Robert Lawrence Kuhn

Robert Lawrence Kuhn Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is a public intellectual, international corporate strategist and investment banker, and a renowned expert on China. He is a commentator on the BBC, CNN, CGTN, CCTV, CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, and other media; senior political/economics commentator on China Global Television Network (CGTN); and a columnist in China Daily and South China Morning Post. For 30 years, Dr. Kuhn has worked with China's state leaders and advised the Chinese government. He spoke at the launch ceremony of President Xi Jinping's book, The Governance of China; he provided live commentary on CNN for Xi's policy address during his U.S. state visit (2015); and he introduced to foreign audiences Xi as "core" of the CPC (2016). He is interviewed extensively on US-China relations, including the trade war (2018). For the 19th CPC National Congress (October 2017) and 13th National People's Congress (March 2018), Dr. Kuhn was interviewed extensively, including 24 times on CNN and BBC World News / BBC World Service, and he was quoted in newspapers and websites in U.S., Hong Kong, Italy, India, etc. His full-page, in-depth analyses of the 19th CPC National Congress were featured in China Daily to open the CPC Congress ("Historical Starting Point for New Stage of Development") and to close the CPC Congress ("New Era on the Road to 2050"). His essay at the opening of the Party Congress was published in People's Daily. Dr. Kuhn is the author of How China's Leaders Think (featuring President Xi), and The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China's best-selling book of 2005). He wrote the Introduction for Understanding the CPC, the book series by China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (2015). Shanghai Media Group and Dr. Kuhn are co-creators and co-producers of the award-winning, five- part series China's Challenges, broadcast internationally (PBS stations in the U.S.) and in China. Dr. Kuhn is writer and host; Peter Getzels is director. China's Challenges won first prize in China News Awards twice (2013, 2018). A second season won an Emmy Award (Los Angeles, 2016). A third season (on "Xi Jinping Thought" and China 2020 / China 2050) is broadcast in late 2018. Dr. Kuhn is the creator, co-producer and host of "Closer to China with R.L.Kuhn" on CGTN (China Global Television Network, co-created by Adam Zhu), the weekly series with unique access that features China's thought leaders and decision makers, broadcast globally and in China. Closer To China focuses on China's politics and government, CPC/Party, economics and society, reform and development, and international affairs and relations, with emphasis on Xi's policies and philosophy. A special documentary on President Xi's "targeted poverty alleviation" campaign, co-produced by CGTN, Dr. Kuhn and Adam Zhu, is in production. Dr. Kuhn is host and writer. Peter Getzels is director. Dr. Kuhn was one of only two Americans, with Henry Kissinger, named as the first "China Visionaries". He was selected by Oriental Outlook magazine (Xinhua News Agency) as one of the all-time, top-ten influential supporters of China's ruling party/CPC (he is the only one living). An international corporate strategist and investment banker, Dr. Kuhn works with major multinational corporations, CEOs and C-Suite executives, in formulating and implementing China strategies by applying his "politico-strategic framework". He was president/co-owner of the largest middle-market firm in the U.S. (sold to Citigroup in 2000). Dr. Kuhn is creator, writer and host of Closer To Truth (produced and directed by Peter Getzels), the long-running PBS/public television series on science and philosophy (broadcast continually since 2000, over 275 TV episodes; more are in production). Dr. Kuhn is author or editor of over 30 books on China, corporate strategy, finance, science and philosophy (including, with the philosopher John Leslie, The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All). Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation which supports new knowledge in science and philosophy, classical music, and informed relations between the United States and China. The Kuhn Foundation produced the feature documentary "Khachaturian" on the life and music of the Armenian -Russian composer Aram Khachaturian, which won the Best Documentary award at the Hollywood Film Festival. Dr. Kuhn has a B.A. Human Biology (Johns Hopkins); . Anatomy/Brain Research (University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA); MBA (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT). EFTA00800267 CNN Quest Means Business Future of U.S.-China Trade Relations Robert Lawrence Kuhn, August 27, 2018 TRUMP ON CHINA TRADE: "NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO TALK" WIWI LIVE 835 PM GMT QUEST MEANS BUSINESS 1 EFTA00800268 Ai?" CNBC CNBC Squawk on the Street US-China Tariffs - US-China Trade War Robert Lawrence Kuhn, August 22, 2018 CNBC MENU MARKETS BUSINESS NEWS INVESTING TECH POLITICS CNBC TV SEARCH US and China have self- fulfilling prophecies on both sides for trade... 10:40 AM ET Wed. 22 Aug 2018 Robert Kuhn, China government advisor and "How China's Leaders Think" author, discusses his expectations for the next round of U.S: trade talks that begin today. L---7111 WATCH CNBC LIVE TV 600 1 EFTA00800269 FOEBUSINESS FOX BUSINESS Mornings With Maria (Maria Bartiromo) US-China Tariffs - US-China Trade War Robert Lawrence Kuhn, August 23, 2018 PX4 SINESS Or— IS Watch Live 4 imb. . sta. I •„. For video troubleshooting and help click here News Clips gri for Will tariffs change China's behavior on intellectual property theft? Aug. 23, 2018 - 5:26 -'Closer to China with R.L. Kuhn host Robert Kuhn on the impact of mounting trade tensions with China. • HtrrLERT U.S. VS. CHINA - 12.1.