Wu Haiyan, director of IMNU's Australian Studies Center delivers opening remarks during the 16th International Conference of Australian Studies in China, held in Beijing on June 21. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]

The 16th International Conference of Australian Studies in China, hosted by the Australian Studies Centers at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Inner Mongolia Normal University (IMNU), was held in Beijing from June 21-23.

The conference, themed “Australia in the Changing World”, coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Chinese Association for Australian Studies (CAAS) and the 40th anniversary of the Australia-China Council (ACC).

The biennial event aims to explore Australia's increasingly important relations with Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world.

During the conference, experts and scholars from China and Australia held in-depth discussions on the development of Australia in the Asia-Pacific region and on China-Australia relations.

Wu Haiyan, director of IMNU's Australian Studies Center, confirmed that the conference played a significant role in connecting experts, universities and institutions involved in Australian studies during her opening remarks.

Gerald Thomson, deputy head of the Australian Embassy in Beijing, Shirley Leitch, vice-president of Australian National University, and leading researchers in China were invited to share their stories about studying Australia at the conference.

The agreement between the two universities should strengthen the influence of national studies in the development of Australia and promote academic exchanges and mutual understanding between China and Australia, said Li Jianjun, director of BFSU's Australian Studies Center, speaking at the conference.

Attendees pose for a photograph at the conference held in Beijing, June 21. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]