Is China taking over the world?

KINGSTON, R.I.—October 17, 2007—Rosita Chang, professor of finance and director of the Asia-Pacific Financial Markets Research Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will be the featured speaker at the University of Rhode Island Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30. Her talk, entitled “Is China Taking Over the World? A Reasoned Look at its Economy, its Stock Market and the Emergence of Confucius Institutes,” is free and open to the public. It will be presented in Room 271 of the Chafee Social Science Center, 10 Chafee Rd., Kingston.

Her visit is part of the URI Honors Colloquium, China Rising. The semester-long series explores China’s dramatic transformation during the past three decades, a transformation that has returned that country to the leading role it has played throughout most of world history.

“When it comes to China, one conjures up very different views,” notes Chang. “On the one hand, China’s economy may be #3 in the world, but on the other hand it is still considered by the United Nations and the World Bank as a ‘lower middle income country.’

“China is seen as a rising superpower that some analysts predict will be the largest economy in the world by 2050. Its stock market, while booming, is still in its infancy and irrelevant both in the global arena and its effectiveness in channeling resources to Chinese companies.”

Chang will review the development of China’s market economy and examine its nascent stock market–its history, market structure, performance, and weaknesses.

Chang notes that China is not unaware of a rising sentiment of “China-fear.” To counter negative perceptions and build a public relations campaign, China has initiated the formation of Confucius Institutes worldwide.

The Institutes provide mutual benefit, giving our country a better understanding of this emerging force, says Chang who will provide an overview of the establishment of the Confucius Institutes. Opportunities and concerns for institutes will be discussed.

Chang’s scholarly research is widely published. Her current research interests include issues related to Chinese capital markets and corporate governance and financial services industry in China. She has conducted research projects for the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong, the Kuala Lumpar Stock Exchange, Jakarta Stock Exchange, Taiwan Stock Exchange, and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Before joining the University of Hawaii, Chang was a professor of finance and director of the PACAP Research Center at URI.

The Confucius Institute at URI is the sponsor of this presentation. Other major sponsors of the colloquium series are the Mark Ross ‘64 and Donna Ross Honors Colloquium Humanities Endowment, the Tom Silvia ’83 and Shannon Chandley ’83 Honors Colloquium Endowment, Honors Program, Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Confucius Institute at URI, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering, and the Division of University Advancement.

For further details on the colloquium, including an updated schedule, information on parking, and on how to support the series, go to www.uri.edu/hc or call Deborah Gardiner at 401-874-2381.