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CCG持续关注国际关系议题,推动中国与全球化的发展,积极开展国际交流,充分发挥智库“二轨外交”作用,在巴黎和平论坛、达沃斯世界经济论坛、慕尼黑安全会议等重要国际政策与意见交流平台上组织分论坛、边会、圆桌会议、晚宴等活动,促进国际政商学界对话,凝聚共识;CCG积极与各国政界、智库界、工商界开展“二轨外交”活动,每年常态化赴多国调研与交流,促进中外关系攸关方互动,保持与多国政策圈层的沟通渠道。
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【China Daily】US exit from Paris pact can help energy shift
US President Donald Trump announces his decision that the United States will withdraw from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., June 1. [Photo/Agencies]US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the 2015 Paris climate change agreement on June 1, raising concerns across the globe. But his decision was not unexpected, because the Republican Party was opposed to the Paris climate pact from the beginning, and during his presidential campaign Trump had criticized the global agreement.And since the US’ withdrawal might not affect the agreement as much as some fear-since its enforcement is flexible-we should not overreact to Trump’s decision. Of real importance is the fact that the US Congress ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, which actually has a binding force. As a party to the convention, the US is legally bound to send representatives to participate in the UN climate change conferences every year.Besides, the US federal government cannot prevent its states from taking part in the global fight against climate change, and those states can play a more constructive role in intensifying the fight.Some European countries advocating new energy sources and cutting carbon emissions might be upset by the US’ withdrawal from the Paris pact, but they should have been prepared for this given Trump’s promise to do so.It is obvious that Trump follows a dogmatic principle, and his administration has given up the "soft power" philosophy that his predecessor