[Denis DNT]

Dave is right, I am yet to find anything of the sort here in China. A couple of months ago a colleague told me about a conference in Shanghai, I followed it up and found out later that it was just a new English language training center that had invited a few ESL teachers to the official launching of its activities.
I think it is a big loophole in China's education department that ought to be taken care off.

[DaveESL]

Quote Denis DNT

I think it [the absence of ESL groups / conferences] is a big loophole in China's education department that ought to be taken care off.

There are many, many other big loopholes in China's education that they should probably take care of first, though.

[Denis DNT]

I agree with you.
A friend was saying the other day that China is developing so fast economically and at the same time underdeveloping so fast in education and the way of thinking. He backed up his point with this ad;

URGENT,
at the moment we are looking for a foreign English Teacher Who can teach English in Kindergarten(only white people who has foreign face) the pay is 5000RBM every month and Provide room and board .the Kindergarten is in Liangxiang. If you are interested, pls send your CV to nativetutor@163.com or pls call at 51736782

This ad is copied from one of Beijing's most popular sites for foreigners. 4 out of 5 educationists / employers in China still think as demonstrated in this ad.
Sad!

[DaveESL]

I saw a quote from an architect (here) talking about architecture, but I think it applies to education, too:

The Cultural Revolution has a lot to do with it. A whole generation has not been educated in how to value.

My fellow professors were educated during (or soon after) the Cultural Revolution. Academics were not trusted or respected during that time. It's no surprise, then, that the state of academia in China is not very good.