Zhu Rongji Meets the Press
Published on 28. April 2011
Book
Hardback
512 pages
978-0-19-396641-3 (ISBN)
Description
Within the past year (2009), a landmark book, issued from the office of Zhu Rongji, the Premier of China from 1998 to 2003, was published to much interest and acclaim on the Chinese mainland. Zhu Rongji, the unswerving economic reformer who helped to tame rampant inflation and put the nation firmly on the path to international economic integration, became a respected and popular figure among world business leaders, heads of state, diplomats, and particularly among progressive reformers within China. The book (published in Chinese under the title Zhu Rongji Answers Journalists' Questions) - a collection of the Premier's talks and interviews with reporters from around the globe - was the first book to offer such a comprehensive and front-row view of Zhu's conduct of China's foreign and economic policy. OUP (China) Ltd., proposes to publish the English translation of this book, with some modifications for the English readership.
Comprised of four parts, the book of talks by Zhu, presented within, collectively give a picture of the history of Zhu's tenure; of the many internal and external challenges faced by China more broadly at the time; and of Zhu the man and his vision for China in the age of global financial interdependence. It also includes interviews with Zhu from earlier periods (1993 to 1997, in his capacities as Vice Premier of the State Council, as well as Governor of the People's Bank of China). The book will include a new foreword by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a new interview with Zhu specifically for this book, and a general introduction by the editors. Part One features Zhu's exchanges with Chinese and foreign reporters at five different press conferences from 1998 to 2002. Part Two is a collection of interviews with foreign news media, beginning in 1993 through 2002, including some which were abridged for articles in the foreign media. These range from interviews with mainstream U.S. media such as BusinessWeek and CNN, to Itar-Tass News Agency and La Libre Belgique and others.
Part Three includes Zhu's speeches and Q & A sessions with business, industry and other groups during his travels abroad (from visits to New York, Istanbul, Cairo, Manila and more). Part Four is a collection of interviews that Zhu gave in Chinese with Hong Kong media during his travels abroad, which together cover a remarkably broad range of Chinese foreign policy issues. For a man known to speak frequently off-script, this set of records of Zhu's talks - explaining everything from China's program of reforming state industry and transforming the financial system, and its approach to joining the World Trade Organization, to its response to the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in May of 1999 - will make a significant contribution in English to understanding China with Zhu at the policy helm. In a nation where biographies and particularly autobiographies of high-level officials are hard to come by (and tend to be posthumous, as in the recently published journals of Zhao Ziyang), these on-the-record talks and exchanges can be an important, alternative means of accessing the character of a leader.
Collectively, they give a good picture of Zhu in action - sparring and joking with journalists, stating and explaining China's official fixed positions on important policy matters, while suggesting China's flexibility and openness in others. His encounters and joint talks with such world figures as former President Bill Clinton, Peter Kann, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, journalists such as Jim Lehrer of PBS, and a broad array of foreign journalists, economists and industry leaders, are faithfully recorded here. While Western readers will have read some articles in English resulting from some of the foreign media briefings included here, the talks in this book are translated from the original Chinese transcripts made by Zhu's office of his Chinese comments at briefings and interviews (without the third-party lens of the simultaneous translator). This will give the English reader a "you were there" feel to the dialogues, as well as a closer and truer reflection of the words spoken by the Premier. Two reviewers looked at the collection (in the Chinese original, followed by seven chapters in English translation) and those reports are attached.
Reader A, an American professor of Chinese politics and leadership, believes that the English edition of this book will be a useful resource for scholars and "an important book". He found in the collection an interesting reflection of Zhu's character and of his critical mark on China's economy through the late 1990s and early 2000s. Given the length of the book, he questioned how widely the volume would sell among general China readers, but believes that it will find an audience among China scholars and the foreign business community. Reader A suggests that the Introduction will be very important to the success of the book and recommends that the Press ensure that this section provide a brief biography of Zhu, explain the structure of the book and highlight the significance for the English reader of particular aspects and contributions of this collection. The Reader's concern may be addressed, in part, by the addition of a fresh interview with Zhu about his leadership and about this book listed in the most recent Table of Contents.
This book of talks by, and with the man who was called "China's economic tsar" should be a valuable historic record for China scholars and researchers, and a compelling historic read for those who closely follow Chinese leadership, politics and economic reform and development. Oxford University Press (China) Ltd., enthusiastically recommends publication of this collection.
Comprised of four parts, the book of talks by Zhu, presented within, collectively give a picture of the history of Zhu's tenure; of the many internal and external challenges faced by China more broadly at the time; and of Zhu the man and his vision for China in the age of global financial interdependence. It also includes interviews with Zhu from earlier periods (1993 to 1997, in his capacities as Vice Premier of the State Council, as well as Governor of the People's Bank of China). The book will include a new foreword by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a new interview with Zhu specifically for this book, and a general introduction by the editors. Part One features Zhu's exchanges with Chinese and foreign reporters at five different press conferences from 1998 to 2002. Part Two is a collection of interviews with foreign news media, beginning in 1993 through 2002, including some which were abridged for articles in the foreign media. These range from interviews with mainstream U.S. media such as BusinessWeek and CNN, to Itar-Tass News Agency and La Libre Belgique and others.
Part Three includes Zhu's speeches and Q & A sessions with business, industry and other groups during his travels abroad (from visits to New York, Istanbul, Cairo, Manila and more). Part Four is a collection of interviews that Zhu gave in Chinese with Hong Kong media during his travels abroad, which together cover a remarkably broad range of Chinese foreign policy issues. For a man known to speak frequently off-script, this set of records of Zhu's talks - explaining everything from China's program of reforming state industry and transforming the financial system, and its approach to joining the World Trade Organization, to its response to the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in May of 1999 - will make a significant contribution in English to understanding China with Zhu at the policy helm. In a nation where biographies and particularly autobiographies of high-level officials are hard to come by (and tend to be posthumous, as in the recently published journals of Zhao Ziyang), these on-the-record talks and exchanges can be an important, alternative means of accessing the character of a leader.
Collectively, they give a good picture of Zhu in action - sparring and joking with journalists, stating and explaining China's official fixed positions on important policy matters, while suggesting China's flexibility and openness in others. His encounters and joint talks with such world figures as former President Bill Clinton, Peter Kann, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, journalists such as Jim Lehrer of PBS, and a broad array of foreign journalists, economists and industry leaders, are faithfully recorded here. While Western readers will have read some articles in English resulting from some of the foreign media briefings included here, the talks in this book are translated from the original Chinese transcripts made by Zhu's office of his Chinese comments at briefings and interviews (without the third-party lens of the simultaneous translator). This will give the English reader a "you were there" feel to the dialogues, as well as a closer and truer reflection of the words spoken by the Premier. Two reviewers looked at the collection (in the Chinese original, followed by seven chapters in English translation) and those reports are attached.
Reader A, an American professor of Chinese politics and leadership, believes that the English edition of this book will be a useful resource for scholars and "an important book". He found in the collection an interesting reflection of Zhu's character and of his critical mark on China's economy through the late 1990s and early 2000s. Given the length of the book, he questioned how widely the volume would sell among general China readers, but believes that it will find an audience among China scholars and the foreign business community. Reader A suggests that the Introduction will be very important to the success of the book and recommends that the Press ensure that this section provide a brief biography of Zhu, explain the structure of the book and highlight the significance for the English reader of particular aspects and contributions of this collection. The Reader's concern may be addressed, in part, by the addition of a fresh interview with Zhu about his leadership and about this book listed in the most recent Table of Contents.
This book of talks by, and with the man who was called "China's economic tsar" should be a valuable historic record for China scholars and researchers, and a compelling historic read for those who closely follow Chinese leadership, politics and economic reform and development. Oxford University Press (China) Ltd., enthusiastically recommends publication of this collection.
