Attendees at the 2018 annual conference of the China British History Association pose for a photograph, at Yunnan University, on Non 24. [Photo/ynu.eud.cn]

The 2018 annual conference of the China British History Association (CBHA) was held at Yunnan University (YNU), from Nov 24 to 25. 

The event was held by the China British History Association and the School of History and Archives at YNU, attracting more than 120 scholars from 45 universities and institutes across the country. 

Ding Zhongtao, vice-president of YNU; Qian Chengdan, honorary president of CBHA and professor at Peking University, and Gao Dai, president of CBHA and professor at Peking University, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Jin Hai, researcher from the Institute for World History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 

Speaking at the conference, Ding extended his congratulations on the opening of the conference, and his warm welcome to the attendees. 

Ding went on to brief the attendees on the history and development of the discipline of world history at YNU. He stressed that YNU’s inclusion in the national Double First-rate Program brought about challenges and opportunities to the university and the university’s department of world history. 

He concluded his speech by extending his thanks to experts from CBHA and universities for providing long-term support for the development of YNU’s department of world history. 

Professor Qian Chengdan recalled his connections with YNU and how he offered support to the development of YNU’s department of world history. He extended his congratulations on the achievements YNU had made in developing the discipline. 

He also praised the achievements made by CBHA in recent years, saying CBHA played a leading role in several areas of domestic world history research. He expressed his hopes that CBHA would further continue its efforts in development.

Professor Gao Dai represented CBHA to express his thanks to YNU for holding the conference and the present scholars for attending the event. 

He called for continuous efforts from CBHA members to make even greater achievements in the area of British history research. 

A keynote speech session chaired by Zhang Yadong, secretary-general of CBHA, was held after the opening ceremony. Various scholars including professors Qian Chengdan and Gao Dai from Peking University, Professor Jiu Jinghua from Tianjin Normal University; Professor Chen Xiaolyu from Nanjing University, Professor Xu Jieming from YNU and Professor Mei Xueqin from Tsinghua University, shared their recent research findings in British history. 

On the mornings of Nov 25 and 26, the attending scholars held 12 rounds of discussions in three separate groups, revolving around political, economic and social history, as well as ideological and cultural history of the United Kingdom. 

The closing ceremony was chaired by Professor Liu Jinghua, vice-president of CBHA, where Professor Wang Qingjiang from Kunming University of Science and Technology, Professor Xu Zhiqiang from Yangzhou University and Professor Zhang Weiliang from Hangzhou Normal University, reported the final findings from their respective group.

The 2018 annual conference of the China British History Association (CBHA) is held at Yunnan University (YNU), from Nov 24 to 25. [Photo/ynu.eud.cn]

Attendees at the conference hold a group discussion. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

A scholar delivers a report at the conference. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]