±'_ ctMomingsMaria fillPnreni foxbusiness.com/channelfinder Fox Business Channel Finder Find the Fox Business Network in your area. Find Now EFTA00800270 4117:\ 5 8 01 r RIX linencivcoml 0F5/otIttitl). 01110fl00016. NUN. 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Thanks so much for joining us here on the program. Usually the NPC is seen as sort of a choreographed event: we know what to expect. But this time it felt very different. RLK: It certainly was different. You have to look at this year's National People's EFTA00800272 B B C Congress - and the so-called Two Sessions - as part of the "political season" which begins with the party congress in October and goes now to the government sessions in March. And normally there is a predictability and what happens at the National People's Congress is not very significant. --- -- 4- , 1111 Ilk 's . --_, - ,__- lit .4, -,.. iplitst,-, _ ._ •-• a Art IMPACT CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS CLOSES Xi: China would defeat any attempt to divide country MN WORLD NEWS EURO 1.1407 ',CS 1.4 • C HKS 10.5E . RLK: This year is different: China talks about a "New Era" - and this is not just words, it is really the case. If we look at the vision that Xi Jinping gave at the party congress, what we see here at the National People's Congress we see as the implementation of that vision across a very broad front. LIVE Boiling lart; AS .. 1 \ gi v P '11•1 T VS. APOIMEn - 1 SIPOMPM. . _ - - -- k ill• - awl._ sh Se sea _ •3ii CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS CLOSES lows officials to visit island rwirq WONT. n NEWS EN 106.43 1NEOSITE YOU CAN GET MORE ON ALL THE 2 EFTA00800273 B B C RLK: People have focused on term limits - understandably so - but the change is only for the presidency. Xi Jinping by having been made "Core" of the Party in October 2016 - actually with that designation undermined "collective leadership" - and when Xi's name was put into the Party Constitution as the contemporary arbiter of Marxism - on which the Party is based and the Party rules the country - he then became the overarching leader, no would hold. LIVE Local Time 22:05 ...-. \ t I? 1:4' ;44, in ill. ._ 'LA "Ipsommes SRO -. -4, _ ,ffr . ti.... t .. . , a -.gum CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS CLOSES Xi spoke of a "China solution" to world problems CICHil WORLD NEWS DRIES AT blec.corninews • CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOC LIVE Time 22:05 •I4 in t F- t .i IIISP---- --------"rmatter what position he f a .‘10 .gs tl Ilk el' . ire I. - \I CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS CLOSES Xi spoke of a "China solution" to world problems BBC • • • • • . • 3 EFTA00800274 CNN International President Xi Jinping, China, Term Limits Robert Lawrence Kuhn - March 12, 2018 HOST: Let's talk about President Xi Jinping with our gues,t Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a longtime advisor to the Chinese government, the author of How China's Leaders Think, and the host of Closer to China with R.L. Kuhn on the China Global Television Network. Thanks for being with us. RLK: Hi Natalie. Interesting day we're having. HOST: Isn't it, though? So, I guess the first question would be to follow up on your book title, how China's leaders think. What is Xi Jinping thinking with this move? PARLIAMENT VOTES TO END PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS EFTA00800275 RLK: First of all, we have to understand it in context. There are twenty-one different clauses in this Constitutional Amendment, and the whole point of it is to strengthen the governance system of China. Now China is a party-state system where the party controls the state. Everyone is focusing on the abolition of term limits, and it is important, but we need to understand the context within this party-state system. In October of 2016, Xi Jinping was made "Core" of the Party, which meant the collective leadership of the past was no longer operative; that X was, in essence, for the Party, the decision maker. Then just this last October at the 19th CPC National Congress, his name was put into the Party Constitution as "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,"... it's a big phrase. 4:33PM PARLIAMENT VOTES TO END PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS Author. "How China's Leaders Think RLK: But what it means is that Xi is the arbiter of Marxism and party theory. That means in terms of being the Core of the Party and the interpreter of Marxism that gives him ultimate power. He doesn't even need a formal position when has those two and the Party continues to run the country. HOST: Is that a good thing? How can it be a good thing for the country when one person has the ultimate power? RLK: There are two issues. One is how it happened: Now the abolition of presidential term limits coordinates with the Party and military, together the three largest positions. So they're now coordinated because he already had that power in the Party and the military. -4; r*,% -07" • 4r...rip, *** ;yr •• • IP mos Mr IF emO re • ...amp.. in:I= • is Or. CHINA PAESIDENCY ...r.""" 2 EFTA00800276 Amanpour on CNN President Xi Jinping, China, Term Limits Robert Lawrence Kuhn - Minxin Pei March 5, 2018 HOST: When it comes to trade, one country more than any other has been the target of Trump's rhetorical wrath, and that's China. But my next guest tells me that the promised tariffs won't bother China much, as we've been discussing. In any way, they in China are dealing with much more important things, like the proposal for the rubber stamp Party Congress which starts its new session today to change the Constitution, and lift all term limits on President Xi Jinping, effectively making him president for life. Now, I've been talking to Minxin Pei: he's a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California, and to Robert Lawrence Kuhn, who is the author of How China's Leaders Think, and he is the host of a show on the government -run CCTV news channel in Beijing. Gentlemen welcome to you both. Let me start by asking you, Robert Lawrence Kuhn there in Beijing. From the Chinese government perspective, these tariffs that the president of the United States has announced, how much does it concern Beijing? • 4,4 A a .