“Chinese Culture Day” Debut in GIBS
(People's Daily Online) Yu Meng 2016-09-21 12:33
Sponsored by the Chinese Consulate in Johannesburg, CAYA and GIBS co-host the China Culture Day in GIBS Sandton Campus on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Johannesburg August 31 (People’s Daily Online) A Chinese culture event was held in the top Business School in South Africa for the very first time on Tuesday.
The business school of the University of Pretoria, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) hosted the “Chinese Culture Day” in its Sandton Campus. The Chinese Deputy Consul General Ren Xiaoxia in Johannesburg, Lecturer at GIBS Matthew Birtch, Mandarin SA representative Lance Long, and Chairman of China Africa Youth Association Ken Chun spoke at the Chinese culture seminar. Guests from both South Africa and China enjoyed Lion Dance, Chinese cuisine, and Chinese movies after the seminar.
Ren took the examples of Chinese round-table dinner, modesty, and respecting teachers to explain distinctive Chinese culture. Yet she also pointed out that the Chinese culture is a large and ever-changing concept, even Chinese people couldn’t fully comprehend it. “Culture is prone to misunderstanding for people who didn’t grow up within that particular culture context, It is not an easy task to understand another culture, especially Chinese culture for many South Africans. I’m glad that such initiatives keep us on the right track to know each other better,” said Ren.
Birth said because the Chinese economy is vital to Africa’s development so South Africa should find a way to align itself to the Chinese business culture. Long then elaborated on the culture differences between South Africa and China. He also listed several barriers such as South African colonial history that challenged Chinese companies who wanted to market in South Africa. Chun concluded that according to Hofstede’s Culture Dimensions theory, China and South Africa have a lot in common.
Caption: Ren speaks at the Chinese culture seminar held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Caption: Birtch speaks at the Chinese culture seminar held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Caption: Long speaks at the Chinese culture seminar held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Caption: Chun speaks at the Chinese culture seminar held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Caption: Lion Dance on the Chinese culture show held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
Caption: Chinese martial art on the Chinese culture show held in Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on August 30th, 2016. (Picture: People’s Daily Online / Yu Meng)