Barack Obama followed. Yet one cannot say the US will give up its global leadership and its withdrawal from the climate deal will compromise its soft power. Four or eight years later when a new US president takes office and adopts the same "soft power" philosophy, the country could be an even stronger soft power.The actual effect of the US’ withdrawal from the climate pact lies in slowing the US economy’s pace of shifting to a new-energy mode and using new energy sources. Which offers a good opportunity to China and other countries to expedite their energy transformation. (By Wang Xuedong)About Author Wang Xuedong, a senior guest researcher at the Center for China and Globalization(CCG),and a senior researcher in US studies at Sun Yat-sen University.From China Daily, 2017-6-8
2017年6月12日 -
王强:世界上最大的小基金
理事简介王强,全球化智库(CCG)常务理事,真格基金联合创始人。日前,第五届中关村天使投资论坛暨 “2016 中关村十大投资人”及“年度人物”颁奖典礼在北京举行,真格基金创始人徐小平荣登“中关村十大投资人”榜首。“成为世界上最大的小基金”,什么叫“大”?什么叫“小”?多“大”多“小”?中国的天使投资者应当如何定位与发展?真格基金联合创始人王强代表正在国外接受荣誉博士学位的徐老师领了奖,演了讲,也解了密。(来源:王强理事发言整理,题目经编者改动)谢谢大家给我这个机会。我不是徐小平,他今天在国外接受第一个荣誉博士的学位,这是他生平第一次。我们三十四年一起奋斗,每一段人生的重要事业我们都是合伙人,但是每次颁奖他都亲自来,舍不得让我替他分享。今天我是有备而来,因为他来不了。我比他更先得到这个荣誉,比他更加兴奋。所以我想,任何荣誉机会都是给有准备的人。作为小平三十四年的合作伙伴,作为真格基金的联合创始人,真格基金成立的短短六年,我们自身的成长、苦恼、探索、梦想和现在的实践以及阶段性的成果,完完全全见证了中关村天使投资的蹒跚、摸索、冷寂、成长和发展。短短这六年,真格基金从起步的 3000 万美金规模,发展到现在掌管 6 亿美金规模,下一轮我们在今年结束,很可能接近 10 亿美金的规模,作为天使基金完完全全超预期实现了当初设想的规模。2011 年 10 月的一天下午,我跟小平在一家非常破的小酒馆喝酒,探讨人生究竟要怎么再一次出发。从新东方出来后,我问小平:“为什么我们非要出来再做一个天使基金呢?全世界那么多基金,我们存在的必要性在哪呢?”如果我们做的只是千万只基金中的一个,那完全没有必要。小平一杯酒下肚,说:“因为我有一个梦想,我希望不管花费多少年,真格基金将来一定成为世界上最大的小基金!”我也大半杯酒喝下肚,也在想,“什么叫大?什么叫小?多大多小?”就像当年俞敏洪邀请我一起回来做新东方的时候,我说老俞你别告诉我这个学校多大,你告诉我多小。他说不小了,已经几千人了。小平说,所谓的“大”就是向中国以往的天使投资界不断地灌输,让真正的“天使”在中国扎根做出真正的贡献。关于投资的“大”第一个“大”,是我们投资的心态要足够大,因为如果没有对“失败”的热爱,就不要做天使;你只希望成功,去做其他投资者好了。要想成为合格的天使投资人,首先学会爱上“失败”这两个字,因为任何一个幼小企业要想成功可能是风毛麟角,他得是独角兽中的独角!大量的都会在创业这个过程中成为垫脚石,成为先驱和先烈,没有这个“大”就不要做。