1 A CHINESE WEEKLY OF NEWS AND VIEWS Vol. 31, No. 42 October 17-23, 1988 Contradictions Sharpen Between North and South THE TIBETANS OF QINGHAI PROVINCE The residential quarters in the mountainous areas of Nanjing County, Fujian Province have several unique characteristics. The earth- wooden buildings are usually around 12-13 metres high and cover an area of 1,000 square metres. Their walls are thick to keep out both the damp and cold, making them warm in winter and cool in summer. Unique Mountain Homes This 200-year-old building was constructed during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1 644- 1911). Each room of buildings is in the same pattern. One building can accommodate 20 families — or about 1 00 people. All the residents, old and young, live in harmony as one big family. Photos by Li Kaiyuan HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK BeijingRsj^ir Enterprise Reform Sees 'Third Wave' VOL. 31. NO. 42 OCTOBER 17-23. • Since China began to reform 10 years ago, it has experienced two waves — delegating power to enterprises and practising the CONTENTS system of contracted responsibility. The current practice of merging enterprises is called the "third wave." It is reported NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 that more than 1,500 enterprises have been merged so far (p. 5). The 'f^cd Sorghum' Phenomenon EVENTS/TRENDS 5-9 Tibetans in Qinghai Province 'Third Wave' Enterprise Mergers • Qinghai Province has a Tibetan population of 810,000, Ddegatei? Urge to Eradicate scattered in its five Tibetan autonomous prefectures and one Illiteracy Tibetan-Mongolian autonomous prefecture. Like people of Auto Makers Urge Import Curb other minority ethnic groups around the country, Tibetans in Medical Workers Losing Status the province have enjoyed preferential financial and political Chinii's Exports Increase Sharply treatment from the central government (p. 14). Studies of the Onlv Child Published Police Fighi Crimes on I'raiiis Tlie 'Red Sorghum' Phenomenon >i,y. Weekly Chronicle fOctober 3-9) • Since its first screening, the Xian Film Studio's production INTERNATIONAL 10-13 Red Sorghum has evoked heated debate across China. It has Soviet Union: Politburo "Cleans been praised as a masterly artistic achievement, and strongly I House' castigated for having ideological problems. Despite the Poland; Rakowski Unties. Continues controversy, however, no official comment has been passed j Reform upon the film, giving rise to a situation known as "the Red l.ibya-Chad: Accord Signifies Sorghum phenomenon." It is claimed this marks the opening of African Hope a new era of prosperity for China's arts (p. 4). I llaly: Co-ordinaling to Curb , Irfflatibn :';i:''W'SS)Mf'' / Kenya: Suilabic Way, Rapid North-South Conflicts Tend to intensify nevelopmenl Qlnghai Province's Tibetans 14 • Since entering the 1980s, the world has seen some easing in Xue Hengiia-—Grasslands' East-West relations but an intensificafion of North-South Reviver 17 contradictions. This situation, if allowed to drift along, will ' North-South Relations at the surely seriously affect the world economy, ^especially the I Crossroads 18 economic stabiUty and growth of the developing countries. The : Zhao Zhangguang—inventor of developed world shoulders a special responsibility for checking i 101'Hair Tonic 22 the dangerous trend (p. 18). Facts & Figures (A Decade of Reform IV): Investment in Fixed Assets 25 Reshuffle Strengthens Gorbachev's Reforms FROM THE CHINESE PRESS 28-29 BUSINESS/TRADE 30-31 • In a major effort to press ahead with his ambitious reform CULTURE/SCIENCE 32-33 programme, Mikhail Gorbachev reorganized top Soviet TOURISM 34 leadership and consolidated his posifion (p. 10). of Qinghai Lake. Chen Zonglie Siilisciiplioi-. i,ni;s (1 vt-'T): USA US$24.00 Piiblislu;d fveiy M(}[i(i,iv 1>V G.neiii! Erlitoii;il Office Tel 8314318 Australia A.$24.00 Canada Can.$23.00 BEIJING REVIEW tniihsh Dnpl 111 831 5599 Ext 546 New Zealand NZ.$33.00 /4 BniwanzhiKiiui Rond 'ji^i ii'^ti hy China International Book UK £13.00 Br,|,ny 100037 Trading Corporation iGUOJI SHUDIANl Ihe People s Hijpiililic o( Ch O Box 399. Beiiing CIiiii.i NOTES FROM THE EDITORS The 'Red Sorghum' Phenomenon Although the Gold Bear winning film "Red Sorghum" has been widely praised outside China, domestically it has provoked Increasing controversy. Initially this centred on the film's content, with views polarizing for and against. But more recently, the manner In which the debate has continued has had greater impact than the film itself, giving rise to "the Red Sorghum phenomenon." by Li LI he Xian Film Studio's produc• enon reflects the gradual form• government are making efforts to Ttion Red Sorghum has received ation of a lively democratic improve outmoded methods of widespread international acclaim. atmosphere in Chinese artistic, leadership in ideological areas. At the West Berlin International ideological and social circles Previous contention on right and Film Festival, it was awarded the under the environment