6 May 2010 Lincoln University public lecture by Chinese Ambassador

Similarities and differences in Western and Eastern culture come under the microscope in a public lecture at Lincoln University on Friday 7 May presented by the Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Mr Zhang Limin.

The lecture, “A Comparison and Contrast of Western and Eastern Culture”, is in the University’s Commerce One Lecture Theatre, starting at 2.00pm. It will run for approximately 40 minutes and be followed by a short question and answer session. Admission is free.

In his lecture the Ambassador will examine aspects of the two cultures from an historical perspective and touch on matters such as social norms, values and collectivism versus individualism. He will emphasise the importance of communication, dialogue and cross-cultural understanding between East and West, particularly in the era of globalisation.

His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Limin was born in Hebei, China, in 1950. He is a former Director-General of the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions and served as an Ambassador in Europe before being appointed to represent the People’s Republic of China in New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue in 2008.

Lincoln University, New Zealand’s specialist land-based university, has had many high level associations with China in recent years and in November 2009 year was visited by the Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic, Mr Li Keqiang.