第二个“大”,必须要练就大的眼光,就是说虽然我们置身在中国,但是捕捉一流的创造力才应该是我们天使拥有的全部地平线!哪里有创造力哪里就该有我们的足迹,否则我们就会坐井观天,做再大,放眼全球的时候可能仍然是微不足道的。第三个“大”,是我们要有足够大的耐心,因为一个企业的成长和生命一样,只有放在时间维度里,价值才会倍增;像“复利”,时间轴如果足够长的话,将像核裂变一样产生巨大的回报和影响,这是投资界对人类了解宇宙奥秘的另一大贡献。做一个天使投资,对所投的企业、所进入的产业,没有足够的耐心是看不到爆发的那一天的。你投得很爽,但是你追求的回报可能遥遥无期。关于投资的“小”我们永远要专注在初始时最“小”的企业,因为我们在新东方是从老师做起来的,我们对于改变学生的命运,梳理懵懂的梦想,是有经验积累的,如果我们专注这一点“小”,将来真格基金可能在天使领域交出非常傲人的成绩单!当我们把这个永恒的“大”和“小”加在一起就构成了中国文化中最诱人的字——“尖”,因为“尖”是“小”和“大”构成的。如果我们拥有了这两个维度,真格基金就会成为“顶尖”的基金,就是我们将来阖眼之后,留给中国基金界、创业界,留给中国未来值得骄傲的一份遗产!那天下午两杯浊酒之后,我们再次出发了。短短六年,我们看着中国天使投资日益成熟,日益成长。从充满激情、充满单纯的梦想,到提供真正的、扎扎实实的、全方位的投后服务;从凌驾于被投企业家,到逐渐拉平到他们的视线,再到甘居他们背后,乃至甘愿成为他们的垫脚石,中国天使基金能够变成世界投资领域的独特风景。我们应该贡献什么?这不仅仅应该是真格基金所想做的。所有今天在座的十大天使投资人物,还有没有被提名的我们熟悉或不熟悉的天使,你们和真格其实做着一样不起眼却伟大的事情。只有这样我们才能凝聚成汪洋大海,只有这个承载创造力和活力的大海形成以后,我们才能驶出人类想象的局限,想象的中关村,驶向人类创造的无穷无尽的海平线!这一天需要我们有足够耐心,足够勤奋,像乔布斯一样足够的饥饿和足够的愚蠢。小平还有一句话,什么叫足够愚蠢?小平有句话,他说一定要把金钱当成粪土,粪土是要撒向千里的良田,再生长出奇异的果实。这是粪土和成果的一个辩证,这一愚蠢是真正的智慧。最后我想跟大家一起共勉:让我们作为天使投资的引领者,让我们展示我们更宽大的胸怀,让投资带上哲学,带上价值观;让投资带上深度,带上广度,带上高度,更带上远度,因为这四个“度”汇聚在一起,我们才能真正让引领世界级的企业从天使阶段开始萌芽、成长、壮大。真诚让我们坚信:创造力的世界一定会属于我们!会属于中关村!会属于“敢为天下先”的中国所有的真正天使们!文章选自2005委员会,2017年6月9日
2017年6月12日 -
张蕴岭:值得思考的“全民基本收入”试验
张蕴岭,全球化智库(CCG)学术专家委员会专家,中国社会科学院学部委员。 据报道,自2017年1月开始,芬兰开始实施为期两年的“全民基本收入”试验,向随机挑选出来的2000名申请者每月发放560欧元,符合条件参加试验者的年龄在25-58岁之间,不管其是否在工作、有收入。进行此项试验的目的是收集数据,进行分析,看发放“全民基本收入”方案会产生什么样的效果,以便为未来制定大计划提供依据。 公民无论是否工作,每月都可以有不菲的基本收入,应该说,在市场经济条件下,这是一项带有颠覆性思维的做法。现行的社会保障制度是对没有收入能力者提供支持和生活保障、保险(因身体缺陷、疾病原因不能工作,因失业不能获得必要收入,因年龄不能继续工作而中断收入),而“全民基本收入”的设计则不是这样。 那么,全民基本收入方案是出于什么样的考虑呢?从各方面的报道看,主要基于对未来变化的设计。由于自动化、人工智能化是未来生产和经济活动的必然趋势,在此情况下,原来由人从事的工作,会越来越多地被自动化、智能化程序、机器人替代。据预测,未来20年,美国将近1/2的工作将会被自动化技术替代。这样,经济虽可以继续发展,产值可以继续创造,甚至会较前提高,但人靠工作获取收入而维持生活的基本方式也就被否定了。人没有了工作,也就没有了收入来源,没有收入,怎样才能生存呢?比如,在过去20年中,美国的制造业从业人数大幅减少,而产值却大幅增加,主要是因为自动化替代了人的工作。面对这样的形势,就需要以新的思维来考虑社会保障了。从这个角度来说,“全民基本收入”方案是一项带有普惠性、着眼于未来的新型社会保障制度设计试验。当然,这项试验也有其他的考虑,比如,通过提供收入激励人们的创造意识,通过改善人们的生活增进健康,等等。 