As China enters the urban age (more than half its population now lives in towns and cities), a critical part of its development is the “urban dream” - the promotion of urbanization to generate household consumption to put the economy on a sustainable footing. This would steer China away from the current export- and investment-driven growth model, which has been long considered unbalanced and unsustainable. Premier Li Keqiang has championed urbanization for years. Can he do it right and help China reach its urban dream? Kam Wing Chan, geography professor at the University of Washington will discuss the potential of the China market in the 10th annual Wan-Lin Kiang Lecture, hosted by the Center for Asian Studies.  

“Can China’s Urbanization Save the World?”
featuring Kam Wing Chan, Professor in Geography, University of Washington

Thursday, April 11, 2013
Reception: 6:00-6:45 p.m. Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Patio 1517
Lecture: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Room 1517

About the speaker:
Professor Chan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Hong Kong and his doctorate in Toronto, 1988. He currently holds positions in the Department of Geography, Jackson School of International Studies China Studies Program, and the Center for Studies of Demography and Ecology at the University of Washington. Professor Kam Wing Chan has been quoted in the journal Science on the complexities of the Chinese census, the largest census in human history. Professor Chan also guest-edited a special journal issue on China’s 2000 census, arguing that the higher undercounting rate in that census “could well reflect a freer, and more diverse and mobile Chinese population in 2000 than in 1990. His research interests include urban and economic geography, migration, labor market, urban finance; China. Learn more about his research and current project online at http://faculty.washington.edu/kwchan/ChanCV.htm.

About the Center for Asian Studies
The center is comprised of more than 40 interdisciplinary UCI faculty members who study China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, and Southeast Asia and enhance the study of the many countries and cultures of Asia. The center provides a forum for discussions across geographic and disciplinary boundaries both on campus and within the community.

About the Kiang Lecture Series:
The Wan-Lin Kiang Endowed Lecture Series was established in 2003 by Mrs. Assumpta Kiang in memory of her husband, Wan-Lin Kiang, a noted international scholar, political advisor and businessman. The series annually brings to campus a noted scholar on relevant topics related to China.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is available for $10.00 per day, or $2.00 per hour in the Social Science Parking Structure on the corner of Campus Drive and Stanford. Please RSVP to Jayne Lee Yang, cas@uci.edu or 949-824-2566.