Organisers of the Forum: CEO of Business China, Ms Sun Xueling
Principal of River Valley High School, Mrs Teo Khin Hiang
Our distinguished speakers: Mr Chia Kim Huat and Dr Wang Jiangyu 王江雨博士
老师们、同学们
大家下午好
1. First of all, thank you for the invitation to attend this 3rd China Studies Perspectives Forum. The familiar Business China logo and the bright yellow “Go East” theme, brings back fond memories of the time when I served as the CEO of this organisation. Today’s event is a timely reminder of the importance of looking at issues from different perspectives for better clarity. This unique bilingual platform seeks to engage our Singapore youths from the vantage points of the East and the West as we examine some of the most pressing issues facing modern China today.
2. Bilingualism is one of the cornerstone of Singapore’s education. This policy prepares our students to expand their frontiers while being firmly rooted in our own cultures and values systems. Equipped with English and their mother tongue, our youths are well placed to straddle the East and the West, understand and empathise with differing view-points. Bilingualism promotes harmony and inclusivity, and helps build trust for a better world.
3. This year, China celebrates the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. China has made tremendous progress since it started market reforms in 1978, and joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001. More than 800 million citizens were lifted out of poverty. In 1978, China’s per capita GDP was around 160 US dollars. It grew more than 50 times to 8,500 US dollars in 2017. Forty years on, China is now a very different country. While most of our students are rooted in local culture and are adept at relating to the West, we must continue to ensure that those with strong bilingual and bicultural aptitude are given the chance to study and understand China at more advanced levels.
4. It was with this in mind that MOE launched the Bicultural Studies Programme (Chinese) or BSP(C) in 2005. Students enrolled in this programme have the opportunity to participate in immersion programmes in China for up to 6 months, and in a Western country for another two weeks during their 4-year course. Our host school today, River Valley High School is one of the 7 schools in Singapore offering this programme.
5. The BSP-C, together with China Studies, an interdisciplinary humanities course offered at the A-Level, helping our students track China’s geopolitical, economic and socio-cultural development since 1978, and their role in shaping China’s trajectory and beyond. China Studies is also offered in English and is popular with non-Chinese students who wish to know more about China.
6. To date, close to 10,000 students have graduated from these programmes, and are serving in the private sector as well as public services, contributing to our brain share of China-savvy youths.
7. Set up in 2007 to better equip our businesses to tap on opportunities from a rising China, Business China is another go-to resource for an astute understanding of the China market. One of our speakers today, Mr Chia Kim Huat, is a very supportive Business China member who has been served in two sub-committees since the organisation’s inception. Kim Huat is bilingual and a lawyer. Together with Associate Professor Wang Jiangyu 王江雨, they will both deliberate on today’s topic: Can China Truly Achieve Rule of Law? 中国能否真正实现法治?
8. 针对这个课题，我想，在两位律师面前，我还是不要班门弄斧。
9. 各位校长、老师和同学们：首先，很高兴能受邀参加今天这个双语论坛，在此要特别感谢主办方，通商中国和立化中学共同创立了这个独特的双语平台，让年轻的学生们，有机会从东西方视角，多方面了解中国的时事动态，从更多的角度和维度，进行更深入的思考。
10. 中国是世界人口最多的国家，也同时是世界第二大经济体，以及国土面积第三大的国家，此外，中国有四大发明，还有五千年不间断的历史文化，单从这 一、二、三、四、五，我们就能够设想中国在未来，对世界的发展所可能带来的影响。中国和平稳定的发展，备受世界各国的关注，也同时和东南亚区域的发展，息息相关。
11. 我想在座的老师和同学们，都跟我一样迫不及待，想听听谢锦发律师和王江雨博士，针对今天的课题：“中国能否真正实现法治? ”，发表看法。那我就不再多说，把更多的时间，留给两位资深的主讲嘉宾。
12. 希望在座的同学在聆听之余，能够进一步思考这个课题，并在待会儿的答问环节当中，积极参与讨论。
13. 最后，希望大家在今天的论坛都取得丰硕的成果，并预祝论坛圆满成功！谢谢。