The 21st century is a globalised century and China has become a country which cannot be overlooked in considering global issues. Since the socialist reform and the opening policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping, especially after being a member of the World Trade Organisation, China has become fully integrated with the world. With the Chinese Communist Party holding its 18th Congress this year, the world is setting its eyes on China’s strategy for development in the next decade. What would the relation between China and the world be like in the next ten years?
Addressing this issue was Professor Liu Ji, Honorary President of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Chairman of the CEIBS Education Development Foundation. On 9th June, Professor Liu spoke at the SPH News Centre Auditorium as the eminent speaker of the Eminent Speakers Series 2012. The topic was on “China and the World in the Next Decade”. This is the fifth consecutive year Business China and Singapore Press Holdings Limited co-organized the Eminent Speakers Series. More than 450 people attended the talk.
Despite the heavy topic early on a Saturday morning, 77 year old Professor Liu captivated the participants’ attention with his highly infectious cheery character and enthusiasm.
Regarding China in the next ten years, Professor Liu felt that it was important for China to see through the socialist market economic reform began by Deng Xiaoping. At the same time, with large scale economic changes made, it was necessary for political, social and cultural reforms to take place too. In the case of political reforms, changes need to be made to the four-level hierarchy political system – amending undesirable regulations in the political system, administrative system reforms, building democracy within the Party and social democracy.
Professor Liu emphasized that in order to become truly social democratic, it was necessary to possess three key elements, two conditions and one guarantee. The three key elements are freedom of speech, giving in to majority’s decisions and the majority respecting the minority. According to Professor Liu, democracy is not possible without all the three elements present.
However, to realize these three key elements, two social conditions must be met. First, is a general similarity in the qualities of each individual, such as mutual tolerance and respect, a law-abiding attitude and similar discerning abilities. Second, is to ensure that the dissemination of the policies’ guidelines is from a reliable source and that there are no discrepancies in the messages.
Democracy also requires a guarantee, a guarantee to have an extensive legislative framework, handled by an independent legal institution, to punish those who undermine democracy. Based on Professor Liu’s theory, a genuine democracy happens only when these three key elements, supported by the two conditions and one guarantee, are present.
Professor Liu further gave insights as to how China’s development requires an amicable global environment and peaceful cooperation from other Asia-Pacific countries. He also shared his views on China’s development in the next decade and how China can avoid the “middle income trap”. Besides ensuring the socialist market economic reform, it is pertinent for China to complete its course of industrialization. Political, social and cultural reforms must also be done to meet the objective of consolidating, improving and developing a socialist market economy.
In the second part of the session, the question and answer session was moderated by the Chairperson for the talk, Professor Chen Kang. He is currently professor and director of Master in Public Administration and Management programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
One participant was concerned about how the bilateral relationship between Singapore and China would change upon the conclusion of the 18th Congress later this year.
“China and Singapore are on great terms with each other,” Professor Liu replied simply. He believes that the Chinese are fully able to accept more Singapore corporations entering the Chinese market and investing in China. Hence, it is possible, after the 18th Congress, that Singapore will be able to enjoy even better terms when working with China.
About Professor Liu Ji
Prof Liu Ji was born in October 1935 in Anhui Province, China. He is currently the Honorary President of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Chairman of the CEIBS Education Development Foundation.
Prior to his work in CEIBS, Prof Liu assumed several important positions in various government organisations in China. He began his career as an engineer after graduating from the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, Qinghua University in 1958. Between 1958 and 1979, he was an Engineer and Director with the Research Institute of Combustion Engine under the Ministry of Electro Mechanics, Shanghai.
From 1979 to 1992, Prof Liu took up several positions, including the Executive Chairman, the Association of Science and Technology, and the Director of the Commission of Economic Restructuring under Shanghai Municipal Government. He has been the Deputy Chairman, Research Fellow and Member of the Academic Board, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences since 1993. He joined CEIBS in 1999 as President and later became its Executive President. In 2005, he became the Honorary President of CEIBS, a position which he held till now.
Prof Liu has published more than 100 theses and numerous research reports on science and technologies. He later focused his research on the strategic development of China’s economy, system reform, as well as political, economic and cultural studies on a macro perspective. His findings and insights in these areas, which are greatly influential in the academic, political and business arenas, are highly acclaimed both within and beyond China.
About Eminent Speakers Series
Launched in 2008, the Eminent Speakers Series invites prominent personalities who are highly regarded authorities in their respective fields to share their unique perspectives and insights on a broad range of topics, including current affairs, politics, business, economics, media, culture and the arts. The Series is jointly organised by Lianhe Zaobao and Business China, and supported by Singapore Press Holdings Foundation.