Translators and Mediators of Chinese Global Orders: Audio-Visual Portraits

China’s rise on the global stage isn't just an abstract concept; it is enacted through the daily efforts of individuals acting as brokers, negotiators, traders, and translators. These actors operate at the crossroads of Chinese international initiatives and various local settings, making a vital contribution to how “global China” is perceived and brought into reality locally.

In the meeting points between Chinese global initiatives and local practices, such as border markets, overseas development projects, restaurants, and beauty pageants, these environments act as “contact zones,” where Chinese actors, goods, ideas, and strategies interact with local communities.

This afternoon event, supported by the British Academy’s “Chinese Global Orders” global convening programme, features five audio-visual portraits of individuals working at the intersection of China and the wider world. Their stories foster discussion on the roles of brokers, translators, and traders in shaping communication, mediating power, fostering understanding, and managing differences across various contexts.

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Host or Publisher Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester