On 27-29 March 2014, the 13th Asia-Pacific Conference of theAssociation for Business Communication (ABC) was held in SUIBE.Focusing on the theme “Dao of Business Communication”, theconference aimed to explore the diversity and complexity ofcommunication in international business across national boundaries.
Professor Chen Jie, Vice Chair of SUIBE Executive Board and VicePresident, Professor Wang Guanglin, Dean of SUIBE School ofLanguage, Professor Ye Xingguo, Chair of the Board of Directors ofChina Association of International Business Communication,Professor Kathryn Rentz, President of ABC and Professor at theUniversity of Cincinnati, and Professor Bertha Du-Babcock, VicePresident of ABC Asia-Pacific Region and Professor at the CityUniversity of Hong Kong attended and addressed the opening ceremonyof the conference.
After the opening ceremony, Professor Bertha Du-Babcock from theCity University of Hong Kong, Professor Du Weilin from theUniversity of International Business and Economics, Professor SteveJ. Kulich from the Intercultural Institute of the ShanghaiInternational Studies University, and Professor Cao Dechun fromNorth China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, andProfessor Wang Guanglin from SUIBE delivered key-note speeches.
Following the key-note speeches, participants also gave paperpresentations at group sessions, discussing topics ranging fromtheoretical models, case studies, teaching approaches, andprofessional training of business communication. During theconference, participants also visited Shanghai VolkswagenAutomotive Company Ltd., experiencing firsthand how a multinationalcompany in China communicates with various stakeholders and buildsits corporate culture.
During the recess, a variety show showcasing the Chinese culturewas organized for the conference participants.
Founded in 1935, ABC is an international, interdisciplinaryorganization committed to advancing business communicationresearch, education, and practice. It is currently divided intonine regional divisions: 1) Asia and the Pacific, 2) Canada, 3)Caribbean and Central America, 4) Europe, Africa and the MiddleEast, and 5) five United States regions (Eastern, Midwestern,Southeastern, Southwestern and Western).