其实,进行基本收入试验的也不仅是芬兰。在丹麦、英国、荷兰、法国以及美国都在进行类似的试验,尽管名称不同,基本设计则大体差不多。比如瑞士,曾计划推行全国性的基本收入方案,2016年瑞士就此进行全民公决,结果,24.1%的人赞成,76.9%的人反对,没有通过。也许是因为瑞士的方案太激进了,要一下子推广到全国,不免令人担心,反对的人认为,此举会助长懒人。不过,也要看到,有近1/4的人口赞成,这个比例也不算小。 在英国,有人计算了一下,若对每个英国公民发放基本收入金,按每人每天10英镑发放的话,全国一年的总开支需要2340亿英镑,这个数字与英国现在的社会保障开支相当。如果以基本收入制替代现行的社会保障制度,也不会增加政府的财政负担。问题是如果有了基本收入金,人们不去工作了怎么办?不工作,就没有工作收入,也就不能交税,那样,国家财政收入会不会减少呢?按设计者的计算,英国现在政府税收中的2/3是占15%的高收入人群缴纳的,这些人不会因为区区10英镑不去工作,而其他获取基本收入金者也不会都不去工作。因此,政府的税收应该不会因发放基本收入金而减少。不过,反对者认为,尽管如此也是不可行的。因为,每天10英镑,根本保证不了除基本生存之外的其他开支需求,特别是医疗开支。芬兰也进行过类似的计算,比如,目前该国的社会保障开支为600亿欧元,如果每人一个月发放800欧元,才需要480亿欧元,还可以节约不少。但是,取消现行社会保险制度是一个复杂的问题,芬兰还是选择了先进行小规模试验,据报道,芬兰在这方面正在进行的试验有上百项。 事实上,进行试验的不仅是政府,公司、社会机构也参与进来了。比如,硅谷一家创投机构宣布,将在加州奥克兰市进行基本收入试验。一家称之为“直接提供”的慈善机构正在肯尼亚开展试验,对6000名肯尼亚人发放基本收入,为期10年。关于基本收入的研究也很活跃。比如,荷兰记者鲁特杰·布里格曼出版的《现实主义者的乌托邦》一书就很推崇基本收入方案。而微软的比尔·盖茨在看到自动化对人就业和收入的影响后,他没有为此主张搞基本收入试验,而是建议对机器人征税,把征来的税用于就业补贴。 国内还没有看到这方面的动静。不过,京东创始人刘强东倒是语出惊人,言到,过去觉得共产主义遥不可及,……其实,共产主义真的在我们这代人可以实现,因为机器人把你所有的工作做了,创造了巨大的财富,人类可以享受,……国家可以把财富分配给所有的人,没有穷人和富人之分。未来的社会能够那样美妙吗?文章选自《世界知识》,2017年第10期
2017年6月12日 -
宗馥莉:脚踏实地创新创业
理事简介宗馥莉,CCG常务理事,宏胜饮料集团有限公司总裁。全国年轻一代民营企业家理想信念报告会5月27日在北京召开,中共中央政治局常委、全国政协主席俞正声出席并讲话。在当天的报告会上,6位年轻一代民营企业家代表从不同角度作了生动的事迹报告,分享了成长新语和创业心语!杭州的宏胜饮料集团有限公司总裁宗馥莉就是其中之一。下面来听听这位巾帼不让须眉的“女中豪杰”在这次会议上说了些啥。宏胜饮料集团是在娃哈哈一个生产基地基础上,独立发展起来的一家500强民营企业。我的创业故事是从2004年回国后开始的。那时候,我刚从美国回来。在外人眼里,我是一个含着金钥匙长大的富家女。14岁就被送到美国顶尖的女子学校读书,父亲的娃哈哈是一个资产近80亿的大型企业。当时,社会上还传言我要接父亲的班。这样一来,富二代、接班人,也就成了我的一些固有标签。其实,我从小个性就很要强,确实不太喜欢这类标签。我很感激父母给了我富足的生活,也从不否认父亲对我的帮助,但我应该怎么展开我的人生,我又能做些什么,来证明“宗馥莉”的存在?接不接班从来不是我考虑的重点,凭借自身实力,走属于自己的路,才是我最想要的。刚开始,我在娃哈哈集团萧山二号基地做了一名基层管理人员。为了尽快熟悉饮料生产、研发、销售等环节,我天天和普通员工泡在一线,来往于各大展会。两年后,我出任宏胜集团总裁,将公司从娃哈哈集团独立出来,开启了自己的创业之路。经过10年不断努力,发展为拥有16个生产基地、40多家分公司的企业集团。当我25岁成为宏胜公司的掌门人时,在父亲眼里,我仍然是一个未经世事的小姑娘。从我的秘书,集团财务、行政,还有分公司经理,都由他一手挑选。这种把我当“公主”的保姆式庇护,却让我感觉被束缚住了手脚,也更加激发了我独立闯江湖的欲望。我想,只有走出父亲的羽翼,才能成就更好的自己,哪怕是多走点弯路,多吃点苦头,我也要用自己的方式管理企业。