The Centre was introduced to delegates of the Asian Studies Association of Australia conference at a reception at the Menzies Library at the ANU on June 30.

Guests were welcomed by the Director of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Professor James Fox, who introduced speakers Professor Malcolm Gillies (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Education, ANU); Dr Wendy Jarvie (Deputy Secretary for Higher Education, Department of Education, Science and Training); Professor Kam Louie (Interim Director of the Centre); and Professor Robin Jeffrey (President, Asian Studies Association of Australia).

Professor Gillies said the Centre would work todevelop strong connections in Asia-Pacific teaching and research with universities across Australia and throughout the world.

“The primary role of the Centre is to raise the profile of Asia-Pacific studies in Australia, as part of Australia’s better protection of its excellence in international education.”

Professor Gillies highlighted the vital role that Australia is now playing in many fragile issue areas in the Asia-Pacific region, and spoke of the need to train Asian specialists capable of providing solutions for regional emergencies.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training, Dr Wendy Jarvie, said the Federal Government is to invest $35 million over four years to develop five Centres of Excellence. She said that these centres would showcase Australian expertise in areas where Australia is a world leader.

Dr Jarvie also announced a new $4.5 million scholarship program to aid in the exchange of undergraduate and postgraduate students between Australia and Asia, especially mainland China and Hong Kong.

Dr Jarvie and Professor Gillies thanked the National Institute for Asia and the Pacific and its Executive Officer, Richard Thomson, for guiding the project through its initial stages.

Professor Gillies introduced the interim director of the Centre, Professor Kam Louie, who heads the China Centre at the ANU.

Professor Louie reminded guests that the ANU has recently been ranked 49th best university in the world overall, and counted among the top five for Asia-Pacific studies. He said this achievement had been rewarded with the creation of the Centre, which he promised would help improve Australia’s already fine track record in Asia-Pacific studies. He also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for the Government’s generosity, and his hope that such foresight on the part of policymakers will continue. In the immediate future, Professor Louie plans to set out an administrative structure for the Centre, so that it will soon be able to advertise the positions of executive officer, grants business development officer, and website/ resources officer.

He also plans to establish an advisory board made up of interested stakeholders from academia, government and business.

Longer term proposals include the establishment of a Pacific Studies Association of Australia, which Professor Louie said is long overdue given Australia’s expertise and importance in the Pacific region.

President of the ASAA,Professor Jeffrey, said it was appropriate the Association was involved with the Centre, because ASAA has provided a way of reassuring the wider academic community that the ANU is truly the national university.

He celebrated the achievement of establishing the forthcoming ASAA national secretariat, and said that ASAA would henceforth be in a stronger position to perform advocacy work for the Centre. Reception guests were given the unique opportunity to view a specially prepared exhibition of valuable historical documents and photographs from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Highlights included the diary of Lancelot Giles, describing the siege of the British Legation during the Boxer Rebellion. A set of diaries and songbooks compiled by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War occupation of New Guinea was on display courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.

Of particular interest were a collection of photographs of an imperial tiger shoot in Nepal. In addition, the ANU Library displayed original documents and memorabilia from the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a collection that includes a Cultural Revolution clock – which naturally enough is red in colour.