Source: Center for Oceania Studies
Written by: Center for Oceania Studies
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On August 28, the Center for Oceania Studies (COS) of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and Social Sciences Academic Press co-hosted the "Launch Ceremony of Blue Book of Oceania: Annual Report on Development of Oceania (2013-2014)” at SYSU. Prof. WEI Minghai, Vice President of SYSU and Director of COS, presented the ceremony, accompanied by directors of Publicity Department, Office of International Cooperation & Exchange, and Office of Social Sciences and Humanities of SYSU. Other participants included representatives from the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou, authors of Blue Book of Oceania (2013-2014), domestic and international scholars, media and students. More than 50 people attended the ceremony.

Prof. CHANG Chenguang, Dean of School of Foreign Languages and Deputy Director of COS, presided over the launch ceremony. The ceremony consisted of four parts: speeches, introduction of Blue Book of Oceania (2013-2014), reviews and open discussion. In the first part, Prof. WEI Minghai welcomed all guests and participants. Mr. Tim Lindenmayer, Vice Consul of Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou, delivered a short speech on the importance of Oceania studies and the latest development of Sino-Australia relations. Ms. GAO Mingxiu, Vice Director of Global and Regional Issues Publishing Center, Social Sciences Academic Press, affirmed the compilation of the Book and highly evaluated its academic contribution.

In the second session, the author representatives of the Book introduced and highlighted its main content. Associate Professor YU Changsen, Deputy Executive Director of COS, presented “Chinese Economic Diplomacy toward the Oceanian Island Countries in the First Decade of 21st Century”. Associate Professor CHEN Yanyun and WANG Xuedong respectively highlighted “International Financial Aid to Oceania” and "Hot Issues in Oceania and Australian Politics”. Prof. YU Zhangbao of Xiamen University stated the “Achievement and Experiences of Public Management in New Zealand”.

In the session of reviews, several scholars remarked the significance of Blue Book of Oceania (2013-2014), and regarded the Book as a handbook for Oceania studies in China. The lists of reviewers are Prof. PANG Zhongying, School of International Studies, Renmin University; Prof. WU Jinping, Director of Center for American Studies, Jinan University, and Adjunct Fellow of Center for Oceania Studies, Sun Yat-sen University; Prof. CHEN Hanxi, Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies; Dr. SU Mingxian, Secretary General of Queensland Branch of Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China; Adjunct Fellow of Center for Overseas Chinese Studies, Sun Yat-sen University. 

At last, all guests and participants discussed the mutually concerned issues shown in the book, and looked forward to a further improvement.

In general, Blue Book of Oceania (2013-2014) is a significant reference book for both policy makers and scholars who are focusing on Oceania studies.