AES Expands to China

	Pictured at a meeting of the China Audio & Video Association, bottom row center Peter Cook with Shusen Wang to his right.

AES regions and sections chair, Peter Cook, has concluded a series of meetings in Beijing, which have resulted in the formation of the first Audio Engineering Society section in mainland China.

Early this year, Shusen Wang, a long-time AES member, vice president of a Beijing broadcasting company, and a leading professional audio consultant there, contacted Cook to explore the possibility of establishing a Beijing section. In late May, Cook made two AES presentations to members of the China Audio and Video Association (CAVA). Following those meetings a group of over 25 Chinese AES members from Beijing and other cities, discussed a Beijing section with Cook. Wang was unanimously invited to chair the section.

"The seriousness and passion demonstrated by the AES members I met with in Beijing was deeply impressive," Peter Cook reveals. "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." Cook adds, "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."

Wang applauds Cook's recommendations, and has already begun to map out a program to incorporate them. "We will work closely with the AES parent organization 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, do everything possible to ensure the success of first-time Chinese exhibitors at AES conventions," Wang said.

"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," concludes AES executive director Bob Moses. "This move exemplifies our plan to expand the AES mission and support our ongoing effectiveness throughout Asia and the Far East."