China and France Mark Half a Century of Their Diplomatic Bond

NAtion: YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION P.24 | CULTURE: TOP BUZZWORDS OF 2013 P.42

VOL.57 NO.4 JANUARY 23, 2014 WWW.BJREVIEW.COM

A GOLDEN JUBILEE China and France mark half a century of their diplomatic bond

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VOL.57 NO.4 JANUARY 23, 2014 CONTENTS

THE DESK 12 » Romantic Engagement 02 COVER STORY THIS WEEK COVER STORY » Bilateral Perspectives 16 Musing on bilateral relations WORLD » Courting Peace 18 China assists in Syria solution The Sino-French Connection China and France 50 years on NATION » Justice for Juveniles 24 Addressing youth crime » Unseen Exams 26 Blind students seek equality 30 BUSINESS BUSINESS 22 » New Trends 34 No Heavy Blow NATION More Chinese branching out abroad Limited impact of QE exit » Fostering Innovation 36 The keys to creation » Market Watch 38 CULTURE Tackling Terrorism » China’s Top New Words 42 Peace in northwest China tops agenda The best buzzwords of 2013 32 BUSINESS FORUM » Japan’s Image Further Destroyed 46 War history remains a thorn- in regional ties EXPAT’S EYE » A Chinese Medicine Convert 48 An Australian skeptic tries TCM From Prospect to Prosperity Exploring post-manufacturing possibilities

ONLINE AT » WWW.BJREVIEW.COM BREAKING NEWS » SCAN ME » Using a Qr code reader Beijing Review (ISSN 1000-9140) is published weekly for US$64.00 per year by Cypress Books, 360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48, South San Francisco, CA 94080, Periodical Postage Paid at South San Francisco, CA 94080. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Beijing Review, Cypress Books, 360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48, South San Francisco, CA 94080 THE DESK

A News Weekly Magazine Published Since 1958  Editor President & Editor in Chief: Wang Gangyi Vice President: Qi Wengong Associate Editors in Chief: Li Jianguo, Huang Wei, Wang Yanjuan, Zhou Jianxiong, Ding Zhitao Assistant President: Li Zhenzhou Assistant Editor in Chief: Wa Chunfang Executive Editor: Ding Zhitao

Assistant Executive Editors: Yao Bin, Zhang Zhiping, Zan Jifang Editorial Administrators: Zhang Xiaoli, Shi Bosen Opinion Editor: Zan Jifang Romantic Engagement World Editor: Yan Wei Nation Editor: Yao Bin Business Editors: Yu Shujun, Lan Xinzhen In the eyes of many Chinese, France is synonymous with romance. The mere mention of the Culture Editor: Liu Yunyun Editorial Consultants: Joseph Halvorson, Kieran Pringle, Eric Daly country will conjure vivid images of its culture, lifestyle and fashion, while French icons such as Staff Reporters: Tang Yuankai, Ding Ying, Ding Wenlei, Wang Jun, Li Li, the Louvre, Bordeaux wine and Christian Dior are widely admired in China. Yin Pumin, Pan Xiaoqiao, Yuan Yuan, Wang Hairong, Liu Xinlian, The relationship China has forged with France since the establishment of their Yu Yan, Yu Lintao, Zhou Xiaoyan, Bai Shi, Deng Yaqing, Ji Jing Photo Editor: Wang Xiang diplomatic ties five decades ago, however, is not only romantic but also pragmatic and Photographer: Wei Yao fruitful. One of the most important driving forces behind this enduring partnership is a Art: Li Shigong shared commitment to diversity, equality and independence. Art Director: Wang Yajuan Chief Designer: Cui Xiaodong The two countries’ love affair began in 1964 at a time when many Western nations Designer: Zhao Boyu remained hostile toward New China. France took the initiative as it recognized the po- Proofreading: Qin Wenli, Ma Xin tential of the East Asian giant. More importantly, Paris sought to pursue an independent Distribution Director: Hu Keqiang foreign policy without succumbing to outside pressure, which is also a cornerstone of Human Resources: Hou Jin China’s diplomacy. International Cooperation: Zhang Yajie Marketing/PR Director: Pan Changqing The two countries have since engaged in collaboration by making the most of their Legal Counsel: Yue Cheng respective advantages. For instance, civilian nuclear power cooperation, which requires North America Bureau sophisticated technology as well as a high level of mutual trust, has borne abundant Chief: Huang Wei fruit. China and France jointly built the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station in south China’s Deputy Chief: Xu Tao Tel/Fax: 1-201-792-0334 Shenzhen three decades ago, which supplies electricity to both the Chinese mainland E-mail: [email protected] and Hong Kong. Now the two countries appear poised to replicate their success story in Africa Bureau other countries as they have agreed to explore global nuclear energy markets. Chief: Li Jianguo While business ties flourish, an increasing number of Chinese people have fulfilled Africa Managing Editor: Francisco Little their dreams to visit France. More than 1.5 million Chinese tourists poured into France in Tel: 27-71-6132053 E-mail: [email protected] 2012, and 525,000 French visitors toured the “Middle Country.” Tourism, coupled with cultural and educational exchanges, have cemented bonds between ordinary Chinese General Editorial Office Tel: 86-10-68996252 and French. Fax: 86-10-68326628 All-round interactions between China and France show that it is possible for coun- English Edition Tel: 86-10-68996259 tries with different cultural traditions and political systems to develop productive Advertising Department relations. They exemplify China’s vision for a “harmonious world,” in which nations fol- Tel: 86-10-68995810 lowing diverse development paths work together for common prosperity. Harmony, E-mail: [email protected] Distribution Department however, is not necessarily a state of affairs where no disputes exist. Instead, the new Tel: 86-10-68310644 thinking calls on parties to resolve disputes by consulting with others on an equal foot- E-mail: [email protected] ing and accommodating their legitimate concerns. It will enable the Sino-French ties to Published every Thursday by make continuous strides and at the same time exert a positive impact on the world at BEIJING REVIEW, 24 Baiwanzhuang Lu, large. n Beijing 100037, China. Overseas Distributor: China International Book Trading Corporation (Guoji Shudian), P. O. 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2 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com THIS WEEK XINHUA