父亲凭借他的“家文化”,成就了一个娃哈哈,而我觉得两代人有两代人的差异,我可以在精神上学习,但在管理上要自立,我要以自己的方式再造一个不一样的饮料帝国。不到一年,父亲派来的得力干将,有的因为不太适应我的管理风格,回到了娃哈哈,有的在宏胜集团调整了其他岗位。父亲对我所做的一切,也渐渐从不放心、不理解,转变成不干预、不反对。回到国内以后,很长时间感到水土不服,特别是在和政府部门打交道方面还有很多不适应,也曾在一些言语上锋芒外露,引起了外界的热议。统战部领导了解情况后,主动找到我谈心解扣,让我深深感觉到党和政府对我们年轻一代的包容和期待,也更加坚定了做好实业的信心和勇气。宏胜扩建新厂,当地政府领导亲自出面协调,从建厂前的供电供水通路,到建厂后环境安全监督,短短9个月就实现了开工生产。这对我触动很大,也刷新了对政府效率的认知,加深了对中国模式的认可。我体会到,党和政府是真心关心帮助企业发展的,千方百计为企业解难题。后来,我积极参加政协、工商联和商会组织,积极向政府建言献策,为企业传递心声,做些力所能及的事,在实践中我也得到很多的锻炼。宏胜是从做饮料代工开始的,很多模具、香精等设备和原材料,都必须高价进口采购,受制于人。执掌宏胜后,我站在食品行业营养、健康、安全的角度,提出全产业链布局概念,对产业资源进行了整合和转型升级,大刀阔斧地进行配套产业投资。不到3年时间,宏胜完成了以饮料生产为主业的全产业链布局,先后催生30项发明专利和56项实用新型专利、7项省级科技成果,参与两项国家和行业标准制定,为新技术新工艺研发改进提供了强有力支撑,极大提高了市场响应能力,加快了新产品投放市场的速度,企业核心竞争能力大幅增强。有一次我带团去迪拜参展,在偌大的迪拜展厅里,中国区的展位被安排在一个偏僻的角落,我们的饮料产品和银耳、大豆等农副产品挤在一起,几乎没有引起客商注意。我深深感受到中国食品的地位不高,品牌的海外影响力很小。也正是这种强烈冲击,让我更加坚定了走国际化路线的决心,要将中国的产品推向世界,让中国品牌成为世界品牌。我专门成立了进出口公司,拓展海外市场。还成立了研发中心,专注于中国食源文化研究,进一步挖掘枸杞、红枣、茶等中国丰富的特色资源植物,打造具有中国特色的传统健康食源风味,以产品为载体向世界展示中国的饮食理念和饮食文化。我们针对欧美主流市场,开发出无糖、低糖的花草茶、果茶等27种口味的高端茶饮料。为了让“中国风”饮料走向海外,我多次带队参加美国、英国、西班牙、南非等国家级和世界级食品饮料展,定期前往各国大使馆、领事馆、商业机构介绍中国饮料产品和企业文化。在国际展会上,这些具有浓郁中国元素的茶饮料受到好评。传统食品企业的转型升级也要搭上互联网的快车。去年,我开发了全国第一家主打“个性、定制、新鲜”的健康果蔬汁饮料,使年轻的消费者可以通过网络定制真正属于自己的饮料。这种消费模式的创新,满足了不同层次消费者的需求。如今,这种消费模式已经覆盖到上海、杭州两地。只要轻点手机屏幕,就可以任意选择几种果蔬搭配,在规定时限内喝上新鲜、零添加的果蔬汁。要提升中国在国际食品领域的影响力与话语权,最关键的是人才。我秉承“为行业不为企业”的理念,捐资7000万元与浙江大学联合成立浙江大学馥莉食品研究院,以国际化先进的教学理念培养食品饮料行业的顶尖人才。去年,在第一届本科生毕业典礼上,我鼓励他们说,今天你们学成毕业,可以不用进我的企业为我工作,但我希望你们可以在中国食品行业发光发热,让中国人掌握世界食品行业的话语权,让民族品牌真正成为世界品牌。十年耕耘,十年成长。回想这10多年我走过的路,这路上有党和政府的关心和支持,有父母无私的爱,还有老一代浙商的激励和鞭策。我庆幸的是,这些年来我一直在倾心做一件事情,就是扎根中国食品饮料行业,让中国食源文化走向世界,以创新推动传统行业升级发展。因为我坚信,走自己的路,脚踏实地把一件事情做好,就一定会有所作为,中国饮料品牌也一定会走出国门、闪耀世界!文章选自人民网,2017年5月28日
2017年6月12日 -
【环球时报】彼得·沃里森:特朗普是个很难理解的人
