This year, the Eminent Speaker Series was honoured to have Dr Martin Jacques, author of the global best-seller “When China Rules the World: the End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order”, shared a fresh perspective of China’s rise and its growing global influence in this seminar themed “Why China Will Be a Very Different Kind of Great Power”.
Jointly organised by Business China and Lianhe Zaobao, the annual Eminent Speakers Series held on 27 November attracted some 800 guests, comprising Business China members, as well as Zaobao, Business Times and Straits Times readers.
Dr Jacques began the seminar with the comparison of United States (US) and China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and their respective projections in the years to come. It is projected that by the year 2030, China’s share of the global GDP will stand at 34%, more than the US (15%) and the European Union (13%) combined. In contrast to the US, Dr Jacques believed that it is unlikely for China to show off her military prowess because of unique Chinese cultural characteristics. Dr Jacques proposed that China tends to adopt a “stay-home” attitude and will progress in her own unique manner, being very much different from the West. Citing historical statistics and illustrations, Dr Jacques, spoke of the East’s and the West’s contrasting approaches and attitudes with regards to economic, military, historical and cultural expansion and methods of engagements.
The chair-moderator of the Q&A session was Dr Tan Khee Giap, Associate Professor & Co-Director, Asia Competitiveness Institute and Chairman, Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (SINCPEC). Kicking off the session, Dr Tan mentioned that he agrees completely with Dr Jacques’ views on China and conducted a ‘live’ poll with the audience to solicit their views. This highly interactive session also attracted numerous questions from the floor. Dexter Sim, Vice-President of Business China Youth Chapter and Final Year Student at the National University of Singapore, asked about Dr Jacques’ views of China’s role in global conflicts. Dr Jacques pointed out that China, unlike the US, did not show emphasis on her military strength. Instead, China is more focused on her own economic, political and social progression and is unlikely to ‘police’ global conflicts.
Launched in 2008, the Eminent Speakers Series invites prominent personalities 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 Business China and Lianhe Zaobao, and supported by Singapore Press Holdings Foundation.
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