, Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House, welcomed the attendees and chaired the conference.  A panel of four leading academics spoke on the following topics in turn: China’s leaders changing this year and why it matters; China’s relations with Taiwan; China’s relations with India; and China’s urbanisation.

The speakers each gave a presentation on their area of expertise before two lively question and answer sessions.  The students put forward some challenging questions and impressed the speakers with their prodigious understanding of the complexities of the topics for discussion.

Kerry Brown concluded the conference with an exhortation for students to continue their rigorous academic engagement with Chinese current affairs and become the next generation of the UK’s top international analysts, advisers and diplomats.

The [IOE] Confucius Institute would like to thank Kerry Brown and the speakers Dr Rod Wye, Dr Rex Li, Dr Gareth Price and Dr Deljana Iossifova who kindly gave up their time to make this year’s conference possible.  Thanks also to the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) for their generous and continued support of this event.

Thank you for arranging such a useful and insightful programme of speeches.

[The student conference] opens up new trains of thought for the students in Sixth Form.