To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, SACU sponsored the first Needham Essay Prize competition for Oundle School Sixth Form pupils, who were asked to respond to the title: 'Joseph Needham reminded us that we should understand the meaning of China both past and present. Discuss.'
SACU was founded by Joseph Needham (OO) in 1965 to further his love and understanding of China. It was one of the few organisations allowed to visit China during the 1970s and played an instrumental role in collecting information on Chinese affairs during this period of isolation.
Annabelle Barker’s (N) essay was chosen to receive the £100 prize, and she was invited to attend the day-long SACU 50th anniversary Symposium at King’s College, London, which was opened by the Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming.
During the day speakers discussed SACU’s work, the relations between China and the UK, and Chinese culture and the shifting balance of global power. Also in attendance were Press Counsellor Shao Zhang and a five person delegation from Beijing, led by the recently appointed Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship, Song Jingwu.
Professor Sun Hua from Peking University’s China Centre for Edgar Snow Studies presented the prize.