On the afternoon of March 11, Xiamen University held the launch ceremony for the “My China Story” Salon for International Faculty and hosted the inaugural lecture of the salon in which XMU Prof. Bill Brown talked about his three decades of life in China.

The events were jointly organized by CFLC and the XMU Office for International Cooperation and Exchange. Participants included the University’s international faculty, post-doctoral fellows and student representatives, as well as XMU and CFLC officials.

A group photo of all salon participants

XMU Vice President Yang Bin addresses the salon

CFLC Dean Chen Jing officiates the event

Professor Bill Brown has been teaching at XMU’s Center for Business Administration Education since 1988. He was one of the first international teachers to introduce MBA courses at a Chinese university. He was also the first foreigner to receive permanent residency in Fujian. He is a recipient of the China Friendship Award, the Fujian Friendship Award, and the Award for Contributions to Xiamen’s 30 Years of Development as a Special Economic Zone. He is also an “honorary citizen of Xiamen”. In addition, he is the author of “Off the Wall – How We Fell for China”, “Magic Amoy”, “Magic Fujian” and many other books.

In his lecture, Professor Brown shared his life experience over the past 30 years and expressed his admiration for China’s development since the reform and opening-up. In 988, he gave up his position as Senior Vice President of First American National Securities and moved his family to Xiamen, where he has taught MBA courses for the past 30 years. He has witnessed China’s 40 years of economic transformation and in some ways participated in these changes. Professor Brown attributed China’s extraordinary transformation over the past four decades to the hard work and wisdom of the Chinese people, the profound culture of the nation, and the efficiency of the Chinese government.

In February, Chinese wrote back to Professor Brown, congratulating him on the publication of his new book and thanking him for devoting 30 years of his life to China’s education. 

Prof. Bill Brown Speaks at the Salon

During the launch ceremony of the salon, XMU Vice President Yang Bin summed up his feelings about Professor Brown’s new book in five words: “real”, “objective”, “goodwill”, “vision” and “wisdom”. He expressed his appreciation to Prof. Brown for sharing his China story and for contributing to the nation’s transformation. He presented Prof. Brown with an honorary trophy, and Prof. Brown also presented a copy of his new book to Vice President Yang and the international faculty members participating in the salon.

XMU Vice President Yang Bin presents an honorary trophy to Prof. Bill Brown

Prof. Bill Brown presents a copy of his new book to Vice President Yang Bin

Prof. Bill Brown presents copies of his new book to fellow international faculty members