Discourse: Insight into China’s challenges, focus areas
Chinese scholars discusses country’s policies to harness its 1.3 billion population.
PESHAWAR:
Corruption in China’s government sector is increasing but special measures are being taken to eradicate the global evil, according to Dr Xiao Jianming of the Dianchi Cooperation for Opening Asia, a Chinese think tank.
In the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International for the year 2012, China was ranked 18 among 178 countries of the world, which is “a point of great concern,” he said. He was speaking at a discourse on the 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China and the role of religion in the country that was held at the Department of Regional Studies, University of Peshawar (UoP) on Tuesday.
The lecture was organised by the Department of International Relations (IR) of UoP, in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad.
In the last twelve years scores of public officials have fled the country, taking away around $120 million with them, causing financial loss to the country, said Jianming.
He said eight out of 10 people want major reforms in the political system of the country, however, the country will prosper by keeping a close system and bring improvements from within. “Although other countries may have ideological differences with China, they have no option besides keeping good terms with us because China is the fastest growing economy of the world,” he maintained. While a Christmas tree is available for four dollars in China, it is available in the US for at least $100, he added to back his argument.
Responding to a question from a student of UoP’s IR department, Jianming said China has adopted a policy of collective prosperity. China is the richest country in the world and with a 1.3 billion population it is more focused on the internal security of its people than defence from outside, although there has been considerable increase in the budget of the latter as well, he said.
He termed control on environmental problems and enhancing the influence of Chinese culture in the International society as the country’s focus areas in the coming years.
Responding to another question from one of the students about China’s relation with Pakistan, the scholar said China has helped Pakistan through thick and thin and will openhandedly support it in its war against terror even if the US withdraws assistance.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.
Corruption in China’s government sector is increasing but special measures are being taken to eradicate the global evil, according to Dr Xiao Jianming of the Dianchi Cooperation for Opening Asia, a Chinese think tank.
In the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International for the year 2012, China was ranked 18 among 178 countries of the world, which is “a point of great concern,” he said. He was speaking at a discourse on the 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China and the role of religion in the country that was held at the Department of Regional Studies, University of Peshawar (UoP) on Tuesday.
The lecture was organised by the Department of International Relations (IR) of UoP, in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad.
In the last twelve years scores of public officials have fled the country, taking away around $120 million with them, causing financial loss to the country, said Jianming.
He said eight out of 10 people want major reforms in the political system of the country, however, the country will prosper by keeping a close system and bring improvements from within. “Although other countries may have ideological differences with China, they have no option besides keeping good terms with us because China is the fastest growing economy of the world,” he maintained. While a Christmas tree is available for four dollars in China, it is available in the US for at least $100, he added to back his argument.
Responding to a question from a student of UoP’s IR department, Jianming said China has adopted a policy of collective prosperity. China is the richest country in the world and with a 1.3 billion population it is more focused on the internal security of its people than defence from outside, although there has been considerable increase in the budget of the latter as well, he said.
He termed control on environmental problems and enhancing the influence of Chinese culture in the International society as the country’s focus areas in the coming years.
Responding to another question from one of the students about China’s relation with Pakistan, the scholar said China has helped Pakistan through thick and thin and will openhandedly support it in its war against terror even if the US withdraws assistance.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.