Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have now entered the fifth decade. Buoyed by close economic links, this crucial relationship appears to be healthy and growing, with mutual engagement both deepened and widened beyond recognition. Still, lingering suspicions, deep-seated misunderstanding, and sporadic tensions continue to complicate Sino-Australian relations in the new century. Why is this so? How can we better understand each other and minimise mutual misunderstanding? How could Australia and China better engage with each other in political, strategic, cultural, educational as well as economic realms? What are the opportunities and challenges that face this relationship in the twenty-first century?
Debating and understanding such issues and questions is vital to Australia's place in the 'Asian Century'. To both answer these questions and help improve bilateral relations and cross-cultural
literacy between China and Australia, this book brings together perspectives from both Australian and Chinese scholars from various disciplines and fields to explore a wide range of intellectual and practical avenues in cross-cultural understanding and bilateral engagement. It aims to provide a more solid foundation for Australia-China relations in the 'Asian Century', as well as a better understanding of the theoretical, pedagogical, and policy challenges of knowing the other in cross-cultural contexts in general and in Sino-Australian relations in particular.

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★"With the recent signing of the Free Trade Agreement, the Australia-China relationship seems set to grow in strength and depth in coming years. As that happens we must also keep an eye on how each side relates to the other. Strong diplomatic and economic relations depend on strong cultural ties and a regular questioning of stereotypes and dated assumptions. This excellent collection brings together a range of writers who help us think through the intricacies and possibilities of a relationship that is very important to both sides.”
——Dr Geoff Rady, Director of Geoff Raby & Assocites ,Vice Chancellor′s, Professorial Fellow at Monash University,and former Australian Ambassador to the People′s Republic of China.

★"China and Australia are two major powers in the Asia-Pacific region with increasingly close and proactive relations. Engagements and interactions between our two cultures are particularly important to the promotion of better mutual understanding and friendship of our peoples. There is therefore a need for works which are both accessible in approach and profound in content. This panoramic anthology provides an illuminating overview of the academic reflections upon the cultural encounters between China and Australia in the past, at present and also in the future. I am sure scholars and non academic stakeholders alike will find that this book meets their needs."
——Chen Hong, Vice President of National Association of Australian Studies in China; Director, Australian Studies Centre, East China Normal University

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: New Perspectives on Cross-cultural Engagement
Part I Australia and China Engaged: Past and Present
Cross-cultural Encounters in History: Australian Women in China
Travellers' Tales and Australia's China "Literacy"
Business Guidebooks and Cross-cultural Engagement between Australia and China
An Evaluation of Australia-China Relations
under the Gillard/Rudd Labor Governments2007 - 2013
How to Mitigate the Potential Conflicts between China and Australia

Part II Cross-cultural Understanding and Misunderstanding
China and Australia: Understanding and Misunderstanding Each Other Great Expectations
Intercultural Communication and Cultural Mediation: Translating Chinese Films for the Australian Audience
A Critical Analysis of the Semantic Prosody in Media Discourse about China's Rise
Miscommunication in Australia-China Relations:The Stern Hu Affair
The Confucius
Institute Project in the Rise of China

Part III Understanding Australia
Repositioning Australia in the Asia Pacific Is Value Diplomacy for Real or a Cover for Realism?
The Immortal's Roles in the Land Rights "War" in Carpen,taria
Learning Australian English Vocabulary: Focus on Form or Forms?
Part IV Rethinking Australia's China/Asia Literacy
Getting It: Predicting the Chinese Future Asia Literacy and the Purposes of Schooling in Australia
China as a "Problem" and Australian Politics
Cross-cultural Literacy as Social Knowledge: Implications for Australia's Understanding of China
Selected Bibliography
Notes on Contributors
Index