HOMEWARD BOUND Weary passengers travel aboard a train heading from Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province, to Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, in the early hours of January 16 during a 26-hour ride. The annual travel rush around the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, began on January 16. In the following 40 days, travelers across the country are expected to make more than 3.62 billion trips, up 200 million compared to last year, posing a great challenge to the transportation system.

http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 3 THIS WEEK SOCIETY XUE YUBIN Wetland Coverage China has a total of 53.6 million hectares of wetlands, accounting for 5.58 percent of its territory area, according to survey figures released by the State Forestry Administration on January 13. The survey was conducted between 2009 and 2013 to facilitate the country’s wetland protection. Total acreage of wetlands dropped 8.82 percent from a previous survey that ended in 2003. Natural wetlands covered an area of 46.67 million hectares, or 87.08 percent of the total area of wetlands.

Yutu onboard, soft-landed on the to prosecutors in 2013, a senior disci- Jiemin, former head of the State- Lunar Exploration moon at Sinus Iridium, or the Bay of pline inspector revealed on January owned Assets Supervision and China’s moon rover Yutu, or Jade Rainbows, on December 14 last year. 10. Administration Commission of the Rabbit, completed its first scien- After landing, the rover separated The officials were Zhou State Council, and Li Dongsheng, tific exploration of lunar soil on from the Chang’e-3 lander. Zhenhong, Liu Tienan, Ni Fake, Wang former Vice Minister of Public January 14, according to the Beijing The rover and lander entered a Suyi, Li Daqiu, Tong Mingqian, Yang Security, Huang added. Aerospace Control Center (BACC). period of dormancy that lasted two Kun and Qi Pingjing, said Huang Last year, the Party’s discipline The rover used its mechanical weeks, the same as one lunar night, Shuxian, Deputy Secretary of the inspection agencies punished about arm to carry out the survey, following on December 26, 2013, in a move de- Party’s Central Commission for 182,000 officials nationwide, 13.3 instructions from the control center, signed to ride out the moon’s harsh Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and percent more than in 2012, accord- according to a BACC statement. climactic conditions. They awakened Minister of Supervision, at a press ing to Huang. “Accurate direction of the autonomously on January 12. conference. Among them, about 150,000 mechanical arm from a distance of Five of the eight officials previ- were subject to Party discipline pun- 380,000 km has been realized, a Tough on Graft ously held provincial-level positions, ishment and 48,900 were subject to breakthrough for China in achieving two were senior officials of central administrative punishment. long-distance remote control,” said The Communist Party of China’s government departments while one Wu Fenglei of the BACC. disciplinary watchdog closed graft was senior executive of a state bank. China’s Chang’e-3 lunar probe, investigations into eight high-profile The cases were only a few Tibetan Education which launched from Earth with officials and handed over their cases among the 31 high-profile officials Tibetans receive 8.4 years of education on average, according to data XINHUA investigated by the CCDI last year, with the remaining 23 still released by education authorities under investigation, including Jiang of Tibet Autonomous Region on January 14. The data also showed that primary school enrollment rates in the region reached 99.59 percent in

 2013. In 2013, the regional govern- ON WIRES ment invested 11 billion yuan ($1.82 billion) in education, benefiting Members of China’s Qingdao Acrobatic 600,200 enrolled students, accord- Troupe perform a pole routine at the 10th Budapest International Circus Festival in ing to Ma Shengchang, director of Hungary on January 13, where they won a the regional education department. Golden Pierrot award Ma added that Tibet was the first place in China to provide nine- year compulsory education for free,

4 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com THIS WEEK

COURTESY OF CRI from a pipeline owned by a subsid-  iary of Sinopec, the country’s largest oil refiner, according to the report compiled by a special investigation GREAT HONOR group set up by the State Council, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev China’s cabinet. presents the certificate of the The blast also injured another Presidential Medal of Honor of Bulgaria to Wang Gengnian, Director General of China 136 people and caused a direct Radio International (CRI), in Beijing on economic loss of 752 million yuan January 14. CRI launched its Bulgarian ($124 million), the report revealed. language radio service in 1974 A total of 63 people will be penalized, with 48 of them to receive punishments for violating Party and administrative disciplines and 15 back in 2007, and it was the first to others being transferred to judicial provide 15-year education for free bodies for further judgment on their when it started doing so in 2012. alleged crimes, the report added. The regional government also plans to increase the annual budget conductors on January 10. work at temperatures close to 0 K, or for the educational subsidy scheme Desalinated Sea Ice Superconductivity refers to 273.15 degrees Celsius below zero— by 70.5 million yuan ($11.65 million) China will soon begin production a phenomenon where electrons the lowest temperature possible, from September. of large amounts of fresh water travel with no resistance when a known as absolute zero. In the coming semester through the desalination of sea conducting material, known as a The discovery marked a new beginning in fall, children at a ice, according to a Beijing Normal superconductor, is cooled below a “family” of iron-based supercon- kindergarten through to a senior University research team and Beijing certain temperature. ducting materials that lift the highest high level will receive 2,900 yuan Huahaideyuan Technology Co. With a range of cutting-edge temperature for resistance-free flow ($479) each to help cover annual Ltd. The two organizations signed a expenses for food, accommodation technological applications, super- to 55 K, Chen said. conductivity has become a part of technology transfer agreement on and educational supplies while they January 14. attend boarding school, according daily life, from boosting cell phone signals to offering medical imaging. Blast Investigation The company is expected to be to Lu Mingxiu, an official with the China’s top work safety watchdog able to produce at least 1 billion cu- Tibet Bureau of Finance. At the award ceremony, leading project contributors, including unveiled a full investigation report bic meters of fresh water annually by Zhao Zhongxian and Chen Xianhui, on January 11 regarding a fatal pipe- 2023, according to Yu Jian, Executive Top Prize received the 200,000-yuan line blast that claimed 62 lives in the President of Huahaideyuan. Following a three-year vacancy, the ($33,040) prize on behalf of their eastern city of Qingdao, Shandong China’s sea ice desalination top natural science prize at China’s research team with the Institute of Province, on November 22, 2013. program started in 1996 and has annual national science awards was Physics under the Chinese Academy The primary cause of the ac- received a total of 29.7 million given for the discovery and research of Sciences and the University of cident was that drilling operation by yuan ($4.88 million) in funding of iron-based compounds that can Science and Technology. repair staff produced sparks that led from various government depart- be used as high-temperature super- Most superconductors only to an explosion fuelled by oil leaked ments since then. XINHUA Sea Mission A diver enters a diving bell to get ship. ready for a 300-meter saturation The diving bell reached dive under the South China Sea a depth of 313.5 meters under on January 9. sea surface. Saturation diving China succeeded in its first enables human beings to avoid 300-meter saturation dive on the dangers of decompression the morning of January 12 as sickness by being kept in an three divers returned safely artificially high-pressure environ- to the living chamber on their ment for longer periods of time.