created by wrong in literary circles has Gold Bear prize. But in China, the China's reform programme and invariably ended with arbitrary film has evoked mixed feelings. open policy. official rulings. Moreover, these On the one hand, the media has After 1957, and especially were often raised to the plane of praised it for its rich national during the chaotic decade of the struggles between two political colour, dynamic structure and "cultural revolution," it was hnes, and frequently had disas• distinctive characterization. On common that one view would trous effects. the other, it has been severely overwhelm all others. This History has proved this high• attacked for having ideological practice of "uniform opinion" led handed practice unsuccessful. problems and lacking artistic to a long-standing monotonous And although in the midst of the content. It is reported that when and depressed state in literary and heated debate over Red Sorghum Red Sorghum was screened in a ideological circles, which the some people expressed the hope school for senior cadres, 70 discussion of Red Sorghum finally that the "top leaders" or percent of the audience disagreed ended. In the last few months, "authoritative newspapers and with the content of the film. Many people holding differing views magazines" would declare which questioned why the cultural have felt free to speak their minds side they favoured, the Party authorities had allowed the film to with no misgivings or fears of and government have consistently be produced. political repercussions.. replied that it was not their task to On various other political An atmosphere of democracy interfere. Through comment and platforms and in newspapers and equaUty has emerged, rarely discussion people should reach across the country its merits and witnessed since the founding of the their own conclusions. weaknesses have been discussed People's Republic. Indeed, an and argued. Such a debate has authoritative literary personage History has also proved that in been unseen for many years. But has commented that the debates on art and theoretical or most significantly, there has been emergence of the Red Sorghum academic questions, allowing free no official comment, interference phenomenon marks the opening discussion and the airing of or guidance on which view should of a new era of prosperity for different views has helped clear hold sway. Artistic circles have Chinese literature and art. distinctions to be drawn between dubbed this situation "the Red The fact that China's author• right and wrong. It is only in this Sorghum phenomenon." ities have signalled their desire to way that new ideas and forms of avoid involvement in the debate art can emerge. The emergence of this phenom• indicates both the CPC and the • 4 BEIJING REVIEW, OCTOBER 17-23, 1988: m EVENTSARENPS for industrial and commercial enterprises has opened in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province in 'Third Wave'— Enterprise IViergers southeastern China. Now Baod• ing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Tainjin hinese economists recently ises are also commodities" and other cities are planning Ccalled the policy of enterprise indicates a break from the similar markets. • mergers the "third wave" in theoretical base that China's China's current industrial reform. socialist economists have long Delegates Urge to The "first wave" refers to the pursued in guiding the country's reform of delegating power to economic growth. Eradicate Illiteracy enterprises. The "second wave" Many economists say that indicates the system of contracted mergers will give a great impetus ie United Nations Educ• responsibility. Both waves ap• to the deepening of the current Tational, Scientific and Cultural peared in succession in the past 10 economic reform and to the Organization (UNESCO) held its years. smooth operation of the country's Ninth Regional Conference of "The merger of enterprises had economic mechanism. National Commissions in Asia long been considered a pheno• The biggest benefit from the and the Pacific recently in Beijing. menon seen solely in a capitalist mergers has been better organiz• The September 22-27 confer• society," said an aricle in the ation of enterprise property, an ence called on member countries Economic Daily, a Beijing-based official of the State Commission to prepare for the forthcoming national newspaper, "but now it is for Restructuring the Economy International Literacy Year. playing a marked role in China's said. At its 42nd session in December economy." 1987, the UN General Assembly More than 1,500 enterprises China's state-owned enterprises designated 1990 as the Intern• have been merged so far, and the have fixed assets of 600 billion ational Literacy Year and invited provinces of Henan, Guangdong, yuan, of which one-third fail to UNESCO to assume the leading Jiangsu, Hebei and Sichuan have achieve desired returns. More role in preparing for its ob• had about 100 enterprises each than 6,700 industrial enterprises servance.