Professor John King

Executive Director of Cardiff University Relations and Development

My interest in China, its history and culture, began when I was at school, and some forty years have now passed since I first went to Shanghai.  Since then I have visited many times and witnessed so many changes that are now restoring China to its position as one of the world's leading civilisations.

As someone whose academic work has been concerned with the study of ships and the sea, the epic fifteenth centruy voyages of Zheng He (Cheng Ho) - until recently almost completely unknown in the West - have been a source of considerable wonder for me.

China is once again demonstrating pre-eminence in maritime affairs as in many other areas of twenty first century life.  It is a source of great satisfaction to know that the many Chinese postgraduate students that I have supervised over the past twenty years - and the many more who have studied in Cardiff and elsewhere in Britain - have helped to bring this about.

Cardiff University is proud to have many friends in China and many links with leadings Chinese universities.  During a visit to China in December 2004, I was delighted to attend the anniversary celebrations of Zhongshan University, founded by Sun Yat Sen in 1924.  This splendid occasion reaffirmed for me the common interests that unite all of us who follow the academic calling, and which our China Centre exists to serve.