Prof Chen Jin, Director of XTBG and Chair of CUBG said: “The new link between Treborth and XTBG is a great step forward to making stronger ties for China and Wales. The new Chinese garden at Treborth is very exciting and I am happy to be involved with this project.”

 

Two Dragons Garden launch Reception  

— Confucius Institute at Bangor University

[Source]    the Confucius Institute (CI) at Bangor University [Time]    2014-05-22 15:25:13 

On May 24,2014, the Two Dragons Garden project was launched in Bangor, north Wales. Funded, in part, by the Confucius Institute (CI) at Bangor University. The name refers to the relationship of the Chinese Dragon and the Welsh Dragon. The project will showcase the diversity of plant species used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and will be used to promote greater awareness about Chinese culture and botanical history. It will form part of Bangor CI’s Two Dragons initiative, which promotes the cultural, educational and intellectual exchange between Wales and China.

Dr. Sophie Williams, Prof. Chen Jin, Prof. John G Hughes and Prof. Chen Jin and Prof. John G Hughes exchanged views. 

The garden project was launched with an official reception at Treborth, chaired by Dr. David Joyner, Executive Director of Bangor University’s Confucius Institute. The event also marked the formal initiation of the partnership between Treborth Botanic Garden (owned by Bangor University) and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dr. David Joyner, Executive Director of the Institute chaired the launch event, which formalised the partnership between Bangor University’s Treborth Botanic Garden and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Sophie Williams, a Lecturer in Conservation at Bangor University and one of the main pioneers of the initiative, gave an introduction to the Two Dragons Garden project, and expressed her gratitude to the Friends of Treborth, and especially the Confucius Institute. Nigel Brown, Curator of Treborth Botanic Garden said: “We are grateful to the Confucius Institute for funding the plant collection project. The new collection, once established, will be of interest to anyone interested in the Chinese cultural uses of plants, to keen gardeners and to the local Chinese community, as well as providing an excellent teaching resource for our new MSc in Plant Conservation.”

Prof. Chen Jin and Prof. John G Hughes exchange signed Agreements at Treborth Botanic Garden.

A Memorandum of Understanding was then signed by Prof. John Hughes, Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University and Prof. Chen Jin, Director of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden and Chair of the Chinese Union of Botanic Gardens. Also attending the event was Her Majesty the Queen’s Botanist, Prof. Steve Blackmore, a former Director of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.

Second year Applied Terrestrial & Marine Ecology student Sam Herniman and Conservation Lecturer, Dr Sophie Williams, show Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Hughes Sam’s Two Dragons Garden design, completed during his internship under the 'Bangor Employability Award'.

Professor John G Hughes said: “The Two Dragons Garden Project will improve the capacity for teaching, research and knowledge exchange in the botanical sciences between Wales and China. We are especially looking forward to the opportunities it offers to welcome Chinese students and academics to Bangor and to be able to provide our own students and academics the opportunity to work with our colleagues in China through new training and exchange programmes. ”

Ms. Dian Yu and Ms. Ceri Rimmer, representing the Confucius Institute, performed traditional Welsh and Chinese music on the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument, and the harp.

Prof Chen Jin, Director of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden and Chair of the Chinese Union of Botanic Gardens said: “The new link between Treborth and XTBG is a great step forward to making stronger ties for China and Wales. The new Chinese garden at Treborth is very exciting and I am happy to be involved with this project.”

The event completes over a week of Chinese activities at Bangor University, which opened with the Confucius Institute’s Sound of the Two Dragons: Welsh and Chinese Music Dialogue concert on Thursday 1 May, followed by a China-Wales Literature Exchange Symposium and the launch of Bangor University’s new Centre for East Asian Studies on Friday 2 May. A Chinese Kite Festival took place at Treborth Botanic Garden on Sunday 4 May.

Source: http://english.hanban.org/article/2014-05/22/content_537602.htm