•• -4,8•0 • 0 • • SOO • • • • • • • • •0 • • I *so 00 • Se Of •••• 415 • .. • 4.• %. • • if 1 • 4 .. •• • • 0 • • • ••• • • • .: • • • ;V• • • . 4 , • • • • . a ••• 500 • • • 00 •• • • 40 • • -0'09 • • II • • • • • 00 '. 2.. 1 • • . • • • 4.6 .. • • • i• • • SO • • • • • • • 0 EFTA00800277 RLK: Well certainly it's a concern, but I would call it a minor annoyance as opposed to something extremely serious. They have a lot on their plate here. The last thing they want is a trade war with the U.S., but they have to react. If the U.S. does something, there has to be something that they will do in retaliation. They will ratchet it down. They will signal, as you do, that they do not want to accelerate this, but to save face and to be appropriate, they'll have to match it. HOST: To you Minxin Pei, how do you see this playing out? MP: If the investigations find China at fault, or guilty of some practices, then the US has a wide range of options to punish China on a trade front. And if these things happen, then US-China trade war will take place. Another thing I want to say is that US-China relations have turned a corner. This is a relationship that has headed toward a long period of confrontation, and adversarial relationships. So what is going to happen on the trade front is part of a much larger picture of geopolitical rivalry, if not competition. 2 EFTA00800278 Bloomberg Bloomberg TV Worldwide President Xi, China, Economy Robert Lawrence Kuhn March 5, 2018 HOST: You were there at the Great Hall of the People. What was your main takeaway from what some have described as Li Kegiang's impossible challenge: how to deleverage, how to take away stimulus, and still keep 6.5% growth? RLK: I don't take the 6.5% growth as the primary objective here. I mean you have to look at what these National Peoples Congresses are. They're not setting the vision and the strategy. That was set at the party congress in October. What we're dealing here is the implementation of the policies. If you attend these every year you know they all look and sound the same because it's the same structure, same kind of structure of numbers, so what you do is look for the differences. What are those subtle differences between one year and another. That's what I focus on at these congresses. HOST: What's the main difference you saw? • LLLienL. 'PtPIP^IPpr 1 EFTA00800279 B B C BBC World News Xi Jinping and the New Politburo Standing Committee Robert Lawrence Kuhn October 25, 2O17 HOST: We're going to put a question to Robert Lawrence Kuhn, who's a long-time advisor to the Chinese government. Robert, great to see you again. You were with us at the very beginning of the Party Congress and you were at the Congress today when it finished. Did you have any vision, any inkling that President Xi Jinping would take on so much authority? Also, what about the fact that there is no successor candidates among the new leaders? RLK: I was interviewed in early 2012 by a well-known American television network and the question put to me, in January of that year, was, "isn't Xi Jinping going to be a very weak leader because he was not appointed by Deng Xiaoping and he has no strong base of support?" DOB WC,RED NEWS DRK TESLA SOLAR POWER ARRIVES IN PUERTO RI 1 EFTA00800280 CNN International Xi Jinping and the New Politburo Standing Committee Robert Lawrence Kuhn - October 26, 2017 HOST: The author of How China's Leaders Think: The Inside Story of Past, Current and Future Leaders, Robert Lawrence Kuhn is a longtime advisor to the Chinese government. He comes to us once again from Beijing. We talked this time yesterday. Good to have you back. And we discussed yesterday what we would learn about that lineup of the standing committee. It hadn't been revealed at that point that we spoke, but we now know and is it correct to say the most significant thing is no sign of a leader in waiting? RLK: I think the most significant sign is who the people are and how they relate to each other. It's a group that actually respects traditional norms. RLK: There was thought that Wang Qishan, for example, might violate norms by being on the Standing Committee after the traditional retirement age and that's not the case. There is balance among the member in terms of their geographies, even their political affiliations within the party which internally are important. Two are from Shanghai, two are from the Communist Youth League - one is actually from Shanghai and the Youth League as well but he's really from Shanghai - two have a long relationship with General Secretary Xi. And then of course General Secretary Xi has the overarching power as everyone says - and that is correct and will be correct for a long time to come. I I CHINA'S NEW POWER PLAYERS EFTA00800281 BREAKING NEWS CCTV/CG TN II 12:07 PM IMP dipl. 411 CHINA NAMES NEW SEVEN-MEMBER LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE a :C'S 42 CHINA'S COMMUNIST PARTY ALREADY ELEVATED STATURE OF PRESIDENT XI JINPING I. • EFTA00800282 Bee h. Cum A DAILY Tuesday. (nary 23.2018 C VISION CHINA Observers offer fresh insight for new era Intellectual hails progress made in past while warning of challenges that lie ahead By IaYANG Robert Lawrence Kuhn has many titles. ranging from investment banker to anatomy researcher. But he is better known in China as a spe- cialist who knows the country inside out. Over the past 29 years, he has visited almost every provincial region and spoken with people from all walls of life. including some who have gone on to become State lead- lth been a great gift to my life to be able to learn so much about Ctd- nah rich civilization. political theo- ries and the whole development" he said. Kuhn. who is from the United States. learns as an outsider but communicates as an insider. In his talk show Closer to [lino with R.L. Kuhn on the China Global Televi- sion Network he presents China's complex story to the world through candid, intimate discussions with the country's decision-makers. In a hotel suite in WangfujIng. downtown Beijing. one busy lunch- time last week. Kuhn shared his thoughts on Chinese politics with China Daily. between exercising and a meeting of the Communist Party of Chink which he had been invited to attend as an observer. He spoke passionately about the 19th CPC National Congress. which was held In Beijing in October. describing It as "a milestone con- gress that set the agenda for more than 30 )ears". The Party proposed two new con- cepts at the congress —'a new era of socialism with Chinese charac- teristics" and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Charac- teristics for a New Era. which has been written into the Party Consti- tution. 