作者 | 彼得·沃里森,美国企业研究所高级研究员,本文根据作者在全球化智库【CCG】近日举办的“中美智库中美经贸发展研讨会”上的发言整理 特朗普的政策主张、面临的内外环境与美国前总统里根有许多相似之处,有人甚至说特朗普是下一个里根。但我认为,二人还是很不一样的。 两人的共同点是都非常爱国,强调美国的福利,强调美国的军事发展,想要增加军费开支,都相信美国是个独特的国家。他们都想减税,而且也都关注劳动人口就业问题,这也能够让美国经济更有效地运行。我认为,他们都希望建立更为保守的法律体系,而且都任命保守派人士担任最高法院的一些职位。这是两位领导人之间的共同点。 但他们之间也有很多不同,中国需要对此进行了解,才能知道如何应对特朗普的执政。里根总统坚信自己的观点,他的观点和原则对于他来说非常重要。政府里的工作人员非常清楚而且同意他的执政理念。因此,里根能够在决策上很好地控制自己的政府。在里根时期,白宫是非常强大的,这并不是因为人们有什么问题都需要白宫来做决定,而是因为里根所有的观点都非常清楚,他知道需要政府来做什么事情。 你若和里根总统接触,会发现他非常谦逊。在快要结束总统任期时,有人称赞他是伟大的沟通者。但他并不赞同,他认为自己只不过是把一些很伟大的想法传递给大家。里根非常在意别人的尊严,从来没有对下属发过火,每次开会都准时结束,这样可以保证在外面等他开下个会的人不用等很长时间。 相比之下,特朗普是个很难理解的人。首先,他是一名地产商,所以他并不知道对于自己的言行要进行控制。这方面他有很长的路要走。他之前说“美国的媒体是人民的敌人”,这使得媒体都盯着他。现在只有38%的人还支持特朗普。虽然比“水门事件”时的尼克松高,虽然他在国会中依然得到支持,但这种支持程度并不够,很多他想通过的议案都没有办法通过。因此,特朗普只有在和民主党以及媒体搞好关系之后,才能推动他的计划。 我们都知道,特朗普在竞选和刚入主白宫时对中国的态度比较负面。但他后来发现如果和中国合作的话可以获取更多,态度就发生了转变。这是特朗普的特点,他不是由想法驱动,而是由交易驱动。这里的问题就是,如果没有一个哲学或意识形态的基础,如果没有办法展示背后的宗旨和原则,那么后面的工作会很难做。中国有很多民众非常关注美国政府的动态,他们很有可能心里产生疑问,特朗普下一步会怎么走。你没有办法通过他之前做的工作来预测他以后的政策。这一点上里根和他不一样,里根的立场非常明确。他会向全国人民讲话,解释政府为什么这么做,为什么这么做对美国有帮助。里根是可以预测的。 可能有些人说特朗普没有办法说服美国民众。当然,他还有机会,如果他能推动经济发展进程,吸引更多公司来投资,很有可能到2020年时,他会成为一个非常受欢迎的总统。(作者是美国企业研究所高级研究员,本文根据作者在全球化智库【CCG】近日举办的“中美智库中美经贸发展研讨会”上的发言整理,未经本人审阅)文章选自《环球时报》,2017年6月8日
2017年6月9日 -
【中国新闻网】中国首个“海创板”诞生 首批30家企业挂牌
中新社武汉6月7日电 (记者 张芹)中国区域性股权市场首个“海外留学回国人员创新创业板”(简称“海创板”)7日在武汉正式启动,首批30家海归“双创”战略性新兴产业企业集体登陆武汉股权托管交易中心挂牌交易、鸣钟开市。 “海创板”由武汉股权托管交易中心与湖北省留学人员联谊会联合设立,是为以海外留学回国人员为主体的高层次人才创新创业,而专门打造的区域性股权市场特色板块,这在中国尚属首创。 当天挂牌的30家企业,包括武汉科恩斯医疗科技有限公司、武汉嫦娥医学抗衰机器人股份有限公司、武汉天罡信息技术有限公司等,行业类别主要涵盖新一代信息产业、生物医药、新材料、现代服务业、文化传媒、保健食品等战略性新兴产业。 湖北省留学人员联谊会会长曾支农介绍,“海创板”挂牌对象为,海外留学回国人员创办或发挥核心骨干作用的战略性新兴产业领域高质量、高科技、高成长型企业。“海创板”的设立将有助于推动湖北省域经济与海外人才、科学技术和金融资本的顺畅对接,吸引更多海外高层次人才、海外智力资源和资金资源回鄂创新创业,在全国范围内形成良好的示范和带动效应。 据悉,“海创板”将重点从聚拢相关资源、投资融资对接、上市转板培育等方面,为海外留学回国人员创新创业企业提供全流程、专业化、梯级型的立体服务。 中国留学人员联谊会副会长王辉耀表示,“海创板”不仅凝聚了高科技项目、高端前沿技术,还将汇聚大量高端人才,成为海归人员回国创新创业的助推剂。 据统计,目前湖北省留学回国人员已拥有或创办或参与经营管理,以及发挥核心骨干作用等各类企业2万多家,储备各类优质项目近万个。(完)文章选自中国新闻网,2017年6月8日
2017年6月9日 -
[China Daily] What do you remember of the life-changing gaokao?
