Australian sinologist Colin Mackerras dies at 87

(ECNS) -- Australian sinologist Colin Mackerras died in Brisbane on Thursday at the age of 87.

Born in Sydney in 1939, Mackerras was a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and an emeritus professor at Griffith University. 

Having developed an interest in Chinese history while studying at the University of Cambridge, he devoted his career to Chinese studies.

His research covered Chinese history, traditional opera, ethnic minorities, China-Australia relations and China's image in the West.

Mackerras first came to China in 1964 to teach and lived in Beijing for two years. He later visited China more than 80 times and received the Chinese Government Friendship Award and the Special Book Award of China, two of China's highest honors for foreign nationals.

A longtime member of the Australia-China Friendship Society, he worked to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

(By Helen Mo & intern Liu Shuangjing)