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Speeches
China's March Towards Modernity and Her Relationship with
the United States
By Mr. Tung Chee Hwa
Columbia University, New York, April 25, 2008
President Bollinger, Ladies, Gentlemen and the students of Columbia University, Good morning.
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for your generous invitation for me to speak here today, and President Bollinger's kind introduction. I am truly honored to be here.
I was born in Shanghai, pursued my studies in the UK, and throughout most of the 60s, I lived in New York and called this great city my home. I was married in New York, worked in New York and began building a family in New York. It was a very happy part of my life. It was a time when The Beatles were taking the US by storm; and, nostalgically for New Yorkers, it was a time of Yankees dominance in baseball. To me, although turbulent, the 60s was a magical time of hope and optimism. It was a time of political ferment. Under the ominous backdrop of an escalating cold war overseas and racial strife at home, the civil rights movement and the new ideas of the baby-boom generation brought about irrevocable changes in American society. It was a time of great intellectual awakening, and I remember how all of this fascinated me as history of this great nation unfolded before my very eyes.
In 1969, I returned to Hong Kong and have been there ever since, first, as a businessman, then, upon China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong, as the 1st Chief Executive of the territory, and then as Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Throughout this time, I’ve had the keen interest and opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of China. And today, I would like to share with you what I know of China.
From China's perspective, this year, 2008, holds special significance. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up to the outside world. 30 years ago, Deng Xiaoping launched this new direction, and, as a result, unleashed the energies of a billion people. It was an event that would change the destiny of China, putting it on a trajectory toward modern statehood.
In 1976, the Cultural Revolution ended, and the country was in a state of collapse and needing to be rebuilt. The then recently rehabilitated Deng Xiaoping decided that we needed to redress the mistakes of the past, and find a new path for the country to follow. He emphasized, firstly, that we needed to reform. We needed to take the planned economy and transform it into a market economy. Second, we needed to open up. We needed to open up our country to the rest of the world. This was a difficult policy decision to make – a policy decision whose success or failure would determine the fate of a billion people. And there was no historical precedence to refer to. In hindsight, this crucial policy decision was full of remarkable courage and wisdom.
30 years have now passed. China's economy has gone from the verge of collapse to becoming the world's 4th largest economy. 1.3 billion Chinese people have moved from abject poverty to a much improved livelihood. Chinese society has gone from being closed to being open. Of particular note is the unprecedented expansion of individual freedom – freedom of thought, freedom of movement, and freedom to pursue economic opportunity. In the history of mankind, there has never been such great achievement involving such a large number of people over such a short period of time. This has been universally recognized.
Although much has been achieved, a great deal still needs to be done. The enormous changes of the past 30 years have also brought with it a whole new set of challenges. For example, the unbalanced nature of economic growth has increased the disparity between rich and poor, between urban and rural populations, and between coastal and inland regions. The unbalanced nature of economic growth has also brought about huge environmental challenges, the need to improve the quality of water and air, and the thirst for energy and raw materials. In order to meet the rising expectations of the people, the central government is going to be even more responsive to the needs of the people in providing better governmental services in general, and education, health care and social security in particular. The road to China's becoming a fully developed country is still a very long one.
What path should China pursue for its future? Responding to the challenges, critical decisions were made by the Chinese leadership last year. China must build on the successes of the past 30 years, develop its economy through further deepening of reform and opening to the world. But economic development must be balanced and sustainable. Rural area income must be raised, and innovation and technology must be further emphasized as the economy restructures. In terms of social development, the call is for governing for the people, with emphasis on developing democracy, and enhancing the rule of law. The government's work needs to be made more transparent, accountable and with greater checks and balances. The provision of education, healthcare and social security services must be improved. The government will sustain its effort for racial harmony among the 56 ethnicities of the Chinese people. This direction of development has received the widespread support of the Chinese people.
With regard to its foreign policy, the past 30 years of China's reform and opening up has also been 30 years in which China has become more and more integrated into the community of nations of the world. From the very beginning, the country's foreign policy can be summarized in two words: peace and development. Today, this policy has not changed. Moreover, as the country reforms and opens up further to the world, China's destiny becomes increasingly intertwined with the world at large. This requires China to play a more active role in international affairs. China will do this by participating actively in multilateral organizations, such as the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, the World Health Organization, the WTO, etc. – organizations set-up after the Second World War under the leadership of the United States of America.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Of course, China recognizes the importance of bilateral relationships with nations around the world, big and small. But the single most important bilateral relationship in the world is the Sino-US relationship. This year marks the 36th anniversary of President Nixon's landmark visit to China, and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the 1970s, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping, and Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, as statesmen representing their two countries, showed great foresight in laying the groundwork for a new Sino-US relationship. Since then, the Sino-US relationship, although at times full of challenges, has made remarkable improvement.