Every Chinese person knows about the gaokao. Just mention the national college entrance exam in a crowded room and watch as people recall the tears, smiles and hard work they endured. For those of us who’ve took the exam, the experience is carved deep into our hearts. We remember trying our very best to chase our dreams.This year, more than 9 million exam candidates are sitting the gaokao between June 6-7. To cheer them on, we asked some college students for their gaokao memories.For most Chinese, the test can be treated as a "turning point" which ordinary people can change their lives. Millions of students have sat the exam since 1977 and each has their own story to tell, encompassing both success and failure, laughter and regrets. Older memoriesThe 1977 exam is notable for two things: first, it was the only gaokao to be held during winter, not summer as is customary; and second, it resulted in the lowest acceptance rate since the 1952 creation of the gaokao and its related admissions system. Just 5 percent of examinees were granted places at colleges.Now, let’s look back on stories of the Class of ’77 and trace their memories of the event that changed their lives. Liu HaifengDirector of the Institute of Education at Xiamen UniversityLiu, a renowned gaokao researcher, is grateful for the chance he was given, calling the experience "a historical coincidence".For him, the revival of the exam was not just a hugely significant event for the examinees, but also a turning point for China.“ "Later, many became well-known figures and pillars in all walks of life, and they played key roles in China’s reform and opening-up, laying a firm foundation for the country’s economic takeoff and today’s prosperity,”In the winter of 1977, the then-18-year-old hopeful was one of 5.7 million people who walked into exam halls nationwide to take the first gaokao given in more than 10 years, after it was suspended during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).The exam is China’s foremost method of selecting academic talent, and one of the most important ways by which ordinary people can change their lives.The 1977 exam is notable for two things: first, it was the only gaokao to be held during winter, not summer as is customary; and second, it resulted in the lowest acceptance rate since the 1952 creation of the gaokao and its related admissions system. Just 5 percent of examinees were granted places at colleges.Liu was among the lucky ones. He had applied to study Chinese literature at Fujian Normal University, but after passing the exam he was unexpectedly offered a place in the history department at Xiamen University in his hometown in Fujian province. That offer set Liu on a decadeslong path of teaching and research at the prestigious establishment.Even today, Liu, a renowned gaokao researcher, is grateful for the chance he was given, calling the experience "a historical coincidence".For him, the revival of the exam was not just a hugely significant event for the examinees, but also a turning point for China."The gaokao in 1977 and the following two years selected about 1 million talents, who are called ’the new three classes’ (of 1977, 1978 and 1979). Later, many became well-known figures and pillars in all walks of life, and they played key roles in China’s reform and opening-up, laying a firm foundation for the country’s economic takeoff and today’s prosperity," said Liu Haifeng, director of the Institute of Education at Xiamen University.Wang HuiyaoPresident of CCG "I was so excited, knowing that it was an opportunity to change my life."- Wang Huiyao, director of a think tank called the Center for China and Globalization(CCG), chairman of the China Global Talents Society and a consultant to the State CouncilIn October 1977, when the news was announced that the exam would be resumed, Wang Huiyao had spent almost a year and a half as a farm laborer. He was a zhiqing, a "sent-down youth", in a village 30 kilometers from his hometown, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in China’s southwestern region."I was so excited, knowing that it was an opportunity to change my life," he said.Having passed the exam, Wang studied English and American Literature at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. After graduation, he became an official at the Ministry of Commerce.In 1984, he traveled to Canada to study for a master’s and a doctorate in business administration, and then worked in senior positions for a number of large companies. In the mid-1990s, he returned to China and started several businesses.Now, as director of a think tank called the Center for China and Globalization(CCG), chairman of the China Global Talents Society and a consultant to the State Council, China’s Cabinet, Wang sees the 1977 revival of the exam as the starting point of all his rich, horizon-expanding experiences.“ "If not for the gaokao that year, none of those things would have happened,”Maintaining momentumDuring the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), many graduates of junior middle schools and high schools - at least 16 million according to official records - in cities were sent to villages as part of the "down to the countryside" movement.In October 1977, when the news was announced that the exam would be resumed, Wang Huiyao had spent almost a year and a half as a farm laborer. He was a zhiqing, a "sent-down youth", in a village 30 kilometers from his hometown, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in China’s southwestern region.For Wang, then age 19, gaokao was a distant and irrelevant word. When the exam was suspended in 1966, it was replaced by a college admissions policy that relied solely on recommendation. That meant only workers, farmers and soldiers were selected to attend college, irrespective of academic achievement or lack of it.Wang, born and raised in a large city, quickly found life difficult and disappointing: he "cohabited" with mice in a thatched cottage that lacked electricity, sanitation or hot water; worked from 5 am to 10 pm every day; walked barefoot along muddy lanes on rainy days; and drank water boiled with chilies to keep warm in winter."At the time, I couldn’t understand why people across the world