6月，中國婦女英文月刊對艾琳公使進行了獨家專訪，原文發表在2015年第6期Blending In專欄。轉載得到中國婦女英文月刊雜誌許可。
Carma Elliot, Minister of Culture and Education of the British Embassy, and British Council China Director, loves cooking, eating, cycling and watching movies. She also loves having family time with her two lovely daughters. Elliot considers herself a "voracious reader," who reads a lot about China. She first came to China in 1984, and she has long been passionate about providing public services, sharing the very best of the United Kingdom with its partners, and building lasting relationships and creating opportunities for young people in both China and the UK.
2015 is the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange. The Year helps build a people-to-people connection through a variety of activities, which features the development of the art and creative industries in both countries, Carma Elliot told a news briefing, in Beijing, on February 10. The year of cultural exchange between China and the UK was formally launched in early March. Women of China (WOC) recently interviewed Elliot about her work experiences in China, and about British Council's achievements in enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK. The following is an excerpt of that interview:
WOC: When was your first posting in China as a diplomat? What was your impression of China at that time?
Elliot: I came to work in China in 1989. I was responsible for looking after British people who were living in China, and also (for dealing with) the visa section. Much of my contact with people was actually because they wanted to go and study in the UK. Back then, it was five years after I had begun studying the Chinese language at Fudan University (in Shanghai in 1984). So much had changed in those five years.
China was at the time when it was starting to develop very fast. But there (were) still parts of China that hadn't yet had so much economic development. There were big contrasts in China between different regions, between the countryside and cities, in terms of things people wore and things they did, and depending on their income levels. Coming to such a country, as a diplomat, was very interesting.
WOC: You were the executive director of China's largest international NGO (nongovernmental organization), Half the Sky Foundation, from 2010 to 2013. Did your work experiences during those years affect your career development in China? If so, how?
Elliot: During the period when I worked at Half the Sky Foundation, the organization was going through a transition. Half the Sky was set up as a locally established, and funded, organization to work specifically for orphans (who were) living in government-run institutions in China. It was the vision of the founder, Jenny Bowen, an amazing woman who linked up with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs to train every care worker who was working in a government institution, so they could provide love and care to children who did not have their own families, but who were part of that one big family (Half the Sky).
Since China has become wealthier, more people in China have had time to … work as volunteers, or with some charitable projects (initiated by) philanthropists. There's a lot of work from the Chinese Government (in) trying to ensure that economic development benefits all. The period of working with Half the Sky was a very heartfelt thing. I have two adopted children in China … so I know, for myself, the kind of need for training.
Taking into consideration my next position, here in BC, there is a lot of work we can do with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, individual charities, social enterprises and with our government partners, such as the Ministry of Education. All of the organizations we've worked with have … a view of working on policies about social equity and fairness.
WOC: What programs and/or activities have you promoted since April 2013, when you became British Council China Director? Please tell our readers about some of British Council's achievements in fostering UK-China exchanges, especially in terms of education and cultural communications.
Elliot: The British Council has worked as the cultural and education section of the British Embassy for the past 35 years. BC was originally set up to promote friendly relations between nations. All of our work is about connecting people. I feel very lucky to have inherited, after 35 years, some fantastic networks in our existing programs.
One example, within this year, (was) working with our Chinese partners, including the Ministry of Culture, (to launch) the year of cultural exchange between the UK and China. This year is the first time we've done a bilateral year of cultural exchanges. The first half of this year has been the UK season in China. The second half will be the China season in the UK. We have had great opportunities to bring fantastic cultural activities, which will last until this August, to China. We've had activities such as the visit from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.
Another thing of which I'm proud … is that we are doing policy exchanges. The UK economy is a creative economy. Creative industry is a very strong part of our economy, almost as big as our financial services industry. China has great ambitions in terms of creative industry. There are a lot of things we can do … to bring experts and professionals together to have dialogues and exchanges. The UK and China are complementary as economies. Our economy has rebalanced, over the years, from the heart of industrial revolution to a service-based economy. The UK is well prepared to bring some of its knowledge, expertise and experiences to share with China.
On the education side, we already have a strong relationship with China. We have some joint camps here with a lot of exchanges among students. There are 135,000 Chinese students in the UK. We have a program, Generation UK, to bring more British students to China. I believe that the more people know each other on a personal level, the greater trust (they will have) in each other.
WOC: Since the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange was launched, what events have been of interest to you? In which events do you hope to participate in the latter half of the year?
Elliot: For the China season in the UK, our Chinese partners are busy planning and programming, and they are going to reveal their programs quite soon. We'll keep it a secret just for now.
During the first half of this year, my favorite project was the Art Trail of Shaun the Sheep. Shaun the Sheep is a very simple concept of animation. Animation is a powerful film method … It is easily understandable by people whatever the language they speak, and it's great fun. The project has had a fundraising element built into it. The Art Trail has been a project in which sculptures of Shaun the Sheep have been painted by famous painters, celebrities and sports people. The sculptures have been going around China on a sort of "Sheep Tour." At the end of this tour, there will be an auction. The money raised will be used to support a number of charitable projects, including art classes provided to disadvantaged children, such as migrant children. The thing I like best about Shaun the Sheep is that wherever (the sculptures) are … everybody smiles as he/she looks at the sheep.
WOC: What projects, especially related to communications among young people, can we expect from BC going forward?
Elliot: As I previously mentioned, Generation UK is a seven-year project, which was launched in 2013. It offers people access to funding and opportunities to study in universities here (in China). The Chinese Government is enthusiastic about attracting more foreign students. We are marketing Generation UK strongly to people in the UK … so more and more people may want to come to China. Last year, there were 7,500 British students who had come to China.
It's the case nowadays that if you are sitting in a company in the UK, your boss may be a Chinese, and your company may be owned by Chinese. At least, your company probably does business with China. As an important aspect of our internationalization strategy, we want more people to go and study and do some internship in other countries.
Another project, which I think is important, is the support we are giving to the teaching of Chinese in the UK. So many people in China are learning English, while in the UK, more and more people are interested in learning Chinese. We are working closely with the Chinese Government to make sure the teaching of Chinese is promoted … to young people in the UK.
艾琳公使也常在新浪微博@英國文化教育公使艾琳 分享她在中國的工作體會和有趣經歷。
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