1b understand China today. it is critical to appreciate what the new era means.... I like to understand new era in two categories: its char- acteristics at home and abroad. and its timeline' Kuhn said. He has obviously developed his own way of explaining terms with Chinese characteristics. That is to break down the characteristics, domestically and internationally. rather than delve into the tens. He listed a number of challenges in China's new era from pollution to medical tare. among which he said the biggest is the rising expectations of the people at home. because"now that the people have some, they want more': The complex international envi- ronment S the main characteristic of the new era as the world is frag- mented by diverse problems and challenges he said. While explaining what he called the timeline of the new era (2017. 2021. 2049) and expounding his understanding of XI Jinping G6 I like to understand new era in two catego- ries: its characteristics at home and abroad, and its timeline' Robert Lawrence Kuhn, investment banker and anatomy researcher Q&A I ROBERT LAWRENCE KUHN You hold multiple titles now How have you managed to master so many different fields? Do they have any in common? There's one word to describe the commonality that is"pas- sten". Whatever Redone I want to have passion for it.lb expand that albit it's the pas- sion to learn.. not here to teach. I low to learn. When I write a new book it's some- thing I want to learn about. I use that vehicle to learn. So passion about learning Is the common denominator. China has given me a hugely rich life because of everything I've learned here. Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era — with he broke down into three cat- egories: serve the people. national rejuvenation. and governance mod- erneation — Kuhn showcased his knowledge of the Party's files, which he has clearly learned by heart He recited almost every key point of the 68-page report XI delivered to the congress in Octo- ber. More important, he made con- nections between these points. presenting them in a vivid way. sea- soned with personal experiences and thinking. When asked about the effects of the anti-corruption campaign, he immediately listed 10 objectives. That's his style of approaching Chi- nese issues — divergent thinking and a vigilance not to lose sight of the connections between different points. VISION CHINA - Niewpa low Dinkins From left Zhao lenge" head of the international commtnication bureau of the Publkity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee: Jiang Qtigzhe. Party thief of the University of International Business and Economics: Chita Daily reporter Mow Aloady:Guo Ykimin. vicernirister of the Information Office of the State Coon* speakers Robert Lawrence Kuhn and Liu Xirc Zhou Shuchun. publisher and ecitix.in.thief of Chin Daily: and Zhang _tannin. head of translation aid Oterpretation for the Minntry of Foreign Affairs. pose for a photo at the inaugural %AsianChina event on Monday at UIBE. roi4 yonicow • 0104 war British journalist tells China's story to the world Despite living and working in Chi- na fora dtt-ade.Andtew ',toady's abil- ity to speak Mandarin is still at a basic level. Yet that has not stopped the awardwinningjourrtalist from inter- preting China's story for the world. Moody joined China Daily nine yeas ago and is now a senior corre- spondent. He has written more than 150 cover stories for the paper's Euro- pean Weekly and African %%Wkly. examining a wide range of issues including the Belt and Road Initiative. The jab has provided him with first- hand experience of how China is dewloping as well as the chance to record reactions from the outside world. especially in the West, toward the nation's growth and changes. He was at the Great Hall of the People to hear General Secretary Xi Jinping deliver a report to the 19th National Congress of the Com- munist Party of China in October. when the concept of a 'new era" was first mentioned. "The consensus oldie various peo- ple I spoke to in the hours after the speech was that China's entering a new era could be a momentous turning point in work! histoty.- Moody said. According to his interviews. he said. people believe that a more confi- dent China is striding into a world that it also is helping to shape. Moody has his own understanding of the new era. With 40 wars of reform and opening.up. he said China has reached a point where Aran move on In many ways. such as in foreign policy. global governance and domes-611 ‘6 The real fun of reporting in China is the closeness to the actual story; the big fascinating story of China merging into the 21st century." Andrew Moody, China Daily senior reporter tic reforms. 