Reviews / Votes
The interviews in this book offer a rich record of Zhu's work during a period in which he served as both a leading economic official in China's domestic reforms and, in effect, as a diplomat charged with explaining and building support for China's policies abroad. On both counts these interviews portray an official of rare skill: witty, urbane, exceptionally intelligent, tough in the face of challenge, and at times disarmingly frank. Henry A. Kissinger The original Chinese edition sold over two million copies. I think the readers in the West should have access to this valuable book. It is a much read for anyone to wishes to understand the rise of the Chinese economy. Lawrence J. LauMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Quarry Bay
China
Illustrations
120 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 42 mm
Weight
1138 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-396641-3 (9780193966413)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Zhu Rongji served as the Mayor and Party chief of Shanghai between 1987 and 1991 before becoming Vice-Premier and then the fifth Premier of the People's Republic of China from March 1998 to March 2003. Known as a forceful administrator, Zhu oversaw China's financial and market transformations, extraordinary economic growth, and increased assertiveness in international affairs. Zhu, who became a respected and well-liked figure among global political and business leaders, retired in 2003.
Content
FOREWORD BY HENRY A. KISSINGER ; PUBLISHER'S PREFACE ; LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND CREDITS ; PART ONE ; VICE PREMIER ZHU, 1993 TO 1998 ; VICE PREMIER ZHU TALKS WITH REPORTERS AND LEADING WORLD FIGURES IN BUSINESS AND DIPLOMACY ; SECTION ONE ; THE CHINESE VICE PREMIER TALKS WITH THE PRESS ; 1 ; TALKING WITH GERMANY'S HANDELSBLATT ABOUT ECONOMIC AND TRADE POLICY ; (MAY 6, 1993) ; 2 ; BUSINESSWEEK INTERVIEWS THE VICE PREMIER ABOUT ; CHINA'S ECONOMIC PLANS ; (JANUARY 15, 1994) ; 3 ; A CONVERSATION WITH BULGARIA'S DUMAS ABOUT ; CHINA'S TRADE RELATIONS WITH EASTERN EUROPE ; (NOVEMBER 9, 1995) ; 4 ; VICE PREMIER ZHU SPEAKS WITH URUGUAY'S EL OBSERVADOR ; ANTICIPATING PREMIER ZHU'S OFFICIAL VISIT TO URUGUAY ; (FEBRUARY 3, 1996) ; SECTION TWO ; ADDRESSING ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS AS VICE PREMIER ; 5 ; CHINA: THE PROMISE OF PARTNERSHIP ; A KEYNOTE SPEECH TO THE ADVANCED SEMINAR ON ; CHINA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ; THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ; (SEPTEMBER 22 1997) ; PART TWO ; PREMIER ZHU AT HOME AND ABROAD, 1998 TO 2002 ; SECTION ONE ; TALKING WITH THE MEDIA ; INTERVIEWS ; 6 ; AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ; (APRIL 2, 1999) ; 7 ; TALKING WITH THE GLOBE AND MAIL OF CANADA ; (APRIL 2, 1999) ; 8 ; A CONVERSATION WITH JIM LEHRER OF PBS NEWSHOUR ; (APRIL 9, 1999) ; 9 ; DISCUSSING WORLD AFFAIRS WITH CNN ; (APRIL 13, 1999) ; 10 ; AN INTERVIEW WITH SPAIN'S EFE NEWS AGENCY ; ANTICIPATING A VISIT TO CHINA BY THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER ; (JUNE 21, 2000) ; 11 ; A SINO-JAPANESE CONVERSATION ; PREMIER ZHU TALKS WITH A RENOWNED JAPANESE ECONOMIST AND A NHK NEWSCASTER ; (SEPTEMBER 21, 2000) ; 12 ; DISCUSSING SINO-KOREAN