Soon celebrating its centennial, China Institute in America was the brainchild of foresighted individuals from both China and the United States. Founded in New York in 1926, it was born out of the resurgence of cultural internationalism in the post-World War I era. Managed by American-educated Chinese intellectuals for a long time, it was also a pioneer in promoting Chinese culture in the United States.
Despite its many definitions, cultural diplomacy seen through the relationship between its initiator and receiver is an issue of education. A long-term commitment, it also needs historical sensibilities. As contemporary cultural exchanges between the United States and China face new challenges and opportunities, revisiting key moments in the history of the China Institute becomes particularly meaningful.
The Renwen Society is presenting a lecture on China Institute and Chinese cultural diplomacy by Dr. Yanqiu Zheng from St. Lawrence University’s Center for International and Intercultural Studies. His lecture will be based on his monograph to be published by the University of Michigan Press this month and discuss the historical significance of China Institute in Chinese cultural diplomacy.
即将迎来百年华诞的华美协进社是由中美两国若干有识之士倡议，在第一次世界大战结束之后国际文化交流重启的时代背景下于1926年的纽约成立的文化机构。它也是长期由中国留美知识分子管理，在美推广中华文化的先驱。
尽管文化外交的定义众说纷纭，但从主办方和接收方的关系来看其实是一个教育的议题。它需要长期投入，也需要历史的眼光。当下的中美文化交流面临新的挑战和机遇，重温华美协进社成长过程的相关点滴也就有了特别的意义。
华美人文学会特邀任职于纽约州圣劳伦斯大学国际与跨文化研究中心的郑砚秋博士于美东时间2024年9月14日晚8时至9时半（北京时间9月15日上午8时至9时半）做题为“华美协进社与中华文化外交”专题讲座。他将以他本人由密西根大学出版社出版的新著为基础，讨论华美协进社在中华文化外交中的历史意义.
China Institute’s cultural programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Dr. Zheng is currently the Associate Director of Asia and Pacific Programs at St. Lawrence University’s Patti McGill Peterson Center for International and Intercultural Studies. After studying philosophy and education at Peking University and Indiana University Bloomington, he received his PhD in history from Northwestern University. He taught at universities in Arizona and Pennsylvania and led the China and the Global South Project at the Social Science Research Council, supported by the Ford Foundation. His research focuses on China’s cultural exchanges with the outside world and his monograph, In Search of Admiration and Respect: Chinese Cultural Diplomacy in the United States, 1875-1974, is published by the University of Michigan Press.
郑砚秋博士目前在纽约州圣劳伦斯大学国际与跨文化研究中心担任亚太项目副主任。他在北京大学与美国印第安纳大学求学期间涉猎哲学与教育学，最终于美国西北大学获得历史学博士学位。其后在亚利桑那州与宾夕法尼亚州等地大学任教，也曾经负责由福特基金会资助的美国社会科学研究理事会中国与全球南方项目。他的研究兴趣集中在中外文化交流，其专著 In Search of Admiration and Respect: Chinese Cultural Diplomacy in the United States, 1875-1974 本月由密西根大学出版社出版。
