First Chinese Audio Engineering Society Section opens in Beijing
Published: ASIA
CHINA: The Audio Engineering Society has announced the opening of its first official AES Section in mainland China following a series of discussions between AES regions and sections chair Peter Cook, and Beijing-based long-term AES member and audio consultant Shusen Wang.
The Beijing-based Section is being described by AES executive director Bob Moses as an example of the Society’s ‘plan to expand the AES mission and support our ongoing effectiveness throughout Asia and The Far East’.
The news follows Mr Moses’ appointment as executive director in January of this year. Speaking to Pro Audio Asia shortly after his appointment, he explained: ‘I’d love to see more happening in Asia. It’s extremely important that the AES try not to be exclusive to just the West. Asia is not some little insignificant corner of the world – it’s becoming the centre of gravity for the entire electronics manufacturing industry, not just audio. Certainly Asia is extremely important.’
The result of a series of discussions and meetings in Beijing, the new Section was reportedly first suggested by Mr Wang, who is also vice president of a Beijing broadcasting company. In late May, Mr Cook made two AES presentations to members of the China Audio and Video Association (CAVA), after which a group of over 25 Chinese AES members from Beijing and other cities began the process of forming the section. Mr Wang was unanimously invited to become chairperson.
‘The seriousness and passion demonstrated by the AES members I met with in Beijing was deeply impressive,’ enthused Mr Cook. ‘They are fully committed to all the fundamental elements that make the AES an invaluable forum for professional audio. They enthusiastically recommended highly qualified local vice-chairs to be responsible for education, research, broadcast applications and other areas of universal AES concern.’
He added: ‘I was genuinely taken aback when they conveyed the huge size of China’s professional audio community. This initial Beijing Section may mark the beginning of a substantial AES expansion in China. Their concerns for the importance of an AES affiliation were humbling.’
According to Shusen Wang, work is already underway: ‘We will work closely with the AES parent organisation to introduce Chinese experts to relevant Technical Committees, to invite them to submit research papers, to introduce Chinese stake-holders to Standards Committee chairs, and to do everything possible to ensure the success of first-time Chinese exhibitors at AES Conventions,’ he explained.
Mr Moses concluded: ‘The AES has many individual members in China. We believe our new Beijing Section will sustain a long and mutually beneficial on-going relationship with China’s professional audio community.