使命 | Mission: Impact, equality, understanding
The Manchester China Institute (MCI) promotes multidisciplinary research and teaching about China across all faculties at the University of Manchester, with a focus on the Humanities.
Given Britain’s past experience as a colonial power in China, MCI is particularly keen to help educate the British public about that shared past, and to oppose Orientalist (and Occidentalist) knowledge production about China (and the West). While embracing differences, therefore, we celebrate our common humanity: Chinese or British, all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Impact, equality, understanding are central to the MCI mission:
- Impact. MCI engages in socially responsible research with impact beyond academia, seeking to benefit Britain, China, and the world.
- Equality. MCI seeks to create a more equal world through research on economic, gender, racial, and other inequalities both within China and between China and the world.
- Understanding. MCI promotes empathy and mutual understanding in UK-China relations, seeking to reduce the likelihood of conflict.
Our vision is to create a truly multidisciplinary institute studying China today, with a focus on globalisation and international affairs. The Institute's mission will be to better understand China's expanding role in a rapidly globalising world, and to promote mutual understanding between the UK and China. We're able to embark on this thanks to the foresight and generosity of Dr Lee.
Prof Peter Gries / The Manchester China Institute Director
Prof Peter Hays Gries spoke to the Confucius Institute about the new Manchester China Institute:
Questions and answers with Peter Gries
1. You are tasked by The University of Manchester to set up a China Institute. Have you got a name for it and what do you hope to achieve with the Institute?
The mission of the new Manchester China Institute will be to promote a mutual understanding in UK-China relations. A "Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery" will also open at Manchester Museum, the largest university museum in the UK with over 450,000 visitors a year. The Gallery will seek to foster greater awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the diversity of Chinese culture. It will also provide cultural opportunities for local communities of Chinese heritage.
2. What contact have you made with the Chinese community in Manchester and in your view, how can the community become more vocal and active politically and socially in the region?
I have met Consul General of the People's Republic of China to Manchester Sun Dali twice and, thanks to Gerry Yeung, I have met quite a few members of the local BBC and Chinese communities. I look forward to working with the local Chinese community to support their efforts to be represented and heard in our shared community.
3. What are your impressions of Manchester to date and what are your favourite restaurants?
I love the diversity and cosmopolitanism of Manchester. My favourite restaurant so far, and by far, is Yang Sing Cathay.
Watch a short film (English)
Pete Gries discusses the launch of the Manchester China Institute. These videos include a two minute introduction and an eight minute extended discussion.
Watch a short film (Chinese)
Pete Gries discusses the launch of the Manchester China Institute in Mandarin. This video provides a five minute introduction to the new institute: