TWO well-known commentators, one from each side of the Taiwan Strait, are coming to town to speak on issues about China and Taiwan.

One was recently voted among China’s top 100 public intellectuals by Chinese netizens.

The other has been named one of the 200 most influential people in Taiwan in the last 50 years.

The two men, Mr Yau Lop Poon and Mr Nan Fangshuo, will kick off the inaugural Eminent Speakers Series this Saturday at Suntec Singapore Theatre.

Mr Yau, 58, the editor-in-chief of leading Hong Kong weekly magazine Yazhou Zhoukan since 1993, will discuss how Chinese societies around the world are using their soft power to make a difference in the global power structure.

Mr Nan, 62, a renowned scholar, political commentator and journalist, will speak on Taiwan’s history and democratisation.

Presented by the Chinese Language Journalism Fund and Business China (Singapore), the new series is supported by the Singapore Press Holdings Foundation and is one of the events celebrating the 85th anniversary of Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao.

Lianhe Zaobao editor Lim Jim Koon will chair the seminar.

Mr Yau’s session is from 10am to noon, while Mr Nan will speak from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

To register, call 6319-5639 or 6319-1585, or e-mail cipforum@sph.com.sg to request for a copy of the registration form.

Fees are $25 for one session and $40 both sessions.

Courtesy of The Straits Times, June 02, 2008

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