Envisioning 2026 Together
December 31, 2025
Dear Friends,
As we welcome 2026, I write to express our deepest gratitude for your steadfast support during the inaugural year of the Institute of Transnational History of China (ITHC) following our establishment in December 2024. The global academic community’s intellectual contributions, our university colleagues’ collaboration, and students’ enthusiastic participation have been vital in advancing our mission to reshape transnational historical scholarship. Your collective efforts have transformed ITHC into a dynamic platform for cross-border dialogue.
The past year witnessed significant milestones, beginning with our establishment in the Run Run Shaw Heritage House as our inaugural headquarters, followed by the launch of our official website and social media presence on Facebook and X, and the formation of our International Advisory Board and Executive Committee. We also successfully organized several new initiatives, including the inaugural International Symposium on Transnational History of China, featuring speakers from ten countries/regions, four guest lectures/workshops under the ITHC Guest Lecture Series, and the sponsorship of four young scholars through our Visiting Scholars Scheme to conduct research at ITHC.
Looking ahead to 2026, ITHC will expand its initiatives by hosting three distinguished scholars: Professor Paul Evans (University of British Columbia), Professor Ma Min (Central China Normal University), and Professor Dr. Dominic Sachsenmaier (University of Göttingen) for two-to-four-week visits during March and April. During their residencies, these scholars will conduct cutting-edge research while participating in various activities to foster intellectual exchange with our faculty and students. In April, we will host a specialized workshop for young scholars from Europe, North America, Russia and Ukraine, focusing on Chinese migration, particularly Chinese workers in Russia during the Great War. The first half of the year will feature two book launches showcasing new ITHC publications, while the second half is expected to see the publication of our inaugural Edited Volume Series. Concurrently, we will collaborate with HKU and partner institution researchers to explore new research funding opportunities to enhance and expand our transnational historical research initiatives.
This is a first research institute in the world devoted to study of transnational history of China. Its success depends on support from the institute’s friends. We warmly invite you to help sustain this momentum through financial contributions to support the Institute or by donating historical materials to enrich our archives. For details about making a financial donation, please visit the link here. For either type of donation, please contact the ITHC General Office using the contact information provided at this link to share your ideas. Your support is crucial in helping us build a world-class research institute in transnational history. We look forward to exploring collaborative opportunities with you in the coming year. May I take this opportunity to wish you a healthy and productive 2026!
Sincerely yours,
Professor Xu Guoqi
David H Y Chang Professor in Chinese History
Founding Director, Institute of Transnational History of China