http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 5 THIS WEEK ECONOMY YAO FENG

Power Connection A worker from a grid company checks a power transmission tower in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, on January 15. This is the first 500-kv cross-sea power transmission line in China.

look into Tetra Pak, and the probe lending stood at 8.89 trillion yuan year earlier period to 33.73 trillion Probe Continues made progress in December, accord- ($1.5 trillion) in 2013, up 687.9 yuan ($5.6 trillion). China’s anti-trust probe against ing to Zhang Mao, SAIC Director. billion yuan ($113.6 billion) from The broad measure of money Swedish firm Tetra Pak has not Tetra Pak, which entered the previous year, said Sheng supply (M2), which covers cash in stopped, the State Administration for China in 1979, has a research and Songcheng, head of the Statistics circulation and all deposits, jumped Industry and Commerce (SAIC) said development center in Shanghai Department at the People’s Bank of 13.6 percent to 110.65 trillion yuan on January 15. and packaging facilities in four China, the country’s central bank, ($18.3 trillion) in 2013, 0.2 percentage The investigation of the food Chinese cities, including Beijing. The on January 15. points less than in 2012, Sheng said. processing and packaging company’s company processes and packages Total social financing, a mea- Outstanding cash in circulation possible abuse of market dominance liquid dairy products as well as other sure of funds raised by entities in the (M0) amounted to 5.86 trillion is still underway, a SAIC spokesman beverages. real economy and a broad measure yuan ($968.1 billion), up 7.1 percent said at a press conference. of liquidity in the economy, hit a from 2012. Finance.ifeng.com, a Hong Kong Lending Moderated record high of 17.29 trillion yuan “The moderation in M2 and media outlet, reported earlier that the ($2.9 trillion) last year, up 1.53 trillion credit growth is in line with our view SAIC had stopped the probe of Tetra New data has shown that China’s yuan ($252.8 billion) year on year. that credit tapering will continue in Pak two months after the investiga- lending in 2013 was moderated and New yuan lending accounted 2014,” said Zhu Haibin, J.P. Morgan tion began with little progress made. the growth of broad money supply for about 51.4 percent of total social China Chief Economist. In July, the SAIC enlisted more eased, triggering forecasts that credit financing, the lowest proportion in Sheng said 2014 will see the than 20 provincial and municipal tapering will continue in 2014. history and 0.6 percentage points central bank continue to implement industry and commerce agencies to China’s new yuan-denominated lower than 2012. a prudent monetary policy, make

LIN JIANBING The narrow measure of money appropriate preemptive adjustments, supply (M1), which covers cash in and use various liquidity management circulation plus current corporate tools to make monetary conditions deposits, rose 9.3 percent from the “not too tight nor too loose.” China has kept a proactive fiscal policy since late 2008, when the country unveiled a 4-trillion-yuan ($566 billion) stimulus package to  cushion the impact of the global financial crisis. Its monetary policy FESTIVE ART has been prudent since late 2010. A worker dries handmade lanterns in Putian, east China’s Fujian Province, New Gas Field on January 14. With complicated production procedures, the lanterns, sold for 10 yuan The China National Offshore Oil ($1.7) each, can be used for many years Corp. Ltd., the country’s largest offshore oil producer, announced

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ZHAN g YONGFENG Numbers emissions by 230,000 tons.  China currently has 17 nuclear reactors in operation, as well as SHOPPING CARNIVAL 28 more under construction that account for two fifths of unfinished Buyers select cosmetics at a duty-free shop reactors throughout the world. 309.33 bln yuan in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, on January 15. Hainan saw 1.1 million China’s lottery sales in purchases at its duty-free shops in 2013 Hybrid Trains 2013, up 18.3 percent The China CNR Corp. Ltd. (CNR), from 2012 one of the country’s largest train makers, announced on January 14 on January 14 the operation of the that it would roll out a prototype Liuhua 19-5 Gas Field. of a hybrid high-speed train off the The gas field is expected to hit production line in September 2015. its peak production of 29 million Changchun Railway Vehicle cubic feet per day within the year, a Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the CNR, company press release said. will integrate two or three power The project is located in the 5.32 tln kwh operator of the plant. sources—electricity, battery pack or Pearl River Estuary Basin of the The first generating unit went diesel engine—into the new model, Electricity consumption South China Sea with an average into operation in April 2013. It according to the CNR. in China in 2013, up 7.5 water depth of about 185 meters. produced about 7 billion kwh of The power sources will form two- It was designed to share the percent from 2012 electricity last year. in-one or three-in-one power packs existing production facilities of the The two generators will pro- depending on operational and rail Panyu 30-1 Gas Field. Two new produce 12.5 billion kwh of electricity in conditions. The design speed of the ducing wells have also been drilled. 2014, accounting for 7.26 percent of new model will be 160 km per hour. the province’s electricity consump- It is expected to run on both trunk Nuclear Project tion in 2013. and branch railways, said the CNR. The Ningde Nuclear Power Station After its third and fourth gener- They will be widely used com- in east China’s Fujian Province will ating units, which also have installed pared with traditional trains because double its generation capacity in 2014 capacity of 1.09 million kw each, of their adaptability to travel on both as its second generating unit is ex- become operational next year, the electric and nonelectric railways. $117.6 bln pected to be put into commercial use power plant is expected to produce By the end of 2013, 52.4 percent in the first half of this year, a company 30 billion kwh of electricity annually. of China’s railways had been electric. Foreign direct source said on January 15. Compared with a similar This will increase, according to the investment in the The second generating unit, coal-fired plant, the four nuclear country’s medium- and long-term Chinese mainland in which has an installed capacity of generators can reduce coal con- railway development plan. 2013, up 5.25 percent 1.09 million kw, went into operation sumption by 9.8 million tons of The production of hybrid high- year on year on January 4, according to a press coal a year. They can also help cut speed trains will serve the country’s conference held by the Fujian carbon dioxide emissions by 24 mil- increasing number of electric Ningde Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., the lion tons per year and sulfur dioxide railways, according to the CNR. ning youpeng Hi-Tech 2.5 mln Plantation Number of new firms A farmer walks in a greenhouse in set up in China in the Huasheng Solar Power Farm 2013, up 27.63 in Jimo, east China’s Shandong percent from the Province, on January 15. year earlier The solar panels installed on the roof can adjust lighting and temperature in the greenhouse.

http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 7 THIS WEEKWORLD

 OUTER SPACE An unmanned Cygnus cargo ship of a private U.S. company arrives at the International Space Station on January 12 to deliver supplies to the research outpost XINHUA/AFP XINHUA/AFP XINHUA/AFP

  THAILAND FRANCE Anti-government protesters wave national flags A woman takes off her trousers prior to taking as they march through the streets of Bangkok in a part in the 2014 No Pants Subway Ride on move to “shut down” the city on January 13, in an January 12 in a Paris subway station escalation of their campaign to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

8 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com   EGYPT ISRAEL Egyptian policemen arrest a supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ousted President Mohamed Morsi outside a stands in silent tribute in front of the tomb of police academy in Cairo on January 8 former Israeli leader Ariel Sharon on January 13 on Sharon’s ranch in southern Israel. Sharon died at the age of 85 following an eight-year coma XINHUA/AFP XINHUA

 THE PHILIPPINES Residents ride a wooden boat as they paddle past submerged houses following floods caused by heavy rains on the outskirts of Butuan in the southern island of Mindanao on January 13 XINHUA/AFP

http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 9 THIS WEEKPEOPLE

“Such seemingly outdated and primitive techniques truly represent traditional Chinese  Top Scientists Honored culture, and people should take pride in them.”

Jiao Ruiqing, co-author of the book Four Chinese, which documents the daily lives of four farmers each using a traditional technique in their work, at the book’s launch ceremony in Beijing on January 10

 “Fancy clubs in parks and historical buildings are clearly invasions into public resources. These sites are public treasures, which should be open to the general public, rather than the privileged few.” Physical chemist Zhang Cunhao (left) and nuclear Kong Fanzhi, former Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage, weapons expert Cheng Kaijia won China’s top science commenting on Beijing Municipal Government’s order for high-end clubs in public award for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation on January 10. parks to close or operate as ordinary restaurants The pair, both academicians with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was presented with  certificates by President Xi Jinping at an annual ceremony. Winners are also entitled to an award of 5 “The core strategy of our international million yuan ($820,000) each. Zhang, 85, went to the United States to further his development is to foster enthusiasm and trust studies in the 1940s and obtained a master’s degree in 1950. He then returned to China despite hard living in traditional Chinese medicine among foreign conditions, and devoted himself to scientific research at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the CAS patients by showcasing its effectiveness and in the northeastern port city. relatively few side effects. We have sensed a Zhang has focused on many pioneering technologies, including rocket propellants and lasers. widespread acceptance of and growing Cheng, 96, has participated in more than 30 of demand for it.” China’s nuclear experiments. He also played a key role in developing the country’s first atomic and hydrogen Ding Yongling, Deputy General Manager of Tongrentang, a Beijing-based bombs, as well as the combination of the two bombs. Cheng devoted years to living in the vast Gobi Desert pharmaceutical company dating back 300 years, on his company’s plan to run in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous 100 outlets abroad by 2015 Region beginning in 1963. Cheng also participated in writing China’s first  academic document for atomic bomb research and experiments, designing a plan for setting off an “We will improve policies to encourage and support atomic bomb at an iron tower higher than 100 meters, and planning the missions and the qualified enterprises of all kinds to participate in establishment of an institute dedicated to nuclear weapons experiments. bidding for railway construction projects.” His team established China’s understanding of nuclear explosions, the research into them, different Zhao Guoqing, chief engineer and spokeswoman of the National Railway kinds of nuclear experiments, and technical Administration, pledging to create a sound policy environment for private safety standards. investment in the railway sector, at a press conference on January 14

10 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com MEDIA DIGESTTHIS WEEK

try? In 2013, despite rapid growth, there was Film and Capital neither improved movie quality nor a matured film industry. Instead, it was a result of the chaos China Newsweek in the industry. The fact is, films no longer reach January 6 audiences simply by their stories, but are rather a chain of commercial operations. At the end of 2013, China’s annual box office hit In the current Chinese film market, films 20 billion yuan ($3.3 billion), up 20 percent from are bound too closely with the capital market. the previous year. The new movie by director Feng Xiaogang, Personal Tailor, produced by For instance, every time Huayi released a new Huayi Brothers Media Group and released na- film, the company’s stock price went up or tionwide on December 19, did surprisingly well down with it, from a low of 12.17 yuan ($1.98) in at the box office despite being panned by critics. December 2012 to a high of 80 yuan ($13.22) Feng himself was confused by the fact. “I in October of 2013. made a fluff film and it made 400 million yuan This shows the film market in China is not ($66.08 million),” he said. “But when I made a yet fully mature. The problem is that capital is serious film, it got nowhere.” Feng’s dramatic not currently used to promote a sound devel- picture was 1942, a film made around the end opment of the film industry, but is instead used of 2012, which slumped at the box office. for speculation. Ideally, however, the core of the What is going on in the Chinese film indus- film industry is not capital but innovation.

Shangri-la Blaze The major reason is that telecommuni- efit, some dare to take risks. Workers’ Daily cation and Internet service providers turn a Telecommunication service provid- blind eye on it. Some service providers have ers should be held responsible for rampant January 14 even engaged in the business of mass tex- junk mail that has damaged public interests. A fire that broke out on January 11 in Dukezong ting. The sending of spam mails is a crime Technically, they have solutions to block junk Ancient Town in Shangri-la, a resort county in and will be punished with a fine of 30,000 mail for users. Therefore, the government southwest China’s Yunnan Province, has de- yuan ($4,962) according to Chinese law. But should take a zero-tolerance attitude toward stroyed 242 houses and affected 335 families, in the face of huge potential economic ben- those junk mail producers and service providers. but no deaths or injuries have been reported. The fire initially broke out at an inn and quickly spread to neighboring homes. Narrow alleys and wood-structure houses as well as weather factors posed problems for Big Saving firefighters, according to local authorities. But it is too late for excuses following this disaster. Oriental Outlook In recent years, local government and January 2 enterprises have spent 200 million yuan ($33 The Central Government’s strict policies to cut govern- million) and absorbed investment of 800 million ment spending have proved successful. Despite limited yuan ($132 million) to build Dukezong Ancient growth in fiscal revenue, the government balance hit a Town as a tourist attraction. Nearly all families record high of 4,116.3 billion yuan ($680.01 billion) in in the ancient town have joined in the tourism October 2013, up by 801.8 billion yuan ($132.46 billion) business. Tourism development brings huge compared to October 2012. revenues to local people, but they were unaware The tough policies were launched in December of the hidden danger behind the tourism boom. 2012, and it is estimated based on public reports that Though some ancient towns levy a toll on since then the country has saved hundreds of billions of tourists, funds spent on environmental protec- yuan. This achievement showed the firm resolve of the tion and restoration are still limited. Finding a new Chinese leadership led by Xi Jinping to cut govern- balance between developing tourism and pro- ment spending. tecting historic constructions is a big challenge. Of the spending cuts, the reception expenses and conference expenses have been reduced by about 30 percent. For instance, the conference fees have been controlled in an all-around Junk Mail way, including the conference size and other fees resulting from the conference such as accom- Beijing Times modation and meals. Unnecessary conferences have been cancelled. And if issues can be dealt January 14 with via teleconferencing, a conference is not allowed. Junk e-mail and short spam messages are be- And the reception costs have also dropped greatly. “I hope after a couple of years’ efforts, coming commonplace nuisances. According a new atmosphere can be formed in all levels of government across the country. People truly to statistics, there are 370 billion junk mails cooperate in joint efforts to do the job, and needn’t improve the cooperation over banquets or sent annually in China. Internet users have no alcohol consumption. This is not only about physical health, but also about the working relations better solution than to delete spam e-mails between the superior and the subordinate, and between colleagues,” said Ye Qing, a Chinese and messages. Some are even tricked by these anti-corruption expert. messages and suffer economic loss. http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 11 COVER STORY THE SINO-FRENCH CONNECTION Reflections on a half-century of diplomatic relations between China and France By Jiang Shixue

GUEST OF HONOR: Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting French President Francois Hollande in Beijing on April 25, 2013