'China has reached a new junction and has to move fonnni" The British journalist has written manystorles that explain China tothe rest of the world, and these have brought him many honors. including being named a State High-End Project Foreign Expert. "1 like reporting on China because it's perhaps the 21st century most fascinating story" he said. lbe real fun of reporting in China is the dose- ries to the actual story. the big lase- Broadcaster sees choice and confidence in rising nation YANG V E ANGLI For 20 years. Liu Xin has had a sin- gular goal: to build a bridge of under- standing between China and the outside world. The television presenter began working for China Central TV. the State broadcaster. in 199t two years after becoming the first Chinese to take part in — and win — the Interna- tional Public Speaking Competition. Early last year. her desire to share China's story received a major boos when she was chosen to host The Point, a prime-time discussion show that airs weekdaos on the China Glob- al 'Nelda!, Network. She said that China entering a new era mewls three things: opportunities. challenges and responsibilities. 'My winning speech in that 1995 national competition was about cboice:' she said. "After IS years of reform and opening-up. we Chinese now enjoy an abundance of choice in our daily byes." After listening to General Secretary XJ Jinping's report at the opening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Liu said she was impressed with his use of the word 'confidence. It's the confidence China has devel- oped through knowing that our sys- tem works. The confidence about who we are as a people. as a culturePaulith the confidence about our future role in the world:' she said. As media workers. we believe we have a great story to tell. In the past. people relied on a few correspondents or experts for information and opin- ions on China. But more people are tuning in to Chinese media for infor- mation both traditional platforms such as1V and online." As more questions emerge in the minds of those watching from outside China liu said the opportunities to tell stories from inside the country are growing. However. so too are the chal- lenges- "Because of the Ideological differen- ces between China and the West. Chi- na has always been the subject of Western media criticism. which is often downright bashing based on fidsehoods." she said. Now that China has defied all kinds of predictions of a collapse or econom- ic hard landing. Western obstners are having a hard time explaining the Chi- na phenomenon. she said. adding that the result is an ignoranct-based supe- riority complex mimed with bewilder- ment and iced with jealousy. During her 30-nunute program. Liu conducts the interviews with guest in the studio or via satellite link to get a Chinese perspective on two tOUt rye top- lei that affect people around the world. "I understand the urgency to be more asertive. but I believe we always need to be aware of the danger of put- ting feelings before reason. putting opinions before facts' she said. "Nationalism is my biggest enemy "President Xi has said we need to improve the quality and effect of devel- opment. I believe this also applies to China's international communic-ation. The Chinese people will work hand toward acommunkyofashared future. regardless of bowothers view us- Meanwhile. Liu has ajob todo.lis a journalist our duty is to tell China§ story as it Is, one topic at a time. one show at a time' she added. G6 China has always been the subject of Western media criticism, which is often downright bashing based on falsehoods:' Uu gin. host of The Point on China Global Television Network ANDREW MOODY Hera do you overcome the challenges of showing the real China to the world. especially to those who have biases against China? ) a long-term thing. and 5,01.1 cannot change this over- night. There are negative per- ceptions about China. Ith about engagement. If China has much more interactions with the rest of the world. then people will see China as It actually is. One of the 2015 objectives is to better increase China's soft power. Organize- tions like China Daily can actu- ally playa role in improving China's soft power. But I do think it's a long.term process. and China doesn't need to be toosensitivetoward criticism noting story of China merging into the 21st century. the stories that may- be Western media don't really have the chance to Interview" Mooch sees his task as communi- cating China to agleibel audience, and there are still a number of that need robe done. he said. 9 go back to the UK quite a lot and I still don't think that people are aware of the impact of a much bigger Chinese economy and China's being a more significant player in the world" hesaid I can do is to report and do stream one by one' Q&A I LIU XIN Ma professional journalist. what do you think China's mainstream media could do to better report China to the outside world in such a media transformation age? It's challenging. I think we need to be aware of new tech- nology. And the content is very Important If we're more confi- dent. we can really be more sincere. be more at ease with our problems and our achieve- ments. So let's have a sincere conversation. not shy away from the problems we're fac- ing. That's yaw I say let's tell the China story as it is. It's not 100 percent about achieve- ments. Everyday we see mixed nevis.we have mixed feelings. so let's be factual. let's be sin- cere and let people decide whether they want to watch us or not. This is going to take time. but I think if we follow the right philosophy: the right steps, we're going to make it. What they say Vision Chi- na is the first high. end event organzed by China Daily and UIBE after the No sides launched a partnership. By telling Chna's stores in an objective and rational manner. it aims to help students get to know a real China and an objective wodd. and to under- stand China in the new era. Wang Ranking. president of the Onitersity of lnletnatthnal Business and Econornts Relearned a lot from Vision Chi• na today. What impressed me most is how to eliminate bias against China when telling Chills stories, The three expels shared a comma, cpirion. *hid, is to show a true China and not care too much about comments from theoutside world. The sincerest story is often the most touching one. Zhu Yoe. a seniorstudent majoring m international