FALL2001YALE300SPECIALISSUE

President Levin spoke at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Peking-Yale Joint Center for Plant Molecular Genetics and Agrobiology at Peking University.

President Levin Launches Joint Initiatives
Between Yale and China During Trip

A delegation led by Yale President Richard C. Levin traveled to mainland China in May to celebrate the University's 300th anniversary and to announce the creation of several new Yale-China collaborations. "Understanding China and developing relationships with its people and institutions is of great importance to us," Levin told an audience at Peking University, noting China's growing population, economy and role in world politics. "For a university such as Yale, which aspires to be among the greatest in the world, China is also important for the achievements of its ancient and continuous civilization, which is an unending source of learning and enlightenment for scholars who seek comprehensive understanding of the human condition." Levin joined with Chinese officials in formally launching two major new Yale-China collaborations: the Peking-Yale Joint Center for Plant Molecular Genetics and Agribiotechnology and the China Law Center at Yale. The former, based at Peking University, is a world-class research center that will actively foster collaborative studies among scientists through a multidisciplinary research program in plant biology and will help train the next generation of international leaders in the field. The China Law Center at Yale was established to increase understanding of China's legal system and to support China's legal reform process through cooperative projects on key legal issues with legal experts in that nation. The center, which is based at Yale Law School, is the only one in the world focusing on China's legal system in such an in-depth and multifaceted way. Contents Gala Weekend Concludes University's Tercentennial Yale at 300 Alumni Presidents President Levin Launches Joint Initiatives Between Yale and China During Trip 'Gender Matters' Looks at Women's Evolving Roles Yale Experts Explore Interweaving Histories of Yale and U.S. in DeVane Series Celebrating Yale's 300th Around the Nation and Around the World Building Partnerships for a Stronger New Haven Bush Sr. Recalls Challenges of the Oval Office Yale Honors Latest 'Son of Eli' in White House Clinton: U.S. Will Prevail Against Terrorism Zedillo decries 'shameful trend of increasing polarization' Alumni economists discuss U.S. economic prosperity Yale Alumni in the News