12 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com THE SINO-FRENCH CONNECTION SHENG JIAPENG he year 2014 marks the 50th an- went on to keep his promise. In April 2013, as niversary of official Sino-French France’s new president, Hollande successfully relations. On January 27, 1964, completed his first China trip. He was also the Beijing and Paris announced the first major Western leader to be received in start of their diplomatic relationship. Beijing by China’s new leadership. DescribedT by some as a “diplomatic nuclear France can also lay claim to at least two explosion,” the event came as a shock to the other “firsts” in Sino-Western relations besides international community. being the first major Western country to es- The joint communiqué establishing dip- tablish diplomatic relations with the People’s lomatic ties between China and France was Republic of China: Then Chinese Ambassador to unusually brief—just 45 Chinese characters Paris Kong Quan was the first foreign ambassa- long—but the reaction from around the world dor President Hollande met after his election in was grave. May 2012 and Hollande was the first state head Shortly after the announcement, U.S.-based of a major Western country to make a congrat- Time magazine commented on the global ulatory call to Chinese President Xi Jinping after significance of the event: “As a nation, France Xi was elected in March 2013. has seemed to be dying all through the 20th These firsts not only show the traditional century … Yet last week the impossible had ap- friendship between China and France as well parently come true, and France was once more as the strategic insight of France but also the a mover and shaker in world affairs ... To cap importance Hollande attaches to Sino-French his nation’s re-emergence as a world power, relations and the healthy development of the [French President Charles] De Gaulle recognized current bilateral relationship. the communist regime in Beijing as the government of China, brushing aside protests from Setbacks Washington that the move would seriously After establishing an official relationship, the damage U.S. policy in Asia.” relations between the two countries gradually In the geopolitical context of the 1960s, got on the right track. However, Sino-French Paris’ decision to establish diplomatic ties with relations have not always been smooth over the Beijing illustrated the keen judgment of De past half-century. In 1992, France decided to sell Gaulle toward China, cementing his legacy as a arms to China’s Taiwan, infringing upon China’s visionary with an ability to discern fundamental sovereignty and interfering with its domestic historical trends. The far-sighted French politi- affairs. China reacted with decisive measures: cian said that China would play an important Some proposed joint projects were canceled; role in resolving a host of difficult problems fac- France’s Consulate General in Guangzhou ing Asia and the world. was closed; and bilateral exchanges above the Moreover, the independent foreign policy ministerial level were shelved. The Sino-French that De Gaulle endowed to France was an relationship was thus badly hurt due to France’s important factor contributing to the establish- misjudgment. ment of Sino-French relationship while not It was not until early 1994, when a joint succumbing to the U.S. pressure. In 1965, De communiqué was published, that bilateral Gaulle proclaimed that “the United States is the relations were once again normalized. In the greatest danger in the world today to peace.” document, France recognized that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China and Friendship promised not to sell arms to the region again. In France’s last presidential election campaign, In the more than 10 years that followed, Sino- the then President Nicolas Sarkozy’s team criti- French relations witnessed rapid progress and cized rival Francois Hollande for never having fruitful cooperation in various fields including visited China. Hollande asserted that he would politics, the economy, science and culture. visit China as soon as possible if elected, and On July 1, 2008, France assumed the rotat- s s http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 13 CFP CULTURAL SYNERGY: A dragon float pass down the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris during celebrations for the Chinese Spring Festival on January 24, 2004

NEGOTIATING HISTORY: Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai (left) meets with former French Prime Minister Edgar Faure (middle) in Beijing in October 1963 to discuss establishing official relations between China and France ing EU presidency. It should have been a good whom the Chinese Government accuses of Premier Wen later said that, when he looked opportunity for the then French President attempting to separate Tibet from China, that at the map, he noticed that his airplane cir- Sarkozy to promote relations between France December, the first head of state of the EU cled around France. He added, “The reason and China. But he blackmailed China by saying presidency to do so. France was not included in the trip is known that he would only attend the opening cer- Sarkozy’s defiance was met with a strong to all. It is not China’s fault.” emony of the Beijing Olympics if the dialogue reaction. China felt dissatisfied with the ir- To restore bilateral relations, China and between the Central Government of China and responsible moves of the French side. The France issued a joint press communiqué on the representatives of the Dalai Lama could planned China-EU Summit was postponed, April 1, 2009, in which France recognized the be fruitful. Though Sarkozy later attended the and the then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s importance and sensitivity of the Tibet issue, re- ceremony, he also met with the Dalai Lama, trip to Europe in early 2009 excluded France. affirmed its adherence to the one-China policy

Timeline of China-France verely damaging bilateral relations. November 25-27, 2007: French President January 12, 1994: China and France issue a Nicolas Sarkozy visits China. Relations joint communiqué, in which France commits 2008: China-France relations are temporarily January 27, 1964: China and France establish to ceasing arming Taiwan, thus re-stabilizing damaged by Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai diplomatic relations. France becomes the first ties. Lama. major Western nation to recognize New China. September 8-14, 1994: Chinese President April 1, 2009: China and France restore bi- September 11-17, 1973: French President Jiang Zemin pays a visit to France during the lateral ties with the release of a joint press Georges Pompidou becomes the first Western 30th anniversary of China-France diplomatic communiqué, in which France reaffirms its European president to visit China. relations. The two countries agree to develop adherence to the one-China policy and the May 12-18, 1975: Chinese Vice Premier bilateral relations on an equal and mutually position that Tibet is an integral part of Chinese Deng Xiaoping visits France in the first beneficial basis. territory. trip to a major Western state by a Chinese May 16, 1997: Chinese President Jiang Zemin 2009: France becomes China’s fourth biggest leader. and visiting French President Jacques Chirac trade partner within the European Union, October 15-18, 1979: Chinese Premier Hua sign a joint statement agreeing to establish a whereas China is France’s No. 1 trade partner Guofeng conducts the first visit to France by a “comprehensive partnership.” in Asia. Chinese premier. January 26-29, 2004: Chinese President Hu November 4-6, 2010: China and France sign a November 7-12, 1987: Chinese President Li Jintao pays a three-day visit to France, dur- series of cooperation agreements during a visit Xiannian visits France, completing the first visit ing which the two countries pledge to forge to France by Chinese President Hu Jintao. to the country by a Chinese president. a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” April 25-26, 2013: French President Francois September 27, 1991: France sells six opening a new chapter in China-France re- Hollande visits China. Lafayette-class missile frigates to Taiwan, se- lations. (Compiled by Beijing Review)

