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Asialink is delighted to invite you to an exclusive opportunity to hear from two preeminent political theorists working on contemporary China. Professor Daniel A. Bell and Assistant Professor Pei Wang will each provide insight the Chinese political system and its leadership style.

How to make sense of China's political system?

In China, the political system aims to select and promote public officials with superior ability and virtue. This ideal -- known as "political meritocracy" (贤能政治）-- is deeply rooted in China's political culture and continues to inform the present day political system. There is a large gap between the ideal and the highly imperfect reality, but Daniel A. Bell will argue that the ideal of political meritocracy is the appropriate standard to judge China's political progress and regress.

The Leadership Myths that Shape U.S. and Chinese Power

The competition between the USA and China spans many levels. The USA embraces the hero archetype influenced by ancient Greek ideals. In contrast, China, deeply influenced by Confucian culture, maintains the significant role of the father archetype even under Communist leadership. Through this comparison, Pei Wang will illuminate how archetypal narratives continue to shape power dynamics in the twenty-first century.

Following the formal presentations, former Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby AO will moderate a Q&A session.

This exclusive face-to-face forum is open to schools that demonstrated outstanding engagement in the 2025 Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF) online program. Participating schools must have attended all three ELF program days and submitted a project via Padlet. The forum provides an opportunity for student leaders to connect, share their learning, and deepen their leadership skills in a university setting.

To support balanced representation, a mix of ELF Primary and Junior Secondary schools will be included.

Help our young leaders build skills in intercultural communication, teamwork, and leadership and connect with students from international schools from Asia and the Pacific.

Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia

*Please note each attendee must complete a separate registration to ensure one ticket per person.

Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia is the outcome of a research project that focuses on the period since the gold rushes of the 1850s, when it was more common for First Nations people to come into contact with Chinese arrivals. Both groups largely lived on the margins of White Settler society and were often subject to much disdain and discrimination.

The historical information collected in this book consists of two levels. One is the history of people, places and events that have been documented and affirmed over periods of time. The historians have compiled these materials, and their work provides a backdrop to the second level of information: family stories.  It provides personal stories about how descendants identify themselves and what they think of their family history.