Visionary gift endows new ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp China Institute
A new £5m donation will allow The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp to establish . It will seek to improve mutual understanding in UK-China relations, and establish a new Chinese culture gallery at the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp Museum.
The donation, by retired Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist and Honorary Graduate of the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp, Dr Lee Kai Hung is a major investment which will promote world-leading research, community outreach activities, and public lectures in ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp and China.
It will also create a new ‘Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery’ at , the largest University museum in the UK, displaying artefacts such as ancient bronze sculptures, carved jade and textiles.
With growing links between ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp and China, and the global significance of Chinese policies such as the ‘One Belt, One Road’ strategy, the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp China Institute is set to play a major role in improving understanding between the China and the UK.
The Centre’s new Director is Professor of Chinese Politics Peter Gries, who has worked extensively on China’s foreign relations.
He said: “The UK and China lie on opposite ends of the Eurasian landmass which is the focus of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ policy. ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp, in particular, has a large Chinese community and historic ties with China which were only strengthened by to ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp and the University in 2015.
“To realise the full potential of UK-China bilateral relations, however, greater mutual trust and understanding are urgently needed. We are therefore extremely grateful to Dr Lee for his generous gift, which is set to put ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp at the forefront of China studies in the UK.”
As well as research, the Centre will have a particular emphasis on working with the local Chinese community and the thousands of Chinese students in the city. It will also seek to serve local businesses and promote peaceful UK-China relations.
¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp has more academics engaged in China and China-related studies than almost any other UK university – working on everything from the arts and humanities to health and science.
It also has a which focuses on teaching Chinese. The new ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp China Institute will be based in its own listed historic building, which will be named in honour of Dr Lee.
Dr Lee said: “The development of China-UK relations is a subject very close to my heart, so I am delighted to be able to help create this Institute at The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp. China’s ties with this city, the university and the many Chinese staff and students make this an ideal place to locate the Institute and the China Gallery.”
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp said: “We are very grateful to Dr Lee for this gift, which will greatly increase knowledge in a subject of global significance. Alongside the important research outputs, this gift will enable the greater promotion of understanding between the two countries, not least through the programme of outreach and the new gallery at the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp Museum.”
Find out more at or
China’s ties with this city, the university and the many Chinese staff and students make this an ideal place to locate the Institute and the China Gallery