ixtV. tics fromBefinglnternabonal StudittSINier* It was an interesbng lecture. It was good to understand eerier, aspects atcut China h world be good to have things We this ahead because it's about China. You don't have to captain China to the Chinese people. tutyou need to explain it to the out- side world Nektarlos Palaskas, Sotnee and technologycounselor kY the Swiss embassy Ths eveM was very interesting. Wu invited disbn- guished speakers. andel of them are of global talking and have a resin, about Chita China is bocrn inc. and everycce is interest- ed. I en0yed hearing the speakers' ideas about how China volt te n the future. I cane herewith at open mind. Ratthavcottlathalcualool. first sec:ernof Thai embassy EFTA00800283 Al2 Saturday, March 10, 2018 South China Morning Post • INSIGHT CONTACT US Agreed disagree with the nloos on this page? Write to us at II you have an idea for an inion article. email it to Power with purpose Robert Lawrence Kuhn explains why abolishing presidential term limits may well be good for China o interview delegates and officials at the annual National Peo- ple's Congress in Bei- jing, interspersed with being interviewed in the interna- tional media about China abol- ishing term limits for its president. isto inhabit parallel universes. Dekgates and officials focus on clustersof issues from control- ling financial risk and reducing pollution to scientific innovation and business stimulation. plus enhancing and institutionalising China's anti-corruption cam- paign with a powerful National Supervision Commission. The international media. no surprise. focus on the constitutional amendment ending term limits. assuming President Xifinpingwill now serve in a for-life dictator- ship. reminiscent of Mao's China. the Soviet Union. the Kim family in North Korea and some African countries. It is no challenge to explain wily abolishing term limits is bad for China - dependency on one human being who is not omni- scient but is hostage to fortune. fewer and weaker checks and balances. forced conformity in a complex society with no easy an- swers. etc. The system begins stronger in that hard choices can be made and consistency main- tained. but it could become brittle in that officials are more wary and may say things they do not believe. It isa challenge toexplain why abolishing term limits isgood for China. so that'swhat I willdo. First. somebackmund.There are three separate issues being conflated: the significance of end- ing tem, limits. the intended con- sequences and the unintended consequences. Though terminat- ing the two-term limit for China's presidency captures headlines. it is more the symbolic. final step rati4ingXi's near-absolute power than the big breakthrough itself. Many expect this experiment to end badly for China. It is indeed an experiment but its end is not set Xi's prior designation as 'core' of the Communist Parry in October 2016 and the inscribing of "Xi firming Thought..." into the party constitution in October 2017 were moremeaninidul. Moreover. the Politburo StandingCommittee. the highest authoritative body in China. unambiguously supports Xi. Ilinawatcherssee the front page of People's Daily- published the day after the newStanding Com- mince marched out on stage - which featured Xi's photo on top. many times larger than the small- er. subservient photo of all seven members lined up on thebottom. All this reconfirms that. in a system where the party controls the state - especially where the party isMarxist and ideology is its basis for being - Xi. as core of the party. with his name inscribed in the constitutions of party and state as the contemporary arbiter of Marxism.will be theun contest- ed. overarching leader of China for the rest of his sentient life. For intended consequences. theofficiallineis that the purpose is national cohesion brought at m% when the three top leader- ship positions - general secretary of Ile party. chairman of theCen- tral Military Commission and president of the republic - are aligned temporally and held bya singleperson. This makes sense. but as a primam proximalmotivation.it is not entirely persuasive. The current structure has existed for decades without outcry or angst (not to mention that the three po- sitionscould be unified by install- ing term limitson the other two). Thenewera". markedby ea). nomic. social and global com- plexities. is said to require firm and consistent leadership. mak- ing moot inner party struggles and even mitigating 'wildcat gin- sip. facilitating focus on the tat of governance and development. Specifically. because advancing reform hasbecomernoredifficult. with entrenched interest groups resisting change. the message must now go forth that all must get with the programme. because you can't outwit or outwait Xi. Because. it is said that only Xi has the vision. experience. com- petence and character to bring about "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people'. especially from 2020 to 2035 and ultimately to 2050 - bringing China to global centre stage - Xi's unimpeded leadership is deemed essential. China cannot afford "downtime" to accommodate a change of leadership, and after Xi's success at the 19th National Party Con- gess came the time to makeckar that he will call the shots for the foreseeable future. Some argue that doing away with tennlimitsshows thesuperi- ority of the Chinese system as it allows flexibility in matching leadership to requirements (though what national leader. when extendinghis reach. has not claimed -current requirements" as justification?). The party-run Global Times stated that ending term limits doesnot meanChinahasrevened to president-for-life tenure. (But who can deny that however long Xi holds the top positions seems largely up to him?) As for the unintended conse- quences. the almost unanimous. disparaging foreign reaction - other than US President Donald Trump's-didnot bumishaina's international image. More worrisome would be a reluctance by officials to offer constructive opposing views on central 'wham. By stressing term limits. the international media misses fundamental changes going on in China - this year. innovation. streamlining of government. faci- litation of business (cutting bureaucracy and reducing taxes). rural revitalisation and rural land reform. The 13th National Peo- ple's Congress shows how the grand vision and mission of the 19th National Party Congress is translated into specific stratifies and policies. If one sees only term limits.onecannot visualise thebig picture. As for Xi maintaining the presi- dencyperpetually.ft doesn't actu- ally matter much -this is thedeep insight of how China's party-state system works. Xi as core of the party and -Xi linping Thought.? astheparty's (and now the state's) guiding principle means that Xi can transfer titular party leader- ship and/or the presidency tooth- ers and still maintain his overarching power. It may well he that. after serving two or even three more terms. rather than try- ing to find and install another leader like himself. hewill minima bring about truedemacracy with- in the party. Here's thebest case.Xi will not be leader-for-life. but leader long enough to bring about China's national rejuvenation and estab- lisha Chinese kind of democratic norms. Could Xi continue until around2035.wiwnChina pknsto have basically" achieved fullmo- demisation. heading towards. by mid-century. 2050. a -great mod- emsocialist country"? Many expect this experiment to end badly for China. It is indeed an experiment but its end is not set. It may be a race between achieving Xi's grand vision and some untoward perturbation that could cause fracture. All factorsconsidered. am not saying abolishing term limits is absolutely good for China. I am saying it may be good- because of China's special conditions and Vsspecialcapabilities -but if it is good. it'sjust forthisonce. and it's just for so long. 'that's the best casearooting for Xi. Robert tanrenceKuhnisa pubic intellectual. international corporate strategist and investment banker. and China expert/commentata. Heisthe author of liowthina'sLeadersThink What the Western belt and road sceptics are missing Wenshan Jia says there are opportunities for the whole world to benefit from China's initiative hina's-Belt and Road Initiative"is an original plan to carryout a new- type of "collaborativeglobalisation" alxwe and beyond US-led type. It was proposed fiveyears ago byPresident Xi firming after the tapering off& US-led globalisation in 2008. Xi offered three principles:mutual consultation. joint construction and shared benelits.China hassincethen fully executed 101 ageements with 86 countries. and total investment in the 24 countries along the belt and mad regions hasamounted to US$50 billion. resulting in 75 industrialand trade zones, and 200.000jobs. With its focuson infrastructure. the initiative isa model not only for devekming countries. but also industrialised ones in Europe and North America. where ageing infrastructure needs replacing. It also adapts to each local.national or atonal condition situation and need. It is proving verydemocratic. more so than the lopsided US-led globalisation that spurred a populist. isolationist backlash across the Western world. Chinahas done a proper job of explaining to the West what the initiative is and extended a sincere invitation to each country to join. Many think tank scholars and major media outlets in the West have found it potentiallylucrativeand expressed relatively strong suppon. Yet. instead of appreciating China's efforts to both inherit the liberal agenda of globalisation and forgea new path for global development. many Western political elite, led by the US. havestarted a campaign to resist the initiative. From Australia to the US.and the UK to Germany.therearecalls for theWest tocut interactions withChina to min'uniseor resist itsso-called -sharp power". The lahelstypicallyapplied to China include "authoritarian" and -predatory". citing Beijing for not upholding -freedom. democracyand individual rights". thecore values of the` West. Ihisanitudetowardsthe initiative reveals not only a contradiction in the Western mind. but also the narrowing or even dosing of minds. Isn't it beneficial to meet the goals of forging connectivity andcoopemtion. as articulated in Xi's effort to enrichand expand the meaning of the-free world" by liberating humankind fromgeographical. financial. political and cultural barriers? Ihe world is no longer the West versus the rest. as we already live in a world connected by the intemet. The initiative seeks to make the worts more interconnected for both the West and the rest. contributing to the construction of a humancommunitywith a shared future. Recently.the initiative hasinspired and spawned a pushfor localisation. particularly the Indo-Pacificstrategyled by theso-called "Quad" of the US. India. Japan and Australia. Some Western media view it as a rival oraltemative to China's belt and road. But 1 would argue that it can be part of China's initiativeas long as the three Chinese principles (mutual consultation. The anti-China smear campaign must be replaced by a discourse involving consultation and communication joint construction and shared benefits) are observed in the Quad strategy. The belt and road wascreated to be anall-indusive platform. so Beijing hasty) need to fear localisation as long as such strategiesdo not seek tocontain Gallia or disrupt its plan. It would be wise for the Quad and thina to look for ways to collaborate. Quad countries need not take an antagonistic stancetowardsChina: the anti-China smearcampaip must be replaced bya discourse involving consultation and communication.The world has experienced more than enough damagingtalk. not to mention wars. The coreprinciplesof Xi's belt and road strategy must beidvraysapplied in China's interactions with local strategies. If (him is.as German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told the Munich