RELATIONS ; AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CEO OF JOONG ANG ILBO ; (SEPTEMBER 21, 2000) ; 13 ; A DIALOGUE WITH THE JAPANESE PEOPLE ; PREMIER ZHU'S INTERVIEW WITH THE TOKYO BROADCASTING STATION (TBS) ; (OCTOBER 14, 2000) ; 14 ; A CONVERSATION WITH THE KHABAR AGENCY ; ANTICIPATING PREMIER ZHU'S OFFICIAL VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN ; (AUGUST 30, 2001) ; 15 ; AN INTERVIEW WITH THE IRISH TIMES ; PREMIER ZHU TALKS ABOUT HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO IRELAND ; (AUGUST 30, 2001) ; 16 ; DISCUSSING SINO-BELGIAN RELATIONS WITH LA LIBRE BELGIQUE ; (SEPTEMBER 6, 2001) ; 17 ; BRIEFING GERMAN JOURNALISTS ; AN INTERVIEW WITH THREE GERMAN MEDIA GROUPS: GERMAN TELEVISION'S ARD FERNSEHEN; STERN MAGAZINE; AND HANDELSBLATT. ; (OCTOBER 22, 2001) ; 18 ; DISCUSSING SINO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS WITH ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY ; (AUGUST 21, 2002) ; PRESS CONFERENCES ; 19 ; MEETING THE PRESS AS THE NEW PREMIER ; PREMIER ZHU'S BRIEFING AT THE FIRST SESSION OF ; THE NINTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ; (MARCH 19, 1998) ; 20 ; A YEAR AS PREMIER ; A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE SECOND SESSION OF ; THE NINTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ; (MARCH 15, 1999) ; 21 ; CHINA'S PREMIER ZHU AND U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON MEET THE PRESS ; EXCERPTS FROM A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ; (APRIL 8, 1999) ; 22 ; TWO YEARS IN ; PREMIER ZHU MEETS THE PRESS AT THE THIRD SESSION OF ; THE NINTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ; (MARCH 15, 2000) ; 23 ; BRIEFING THE JAPANESE NEWS MEDIA ; PREMIER ZHU DISCUSSES HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO JAPAN ; (OCTOBER 8, 2000) ; 24 ; QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AT A TOKYO PRESS CONFERENCE ; PREMIER ZHU TALKS TO JAPANESE REPORTERS ABOUT ; THE STATE OF SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS ; (OCTOBER 16, 2000) ; 25 ; THREE YEARS IN ; TALKING WITH REPORTERS AT THE FOURTH SESSION OF ; THE NINTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ; (MARCH 15, 2001) ; 26 (45) ; FOUR YEARS IN ; A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE FIFTH SESSION OF ; THE NINTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ; (MARCH 15, 2002) ; AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE HONG KONG PRESS CORPS ; 27 ; IN ENGLAND: ON THE ASIA-EUROPE MEETING, THE FUTURE OF CHINA, AND THE ASIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS ; (MARCH 31 TO APRIL 1, 1998) ; 28 ; IN WASHINGTON: THE CHINESE PREMIER VISITS A VENERABLE TEACHER ; PREMIER ZHU TALKS WITH HONG KONG REPORTERS ABOUT ; HIS MEETING WITH PROFESSOR YU-HSIU KU ; (APRIL 9, 1999) ; 29 ; IN BRUSSELS: ON SINO-EU RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND SECURITY ISSUES ; (JULY 10 TO 12, 2000) ; 30 ; IN TOKYO: A RIDE ON THE MAGLEV ; PREMIER ZHU TALKS WITH REPORTERS ABOUT TRAIN TRANSPORTATION ; (OCTOBER 16, 2000) ; 31 ; IN SEOUL: ON THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, ; AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN FIGHTING CRIME ; (OCTOBER 18 TO 22, 2000) ; 32 ; IN SINGAPORE: ON ASIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION ; (NOVEMBER 23 TO 25, 2000) ; 33 ; IN BANGKOK: ON THE ASIAN ECONOMY, ; AND CHINA'S GREAT WESTERN DEVELOPMENT ; (MAY 19 TO 21, 2001) ; 34 ; IN BRUNEI: ON COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND ASEAN, ; AND MORE ; (NOVEMBER 4 TO 6, 2001) ; 35 ; IN INDIA: ON SINO-INDIAN RELATIONS, AND THE HONG KONG AND MAINLAND ECONOMIES ; (JANUARY 14 TO 18, 2002) ; 36 ; IN TURKEY: ON SINO-TURKISH ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS ; (APRIL 15 TO 18, 2002) ; 37 ; IN CAIRO: ON THE CHINESE ECONOMY, AND SINO-EGYPTIAN TRADE POTENTIAL ; (APRIL 20 TO 22, 2002) ; 38 ; IN NAIROBI: ON SINO-KENYAN COOPERATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND BILATERAL TRADE WITH TURKEY, EGYPT AND KENYA ; (APRIL 24 TO 26, 2002) ; 39 ; IN SOUTH AFRICA: ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, THE EFFECT OF CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WTO, CHINA'S FISCAL POLICY, AND MORE ; (AUGUST 31 TO SEPTEMBER 6, 2002) ; 40 ; IN COPENHAGEN: ON ASIAN-EUROPEAN COOPERATION, CHINA'S INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY ; (SEPTEMBER 23 TO 25, 2002) ; 41 ; IN PHNOM PENH: ON AN CHINA-ASEAN FREE TRADE ZONE, ; AND SHENZHEN-HONG KONG COOPERATION IN TOURISM ; (NOVEMBER 2 TO 3, 2002) ; SECTION TWO ; SPEAKING TO WORLD BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC LEADERS ; 42 ; ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS OF U.S.-CHINA FRIENDSHIP AND BUSINESS: ; PREMIER ZHU'S TALK AT A WELCOMING DINNER IN WASHINGTON ; (APRIL 9, 1999) ; 43 ; MEETING IN MIDDLE AMERICA ; PREMIER ZHU'S TALK TO U.S. BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS ; (APRIL 12, 1999) ; 44 ; TALKING TRADE WITH THE NEW YORK BUSINESS COMMUNITY ; PREMIER ZHU'S ADDRESS AT THE NEW YORK ECONOMIC CLUB ; (APRIL 13, 1999) ; 45 ; SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ; PREMIER ZHU'S SPEECH TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) ; (APRIL 14, 1999) ; 46 ; SPEAKING ON SINO-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS ; PREMIER ZHU'S ADDRESS TO THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ; (NOVEMBER 27, 1999) ; 47 ; PRESENTING THE "SINGAPORE LECTURE" ; PREMIER ZHU'S SPEECH ON "CHINA AND ASIA IN THE NEW CENTURY" ; (NOVEMBER 30, 1999) ; 48 ; TALKING ABOUT SINO-ITALIAN RELATIONS ; PREMIER ZHU'S SPEECH TO ITALIAN INDUSTRIALISTS ; (JULY 6, 2000) ; 49 ; SPEAKING OF INDUSTRY AND FINANCE ; PREMIER ZHU'S TALK TO THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN BELGIUM ; (JULY 11, 2000) ; 50 ; MEETING WITH IRISH BUSINESS FIGURES ; PREMIER ZHU'S SPEECH ON PROSPECTS FOR SINO-IRISH TRADE AND COOPERATION ; (SEPTEMBER 4, 2001) ; 51 ; SPEAKING TO BUSINESS LEADERS IN PAKISTAN ; PREMIER ZHU'S ADDRESS ON SINO-PAKISTANI TRADE ; AND COOPERATION ; (MAY 12, 2001) ; 52 ; TALKING TO RUSSIAN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS ; (SEPTEMBER 10, 2001) ; 53 ; MEETING THE TURKISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY ; AND FRIENDS OF CHINA IN ISTANBUL ; (APRIL 19, 2002) ; 54 ; A TALK WITH EGYPTIAN BUSINESS LEADERS ABOUT COOPERATION AND TRADE WITH CHINA ; (APRIL 21, 2002) ; 55 ; ADDRESSING FRENCH BUSINESSMEN ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA ; (SEPTEMBER 27, 2002)