ChinaNOW - The Theme
This is the first time that Fellows have chosen a country itself as the theme of a Symposium. However, the ascent of China on the global stage is a phenomenon worth examining. Global attention is now drawn upon this nation from politicians, mass media, scholars, businessmen to common people around the world. As the 19th Symposium of the Melton Foundation will be held in Hangzhou, China, it is a golden opportunity for us to look in depth at China. Also this is a fresh attempt to get into each other’s shoes for deeper insight into a Melton country.
China’s impact on the world comes from various aspects. As the third largest economy, China is exporting more goods than any other country. "Made in China" is on shelves everywhere. On global issues, China is always in the limelight as a representative of developing countries, and a new voice different from established orders. A global meeting which excludes China can hardly be labeled "global" (as in the case of G8 summit). At the same time, Chinese culture is reviving. Chinese Classics, ancient oriental wisdom dates back to 2 century B.C. from Confucian to Lao-Tzu, are gaining popularity domestically and Confucius Institutes, which promote Chinese language and culture, are being welcomed around the world. After silence for some time, China is once again making itself heard everywhere.
On the other side of the picture, however, are criticism and skepticism about the sustainability of China's development. Indeed, many of the ingredients of China's success fly in the face of the Western paradigm of free markets and democracy. Some insist that the authoritarian political system, combined with heavy governmental interference in the market, will make a huge bubble in the Chinese economy. And when the frothy market collapses, the society will sink into turmoil because of inflexible social structure. True or not, this implies that the "Chinese development model" is far from conclusive and that the real costs of the development lie under the surface.
One thing that is widely agreed: the success or failure of China's development will heavily influence the direction the world heads into in the new decade. Moreover, Chinese society today is in some way distinct from its past stereotype, so one cannot grasp the whole picture of China unless he’s in touch with the contemporary society. We believe that no experience will be more enriching, exciting, memorable and fun than one that leads us to see in China, listen in China and breathe in China. This is a precious opportunity to understanding in person one of the main driven force in the next decade.
We sincerely hope that all of our community will achieve a deep understanding of China from this experience.
