Zhong Weihe Granting Ezra Vogel with “Honorary Professor”
After visiting the Heritage Boutique Collection Room, Ezra Vogel held two academic salons, under the theme of “Outlook of the Relations among China, America and Japan” and “One Step Ahead and the Future of Guangdong” respectively.
Ezra Vogel: Trilateral Cooperation Bringing Benefit to Themselves and to the World
Ezra Vogel talked on trilateral relations
The first lecture was given in the Yunshan Hub, hosted by Li Qing, secretary general of GRIIS. Attended were Gu Yeli, vice president of GDUFS, Hu Wentao, head of Propaganda Department of GDUFS, Chen Duoyou, dean of Faculty of Asian Languages and Cultures, Chen Wanling, director of Research Center for International Economy and Trade Studies, Yang Shaogang, executive chief editor of Research in Strategic Decision-Making, Tang Xiaosong, executive deputy director of Research Centre for Canada Studies, Hong Shihong, visiting professor of GRIIS and students of GDUFS.
Ezra Vogel predicted the outlook of the relations among China, America and Japan. He himself was hopeful towards it and was in great favor of the trilateral cooperation which would bring benefits not only to themselves but also to the whole world. Although there are Diaoyu Island issue and China Threat Theory, he was optimistic to the Sino-Japanese and Sino-American relations.
Scholars: Airing Views about the Future Trend
Gu Yeli Speaking
The Salon
Li Yongning, executive chief editor of International Trend, asked what opportunity and challenge China would face in the post-Deng era. In response to the question, Ezra Vogel pointed out that we could still call it the era of Deng Xiaoping at present due to the incessant implementation of the reform and opening-up policy. However, corresponding adjustments to corruption and environmental problems should be made to adapt to the demands of time.
Chen Hanxi, professor of School of Legal Studies of GDUFS, raised a question on the new policies of Japan and measures taken by the Obama government to promote Sino-American relations. Ezra Vogel responded that the Japanese right-wing force was still decentralized and Chinese and American army should enhance communication in order to strengthen mutual trust. Xiao Gang, another professor of School of Legal Studies, claimed that the three countries should have comprehensive consideration over the issues of key benefits including Taiwan, Diaoyu Island and North Korea, according to which Ezra Vogel pointed out that a stable environment was the base of cooperation.
As for the change of strategy for oil development promote by Prof. Chen Wanling, Ezra Vogel held optimistic attitude towards the prospect of America. In some way, the change can also be an opportunity for China to strengthen the military cooperation with America as well as a responsibility for China to establish its own oil reserve.
Scholars took an active part in exchanging opinions with Ezra Vogel on this issue. By the end, he indicated modestly that the salon was for American professionals to speak and for him to better communicate with scholars in GDUFS.
Ezra Vogel Signing on the Book Era of Deng Xiaoping
Ezra Vogel: Cantonese People are Smart Enough to Boost Rapid Scientific and Technological Development
In the afternoon, Sui Guangjun met with Ezra Vogel in the VIP lounge of the administrative building. Sui gave a brief introduction about the history and current development of GDUFS and Ezra Vogel showed great appreciation about the school’s emphasis on talents cultivation.
Sui Guangjun Hosting the Salon
The salon under the theme of “One Step ahead and Future of Guangdong” was hosted by Guangdong Economic Society, Guangdong Research Institue of International Strategies and Guangdong People's Publishing House. The salon is presided over by Sui Guangjun.
Ezra Vogel Answering Questions
Ezra Vogel made a brief review on his research experience in Guangdong in 1980s. The policies that Guangdong took in 1980s have been adopted all over China. And it lost the step ahead. Besides, it owns less high-tech talents than Beijing and Shanghai. After that, he came to the conclusion that, to go one step ahead, Guangdong should transfer the labour intensive industries to the inner land of China to make room for transformation and upgrading of industries. Also suggested was that Guangdong should cooperate with Hong Kong in finance and trade to achieve joint development
Scholars: Boosting Transformation and Upgrading to Promote Coordinated Development of Regions
Salon in the Afternoon
Qiu Haixiong, executive deputy director of Research Institute of Guangdong Development in Sun Yat-sen University, brought a report focused on the transformation of industries in Guangdong. The research made inverstigations to 2400 enterpries in Zhongshan, Shunde, Dongguan and Huizhou. His point of view is that the government should make adjustments to the policy and encourage the enterprise technology innovation under the new situation.
Qiu Haixiong Talking about Transformation of Industries in Guangdong
In the meeting with Sui before, Ezra Vogel learnd on the internationalization of GDUFS. Therefore, he stressed on GUDFS’s role in the opening-up of Guangdong with foreign language talents.
Li Huiwu Calling for a More Comprehensive 0pening-up
Li Huiwu, deputy director of Guangdong Development Research Center, asserted that Guangdong needed a more comprehensive opening up to achieve sustainable development. Guangdong should be open to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, foreign countries and also the inner land of China.
Chen Hongyu: The other parts of Guangdong except the Pearl River Delta region should not be ignored.
Tan Yuanheng: Methods should be found to achieve coordinated development among regions.
Speaking of the coordination problem of regional development, Chen Hongyu, ex-deputy dean of the Party school of Guangdong Party Committee and executive vice chairman of Guangdong Economic Society, mentioned that the other parts of Guangdong except the Pearl River Delta region should not be ignored. Tan Yuanheng, director of Hakka Research Institute of South China University of Technology, also took Meizhou as an example to emphasize the coordinated development among regions.
“Thinking like this is quite beneficial to the economic development of Guangdong.”
In the dicussion part after the salon, many scholars were inspired by the lectures delivered by Ezra Vogel and expressed their willingness to provide relevant materials for him to compose further works on the development of Guangdong. Ezra Vogel spoke highly of the passion of scholars in Guangdong. “Thinking like this is quite beneficial to the economic development of Guangdong,” he said.