were trying to move from rural areas to cities for better lives, but our mobility went in totally the opposite direction," said Wang, who is now an adviser on policies related to spotting talent both at home and abroad."However, I had a strong feeling that such an abnormal situation wouldn’t last long. I knew the gaokao would be revived sooner or later, but didn’t know exactly when."With that belief, Wang studied at night, reading all the books available to him and learning English by listening to radio programs.When the announcement he had waited for finally arrived, it was earlier than anticipated. On the evening of Oct 12, Wang heard on the village broadcast system that the exam would be revived and held in mid-December."I was so excited, knowing that it was an opportunity to change my life," he said.Having passed the exam, Wang studied English and American Literature at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. After graduation, he became an official at the Ministry of Commerce.In 1984, he traveled to Canada to study for a master’s and a doctorate in business administration, and then worked in senior positions for a number of large companies. In the mid-1990s, he returned to China and started several businesses.Now, as director of a think tank called the Center for China and Globalization, chairman of the China Global Talents Society and a consultant to the State Council, China’s Cabinet, Wang sees the 1977 revival of the exam as the starting point of all his rich, horizon-expanding experiences."If not for the gaokao that year, none of those things would have happened," he said.Chilblains and classesIn 1977, Tang Min was a 24-year-old math teacher at a middle school in Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. He took the exam together with his students and was admitted by the math department of Wuhan University in Hubei province."Twenty-five was the upper age limit for examinees that year, and I was already 24. I treated it as my last opportunity to take the exam, so I seized every minute, trying to make the best preparations," said Tang, now a macroeconomic researcher and a State Council consultant.Because the gaokao had been suspended for a about decade, large numbers of people who should have already taken it flocked to sit the exam, leading to a glut of examinees in the first few years after it was revived.In addition to teachers and students sitting the exam together, siblings of different ages took the exam at the same time.Liu Haifeng and his younger brother prepared for the exam in the 6-square-meter bedroom they shared. They had just two months for revision."Our families, particularly our parents, showed full support. My brother and I were exempted from housework so that every minute could be saved for study," he said.Students such as Liu, who planned to pursue arts-based academic paths at college, were tested in four subjects, similar to today’s gaokao: Chinese, math, politics, and a combination of history and geography.Chinese was Liu’s strength, so he didn’t need much preparation, but math, history and geography were his weak points because those subjects weren’t taught when his generation was at high school. He had to learn from scratch, using outdated, poorly printed textbooks, the only learning materials available at the time."It was during the prep that I learned the names of many national capitals for the first time. For example, I learned that Budapest is the capital of Hungary - I hadn’t known those things before."He recalled that almost all middle schools offered free classes to help examinees learn and review lessons."So many people came to the classes that the lecture rooms were unable to hold them all, resulting in some having to stand outside at the window to listen to the teachers," he said."However, no one complained. It seemed as though everyone was filled with energy and hope, and thirsty for knowledge. The atmosphere was really fantastic," he said, adding that although he often had chilblains on his hands during the harsh winter, he doesn’t remember feeling cold.RetrospectiveAccording to Wang Huiyao, a member of the Class of ’77 who now runs a think tank that formulates policies related to spotting talents, things often become clearer when people look back."Compared with a lot of young people who had spent three, five or even 10 years working in the countryside, I was really lucky because I was young and had only recently left school. That meant I still had a sense of learning when the gaokao was revived," he said."If the exam had been revived a few years later, perhaps the learning abilities of people my age would have been weakened by the long days of farm work, and we may have missed out on the opportunity to attend college."He said students who passed the gaokao in 1977 and the years that followed were the executors of the reform and opening-up policy, and they benefited by becoming senior officials and influential figures during the process.Now that many of them have turned 60 and have retired, he feels it’s time to look back, sum up and leave a legacy.To do that, he compiled a book, The Three Classes of 1977 to 1979: Memories of Chinese College Students. Published in 2014, the book invited 38 outstanding students from the "new three classes" - including the writer Liu Zhenyun, Xu Xiaoping, cofounder of the New Oriental Education & Technology Group, and Chen Pingyuan, professor of Chinese literature at Peking University - to tell their stories.Wang plans to publish an updated version of the book later this year. He has invited members of the "three new classes" to share their experiences and commemorate the 40th anniversary of an epochal event in their lives.Tang Min said members of the Class of 1977 and even those of 1978 and 1979 are special, but their achievements should not be exaggerated.In his opinion, though many people from the group became elites in many walks of life in China, very few became world-famous scholars or successful enterprisers."I think we serve as a link between the past and the future; we are more like the forerunners or pathfinders, pushing forward reform and opening-up along with China’s social and economic development," he said.From China Daily,2017-6-7
2017年6月8日