14 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com XINHUA CNSPHOTO TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP: French to the prosperity of their nations and the hap- Prime Minister Jacques Chirac (left) piness of their people, as well as multilateralism welcomes Chinese Vice Premier Deng and multipolarity. Those similarities have no Xiaoping to Paris on May 12, 1975 doubt laid a solid political basis for the steady advancement of the Sino-French relationship. Having undergone both positive and negative experiences, leaders from both countries have realized the importance of improving Sino-French relations. During Hollande’s latest visit to China last April, Chinese President Xi said that the two sides should strengthen commu- nication and exchanges, respect each other, deepen mutual trust, earnestly accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns and support each other’s independent choice of development paths. “We are looking forward to seeing the development of a new type of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership in the future,” Xi said. “We stand ready to work with France through this visit to enhance strategic and political trust, promote practical cooperation across the board, strengthen and the position that Tibet is an integral part of press conference with the then Japanese Prime coordination and cooperation in internation- Chinese territory, and refused to support any Minister Junichiro Koizumi that China’s demand al and regional affairs and take the new type form of “Tibet independence.” that the EU lift its arms embargo was legitimate of China-France comprehensive strategic In November 2010, the then Chinese and reasonable. partnership to a new high.” President Hu Jintao paid a visit to France. After However, the efforts and attempts of Hollande also said that as two responsible Hu’s meeting with Sarkozy, the two countries is- France and some other EU countries in pro- powers, China and France should enhance sued a joint statement, pledging to build a new, moting the end of the European arms embargo dialogue and coordination on pressing global mature and stable comprehensive strategic on China failed under pressure from the United issues, working together to promote economic partnership based on mutual trust and mutual States. governance and safeguard world peace and benefit. Sino-French relations thereby entered a Certainly, the support for one another prosperity. new stage of development. on many international issues between China China and France are at different stages and France are mutually beneficial. The deep of development, and the two economies are Sino-EU relations advancement of Sino-French relations is in highly complementary to each other. This also keeping with the diplomatic diversification provides a good opportunity for both countries Despite these ups and downs, both sides agree principle of both countries. It is not only helpful to reach win-win results through economic on the necessity to deepen bilateral relations for the development of the relations between cooperation. France is now China’s fourth larg- further. At a time when the international po- China and other Western countries but also est trade partner in the EU, behind Germany, litical and economic pattern has undergone conducive to the growth of the relationship the Netherlands and the UK. Bilateral trade profound changes, it is particularly important for between France and emerging economies. For increased from $13.4 billion in 2003 to $51 bil- China and France, two permanent members of instance, when France began to serve as the lion in 2012, with the bilateral trade volume in the UN Security Council, to jointly take on more rotating presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) in the first three quarters in 2013 reaching $37.1 responsibilities in maintaining world peace and 2010, Sarkozy actively sought the support of billion. Two-way direct investments are also on promoting global development. China. In August 2011, Sarkozy made a “blitz” the rise, suggesting even greater opportunities France has made indelible contributions to visit to China during his trip to France’s New for future growth and cooperation. n the promotion of Sino-European relations. For Caledonia. International media claimed that the instance, acting as a mediator, France assisted in visit was related to the G20 Summit that would the establishment of China-Italy official relations be held in France, noting that Paris needed the in 1970. France also played an important role close cooperation of Beijing in promoting its in promoting the establishment of the Sino-EU G20 Summit agenda. comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003. The author is deputy director at the Institute of European Studies France has long been committed to ending under the Chinese Academy of a European arms embargo imposed on China. A promising future Social Sciences When the then French President Jacques Chirac As big nations with a strong spirit of indepen- visited Japan in March 2005, he said at a joint dence, both China and France are committed [email protected] http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 15 COVER STORY BILATERAL

I have made many French friends during my college years. Generally, French people PERSPECTIVES are gentle, romantic and open-minded. I have taught Chinese to a 20-year-old French Editor’s Note: On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Sino-French man named Jeff for half a year. He struck diplomatic ties, Beijing Review interviews four people from China and France me as intelligent, energetic and thoughtful, with a deep interest in Chinese history and and asks them to share their impressions regarding the past, present and cuisine. Jeff said that as China is full of oppor- future of the relationship between their two countries tunities, he wants to find a job in China after mastering the Chinese language. He wants to travel around the country—not only to power of the two countries is another important Cai Fangbai, former Chinese cities but also to China’s rural areas. After factor. The rise of China and other emerging Ambassador to France (1990-98) my graduation, I hope I can teach Chinese in economies have brought increasing pressure I have worked in France for France. I also want to do what Jeff dreams to on traditional Western powers, including France. 24 years, during which time do in China, and travel all over France. They have struggled to adapt to the new global I have personally witnessed I think current Sino-French relations are landscape. the growing diplomatic re- sound in spite of an unhappy period sev- However, I believe that as long as China lations between China and eral years ago. In my opinion, former French and France manage bilateral relations from a France. After World War II, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with the strategic point of view and respect each other’s there formed a bipolar sys- Dalai Lama was very offensive. If Chinese leaders core interests and major concerns, Sino-French tem with the United States were to meet with a French person who wanted relations will move forward consistently in the and the Soviet Union at to separate Corsica from France, how would next 50 years. opposing ends. The whole world was covered French people respond? I hope no such things by the dark cloud of the Cold War. The establish- will reoccur in the future. And I hope people Cui Xiuli, a student at Hebei University ment of official Sino-French relations was an from the two countries can remain friends. attempt to break this bipolar world system. I love French culture. When I was young, I read the masterpiece of the At a time when France actively sought to Li Xiaojing, an employee of Qingdao famous French short-story play a role as a big power in international issues Customs in Shandong Province writer Alphonse Daudet and China faced both isolation from the United As far as I know, most (1840-97), The Last Lesson. States and a Sino-Soviet split, the dialogue and Chinese people have a good The author states in the cooperation between China and France were impression of France and story, “French is the most helpful in creating space for strategic maneu- French culture. Its capital beautiful language in the vering on international issues. They not only Paris is seen as a symbol of world.” I have gone on to benefited the two countries but also exerted romance and fashion. More study French even though a strong influence on the development of the and more people have my major is teaching Chinese as a foreign international situation and global pattern. In begun to study French in language. Many classmates share my feelings addition, France’s move served as a model for recent years. Many of my about French culture. other Western countries, which would later lead former classmates at Beijing Language and French wine, perfume and fashion are to their establishing diplomatic relationships with Culture University chose to go to France for known worldwide. French culture gives me an China. further study after their graduation. They mainly impression that it is a place full of romance. I During the last 50 years, China and France chose to study design, art and other majors re- also like French movies such as Les Choristes have maintained a sound relationship in spite lating to fashion. (The Chorus), which carries a profound mes- of ups and downs. These zigzags can mainly be With the rapid economic development sage. Jeux d’Enfants (Love Me If You Dare) left attributed to the following factors: The first is of China, French luxury goods are also a deep impression on me too as it shows a dif- that the development of the international situ- becoming more sought after in Chinese ferent kind of romantic sensibility as well as a ation has directly influenced the Sino-French households. For years, France has been an relationship. The great change in the balance of dreamlike effect.

