Prof. Ezra F. Vogel, Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences Emeritus at Harvard University, was invited to host the University’s 50th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture on 28 March. Professor Vogel spoke on ‘Can China and Japan Make Peace?’ to share his views on the relationships between China and Japan. The lecture attracted an audience of around 500, including academics, students, alumni, members of the consulates, as well as members of the public.

Professor Vogel talked about the ups and downs of Sino-Japanese relations, starting from the Japanese learning from China language, Buddhism, city layout and architecture, etc., to the Chinese learning modernization, textiles from Japan later on. From 1978 to 1992, Japanese gave assistance to China’s modernization and Sino-Japanese relations was good. However this relationship has been tested by the current crisis in Diaoyu Islands. He then discussed possible measures to improve relations.

In May 2012, the Chinese University Press (CUP) published the Chinese edition (both traditional and simplified character versions) of Professor Vogel’s book, Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China. In January 2013, the CUP authorized SDX Joint Publishing Company in Beijing to publish an abridged simplified character version, 500,000 copies of which was printed in the first edition. A total of 800,000 have been printed since then, making it one of the most eminent political books being sold on the mainland. To encourage young people in the US to launch Chinese studies, Professor Vogel donated all his royalty from the mainland to his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan University. The initial donation of US$600,000 was transferred to Wesleyan through the CUP.