So, after 30 years, where does this important relationship stand? Today the common strategic interests of the two countries abound; and the cooperation is wide-ranging. China and the US are each other's second largest trading partners and together promote regional and global economic development. The two countries are also engaged in wide-ranging cooperation to protect peace and stability not only in the Asia Pacific region, but also the world. There is broad common interest in preventing nuclear weapons proliferation, countering terrorism, creating energy security, protecting the environment, preventing climate change, maintaining international financial order, fighting international crime, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and promoting free trade under the WTO.
Of course, within this complex relationship, at times, because of different national interests, different cultures and beliefs, and different stages of economic and societal development, there will inevitably be differences. Sometimes, a plain lack of understanding can also create difficulties.
For example, on trade and finance, some Americans feel that China is taking advantage of America. Some Chinese feel that America is taking advantage of China. I believe that it is a win-win arrangement. And there are facts to prove this.
Then there is the issue of values. Americans believe deeply in human rights, rule of law, and democracy. In my view, so do the Chinese.
The fact is, too little credit is given to China for progress China made in all these areas. When you look at a photo image of China at a certain point in time, you can often find things that you feel uncomfortable with and you may wish to criticize. But to be fair, if you study carefully a continuing film over a longer period of time, you will find progress having been made in the areas of human rights, rule of law and democracy. When you think of where China was 10 years ago, and where she is today, you will see that substantial progress has been made.
I now want to say a few words on Tibet. Since the riots of March 14th, I have spoken with many Chinese friends in Hong Kong, on the Mainland, and around the world. The reaction can be summarized in three words – sadness, anger, and bewilderment.
Sadness because of the loss of innocent lives as a result of the riots.
Anger because these were riots orchestrated by exiled Tibetan organizations, designed to put maximum pressure on China before the Olympic games – an event that not only represents peace, friendship, and international brotherhood, but also an event, the hosting of which, brings enormous pride to the Chinese people.
Bewildered because of western allegation of oppression and violation of human rights in Tibet. Let me present to you some of the facts about Tibet, comparing what it was like in the 1950s and what it is like today.
In the 1950s, only 2 to 3% of Tibetan children of primary school age had access to education by attending religious classes taught by monks or private tutors. Today over 90% of children of that age group are receiving primary school education. In fact today in Tibet there are 900 primary schools, 110 secondary schools and four universities.
In the 1950s, longevity for Tibetans living in Tibet was 35. Today the longevity is 67. Health care is being increasingly made available to all Tibetans.
In the 1950s, Tibet had no economy to speak of. For a population of one million, the entire GDP was US$40 million. Today Tibet's GDP is US$4.5 billion and per capita has reached US$ 1,500. There are affirmative action programs in jobs and in education in order to give priority to Tibetans.
In the 1950s and for many many years before that, the population in Tibet stood still at just over one million. Today the population has risen to 2.8 million of which 2.65 million are Tibetans. The increase in population in Tibet demonstrates that as a society, Tibet is moving forward in the right direction.
In view of the foregoing, you can understand why we are bewildered by the allegation in the west of oppression and violation of human rights in Tibet. We know a lot of work still needs to be done so that Tibet will continue on its path of improvement. But I hope that before you draw your conclusion about Tibet, you will look at the facts, not just from me, but facts from other sources. Better still, come to Tibet and China and see for yourselves.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The US-China relationship is too important not only for now but also for future generations of Americans and Chinese. We cannot allow a wall of misperception to be built between the two peoples. Facts need to be ascertained, differences need to be thoroughly discussed, better understood and carefully managed. The relationship needs to continue to move forward.
The interests of China and the United States are closely interrelated. But more importantly, coordination and cooperation on issues such as preventing nuclear weapons proliferation, countering terrorism, creating energy security, protecting the environment, preventing climate change, and maintaining international financial order, are pressing issues the world needs to resolve. At this moment in time, it is urgent that we devote ourselves to shaping a new healthy, stable and cooperative Sino-US relationship. This will surely be in the interest of the peoples of both countries.
Columbia University and China have a close relationship. Columbia's East Asian Research Institute enjoys a strong reputation in Chinese studies. With wisdom, openness, and enthusiasm, Columbia should play an even greater role in the development of the Sino-US relationship.
Finally, I wish for the continued success of Columbia University, and for a very successful conference.
Thank you.
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