16 BEIJING REVIEW JANUARY 23, 2014 http://www.bjreview.com important tourist destination for Chinese as the Chinese renaissance has modified the they were at the same time the source of a people, but many of them have complained world’s distribution of power in a gradual and powerful collective energy. that the public security situation in Paris is peaceful process without abrupt discontinuity In the Chinese context, centrality— not good, as many Chinese travelers report- or violent disruption. zhong—mirrors the French grandeur. If a sense ed the experience of being robbed. On January 27, four days before the begin- of grandeur inspired the French monarchs, Comparatively speaking, Chinese ning of the Year of the Horse, one will celebrate emperors and presidents, the “Middle Country” people know a lot about France, while the 50th anniversary of the establishment of envisioned for itself centrality under Heaven. many French people are ignorant of China. diplomatic relations between France and the Versailles and the Forbidden City, Place de la To my knowledge, they see China as it was People’s Republic of China (PRC). From a French Concorde and Tiananmen Square are obvious 10 years or even decades ago. I remember perspective, the full recognition of Beijing’s architectural illustrations of the correspondence when I was still a French major studying government was, above all, the decision of one between the “Grande Nation” and the “Middle in Beijing, as a volunteer I received former man, De Gaulle, one of France’s greatest states- Country.” President Sarkozy’s delegation visiting men and a colossus of 20th-century world Animated by a conscious effort of radia- China. One French governmental official politics. tion, France aims to federate around what she asked many strange questions about His acumen and strategic thinking were conceives and enunciates as an enlightening China, which made me feel uncomfortable. not only at the origin of a special relationship project. By contrast, China’s impact is by gravi- Their understanding of China is far from between Paris and Beijing, but the spirit of his tation, wherein the “Middle Country” coheres adequate. I think this might be due to the groundbreaking decision remains a point of around its demographic mass and the continu- intensified negative news reports by the reference for the future of Sino-French coop- ity of its civilization. foreign media about China. eration. Beyond the contingent parameters of Sino- The Sino-French relationship can be His reasoning was solidly based upon two French relations, transient administrations or seen as a model for Sino-European relations. pillars which are also two distinctive features of politico-economic conditions, Paris and Beijing, With the deepening of mutual economic and Gaullism: a long-term view and the effort to take concerned by the destiny of mankind, will al- cultural exchanges, I think more and more into consideration, beyond transitory events or ways find it necessary to articulate an explicit French people will understand more about relatively short-lived phenomena, more perma- grandeur and an implicit centrality. China and love China. nent realities. Ironically, the gap between France’s rep- Obviously, France’s early recognition of the resentation of herself and the weight of her David Gosset, Director of the Academia PRC was a political gesture with geopolitical relative power is widening and, therefore, Sinica Europaea at China motives—by recognizing Beijing, Paris signaled contrasts with the Chinese centrality which is Europe International to both Washington and Moscow that France increasingly effective. But the global evolution Business School, Shanghai, was an autonomous diplomatic force. De Gaulle won’t erase the rich French heritage, nor the Beijing & Accra, and founder was also well aware that China’s strategic objec- French contribution to the making of Europe; of the Euro-China Forum tive was to consolidate her sovereignty and to and, more generally, it is precisely in the middle One repeatedly attributes to strengthen her independence. of the most challenging circumstances that Napoleon Bonaparte (1769- De Gaulle believed that a multipolar or- the idea of grandeur itself can re-energize the 1821) a statement he probably der would be more conducive to sustainable country. never uttered and which has equilibrium than either unipolarity or the The synergies between centrality and become an inept cliché: “When China awakes, dangerous bipolar structure. In some circles, grandeur are more than the affirmation of two the world will shake.” In a press conference on his politics of grandeur caused uneasiness separate political identities. They are impulsions September 9, 1965, then French President De and uproar. for the new humanism of a global renais- Gaulle presented a more nuanced view: “A fact The imperatives of liberté, égalité and sance—connections between East and West of considerable significance is at work and is fraternité, French propositions to the world, as much as North and South. n reshaping the world: China’s very deep transfor- have been both a product and a generator mation puts her in a position to have a global of this passion for grandeur, only the exalted leading role.” aspiration of a nation in movement could Time has confirmed De Gaulle’s prediction, proclaim such revolutionary principles but [email protected] http://www.bjreview.com JANUARY 23, 2014 BEIJING REVIEW 17