Security Conference in February. "the only country in the world with any sort of genuinely global. geostrategic concept'. then Western leaders should cultivate a genuinelyglobal strategy in line with Mina's vision, for thebetterment of all humankind. Wenshan lia. PhD. is a professor in the School of Communication. at Chapman University (California) and a research fellow at the National Academy of Development andStrategy. Renmin Bniversityol China Private clubs deserve `cushy' rental deals Edith Terry says private recreational clubs are part of Hong Kong's heritage and have contributed to nurturing less popular sports, as well as a unique hybrid culture In 1964. a young German. fresh off the plane at his first job.went in search of asocialgoup.11efound a home away from home in Hong Kong'soldest private recreational club. newlyrelocated from a prime locationonVictoria Ilartmur.whereCityllall is today. to a modest flagstone boathouse beneath Island Road on Hong Kong's south side. Filly-fiwyears later. Frank Pfeiffer.a Zen Buddhist and mountainclimberis still anactivemember of the Victoria Recreation Club. established in 1849.11e has watched it ring the changes from Hong Kong'scolonial society in the 1960s. when it had only two Chinese membersandnofemale members. to the hybrid institution it is today. under its first Hong Kong (linesechaimmn. Wu Kam Shing. Itsmembership isa spectrum of liongKong's diverse and athletically minded middle class.There is the Hong Kong Chinese court reporter who visits the club in Deep Water Bay every morning at gam on her way from homein Ap Lei Chau to herworkplace in Sha Tin There are her fellow swimmers. many elderly. who swim out to the buoys. rain orshine. hot orcold. every clay.Some 100.150 "paddlers" use theclubas a base for outritfer canoeing, dragon boating and paddle boarding. Some of the sports were unknown to Hong Kong before the club nurtured them. others. like dragon boating. are deeply traditional. In thecurrent debateover the future of the 67 private recreational clubs that pay minimal rents to the government. history hasbeen swept aside. True.they weredesigned on a colonial template. in whichthe diverseethnic groups weregven separateretreats. Membershipat thepinnacleclubs was reserved primarily for the British. Forother ethnic gaups. there was a Chinese Recreation (3ub.a Cub de Recreio.a Filipino Club.an Indian Recreation Club. and soon. Hong Kong'scolonial rulers reviewed thelease system for the private clubs in 1968 and 1979.and in the run-up to tlw handover in 1997 whenleases were restricted to 15-year terms. At the handover.anumber. of leaseswereextended to ensurea so-called smooth transitionThesceptic would argue that this wasa dodge. and indeed. in 2011. during the first post-1997 review of privaterecreationalleasea by the legislative Council. most of theclubs seemedobliviousto public concerns as wellasnew requirements for"opening up" IP The government argued that subsidies were needed because use of land for sports and recreation would never trump commercial utilisation toschoolsand community organisations. Following the last well-publicised review in 2013 and the current investigation seeking new venuesfor public housing, they arenolonger complacent. Should the private dubs have got their cushy rental deals in the first place?At the time of the reviews 50 years ago.the government argued that subsidieswere needed becauseuseof land for spot-Band recreation would never trump commercial utilisation. What was truethen is even moresotoday.lhe highcost of land in Hong Kong isa dragon innovation and creativity:the existence of the private recreational clubs means it has been lessof a drag onsports. Most of the clubs with government leases are framed around core sports-golf. tennis. horse racing. swimming. sailing and rowing. to namea few. Hong Kong athletes whosedevelopment wassupponed by theseclubs have gone to theOlympicsand other intemationalcompetitions. In the 1940s. the Victoria Recreation Club wasthe driving force behind Hong Kong's participation in the International Olympic Committeeand the /long Kong Sports Federation. Public pressure on theclubs to forgecommunity tiesandcontributeto llongKong through 'opening up"schemes isappropriate- but not thepressure to convert theirland to high-riseestatesThe loss is not only to the core spons they represent but also to their uniquel)NA.whichis the foundation of Hong Kong - diverse.cosmopolitanandadventunms. If you want to look for a llongKong that isnot just about morn,. one place to look is here. Edith Terry is the honorary secretary ol the Victoria RecreationClub. She writesina personal capacity Stand-up paddlers partkipate in an event held at the Victoria Recreation Club. Photo: Jonathan Wong EFTA00800284 4 f OA cum.% ours Werrasdow becerriser27.2017 2017 YEAR-END: Politics VIEWS 9 Robert Lawrence Kuhn Watching China's year for history When future historians recon- struct the long history of Chi- na they will likely circle 2017 as a year of significance. he seen it all this year. and attended or even participated in the major events. I'vecon- versed with Chinese leaders and experts. and searched for meaning. I didn't appreciate the opportunity Pre had until I began reviewing the year from China's domestic perspective. seeking themes and trends. discerning from what we know about the recent past to what we might forecast about the near-tenn future. It takes no flash of insight to see the leader- ship and vision of President Xi-firming headlining almost every event Following is the review of the meaningful events of 2017. January: Xi began the year with a memo- rable speech at the Vrorld Economic Forum in Davos. Switzerland. mounting a mating defense of globaliza- tion. free trade, and economic openness and Robert Lawrence liberalization. It was the first-ever speech by Chi- na's head of state at Davos and. as commentators the worldover noted with amazement and irony. as the United States under President Donald