新加坡南洋理工大学华裔馆理事会主席、南洋理工大学终身荣誉校长徐冠林教授；

新加坡华族文化中心主席蔡天宝先生；

新加坡南洋理工大学、社会科学学院教授刘宏教授；

新加坡南洋理工大学华裔馆馆长游俊豪副教授；

女士们、先生们，

大家早上好。

感谢大家在线上参加这场《界线与连线：华侨华人研究国际学术研讨会》。

中心在2019年举办了第一届国际学术研讨会，鼓励学者进行与新加坡华族文化相关的研究和学术讨论。那场研讨会聚焦新加坡华族文化的多元性，而这一次的研讨会则深入讨论华侨华人社群的蜕变和发展。我很高兴在过去的一年里有机会和华裔馆主办一系列内容丰富的学术活动，其中包括今天的研讨会。这次的会议聚集了23位海内外学者，相信大家在接下来的两天里将进行热烈的讨论和交流，为海外华人研究开拓新视野。

接下来，我将以英语发言。

I am delighted that we are able to work with NTU to bring together a group of diverse and eminent speakers for our International Conference this year. The fact that this event is held online has enabled speakers from around the world, including Brazil, to participate. This will certainly add breadth and depth to our discussions. Having it as an online conference has enabled us to overcome space constraints and made this event more accessible to a wider audience locally and internationally.

This year’s Conference is centred on the themes of boundaries and bonds. These are crucial aspects of the Chinese diaspora, covering the Chinese migrants’ journeys of leaving their homeland and their lives thereafter. In re-examining and re-conceptualising the boundaries and bonds experienced by them, we hope to explore the constructions of diasporic identity from many spatial contexts, including physical and virtual ones.

Nonetheless, regardless of where such experiences take place, we hope to better understand and define the many different experiences of the Chinese diaspora, whether as new migrants, or  second or third-generation of Chinese immigrants who have settled down in their new homes. We especially hope to encourage research that investigates the distinctiveness of these Chinese communities that have put down roots round the world, particularly in Singapore, and the culture that binds them together.

It is my pleasure to introduce the scholars who will be giving keynote speeches later. They are:

• – Professor Steven Miles who will be sharing on “Prelude to Diaspora: Revisiting Boundaries in the Study of Chinese Migration”
• – Professor Long Denggao 龙登高whose keynote speech will focus on the “Transnational Flow of Human Capital and the Financial Networks”
• – And Professor Liu Hong 刘宏who will be presenting “Deciphering the Dynamics and Characteristics of New Chinese Diaspora in Singapore, 2010-2020: Identity, Political Economy, and Transnational Network”.

As part of our Centre’s vision to deepen understanding of our local Chinese culture, we have provided annual grants to support research and publication in this area. I am glad to share that the next round of grants is now open for application from 1st October till 31st December. We welcome proposals that will enhance research into Chinese Singaporean identity, arts and culture, and disseminate such outcomes to a wider audience.

In closing, I would like to thank Nanyang Technological University’s School of Social Sciences and Chinese Heritage Centre for co-organising the conference with us, and especially the Chinese Heritage Centre for partnering SCCC in organising a series of thought-provoking talks throughout the year.

I hope you will enjoy the Conference and the many vibrant discussions ahead.

Thank you.